Welcome 2017

Just two weeks into 2017 but it is promising to be an exciting year already. 

After some deliberation and months of preparation, Juliana and I decided to relaunch Platform with the blessings and guidance of Kay Chin. For the uninitiated, Platform is a gathering of Singapore-based photographers, who use stills, video or multimedia, to tell stories. We have bi-monthly show and share sessions where we pick two to three photographers to share projects they have been working on. 

We had our first session in Jan, with Alvin Toh, Amrita Chandradas and Bob Lee sharing the good work they have been at over the last few months/years. We’ve got more interesting speakers up in the pipeline, so follow us on the Platform FB page to be in the loop.

photo by Darren Soh

Also, big thanks to Vulcan Post & A*List for highlighting me as one of the ten Singaporean Artist to look out for this year. Working on new stuff this year, a lot more on memory and participatory photography, so stay tuned. 

Whye Kee remembers this place, an old cemetery and jungle along Old Jurong Road, as “武林山” and that his then-secret society, 72 天鬼墓, marked it as one of its homeground to groom fighters. His first training stint there was in the early 90s, when he was still in primary school.Later in 1996, he returned and spent many weeks there honing his fighting skills with his gang, 24.

Another big project for the early half of 2017 would be photographing the Cedar Athletics Team this season. As the defending champion, they have lots to prove this year. For me, getting good access and images require building rapport with the athletes and gaining their trust. It definitely helps that I was a Cedar athlete too, though.

With top sprinter, Tanisha Moghe, graduating in 2016, we are now grooming the next athlete to fill in her big shoes. Here, the sprints group are working on their drills with coach Long Nyu at helm.

With the demolition of the current sand pit in Cedar, the jumpers now have to travel out to clock in their jumps. But this is not stopping them from working hard and aiming for top spots this season.

With approximately three more months to the Championship, I will be documenting the team through the ups and downs of their journey. Let’s go, Cedar!!!

Every year, the cross country girls have two major competitions to participate - the National Inter-Schools Cross Country Championships and the National Inter School Track and Field Championships. The former requires each athlete to complete a 3.6km route in Bedok Reservoir Park, and the latter could be any distances between 800m, 1500m and 3000m ran on the track. The girls only have a few weeks in between both competitions and have to ensure that they stay fighting fit and yet injury free.

In 2016, our B and C division throwers scored a record 56 and 59 points respectively at the Championships, with most events finishing with 2 athletes on the podium. Will they be able to repeat this feat again this year?

A couple more big stories coming up next, but will share them all in due time. Follow me on instagram (@berizified) for School of Hard Knocks. Lastly, thank you all for following and supporting my work and vision. Definitely looking forward to more meaningful projects and connecting with more of you this year x