Portraits can seem daunting especially when you first starting out. I will not speak about street photography, or street portrait as it can be two types - the ninja style where you do the deed without the subject knowing and the other where you chat up the subject and ask for a picture. These shots are done with instructions from the photographer and you do not need a camera to get trust from the subject. Directing subject is one of the key ingredients when shooting portraits. And to know how to direct the subject, you must have an idea on how a good portrait should look like. In this example during Sony's product launch of their new Sony Alpha 7 Mark 5 camera, Sony has set up a nice 'gym' in the middle of the mall with continuous lighting of blue and warm colours. When I start to shoot, I try to remember the gym shots I have seen online and in magazines. High contrast, low key portraits pops to mind. Next is to see what the model/subject is capable of. If he/she can follow instructions just give an example of what you want them to do and they will mirror the pose. After which I will micro adjust where the look, where they put their hands etc in relation to the key light (main light on their faces). For those with no modelling experience, you might have to adjust them yourself. Just make sure you ask for permission before you do so. After took a few shots, show the subject what you have taken so they have a better idea what you are trying to achieve and they will adjust accordingly. See if you can see which is shot with an old smartphone (Honor Magic 6 Pro).

Why pay so much for a smartphone when its photo and video functions are not as good as those of a Mirrorless or DSLR? Fact: The smartphone camera will NOT be as good as a mirrorless or DSLR with a good lens. There is no 'if' or 'but' simply because physics will not make an ultra-small sensor as sensitive as a big ass sensor inside the camera body. Fact Two/Too: The AI inside the smartphone has largely (not totally) mitigated the issues associated with small sensor + lenses simply by condensing what used to be an arduous post-editing process into a workflow that can be applied in microseconds. All distortion correction and colour management/science are tweaked for the vast majority of users. Any more and it will be in the realm of discerning professionals. Is it perfect? No, and that is why mirrorless and DSLRs will still have a place in imaging. Fact Three: The best camera is the one always with you. It really depends on what is in your pocket, too. If I have an old Nokia shooting 720p HD photo and video, I would be better off shooting with a Nikon or Canon. Then again, would that HD camera shoot something significant like the 2001 World Trade Centre attack? It would, but it won't be sharp, but at least you get the shot. Fast forward 25 years, and you have a smartphone that shoots pretty close to the quality of excellent film cameras, without the film grain. So what's stopping you from capturing decisive moments? The smartphones are too good for most that heck, even youngsters are going back to 2000s compact cameras like the Fujifilm cameras that I sold in partnership with MS Color in NUS/NTU flea market when digital cameras were starting to emerge for the consumer market, just for that old-school digital feel (aka Fujifilm Tokyo filter). To complain that Smartphones are not as good as Mirrorless is asking a Toyota Supra to become an F1 car. Each has a place, and it is up to the user to know which tools to use within a budget that one can accept. Besides, can a good photographer use any tools to shoot good photos? Would a good camera transform Tom, Dick or Mary into a pro? I think we know the answer: both tools and skills are needed in equal measure.

Did a relatively long video covering all the car launches at the Singapore Motor Show 2026. Video creation can feel daunting at first, but like anything else, progress comes from taking small, consistent steps. For this video, instead of focusing on individual cars, I documented the launch moments and captured all the unveils. This approach gives viewers a quick overview of what’s on display without dragging the video out with long takes. One key tip: capture your videos and photos in a logical sequence. It makes fast edits much easier and helps you stay organised during post-production.

Yes… but it’s not as straightforward as it looks. The main challenge is that smartphones don’t have a physical aperture you can stop down. That makes it hard to control the amount of light coming in, especially during fireworks shows where bursts overlap each other—something that happens a lot during the grand finale. The result? Blown highlights, flare, or a scene that just looks too bright. One of the more effective ways to manage this is by using an ND (neutral density) filter. Think of it as sunglasses for your phone. The darker the filter, the longer you can drag the shutter without overexposing the image. A 3–4 stop ND filter (ND8 or ND16) is usually a good starting point. Next, switch your phone to Pro or Manual mode. On iPhones, you’ll need a third-party camera app that allows full manual control. Aim for a shutter speed of around 3 seconds or longer to properly capture the trails and bursts of fireworks. Finally, don’t forget to shoot in RAW (DNG). Fireworks scenes are high-contrast, with bright explosions against dark skies, and RAW files give you much more flexibility to recover highlights and tweak shadows during editing. With a bit of prep and the right settings, smartphones can absolutely deliver impressive fireworks shots. Welcome to ask questions below.

What: Big Buddha Where: Hokkaido When: October 2025, late morning Camera: Oppo Find X9 Pro Why (The Story): Hokkaido is really more about the surrounding nature, trails, and road trips, and the Buddha statue is one of the unplanned road-trip destinations. Quite a lot of people at this destination, but thankfully, it's not that crowded, and one has to wait until visitors clear out some areas. How: Considering the statue's size and proximity, one really has to do this in ultrawide (0.5x in your camera or at least a 12mm lens for the camera) and use night mode to capture as many details of the skies and the internal cone that partially covers the Buddha statue. Edit consideration: Leaving one visitor felt there was a story of being in awe and gave a sense of space. Removing him from the picture using the phone's AI erase was pretty simple, and the result is quite natural, too. Cutting down the highlights to get even more details of the clouds might work, but it can be a bit too much contrast if not careful. The key thing about editing is not to make the skies too heavy. Did general sharpening before posting. Welcome to ask questions below.