Privileged Photographer

My residency has come to an end but certainly not my project and my involvement with Objectifs. This residency was definitely more than just an opportunity for me to work on a photographic project.

The several photo-clinics and workshop I conducted over the past 3 months were great learning experiences for me as much as they were for the students. The formal discussions and coffeeshop-chats with them brought back memories of my first few years in photography. Despite their age, they were enthusiastic, experimental and daring. Qualities a photographer must have to survive! I was truly humbled and inspired.

It has also reminded me how important it is for an artist to purse his or her dreams despite failures, pressures from society, economic challenges and bureaucratic redtapes. Some people accuse us artists of being indulgent but remember this: we are in the business of reminding people how beautiful (or in some cases, how ugly) this world is, and the fact is people need to be reminded.

The power of pictures is tremendous and with that power the photographer have the responsibility of using the pictures fittingly and correctly to change mindsets and perceptions. The great thing about that is the photographer is the first person to ‘see’ things differently. Isn’t it such a privilege to be a photographer?

Well, it was definitely a privilege to be part of the residency program, the three months may have ended but I love my work 3000 times more.

Thank you all! -Ernest Goh



A preview of my residency project

(Watch this space for the announcement of my residency exhibition)