An outing with E-PL2

My first digital camera was an Olympus. The C-2100 UZ.

Maximum resolution,1600 X 1200, i.e., 1.9 mp. Maximum shutter 1/800 with a 1.8 inch 114,000 dot LCD and coupled with a 38-380 zoom.

It was a joy to shoot with. In our constant pursuit for technological advancements, whether in more megapixels, faster focusing systems, and superior lens coating, we may have neglected the obvious. As a tool, the camera must be fun to use and facilitate the photo-taking experience. The photographer should be motivated to capture the moments without hassle.

In that aspect, the E-PL2 is a triumph. Within a compact 362g but well built chasis, houses a reliable metering system coupled with six art filters. What more could you ask for in a sub-thousand DSLR body?

All RAW images, processed in Olympus Viewer 2 with Pin Hole Art Filter applied (unless otherwise stated)

  

Mission
I traveled to Kunming, China from 19th to 28th February. Instead of lugging my usual backup DSLR-body, I decided to bring the E-PL2 (Thank you Olympus Singapore for the kind loan). Furthermore, I have traded the kit lens for a 17mm pancake lens and save the zooms for my main body. In the end, it was the compact package of the E-PL2 which won me over after I fell ill during the trip. When you have to nurse a bad throat, a persistent cough and a running nose, the last thing you want to handle is a full-fledge DSLR system. The compactness and ease of use of the E-PL2 meant that I could still manage shots despite being drowsy from the medication and fatigued from the traveling. If the best camera is the camera you have with you, the E-PL2 served as an excellent travel mate for all seasons.
 

 
 
First Impressions

Despite its size (4.5 inch X 1.6 inch X 2.8 inch), the E-PL2 is a solidly balanced body to hold. Well-designed in its buttons layout, its only Achilles heel is perhaps, the relatively small and less robust rear-control.

Wish List
I always wanted a digital lomo to eliminate the burden of film processing and scanning. Furthermore I want it to be RAW capable with an arsenal of easily applicable effects to minimize on post-processing effects. In other words, I want a discreet street photography camera capable of high quality images yet motivates me to bring it wherever I go. In short, it must be fun to use.

WYSIWYG
The E-PL2’s new 3” LCD with a resolution of 460,000 pixels proved a marked improvement for all framing and reviewing over E-PL1’s 230,000 pixels. Call me old school but I have always frowned on LCD framing, preferring the use of optical viewfinder. My other grievance is that nearly all LCDs are rendered of little use under harsh lighting conditions. Imagine my surprise after photographing hundreds of images, there were no inaccurate exposures. The E-PL2 metering system delivers beyond expectation even during the tricky lighting conditions of sunset and sunrise. Together with precise LCD feedback, I became very confident with the results. 

Pop Art Filter

Imperfections

The E-PL2 is not perfect. However, these are not major faults but two minor flaws that Olympus should take heed of.

• While the addition of a rear control dial (absent in the E-PL1) is handy for photographers who frequently change their camera settings, it could be difficult to work with. Besides being small, the dial serves a 4-way controller as well. In other words, the dial is prone to accidental adjustments. Though I seldom encounter the problem in our tropical climate, the issue did arise when shooting in the cold and windy climate of Kunming. If you plan to wear gloves to fight off the chill, this is definitely not the rear control dial you would want to work with.
• Perhaps the weirdest design flaw is the lack of an orientation sensor. In plain English, you have to rotate all portrait images manually. Even though I shoot almost 95% of my photos in the landscape format, the remaining 5% of manual orientation can be tedious. Portrait photographers and those who shoot thousands of images take note.

  

Observations: Let There Be Light Seminar by Joe McNally

Joe’s seminar is as much a demonstration of lighting possibilities as well as a sharing of philosophy. Due to field constraints, Joe’s lighting solutions have to be deployable quickly and effectively. He travels with an equipment load of 240 kg, consisting of a wide array of lighting tools as well as backups of backup kits. He shoots RAW + jpeg, the former format for archival and the latter for quick workflow. He has two assistants but he is still vulnerable to human error.

He is, however, not afraid of making mistakes. ‘So what?’ he challenged. He is confident that many editors at National Geographic have seen his every mistake when he shot with slide film. Instead he encourages us to appreciate that mistakes are paths to your future. ‘If you don’t make mistakes, you are playing it too safe,’ he added.


On Limitations
Joe has a fierce reputation of winning assignments that others avoid. He likes to solve problems and handles challenges as part and parcel of his learning process. He urges us, as photographers, to realize how short and precious our time is when we are behind the camera. Hence it is for us to optimize every minute of it. The objective is to convey the impact to those who are not present with good images.
Joe advises us to ‘take the job and pull it out of the fire.’


On Joe’s White Balance (WB) Rule of Thumb
Get the skin tone right and be prepared to let the background go to hell.
Crude as it sounds, WB@location is never precise science. There will always be a need to compensate for the flash due to the ‘ambient bleed’. Since no camera system, presently, can solve all the issues, we have to actively work things out ourselves.


On Being Hands On
Joe highlighted perhaps the one main flaw of his, and any other, seminar.
Practice. Photography is a very hands-on activity. The photographer doesn’t learn merely by watching or reading. Seminars and books inspire and share knowledge but they are not replacements for actual photographing. The photographer must experiment and learn from practice. The best way to start, according to Joe, is two speedlights and any lighting tools that can be packed into a camera bag.

On Visualization
Joe is prepared to improvise, constantly varying and trying new ways to approach the same problem. One way is to think of the cool things people can do and then use light to showcase them. Joe likens each photograph as throwing darts at the wall, with each getting closer to the bull’s eye. Watching Joe work, however, is a great visual and audio learning experience as he voices out his every thought process. There are no secrets or mysteries, only a free flow of information.


On Lighting Tools
Joe spent most of his time demonstrating the various lighting tools available. With umbrellas, he showed how lighting changes by first casting light through them (diffusion) and by reflecting light off them. A Rayflash ring flash attachment was used to give portraits a ‘pop’ effect. He adjusted the zooming effect of his flashes to illustrate the fine control of light dispersion. With softboxes, he pointed out how light does not spill but collect around the subject. Even the blinds, pallets, and wire grilles of Shriro House were utilized to give portraits a unique lighting effect. By the end of the demonstration, Joe has opened our minds to the many possibilities that patiently await our discovery.


On The Zone
There are three, to be specific. Joe’s system is to perceive set lighting distinctly as

• the foreground,
• the middle (subject), and
• the background.

By this division, the photographer can breakdown and tackle the set as distinct components. Each zone can be lighted up accordingly to the desired effect. Joe does offer some pointers. White backgrounds should be lit at least 1 ½ to 2 stops higher than the subject while fill lights should be 1 to 2 stops lower.
Joe believes portraiture and landscape photographers share much in common. The human face is similar to the terrain since the quality of light conjures a different look.


Let There Be Light seminar is a great learning experience. Both Joe McNally and Louis Pang were willing mentors, encouraging questions from the participants. In the end, the participant will take away, not just, valuable learning points but a refreshed approach to enhance his craft. A participant remarked to me that Canon users will be disadvantaged as both Joe and Louis and use Nikon and speak in Nikon’s “Creative Lighting System”. I disagree. Systems are but tools, designed as enablers. Lighting is lighting. It is indiscriminate or as Louis say, misunderstood. Users of Canon and other systems are well capable to create great images. The history of photography which Joe reminded us constantly to pour through, bears the burden of proof. All that remains is great imagination and a relentless commitment to excellence.

Observations: Guerilla Lighting - Fast & Furious with Louis Pang

Let’s face it. It’s tough being the opening act for Joe McNally’s Let There Be Light Seminar. Louis doesn’t hide from the fact, instead he embraces it. The show must go on and as we soon learn, it’s never the size of the act but that of the heart which matters. Louis was most kind to extend a seminar invite to Clubsnap and I was the fortunate observer. Having won eight Wedding and Portrait Photographers International (WPPI) awards, Louis is a celebrated speaker who willingly shared his experience. For more information on Louis, please visit his info-packed website.

Louis confessed that he avoided flash usage in the past. He was unsure of its proper usage and chose to do without. He soon realized that ignorance is not a valid excuse. Furthermore the choice is simple: to capture great moments without great lighting or to do so with great lighting. He chose the latter and the rest was history.



On Posing
Louis believes that the distinction between posing both sexes is simple: we seek to accentuate the curves of ladies and the ruggedness of men. He pours through magazines, researching and using his iPhone to reference images. These images serve as a best-of gallery and a ready database whenever needed. Louis advocates practicing these poses in front of the mirror so that they become second nature. But images are at best, static. To replicate them, the subjects, who are often than not, non-professionals, have to relax. In Louis’ own words, ‘If they feel good, they look good.’

On Grooms
Louis shares that most men do not like their photos taken. Man, in general, want to maintain a sense of control and hence, are reluctant to yield to a photographer. The easiest way to relax the client is to pose him with his hands in his pockets and/or lean against something, be it a chair or the wall. Sitting the client down and asking him to lean forward is another good relaxation technique. If the client is particularly resistant, be prepared to lead by example and demonstrate each pose personally.

On Brides
Brides are trickier. No bride, however lean, will deny that they have big arms or heavy shoulders. The photographer should avoid having her shoulder pointed towards the camera. If required, utilize a shawl to cover up or crop half the arm away. To conjure a slimming effect, photographers could pose heavier bottom brides with one leg over the other.


Regardless of bride or groom or family members, the photographer must work fast to avoid boredom from setting in. Now that the posing formalities are dispensed with, Louis launched into his pet subject, guerilla lighting.



On Guerilla Lighting
What is Guerilla Lighting? For Louis, three words.

• Fast
• Effective &
• Mobile

On Lighting Arsenal
Louis’ mobile lighting arsenal includes

• SB800s & 900s
• Battery packs
• Justin clamps
• TriFlash
• Ezybox Hotshoe kits
• Trigrip Reflex
• Honl Snoot
• Gels
• Monopod and
• Gaffer Tapes


On Environment
Once operational Louis takes a photo of the room, without flash, to assess:

• What is the available light?
• Whether to remove or blend in the ambient (available) lighting?
• Is it good (desirable) enough?

Louis clarifies that there is no such thing as good and bad light just misunderstood light. He prefers to think in matrix metering to simplify all decision making. The photographer needs to understand the elements available and their possible lighting effects. Thus curtains can be deployed as a large light diffuser and the simple act of drawing curtains can focus the light to the desired area.


On Physics
There are some natural laws that the photographer should observe.

• Light has to be logical. Photographs should have one consistent shadow look since there is but one sun. Multiple especially intersecting shadows can be distracting and unnatural.
• Light loses its power in proportion to the distance traveled.


On Human Connection
Louis shares a simple fact, ‘People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.’ He firmly believes that the development of strong human relationships lies at the very core of his success. He advocates taking care of people so that they can relax, allowing the photographer to focus on the vital. The capturing of emotions.


On Being the Best
Two hours passed quickly, Louis concluded his segment with a powerful quote from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Be a bush if you can't be a tree.
If you can't be a highway, just be a trail.
If you can't be a sun, be a star.
For it isn't by size that you win or fail.
Be the best of whatever you are.

What secrets will be revealed when Joe takes the stage? Stay tuned for the next installment.

An Evening with Joe McNally

As a moderator of Clubsnap, Singapore's biggest online photography forum, I was privileged to help host Joe McNally during his inaugual Asia Tour. Joe will be conducting his Let There Be Light Seminar on 15th January. Remember to Enter this discount code LASTMINUTE to enjoy a 20% discount.

The following is an aftermath article for I wrote for Clubsnap.

Note

• Please refer to Joe’s The Moment It Clicks for all page references. These pages are for further reading and to provide greater insight on themes Joe presented during his talk.
• Image courtesy of Clubsnap

The Spirit of Christmas Present warns Scrooge, “This boy is Ignorance. This girl is Want. Beware them both, and all of their degree.” Though 167 years old, A Christmas Carol preaches lessons that remain ever so valid. Thus we seek mentors to guide, discipline and inspire us. The Singapore photography community comprising of members from the media, NikonClub and Clubsnap were blessed with such an experience on 10th January 2011. The event was “My journey, 30 years on” by Joe McNally.

Sponsored by Nikon Singapore, Joe was most candid, reminiscing about the peaks and valleys of his career spanning three decades. I have re-organized his talk into five key lessons, namely, that on tenacity, survival, creativity, learning and storytelling.


On Tenacity
Tenacious (adjective) persistent, stubborn, or obstinate.
When asked about burnout management, Joe replied “when things don’t go well, I get determined.”
Joe is a relentless photographer, calling James Brown’s agent six days in a row to gain a portrait session (Page 6-7). Whether it was the 17 frames from the Godfather of Soul or a photograph of ballerina Paloma Herrera’s feet (Page 8-9), he exercised great patience and professionalism to ensure his stories feature both beauty and pain.

Joe likened the photographer to Sisyphus, destined to an endless task of creation. Hence, “the best photograph will never be made.” Though Sisyphean equates pointlessness and connote the negative, he believes it is an inevitable condition in one’s quest for excellence.

It is that commitment to excellence that yield the image of Michelle Yeoh dangling from wires off a helicopter over the Hollywood sign. (Page 24-5). Even world leaders do not intimidate him into accepting the mediocre. After a studio session with Mikhail Gorbachev, Joe stated his dissatisfaction and convinced Gorbachev to stand for a portrait in a snow-covered forest. He revealed that he learnt the most useful tools are “thick skin and sharp elbows” and he quickly developed them.



On Survival
“You don’t survive in National Geographic without being competitive.” 

When a young member of the audience confessed doubt over his future as a photographer due to many constraints, Joe smiled. He acknowledged that everyone start with no, if not limited, equipment, time, resource, and access. Moreover, limitations of one form or another will always be present. There is, however, one factor that can conquer all limitations. Passion.

When Joe started working at the news desk, it was a desk bound job and he had no opportunity to shoot. He had to improvise by shoot through lunch-breaks and staying back after work to shoot with the night-shift photographers. Every waking moment presents an opportunity to hone his craft. Joe does not, however, mask the dark side of such devotion. By prioritizing photography, sacrifices must be made. One must be prepared to “kiss one’s social life goodbye” in order to devote oneself fully. He could not have illustrated this point better when he said, “you do what you do to shoot the photograph. There is no other way.”


On Creativity
“The important thing is I shoot.”
Joe encouraged the audience to experiment, all the time. (Page 174-5) He insisted that his time-tested method was to “shoot his way through” because somehow, somewhere, the photograph will materialize eventually.

Joe admits that he is “in love with the human face.” (Page 184-5) He then works out
• how he would love the face; and
• what he would do to showcase that love.

Expressing gratitude for Nikon’s technological advancement, Joe admitted that without content, more megapixels will only result in more highly detailed garbage. “Good pictures are hard to find and make and the equation still apply,” he added. When asked how one can know what is good, Joe then spoke about learning. 


On Learning
“The only way to know is to study it.”
A photographer is only as good as his knowledge. Thus he feels the importance to research and review photographs, especially classic ones that were relevant and valid in their days. The photographer should not be worried that he is alone in his pursuit as there are associations, clubs and classes readily available to offer knowledge and even equipment. Joe reminded the audience to take full advantage of these establishments to facilitate the learning process.

“There is so much to learn.”
Displaying an aerial photo of the New York City Marathon, Joe highlighted he had to learn to handhold a 600mm lens from a helicopter. His other option was to tell the editor that he did not know how to. Since that was not a valid option, he had to constantly pick up new skills during his field work.

Joe urges the audience to find something photographic that they cannot stop shooting. For Joe, it was dance. Ironically it was his dance photography portraiture session with Jennifer Ringer that introduced him to the Giant Polariod. The lessons from the self-funded first encounter would prove invaluable during his Faces of Ground Zero project.


On Storytelling
“Thoroughness is part of the deal until the story is told.”
Joe stressed that as photographers, we are storytellers moving viewers from point A to point B. The end result is knowledge gained. In other words thoroughness is doing it again and again and again until no stones is left unturned. For Joe, photographers are vessels of information for readers who cannot be present. (Page 212-3)

As a storyteller, new angles are a must. Joe even went underwater when National Geographic assigned him to come up with an unusual picture of the Ironman Triathlon. (Page 208-9)

“Telling a story is like peeling an onion.”
Joe highlighted some of the key ingredients for a successful photo essay.

• Show scale and drill down to the core.
• Vary your angles, showing action.
• Focus on light and shadows.
• Explore the richness of colors.
• Document the level of details.
• Capture the characters, their charisma and emotions.

Furthermore, the story may start indoors but it need not end there. Finally, there must be closure to signify the end of a day.



Above all, I was most impressed by Joe's willingness to share, encourage and inspire. One small doubt, however, lingers. Does the word impossible still exist in his dictionary? Or would I find it crossed out and scribbled above, three small words: difficult but possible.


About Joe McNally
Author of The Moment It Clicks, The Hot Shoe Diaries and the upcoming Sketching Light, Joe is listed as One of the 100 Most Important People in Photography by American Photo magazine. While his photographic awards and honors are too many to list, His special projects include:

• Faces of Ground Zero - Portraits of the Heroes of September 11th: McNally's collection of more than 270 Giant Polaroid life-sized portraits shot near Ground Zero in a three-week period shortly after 9/11. (Joe’s description of the project) The collection is considered by many museum and art professionals to be the most significant artistic endeavor to evolve to date from 9/11. 150 of these compelling portraits were published in 2002 and helped raise over $2 million for the 9/11 relief effort. (Washington Post article)

• The Future of Flying: McNally's 2003 cover shot and 32-page spread in National Geographic, chronicling the future of aviation was the first all digital shoot for the magazine. The photo collection commemorated the centennial observance of the Wright Brothers' flight and was the magazine's best-selling issue ever. (Joe’s Field Notes)

Any Good Book.

The following conversation took place recently,


“Seb, recommend me a good book.”

“What do you like to read? Area? Subject?”

“Anything.”



In short, any good book. Pages worth reading.

It was Jacobellis v. Ohio (1964). When challenged to define pornography, Justice Potter Stewart remarked “perhaps I could never succeed in intelligibly doing so. But I know it when I see it.” While brutally honest, the statement lacks objectivity. We galiantly offer advice, confidently becoming judges of all things of value, in spite of our experiences and track records. Hence my hesitation is understandable. Maybe I am too cautious but, as many an old storyteller has put it, I have gotten a bit ahead of myself. The question remains.

Thankfully, I just finished Jonathan Bender’s Lego: A Love Story and am happy to recommend it. The book seeks to explore what happens when the imagination of childhood intersects with life as an adult. Neither Adult Fans of LEGO (AFOL) nor strangers to the plastic bricks will be disappointed with Bender’s LEGO romances. He fondly recounts his travels across the United States, attending shows and conventions, and to the LEGO headquarters in Denmark. The treatment is kaleidoscopic and no bricks were left unturned as Bender interviewed many whose lives LEGO touched.

But the book is not without shortcomings. Good chapters do not necessarily add up to a great sum.  However strong, love is never a bed of roses. Dizzy with love, Bender’s eagerness to share everything meant that the book often read like a compilation. Yet like a lover whose memories are reinforced by the good, Bender is doomed to the same faults. He dwelled vividly on fond memories while any unhappines is too easily discounted.

Despite the above, the book is a testament to creativity, both of individuals and communities. It celebrates the joy of creation and the merits of play. LEGO bricks will never look the same again.



Seven Lego Facts
1. There are 62 LEGO bricks for every person in the world.
2. The Latin word lego means “I assemble,” or “I put together.”
3. Plastic bricks were only available in 1953.
4. Google is arguably the most prominent example of a company that believes the creativity inspired by building with LEGO bricks is tied to business innovation. (Video)
5. Brian Korte created a forty-five by thirty inches mosaic of the Star Wars icon Yoda with 13,824 pieces of LEGO.
6. At LEGOLAND, building models are constructed to a scale of 1:20
7. The cover of the book was designed and built by Nathan Sawaya, one of only six LEGO certified professionals in the world. He became an instant media sensation when he left his job as a corporate lawyer to get paid $13 an hour to build with LEGO bricks. (Video)

What are you reading?

I am seldom caught without a book. While I have indulged in my fair share of video games and dvds, reading remains as my first love. Friends and colleagues often pose these questions: Why do you read? What are you reading? How many books do you read (month or year)?

The holy trinity of questions, however, reveals very different aspects. Why? Though seemingly philosophical, the answer is unrelatively simple. I am, by nature, curious. I am of the firm belief that whatever I read can be interesting. If not, my readings can then lead me to discover the interesting. To avoid stares, I prefer the to state that I am ignorant thus I read. What? Secondly, the subject I read differs all the time. I used to frown on fictional tales and consume only non-fiction works ranging from biographies to sociology. Now I am wiser and learn to be less discriminating and spread my interests far and wide. Finally, the question of how many seems rather irrelevant. The number of books nor pages does not amount to neither comprehension nor knowledge. As impressive as big numbers may sound, they are the least insightful.

The ants aren’t smart. The colony is.

My 2011's reading expedition began with Peter Miller’s The Smart Swarm: How Understanding Flocks, Schools, and Colonies Can Make Us Better at Communicating, Decision Making, and Getting Things Done. This is the book-length extension of Miller's 2007 National Geographic article entitled, The Genius of Swarm. Miller believes that shared platforms with which groups collaborate and build on one another’s knowledge is possible and can be effective. The key is to overcome our fear of losing control and especially, our individuality. For Miller, the “best way to serve the group, it turns out, is to be true to ourselves.”

Those who suffer from Insectophobia or Entomophobia but still keen to explore the topic could give James Surowiecki’s The Wisdom of Crowds: Why the Many Are Smarter Than the Few and How Collective Wisdom Shapes Business, Economies, Societies and Nations a go. James argues passionately that "under the right circumstances, groups are remarkably intelligent, and are often smarter than the smartest people in them." No doubt, an insightful study on group dynamics that contests the prevalent culture that the smartest should lead.

Words Enable

My second book for 2011 was Newbery Award winner Patricia Maclachlan’s Word After Word After Word, a book based on her experience speaking in schools. Originally intended as a non-fiction work on the art of writing, the project eventually evolved into a fictional account. The children characters are encouraged to find their own distinct voices through writing. Though their success were expected, their willingness to connect and explore the world around them remains honest and real. A delightful gift for all ages especially those who love words and aspire to write.. You could browse the book at the Harper Collin's website.

The Reading Itinerary

My reading itinerary for the months of January-February 2011. 

1. Jonathan Bender’s Lego: A Love Story (Video)
2. Michael D. Beil’s The Red Blazer Girls: The Ring of Rocamadour
3. Justin Cronin’s 784 pages of post-apocalyptic vampire fiction The Passage. The first of a proposed trilogy, this will spell the commencement of a 2000+ page voyage.
4. Lewis Gordon Pugh’s Achieving the Impossible: A Fearless Leader. A Fragile Earth. Do watch his Ted ’09 speech about his courageous swim across the North Pole. To quote Lewis, “Bodies heal themselves. What matters most is the state of your spirit.”
5. David Grann’s Devil and Sherlock Holmes: Tales of Murder, Madness and Obsession
6. Cornelia Funke’s (author of the Inkheart trilogy) Reckless (Video)
7. Jeff Deck and Benjamin D. Herson’s The Great Typo Hunt: Two Friends Changing the Word, One Correction at a Time (Video)
8. Carmine Gallo’s The Innovation Secrets of Steve Jobs: Insanely Different Principles for Breakthrough Success. Following the success of The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs, Carmine Gallo seeks to unveil the innovation secrets of one of the most successful CEOs of all time. (Video)
9. The Way We're Working Isn’t Working: The Four Forgotten Needs That Energize Great Performance by The Energy Project CEO, Tony Schwartz. (Video)
10. Annabel Lyon’s The Golden Mean. I am reading the UK edition. Contrast its cover with that of the US edition. Sexy cover art and bragging rights aside, I am most eager to digest this fictional account of two of history’s greatest minds, Aristotle and Alexander the Great. (Video)

Enough of my scribbling, what are YOU reading?

Overcoming Adversity

Was spring cleaning my hard drive when I came across an (unpublished) article I wrote a year ago...

Overcoming Adversity
A colleague remarked to me, “Why aren’t the libraries getting more copies of (insert: your-favorite-self-help-guru’s latest title)? Our readers can’t get enough of them.” Self-help books are popular. We are taught to embrace change, be positive and shape our destiny. We are invited to invent and then re-invent ourselves to remain employable and enjoy better relationships.

However, most readers fail to appreciate the fact that the self-help market is a billion-dollar industry. Its revenues are generated through offering advice via books, seminars, coaching programs, in both online and offline formats. Besides the potential conflict of interests resulting from the highly lucrative self-help industry, readers need to recognize that solutions are often generalized, especially when they are presented to the public in book format. Some, if not great, caution should be exercised to verify the background and experiences of gurus.

There are, however, alternatives. Instead of hearsay favored by self-help gurus, biographies and memoirs offer valuable insight. Unfortunately the latter lack the necessary sex appeal as they are often not backed by a well-oiled marketing machine. However, they are real accounts of the lives and times of the individual. The following five titles, as diverse as they may seem, are nothing less than inspirational and celebrate the greatness that each and everyone of us could and should strive towards.



“Whatever Happens, Never Give Up”
Africa, the cradle of civilization, has not been dealt a good hand. Civil wars, corruption, famine, and diseases run rampant. But as the wise constantly remind us, it is never the hand you are dealt with but how you play that matters. William Kamkwamba’s tale is so unreal that it could easily been science fiction. Chancing upon a picture of a windmill in a library, at the age of 14, and with little formal education and resources, he proceeded to build a windmill to generate electricity for his family. While accepting failure as part of life, The Boy Who Harness the Wind: Creating Currents of Electricity and Hope challenges its readers to persevere and provide undeniable proof that dreams, however wild, do come true. [Online: William’s ‘07 TED speech, ‘09 TED speech]

“No one is in control of his own life.”
We are all blessed in our own ways. Some are born with privileges, others with talents. Deogratias or Deo, the hero of Strength in What Remains, serves as a necessary reminder that the destitute are our equals, dignified beings that demand our respect and help. Deo survived two genocides in both Burundi and Rwanda by miraculously fleeing to New York. Barely able to converse in English, he has slept in Central Park. Yet he went on to graduate from Columbia University, medical school and gained American citizenship. More amazingly, he returned to Burundi to create a clinic and public health system that has treated 21,000 patients in its first year of operation.

“All I care about is that you keep going, Boy Wonder.”
For those who feel that Africa is too distant and remote, Norman Ollestad’s Crazy for the Storm: A Memoir of Survival, serves as a powerful reminder of the great gifts we can bestow our loved ones. Crazy succeeds on so many levels. Firstly, it is about survival. Norman is a survivor, he survived his parents’ divorce, a plane crash that killed his father, and an abusive step-father. Yet “there is more to life than just surviving it,” he writes. “Inside each turbulence there is a calm — a sliver of light buried in the darkness.” Secondly, Crazy carefully explores the father and son relationships, that between Norman and his father and stepfather and especially of his own role as a father. A moving tale beautifully written, it is the ideal gift for any family.

"Before it happened to me, I didn’t think a mistake like this was even possible."
Bad things happen, even in the most advanced societies. Jennifer Thompson-Cannino is a victim of rape. Unfortunately, Ronald Cotton at 22, was wrongly accused of the crime. Picking Cotton: Our Memoir of Injustice and Redemption is the astonishing tale of how the two victims learnt forgiveness, became good friends and joined forces to campaign against a justice system gone wrong. While both shared equal portions of the book, one cannot help but admire Ronald who fought for and won his freedom while being locked up for 11 years. Yet he managed to forgive the people responsible for his plight, including the rape victim Thompson-Cannino, who wrongly identified him in a police line-up. Remorse, fear and anger are powerful emotions but Jennifer and Ronald have shown that forgiveness and grace can and will heal all wounds.

“Good farmers know the conditions for growth, and bad ones don’t.”
Sir Ken Robinson’s The Element: How Finding Your Passion Changes Everything, offers an expanded follow-up to his ’09 TED speech “Do schools kill creativity?” Suitable for students, teachers and parents, Robinson’s book is not an instructional self-help text. It is, however, a synthesis of extensive research and interviews conducted with individuals like author Paulo Coelho and choreographer Gillian Lynne, who have against all odds, followed their passions and triumphed. Robinson, himself, was a victim of polio and wrote about his own struggles to overcome his own physical handicap. The book concludes with a quote from Michelangelo, “The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it.”

Sebastian Song
7th Jan 2010

So what was your 2010 like in images?

A big thank you to PLATFORM, a gathering of Singapore-based photographers keen on visual storytelling, for the kind invitation to feature my works for The Year in Pictures@Platform.

2010 was a most eventful year for me. A close brush with Death put things in perspective. You quickly appreciate the smallest things, mobility and appetite, things you used to take for granted. You grasp firmly how humbling and empowering gratitude can be. Thankfully, I healed and decided to reward myself with a holiday to Turkey. It was a great trip filled with wonderful sights and sounds. Turkey the beautiful, so full of life. Blessed with many beautiful memories, I shared the three images.

Well things didn't quite happen that way. When Platform 11.1 was announced, Kay Chin "hounded" me via sms and facebook, "You owe me three images." I didn't expect nor want to share my holiday pictures as they were not taken with the intent to exhibit. I told Kay Chin that and got a growl in return. In short, I owe him three images.

I scanned through the hundreds and came up with these.

The Ceremonial Plaza at Anitkabir, the mausoleum of Kemal Atatürk, in Ankara, Turkey

The ceremonial ground is 129 m long and 84 m wide and was designed to accommodate 15,000 people. Millions visit annually to pay homage to Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, founder and first President of the Republic of Turkey.

The Hall of Honor at Anitkabir, the mausoleum of Kemal Atatürk, in Ankara, Turkey

While the security is being distracted by his classmates, a schoolboy manages to cast a rose at the tomb of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, founder and first President of the Republic of Turkey.

 Hot Air Ballooning @ Cappadocia, Turkey

"Higher... higher... we want to go higher than the rest..." shouts a fellow traveler in our hot air balloon.

"I prefer to go low, to hug the terrain. It's more thrilling." replied Mustafa Bozlak, our Balloon pilot.

"But go high and we can see everything..." the traveler insisted.

"To go high, easy, you just need hot air. To go low and not crash, you need skill." Mustafa smiled.

Seeing my submissions projected among 90 other great photographers is a powerful motivator. To keep making images and share my story.

Then something dawned on me. There is always a story. Story of stories. Stories of Story.

Likewise there is always an audience. However, the harshest critics cannot deny our rights to our stories. Nor can the best reviews further enhance the sheer brilliance of creation.

We exist within communities, of peers and of contemporaries. Platform is such a community. As we share, our stories gain lives of their own. We owe our stories that much. We owe ourselves that little.

"Mallakhamb" or "How to Look Awesome in an Orange Speedo"

First Off, It's 2011... Happy New Year Everyone
If “All Chinese know kungfu,” hold any truth, then the populous country of India can definitely trump that saying with the fine art of Mallakhamb . The word "Mallakhamb" is composed of malla which denotes a gymnast or a man of strength and khamb which means a pole. Mallakhamb can therefore be translated to English as pole gymnastics. (More on wikipedia). Not to be confused with the dance version, it’s EXTREME!
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