#Ecoclick Nature Photography Talk Series

Earlier this month, Earthlink NTU Nature Guiding Committee organised the #EcoClick Nature Photography Talk Series as part of the #EcoClick2017 Nature Photography Competition. Prominent Nature conservationist, Dr Shawn Lum, experienced Nature photographers Dr Chua Ee Kiam and Ms Kathleen Yap were invited as guest speakers for the event. They shared their views on the importance of Nature Photography on the conservation of Nature and also their personal Nature photography experiences. Aspiring Nature photographers got to learn and discuss about the basics of Nature photography and how to get started on it!
The first speaker was Dr Shawn Kaihekulani Yamauchi Lum, President of Nature Society Singapore (NSS) and a tropical rainforest ecologist. Dr Shawn talked about how conservation has changed over the years in Singapore. In recent years, Nature groups in Singapore have been taking strides in conservation efforts despite some setbacks they have faced in recent examples. The dichotomy between development and conservation has been a question Singapore has faced since many years ago. One example is Senoko, Marina South development where the government reclaimed land and covered over a freshwater lake that was present there in the past. Although conservation groups lobbied against this development and made a report about it, the failure in this case was how the report was phrased in a way that made it seem like the conservationist stance was that there are only 2 possible sides: pro-development or pro-nature. This did not bode well for conservation efforts as it made the issue seem very rigid and non-negotiable. Conservation is a multi-faceted complex problem and many factors can play a role in determining the degree of success.
In addition to speaking about various conservation issues, Dr Shawn Lum also spoke about the role that Nature photography plays in Nature conservation. Photography is important because it is through photographs that convey emotion, nostalgia and uniqueness that compels people to stop in their tracks and spare some thought about our environment in Singapore. In the practical aspect, it plays an important role in documentation and is convenient in disseminating information such as pictures of the names of old Chinese graves in Bukit Brown, which is one of the largest Chinese graves outside of China. Photography as a conservation tool is not limited to animals but humans as well. Photographs of indigenous people compel actions to protect them. Through photography, people can understand that there are unique species in Singapore that can only be found here and it is of utmost important that people protect them. Some examples are the Singapore green snail and the Singapore freshwater crab. We want a future whereby we are documenting live animals and not dead/extinct ones.
Dr Lum also mentioned about how NTU is home to many uncommon and rare animals, such as the endangered Sunda Pangolin. Something must be done to conserve these Biodiversity. Dr Lum ended his presentation with a quote from Kathy Moran, Senior Editor of natural history in National Geographic, “You really can’t have successful conservation without photography shining a light on it.”
Dr Chua Ee Kiam, as the second speaker, gave some pointers on how Nature photography works and shared his experiences on Nature photography. Dr Chua is a Senior Consultant with the National Dental Centre. He is the Grand Prize Winner of the ‘City in a Garden’ Photo Competition 2012 and First Prize Winner of the Nikon/ Fox Channel Photo Competition 2013. He also won a local and five book international awards. Dr Chua is very experienced and he mentioned that he could differentiate between an amateur and a pro by the way one holds the camera! Neat, right? Dr Chu’a sharing is titled ‘Nature Photography— How it is done’. While we attentively listened to his words, we were also presented by Dr Chua’s own amazing work throughout his talk. Nature photography is not as easy as it sounds. Behind those gorgeous and breath-taking photographs are the many hours of waiting and perseverance. As Dr Chua pointed out, at the end of the day, the photogenic opportunity comes by chance. Be alert for these opportunities!
The downside of the job, however, is how you will realize that the object of your photographs can disappear anytime. According to Dr Chua’s experience, there were many instances when this had happened to him personally. Plants disappear immediately the next day after its photo was taken. Why? One of the most probable reasons is the selfish desire of some visitors to pluck the plants out and keep the plants for themselves. “This is quite ironic. People love Nature by keeping Nature,” Dr. Chua said. So the lesson is: when you see the opportunity, take the shot.  There might not be a next time.
Lastly, a youth Nature photographer, Ms Kathleen Yap, shared her take on Nature photography.  Ms Yap was a finalist in the 2015 National Geographic Photographic Competition, and have had works featured in the Daily Bruin, Business Insider, Huffington Post and Yahoo. Her journey to various parts of the world opened her eyes on what Nature has to offer. Ms Yap’s sharing is titled ‘Natural Connection’. Her captivating photos, the essence and energy preserved in every single one of them, allow the viewers to simply appreciate the beauty of Nature presented before us. “How far are you willing to go to tell a story unknown to people?”, Ms Yap exclaimed.
The highlight of the talk was the Q&A session. The audience were very enthusiastic in knowing more about the speakers’ views on Nature photography and various issues. One interesting question, in particular, asked the speakers about the danger of the job. “Do you have any near-death experience while doing your job?, “ asked a member of the audience. The speakers proceeded to share their experiences. The words that are surely very important for every aspiring Nature photographers to hear came from Dr Chua. He answered, “This job is dangerous. You need to be aware of your surroundings all the time. One wrong move and you might be transported to the hospital the next minute. But that is just how it is. We do this dangerous job because we love it and we know it is worth the danger.” “At the end of the day, it is what you believe your work is doing”, Ms Yap added. “What impact do you want your work to have? Keep doing it if you think it will be worthwhile.”
For interested people out there, don’t be afraid and give it a shot! You don’t need expensive gears to start. As suggested by Dr. Chua, you can start small with any digital camera you have. Nature Photography is not just a form of art, but also a way for us to document and preserve the beauty of Nature, and ultimately, show it to the rest of the world. Because to the world, that one shot may be the one that saves a species from extinction. So take up your camera, explore some nature sites, and be on the lookout for those picture-perfect moments!