MORGAN AWYONG

KUNG FU MONSTER (FILM REVIEW)

Remember that old saying about cooks and broth? Kung Fu Monster is an excellent demonstration of this proverb. Rife with a cast that vies for screen time, the script trips over itself with its littering of superfluous side comments. Assembling a motley of knavish characters, the effect becomes even worse, as they throw liners that…

PLAN YOUR PATTERNS

No question about it – our eyes are built to spot patterns. Like the ever-popular leading lines, patterns hold our attention in a pleasing way, and can be used to direct attention to another focal point or in some cases, act as the subject! Image Credit: @jooshengg Canon 5D Mark III | EF24-70mm f/2.8L II USM Patterns…

THE DEVIL FISH (FILM REVIEW)

Urban legends have a way of getting under our skin, primarily because they draw their horror from the familiar. Shared over lunch or gone viral on social media, these modern lore stay in limbo – suspended between reality and the supernatural, as people debate their authenticity. Like the popular Tag-Along franchise, The Devil Fish is…

INTIMATE STRANGERS (FILM REVIEW)

The smartphone changed our lives forever. And as a character remarks in Intimate Strangers, it’s like a black box of its owner, full of messages, emails and media they’ve collected. So is it any surprise that the content within might shock some of our closest friends or loved ones? An adaptation from the 2016 Italian…

EOS WORLD SPOTLIGHT: CALVIN SEAH

Architecture has become an urban photographer’s art gallery. Different styles, with their lines, forms and colours, dominate the city landscape, and become muses for everyone’s representation. Canon EOS 5DS | Canon EF16-35mm f/4L IS USM | 17mm | 6secs – 1.6secs | f/10 | ISO 100 The photo was combined from three exposures Calvin Seah, who has…

CHILLING ADVENTURES OF SABRINA (REVIEW)

Sabrina Spellman was a teenage witch from the good ‘ol Archie Comics that gave the cartoons some extra bite and imagination. Media incarnations have stayed faithful to the iconic character, depicting a sassy blonde who works harmless cantrips in the name of good. Catering to a generation of audience who enjoy their entertainment with a…

THE ROPE CURSE (FILM REVIEW)

A suicide is tragic enough, but there’s something extra about the image of a hanging body that never fails to chill one to the bone. So it’s not surprising that in parts of Fujian and Taiwan, that a ritual has been created to combat the horror of a person hanging by choice. It is given…

THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE (REVIEW)

Let’s get this out of the way. The hype for this film lies not in any revolutionary scares or monsters, but a gripping, masterful storytelling that brings forth the worst kind of haunting – that from within oneself. In essence, this is really horror in lyrical prose – an oeuvre to loss and the terrifying…

FROM BEHIND THE LENS TO BEHIND THE SCENES

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be part of the team behind-the-scenes at Canon? Andry Tan is not only a Canon Professional Services (CPS) personnel but also an avid photographer. What is it like to turn your passion into a career? We chat with Andry to find out. Andry at the 15th Asian Games to…

EOS WORLD SPOTLIGHT: SIMONE CASTROVILLARI

There’s something about Simone Castrovillari’s pictures that not only keeps you riveted to the moment, but also wonder about the story behind his photos. From form to face, his captures of athletes truly embody the energy and excitement of sports. Simone Castrovillari taking a break at the stands Whether it’s the Olympic Games or other…

HELLO, MRS. MONEY (FILM REVIEW)

It’s got the twisted mishaps of Hangover, the misdemeanor of Ted, and just a touch of that Crazy Rich Asian OTT display – except all wrapped up and tied with a Mainland Chinese bow on top. Hello, Mrs Money is a non-stop madcap riot, milking each unfortunate scenario made by bad decisions. And given how…

7th

I never got the chance to sing it for you but the song came on on the bus home, blooms in hand. There’s supposed to be 7 but I only had 5 because fate wasn’t good at math. Your birthday is also my cheat day, and I could roll like a cat in the sun…

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…

BURNING (FILM REVIEW)

In this world, there is Little Hunger and Great Hunger. Little Hunger is when someone is physically hungry. And Great Hunger is when a person yearns for the bigger answers, like the meaning of life, shares Haemi (Jun Jong-Seo), the female protagonist of Burning. Director Lee Chang-dong is renowned for tackling the Great Hunger in…

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…