Objectifs Residency & Lab for Photography and Film

Objectifs Residency & Lab for Photography and Film

Dear friends,

On last 7th December, I became speaker on photojournalism workshop again at Objectifs in Singapore. Still nervous since on 28th November I also introduced photojournalism in Indonesia at Objectifs, and the participants were so active with questions and critics (which is good). However, plus haven’t got enough sleep for 5 days, since I moved to a bagpackers hostel (with my own request to the Objectifs) where mosquitoes and bugs made my whole body itches and got scratches, made me more nervous than before. I was afraid losing my concentration. Actually, I like the hostel (minus bug bites). People are so friendly and I had roommates from different countries that made me have friends to share and laugh.

It’s holiday season in Singapore and many students and young photographers who are on vacation. So the participants were not as much as the first one. However, after the workshop, we still continued our discussion to a café with beers and snacks until almost midnight. It was fun and very relaxing.

The next one is my project. At first, I was kind of upset since my letter to some prisons in Singapore for doing my project haven’t got any respond until now and also the other one, when I wanted to make photo essay about trishaw driver, they’ve also never responded it.. I really hope that they know I was waiting for the answer, even if it’s NO. Seemed like all Singaporeans rejected me. But I didn’t give up yet. The good thing is I already made some alternatives. So I started from them.

Thanks to my wayang puppet and some sources: Mr. Namasivayam and Mr. Sam who willing to be my subjects of photo stories I made, finally I finished my project. Even I had to change my theme many times and many rejections. The project I made is about Singapore from my point of view (the people, tourism, and trishaw driver) on montage/collage photos and some people that I chose because they really enjoy their life. Different with other people/sources that I met, they are very friendly and never suspicious with me. They trust me. That’s the important thing a photographer needs.

I also came to some activities like art class at Lasalle-Sia College of the Arts (thanks to Nama, his students and also the model), joined film class, watched horror movie (which I don’t like haha), and also attended a launching of Singaporean photographers website (cool, man!). I also went to a huge book store, art shops, library, etc. On the other word, I would like to thank Objectifs to show me Singapore, a live experience that I would never forget. And thanks for put me back to the previous hotel with the same room so I could say goodbye to the loyal creative bugs at the hostel and have sleep tight.

The bad thing is I supposed to come to JIFFest! Now, I have to wait for the next JIFFest. I also ran out my Indonesian cigarettes. It’s really bothering me. It hurts me a lot when I knew cigarettes here so really expensive. If I stay in Europe, I wouldn’t be hurt to buy 4-5 euros per package. But this is Singapore, man. We’re neighbor. SGD 10-12? If I quit smoking, how about the workers at cigarettes fabrics? Thanks to Emmeline who willing to buy me Indonesian cigarettes in Jakarta so I can smoke Indonesian cigarettes again on Wednesday. You’re savior!