ST exhibition with over 250 photos retells stories of past and present

SINGAPORE – As news of the deadly 2004 tsunami in Indonesia’s Aceh province started trickling in, Straits Times photographer Aziz Hussin was told to fly over to Indonesia immediately to cover the story. A flight had already been booked for him.

His journey to Aceh, however, was anything but straightforward. 

After four cancelled flights, he finally landed in Medan. A 14-hour car ride then took him to Aceh – but even this had road blocks from the start.

Mr Aziz, who worked for the national paper from the 1980s to 2016, recalled that no locals wanted to take him to Aceh, as many did not dare to drive to the disaster zone. Undeterred, Mr Aziz contacted a travel agency, which the next day linked him up with eight French journalists who wanted to travel to Aceh as well.

During the long drive, he had run-ins with members of the Free Aceh Movement, a separatist group that sought independence for Aceh. Carrying M16 assault rifles, they stopped them at the Aceh border and demanded money.

Speaking in their native tongue, he managed to get the asking price down by half.

After two days on the road, he managed to snap what ended up being the most memorable photo of his career. It depicts locals walking around debris surrounded by a large pool of water.

This is just one of more than 250 images taken by about 60 different past and present ST photojournalists featured at a new photo exhibition co-organised by The Straits Times, as part of its 180th anniversary initiative, and The Photographic Society of Singapore (PSS).

The exhibition at Selegie Arts Centre, titled

Singapore Stories: The Heart Of A Nation

, spans the Prinsep Gallery on the first floor and the Loke Wan Tho Gallery on the third floor.

It is divided into three categories – The Early Years, The Birth Of A Nation, and From Third World To First – offering a visual chronicle of the nation’s evolution from a British colony to the independent city state it is today, in addition to historical events, societal shifts and everyday life.

ST editor Jaime Ho said at the launch on Nov 7 that the photo exhibition aims to inspire interest and curiosity across all segments of Singapore society.

About 80 guests attended the event, which proved to be a big reunion for many former ST photojournalists, Mr Aziz included.

The 72-year-old said looking at his past works at the exhibition brought back many fond memories. He also reconnected with many of his old colleagues for the first time since his retirement.

Speaking at the event, Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth David Neo said: “Capturing key moments of Singapore’s history is vital to preserving our collective memory and identity.”

He expressed his appreciation to the photojournalists at the event for their role as visual historians.

“From the challenges we’ve overcome together post-independence, to moments of national celebration and times of collective reflection, your lenses have captured for posterity the emotions, the struggles and the triumphs that have made us who we are today,” said Mr Neo.

“Your photos are a visual legacy that future generations can look back on.”

Mr Aziz was one such intrepid photographer who pressed ahead in the face of danger for a good photo.

He recalled how he was passing through a town in Aceh when chaos erupted. “People were screaming and running left and right – they thought a tsunami was coming again,” he said.

Mr Aziz was on a call with his boss when it happened. “I threw my satellite phone away to take photos of the crowd. My boss thought something happened to me.”

Even though he thought he was going to die, Mr Aziz kept going straight ahead, against the crowd, to take pictures. It turned out to be a false alarm.

“They sent me to take photos. I had to file the pictures in time,” he said, when asked why he continued despite the danger.

Meanwhile, ST executive photojournalist Lim Yaohui is a nature enthusiast who volunteers to cover stories related to the environment.

A former horticulturist at the Singapore Botanic Gardens, Mr Lim joined ST first as a freelancer in May 2012, before becoming a full-time photojournalist in January 2016.

One of his favourite photos is of Inuka – the first polar bear born in the tropics and a Singapore Zoo mascot – which he took on April 19, 2018.

“The photograph I shot of him looking out into the light was quite meaningful for me because it was during his last days, before he was put down,” said Mr Lim, who added that Inuka was the last polar bear that Singaporeans will see at the Singapore Zoo, according to Wildlife Reserves Singapore.

Mr Lim also frequently utilises drones to snap photos from a new perspective. 

For instance, Mr Lim used drones to get an aerial view of the Supertree Observatory at Gardens by the Bay on Dec 27, 2019, the opening day of the observatory.

“I had the idea to get an aerial view of the observatory as there are solar panels on top, and it would be quite visually appealing with the Singapore skyline as well,” Mr Lim said.

The end product was aerial shots of supertrees surrounding the Supertree Observatory.

“(By using drones), we can look out for patterns, geometry and sense of scale from a top-down perspective which we cannot normally see from the ground,” Mr Lim said.

To fly a drone over Gardens by the Bay, Mr Lim needed to submit documents including a flight plan and an invitation letter from Gardens by the Bay.

It took him 13 days to obtain the activity permit, and he even had to call Republic of Singapore Air Force 203 Squadron Duty Controller to get clearance at least 15 minutes prior to the flight and again upon completion of the flight.

The use of drones is just one example of how The Straits Times’ photo desk has evolved by embracing new technology. 

From 360-degree visuals to interactive digital formats and fast digital delivery, the ST photo desk continues to innovate to produce compelling and timely visuals that keep pace with the times.

Those who wish to learn more about how digital technology has transformed photojournalism and the evolving role of photographers in today’s newsroom can sign up for a talk by ST’s chief photojournalist Kevin Lim and photojournalist Ong Wee Jin on Nov 22 at the exhibition centre.

ST photojournalists Mark Cheong and Brian Teo will discuss the topic of finding Singapore stories at a session on Nov 15.

Those interested can sign up for the talks at

http://str.sg/phototalks

As part of ST’s 180th anniversary initiative and the SG60 celebrations, the photo exhibition also features an interactive device that enables visitors to look at how the landscape of Singapore has developed over the years.

The exhibition will run daily till Nov 23, from 11am to 7pm, at Selegie Arts Centre. Admission is free. The third-floor gallery can be accessed only by stairs.

Partners of the exhibition are Canon Singapore, Singapore Press Club and Temasek Foundation.