GEORGE TOWN – Winner of the Malaysian National Library Book Awards 2020, David ST Loh, under the English (Adult) category for his book ‘Over Penang’, had an unlikely introduction to photojournalism – that is, over the interest of getting free flow beers.
Loh told The Vibes that he joined a photography society during his postgraduate days in the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada, because there was a beer night every month. He then volunteered in The Ubyssey, the student paper, and got hooked. He enjoyed the adrenaline rush covering the news and realised that is what he was destined to do.
Now an author and photographer, he started in the industry with The Star in 1991 and later went on to Reuters.
“When the Reuters bureau chief wanted to hire me, we had the interview in a TGI Fridays restaurant. I outdrank him and the next day he asked what happened. I said ‘you hired me’, and the rest was history.”
The award-winning ‘Over Penang’ offers captivating views around Penang. Getting savvy with his drone, he brings the eyes to new heights, capturing iconic places like the Penang Hill, Guar Perahu and the Penang Bridge.
He also captures the pulse of festivals with his drone, with vivid images of a 30m-long altar laden with offerings to Thnee Kong during the Jade Emperor’s Birthday merriment in Penang and devotees surrounding a chariot during Thaipusam celebrations in Penang.
The photos from ‘Over Penang’ were part of an exhibition during 2019’s George Town Festival.
“Most of the limited editions of our prints have been sold and just last month, they sold the final copy of one of the first limited edition prints. The prices for limited edition prints start from RM3,000 to RM15,000.
“We have just produced our second book, ‘Simply Penang’, and will be working on a few other projects for other states in the same format. So far, we have shot ‘Over Sarawak’ and have started with ‘Over Perak’. We are also venturing into converting our books into e-books and working with a listed company to produce an app for self-guided tours,” he said, on what is to come after the win announced by Perpustakaan Negara Malaysia.
In ‘Over Penang’, each image is accompanied by a long-form text that brings intimacy to the scale and lends depth to the subject. Though helmed by Loh, the editorial team consists of writer Bettina Chua Abdullah, editor Gareth Richards, book designer Allie Hill and overall project coordinator Rebecca Lee to put the book together. It was launched in July 2019.
The book is available at all major bookstores and retail outlets in Penang and Kuala Lumpur. – The Vibes, December 7, 2020
