Straits Times story on photography


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budbudcat

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Nov 17, 2008
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Hey Clubsnap members,

I'm a reporter with Straits Times, and I'm doing a story which runs this sunday on photography in Singapore. It ties in with Steve McCurry coming here as well as the Month of Photography Asia.

Since Clubsnap is probably the largest photographic community in Singapore, I'm hoping to get some information from the members here which I can use for my story.

I'm focusing on the 'amateur' non-professionals, those of you who are not full-time photographers but are using your hobby to earn money on the side. So maybe you picked up photography recently, and after a while as your skills improved perhaps you've shot a wedding for a fee, or done a couple of events.

I'm hoping to talk to those of you who have preferrably:

a) picked up a camera for the first time less than a year ago
b) have already done at least 1 paid job, and are planning to do more in the near future

I hope you understand that going on record means I'll need your name and other details, so if you're not comfortable or rather be anonymous, then I'm afraid I can't use you.

Also if there are any hobbyists (non-professional) out there with an incredibly large camera collection and you'd be happy to share it with the rest of Singapore, (in a photograph, that is) please let me know as well!

Alright folks,

Please email me as soon as you can if you can help me out! Also, please don't private message me, the mailbox is very small.

address to : yhamid@sph.com.sg

Thanks!
Yusuf
 

Hi again!

I forgot to add: if there are any clubsnap moderators out there who know the person or team that started this forum, could you please send me his/her details? I'd like to know more details about the Clubsnap forum and it's history.

Thanks!
Yusuf
 

I think you will get so many response as this is considered free publicity :p
 

Hi Brenton, good point.

Ok guys if you do email me, can you please give me as much details about yourself as possible. And split up your lines into paragraphs please :)

Also, sorry for so many demands: can you also please put your email subject header as CLUBSNAP ENQUIRY.

thanks guys!
 

It might be worth the while for you to share your opinions about the bad press that other reporters have given this forum, for all we or anybody know, you might just be the start of another series of similar reporting.
 

As far as I know, the 'bad press' has to do with reporting on models or model-related issues. I'm looking to speak with photographers, their hobby and how they use it on the side to earn money.

Do email me if interested!
 

Hey Clubsnap members,

I'm a reporter with Straits Times, and I'm doing a story which runs this sunday on photography in Singapore. It ties in with Steve McCurry coming here as well as the Month of Photography Asia.

Since Clubsnap is probably the largest photographic community in Singapore, I'm hoping to get some information from the members here which I can use for my story.

I'm focusing on the 'amateur' non-professionals, those of you who are not full-time photographers but are using your hobby to earn money on the side. So maybe you picked up photography recently, and after a while as your skills improved perhaps you've shot a wedding for a fee, or done a couple of events.

I'm hoping to talk to those of you who have preferrably:

a) picked up a camera for the first time less than a year ago
b) have already done at least 1 paid job, and are planning to do more in the near future


I hope you understand that going on record means I'll need your name and other details, so if you're not comfortable or rather be anonymous, then I'm afraid I can't use you.

Also if there are any hobbyists (non-professional) out there with an incredibly large camera collection and you'd be happy to share it with the rest of Singapore, (in a photograph, that is) please let me know as well!

Alright folks,

Please email me as soon as you can if you can help me out! Also, please don't private message me, the mailbox is very small.

address to : yhamid@sph.com.sg

Thanks!
Yusuf
Sorry for being suspicious. With the recent bad press on models AND photographers, and the horror stories about reporters taking peoples' words out of context or pure false information being written on the paper (I am not saying this happens in Straits Times), you can't blame people worry about how they will come out in the press.

I am curious as to why you are looking for only 1 year experience photographers who start making money using their recently acquired skills. I hope you are not going to put them in bad light by portraying them into gullible people.

Perhaps you can tell us more along what lines you are going to develop your story. This will put peoples' mind at ease and you might get more responses.

E.g. you are looking for people with an incredibly large amount of gears. If I were that person, I would be worry if you are going to portrait me as someone who just spend incredible amount of money to satisfying my personal Wants and not really utilizing them fully. If that is the case, most people certainly will not want to talk to you.

Just my 2 cents.
 

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Another suspicion would be how the story would turn out in the final print after the editors have put their hand in it.

In addition, I don't see how those who "picked up a camera for the first time less than a year ago" ties in with "hobbyists (non-professional) out there with an incredibly large camera collection" unless you are doing 2 stories. It is unlikely that a newbie has a large collection, unless it was passed down maybe.
 

Hey Clubsnap members,

I'm a reporter with Straits Times, and I'm doing a story which runs this sunday on photography in Singapore. It ties in with Steve McCurry coming here as well as the Month of Photography Asia.

Since Clubsnap is probably the largest photographic community in Singapore, I'm hoping to get some information from the members here which I can use for my story.

I'm focusing on the 'amateur' non-professionals, those of you who are not full-time photographers but are using your hobby to earn money on the side. So maybe you picked up photography recently, and after a while as your skills improved perhaps you've shot a wedding for a fee, or done a couple of events.

I'm hoping to talk to those of you who have preferrably:

a) picked up a camera for the first time less than a year ago
b) have already done at least 1 paid job, and are planning to do more in the near future

I hope you understand that going on record means I'll need your name and other details, so if you're not comfortable or rather be anonymous, then I'm afraid I can't use you.

Also if there are any hobbyists (non-professional) out there with an incredibly large camera collection and you'd be happy to share it with the rest of Singapore, (in a photograph, that is) please let me know as well!

Alright folks,

Please email me as soon as you can if you can help me out! Also, please don't private message me, the mailbox is very small.

address to : yhamid@sph.com.sg

Thanks!
Yusuf
maybe you could get in touch with Bryan van der Beek on how to do your article.
 

Hey Clubsnap members,

I'm a reporter with Straits Times, and I'm doing a story which runs this sunday on photography in Singapore. It ties in with Steve McCurry coming here as well as the Month of Photography Asia.

Since Clubsnap is probably the largest photographic community in Singapore, I'm hoping to get some information from the members here which I can use for my story.

I'm focusing on the 'amateur' non-professionals, those of you who are not full-time photographers but are using your hobby to earn money on the side. So maybe you picked up photography recently, and after a while as your skills improved perhaps you've shot a wedding for a fee, or done a couple of events.

I'm hoping to talk to those of you who have preferrably:

a) picked up a camera for the first time less than a year ago
b) have already done at least 1 paid job, and are planning to do more in the near future

I hope you understand that going on record means I'll need your name and other details, so if you're not comfortable or rather be anonymous, then I'm afraid I can't use you.

Also if there are any hobbyists (non-professional) out there with an incredibly large camera collection and you'd be happy to share it with the rest of Singapore, (in a photograph, that is) please let me know as well!

Alright folks,

Please email me as soon as you can if you can help me out! Also, please don't private message me, the mailbox is very small.

address to : yhamid@sph.com.sg

Thanks!
Yusuf
Hi Yusuf,

Since you're coming from an official angle and showing an interest on making an article on clubsnap based on information collected from some of its members, it would be wiser 'knock on the door' to let the admins and mods know about your intentions before starting this.

I know you're doing your job here but we have our job to do too protecting the interests of the forum and its members from bad press and unscrupulous reports which might harm the image of the forum.
 

Hello!

Ok I already have some good responses, perhaps I should clarify that I'm 'using' clubsnap as an avenue to find photographers who fit my story angle, rather than writing about clubsnap as a forum that 'produces' these photographers. In fact, I'm really only interested in featuring clubsnap as one of the many places where local hobbyists share their passion etc.

Naturally, since there are thousands of photographers here, this is the best place to find hobbyists for my story. I just noticed you're a moderator actually, would you be able to help me out with some of the background and history of Clubsnap?

Thank you, and keep the mails coming.

Yusuf
 

Hello!

Ok I already have some good responses, perhaps I should clarify that I'm 'using' clubsnap as an avenue to find photographers who fit my story angle, rather than writing about clubsnap as a forum that 'produces' these photographers. In fact, I'm really only interested in featuring clubsnap as one of the many places where local hobbyists share their passion etc.

Naturally, since there are thousands of photographers here, this is the best place to find hobbyists for my story. I just noticed you're a moderator actually, would you be able to help me out with some of the background and history of Clubsnap?

Thank you, and keep the mails coming.

Yusuf
Hi Yusuf,

Our background and history can be found here - A Brief History of ClubSNAP article - and you can contact me via email ( darren_@_clubsnap.com ) if you require more detail.
 

Hi Yusuf,

Since you're coming from an official angle and showing an interest on making an article on clubsnap based on information collected from some of its members, it would be wiser 'knock on the door' to let the admins and mods know about your intentions before starting this.

I know you're doing your job here but we have our job to do too protecting the interests of the forum and its members from bad press and unscrupulous reports which might harm the image of the forum.

yes, i agree. sorry if we have a rather dim view of the newspapers when it comes to reporting.. but CS suffered enough grief from your colleagues thru their 'reportings'.

yusuf, please direct your enquiries to our Admins Darren or Edmund via email or PMs.

and for any CSer who likes to have your 15-min of fame in our local media (if you like the thrill of seeing your name in print), please be mindful that while your views DO NOT represent CS, your statements WILL invariably be linked to CS, whether you mean it or not. i don't think we all need to be reminded of what happened the last time the newspapers interviewed some CSers here, rite? so, pls think twice before you agree to give an interview? best is to let our Admins handle this.
 

yusuf,

some advice. its clear to me that since your article is about photography and not about clubsnap, just leave clubsnap out of the article and you will save yourself the trouble of people here accusing you of trying to put clubsnap and/or its members in a bad light.

:bsmilie:
 

Thanks darren,

Will get in touch with you soon.

Yusuf
 

Its not about doing anything wrong, but a bad record always garners some skepticism. Its not the first time that the ST/ New Paper/ WanBao / ZaoBao/Today etc, etc reporters have put interviewees' answers totally out of context and portrayed them in a very negative light instead.

I remember some years ago a few friends were interviewed regarding how they earned money on the sidelines due to their 'inside' knowledge of a certain trade. After which, they were completely 'killed' by the publicity that it generated.

Or more recently, the very superficial reporting of the bicycle sport and value of the bikes in general, and thus indirectly the idea of the bicycle trade in SG which made many think that its a very lucrative trade, which in reality its not.

And the worst part is, nobody gets to see what will be printed until it gets printed. So can you help not be skeptical ? :dunno::think:
 

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i don't think we all need to be reminded of what happened the last time the newspapers interviewed some CSers here, rite? so, pls think twice before you agree to give an interview? best is to let our Admins handle this.

Please do remind us...i am sure few of us joined recently and would like to know what was reported.:think: Its simply mind boggling to imagine the details. :dunno:
 

I agree with KangS, even recently some 'models' was casually invited by Newpaper, Wanbao, etc. They sounded positive and friendly in person, but when the article came out it, the portrayal sounded somehow unflattering.
 

yes..good intentions most of the time don't get translated properly in the print.
 

First of all, i do not appreciate censoring of my comments that goes against the direction of where this topic is going.

Secondly, here's the original article which made everyone edgy about being interviewed by the media.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Young and eager, many girls are readily posing for male photographers for small
fee, even free
The pay could be as little as $15 an hour for a two-hour photoshoot.
But there is no shortage of women agreeing to pose – sometimes in lingerie or
bikini – for mostly male photography buffs, say organisers.
The “models” are mostly teens, fresh-faced and eager to build up their
portfolios. Some even agree to pose for free.
Indeed, a community of at least 30 active models has sprouted over the past
year. They take part in weekend photoshoots advertised mainly on online
photography forum Clubsnap.
The outings range from outdoors fashion shoots to those where the models pose
in bikinis on Sentosa’s beaches or in lingerie in studios and hotel rooms.
A new model can, on average, earn about $30 an hour for a two-hour shoot with a
group of four to 12 photographers. More seasoned ones can get $200 an hour.
Some girls waive the fee in exchange for a CD of the photos from the
photographer.
On any given weekend, there are six to 10 photoshoots advertised on Clubsnap,
and others which are held privately. Amateur and hobbyist photographers, mostly
males aged between 18 and 60, are charged $18 to $250 each.
As many as three models are hired for each shoot, ensuring a 4:1 or 6:1
photographer-to-model ratio that is rated ideal. Private one-on-one photo
sessions can be arranged by paying a little more.
Mr Mike Tan, 35, a professional photographer who has been organising shoots for
the past eight years, said the models are getting younger. “In the old days,
they would be about 18 to 25, now they are usually 14 to 22.”
He gets as many as 50 e-mail messages daily from girls hoping to launch their
modelling careers. Some indicate they are open to posing in lingerie or
swimwear.
He also “talent-spots pretty girls” through their blogs. He said most readily
agree to taking part in shoots or are at least piqued enough to discuss them
over coffee.
There are also organisers as young as Mr Mervin Lee, 19, a music student at
Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts. He has no problems sourcing for models. “I quote
a price – you take it or leave it. There are many others to choose from,” said
Mr Lee, who has been setting up shoots since January.
He first took part in such events as a photographer but switched to organising
them, lured by the chance to earn cash.
“It’s also a very social part-time occupation,” said Mr Lee, who once earned
$200 from a single shoot. He has more than 20 models whom he engages for
outdoor fashion shoots.
At photoshoots, participants can chat with the models or suggest poses but are
not permitted to touch them.
Still, Ms Fiona Lee, owner of Fiona’s Models, Talents And Events Management,
would rather not take chances and turns down requests for her girls to do
“private group shoots”.
She cautions her models not to do so, especially when the shoot is in an
“in-house studio”.
One organiser, Ms Sophia Lin, 17, said there are a handful of photographers
known to be touchy or overly friendly with models.
To ensure there is no hanky-panky, she is present throughout the shoots
involving her models. She often has older friends in tow to help out as
minders.
Some models are careful about the jobs they take. Popular model Celestina Tiew,
19, a student, said she works only with organisers who are her friends.
Asked if she fears the possibility of her photos being disseminated widely
without her consent, she added: “I don’t sign a contract. But if you never do
nude shoots, you won’t have your pictures ending up in pornographic websites.”
She has turned down offers to pose in the nude because she is “not daring
enough”.
Ms Lin, who is waiting to enter a polytechnic, said organising shoots using
models in the nude is out for her. But she observes that “sometimes the girls
will take off their bras and cover themselves with their hands or a towel”.
The distribution of obscene materials is prohibited under the Undesirable
Publications Act.
The penalty is a fine not exceeding $10,000 or imprisonment for a term not
exceeding two years or both.
Lawyers also caution that those working with models under 16 may risk running
afoul of the Children and Young Persons Act.
Under this law, anyone found committing or abetting an obscene or indecent act
with those under 16 can be fined up to $5,000, or jailed up to two years, or
both.


Young girls posing in bikinis or lingerie for money – is it appropriate? Have
your say at www.straitstimes.com

Model mania
“I quote a price – you take it or leave it. There are many others
to choose from.”
MR MERVIN LEE, 19, a music student who sources for photoshoot
models
 

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