Finally, this website is completed and running well!
I have intended it to be launched officially today for a simple reason.
Some of you who have already known me as a shutterbug back in 1998, have probably seen my humble works from a previous establishment, Jobimages.
Jobimages was set up as a family business in 2002 - 2006. I was contemplating, amid a career in Theatre, Film or Photography, when I was fresh out of a two-year stint at Medicorp News in 2002. It was just the post-911 tragedy then, and the long hours of being in the newsroom made me regroup my career priorities and wondered aloud if I was missing out much in life.
Despite of the looming recession during that time, I decided on Photography, since film and theatre were not commercially viable during that time. After some studio-assisting work with a commercial photographer, I started Jobimages on 5 March, 2002, without much planning and much against my parents’ wishes, since they thought that: (1) Singapore is not a commercially viable place to mix the arts and business together; (2) it was plain silly to ‘waste’ my education to start my own business; (3) it’s going to be tough work, man!
It was indeed tough work back then, especially during the first year where I had to give conversational English lessons to mainlanders and work as a part-time kitchen prep (or sous chef, in today’s terms) to get my basics covered. But the interesting people I met then was an opener to my sheltered life. I could still recall my first ’student’, this sweet lady from the northern part of China. Even though she was close to delivery, she was very conscientious in learning English and always had a tape recorder from the start till the end of our 12-week lessons.
I was determined to stick to my photography passion and went on working pro-bono / taking up courses to understand everything abt photography. That was when my father, a photography enthusiast himself, gave in and lent much of his support through the generous offer of his prized collection of cameras and equipment. I am not too shy to admit I’ve overused three of his most prized possessions - the Nikon S801s, F4 and 24mm to 120mm lens - to the extent that he bought a similar Nikon F4 and new lens, solely as a separate ‘collection’.
Joabimages is re-established as an extension of Jobimages‘ former success and my maturity with a clear conviction to keep it running for good. In retrospect, I folded Jobimages because I was operating too much as a OMO (one-man operation). I got tired physically and emotionally because of a great lack of rest; I lost my mojo in photography and significantly, I lost the bigger picture of why I wanted to do photography initially.
The rebirth of Joabimages marks much of the shift in my mindset and life experiences gathered during my hiatus from 2006 - 2009. I’ve gotten my degree; I’ve made new good friends; and I’ve learnt equally lots from the companies who have hired me previously.
The greatest reminders came from some of my close friends / associates. They had well-paying jobs, and they struggled initially too, when they were out on their own and roughing it out during my peak and hiatus.
But the sense of purpose and contentment on their faces reveal a different story.
It is a good reminder for me personally, during the bleak moments towards the end of 2008.
