MORGAN AWYONG

HELL FEST (FILM REVIEW)

The film gets one thing right – the sets. Otherwise, Hell Fest is really Halloween (including a very Michael Myers killer) without the gumption, impact or style. Horror films are not known for character development. But Hell Fest tests the boundaries of how much they can take with a crew of horror-film cliches. There’s the…

DOWN A DARK HALL (FILM REVIEW)

The movie establishes itself quickly. Angsty female lead. Gothic mansion. The classic “that area is out of bounds” line. 20 minutes in, you’ll find that Down A Dark Hall has a familiar tone to it. The way it introduces the characters, their relationships, some snappy cliches, and a painfully coerced romantic storyline – you have…

ALONG WITH THE GODS: THE LAST 49 DAYS (FILM REVIEW)

By now, you would have probably heard of this unexpected hit of a South-Korean title. Yes, it already had all the makings of a blockbuster, but it exceeded even projections by pundits. Surpassing 10 million viewers in only 15 days, Along with the Gods: The Two Worlds tripled returns of the US$36 million investment on…

MEET THE CANON PHOTOMARATHON XVI JUDGES

Year after year, thousands of photographers gather together for the Canon PhotoMarathon in a bid to shoot a winning photo. The participants may find it challenging trying to complete all three themes within an allocated time, but the judges don’t have it easy either! With Canon PhotoMarathon XVI Singapore 2018 (CPMSG2018) just a few weeks away, we…

BATAM, INDONESIA – A DOSE OF JAVA

Batam is an island often picked for its laid-back pace, and a spot to enjoy the power of Singaporean currency translated into massages, seafood and those buttery kueh lapis. It’s not exactly known for a lot of culture, but that can occasionally change. With more than 100 million in Indonesia coming from the Javanese ethnic…

5 TIPS FROM PAST CPM WINNERS

If you’re still holding back from participating in photo competitions due to reasons such as the lack of technical skills or equipment – don’t. If you haven’t heard, registrations for Canon PhotoMarathon XVI Singapore 2018 (CPMSG2018) is now open! This is an annual event that celebrates growth and creativity! We spoke to some of our past winners…

SINGAPORE – EATING LIKE THE LOCALS

Nothing represents the diversity of Singapore like her food. The only thing louder, above the clanging woks and bubbling broth pots, are the numerous recommendations. Katong Laksa, Chili Crab, and Hainanese Chicken Rice – we are sure you’ve heard of them. But for the explorer insistent on authenticity, we let you in on what the…

SHOPLIFTERS (FILM REVIEW)

If ever there was an ensemble movie where everyone pulled their weight, this would be it. Shoplifters is a rare example combining flawless cast chemistry with expert role distribution. And between them, a moving story unfolds. Director, writer and editor Hirokazu Kore-eda steals the heart of audiences stealthily, with vignettes drifting lazily along offering slice-of-life…

A PICTURE OF A FATHER’S LOVE: BOB LEE

When Bob left his job at Lianhe Zaobao after a decade, it was for a good reason. Finding out that his son was autistic changed his priorities, so he gave up stability in favour of flexibility to spend more time with his son. This affected his photography in ways that he did not expect. Canon…

LANDSCAPE PHOTOGRAPHY 101

In a city populated with high-rise buildings like Singapore, many yearn for the expanse of landscapes. We pin stunning images of landscapes on our office cubicles, calendars, and even choose to set them as wallpapers on our digital screens in an attempt to experience a trace of its wonder. Image Credit: @guopeiloh Image Credit: @c.k.teo Capturing landscape…

DANUR 2: MADDAH (FILM REVIEW)

Horror films. We walk in knowing what to expect. Jump scares, horrifying ghouls, the occasional blood or gore, creepy sets, all shrouded in dim lighting and anticipatory soundtrack. And Danur 2: Maddah checks these boxes, if almost a little too hastily. Amidst all the frantic action in the film, it seems that Director Awi Suryadi…

HOLDING YOUR PIXELS IN YOUR HAND

Digitalisation changed the photography landscape forever. Not only has it make photography more accessible to the masses, it also made printing photos a thing of the past. Aaron Lai can be considered an anomaly. While most might only print out pictures for commercial reasons, he enjoys the process of selecting and printing out his photography…

HOW TO PHOTOGRAPH THE MILKY WAY WITH AKASH ANANDH

When stargazing at night, ever wondered what the shimmering sea of stars which resembles a river is called? The Milky Way is the official term for the celestial phenomenon. Avid astrophotographer Akash recently took a trip to rural Malaysia to capture it! Read on to find out more about his journey, and how to get…

EOS WORLD SPOTLIGHT: TED NG

Ted’s wildlife photography journey began not long ago, but he has already amassed beautiful photos of Singapore’s wildlife. This has gained some attention from fellow photographers, but he continues to grow and experiment with his craft. We speak to him about his experience so far. Ted goes hunting for pictures with his Canon EOS 80D and Canon EF100-400mm…

THE BEST PHOTOGRAPHY ADVICE YOU LIVE BY

We all started somewhere. The professionals of today, besides a combination of hard work, talent, and skill, have become who they are through the most important aspect of all – learning and growth. We speak to six photographers across genres to find out about the words of wisdom that have shaped their craft. Taking cues…

EOS WORLD SPOTLIGHT: DIONNA LEE

Two worlds collide when you look at Dionna’s portfolio. On one end, there’s romantic styling reminiscent of classical art. On the other, her use of neon colours creates another dimension of fantasy. We speak to the creative powerhouse and uncover the inspiration behind her art. The enigmatic Dionna consults her notes amidst her greatest inspiration –…

EOS WORLD SPOTLIGHT: OOWEN ONG

You may have seen his stunning supermoon composite that was shared a whopping 900 times on Facebook – travel and landscape photographer Oowen Ong has plenty of awe-inspiring shots under his belt! We dig deeper into his unique perspective of photography through his creative process – read on to find out what motivates him to…

I KILL GIANTS (FILM REVIEW)

“I find Giants. I hunt Giants. I. Kill. Giants.” And there summises the objective of our little heroine, Barbara Thorson (Madison Wolfe). The girl is a little of an outcast at school, visually represented by a headband with bunny ears (to better connect with her spirit animal) and behaviorally with her sharp retorts and solo…

AN ODE TO BJORK’S LOSSS

When Bjork released Vulnicura, she gave in to her heartbreak. Utopia followed, and it promised the renewal of life after the fall. So when Losss came on, it was an assassination in paradise. It took me by surprise, and easily became my favourite track. Pendulous, orbital rhythm hovering above the plaintive lyrics. I couldn’t make…

BETTER LATE THAN NEVER (SEASON 2) – TRAVEL TIPS

When it comes to travel, it’s always Better Late Than Never. Find out travel tips from bloggers, including a few from myself!

UNSANE (FILM REVIEW)

An expert at the human condition, Steven Soderbergh launches a new psychological thriller Unsane – shot in secret in 2017 – and surprises with a gritty, experimental tale that challenges the mental faculties of both characters and audience alike. Sawyer Valentini (Claire Foy) is the company’s new data analyst. New to the city, she digs…

THE THIRD EYE / MATA BATIN (FILM REVIEW)

While 2017 was a fast crop year for Indonesian horror, one can expect duds as well as hits in the buffet mix from our southern neighbour. The Third Eye sits somewhere in between. It’s a project with ambitious goals – as one can certainly tell from its inspiration from western horror classics, but that is…

WHAT IS IN YOUR KIT BAG?

Ever thought “I wonder which camera was used” when you see an awesome picture? We went one step further and got in touch with five talented photographers from different fields of photography, and asked them our burning question “What’s in your camera bag?” Read on to find out what their kit essentials are, what gear…

THE PRINCESS AND THE MATCHMAKER (FILM REVIEW)

A cursed princess holds the key to reversing a drought situation for her country in the Joseon era. Or so the royal diviner says. Using the Korean art of forecasting from the “4 pillars” created by a person’s birthdate – not unlike the Chinese bazi – introducing a marriage will alter the elements and return…

LABNOSH: THE FUTURE OF MEAL REPLACEMENTS?

Okay hold the eye-roll. I’m not drinking these to lose weight. Sometimes with my schedule (and also because I’m too lazy to eat out), I have thought about having a meal replacement bar or beverage to pacify the stomach. When I came across LabNosh on Qoo10, it seemed attractive to me because of the flavour…

EOS WORLD SPOTLIGHT: LENZ LIM

When talking about wildlife in Singapore, we imagine the stray cat that wanders around at kopitiams, or the occasional monkey and otter sighting. But Lenz Lim has discovered a world teeming with it on our island. You just have to look up, or go small. Really small. Lenz Lim doesn’t mind a little extra bulk…

EOS WORLD SPOTLIGHT: JERRY LOEI

With an alias like 13seaeagle, you can expect nothing but the sharpest and keenest of eyes from birding enthusiast and Canon Singapore staff Jerry Loei. Known for his astounding photo treasury of birds, he brings to light the surprising array of avian wildlife on our little island and fosters a community that respects these beautiful…

NET I DIE (FILM REVIEW)

In Net I Die, directors Preedee Veeratum and Nuttachai Jiraanont wanted to highlight the ills of social media fame, by creating a revenge tale emerging after the death of a “net idol” – an online influencer. What comes out instead, is a cardboard cliche of a story, filled with simple-minded characters and desperate post-production efforts….

HOW TO GET PAWSOME SHOTS OF YOUR PETS

Whether they are playful or lazy, pets always bring their owners a unique dimension of joy and love. But pet years move way too quickly, it’s no wonder that pet owners want to immortalise their finest (or cheekiest) moments in photos and videos! Unlike human subjects, our furry friends don’t usually listen, or have the…

VENTURING WITH VERSATILITY: REVIEWING THE CANON EOS M6 WITH JULIAN CHEONG

Julian Cheong has amassed quite a following on Instagram, dabbling in a variety of genres in photography. Landscape, city skylines and street portraits… you name it, he’s got it covered; usually in dreamy shades of teal, pink and gold. He has been faithfully using the Canon EOS 5D Mark III since venturing into photography seven years ago….