MIndChic Club (MC²!) Photographer spotlight ... is a series that highlights Elite Photographers and Talented non-professionals based in Singapore, where they can share their beautiful artwork, their thoughts and philosophies to inspire others in Singapore and around the world.

Recently, I had the pleasure to catch up with a very talented and experienced photographer, Andrew JK Tan (Mentorgraphy). Andrew first fell in love when he got his hands on his dad’s Fujica ST801 film SLR camera. Those were the days of film photography and he was fascinated at how photos could be created and loved the anticipation of seeing the final results. It has been a 30 year journey for Andrew and along the way, he has racked up an impressive list of awards and achievements which includes:

• 1989    GOLD Medal at Kortryk international Photography Salon
• 2008    Winner of ”Your World” photography competition sponsored by Sanyo and published in Discovery Channel Magazine (May issue)
• 2010    Photographer for Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) who were the Host News Agency for the inaugural 2010 Singapore Youth Olympic Games.
• 2010 onwards - Getty Images Contributor

"The Discovery Channel Magazine competition win was a very good win as my winning shot was that of a black crown night heron which was photographed at Jurong Bird Park, Singapore.  This goes to show that you don't always have to go to faraway lands. You can win with local content!", says Andrew. Andrew was also pleased to shoot for SPH in the Singapore Youth Olympic Games as it was a huge and prestigious sport event. Not only that he got to rub shoulders with the best photographers in the world and contribute to the Olympic Games history. Since 2010, his images were recognized by Getty and this strengthened his standing as a highly competent photographer.

Please share with our readers the type of photography you do and why you chose it?

I do ALL genres of photography and actually try to succeed in all of them. These include Nature, Wildlife, Still, Studio, Street, travel, portraiture, wedding,  macro, landscapes/cityscapes, Sports. If I really am forced to choose two, then that would have to be Sports Photography and Landscape / Cityscape photography.


 In Sports Photography, I love the challenge and the feeling of satisfaction when the “moment” is captured successfully. In this genre, camera handling and shooting techniques are crucial. This year, I am shooting exclusively for SAFFC in the SLeague.


 For Landscape / Cityscape photography, I find that Singapore is a great place to shoot cityscapes (both day & night).

What camera equipment and software do you use?

1.    Sports Photography

• Body : Nikon D3 (full frame sensor) , Nikon D7000 (1.5x crop)
• Lenses : Nikkor 200-400mm f4.0 , Sigma 300mm f2.8
• others: monopod

2.    Landscape / Cityscape photography

• Body : Nikon D3
• Lenses : Sigma 12-24mm, Sigma 15mm fisheye, Nikkor 24-120mm
• others: tripod, cable release

Software

• Photoshop CS3

Filters

• Topaz Adjust 4
• Topaz Detail 2
• Noise reduction from Neat Image

Digital Post Processing Hardware

• 27” iMAC with 8GB RAM
• 15.4” Macbook Pro with 8GB RAM
• 7TB of HDD storage available for back-ups

Any tips for enthusiasts?

In general, to do sports photography, the photographer needs to:

• understand the sport
• be comfortable and proficient in handling long telephoto lenses

For landscape / cityscape photography, it is essential to use a good , sturdy tripod and also to use Neutral Density filters to get the shot right the 1st time without post processing. Try to use a cable release & learn how to utilize “mirror lock” as well. Remember to chase the light , the photographer cannot be lazy and hope that digital post processing can save the day. In addition, practice good composition , images should have depth, good light and clarity. Finally, learn & utilize High Dynamic Range (HDR) processing skills to enhance the images further. In addition, the following 5 tips are the most important to me and have been the main reasons why I continue to improve till today.........

1.    Master the basics and do not rely on automation, post processing and features.

Learn how to shoot in Manual mode including manual focusing – this is SO important. Learn how to post process without using filters or create HDRs without using convenient software like photomatix as an example.

2.    Always look AND appreciate good photographs.

Acknowledge why the photos look so good, figure out how the photographer achieved the result. Always acknowledge a great photo !!!!

3.    Practice, Practice and MORE Practice

This sharpens your reflexes and is the best way to achieve a high success rate.

4.    Know your equipment well.

Knowing your equipment’s capability helps the photographer decides on “what to sacrifice” & prioritize when capturing an image. Helps in getting the highest capture success rate.

5.    Keep an OPEN mind & Shoot ALL photographic genres if possible.

The exposure to different genres and the subtle differences in techniques is a HUGE plus and makes all the difference.

If you are keen in improving your photography skills, Mentorgraphy also offers various workshops that include

• Basic Digital Photography
• Masterclass - Nightscapes
• Digital Post Processing - The Practical Way
• HDR - The Practical Way

Andrew is a mentor who has more than 20 years in both photography & digital post processing experience. Instead of merely regurgitating textbook material, he will impart “Real World” tips, workflow and his thought process when he goes about capturing that perfect image. To view more of Andrew’s work or his workshops, head over to:

• www.mentorgraphy.shutterfly.com
• www.flickr.com/photos/andrewjktan/
• www.yourfotobuddy.com

by Richard Chai
My Right Eye is a Viewfinder

For more information on photography events or workshops, please contact support@MindChicClub.com