150,000 and still counting

Since April 2008, when we bought Nikon D3, we decided that it will be good for TILT to keep track of the shutter count so that we can be prepared when the camera may fail. In a short period of 2 years and 3 months, we realised that we have already taken 150,000 photos to date.

150,000 definitely sounds like a big number. Considering that we do not go for photoshoots every day, this certainly is quite a huge number. As such, we decided that we can do some quick mathematics. To our surprise, that is an average of about 180 photos taken in a day, a pretty digestable number.

Having said that, during our peak periods, the number of photoshoots can be pretty overwhelming. Recently, in the month of June, we did a reality check and realised that we were out on photoshoots for 21 days out of 28 days (and that is inclusive of Saturdays and Sundays). On certain days, we can be rushing for places to places for photoshoots. In fact, just in early June, there was 5 photoshoots happening in 1 single day. Our photographer was shooting from 8am – 10pm. Well, there are breaks in between where it is used for travelling and meals, but nonetheless, it definitely can be very tiring.

So, what exactly is shutter count? Why does it matter? How do you keep track of it?

The shutter count is the number of pictures that a camera has already taken. Shutter count is actually the laymen’s way of saying it. The actual term is known as actuations. The shutter blades are delicate mechanical parts, and are subjected to wear & tear. They are generally the first thing to fail on a digital SLR.

For entry level cameras (Canon Rebel, Nikon D80, etc.) the shutter is rated for 50,000 shots.
With mid-range cameras (Canon 40D, Nikon D200) it’s 100,000 shots.
With professional cameras it’s over 200,000 shots.

Note than any given camera can fail sooner or last much, much longer. These numbers are just guidelines. At any rate, the lower the shutter count, the better.

For those who are interested in finding out your camera’s shutter count, you can download the free Opanda IExif where you can then use it to check on your camera’s shutter count.

For the record, this is the photograph taken which was our registered 150,000 shot. This was taken at Jalan Besar Stadium on 16 July 2010 for a S-league match between SAF FC and Home United FC. The photo shows the contrast between Home United’s celebration and SAF FC’s disappointment after Home United had scored a goal. For the record, Home United won 5 – 2 at the end of 90 minutes.

We are still counting and we definitely will be looking to getting a new DSLR soon.

Inspiring Sporting Singapore Photography exhibition and Interview

The Inspiring Sporting Singapore Photography exhibition is now on at most National Libraries. TILT is honoured to have been selected by Singapore Sports Council to contribute photographs for this exhibition which is being held from 2 May 2010 – 26 August 2010.

With a theme of Excellence, Friendship and Respect, our chief photographer was also honoured to have been selected by Singapore Sports Council to be interviewed by CNA, which was conducted on 25 June 2010.

“There is not a single genre of photography which will be able to provide you with a full spectrum of emotions within 10s (for 100m dash) to 90 minutes (for soccer). It is only in Sports Photography that you will be able to capture the joy, the sorrow, the anger and the agony all within such a short period of time.” revealed TILT’s Chief Photographer, Tay Ling.

“Behind each and every photograph is an actual story. This story serves to inspire everyone to pick up sports. And the beauty of this is that all of us have a part to play in it! Not everyone can be good in sports. But all of us can do our part to aid Singapore in becoming the Sporting Hub. We can do our bit in playing a supporting role, whether in sports photography, sports marketing, sports event management or sports journalism and more!” as he shares on his passion in sports photography.

With the recent conclusion of the FIFA 2010 World Cup, Tay Ling also shared that his dream is to be able to take photographs at the Fifa World Cup before he stops clicking on the shutter.

Below is the news article which was published.

Below is the video clip of the segment which was shown on Channel 8.

We Did It!

We did it!

As much as this is the tagline used for NTUC Club U Sports Awards Night 2010 collaterals, this tagline also goes to show how much we take pride in our work. In the space of 12 days, we managed to complete the following:

1) Proposing of master creative

2) Sourcing for Talents

3) Conducting of 3 full days of photoshoot

4) Designing of the following
a) Logo
b) Master Creative
c) Series of 5 Giant Pole Banners
d) Entrance Arc
e) Series of 4 Curved Wall Banners
f) Series of 12 Pillar-Wrap Banners
g) Backdrop
h) Invitation Card

It is without a doubt that as we have our in-house copywriter, designers, photographer and account servicing personnel, are we then able to complete the work. Of course, having an understanding and good client like NTUC U Sports is a must as well. They had worked with us through the weekends, rushing the designs for approval and coming back to us with precise changes. This resulted in a win-win situation for both parties.

The idea behind the collaterals was to create a formally casual impression. This sets the tone to a closure for U Games 2009 as well as the new beginning which U Games 2010 will experience. A celebratory pose against the beautiful landscape of Singapore to let everyone know that with the correct attributes, they will be able to achieve. Everyone’s achievements are measured differently.

You are successful, not necessarily due to the fact that you came in first, but it could be that you dared to try in the first place. You have excelled, not necessarily due to the fact that you are a star player, but it could be that you had put the team as top priority in the first place. They have all done it because they had all believed, in the first place, that they can do it.

“Wow! Pretty damn impressive! The folks at NTUC Club are all very impressed with the design concept of the U Sports Awards Night Collaterals!”
Terence Koh
Executive
NTUC Club, U Sports Department

Below are the series of collaterals which were created.
Master Creative

Series of 5 Giant Pole Banners

Series of 4 Curved Wall Banners

Series of 12 Pillar-wrap Banners

A Tribute to STB’s Ken Low

The folks at TILT read with deep surprise at the news that Singapore Tourism Board’s Assistant Chief Executive (Marketing), Mr. Ken Low, had passed away suddenly at the age of 49. The composer of the hit musical, Chang & Eng, passed away on Wednesday night due to pneumonia.

Mr. Low had also made the Uniquely Singapore campaign for the Tourism Board of Singapore and had made attempts to make the international marketing of Singapore an international destination. We came face-to-face once during one of our projects for Prime Minister’s Office – PS21 division where we were doing a photoshoot to showcase the various projects that have done well and Singapore Tourism Board was one of the agencies that have done well.

The travelpod was what we were supposed to showcase and when Mr Low appeared at the photoshoot, he gave us a shocker. Our original plan of how the photoshoot should be was totally thrown off and Mr. Low insisted that we should have the photoshoot conducted in the travelpod. In his very own way, he demanded the highest excellence while providing imagination and creativity instantaneously. When his fellow colleagues were tired from the photoshoot, he urged and motivated them to put on the best expression to ensure that the best result was achieved.

Below is the final result of the photograph taken.

We salute the efforts of Mr. Low in all that he did and how he had brought Uniquely Singapore to Your Singapore. We hope all of you can join us as we pay a final tribute to the modest man who gave his all.

Be Inspired by Sports Photography

The Singapore Sports Council (SSC) has launched the Inspiring Sporting Singapore Photography Exhibition in support of the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games (YOG). Declared open at the Sengkang Sports and Recreation Centre, one of the venues of the exhibition this morning by Mr Charles Chong, Chairman, Government Parliamentary Committee for National Development and Environment and Member of Parliament for Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC, the exhibition aims to reach out to members of the public who visit the SSC’s Sports and Recreation Centres (SRCs) and the Public Libraries, and will culminate in a showcase of Singapore’s young athletes who will be participating in the YOG.

For more information, please click here.

A big THANK YOU

TILT was tasked to come up with 2 creative buy advertisements, leading up to a half page advertisement in SPH’s Lifestyle Fashion Season Supplement. With a crazy timeline, Singapore Workforce Development Agency came to TILT as they had full confidence in our ability to deliver.

After receiving the brief on 15 April, the design and concept for the the 2 strategic creative buys were made by 16 April afternoon. With the full corporation of the client, we managed to complete the final artwork by the evening. What was up next was even more challenging. Over the weekend, photoshoot was arranged with 3 personnel on 19 April. During the photoshoot (which we were given only 1 hour to do make-up and to conduct the photoshoot), we had to complete the interview with them as well. Once the photoshoot was done, the designers in office were on standby mode to work on the editting of the photographs and preparation of artwork. Working hand-in-hand with our copywriter, the design draft was ready by 3pm.

All sign-offs were coordinated, logos were obtained and changes were made by 20 April. With the ad submitted on time (after WDA had requested for a slight extension), we received this note of encouragement from our client today.

Would like to say a big THANK YOU to you and your team for staying with us on the recent retail advertorial.
The advertorial won’t have been possible without you guys. It was a mad mad rush and we went through it all to see it come to fruition. The advertorial was on print on yesterday’s ST Life pg C13.
Thanks for everything sincerely!

Cindy Lee (Ms)
Senior Manager
Singapore Workforce Development Agency
Corporate & Marketing Communications Division

This certainly is a good way to let us enjoy our weekend!

To view the photographs taken for the advertisement, click here.

I Came to Party

TILT was at City Alive! 2010 as the Official Photographer and we were treated to an exciting show at the tracks in front of the Pit Building. With Space Cowboy (United Kingdom) making his debut appearance in Singapore at the City Alive! 2010, along with other international acts like DJ Sarasa (Japan) and All Area Crew (Japan), it was a real treat for the party-revellers as they partied the night away. Joining these world-class acts are Singapore’s very own DJ Andrew T, DJ Inquisitive and Singapore top B-boys, Radikal Forze to bring the party anthem to the heart of the city.

Organised by the People’s Association (PA) and People’s Association Youth Movement (PAYM), City Alive! took place for the third time. With a turnout of about 8,000, what we felt was the feature of the night on 20 February 2010 was the flash mob dance performed by PAYM. With synchronised movement, grooving to the beat of “I Came to Party” by Cinema Bizarre (feat DJ Space Cowboy), it was truly a sight worth waiting for.

View the video below to see the happening party sight!

The collective dance at the Singapore Pit Building (beside Singapore Flyer) kicked off this year’s City Alive! Singapore’s BIGGEST street dance party. In fact, this is probably the largest flash mob dance ever in Singapore!

View the video below to see the media preview flash mob.

To view the photographs taken, click here.

Asia’s Grandest Street & Floats Parade

Into its 38th year, Chingay Parade Singapore, the Asia Grandest Street and Floats Parade proved to be even grander and more impactful in 2010. As a fully sold-out event this year, the Parade Organisers, ie the People’s Association ( a Singapore government community agency) and Singapore Tourism Board relocated the parade to a stretch of 1 km road in front of the Pit Building (Beside the Singapore Flyer where the F1 was held) and the Singapore Flyer to accommodate more local audience and tourists.

Since its inception in 1973, Chingay Parade Singapore has evolved into one of the most exciting international events in the region. Reaching out to huge crowds and highly rated by local and foreign audiences, this colourful and spectacular parade made a name for itself in Singapore as well as in the region and beyond. With traditional dragon and lion dancer seizing the parade by storm, the participants also witnessed fire-crackers (A sight not seen in many years)! Other dazzling performance includes legendary well-loved tales (Butterfly Lover, Puteri Gunung Ledang and Indralogam), the story of Yellow River, Samba Singapore! Gyrate.

TILT, as Official Photographer, was on site to witness truly one of the most significant tourist events in Singapore during the Chinese New Year Period.

To view the photographs taken, click here.

Revamping with a roar

This Chinese New Year season witnessed how the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) gave tradition a huge revamp. Lion dance has long been a common sight along the streets during the festive period. With an increasing number of people able to appreciate hip hop dancing, the traditional lion dance was put through a huge revamp.

The large crowd that gathers around the performance is proof enough that this is a roaring success! From the typical “No, I am in a rush” to the “Ohhh” and “Ahhh”, the change in the mindset of the busy Singaporeans were definitely refreshing to witness. Their handphones came out quickly and many were seen videoing the session.

DJ Space Cowboy (United Kingdom) and DJ Sarasa (Japan) came down specially to Ion Orchard on 19 Feb to catch the performance as well. The celebrity DJs certainly were intrigued by the performance and when everything ended, they rushed forward to take pictures with the performers.

TILT was definitely fortunate to be present at Merlion Park, Clarke Quey, Changi Terminal 2 and Ion Orchard to witness this roaring success. We applaud STB for making Singapore even more unique!

Catch the lion dance below:

To view the photographs taken, click here.

Where U Truly Matter

It seems just like yesterday when we started working with Education Services Union (ESU) on their re-branding exercise. In the early days of 2008, we were recommended by one of ESU’s contacts and ESU decided then to hear us out and listen to what we have to say about their rebranding exercise.

The tagline which we subsequently proposed “Where U Truly Matter”, successfully encapsulated what all union members can experience when they join ESU. What followed then was a series of re-branding work which includes the following

Design of Corporate Stationary

Design of Corporate Brochure & Folder

Production of Corporate Identity Guide

Building of Stock Photography Library

Design of Launch Video (in Flash)

This relationship continues till this day and with the recent conclusion of the production of their corporate video, we look back and we are truly happy that both parties have truly benefitted from this relationship.

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