Corypha umbraculifera, the talipot palm, is a species of palm native to eastern and southern India and Sri Lanka. It is also grown in Cambodia, Myanmar, China, Thailand and the Andaman Islands. A monocarpic flowering plant with the largest inflorescence in the world, it lives up to 60 years before flowering and bearing fruits. Then, sadly, it dies shortly after.
The photos show the giant inflorescence at the top of the plant some 8m tall after the flowers have withered. There are probably a million or more green berry-looking like fruits, which take up to a year to mature.
This talipot palm has been growing near a traffic junction in an area where I often pass by, for a few decades of my life. It looks like 2017 will be the year it returns to the earth, after this spectacular display of new life...
Photos taken in Singapore in Feb 2017. © Richard W J Koh, www.amaranthine.photos, @amaranthinephotos.
]]>
]]>
This is a story I received from a kind soul at the turn of the year, which I thought worthwhile to share.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A man was hired to paint a boat.
While painting, he noticed that there was a small hole in the hull, and quietly repaired it. When he finished, he received his payment and left.
The next day, the owner of the boat came to the painter and presented him with a cheque for an amount much higher than the earlier payment. The painter was surprised and said "You've already paid me for painting the boat Sir!"
"But this is not for the paint job. It's for having repaired the hole in the boat." The owner replied.
"Ah! But it was such a small service... certainly it's not worth paying me such a high amount for something so insignificant."
"My dear friend, you do not understand. Let me tell you what happened. When I asked you to paint the boat, I forgot to mention about the hole. When the boat dried, my kids took the boat and went on a fishing trip. They did not know that there was a hole. I was not at home at that time. When I returned and noticed they had taken the boat, I was desperate because I remembered that the boat had a hole. Imagine my relief and joy when I saw them returning from fishing. Then, I examined the boat and found that you had repaired the hole! You see, now, what you did? You saved the life of my children! I do not have enough money to pay your 'small' good deed."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You never know, small good deeds may have significant consequences.
As we count our blessings for our many "leaks" repaired by others, here's to forging ahead in 2017 and putting out into the deep!
(If anyone knows the original writer of this story, please let me know.)
Photo by Richard W J Koh, @amaranthinephotos, www.amaranthine.photos
#excellence, #diligence, #boat, #story, #meaning, #putoutintothedeep, #repair, #happynewyear, #forgeahead, #countourblessings, #thanksgiving, #happynewyear2017
What child is this
on a silent night;
O Holy Night?
Joy to the world?
Boy, our minds be whirled.
It came upon a midnight clear,
which not all was held so dear.
Was it but a story?
What's with all this glory?
Angels in fields to shepherds surprise,
while a newborn incurs a king's despise.
A star brings wise men's homage.
A dream warns them of carnage.
His parents hurry him afar,
from all they see bizarre.
A birth foretold to many,
and yet many believed nary.
Of power and might they sought,
and for such it came to naught.
Mary, pray did you ponder
of what we seek yonder?
Messiah a man,
but God a man?
Would there be something simpler
than a baby so tender,
with no crib to lie on,
but a manger all forlorn?
O come all ye faithful,
O come all ye unfaithful.
Come ye
even if just to see.
Humility,
simplicity.
the first noel,
Emmanuel.
A few things I have learnt about rainbows and when and where to look for them:
1. Rainbows in the sky seen from the ground are commonly opposite to the sun with the sun unobscured.
2. The more common ones occur in slight drizzles when the sun is near the horizon. Sometimes they occur in a halo around the sun, but those are seen when the sun is overhead.
3. Due to optics of water droplets, there are always two rainbows with spectrum colour sequences opposite to each other, but the second one (usually on top) is often much less obvious.
4. The order of colours in the spectrum of a rainbow is always the same, relative to each other.
Enjoy the next rainbow and see if the above are all true.
Photo © Richard W J Koh, in New Zealand 2011. www.amaranthine.photos
#rainbow, #spectrum, #colours, #sun, #weather, #sky, #phenomenon, #optics, #water
]]>
Three-time Paralympic gold medallist (one at Beijing 2008, two at Rio 2016) Yip Pin Xiu rides in a Ferrari at the celebration parade.
The convoy carrying the para-athletes pass a crowd of supprters at Braddell Heights Community Club.
Theresa Goh, a SB4 100m breaststroke bronze medallist at the 2016 Rio Paralympics, riding in a Ferrari during the celebration parade.
Yip Pin Xiu and Theresa Goh share a light moment on stage at a ceremony at the National Library.
Students from Pathlight School (for autistic children) join in a group photo after presenting gifts designed by students at their school to the Paralympians.
An icon and sprint legend in Singapore sports, Canagasabai Kunalan, cheers the Paralympians on.
See the gallery of photos here.
]]>On one editorial assignment some years back, I was asked to photograph a notable social entrepreneur, Mr S., next to a river (or whatever we can find in Singapore that looked like a river). While I was walking with him to the "river bank", we came across this beautiful and yet ominous algae bloom in a freshwater reservoir.
He took one look and remarked: "This is like our society. The few in power and wealth on top suck everything up, until those at the bottom have nothing."
Mr S. went on to explain what he meant. The algae which bloom profusely in the water blocks sunlight from reaching the water plants below. Unable to photosynthesize, the plants then die en masse. The deluge of carbon dioxide and noxious vapours, from decomposing dead plants and dependent organisms, will eventually wipe out the aquatic ecosystem, including the algae itself.
]]>
Rio 2016 Olympics 100m butterfly swimming gold medalist Joseph Schooling returned home to a jubilant Singapore two days after his historic swim this mid August. He also broke the Olympics record at that event with a time of 50.39s, ahead of an unprecedented three joint silver medalists (Michael Phelps, Chad le Clos and Laszlo Cseh). To celebrate Singapore's first Olympic gold medal, Schooling was brought on a victory parade today (18 Aug 2016) around Singapore on a bus.
Normally, I'm not particularly keen on crowded events unless I'm on a special assignment. Something compelled me to photograph Joseph Schooling today on my own.
Schooling spent much of his youth studying and training in the US, all provided for by his parents. In the numerous media interviews, we get to know the life journey of the Schooling family, which has bore fruit for them and the nation in international sporting success. Values like faith, determination, discipline, trust and self-giving are brought to the fore.
We have much to learn from the example of Joseph's family, such as his parents' loving and dedicated support in a less conventional life path, and Joseph's enduring spirit. In sports, we see few fine examples such as him who inspire us anew in life. Grace builds upon nature. Sporting excellence holds life lessons. This experience is opening the minds of people here and perhaps elsewhere. How did he become our first Olympic champion? How should youths be nurtured? What ideals do we strive for in life? What is real gold?
This is indeed the Schooling of Singapore.
(View the gallery of photos by clicking on any of them or here.)
Fans lining a multi-storey carpark ramp waiting for Joseph Schooling's arrival at Marine Terrace.
A much awaited moment for many at Marine Terrace.
A brief message for the masses.
Joseph's father Colin (wearing the red cap) and coach Sergio Lopez Miro on the bus.
Joseph tries his hand with a photojournalist's camera amid media frenzy.
Built and run by an enterprising couple Pleun and Hennie Hitzert from The Netherlands who have called Western Australia home since 1980. Their latest addition of novel lodging is a converted Dakota DC-3 World War II plane, the interior of which is shown below.
Western Australia is larger in terms of land area than the whole of Europe and the UK. More photos of lesser known places in Western Australia maybe viewed in the gallery. Click on any of the photos here to view the webpage too.
Balingup at sunrise.
Emu on a night run in Hopetoun.
]]>
Mysterious photo taken just after a shower in a Bedok housing estate in Singapore. Look at the man in the photo and his reflection in the puddle.
This photo was from a single file on a phone camera and has not been manipulated except for very slight cropping and exposure optimization.
]]>Allan Lim, CEO/Co founder of Alpha biofuels, Co founder of The Living! Project and more recently the founder of Comcrop, Singapore’s first sustainable rooftop urban farm. A social enterprise, Comcrop has various initiatives to weave its social mission into an economically viable business model, through the use of aquaponics. In partnership with *SCAPE (a youth development centre), Comcrop’s flagship farm is located on their 6,000 square feet rooftop which will be in full operation by the second quarter of 2014. Two of the farmers are youths (one a recent graduate and another about to begin her university studies), while some senior citizens are employed to help with harvesting and packing.
Working alongside researchers and experts in the field of aquaculture, Comcrop uses aquaponics which is a system that combines sustainable aquaculture with hydroponics in a symbiotic natural environment. This is done with a continuous recirculating water system mimicking a fresh water lake ecosystem where bio-waste from Tilapia fish are broken down and utilised by the plants as nutrients. In so doing, the plants purify the water for the fish. Comcrop’s produce is natural and clean. Being a local food producer also means that crops are allowed maximum ripening and are sweeter and more nutritious by the time it is harvested for consumption.
Since the beginning of Comcrop in 2011, it’s community outreach program has engaged youth for positive social change through urban farming. One such initiative under the Farmplay framework is working with Singapore Polytechnic student leaders from the group Enactus to develop low cost community farms with aquaponics. This project has since bore fruit as Enactus students have assisted students of Victoria Junior College to create their own aquaponic farms within their school premises to support the communities in need in the East Coast district.
The Other Hundred is a unique not-for-profit photo-book initiated by the Global Institute For Tomorrow (GIFT) aimed at providing a counterpoint to the mainstream media consensus about some of today's most important issues.
]]>Replacing the old National Stadium, the Singapore Sports Hub recently opened this June replete with world-class facilities including the National Stadium, OCBC Aquatic Centre, OCBC Arena, commercial retail space, office space, Sports Hub library, Sports Museum, Visitor Centre, Water Sports Centre, Indoor Stadium and community sport facilities. The Singapore Sports Hub is poised to be the venue of choice for sports, concerts, various events, exhibitions and international trade shows in the South East Asia region.
Early construction
Round the clock construction.
Sited at a prime location well connected by major transport links, in proximity to residential areas and to the city centre. Being next to the Kallang River, water sports will be a main attraction.
The retractable roof has an LED display and in celebrating our recent National Day this August, the State Flag was displayed on it.
]]>
The audience listening attentively at what must have been a Yoda Moment (at least for me if I got his accent right) when he said: "There are very few photographers today. There are many image makers, but very few photographers. People call me an artist. But I say I am a photographer. It is a grace to be a photographer."
Art Stage Singapore 2014Asia's largest contemporary art fair.
Art Stage Singapore 2014Asia's largest contemporary art fair.
Art Stage Singapore 2014Asia's largest contemporary art fair.
Art Stage Singapore 2014Asia's largest contemporary art fair.
Art Stage Singapore 2014Asia's largest contemporary art fair.
Art Stage Singapore 2014Asia's largest contemporary art fair.
Art Stage Singapore 2014Asia's largest contemporary art fair.
Art Stage Singapore 2014Asia's largest contemporary art fair.
Art Stage Singapore 2014Asia's largest contemporary art fair.
Some of my photos of Myanmar (taken in 2012) have made it into a book entitled The Other Hundred. To me, The Other Hundred represents all those who are not in the limelight, those who are nobodies, some of whom are eking out a living, some of whom are living decent but simple lives and the tenacity of the human spirit. Often the chase is after those "on top" and the who's whos in common media. I am happy and honoured to be part of such a project to bring a balance to what people are exposed to in the media. After all, we will all end up at the same end. We all share the common diginity of being human. This is a good initiative to bring us back to the true richness and dignity of being human, without bling and glitz. I affirm and thank the organisers for such an endeavour and wish that The Other Hundred may bear much fruit-more than a hundredfold!
....................
The Other Hundred is a unique photo-book project that aimed as a counterpoint to the Forbes 100 and other media rich lists by telling the stories of people around the world who are not rich but who deserve to be celebrated.
Its 100 photo-stories move beyond the stereotypes and clichés that fill so much of the world’s media to explore the lives of people whose aspirations and achievements are at least as noteworthy as any member of the world’s richest 1,000.
Selected from 11,000 images shot in 158 countries and submitted by nearly 1,500 photographers, The Other Hundred celebrates those who will never find themselves on the world’s rich lists or celebrity websites.
The Other Hundred is available for purchase at fine booksellers worldwide and on Amazon US and UK.
]]>
Singapore skyline from the sea photographed in 2011.
Three interesting structures of prominent heritage buildings in Singapore, in front of the central business district skyscrapers. Spire of Saint Andrew's Cathedral, clock tower of Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall and the dome of Old Supreme Court which will become the National Art Gallery.
Chinese orchestra performance at a music concert at Esplanade Waterfront, with Marina Bay Sands and the skyline in the background.
Aerial cityscape from Marina Bay Sands Skypark.
Construction workers on a building undergoing renovation, shrouded in blue tarpaulin.
]]>
Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York City.
Ducks on patrol at Washington Monument, Washington DC.
Nijo Castle, Kyoto, Japan.
Marina Bay Financial Centre, Singapore
Chinatown Chinese New Year festivities, Singapore.
]]>
Rain erosion of a pile of sand, waiting after some months for use in massive building construction, has carved most a interesting sandscape. Added in Fine Art (Black & White).
]]>
Perigee Full Moon 23 June 2013, viewed from Singapore East Coast Park (personal work)
Horizon of Andaman Sea just before a monsoon storm at the West Coast of Thailand.
Cityscapes shrouded in haze (June 2013)
]]>
]]>
1. Photo documentary of Art Stage Singapore 2013, showing behind the scenes, exhibits, notable artists, guests and collectors.
2. Muse - Airs and Graces photo documentary.
New photo from Luminance Light Art Festival added to Cityscapes.
]]>
Singapore's illustrious film director Glen Goei and celebrated artists Jane Lee and Jeremy Sharma (seated), photographed for Art Stage Singapore 2013's publicity campaign.
Singapore's CHIJMES in magic hour glory.
Gallery Hours:
Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday 1–5 pm
Williamsburg Art & Historical (WAH) Center
135 Broadway, Brooklyn
NY 11211 USA
718.486.6012 or 718.486.7372
wahcenter.net
[email protected]
http://www.wahcenter.net/exhibits/2012/grandharvest/
Three of my photos being exhibited there (from The Sound of Light series):
Artist’s Statement
My three photos in this exhibition: Harvest From Above, Sky River and The Sound of Light are part of my personal series entitled The Sound of Light. Every journey that a person makes is actually a journey to his or her heart. These harvests of light were done during the moments of my journeys abroad and locally when I experienced something more than what meets the eye. The beauty of nature, light in glorious splendour, the light of joy, the light within, without the light. At times luminous, at times ominous, it is something mystical and wonderful to behold. Perhaps sometimes it speaks to us.
Harvest From Above (new)
This photo was taken from a hot air balloon, on an early October morning in 2009, floating above the Canterbury Plains of New Zealand. It was farmland as far as the eye could see. While the crop harvests were forming below, I was busy harvesting the light of such a beautiful tranquil scene and experience.
Sky River
Mountains are often mentioned in sacred texts where experiences beyond the natural occur. Photographing visions such as this one, I can only stand in awe. A brief river of clouds in the sky seen in the Annapurna Range, Nepal while trekking in 1996.
Though The Darkness
When I just got to La Push at about six o’clock in the evening after a very long drive through the Olympic National Park (in Washington State US) it was covered in fog. I went to a small restaurant at the edge of the sea and asked about the weather of the place. “Oh, it’s usually like that”, said a waitress. “But it should start to clear at about half past six”, she added nonchalantly. I waited in the numbing sea wind, hoping. When this really happened in such a mystical way at the exact time, I thought she was an angel in disguise. Sometimes when gloom is all around, remember: The Light shines in the darkness and the darkness cannot overpower it.
]]>
View all the awarded photos at: http://galleryphotographica.com/shows/2012nipa/index.php
Exhibition of Gold Medal Award winners
November 10 - 25, 2012
Studio 17
3265 17th St
San Francisco, California
Hours: Thursday-Sunday 1-6 pm
(closed Thanksgiving, November 22)
Opening reception
November 10, 6-9pm
The New Images Photography Awards features unpublished works from around the world. Photographers from 34 countries competed for $6,000 in prizes.
These outstanding works were selected by juror Rose Marasco, Distinguished Professor of Art, University of Southern Maine.
]]>
Root of a plant growing in an old ice box.
Lizard on a wall peering between two lamps.
Oranges hooked to the back of a Thaipusam devotee.
Gardens By The Bay Conservatories domes, Singapore.
A walk at Marina Bay East Garden on a glorious morning, with the view of Gardens by the Bay conservatories, Marina Bay Sands, Central Business District and Singapore Flyer.
]]>