Category: Prize-winning

Under Construction

Lip Seng

“Man at work” has been my favourite photographic subject all these years. This is another image from my FRPS pictorial panel in 1970. The montage of the lith film with the original to darken the sky has obviously enhanced the visual impact of the entire image. The bias relief effect created by such treatment has helped to further emphasize the simplicity of the composition. This image won a special prize in the 12th Romania International Salon in 1979. This is one of the National Gallery, Singapore, Permanent Collections.

Three Workers

Lip Seng

One of my more successful international salon pictures was taken in the ’60s. The Outram prison in Singapore was being demolished then. This was not a set-up image: I just managed to capture the three workers going back to work after their morning tea break. This image illustrates the importance of being at the right place and time to capture a good image. I montaged the original trans with a piece of positive film to create the bias relief effect. This transparency won a plaque at the 16th Worcestershire International Salon, UK in 1968. This is one of the National Gallery, Singapore, Permanent Collections.

A Rough Journey

Lip Seng

This is another image from my FRPS pictorial panel in 1970. It was also the Gold Medal winner of the 6th Como International Salon of Italy in 1969.

I have applied Diazochrome Derivations technique onto this image. This time the original was montaged with a piece of violet diazo film. The location of the picture was at Changi, a site planned for development at that time. The worker (Samsui laborer) was set up to create the picture that I visualized.