Crossing Bridges 10 left an indelible impression on many of its participants.
During that week, we laughed, we suffered, we endured 7 days of gruelling shoots and friend-making
I'd like to start this thread documenting activities through images during that week
I would also ask participants to put down in images and words their testimonials of what they went through
I'll start first
More than a year ago after Crossing Bridges 9 in Malaysia was completed, I sat down with a group of CS'ers to begin the design and organizing of Crossing Bridges 10 which we lobbied strongly for to be held in Singapore
Clubsnap had organized 2 previous Crossing Bridges in 2005 and 2008 in HK/Macau and in Siem Reap (Cambodia). Looking back, I feel shameful that we did not host those 2 Crossing Bridges in Singapore as then I had an unhealthy attitude that there was 'nothing' to shoot in Singapore. This shame will continue to hang over my head for the rest of my life and I take it as a lesson never to be repeated.
I broke my addication to water buffalos, volcanoes, fishing villages, village children riding horses/playing with dogs, farmers ploughing padi fields , village women preparing wood fired meals and local tribespeople in ethnic costumes. We dont need these 'walking sticks' and 'crutches' to excel in friend-making and good photography.
The CB10 organizing committee recognized this early and designed 7 days of activities that showed another face of our country few tourists are privileged to witness.
We showcased our Heartlands, our people and children and we proudly showed how ordinary citizens lived in Singapore. We also showcased strength in planning and organizational abilities and we added fresh ideas . We also showed how we could get rival camera manufacturers to come and work together for a week with 7 different photography communities
Hard to believe , but Crossing Bridges was never about shooting shooting shooting. Its about different photography communities getting together once a year for a week of networking, friend-making, discussions ..... and shooting
The trip is never simple nor easy for any participant due to the crammed programming , the little sleep and very long tough days physically.
Top and Foremost on our minds while planning: How do we quickly break the ice and break up the cliques/groups of different countries that were sure to form ? How were we going to make sure everyone from every country knows each others' names?
1. Participants were split into 6 mixed countries groups after arrival in Signapore and
2. First Full Day was designed to be a physically draining day-long sufferfest . We moved out at 5am ... walked and shot ALL DAY under the blazing sun .... and returned back tot he hostel at 10.30pm ....
It worked... by dinner-time on Monday, cultural differences, language barriers and formalities were tossed aside as participants suffered earlier together and now laughed and ate together
By the end of the week, during the Closing Ceremony, the partings and goodbyes were bittersweet with more than a few grown men crying and hugging amongst themselves. Everyone was friending and adding everyone else into their facebook and whatsapp ha ha ha !!
Crossing Bridges has done its job and ensured that its message of friendship continues to spread
During that week, we laughed, we suffered, we endured 7 days of gruelling shoots and friend-making
I'd like to start this thread documenting activities through images during that week
I would also ask participants to put down in images and words their testimonials of what they went through
I'll start first
More than a year ago after Crossing Bridges 9 in Malaysia was completed, I sat down with a group of CS'ers to begin the design and organizing of Crossing Bridges 10 which we lobbied strongly for to be held in Singapore
Clubsnap had organized 2 previous Crossing Bridges in 2005 and 2008 in HK/Macau and in Siem Reap (Cambodia). Looking back, I feel shameful that we did not host those 2 Crossing Bridges in Singapore as then I had an unhealthy attitude that there was 'nothing' to shoot in Singapore. This shame will continue to hang over my head for the rest of my life and I take it as a lesson never to be repeated.
I broke my addication to water buffalos, volcanoes, fishing villages, village children riding horses/playing with dogs, farmers ploughing padi fields , village women preparing wood fired meals and local tribespeople in ethnic costumes. We dont need these 'walking sticks' and 'crutches' to excel in friend-making and good photography.
The CB10 organizing committee recognized this early and designed 7 days of activities that showed another face of our country few tourists are privileged to witness.
We showcased our Heartlands, our people and children and we proudly showed how ordinary citizens lived in Singapore. We also showcased strength in planning and organizational abilities and we added fresh ideas . We also showed how we could get rival camera manufacturers to come and work together for a week with 7 different photography communities
Hard to believe , but Crossing Bridges was never about shooting shooting shooting. Its about different photography communities getting together once a year for a week of networking, friend-making, discussions ..... and shooting
The trip is never simple nor easy for any participant due to the crammed programming , the little sleep and very long tough days physically.
Top and Foremost on our minds while planning: How do we quickly break the ice and break up the cliques/groups of different countries that were sure to form ? How were we going to make sure everyone from every country knows each others' names?
1. Participants were split into 6 mixed countries groups after arrival in Signapore and
2. First Full Day was designed to be a physically draining day-long sufferfest . We moved out at 5am ... walked and shot ALL DAY under the blazing sun .... and returned back tot he hostel at 10.30pm ....
It worked... by dinner-time on Monday, cultural differences, language barriers and formalities were tossed aside as participants suffered earlier together and now laughed and ate together
By the end of the week, during the Closing Ceremony, the partings and goodbyes were bittersweet with more than a few grown men crying and hugging amongst themselves. Everyone was friending and adding everyone else into their facebook and whatsapp ha ha ha !!
Crossing Bridges has done its job and ensured that its message of friendship continues to spread
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