ST photojournalists share stories behind their pictures

SINGAPORE – Photography buffs had an opportunity to learn first-hand what it takes to produce the photographs featured in The Straits Times from executive photojournalist Mark Cheong and photojournalist Brian Teo.

The duo shared the stories behind their photographs during an hour-long session on Nov 15 at the Selegie Arts Centre as part of the ST180 Photo Exhibition, Singapore Stories: The Heart Of A Nation.

Mr Cheong shared with a crowd of 40 the joys and challenges of finding Singapore stories over the 12 years he has been with the paper, while Mr Teo – the team’s newest kid on the block, having joined in 2024 – spoke about the stories he has unearthed. 

At another talk on Nov 22, ST’s chief photojournalist Kevin Lim and executive photojournalist Ong Wee Jin will speak about the digital shift in photojournalism.

Visitors to the exhibition, which runs daily from 11am to 7pm till Nov 23, will be taken on a visual journey through the lenses of ST photojournalists past and present, who have captured history alongside Singapore’s growth from a British colony to an independent, thriving nation. Admission is free.

Featuring more than 250 photos, the exhibition – a collaboration with The Photographic Society of Singapore – highlights significant milestones in the Republic’s history, including the early years before independence and the post-independence years that saw it flourish from a third- to a first-world country.

Early images, such as a bustling crowd of hawkers surrounding the Padang taken in 1947, capture scenes younger generations may not have witnessed before.

Also showcased are iconic images such as the Trump-Kim summit held in Singapore in June 2018, ST’s coverage of the Sars and Covid-19 pandemic, National Day celebrations over the years, and a visual tribute to Singapore’s founding father and first prime minister Lee Kuan Yew.

Over 200 images are displayed as a digital slideshow due to space constraints. Visitors can also take home a piece of history, as some of the images are available for sale on

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