Posted by kuotsung | Posted in After-thoughts | Posted on 17-06-2010
Events photography is something I am always not very keen to work on. Strangely, in my life, things I did not wish to have any acquaintance with always found me. But I cannot complain and I should not.
Hougang was the meeting point for the 1st day of the charity event I am tasked to document the labouring of the volunteers from a world renowned bank. Lasting for a total of 3 days, I feel lucky to have the 1st day at such a near place near my home. It allows me an easier accustomisation to the nature of the work.
It was good that I was not at all stressed from the task we were supposed to do. Maybe I am beginning to get on my grip to how event photography should work since this was not my first. Thanks to Sam for this job recommendation as well!
So it was the usual getting shots of group pictures and important personnel at work. Getting to know the group we were assigned to was not that difficult as I thought it would, since we were pre-allocated to groups with a leader and coordinator in-charged. How important was the coordinator! They really made my job so much easier than some events which I had no one to liaise with and I am alone pulling the strings and choreographed the scene without anyone knowing the expectation of my job.
Anyway, this blog was nothing about my experience with events photography. Basically I was so overwhelmed by the 3 days of reflections from what I had been through that this job surely pays me more than what monetary could provide.
Cleaning a house within a day is no easy job. Cleaning a house you only gotta see it on the day you are cleaning makes it harder. Add in scrubbing, moving, dismantling, washing, sweeping, mopping and worst of all, painting, the experience might not be ideal. And wait. The rationale behind why these residential homes need such help should give you an idea how ‘big’ a space the houses possessed. So unless anyone of the volunteers could hover in mid-air, every step taken while moving around without much balancing skill needed is a luxury.
But the 3 days of team efforts from the groups I witnessed were nothing short of excellence. They did everything with good coordination. Well instructed, they took every orders given and performed to expectations. Never mind the rankings of each individual in their respective offices. Once they donned in their event T-shirts, they were all equal for that day. No prima donnas, no divas, professionalism won their respects from me.
I felt extra and useless for I could not do anything to help them much with their work as I need to document their efforts. The feeling was not good. I had to assure myself of the need for me to do my job well though, which was to document them in the best I could. Everyone had a job to do. Some were cleaning the walls, while others could be masking areas of walls not to be painted. Mine was to capture the moments. That was my job. To be affected by thoughts of others, which might not be true is always a hazard in things we do. Thankfully the volunteers know why I am there for and I could feel appreciated.
It is always good to take away our experiences in life, no matter how good or bad the outcome is. I am so grateful to the life I am leading now, after looking with my own eyes how many under-priviledged families there are actually in Singapore. Think about it, given the tiny space some of them have to endure day in day out within their houses, sometimes a decent viewing distance from the TV could already be considered a luxury, much less a comfortable space for the kids to even study or have a computer placed there. And that is also one of the main reason the charity event is for: to provide a decent study desk for the kids to study proper. I could not agree more with what the CEO of the bank mentioning that these kids’ educations are the only way to break away from the tormenting cycle of their current income-improvished plights.
I really enjoyed very much from the 3 days. Other than tolling for 3 consecutive days, I probably should not at all be complaining much given the labouring I had as compared to the volunteers was insignificant (although the last day my contribution was no less as I was attached to a group of all-ladies team -_-). Still, the self-reflection I had was one thing, the interactions I had with the volunteers was another. Never would I thought I can meet some of the better people I could have imagined. Communications with them only makes me more confident than ever, the confidence I am still slowly grappling back since my ORD, can you believe it? But hey! The real me in speaking is coming back! My communication modules had always been scored with flying colours and as much as I always remind myself to eat the humble pies, those could not be possible without reasons right?!
But to see the genuinety of people of course takes more than one session. Saying “for the benefit of doubt” is kinda insulting to their characters, for they are definitely not someone totally turned to the other side of evil when back in office. What I feel is such initial meeting with nice people leaves oneself with hope and positivity. As much as the Chinese saying goes 萍水相逢，meaning barely well acquainted but just met a time or twice, sometimes it just takes such occurances to get you back to seeing the light of humanity. So what I might not see them again? Does it matter?
Lastly, being a photographer there and not really helping out much for the sake of the kids deprived me from truely expressing my encouragement to them. Although a few of them we actually played together, my indirect invovlement still did not allow me to give them a pat on the back. The feeling was kinda bad, for I felt in what capacity do I have to inspire them if I did nothing much in the make over. I could not have possibly done any better I guessed, except for maybe feeling hopeful for them in their future endeavours. Maybe I still need to improve on this mindset. But anyway, kids study hard! 