60 Years of Diplomatic Relations between Singapore and Malaysia, as well as Singapore and Thailand

This special exhibition is the first collaboration between SCCC with the High Commission of Malaysia and the Royal Thai Embassy Singapore, to commemorate the establishment of 60 years of diplomatic relations between Singapore and Malaysia, as well as Singapore and Thailand.

According to Mr Alvin Tan, CEO/SCCC: “There is no better way to commemorate 60 years of diplomatic relations between Singapore and the two countries than with a photography exhibition on traditional kopitiams which can be found in all three countries. This is because kopitiams not only represent a common cultural experience shared by our three countries, they also symbolise the warm ties between our countries that endure even with the passing of time.” 

Mrs. Chonlatee Chanrachakul, Charge d’Affaires a.i. from Royal Thai Embassy Singapore said: “Kopitiams are more than just coffee shops; they are the enduring social pulse of our communities and a testament to the rich, interwoven cultural heritage of Thailand, Singapore, and Malaysia. This exhibition, marking 60 years of diplomatic relations, invites everyone to savor the shared taste of Nanyang coffee and kaya toast—a sweet reminder that our deep history and warm friendships are beautifully brewed together.”

24 B&W Photographs of various Traditional Kopitiams in Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand

This exhibition features 24 black-and-white photographs of various traditional kopitiams in Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand, taken by award-winning travel photographer and write Lester V. Ledesma over a period of more than a year.

This series of black and white photographs of traditional kopitiams honours the region’s vibrant kopitiam culture. They are well-cherished and well-loved community gathering spaces, enduring icons of Southeast Asia lifestyle. 

Lester shot the photographs on black-and-white film using vintage cameras as a timeless tribute to the iconic yet humble kopitiam that we in Southeast Asia loved so much, authentically capturing the character, raw charm and kopitiam lifestyle, beautifully showcased across the different 24 black-and-white photographs on display.

Photographer Mr Lester V. Ledesma shared: “I started this project in early 2024 at a humble Singapore coffeehouse, with a roll of black-and-white film and a 70-years-old rangefinder camera. Brewing Nostalgia is my way of celebrating what has been part of my life in the two-plus decades that I’ve lived in Singapore and I am thankful to SCCC for their support in showcasing our rich, authentic and truly homegrown coffee heritage.” 

Nostalgic Memories – Planning to Re-Explore my Old Places and Traditional Kopitiams 

Looking at the different traditional kopitiams in Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand, it brought back nostalgic memories of my childhood and travel days. The rustic, old school, laid back kopitiams, with their iconic wooden furniture, white marble table top, sipping my Nanyang kopi, with kaya bread toast and soft boiled eggs. 

In Singapore, there aren’t many traditional kopitiams around, most of them have changed with the modern times. Although I have visited some of the remaining traditional kopitiams in Singapore at North Bridge Road, Tanglin Halt and Lengkok Bahru, I have yet to check out the kopitiams at Jalan Benaan Kapal and Jalan Minyak. 

This is the time to reignite my nostalgic memories to re-explore those traditional kopitiams and old places in Singapore. 

As for those traditional kopitiams in Malaysia and Thailand, I will definitely keep a lookout for them when I travel and visit both countries again.

Brewing Nostalgia: Kopitiams in Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand Special Exhibition

• Venue: Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre, Concourse, Level 1
• Dates: 3rd December 2025 to 30th April 2026
• Admission: Free

The post A Special Exhibition on Traditional Kopitiams of Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand appeared first on TGH Photography and Travel Portal/Blog.

Photography

Photography Competitions/Contests

Entering into the month of July 2025, there are a few ongoing photography competitions/contests,  I am planning to join and see whether they might bring me!

NUSPS Montage 2025

The last day for submission is 6th July 2025 with the theme, “Singapore in Focus 2025: Past, Present, and Future”. If you are keen to enter this photography competition, do visit NUSPS and check it out.

HDB x PSS Photo Competition 

Housing Development Board (HDB) and Photographic Society of Singapore (PSS) has a photo competition with the theme “Heartland Stories: I Love My Home & Community”. If you are into heartland Singapore living and stories, do visit PSS website and check it out.

Tamron Singapore 

Tamron Singapore is also running a photography contest with the theme, “City Night Lights”, it runs from 15th June to 31st July 2025. If you are keen to enter this photography contest, do check it out.

Canon PhotoMarathon 2025

I have registered for Canon PhotoMarathon 2025, taking place on Saturday 19th July 2025, a photography competition that I have been participating for a number of years. More than just a photography competition to test yourself and the chance to win attractive prizes, this is also a time for photography friends to gather and catch up!

If you are keen to know more about Canon PhotoMarathon 2025, visit their website and check it out! I have also shared my stories on participating in Canon PhotoMarathon over the years here on my TGH Photography and Travel website!

Visual Storytelling / Content Creation 

SG60 Theme + NDP 2025 Rehearsals 

Counting down to 9th August 2025, Singapore’s 60th birthday (SG60) National Day Parade (NDP) 2025 celebrations, there would be regular rehearsals on Saturdays leading up to NDP 2025, for us to head down to Marina Bay Area, for RSAF air display, and photographing fireworks. 

Leveraging on the various photography competitions/contests taking place in 2025, together with NDP 2025 rehearsals and from my photography archives, I am building up towards my SG60 personal photography project. 

Beyond digital 

As I working on my personal SG60 photography/visual storytelling project, a photography zine is on the cards, I am also exploring other creative outputs beyond digital, such as postcards, photo prints of different sizes etc.

Learning from creative artists from other creative genres

With all the ongoing festivities and celebrations, from SG60 to other arts, culture and heritage events, I am also learning from creative artists from other creative genres. All these do help to open up my vision and approaches, on my creativity and how I can possibly apply them in my visual storytelling in both personal and professional capacity. 

Re-exploring NFTs and Digital Arts 

MakersPlace closed

With MakersPlace closing their Marketplace, I have to transfer my NFTs that I previously minted with them to my MetaMask personal wallet. Meanwhile I am looking at Marketplaces to list my NFTs for sale.

Although I entered this space a few years back, I didn’t invest a lot of time here due to resources management and not knowing too sure where digital arts/NFTs would lead me to. With this inevitable transfer of my NFTs, I am taking this opportunity to re-explore NFTs and Digital Arts space again. 

Packed July 2025 schedule

Leading up to Singapore SG60 celebrations on 9th August 2025, July 2025 is going to be packed and lined up with many different events and activities. While Q2 has been a difficult and slow period, the leisure and personal segments of my visual storytelling, photography and content creation helps me to navigate some of the stressful and pressurising times.

The post Photography / Visual Storytelling / Content Creation Themes and Plans for July 2025 appeared first on TGH Photography and Travel Portal/Blog.

My NAPE 2025 Journey

I am hugely honoured and very happy to be a part of NAPE 2025, I have a photography artwork selected to be showcased along with other talented local Singapore photographers and their amazing photography works. This is my short visual story of my maiden journey in NAPE 2025.

My Maiden Submission for Ngee Ann Photographic Exhibition 

While I have heard of Ngee Ann Photographic Exhibition, and visited a few editions previously, I didn’t thought about entering in my earlier photography years, as I wasn’t too confident, still learning and gaining my photography experiences.

Over the years, as I gained a lot more experiences in my photography, I also started to enter more and various photography contests and competitions. When I saw this year’s 30th NAPE 2025 Call For Entries, I am thinking deep inside me, why not go for it?

Making the decision to proceed, Year 2025 became my maiden submission and entry for Ngee Ann Photographic Exhibition. 

Theme: Open

The theme for 20th NAPE 2025 is “Open”, while this theme is indeed very open and wide for interpretation, the organisers recommended themes related to SG60 or The Ngee Ann Kongsi’s 180th anniversary. 

Digging through my archives of photographs taken in 2024, I shortlisted a few potential photography works of mine for submission to NAPE 2025, before deciding on my final two photographs for submission.

Just like the theme “Open”, I entered with an open mind, eyes and heart, let’s see where NAPE 2025 brings me.  

From shortlisted to NAPE 2025 opening 

Around the end of April 2025, I received an email informing that one of my submissions has been shortlisted for NAPE 2025. At that moment, I was jumping with joy (inside me)! Thereafter, I had to follow the next few steps/instructions for getting my selected photography artwork ready, printed and delivered for NAPE 2025.

Once that were completed, it’s patiently waiting for 14th June 2025 to arrive, attending the NAPE 2025 opening ceremony, viewing my photography artwork titled, “Of Red and White Celebrations at GBTB Lighting Up Marina Bay Singapore” on display, together with fellow local Singapore photographers works at NAPE 2025.

30th NAPE 2025 Opening Ceremony & Opening Day

The 30th NAPE 2025 Opening Ceremony took place on 14th June 2025, a day of local Singapore photography community gathering together. It was great to catch up with fellow photography friends, chatting over everything photography related. 

After the formal speeches and presenting Ngee Ann Photographer of the Year 2025 award to Mr Lim Leong Kiat, NAPE 2025 was officially declared opened with the ribbon cutting ceremony! After that, guests and attendees began to visit NAPE 2025 exhibition, finding out where their photography artwork is displayed before walking around and checking out all the amazing photography works on display at NAPE 2025. Also a heartfelt congratulations to all participants of NAPE 2025! Great job and well done to all!

A big thank you to my friends who came down to NAPE 2025 Opening, I truly appreciate the support. I would like to invite you to come on down to LASALLE College of the Arts and visit 30th NAPE 2025!

Later in the afternoon, I attended the NAPE 2025 Opening Special Talk by Mr Lim Leong Kiat, on “Through the Lens: The Art of Travel Photography”, listening to his interesting and informative travel photography sharing. As a travel photographer myself, Mr Lim’s choice of digital MF cameras for his travel photography is of great interest to me, should I hop on the digital MF cameras? 

Thank you Ngee Ann Kongsi!

Being able to participate in NAPE 2025 is a humbling experience, also a huge honour for me, the recognition, for my photography artwork to be selected from over 1,020 entries, from more than 570 photographers that participated in NAPE 2025.

The feelings and euphoria when your photography artwork is printed, framed and displayed in a photography exhibition, at the 30th NAPE 2025, the jubilation and immense pride, this is priceless and very memorable!

I would like to sincerely thank Ngee Ann Kongsi for selecting my photograph and the opportunity to be one of the photography works on display at the 20th Ngee Ann Photographic Exhibition 2025.

20th Ngee Ann Photographic Exhibition 2025 Information

• Date: 14th to 24th June 2025
• Time: 12pm to 7pm Daily (Closed on Sundays)

Venue: LASALLE College of the Arts

• Flexible Performance Space
• Brother Joseph McNally Gallery
• Praxis Space
• Project Space

Address: 1 McNally Street Singapore 187940

The post The 20th Ngee Ann Photographic Exhibition (NAPE) 2025 appeared first on TGH Photography and Travel Portal/Blog.

Chinese Opera Festival 2025

Chinese Opera Festival 2025 will take over five weekends from 21st June to 26th July 2025, featuring five local Chinese opera troupes, each performing on a select Saturday in a different dialect. 

These are the following active Chinese opera troupes, dedicated to keeping Singapore’s local Chinese landscape alive.

Chinese Opera Studio (Teochew) – The Mistake of Justice Bao

Date: 21st June

Time: 7pm

https://www.facebook.com/chineseoperastudiogroup/ 

Chinese Opera Ensemble (Hainanese) – The Peacocks Flying Southeast

Date: 5th July 

Time: 7pm

https://www.facebook.com/coe0217/ 

OperaWorks (Singapore) (Cantonese) – The Betrothal Sword of Love

Date: 12th July

Time: 7pm

• https://operaworkssingapore.org/
• https://www.facebook.com/OperaWorks.Singapore/ 
• https://www.instagram.com/operaworks.singapore/ 
• https://www.youtube.com/c/OperaWorksSingapore 

Tian Yun Beijing Opera Society (Peking) – Mei Yu Pei

Date: 19th July

Time: 7pm

• https://www.tianyun.sg/ 
• https://www.facebook.com/tianyunsg 
• https://www.instagram.com/tianyun_sg/ 

Tang Renaissance (Yue) – Marshal Lim Bo Seng

Date: 26th July

Time: 7pm

• https://www.tangrenaissance.org/ 
• https://www.facebook.com/tangrenaissance 
• https://www.instagram.com/tangrenaissance 
• https://www.youtube.com/@tangrenaissance440 

A significant collaboration between SCCC and NAC that brings quality performances to more audiences from all walks of life to celebrate the diversity and rich cultural heritage of Chinese opera in Singapore. Chinese Opera Festival 2025 is a gathering of five distinct opera traditions on a single stage, presents an exciting opportunity for more people to watch their performances, experience Chinese Opera, and to appreciate the importance of rich cultural heritage and to preserve it. 

At the same time, Chinese Opera Festival also helps to promote and provide vital support for local Chinese opera groups to develop their capabilities, embark on artistic growth, and cultivate a paying audience. There will be bilingual sub-titles provided for all performances, ensuring accessibility for all audiences. 

According to Mr Alvin Tan, Chief Executive of SCCC, “Through the festival, we hope to support local Chinese opera groups by providing a safe creative space for them to showcase their works and capabilities without having to worry about venue rental, funding, ticket sales, marketing etc. In doing so, we hope to safeguard and showcase a traditional artform which is rich in Chinese history and culture; attract new and hopefully younger audiences; and contribute to its long-term sustainability.” 

Low Eng Teong, Chief Executive Officer of NAC, said, “The traditional arts are a vital part of Singapore’s arts landscape as they reflect, shape and strengthen our cultural identity. NAC is proud to partner with the Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre on the inaugural Chinese Opera Festival. Through this initiative, audiences from all walks of life can come together to discover, connect with the arts and experience the richness and heritage of Chinese Opera in Singapore.” 

Chinese Opera Festival 2025 Fringe Activities 

There are a series of carefully curated Chinese Opera Festival 2025 fringe activities that will accompany the performances at SCCC, in line with the goal of expanding arts touch points for audience participation and engagement. 

These include interactive Chinese opera movement workshops designed for participants of all ages, and insightful practitioner talks featuring respected artists. Participants can expect to hear from experienced Chinese opera artists including Cultural Medallion recipient Joanna Wong and Stewards of Intangible Cultural Heritage Award and Young Artist Award recipient Cai Bixia.

The Art in Every Gesture: Discovering Movement in Chinese Opera

• Dates: 5th & 19th July
• Time: 4pm to 5pm
• Venue: SCCC Recital Studio, Level 6

Behind the Painted Faces: Voices of Chinese Opera Today

• Dates: 21st June (Su Zhang Kai) | 12th July (Cai Bixia) | 26th July (Joanna Wong)
• Time: 4pm to 5pm
• Venue: SCCC Recital Studio, Level 6

Chinese Opera Roving Exhibition

• Dates: 4th June to 26th July
• Time: 9am to 10m
• Venue: SCCC, Level 7 Foyer

Troupe leader of OperaWorks (Singapore), Ms Winsome Chan, said: “It is our honour to collaborate with SCCC and NAC, and to participate in this year’s Chinese Opera Festival. We hope that our audience would enjoy our performance of Cantonese opera The Betrothal Sword of Love, and we also hope to reach out to and attract new audiences to the festival.” 

Vice-President and Artistic Director of Tian Yun Beijing Opera Society, Ms Lim Mei Lian, added: “Being the inaugural Chinese Opera Festival in Singapore, we hope that the initiative does not stop here but will continue to stay true to its objectives and forge ahead with perseverance.” 

Personal Thoughts and Views from a documentary visual storyteller  

At the media preview, we got to know more about Chinese Opera Festival 2025 objectives from Mr Alvin Tan, CEO SCCC opening remarks. We also got to view snippets of the Chinese opera troupes performing at the upcoming Chinese Opera Festival 2025. 

This was an enriching cultural heritage experience for me, a sector that I didn’t manage to cover as much over my years of documenting and photographing history, heritage, culture and conservation sectors in Singapore. 

Through this inaugural Chinese Opera Festival 2025, I hope that I can do more, learn, experience, and appreciate this rich Chinese cultural heritage, and where I can play my small part for this sector, as a documentary visual storyteller in history, heritage, culture and conservation sectors.

Chinese Opera Festival 2025 Information (Ticketing Prices and Promotions)

Chinese Opera Festival 2025

• Dates: 21st June to 26th July 2025
• Venue: SCCC Auditorium, Level 9
• Standard Ticket Price: $30 (available on SISTIC)

Chinese Opera Festival 2025 tickers are available on SISTIC at $30 with a special five-show bundle at $120. Early bird discount of 30% off tickets at $21 are available from 4th till 10th June 2025.

To register for onsite fringe activities, please visit SISTIC. 

For more information on Chinese Opera Festival 2025, please visit Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre (SCCC) website: https://singaporeccc.org.sg/ 

The post SCCC and NAC Collaborate to Debut Chinese Opera Festival 2025 appeared first on TGH Photography and Travel Portal/Blog.

20th Ngee Ann Photographic Exhibition (NAPE) 2025

The Ngee Ann Photography Exhibition (NAPE) is one of Singapore’s biggest photography exhibitions since its inauguration in 2005, with the aim to promote local photography art. This 20th NAPE celebrates 60 years of national building, 180 years of The Ngee Ann Kongsi and inspiring photographic arts for generations. 

• Dates: 14 – 24 June 2025
• Venue: LASALLE College of the Arts, Flexible Performance Space, Brother Joseph McNally Gallery, Praxis Space, Project Space (1 McNally Street, Singapore 187940) 

For more information, please visit 

https://thengeeannkongsi.com.sg/en/eventslist/the-20th-ngee-ann-photographic-exhibition-2025/

Start of NDP 2025 rehearsals

Leading up to Singapore’s 60th SG60 National Day Parade (NDP) birthday celebration on 9th August 2025, that means the start of NDP 2025 rehearsals in June. Back for fireworks and NDP 2025 action at Marina Bay!

Photography Competitions

Two more photography competitions for me to consider entering in the month of June 2025, it’s to  put myself to the test, also enjoying myself and having the fun back in my photography while entering photography competitors.

Epson PANO Awards 2025

The 16th Epson International Pano Awards is here, I am considering to enter this photography completion, this would be my first attempt if I do enter this Epson PANO Awards 2025.

Montage 2025 by NUSPS – Singapore in Focus 2025: Past, Present, and Future

URL: https://nusps.org.sg/montage/2025-2/ 

A fitting theme for Singapore’s SG60 celebrations in 2025, fitting nicely into my SG60 personal photography project theme. I am going to enter this competition, that would also be building up towards my SG60 personal photography project. 

#TTOT Travel Talk on Twitter is taking a SLOW TRAVEL break

In case you missed it, #TTOT Travel Talk on Twitter is taking a SLOW TRAVEL break with the last TTOT travel community chat taking place on Tuesday 27 May 2025.

I am grateful and thankful for the travel friendships and networks built from the #TTOT Travel Chat on Twitter community, the local travel knowledge sharing, travel tips, travel trends and updates, they are so invaluable. 

Keep travelling and keep in touch! Thank you #TTOT Travel Talk on Twitter community of travellers with your passion, travel sharing and adventure spirit!

Personal SG60 Photography Project Updates

I am still working on my personal SG60 photography project, a work-in-progress, leveraging on the photography competitions that I recently entered, along with upcoming ones, to add on to my pool of current and archival visual storytelling that I would help and inspire me with my curation, layout and creative direction of my personal SG60 photography project. 

It’s been some years since I last published a zine or a photo book. This year 2025 SG60 theme would be a perfect fit to come back into producing and publishing photography zines again. Stay tuned and keep a lookout!

Exploring new opportunities 

It’s not a rosy situation out there, a weak and slow economy, lesser businesses and deals out there, cut in budgets, very challenging times ahead. 

Exploring new opportunities and opportunities, hopefully there would be a new light at the end of the tunnel, a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow when the storm clears. 

The post Photography / Visual Storytelling / Content Creation Themes for June 2025 appeared first on TGH Photography and Travel Portal/Blog.

Photography Competitions 

(A) Shores to Strength, Celebrating 60 Years of Coastal Protection & Resilience – National Photography Competition by Singapore Water Association.

URL: https://www.swa.org.sg/shores-to-strength-celebrating-60-years-national-photography-competition/ 

(B) Mad About Singapore 2025 – “Maritime Singapore” by InstaSG 

URL: https://www.instagram.com/p/DI6VyM2TVWA/ 

Two photography competitions for me to work on, they would help me plan my personal photography shoots, adding more works for curation of my SG60 personal project. Both competitions have nice prizes to be won too, that would be a real bonus for me!

Personal Visual Storytelling / Photography / Content Creation

(C) SG60 Celebrations – Singapore’s 60th birthday 

Year 2025 is Singapore’s 60th (SG60) birthday. How would I be planning to commemorate my own personal SG60 celebrations, how would I interpret SG60 celebrations through my visual stories and photographs? What kind of different approaches and photographs of Singapore can I tell the Singapore 60th birthday story? 

Currently, I am considering photography zine format for my SG60 personal visual storytelling project (less formal and smaller in size versus a full-fledged photo book). Things/plans might change along the way, as I continue to photograph, compile and curate my visual stories of Singapore over the decades. 

(D) World Migratory Bird Day 2025 

World Migratory Bird Day 2025 falls on 10th May 2025 and 11th November 2025. The 2025 theme is Creating Bird-Friendly Cities & Communities. I would be sharing more on my bird photography adventures and updates around October 2024 to March 2025.

URL: https://www.worldmigratorybirdday.org/ 

(E) Coming soon in June 2025

I would be sharing some photography / visual storytelling / content creation updates in the next month June 2025. There would be an announcement/update on my personal photography, do keep a lookout! 

More updates to come for my photography / visual storytelling / content creation in Year 2025!

The post Photography / Visual Storytelling / Content Creation Themes for May 2025 appeared first on TGH Photography and Travel Portal/Blog.

What is Amazônia?

Amazônia is a major exhibition by the legendary world-renowned and award-winning photojournalist Sebastião Salgado. This exhibition spotlights on the Amazon region and its ecosystems coming under the threat of deforestation and climate change. 

The Amazon is known as the “the lungs of the world”, a title that is not taken lightly, the whole world has to protect and conserve this very crucial and important region on planet Earth. Through Amazônia exhibition, visitors can view, feel, learn and understand the natural beauty, and majesty of the Amazon region. 

This exhibition also features the Indigenous communities who live in Amazon, with the Amazon, the largest rainforest on the planet, which many of us around the world would not know too much about or heard of them before.

Amazônia is making its highly anticipated debut in Asia-Pacific at the National Museum of Singapore from 22nd November 2024 to 2nd March 2025. This travelling exhibition transports visitors on a walk into the heart and soul of the Amazon rainforest, one of the world’s greatest ecosystems. 

Sebastião Salgado first showing at the National Museum of Singapore was in 2014, titled Genesis. A decade later, Amazônia continues conversations on the important topic of environmental conservation through Amazônia, a major new body of work arising from his decades-long engagement with the Amazon region.

Chung May Khuen, Director of the National Museum of Singapore, said, “The National Museum is proud to bring to Singapore the latest internationally acclaimed exhibition of works by Sebastião Salgado. The Amazon is deeply connected to the world’s climate and affects all of us, even in Singapore. Amid a heightened awareness and urgent call for greater climate action today, we hope that visitors will be inspired by Salgado’s remarkable photos and the exhibition’s message to appreciate and take action to protect our natural world while respecting and learning from the Indigenous peoples who live in, and with, the rainforest.”

Amazônia  – An Immersive and Meticulously Curated Exhibition

Amazônia is a multi-sensory, immersive and meticulously curated exhibition, curated and designed by Lelia Wanick Salgado. There are over 200 photographs on display, there is a beautiful  soundtrack by Jean-Michel Jarre, that makes your visit to Amazônia very soothing and therapeutic. 

Further more, there are two projection rooms, video testimonies from Indigenous leaders, a special segment known as Amazônia Touch that allows the visually impaired to appreciate the Amazônia exhibition, through tactile image plates. 

There is a space dedicated Instituto Terra, it’s the reforestation non-governmental organisation founded by the Salgados. 

Lélia Wanick Salgado, Curator and Exhibition Scenographer of Amazônia said, “Immersion is a big part of the curatorial process of this exhibition. By integrating visitors into the lush greenery of the rainforest and raw portrayals of the everyday lives of its Indigenous people, I hope to present a multidimensional look at the beauty of the Amazon, and impress on visitors the human and ecological elements at stake if we don’t take action to protect it.”

Take a walk into the Amazon rainforest

A visit to Amazônia brings you on a majestic journey through the lands of the Amazon, through the breathtaking photographs on display, you can see and also feel the natural wonders and phenomena of the Amazon rainforest in its own unique nature, stature and importance to planet Earth.

The Amazon region complex ecosystems such as freshwater archipelagos and “flying rivers”, are presented through more than 200 evocative black-and-white photography prints. Moreover, there are slide projections, documenting its vibrant landscape and the lives of people living within Amazon region. 

It’s more than just a majestic visual spectacle of Mother Nature’s natural wonders, it also shows the fragility in the same measure. Salgado hopes that this serves as an important call for everyone of us on planet Earth to conserve the “lungs of the world”.

Salgado said, “The Amazon rainforest is full of life, and is in itself an important lifeline for our world. The exhibition is a record of what remains of this vast and vulnerable heritage amid an uncertain future. It is our shared responsibility to conserve it and I hope that the exhibition will inspire the community to take action to prevent this exhibition from becoming a testimony of a lost world 50 years from now.”

Tulsi Naidu, CEO Asia Pacific of Zurich Insurance Company Ltd – the main global partner of Amazônia – said, “Zurich’s longstanding global partnership with Sebastião Salgado reflects our commitment to climate action and a sustainable future. Through the Zurich Forest project, launched in 2020 in collaboration with the Salgados, we’ve helped restore parts of the Brazil Atlantic Forest by planting one million trees with Instituto Terra. We are now also supporting Instituto Terra in the acquisition of additional land for nature restoration and the construction of a new, larger nursery. In the Amazônia exhibition, Sebastião Salgado’s powerful photography – beautifully curated by Lélia Wanick Salgado – is a striking reminder of the urgent need to protect the natural world and its communities.”

Aerial View: The Amazon Seen from Above: A bird’s eye view of the Amazon. Experience sweeping aerial panoramas of majestic waterfalls and storm-laden skies.

Flying Rivers: Watering the Continent: Where water vapour from trees forms massive aerial rivers that are even bigger than the Amazon River, it’s Amazon’s unique atmospheric phenomenon. 

Tropical Storms: When It Rains in the Rainforest: When it rains in the rainforest, the amount of heavy tropical downpours/storms can be dramatic when you see brooding clouds looming above the horizon.

Mountains: Unexpected Uplands in the Lowlands: View Brazil’s mist-draped peaks rising above the rainforest canopy on the lower slope. 

The Forest: A Source of Fear and Inspiration: The rainforest can be very daunting (if you have visited before), it’s sometimes known as the “Green Hell”. However, it is now seen as an extraordinary natural treasure that must be protected. 

Anavilhanas: Island in the Stream: View breathtaking images of the archipelago of 350 to 450 islands of every imaginable shape rising from the waters of Rio Negro. 

Learn and understand more about the diverse Indigenous communities in the Amazon

You can also discover and learn more about the diverse indigenous communities in the Amazon, which many of us around the world would not know too much about or heard of them before. 

Keep a lookout for the three structures modelled after traditional Indigenous homes called ocas. Within that space, visitors can explore 100 photographs of the 12 Amazonian communities that Salgado engaged. There are also video interviews with the Indigenous leaders that complement this exhibition segment.

Immersive and therapeutic audio experiences at Amazônia

Enter into a soothing and therapeutic experience with an immersive audio experience by French composer Jean-Michel Jarre when you are visiting Amazônia, they bring you into a sensory experience of the Amazon through a symphony of natural sounds – rustling trees, animal calls, bird songs and gushing waters from the mountain tops, as well as voices and songs of the communities, drawn from the Museum of Ethnography’s sound archives in Geneva.

Continue your journey into two projection rooms where you can watch forest landscapes and portraits of Indigenous people, accompanied by soundscapes by Brazilian composers Heitor Villa-Lobos and Rodolfo Stroeter. 

Amazônia Touch

A special section, the first photographic volume specifically designed for the blind and visually impaired visitors to Amazônia, in partnership with Visio Foundation, an institution dedicated to promoting cultural inclusion of blind and visually impaired persons. There are a series of tactile images rendered on brass plates and complemented by 21 panels made of acrylic resin and natural minerals, for visitors to engage with.

Instituto Terra

Visit this dedicated space featuring the work of Instituto Terra, the reforestation non-governmental organisation founded by the Salgados. 

Our own Singapore Story on Environment and Sustainability 

The National Museum of Singapore aims to encourage and engage visitors to Amazônia to respond to the themes of the exhibition in relation to Singapore’s local environmental landscape through the Eco Sanctuary.

Eco Sanctuary – Themed Interactive Space 

A themed interactive space furnished with elements inspired by the rainforest, engaging visitors on touch, hearing and smell through the following below:

Touch and Feel: Interact with a series of artworks created by local artist Justin Lee. Check out the laser-cut wooden model of a Terrapin and a clay mould of a Custard Apple, inspired by the flora and fauna from the National Museum of Singapore’s William Farquhar Collection of Natural History Drawings.

Can you hear me?: Listen to the evocative sounds of Amazonian instruments such as the Pica-Pau and Bacururu de Palha, and compare them to instruments such as the angklung and guiro.

Scents and Sensibility: Immerse yourself in nature-inspired scents e.g. rain forest wood and grass.

Reflection Zone: At the end of your visit to Amazônia and Eco Sanctuary, take some time to reflect and write down your thoughts, feelings and ideas on conservation and sustainability on magnetic leaves, how we can come together to advocate for and to take action towards the protection of the Amazon rainforest and also Singapore’s natural environment. 

My personal reflections from exploring Amazonia at National Museum of Singapore 

When I visited Amazônia exhibition, I immediately felt a close connection to the black and white landscapes of Amazon rainforest as I have also have my own black and white landscapes collection too.

As a self-taught photographer, I wasn’t formally trained in visual storytelling/photography. My learning were through reading National Geographic Magazines (when I was in primary school), as well as photography books on photography and photojournalism in my later years. Sebastião Salgado was one of those legendary photojournalists/visual storytellers that I looked up to in my own visual storytelling learning journey.

My love for nature and great outdoors, built upon my Scouting roots and heritage, along with my visual storytelling, I have been documenting changes to natural and urban landscapes, history, heritage, conservation, culture, not forgetting nature, great outdoors, trekking etc.

The rallying call to protect and conserve the “lungs of the world”, how can everyone of us play a part, no matter how big or small? How can everyone of us also play a similar role in our home country or other key nature areas in other parts of the world that also plays a role in the world that we live in? How can we further elevate the rallying call to the whole world on environmental protection and conservation, on Amazon, and also other key natural habitats and wonders of the world?  

Amazônia is deeply inspiring and getting me to think deeper and further on how everyone of us on Earth can do more for the home planet that we are living in. The time is now and upon us, the current generation to step up, be counted, take actions and make the crucial changes to save our precious home that we all live in – Earth.

I sincerely hope that I am able to inspire and encourage you (to also bring your family and friends) to come down and visit Amazônia at the National Museum of Singapore. View, feel, touch and experience Amazônia, and discover why everyone of us has a role to play in our world environmental conservation. 

Amazônia – An exhibition of photographs by Sebastião Salgado

Date: 22 November 2024 – 2nd March 2025

Timing: 10am – 7pm daily (last admission at 6:30pm)

Venue: National Museum of Singapore, Exhibition Gallery 1 and 2

Admission fee:

Visitor Advisory

Amazônia is about Amazon rainforest and its Indigenous people way of life. This exhibition features photography artworks that have male and female nudity, as well as contents that visitors might find challenging e.g. images of dead animals.

Visitor discretion is advised. 

Discount Code for Amazônia

For my readers, I have a discount code for Amazônia! 20% off All Access tickets purchased on National Museum of Singapore website.

Discount code: NMSxAmazonia [Maximum number of tickers per purchase is 10]

* Information courtesy of the National Museum of Singapore and Tate Anzur *

The post Take a walk into the Amazon rainforest in Amazônia at National Museum of Singapore  appeared first on TGH Photography and Travel Portal/Blog.

WMBD 2024 Theme – Insects

The WMBD 2024 theme – Insects, might not seem that directly linked to WMBD at a start. However, insects are important for migratory birds. The 2024 theme also highlights concerns on decreasing population of insects and natural environments.

A recent Straits Times article published in May 2024, “Migratory bird declines point to large scale ecological changes across Southeast Asia”. Since Singapore is a hub for migratory birds on the East Asian-Australasian Flyway and it’s also a pitstop for birds migrating along the Central Asian Flyway as well. This would definitely be of interest to wildlife scientists and researchers in Singapore and in Southeast Asia region.

Birds play crucial roles in the natural environment, from pollination and pest control. In the context of a lack of insects, the ecosystem would be affected. If certain insects are overpopulated, and without the presence of birds as natural predators, that can also disrupt the ecosystem, causing outbreaks that damage plant health and agriculture.

Singapore – A hub for migratory birds on the East Asian-Australasian Flyway and Central Asian Flyway

Just like Singapore is a global air transit hub for the world with our iconic internationally famous Changi Airport, Singapore is also a hub for migratory birds on the East Asian-Australasian Flyway, as well for birds migrating along the Central Asian Flyway as well. Singapore is indeed a major migratory bird hub/stopover destination. 

Singapore is part of the East Asian-Australasian Flyway, migratory birds making a pitstop in Singapore, giving bird photographers here in Singapore many opportunities to photograph them in action, the diversity and beauty of those migratory bird species. 

Recent research findings over the past few years have also indicated that Singapore’s status as a major migratory bird hub has grown in stature, Singapore now has become the intersection of 2 major flyways, adding the Central Asian-Indian Flyway to the East Asian-Australasian Flyway.

Singapore, a small country by land size, now can play a bigger and wider international role in the migratory birds journey with those 2 major flyways, a transit hub for migratory birds. 

For more information on Singapore has a hub for migratory birds in the East Asian-Australasian Flyway and Central Asian Flyway, please check out the following articles below:

• NParks article – Feathered Global Ambassadors: https://www.nparks.gov.sg/nparksbuzz/issue-42-vol-3-2019/conservation/feathered-global-ambassadors 
• Mothership article – New study shows Singapore is a pitstop for migratory birds from 2 major flyways: https://mothership.sg/2020/12/migratory-bird-central-asian-flyway-singapore/ 
• Nature Portfolio Scientific Reports: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-77897-z 
• Straits Times article on 1st April 2024 – New Initiative to protect migratory birds and habitats: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/new-initiative-to-protect-migratory-birds-and-habitats

Kickstarting my migratory bird photography adventures 2024 on World Migratory Bird Day 2024 (12th October)

It’s the start of a new migratory bird season in October 2024, I am kickstarting my migratory bird photography adventures 2024 on World Migratory Bird Day 2024 (12th October) with a rare migrant bird – Northern Boobook at Healing Garden, Singapore Botanic Gardens, photographed on 12th October 2024.

There are still a number of migratory birds and local birds as well, that I haven’t managed to photograph. Along with my migratory bird photography adventures, I would continue to do so, updating and uploading my bird photography collections into this Flickr photo album. 

I am combining bird photography and outdoors/nature photography in nature reserves, parks, coastal areas. Outdoors, nature and bird/wildlife photography, always great therapeutic visual storytelling adventure for me. 

Like this gaze and look from this Crested Goshawk (shot at Healing Garden, Singapore Botanic Gardens on 12th October 2024) telling you (my followers and readers) on my behalf, “Come follow me on bird/wildlife photography, outdoors and nature visual storytelling adventures!”

The post World Migratory Bird Day 2024 (12th October) appeared first on TGH Photography and Travel Portal/Blog.

Birds at Singapore Botanic Gardens

The Singapore Botanic Gardens has shown to be an important habitat for both resident and migratory birds. There are over 180 species of birds that have been recorded at the Botanic Gardens, almost half of over 400 species of birds that have been sighted in Singapore. Many of these sightings were contributed by community of bird watchers  that have provided sighting information as well as records of the activities of some of the birds and the duration they spent at the Botanic Gardens. 

The valuable source of information on the habitats and conditions preferred by the birds, as well as the observations help to inform NParks on their conservation strategies and plans, allowing them to better enhance the Botanic Gardens for both birds and visitors as Singapore is transformed into a City in Nature.

Conservation of key habitats in the Singapore Botanic Gardens supports bird diversity 

The conservation of key habitats is one of the main thrusts of Singapore’s Nature Conservation Masterplan. Within Singapore Botanic Gardens, there are 5 locations identified as nature areas for habitat conservation and enhancement. They are the 

• Primary Rain Forest
• Southern Forest of the Learning Forest
• Keppel Discovery Wetlands
• Natural freshwater stream at the Gallop Extension
• Eco-Lake

The diversity of habitats, both terrestrial and wetlands, and the long-term ecological research and horticultural works undertaken by the Gardens in conserving and restoring natural habitats and flora of Singapore have contributed to the diversity of bird species that have been sighted in the Botanic Gardens.

As for the birds, both resident and migratory, they in turn also contribute to the Gardens by enriching the habitats, playing their roles in the complex food web system that underpin our urban and forest ecosystems. 

Community partnerships enhance monitoring and conservation efforts

The community plays an invaluable role in the efforts to conserve Singapore’s natural heritage. Under NParks Garden Bird Watch (GBW), a Community in Nature initiative, citizen scientists help to survey birds at various green spaces across Singapore. The Singapore Botanic Gardens has been one of the the GBW locations since the launch of GBW in 2015. 

The 5 year data collected from the GBW showed that the Botanic Gardens is one of the top 10 sites for species richness. The insights from such surveys, as well as information on sightings from bird photographers, help guide NParks conservation and management measures, ensuring that the Gardens is conducive not just for visitors, but to avifauna as well.

Dr Tan Puay Yok, Group Director of the Singapore Botanic Gardens, said, “Interest in the bird life present in the Gardens is not new. As far back as 1898, the Gardens’ then-director H.N. Ridley wrote a paper on the birds of the Gardens published in the Journal of the Straits Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society in which he shared about the monitoring of a White-bellied Sea Eagle which had built a large nest on a big tree within the Gardens. It is heartening that our avian visitors and rich natural heritage continue to be appreciated and treasured by Singaporeans today, and they also contribute to our conservation efforts through their observations. Through this exhibition, we hope to share with our visitors the joy and pride of our bird watching community, the role of the Gardens in avian biodiversity conservation and the role of our avian friends in maintaining the ecology of our natural habitats, and to inspire more people to join us to transform Singapore into a City in Nature.” 

My birding and wildlife photography adventures in NParks GBW 

I am also playing my small part in NParks GBW through my birding and wildlife photography, helping out my friend Belinda who has been very active in NParks GBW Community in Nature initiative. 

My personal birding and wildlife photography adventures at Singapore Botanic Gardens over the years had been enriching and exciting, trying to spot and photograph the birds (both resident and migratory) in action, or somewhere inside the dense green nature areas or perched high up the tall trees at Singapore Botanic Gardens. Just part of my birding photography adventures (and playing small part in NParks GBW) across different locations in Singapore. 

Here are two photos of birds that I photographed at Singapore Botanic Gardens in 2023. I look forward to photographing and documenting many more different birds (residents and migratory) at Botanic Gardens. 

If you would like to find out more about NParks citizen science programmes and how you can get involved, please visit – https://www.nparks.gov.sg/biodiversity/community-in-nature-initiative/citizen-science-programmes 

“A Garden of Birds” – Community photography exhibition

The “A Garden of Birds” – Community photography exhibition received more than 830 community submissions, of which 160 photographs from 49 photographers have been selected for this community photography exhibition, made possible with the support of CDL.

This exhibition features numerous resident and migratory bird species, a curated selection of photographs shard by the enthusiastic birding community who come to Singapore Botanic Gardens to observe, admire, study and research the remarkable diversity of birds found in Singapore Botanic Gardens. 

Through the photographs, illustrations and interactive displays, this exhibition showcases the vibrant bird diversity of the Gardens, conservation and habitat enhancement efforts, and the role of green spaces like Botanic Gardens to support Singapore’s biodiversity conservation efforts. 

At the upcoming Festival of Biodiversity (https://fob.nparks.gov.sg) taking place on 25th and 26th May at One Punggol, visitors can find out more about Singapore’s rich natural heritage and how they can contribute.

Information on “A Garden of Birds” – Community photography exhibition

Venue: CDL Green Gallery, Singapore Botanic Gardens.

Photographs from the exhibition are also displayed at the People’s Gallery exhibition spaces near the Visitor Services Counters at Botany Centre, Nassim Gate, Tyersall Gate, Gallop Gate and Bukit Timah Gate (MRT Station Exit A).

Date: 7th May to 31st October 2024

Time: 

CDL Green Gallery

• Opening hours: 9am to 6pm daily
• Closed every last Tuesday of the month, if the closure falls on a public holiday, the closure will be moved to the following working day

People’s Gallery exhibition spaces

• Opening hours: 5am to 12am daily

Entry Fee: Free Admission

For more information on “A Garden of Birds” – Community photography exhibition, please visit https://www.nparks.gov.sg/sbg/whats-happening/calendar-of-events/exhibition-birds-of-sbg-2024 

* Information courtesy of NParks *

The post “A Garden of Birds” – Community photography exhibition at Singapore Botanic Gardens appeared first on TGH Photography and Travel Portal/Blog.

MayThe4thSG @ Gardens By The Bay 4th May 2024

When I read the Gardens By The Bay was celebrating MayThe4thSG with a special Garden Rhapsody Star Wars edition, I wanted to visit again. It’s really special watching the light show display at the Supertree Grove, playing a melody of iconic Star Wars soundtracks that we Star Wars fans grew up listening to.

Here’s a short clip of some of the iconic Star Wars soundtracks that were part of the Garden Rhapsody Star Wars Edition at Supertree Grove. Watching the Star Wars light show display, listening to the soundtracks, it’s kind of nostalgic, and it’s really a nice light show display! 

@genghuitan #MayThe4thBeWithYou! It’s #MayThe4th, #StarWarsDay for #StarWars fans around the world. Celebrating #MayThe4thSG in #Singapore at #GardensByTheBay ♬ original sound – GengHui

After the Garden Rhapsody Star Wars Edition at Supertree Grove, some Star Wars fans stayed back, dressed in their Star Wars attire and lightsabers, posing and taking photos/videos of them with their lightsabers in action. 

MayThe4thSG @ Science Centre 5th May 2024

On Sunday 5th May, I went down to MayThe4thSG community celebration at Science Centre. From anything relating to Star Wars, from Star Wars artworks, Star Wars toys, Star Wars cosplay, 501st Legion – Singapore Garrison, lightsaber related stuff, toy photography exhibition by Plastic Singapore where my friend AikWee has some of this Star Wars toy photography works on display and for sale too!

With Isaac taking back his lightsaber from AikWee, I just have to get Isaac and AikWee to replicate some Star Wars scenes together! 

Return to Star Wars LEGO Photography

MayThe4thSG 2024 also marks my return to Star Wars LEGO Photography! My Star Wars LEGO toy photography took a hiatus. With the addition of a used Star Wars LEGO 75054 AT-AT into my collection, I am now ready to make a return to Star Wars LEGO Photography!

From the photo above, you would have guess which Star Wars scene that I am replicating with my LEGO Star Wars – Star Wars V – The Empire Strikes Back (Battle of Hoth scene). Other Star Wars scenes that I am looking to replicate are Rogue One and Star Wars VI – The Return of the Jedi (Battle of Endor). 

I also have other plans on creative fictional toy artworks on a LEGO airport scene with Star Wars all-terrain vehicles and starships, together with those machine and vehicles you see at an airport. Another idea would be AT-AT and AT-ST patrolling cities/neighbourhoods. 

Let’s see where my return to Star Wars LEGO photography is going to being this time round! Stay tuned to my social media channels for more updates!

Happy Star Wars Day 2024!

Happy Star Wars Day 2024 to all Star Wars fans! May The Force Be With You! 

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