MORGAN AWYONG

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….

THE STRANGERS: PREY AT NIGHT (FILM REVIEW)

The Strangers in 2008 created a new angle in home invasion horror, creating killers that not only toyed with their victims, but also seemingly for no apparent reason. Mimicking the “mindless” massacre of psychopaths such as Charles Manson, the un-scrubbable trauma was made real and available to the masses with Bryan Bertino’s creepy franchise. It…

HOW TO EXPERIMENT WITH PERSPECTIVES

Amongst the many ways to achieve a great shot, composition is probably the most talked about. From the rule of thirds to leading lines, the possibilities are endless. That said, perspective should be every shutterbug’s priority; it usually means the difference between an average shot and a great one, and aligns with the other principles…

KEYS TO THE HEART (FILM REVIEW)

Lee Byung-Hun has carved a name for himself inhabiting steely characters with tortured pasts. In Keys to the Heart, he reprises this formula as a down-and-out boxer, who rediscovers family relations with his estranged mum and autistic brother. South Korea’s heartwarming version of Rain Man takes the same cues from the iconic classic, featuring tropes…

SURVIVAL FAMILY (FILM REVIEW)

Yoshiyuki Suzuki (Fumiyo Kohinata) returns home after a day’s work at the office. His wife Mitsue (Eri Fukatsu) struggles to fillet a fish, while teenage daughter Yui (Wakan Aoi) princesses about the “gross” produce from her grandfather Shigeomi Sasaki (Akira Emoto). His son Kenji (Yuki Izumisawa) returns home and heads straight to the room, ignoring…

RED SPARROW (FILM REVIEW)

Ah, Jennifer “I’ve-got-range” Lawrence. Hers is the name that launches a thousand roles, but maybe that brand is starting to slip with over-exposure. Forbes’ highest paid actress in 2015 and 2016 lost her place last year to Emma Stone – a sign that maybe the starlet’s reign is over? So Red Sparrow would be like…

MARROWBONE (FILM REVIEW)

In a crumbling old house, at the top of the stairs, a mother (Nicola Harrison) draws a line in the dusty floor and announces, “our story starts here”. As her four children step over the boundary, the audience also gets pulled into a narrative that’s inventive and original, but also bewildering and occasionally frustrating. Former…

A BEAUTIFUL MOMENT (FILM REVIEW)

For those who don’t know, he sui (festive) films are celebratory movies which pop up during the lunar new year period. They have become a precursor staple to augur the holidays, much like the clanging songs, red packets and mountains of tangerines, but have noticeably waned over the years in popularity. In a way, these…

WINCHESTER (FILM REVIEW)

This show is proof that no actor is infallible, no matter how great their acting chops might be. Winchester is the story of why the eccentric Sarah Winchester built one of the America’s most famous houses. Helen Mirren plays the grieving widow and purported mentally-unsound heiress to the Winchester firearm empire. Eager to unseat her…

EOS WORLD SPOTLIGHT: ONG HAO XU

You wouldn’t be able to tell, but this quiet physiotherapy student has a popular Instagram profile that features a stunning mix of modern architecture, moving street scenes and intimate portraiture. We speak to him on his creative process when away from his studies. Hao Xu is often drawn to architectural symmetry and lines in his…

I, TONYA (FILM REVIEW)

It’s true. Our society is hardly forgiving towards those who makes mistakes. And quick to condemn at that. Tonya Harding was an Olympic figure skater, who in a 1991 competition, did a triple axel on the ice. Not was she the first American to ever do so, even after a quarter of a century, only…

EOS WORLD SPOTLIGHT: ISAAC TEO

When not studying, Isaac fills his Instagram with an impressive aesthetic feed. He manages to string architectural buildings lines with saturated street scenes and portraits for a lush feed. Find out how he collates his visuals. Could you tell us a little about yourself, and what you do? I’m 21, currently a full-time student at…

SUPERSIZE YOUR SUPERMOON SHOTS

Get ready for a special treat this 2018! On 31st January, the moon will do what it hasn’t done in more than 150 years. On that day, an astronomical event known as the super blue full moon eclipse will happen. Not sure what to do during this once in a blue moon event (pun intended)?…

YOUTH (FILM REVIEW)

By placing Youth in the timeline of the Cultural Revolution, it’s inevitable some pundits will expect a form of commentary or advocacy from the film, especially when it’s from a Mainland Chinese director. From the cushy seat of a critic, one should think nothing of asking a native director to turn entertainment into mouthpiece against…

EOS WORLD SPOTLIGHT: JIMMY CHAN

Exploring is in Jimmy’s DNA. He loves to scout out new subjects, and evolve his photography skills through his trials. Read about what he has discovered so far, and what his dreams are. Could you tell us a little bit about yourself? I started being serious about photography just 6 to 7 months ago. Apart…

THAT UNEXPECTED CHILL

Because of the weather, I had a rare chance to see a different side to Singapore. People smilingly scrunched up in jackets; hot coffee passing me by, smelling like it’s from another dimension; an odd sapped-out palette that makes everything look like a timeless print from an old newspaper. Amidst that, I enjoyed my evening…

ALONG WITH THE GODS: THE TWO WORLDS

This movie will make you want to be a better person. And entertain you while it’s at it. Most religious tenets include one of judgment in the afterlife. Along with the Gods brings a noble firefighter Kim Ja-hong (Cha Tae-hyun) into Korean purgatory, having died on duty while saving a girl. For having led an…

EOS PROFESSIONAL: TRISTON YEO

Never one to stick to a formula, Triston Yeo adapts and evolves his skills through personal experimentation. This has served him well in photography, for both work and self. Find out what makes him tick. Could you tell me a little about yourself, as well as what made you pick up photography and motivated you…

SATAN’S SLAVES (FILM REVIEW)

The 70s and 80s is having a great run in entertainment these days. From Stranger Things and Dark, to Ouija and It, the period serves itself well in the horror genre, most notably because there’s no mobile phones to the rescue. Satan’s Slave is a remake of Sisworo Gautama Putra’s 1980 film of the same…

OMG I WON

The message came in during a media movie preview session. After seeing the notification when I was exiting the cinema, I was confused. Why was this Indonesian guy on Instagram telling me that I won a Uniqlo contest? So I went over to the Uniqlo Wherever contest site and turns out, I won! My hand…

LEGEND OF THE DEMON CAT (FILM REVIEW)

When you have the venerable Chen Kaige at the helm, you can expect lush visuals that are hard to ignore. Colours, textures, movement, all come together in an airy dance that is pure foreplay to the eyes. CGI fever has overtaken many modern films in China, no doubt due to the rising younger audience who…

RING IN CHRISTMAS WITH RED AND GREEN

While red usually warns of danger, excitement and power, and green promises nature and nurture, when the two colours collide, they are a complementary duo that represents the best of Christmas. Here’s what you need to know before you get snappin’ these hues this festive season. Turn on the lights. It’s Christmas! Photo credit: Kevin Dooley…

GIFTS THAT REALLY SLEIGH – YOUR GUIDE FOR THE CANON FAN (ADVANCED)

With the list of features longer than your own gift list, buying professional equipment for the Canon fan can be a daunting task. The jargon itself can easily overwhelm, especially when you don’t have the expertise and there’s no context. Because professionals likely use cameras as tools of their trade, it’s always good to check…