Referring to article: http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/putting-nature-back-in-nature-photography
A couple black sheep may have earned a terrible name to nature photography in Singapore, but valid photographers here are on a mission to alter that.
The Nature Photographic Society (Singapore) (NPSS) needs to reveal that pictures of wildlife can help with conservation, by nurturing in viewers and photographers themselves an understanding of the encompassing nature.
In January it is going to establish an unique picture contest that requires participants to submit a brief writeup on the area in the picture.
It’s the first time this type of standard is being introduced in a local photography contest, according to its president, Dr Fong Chee Wai.
“Instead of simply attempting to get a great chance, photographers are prompted to consider other facets of (the area’s) ecology,” added Dr Fong, a nutrition scientist.
“This then will make people value nature more. After all, to understand would be to love, to adore would be to shield, and to shield will be to preserve.”
To entice photographers to participate in the contest, the society is offering prizes worth $20,000, including cash prizes. equipment and Canon
The newest initiative comes after several photographers in Singapore have been called out for practices that are contentious to get the ideal opportunity, including the use of lure.
In June, 62, orthopaedic surgeon Lee Soon Tai, was charged with feeding and littering endangered birds with live fish injected with atmosphere. This was after a video showing three photographers supposedly luring grey-headed fish eagles by using live fish injected with atmosphere made its rounds on media that is social in October.
She said: “NParks expects the displayed photos will cultivate a greater understanding of Singapore’s natural heritage, biodiversity and attractiveness in our City in a Garden through the lens of Singapore residents.”
Citizen scientists can promote a better comprehension of our flora and fauna and she included that appropriate documentation of biodiversity through photography by photographers and help in conservation direction.
Dr Wee mentioned the case of photographer Wong Weng Fai, who’d in the gray-rumped treeswift supplied the first evidence of cooperative breeding in May 2014. His video demonstrated the parents received help from other fowl in the feeding of the chick and the incubation of the egg, said Dr Wee.
NPSS is organising a nature photography class beginning on Sept 3 as part of a chain of events leading to the start of the contest in January. To find out more, see www.npss.org.sg.
