Category: Altered Reality

A Solo Ballerina

Lip Seng

One of my two gold medals winning slides from Los Angeles International Salon was this violet colour derivation image of a ballerina. Actually, I was lucky to win the Gold, Silver, Bronze Medals in the same year (22nd Los Angeles, held in 1978) out of my four slides submitted. This particular image utilized strong lines and pattern elements. The saturated colours further enhanced the visual impact. The ballerina was invited to perform at this outdoor environment just outside the Singapore Military hospital (presently Alexandra Hospital).

Tough Job

Lip Seng

This appears to be a set-up image; in fact, this was captured at a local construction site. I remembered the weather was rather cloudy and the lighting was flat. However, I had the intention of converting the blank sky into a deep, saturated blue with diazo film right even when I took the shot. This is another example that illustrates how an outstanding image can be created from an ordinary scene in daily life.

This image won a silver medal of the 10th CPA International Salon, Hong Kong, held in 1969. This picture was one of the 24 slides that helped me achieve the FRPS distinction in 1970. This is one of the National Gallery, Singapore, Permanent Collections.

The Red Hose

Lip Seng


This image won one of the Pewter Tray Awards during the 25th Singapore International Salon, held in 1974. Making full use of the strong lines and pattern of our local Housing Board buildings, the only colour added here is from the violet diazo film onto the staircase. Lighting has played an important part for the visual impact of the image. The figure served as the centre of interest, providing a human touch to the scene.