At 21, Bum Ariffin has come a long way from being the teenage delinquent. He still roams the streets but these days, with a camera to bring out the unseen beauty of Singapore. We find out what makes his shutter click.

By Azhar Jalil

Q1. How did you get started in photography?

Bum: I first became interested in cameras because my dad had been a professional photographer before retiring. Eventually, this led to me to LASALLE (College of the Arts) where I studied Film and got into photography. I had originally asked my mum for a digicam but my dad said that I “might as well get a DSLR* camera.” With that, I went around Singapore streets and began shooting daily life.

*DSLR: Digital Single-Lens Reflex, a type of camera preferred by professional photographers due to the fast and responsive performance coupled with an ability to interchange lenses and attach accessories.

Q2. What would you call your breakthrough moment?

Bum: In 2006, I got involved with Noise Singapore which is a platform by the National Arts Council to showcase upcoming local artists. Through that, I was selected to become an apprentice to Kelley Cheng, Editor-in-Chief of iSh magazine, who was looking for somebody different and out-of-the-box.

My initial project with her was a fashion spread called Unseen Beauty. The first time I submitted my work, she didn’t find the shots good enough so she sent me back to do another shoot along with some feedback. With her mentoring, I grew from there and I’m glad to have earned her trust.

Q3. What’s Unseen Beauty all about?

Bum: It’s literally about the unseen beauty of Singapore. For example, I still have people asking me where I shot the original series which was done at the mosaic wall near one of the exits of Orchard MRT station. The wall’s now gone to make way for ION Orchard but when it stood, there must have been thousands of people who pass by it daily without noticing it.

Most Singaporeans don’t really notice their surroundings so in a way, I’m capturing the essence of local locations so that people can still appreciate them when these are gone.

Q4. Your photographs don’t lie dormant in Singapore but have been picked up overseas. How did that happen?

Bum: I’ve done work for Baybeats* for about three years and recently, I was selected as one of their young upcoming photographers, being subsequently hired because they liked my crowd shots. One of my best was at Baybeats 2006 when my shot of The Posies (an alternative-rock band) got published by Rolling Stone magazine.

After that, I participated in a 2007 competition organised by the New York Institute of Photography (NYIP) when I submitted a shot of UnderXAttack performing at a warehouse in Paya Lebar. The photo went on to win First Prize in the Local Music Category and was even displayed for two weeks at Madison Avenue in Manhattan.

*Baybeats: An annual local alternative-music festival held at the Esplanade.

Q5. Impressive. So what defines your style?

I’d say my angles. Personally, I like to use wide-angle lenses to take close-up shots. For example, with the UnderXAttack photo, I was just beside the vocalist so I was able to capture him, the crowd and bring out their emotions.

Another thing that people note about my style is the colour in my shots. During post-processing, I saturate the colours to make them stand out but what really makes my photos distinct is the brown tint that I add, this makes the final image somewhat classy and nostalgic.

Q6. What fuels your passion as a photographer and as an artist?

Bum: The will to succeed. I was a failure in the past: dropping out from secondary school, put on probation for underaged smoking, street-fighting. Back then, I made my mother cry a lot so now I want to make up and see her happy; I want to put a smile on her face.

Q7. So what do you see when you look through your viewfinder?

Bum: Technically, when I frame a shot, I focus on the subject but also make sure that the surroundings complement it well.

Beyond that, I see emotions. I see the story behind the place. I’m influenced by the surroundings and I like to capture images of the street, of people living their daily lives.

Q8. There’s been some who argue that photography isn’t art. Where is the boundary between the two for you?

Bum: For me, it’s really fluid because I do both commercial and artistic shoots. Personally, as long as my work appeals to the masses, it’s art because it’s meant to be viewed by people and engaging.

Q9. With so much under your belt, where do you think you stand now?

I think there’s still a lot more for me to achieve and I want to progress, both as a person and as an artist. Currently, people criticise me for doing too many commercial shoots which is too safe because I’m basically told what to shoot.

To encourage some freedom with these shoots, I produce two sets of photos: one according to the client’s brief and the other done with my own style. It’s good to know that many of my clients choose the shots done my way. It’s quite gratifying but I’m still going on with improving myself.

Q10. Finally, to those newly bitten by the shutterbug, what advice have you got to give?

Bum: Master the basics, things like learning how to meter your light. After that, work on developing your own unique style because with that, one can really go far. Be adventurous with your photography and make your shots different from others’ because once you do, people will know you for it.

Photo courtesy of Bum Ariffin