My first experience as an Official Photographer for National Day Parade 2015

Everything has a first time. This year National Day Parade (NDP) is suppose to be a huge event since Singapore is celebrating her 50th Birthday. The air display are bigger and with more planes. I am glad to be part of a small team of photographers to shoot officially. There are different groups of photographers shooting for different organisations. I shall not go into the details.

Being a NDP photographer, you get to shoot from various locations especially those rooftop near to the Padang where the fireworks and action took place. This year celebration, beside the audience at the Padang, the audience are also present at the floating platform where they watches the big screen of the activities happening at the Padang. 

I shall share my NDP photos in my blog. Relax and enjoy the photographs. 

If you require an event photographer, wedding photographer or any other professional photography services, do email me at see323@yahoo.com.sg . You can also message me at my  FACEBOOK account. To view my photos, click My Flicker Photos

Canon EF35mm f/1.4L II USM pushes optical frontiers to deliver stunning image quality

First Canon lens to utilise Blue Spectrum Refractive optics to offer enhanced image quality and performance.

SINGAPORE, 27 August 2015 – Canon today launched the EF35mm f/1.4L II USM, the successor model to the well-established EF35mm f/1.4L USM, which has been widely popular with both professional and advanced amateur photographers since its launch a decade ago. 

Canon continues to push the boundaries of technology with the launch of its latest large-diameter fixed focal length lens. The EF35mm f/1.4L II USM is the first model to use Blue Spectrum Refractive optics (BR optics), an optical element capable of achieving a new level of sharpness by reducing chromatic aberration when combined with concave and convex lenses. This enables the lens to render superb image quality and performance, making full use of the brightness of a large aperture.

“The EF35mm f/1.4L II USM is the first Canon lens equipped with progressive blue spectrum refractive optics to deliver a new level of image clarity and high performance for today’s photographer,’’ said Edwin Teoh, Assistant Director, Consumer Business Marketing, Canon Singapore. "Coupled with its improved magnification, this versatile lens will allow users to capture greater details in their pictures.’’

Unrivalled image quality with BR optics 

As the first Canon lens equipped with BR optics, the EF35mm f/1.4L II USM will offer unparalleled image quality. BR optics is capable of correcting chromatic aberration, thus significantly reducing colour fringing, a common occurrence found in large-diameter lenses. In addition to BR optics, the lens is made up of two aspherical lenses and a UD lens, which helps it achieve high image quality across the entire image frame from edge-to-edge.

Coupled with the excellent anti-reflectivity qualities of SubWavelength Structure Coating (SWC), flaring and ghosting issues common with wide-angle lenses can be suppressed to produce images of higher quality. Photographers can also achieve more attractive bokeh effects with the newly designed 9-blade circular aperture.

With its powerful lens composition, the EF35mm f/1.4L II USM is capable of delivering enhanced maximum magnification (from 0.18x to 0.21x). By reducing the minimum focusing distance from 0.3m to 0.28m, users will be able to get closer to subjects and shoot more dramatic close-ups. In tighter frames, small subjects can be captured more intimately while preserving intricate details.

High durability and reliability

The EF35mm f/1.4L II USM has been designed for high functionality and durability with high-grade materials. The lens elements have been reinforced with a fluorine coating, which protects the lens from natural elements such as moisture, oil and dust. The high level of water and dust resistance makes the EF35mm f/1.4L II USM a durable companion for rigorous use among professionals.

The new EF 35mm f/1.4L II USM is expected to be available in Singapore from mid-October 2015 and pricing will be advised at a later date. 

Specification Summary

Focal length: 35mm

Maximum aperture: f/1.4

Minimum focusing distance: 0.28m

Maximum magnification: 0.21x

Filter Size Dimension: 72mm

Lens Construction: 14 elements in 11 groups

Aperture blades: 9

Dimensions: 80.4 x 105.5

Weight: Approx. 760g

Food Tasting at Café Borsa

Located within the private housing estate and along the Changi Road, Café Borsa does seem like an ordinary café from outside.  It is a small but cosy café.   I was invited to try out their food together with my wife.  

There are only 6 main dishes in the menu but they are passionately created. It is somewhat a fusion of great food. They are serving hot and delicious.  I was surprised that the owner Mr. Chua is not a chef. He told me that cooking is his passion.  A plus point is that Café Borsa only uses roasting, steaming and baking methods to create their mouth-watering dishes. Indeed, everyone taste buds may differ. My wife love their signature dish Borsa Duck Confit while I go for the Baked Chicken Leg. At the same time, we love their healthy Baked Salmon.  Whether it is the duck, the chicken or the salmon, they are roasted, baked to precision.  The use of technology has come to a stage ( I am referring to an oven ) where it become a precision cooking.

The well roasted Mid Wings and potato Wedges dishes did satisfy our taste buds.  I did not try their Chicken meatball pasta as we are quite full. Beside Mr. Chua, the Café crew are accommodating and friendly.  The Café is Halal certified.  Our Muslim friends will be able to enjoy Mr. Chua cooked food.

When you do visit the Café, just remember to try out their Honey Citron.  It is Mr. Chua’s creation.  One final thing worth mentioning is their homemade mashed potato. These mashed potato come as part of the main dishes. If you have eaten mashed potato from KFC or some other restaurants, they are finely mashed, but Café Borsa’s mashes potatoes are quite different.  You feel the tasty texture of the potatoes.

Finally, I believe you will enjoy their company and more importantly, their food creation which evolved from Mr. Chua passion for cooking.  Borsa in Italian means  exchange. Therefore, Café Borsa is a gathering of people exchanging ideas, conversation and not forgetting the great food.

The video I created for Cafe Borsa

The address and contact of Café Borsa.

116 Changi Road, #01-10, Singapore 419718

Open from Monday to Saturday ( 11.30am – 9.00pm )

Tel : 63487688

Email : cafeborsa0110@gmail.com

Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cafe-Borsa/616960158449670?fref=ts


If you require an event photographer, wedding photographer or any other professional photography services, do email me at see323@yahoo.com.sg . You can also message me at my  FACEBOOK account. To view my photos, click My Flicker Photos

EZ-Link unveils winners of ‘My Journey, My Home’

SG50 Card Design Art Competition

EZ-Link Pte Ltd unveiled the winning designs of the EZ-Link ‘My Journey, My Home’ SG50 Card Design Art Competition .  Our four young talented locals have been selected as grand winners for illustrating what Singapore’s Golden Jubilee means to them in the most creative and inspiring way. They received the Award Certificates from Mr Sam Tan Chin Siong, Minister of State, Prime Minister’s Office & Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth who was the Guest-of-Honour at the Awards Ceremony today, together with 16 other best-of-show winners.

The top four winning designs have been printed on 200,000 ez-link cards which will go on sale from 4 August 2015 onwards at TransitLink Ticket Offices island-wide. Please refer to the Annex for winning designs and the order of availability of the top four winning designs.

All the 20 best-of-show pieces, including the top four grand winning pieces, have been selected by a panel of judges comprising Mr Nicholas Lee, Chief Executive Officer, EZ-Link Pte Ltd; Mr Lee Siang, Chief Executive Officer, DAS; Ms Kathy Lai, Chief Executive Officer, National Arts Council (NAC); Ms Tangie Kay, Senior Assistant Director (Marketing Communications), SG50 Programme Office, Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) and Ms Lim Bee Ling, Programme Leader, Diploma in Fine Arts at LASALLE College of the Arts.

Supported by the NAC and MCCY in celebration of SG50, the competition was opened to Singaporeans and Permanent Residents and comprised the Open Category ran by the NAC for the public and the DAS category ran by the DAS for its existing and ex- students.

Mr Sam Tan, Minister of State for Culture, Community & Youth said: “The ez-link card has been transformed into a mini canvas for our young, budding artists to express their feelings about SG50. EZ-Link, working with partners like the Dyslexic Association of Singapore and National Arts Council, has also used art as a platform to support our children with dyslexia. I am deeply heartened by such efforts to make our society an inclusive and better Home for all.”

“Ahead of the nation’s joyous birthday celebration next week, EZ-Link is proud to present a commemorative ez-link card series that captures the uniqueness of Singapore through the eyes of its people. The four cards make very special mementos for Singapore’s 50th birthday as the ez-link card has been chosen as one of Singapore’s many icons,” said Mr. Nicholas Lee, Chief Executive Officer, EZ-Link Pte Ltd. “We would like to thank our partners for making this competition so meaningful and successful and all participants for their amazing portrayals. We also hope that our humble effort will motivate children with dyslexia to continue to unleash their potential and make outstanding contributions to Singapore’s future.”

“DAS is most grateful to EZ-Link for choosing us as the beneficiary of this commemorative series of SG50 cards. EZ-Link's generous donation will make a significant difference to the learning journey of children with dyslexia who are in need of financial assistance. We are delighted that EZ-Link is issuing ez-link cards carrying the creative art pieces of DAS students island-wide. This will highlight the ability of children with dyslexia and promote better understanding of their learning difference. Children with dyslexia will also be encouraged to strive to maximise their talents,” said Lee Siang, Chief Executive Officer, DAS.

EZ-Link will contribute $0.25 from every card sold to DAS, with an aim of raising a total of S$50,000 to provide financial assistance to students with dyslexia at the primary and secondary levels from non-MOE funded schools who do not receive MOE grants for DAS programmes. These funds will strengthen learning support to students unable to afford the programmes without financial support and help them access much-needed programmes such as literacy, mathematics, Chinese language and Speech and Drama Arts, to improve their skills in these areas.

More information on the ‘My Journey, My Home’ card design art competition can be found on 

EZ-Link’s website (www.ezlink.com.sg/happenings/sg50), 

Facebook (www.facebook.com/myezlink), 

Instagram (www.instagram.com/ezlinksg)

Twitter (www.twitter.com/ezlinksg).

If you require an event photographer, wedding photographer or any other professional photography services, do email me at see323@yahoo.com.sg . You can also message me at my  FACEBOOK account. To view my photos, click My Flicker Photos