Minister launches book of travel photos for charity

Manpower Minister Tan Chuan-Jin has launched a book of his travel photos to be sold to raise funds for charity.

More than $900,000 has been raised for the National Kidney Foundation, the Movement for the Intellectually Disabled of Singapore, Thye Hua Kwan Moral Society, and Cheng Hong Welfare Service Society since the book was published in May.

This was done through the sale of around 300 copies of The World We Live In, and a silent auction of eight framed prints at an event last night.

Having been an avid photographer since he joined the army, Mr Tan, who uses a Nikon D700, said: "I thought, 'why not use my hobby for a good cause?'"

He added that he sees photography as a lens on life. "There's beauty around us, it's just whether we choose to see it or not."

The 178-page book includes photos of people, landscapes and city scenes he came across during his travels to countries and cities such as New Zealand, Amsterdam, Siem Reap and Moscow.

There is also a section dedicated to Singapore which records landmarks such as the Rail Corridor and Bukit Brown Cemetery.

GIC board director and former senior Cabinet minister S. Dhanabalan was the guest of honour at last night's event at the National Library, which was attended by around 200 people.

He wrote in his foreword in Mr Tan's book: "As an artist, using a digital camera and the technology of Photoshop software, he has composed, framed and shaded the light and colours in each photograph to highlight the particular detail which had caught his attention. He shows us what an imaginative eye sees."

One of the prints, a photo of the Lake District in Britain, fetched $20,000 in the auction.

Another photo of Niagara Falls was bought for $10,000 by events caterer Neo Group's chief executive Neo Kah Kiat. "I try to bid for charity art pieces when I can, to put in the office for staff to enjoy and learn the value of giving."

joseow@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on August 30, 2014.
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