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Darren Soh

Darren Soh (born 1976)[1] is a Singaporean professional photographer recognised for his urban landscape photography, notably of Singapore's architecture. As of May 2020, he has over 25,000 followers on Facebook and close to 17,000 followers on Instagram.

Darren Soh
Darren Soh.jpg
Born1976
EducationDegree in Sociology
Alma materNational University of Singapore
Websitehttp://darrensoh.com/

Background

Early life & family

In a sharing with Invisible Photographer Asia, Darren stated that he started taking photos at nine years old. Five years later, he upgraded to a Nikon FG, a camera that he had borrowed from his father.[2] As of May 2020, Darren is married with one child.

Education

Darren was a student at the National University of Singapore (NUS) from 1997 to 2001[3] where he was a member of the university's photography society.[4] He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology.[5] For his Bachelor's thesis, Darren wrote an essay titled Deconstructing Photojournalism: Examining the Photographs in The Straits Times (2001).[6]

Early career

Darren decided to pursue a career in photography at 21 years old.[7] As an undergraduate in NUS, he was a contract photographer for The Straits Times broadsheet.[8] For some years after his graduation in 2001, Darren sought out potential clients for commissioned work while still pursuing personal projects.[9]

Photography career

Through his personal and commercial work, Darren pays homage to Singapore’s architecture. He was introduced to architectural photography as an undergraduate, following an encounter with the veteran Singapore photographer, Albert Lim when the latter was a guest speaker at NUS.[10] Darren engages with architects and developers for commercial work, having shot iconic national spaces like the National Gallery Singapore.[11]

Awards

In 2019, Darren's image of the Potong Pasir Housing Development Board (HDB) flats was the only entry from Asia that had been picked for Apple’s global Shot on iPhone challenge.[12] Darren was one of the campaign's 10 winners.[13] In December 2019, he and Aik Beng Chia brought Tim Cook, Apple's Chief Executive Officer, on a tour of Tiong Bahru when the latter had been in Singapore on a visit.[14][15]

 
Darren's winning entry for the 2019 Shot on iPhone challenge. Photo credit to Darren Soh.
Year Awarding Organisation Award Refs.
2019 Apple One of 10 selected winners for Apple’s global Shot On iPhone Challenge. [16]
2009 International Photography Awards Honorable Mention in the Architectural Category for F1scapes - Landscapes from the Singapore GP 2008. [17]
Photo District News Awarded for F1scapes - Landscapes from the Singapore GP 2008.
2008 Asia Travel and Tourism Creative Awards Bronze award for his photo essay titled Rise and Shine.
Nikon / PDN Self-promo Awards First place for Best overall Design category.
2007 Prix de la Photographie Public's choice award, first place for Nature.
2004 International Photography Awards Honorable Mention in the Architectural Category.
Commonwealth Photographic Awards Highly Commended.
Photo District News Photography Annual Student Category.

Notable works

In 2009, Darren was selected as Photo District News (PDN) magazine's 30 New and Emerging Photographers to watch.[18] The following table lists some of Darren's work over the years.

Date Collection Description Refs.
2011 Political Landscape(s) Images captured during the Singapore General Elections in 2011. Link
good deeds. great deals. A collection of 20 photos taken at thrift stores. Link
2009 Coney island Photos taken on Memorial Day at Coney Island, United States of America. Link
2008 / 2009 Marina barrage A series of photos taken at Singapore’s Marina Barrage. Link
2007 HSBC Not A Walk in the Park Images submitted for the CSR Challenge 2007. Darren was assisted by Alfred Choong, Leonard Goh and Anthony Kho for this series. Link
2006 - 2008 Building blocks Photos of Singapore’s public housing flats. Link
2006 elections Images of political rallies during the Singapore General Elections in 2006. Link
2004 NDP portraits Portraits of personnel during the National Day Parade in 2004. Link
The library project - end days Photos of an abandoned and defunct library. Link
2003 bangladesh Portraits taken inf Dhaka, Bangladesh. Link

Exhibitions

Darren's work has been exhibited in Singapore and around the world.

Year Exhbition Description Refs.
2018 Singapore International Photography Festival 2018 Darren's collection titled SS24 The Last Train was featured at the festival. [19]
Before It All Goes: Architecture from Singapore’s Early Independence Years A solo exhibition featuring eight iconic Singapore sites including Golden Mile Complex, Pearl Bank Apartments and Rochor Centre. [20]
2015 While You Were Sleeping Revisiting spaces that he had photographed at in the early 2000s. [21]
2011 Noordelicht International Photo Festival Darren's documentation of the 2011 Singapore General Elections was featured in Groningen, The Netherlands. [22][23]
2007 Building Blocks : A Portfolio of Architectural Photographs by Darren Soh A solo exhibition.
2005 Out From The Crowd : Portraits from the National Day Parade 2004
While You Were Sleeping
Love is Enough: Sri Lanka 3rd to 13th January 2005 A solo exhibition dedicated to the Tsunami victims and survivors.

Publications

Year Title Description Refs.
2018 Before It All Goes: Architecture From Singapore’s Early Independence Years A collection of nocturnal landscapes in Singapore by Darren Soh. [24]
2015 In The Still Of The Night (While You Were Sleeping) Images of iconic buildings in Singapore that were built in the 1960s and 1970s. [25]
2014 For My Son A book documenting Singaporean architecture dedicated to his son. [26]
2009 Resonance: Songs of Our Forefathers A book documenting Singapore's monuments, published by the Preservation Of Monuments Board Singapore. Darren was one of the photographers involved in the project. [27]

Other endeavours

COVID-19 print sale (2020) - Organiser & participant

In partnership with Objectifs - Centre For Photography And Film, Darren organised a public print sale to raise funds for the migrant community in Singapore. Eight Singaporean photographers including Aik Beng Chia and Mindy Tan participated in the initiative, submitting prints that can be bought for between S$80 and $S500.[28] The campaign raised S$38,800 for the Covid Migrant Support Coalition, with 183 prints sold on top of cash donations.[29]

PLATFORM.sg (2010) - Founding member

Darren was one of the 11 founding members of PLATFORM.sg - a collective for Singaporean photographers.[30] As of May 2020, the project's Facebook group has over 1,000 followers.

References/ Citations

  1. ↑ "Profile: Darren Soh". The Artling. Accessed on 21 May 2020.
  2. ↑ "FIRST CLICK: Darren Soh – Photography as Career". Invisible Photographer Asia. August 19, 2012. Accessed on 21 May 2020.
  3. ↑ "Darren Soh". LinkedIN. Accessed on 21 May 2020.
  4. ↑ Neo, Josiah. "The Singapore Spotlight: Darren Soh on immortalising our architectural history through photography". Lifestyle Asia. August 9, 2019. Accessed on 21 May 2020.
  5. ↑ "Along the Golden Mile by Darren Soh". OBJECTIFS Centre for Photography and Film. Accessed on 21 May 2020.
  6. ↑ DARREN SOH KIAN LONG (2001). DECONSTRUCTING PHOTOJOURNALISM: EXAMINING THE PHOTOGRAPHS IN THE STRAITS TIMES. ScholarBank@NUS Repository.
  7. ↑ "FIRST CLICK: Darren Soh – Photography as Career". Invisible Photographer Asia. August 19, 2012. Accessed on 21 May 2020.
  8. ↑ "Along the Golden Mile by Darren Soh". OBJECTIFS Centre for Photography and Film. Accessed on 21 May 2020.
  9. ↑ "FIRST CLICK: Darren Soh – Photography as Career". Invisible Photographer Asia. August 19, 2012. Accessed on 21 May 2020.
  10. ↑ Neo, Josiah. "The Singapore Spotlight: Darren Soh on immortalising our architectural history through photography". Lifestyle Asia. August 9, 2019. Accessed on 21 May 2020.
  11. ↑ "BUILDING ARCHITECTURE". National Gallery Singapore. Accessed on 21 May 2020.
  12. ↑ Choo Yun Ting. "Singapore's Darren Soh the only winner from Asia in Apple's global photo contest". The Straits Times. February 27, 2019. Accessed on 21 May 2020.
  13. ↑ Neo, Josiah. "The Singapore Spotlight: Darren Soh on immortalising our architectural history through photography". Lifestyle Asia. August 9, 2019. Accessed on 21 May 2020.
  14. ↑ Tim Cook. Twitter. December 11, 2019. Accessed on 21 May 2020. Retrieved from: https://twitter.com/tim_cook/status/1204605214189408256?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1204605214189408256%7Ctwgr%5E&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sgsme.sg%2Fnews%2Fapple-chief-tim-cook-singapore-urges-kids-learn-coding
  15. ↑ "Singapore iPhone photographers share experience of playing tour guide to Apple CEO Tim Cook". Today Online. December 12, 2019. Accessed on 21 May 2020. Retrieved from South China Morning Post.
  16. ↑ Ng, Jovi. “Singaporean photographer Darren Soh wins Apple’s global Shot On iPhone Challenge”. CNA Lifestyle. February 27, 2019. Accessed on 24 April 2019.
  17. ↑ "Portfolio". Darren Soh. Accessed on 21 May 2020.
  18. ↑ "Portfolio". Darren Soh. Accessed on 21 May 2020.
  19. ↑ “Darren Soh SS24 The Last Train”. Singapore International Photography Festival 2018. Accessed on 24 April 2019.
  20. ↑ “BEFORE IT ALL GOES: ARCHITECTURE FROM SINGAPORE’S EARLY INDEPENDENCE YEARS”. OBJECTIFS - Centre for Photography and Film. Accessed on 24 April 2019.
  21. ↑ "Portfolio". Darren Soh. Accessed on 21 May 2020.
  22. ↑ "Portfolio". Darren Soh. Accessed on 21 May 2020.
  23. ↑ "Best Photographers in Singapore". Merlin Frame Maker & Art Gallery Pte Ltd. January 27, 2020. Accessed on 21 May 2020.
  24. ↑ “In The Still Of The Night (While You Were Sleeping)”. IPA Online Store. Accessed on 24 April 2019.
  25. ↑ “Before It All Goes: Architecture From Singapore's Early Independence Years”. Kinokuniya Singapore. 24 April 2019.
  26. ↑ “For My Son”. The Artling. Accessed on 24 April 2019.
  27. ↑ “RESONANCE: SONGS OF OUR FOREFATHERS”. AbeBooks. Accessed on 24 April 2019.
  28. ↑ Toh Wen Li. "Photographers selling prints to help coronavirus-hit migrant workers". The Straits Times. April 14, 2020. Accessed on 21 May 2020.
  29. ↑ "FOR OUR MIGRANT WORKERS". OBJECTIFS - Centre for Photography and Film. Accessed on 21 May 2020.
  30. ↑ “About”. Facebook. Accessed on 24 April 2019.
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