Alvin Soon

Writer & Photographer

Photography

The 3 Things That Make an Interesting Photograph

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I struggled to answer when a friend asked me how to take better photographs. She was a beginner, and I didn’t think inundating her with concepts like ‘the decisive moment’ would help.

I thought about it and realised that a simple way to improve your photography is to look for three things: an interesting subject, an interesting background, and interesting light.

Interesting is subjective, but you know it when you see it. Good photographs usually have two of these elements, but great photographs have all three. … Continue reading

Visiting the Steve Jobs Theatre

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I recently attended the launch of the iPhone X, which was the first event ever held at the new Steve Jobs Theatre in Apple Park, Cupertino. While Apple’s new iPhones were beautiful, it was the Theatre that really captivated me.

As you walk up a small hill dotted with trees, the Theatre rises up from the crest in front of you. The circular roof appears as if it’s floating off the ground, miraculously supported by tall, curved glass and nothing else. … Continue reading

Portrait of a Grungy Fighter

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When I walked past these abandoned workshops, I knew I had the perfect place to photograph my trainer Douglas. Douglas has trained in Jeet Kune Do, Bruce Lee’s martial art, and teaches a movement class that focuses on mobility and mastery over your own body.

Douglas has a look that just says ‘grunge’ and that’s how I chose to treat these images, adding heavy contrasts and faded colours. … Continue reading

I Won a Photography Award!

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Just realized that it’s been nearly a year and I haven’t written about it here. Last year, my first travel photography feature, In Search of Old Japan, won the Media Publishers Association Singapore’s Online Photography of the Year award for 2015.

Alvin Soon in Seoul

I took the selfie above, the morning after learning about my win. I was in Seoul, South Korea, shooting my second travel photography feature, Craftsmanship in South Korea. I wanted to thank the team that worked hard with me to make the feature happen, so I uploaded that photo to Facebook with a big shout-out to everyone involved. … Continue reading

One day in Phnom Penh

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The Preah Ang Dorngkeu Shrine in Phnom PenhI visited Phnom Penh a month ago, traveling together with the people from Panasonic and our guide, photographer Gunther Deichmann. It was only for a couple of days, and I didn’t know what to expect, never having been to Cambodia.

I was surprised. Phnom Penh touched me more than I thought it would. The people I met were warm, friendly and unassuming, and the place was bursting with light and colour. I wrote more about the stories behind the photos here. … Continue reading

Baby Niece’s First Photographs

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My one month old baby niece
Now, something very different for me. I took my niece’s baby photos for my sis-in-law. She was so cute!

I’m not 100% with the results, but it was a great learning experience for me. Thanks to my brother and sister-in-law for the opportunity. … Continue reading

Airbnb’s ‘A Night Through Time’ at the Esplanade

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‘A Night Through Time’ at the Esplanade
I was grateful to have been a part of Airbnb’s ‘A Night Through Time’ event, held over the National Day long weekend.

As part of the SG50 celebrations, Airbnb, in collaboration with Singapore50 and the Esplanade, held a contest for a special two day, one night stay inside the Esplanade’s theatre.

‘A Night Through Time’ at the Esplanade

They created a nostalgic 1960s flat right on the Esplanade’s stage, giving the winners a trip through time, bringing them a taste of past and present Singapore. Zhiwen won the contest for her and her family; they were so sweet together and I was happy to have had this chance to photograph their time in this unique home. … Continue reading