Drama at Changi Airport

Those of you following me on Twitter/Facebook had probably saw my update when I said I was being refused boarding because of my passport's renewal date.

I didn't blog about the incident after touching down in the US because I was too tired, still pissed and didn't want to write about this when I was still angry.

Here's what happened.

Last Sunday, Oct 24th, I was departing from Singapore Changi Airport on the SQ12 for LAX.

While in queue for security check I was stopped by a police/security officer after he checked my passport and boarding pass. He insisted that because my passport was renewed in July 2009, it was mandatory for it to be biometric in order for me to visit the US on the Visa Waiver Program (VWP).

According to the official US VWP website:

* Machine-readable passports issued or renewed/extended on or after 10/26/06: passports must have integrated chips with information from the data page.
* Machine-readable passports issued or renewed/extended between 10/26/05 and 10/25/06: passports must have digital photographs printed on the data page or integrated chips with information from the data page.
* Machine-readable passports issued or renewed/extended before 10/26/05: no further requirements.

My Machine-readable Passport (MRP) was issued in Sep 2003 and renewed after Oct 2006. Maybe the phrasing in the text is a bit confusing, but if someone were trained for these passport checking, he should damn well know that my passport fits under "issued before 10/25/05" and that no further requirements were necessary.

Alas, I wasn't aware of the exact dates and terms until I looked them up during my transit in Narita. 

Before this trip I had travelled to the US four times in the past year, three times from Singapore and once from London. Not ONCE was I stopped or even told that my passport had issues. When the security staff got my passport he went on haughtily about how I was wrong about the fact that my MRP was acceptable and in actual fact I must have a biometric passport. (Where/who could I check with at that point of time, anyway?)

So he dragged me to the boarding counter where the ground staff were, and repeated his dates and my folly, to a counter of staff who knew no better.

One of the girls attempted to reach the US customs but in vain. Shortly after that she told me they were going to take me off the flight, I heard my luggage being asked to be put on stand-by.

You cannot imagine my shock then, never in my years of travelling was I so traumatized (at such a crucial time too, the flight was due to take off pretty much then).

I couldn't help and started crying. The security guy looked away gleefully.


Eventually someone (probably senior?) on the line with the ground staff seemed to have convinced them to let me go, but they reiterated over and over how I was responsible for myself and my airfares if I was turned away at US customs and deported back to Singapore. And that they were going to ALERT the US customs that I was aware that I was committing an "offence" but still going.

I mean, seriously, IF I were wrong and yet maybe I could have had a chance at landing, why did they have to completely blow it by being unreasonable, putting me in a bind that I could do nothing about, when clearly I had no problems the previous times, where was my warning because all previous times had told me I was right? What was the point aside from making me miserable?

And all these time they were doing everything still without ACTUALLY knowing whether my passport was legible or not. Wtf?


In the end I was let on the plane, still crying and angry and scared that I was going to be deported back to Singapore. But after calming down, the more I thought about it the more it felt wrong. I definitely remembered reading that my passport was fine being MRP when I was making my first trip to the US.

During my transit in Narita, I managed to get online to check the VWP website. It was only then did I finally have a peace of mind.

I boarded the flight again from Narita, going through the security and passport check again without any problems; I landed in LAX and passed through immigration smoothly too—my passport was fine.


I still can't believe how horrendous the security guy's attitude was.

I was clearly a frequent traveller and harmless, and yet through the whole time he was being nothing but god damned happy about my misery. Least he could have done was to be human and try to be helpful or understanding or comforting or something right? Really didn't help that the rest of the ground staff were such a far stretch from being competent.

What IF there was an emergency in my family (choyx10000 touch wood) and I was taken off the flight just because someone THOUGHT he caught somebody committing an offence and can finally rake some extra credits for being sharp, WHO is to take the responsibilities here? I can't imagine the pain I could have been in. For all you know I could have killed myself out of guilt for not being there.

I really do wish I'd taken down their names, but I was so overwhelmed I couldn't think. Argh.


I guess part of the point of this post is to serve as a reminder to myself, part as a warning to everyone to be sure to check your visas and passports before travelling—be clear about all the immigration and customs terms, lest you run into problems, or be wronged by poorly-trained security/ground staff/whatever have you.

Changi Airport, it was not cool. I'm beyond disappointed as a Singaporean.

Montblanc - A Story to Tell. II

Art director: Ceres Chung
Photography: Zhang Jingna
Producer: Valerie Lam
Styling: Furqan Saini
Hair/Makeup: Joanna Koh
Models: Michalina Glen & Anthony Caracciolo/Mannequin


Done in June with my favourite AD Ceres Chung for Montblanc Indonesia~

Ceres and I have a certain mutual understanding when it comes to aesthetics, from models to clothes down to the opinions of papers used while browsing a catalogue. The peeps at Montblanc as usual were patient with us through the many location and setup changes. I couldn't have been any happier to work with such a team and as always it was a great pleasure shooting together. <3

Daniel Landroche

I met up with the very amazing Richard Pier Petit while I was in L.A., two weeks before I came back to Singapore early last month. I don't have a lot of photographer friends since I'd always been on my own, so it was really nice meeting someone who's so talented and laid back, and just talk about shooting.

At some point we talked about why I rarely photographed men, Richard then mentioned some boys from Ford LA with looks I would probably love. I was a bit skeptical because I rarely see the kind with beauty I look for, so when I received Daniel Landroche's photos they surprised me.

With some luck and many thanks to Ford's Chandra, I managed to squeeze in a shoot with Daniel just the day before my flight. I'm really glad we shot together, it was beautiful.

Photography & Styling: Zhang Jingna
Model: Daniel Landroche/Ford LA
Photo assistants: Conan Thai, Matthew Chretien
Long cardigan with straps from Gadget Grow

Special thanks to Chandra at Ford

Equipment and Where The Money Comes From

I wish they fell from the skies, but no. T_T


The answer to whether photography is an expensive hobby is both yes and no. It's relative depending on what type of photographs you are taking and what you use. But for starters, you don't need to own a studio or Hasselblad H4D to learn.

New people discover my work everyday, and I'm not oblivious to the comments of those who think I was born rich with all my wants served on a silver platter. And also for the sake of everyone else who's struggling and wondering, I figure it really doesn't hurt to recap a bit and explain.


I bought my first camera when I was 18, it was a Canon 350D, priced at roughly US$1000 with the kit lens. I paid for it myself. 

From 15 to 19 I represented Singapore for air rifle. I participated and won a decent share at my age then, the award and prize monies I received every year always went into my savings, save for the artbooks that I firmly believe were fundamental to my artistic development.

I earned my keep and took no allowances from my family. I trained five to six days a week after school all those years, on top of weiqi, micromouse and piano, it wasn't easy.

The childhood memories of our poverty and sufferings are enough to last me a lifetime no matter how things may have changed now. I don't think I'd regretted anything other than my existence, of being a burden to my mother, my family. If I could earn for myself, I'd do it, and never be a weight again.


These days a second hand entry-level DSLR goes for less than US$500. Trust me when I say you really don't need the newest model on the market.

And with the popularity of photography, I'd say most parents would get you a new one if you're well-behaved enough anyway. :D If they don't, a couple weeks of part-timing through summer break should more than settle it, just don't splurge on parties, dining, taxis and shopping. It's down to what how badly you want it, right?

I know it's easy to be a little envious about what someone else has, but take a moment to chill and think about it, about how you can work to get things for yourself just as well if there isn't someone to gift it to you. I'm sure you'll treasure your purchase even more when it's your own money, with a pretty good sense of satisfaction too.

Here're some shots taken using the 350D + kit lens with natural/available light:

No, not Twilight, thank you very much.

The moment after...

Days of Our Lives

Headphones are Stylish.

Back to the 350D kit...

I had my doubts in the beginning—whether an expensive lens would make my photos better, whether getting lights will help, whether working with a bigger space will make it more awesome. Sure, they definitely make a difference, but as a beginner with barely trained eyes, there was a lot to be learnt with just the kit lens. All there is to do is to experiment and photograph a lot. (18-55mm is a pretty good range!)

Something else that was interesting to explore was light. I got myself a second hand 1kw Arri hotlight from a friend for US$500, and rented Bowens and Profotos when I had jobs. You'd be surprised at how much you can do with just a single light alone.

Some shots done in my family's living room with one light. I always had to clear our sofa away, and it made just enough room for all of these:

Redemption

This Side Up.

Newspapers are Good for You

M.

A real cheap studio kit from your to-go camera store costs lesser than US$300 the last time I checked (two months ago).

If you're not trying for 'studio' looks, a 50mm F/1.4 could be a good investment too, it costs around US$350. There's a beautiful depth of field when the aperture is opened wide, giving beautiful bokehs (blurs) in the background. (No examples with the 350D here, I didn't get a prime lens till much later)


The actual shooting stuff aside—wardrobe was pretty much just things from my closet. Also helped by the fact that I was doing fashion design, so I had a lot of incomplete pieces from sewing classes that were perfect for layering and photography. Again, basic stuff go a long way. In my first year I'd say it's more about learning framing, light and shadows than anything else.

Post-processing wise, there's usually a photo-processing software that comes with the camera you purchase. If you want to move on to Photoshop, Lightroom, Aperture, Capture One, or other programs, you are definitely encouraged to experiment. But to begin with, your kit one is probably more than good enough.

I like to use Lightroom for cataloguing because it's really easy and you can use it for processing as well. The student edition is only US$89.


So there you go, US$900's pretty much all you need for a start with enough to last a while. It's not free, but nothing so astronomical that you can't work and save for if you want it bad enough and try hard enough.

I hope this post helps and clears up some of the mysteries! You are also totally allowed to judge my lousy Photoshop skills on these way too old pictures. But wow, seriously, 18 feels like a lifetime ago now.

I'll do a part two if anyone's interested to see the rest of my equipment upgrade journey? Now back to packing~~

Related read for this entry: My Education

Fool's Mate: SUGIZO - 月下の神託

Sugizo - 月下の神託
Fool's Mate, Vol 348, Oct 2010
Interview & text by Sachie Tojo
Photography: Zhang Jingna

Los Angeles (Pg 1-2):
Hair & Makeup: 鈴木美子; Photo assistant: Matthew Chretien
Japan (Pg 3-8):
Coordinator: Chiaki Oshima; Hair & Makeup: Tomoko Ono; Photo assistant: Shunshin


Yay more Sugizo photos~ 

The first shot was taken while I was in L.A. this June.

Sugizo and I met up in Hollywood one day and we discussed about working together again. He knew where he wanted to shoot, so we only had to run through the ideas and outfits.

On the shoot day we drove some three hours out of L.A. for my first trip to a desert. It was so hot the soles of my shoes started coming off at some point and I had to walk around with them flapping all day. -_-

I realized that I probably like shooting in the cold better, though it's probably harder for a model to perform in extreme cold as opposed to heat. (Remember Sugizo trembling as he played the violin for me during the last shoot /sweat)

This one had been more or less smoother in terms of logistics and weather~ And Sugizo's always really nice to work and hang out with. We'll probably go through more photos later when I've a bit more time. :D

The black and white shots were photographed in Japan last December, as the most of you probably already know. Time really flies doesn't it? It really doesn't feel like there'd been much and a good deal of 2010 is already over.


Scans are from the Russian Luna Sea community, stitched together with my original photos for the centre portions that were cut off.