PHOTOJOURNALISTS MEET 2008. VIBRANCE IN DIVERSITY.
Update: Information on His Majesty the Sultan’s 62nd Birthday celebrations can be found on the official Royal Birthday website where you have a chance to send a personal greeting.
In conjunction with the upcoming celebration of His Majesty The Sultan of Brunei’s 62nd Birthday, The Brunei Times is organising a photographic competition for all Bruneians and invited photojournalists to submit up to 6 of their best work based on the four themes. There’s also a Special Award for the best entry submitted by students of secondary and tertiary institutions
The themes are: Celebrations, People, Cultural Heritage and the Environment. Competition is divided into Two categories: Best Photo Essay Award and Best Photography Award.
A photo speaks a thousand words. Nothing is closer to this truth than a compelling photograph that not only speaks a thousand words but a thousand more! Click on the banner below for details on how you can submit your photos.
© The Brunei Times
- BRUNEI SULTAN’S 61st BIRTHDAY. A CELEBRATION OF VIBRANCE.
- SHIMWORLD FEATURE: ERIC TSANG
- DOMESTIC TOURISM. AN INSIDE JOB.
- TO SERVE AND PROTECT
Brunei Darussalam’s cultural diversity, political and economic stability give us plenty of reasons to celebrate each and every waking moment of the day. It’s virtually impossible to find someone uncompelling to photograph especially when the streets offer so much story to be told of our daily grind in one picture. On an overcast morning, I decided to head out to Kuala Belait, the town where I grew up before relocating to Seria. I had expected an uneventful drive and possibly an equally uneventful morning because I was on the road well after the morning rush had settled. Stuck in traffic at a Seria roundabout, foreign workers on their way to work caught my attention.
© Jan Shim Photography
This was the first time I visited the KB jetty after the make-over. The sight of the neatly parked fishermen’s boats was reminiscence of my last trip to Fremantle in Perth, Australia.
© Jan Shim Photography
Just as I was about to leave, three fishermen in their boat arrived with their morning catch. As the other two walked towards the nearby KB market, I caught sight of the third scooping out water that had gotten into the boat.
© Jan Shim Photography
Meanwhile, within a stone’s throw away, another group of fishermen seen enjoying the overcast morning. I was soaking up the easy and breezy morning at the pier that seemed so distant from the bustling town centre.
© Jan Shim Photography
In the remaining weeks leading up to the birthday celebrations, signboards are put up in every district.
© Jan Shim Photography
A co-worker tosses up the clamps used to secure the stilts. Safety advocates would likely frown upon the absence of personal safety equipment.
© Jan Shim Photography
Last stop of the morning, I had to have my favourite laksa and sago milk drink at the extremely popular stall in KB before I joined the lunch hour traffic. This bird is our common garden variety that has become a permanent feature where delicious human food exists. They are so used to eating leftovers that it’s so easy to find them on an just-empty table.
© Jan Shim Photography
Power of attraction through photography. A camera is never just a camera and you never know who you are going to meet. Between Q3 of 2004 and now, I’ve met so many people who have enriched my journey in more ways than one. One such example is a chance encoounter with Andrea Bloem of the Panaga Natural History Society (PNHS). At the time, I had no idea who she was except that she had this really cool LEICA telescope that she uses for bird watching. One thing lead to another and we got acquainted and now keep in touch on matters relating to local wildlife. This is evident in the big PNHS and Brunei Nature Society Seria Wetlands Outing.
Related People and Streets links
Where is your favourite laksa and sago milk stall? I am still craving for the most yummiest laksa around in KB *sigh* i am so a Laksa lover
-27-
July 4, 2008 at 12:10 pm
I don’t know about the yummiest Laksa but I know of two that are distinctly different to one another and choosing which one to have is often difficult. I’m talking about the authentic one at Lee Loi Fatt and the other at Hing Nam Hong. The latter is seriously rich and delicious not to mention I think they happen to have the best roasted chicken rice while Thien Thien’s remains the nicest steamed variety.
Some of the coffee shops that are traditionally known for their Paus have in their own right earned a reputation for other items that have patrons going back for more. Good food and most importantly, good and affordable food remains the only recession-proof business that comes to mind. Even the once feared bird flu epidemic has not in any way deterred folks from comsuming chicken!
Ditto Sago milk with ice shavings at LLF the best. The one at Seria food stalls doesn’t come close!
Jan Shim
July 4, 2008 at 12:41 pm
Did you apply the ‘pass’ for the HM Birthday already? I wonder which zones are for photog. If it is far from the ‘Royal Stand’ , a telephoto lens is a must.
Photography seems to be popular this year, and really glad that there’s a photography competition thanks to Brunei Times.
Addict59
July 4, 2008 at 8:49 pm
Seriously, we (folks from bandar) always talk about nice food in seria, kolomee, laksa, fried kueh tiaw, “lou she fan”, big pao! Rojak, etc. For folks from seria, just curious if you do find any food interesting from bandar? That is one would actually drive all the way here just for it? Well, i used to drive all the way to KB for Rojak years ago (thanks to Lee Loi Fatt now in bandar).
Jeff
July 5, 2008 at 2:29 am
Two things come to mind when it comes to food in the Brunei capital—Bah Kut Teh and Deep Fried P. Intestine (also called Fried Rectal in Hong Kong, a popular street delicacy—no offence to those who find exotic food a little hard to swallow!). Presently we have no North Indian Cuisine which I like too but that will change in time when Zaika comes to Belait and Fratini is said to open in Seria. When that happens, we’ll have two of my personal favourites: Japanese (Kaizen) and Western/Italian (Fratini) right in Seria town, a convenience I appreciate in more ways than I can express.
Jan Shim
July 6, 2008 at 3:57 pm
Yes I have made an application thanks to the convenience of submitting the necessary documents online saving me a trip to BSB. From experience, telephoto lens is your best friend in occasions like this and shoot responsibly. I have seen photographers who got dragged out by MROs and created quite a scene! Generally only accredited photogs such as newspaper journalists have the necessary media pass for the grand stand access.
Jan Shim
July 6, 2008 at 4:17 pm
My birdie! Ah… I just prefer shots of animals rather than people or objects. There is the unpredictability of animals that makes life interesting!
Pau
July 7, 2008 at 3:16 pm
“A camera is never just a camera and you never know who you are going to meet.”
Somehow I just totally have to agree with this sentence. From the moment I picked up a camera, I’ve met tonnes of people from different walks of life.
-geraldtay
geraldtay
July 7, 2008 at 7:55 pm
Hey Jan, is this competition open to the general public or just for media people? Just curious…
John
July 10, 2008 at 9:58 am
Hi John,
The Competition is open to all Bruneians and those residing or visiting Brunei Darussalam including photojournalists. In other words, it is open to the public.
For further information, please visit our website at http://www.bt.com.bn/photojournalist
You may want to have a look at the rules at http://www.bt.com.bn/photojournalist/rules
Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any further inquires. Thank you.
– Albert Chin (The Brunei Times)
Albert Chin
July 10, 2008 at 11:00 am
John,
All information pertaining to the competition can be found on Brunei Times website. Certainly the answer to your immediate question is right there on http://www.bt.com.bn/photojournalist/
Assuming you’re located in BSB, go check out the ‘Sponsorship Pledge’ ceremony that’s going to be held tomorrow (Friday) at the Rizqun International Hotel at 10.30am. Details of the event can be found in the BT article Photography Way to Promote Brunei.
Jan Shim
July 10, 2008 at 12:56 pm