Through “Rebirth”, we hope to challenge one’s paradigm of peace. Reflected in the [eight] photographers’ diverse personalities, point of views and backgrounds.

Rebirth … In the case of this exhibition, it means seeing the old in new light, removing the colours and to see images in black and white, to project the starkness and uniqueness of the subject, without distraction from vibrant hues.

Hidden away along busy Jalan Ampang, it’s easy to miss Picture This & That (PT&T) if one does not keep a lookout for it while driving by. The best thing to do would be to use the British Consulate as a landmark -- PT&T is right beside it. The Ampang Park LRT station is just a four-minute walk away, and you would have better luck finding it as this route involves just walking straight ahead and looking to your right for mansion number 183.

A long avenue, reminiscent of country homes built during Colonial times, leads visitors towards the beautifully kept double-storey bungalows that house PT&T. Everything, from the interior decorations, the arrangement of exhibits to the layout of a buffet lunch, is done with tasteful deliberation while the relaxed atmosphere reflects the unassuming friendliness of its proprietors, Belinda Siew and Gillian Tan.

What started out as a commercial photography studio twelve years ago, within the vicinity of the bohemian Central Market was reborn two years later as Picture This & That, a studio specializing in black & white photography. The studio was relocated from Central Market to Taman Seputeh before finally settling in its current location.

“The idea of serving the community while doing commercial work has always been part of our business’ philosophy,” explains Gillian. “Even when we had our small shop within Central Market, we dedicated the corridors just outside of it for small exhibitions. Now that we have an ideal place to do that, it could be better organized and done on a larger scale.”

“We do not see this place as merely a studio or an exhibit place. We have set up a hall, known as the Peace Bar, where people can come for quiet interludes and food during lunchtime in a relaxing atmosphere. We open from 11:30am -2:30 pm daily on weekdays for anyone to just drop by, either to enjoy the atmosphere, to eat, to relax, to chat, to explore the place or to quietly meditate. We actually have rooms and pavilions for that, to serve as quiet times, and also for group retreats,” adds Belinda. “We like to make it conducive for the public and photography enthusiasts alike to hang out in.”

“For the photographers,” quips Gillian, “We run workshops upon requests, with external trainers. Workshops could be anything, from how to do computerized photo-editing to darkroom techniques. Fees start from RM250 per person for each workshop, but that depends on whom we engage as the instructor. These are conducted on weekends to suit the time of participants who might be working or studying during the weekdays. We also have darkroom facilities for rent to photographers who are interested in doing their own developing and printing.”

Could these workshops have given birth to the talents whose works are being exhibited now?

“Some of the photographers are our workshop participants and some aren't. Some are serious hobbyists. We threw the theme for them to ponder over and they responded by submitting their pieces. We encouraged them to submit quality pieces, not in quantity. And exhibiting as a group not only gives them courage in numbers but also a more three-dimensional representation of the theme "rebirth". To many, "rebirth" means many different things. But one thing we know it is -- it is a new start from something that was. And this gives us hope, a chance to improve and learn from the past. As a group of exhibitors, we wanted the participating photographers to appreciate how others regarded peace: rebirth. Then, with that understanding, to accept and love each other,” says Belinda.

To Alicia Lim, one of the eight photographers, the idea of rebirth is epitomized in one of her exhibited works, the Problem of Choice. It show a group of people, from diverse backgrounds, looking at the vast ocean and sky with a boulder suspended in mid-air.

“I see the sky and ocean as symbolizing the infinity of options, of roads to take. The decisions made could sometimes be hurtful, sometimes for the better. However, by finding inner peace, they see themselves as being born anew, through the lifting of burdens.”

A form of resurrection, perhaps?

Ocean and sky, these two motifs dominate the rest of her works in the exhibition. The subjects juxtaposed against them are stark, relentless and piercing. They are all produced using collage and photo montage techniques.

According to fellow photographer James Valentine, “All [my photographs] are basically straight forward shots with manual exposure and corresponding settings on aperture and shutter speeds. The only exception would be Tiny Steps which was shot with long macro focal length and was on a tripod with relatively slow shutter speed and a very sleepy baby.”

His works capture the innocence and hope in the human race.

Reactions towards the exhibition are varied. In Belinda’s words, they range from non-committal non-chalance to encouragement. Any other projects in the pipeline?

“We believe in taking it one project at one time. We haven't thought too far ahead yet. We believe we'll know what to do next when we get there,” replies Belinda.

What is in a photograph? What can one elicit from looking at the final product of this interaction between chemicals and light?

Alicia says, “Through photography, and this is true of my works, the multiplicity of emotions and thoughts are exposed, and each viewer has his or her interpretation of what they see. A photograph speaks of many things to every person.”

For James, it is “whenever I conceptualise a shot, I like taking pictures with a social message, one that hopefully informs and inspires change for good.”

“This technique of catching light always intrigued me because it's unreal and unnatural to the human eye. You can only see the results of it once the photos are developed. It is like opening a gift box. You never know what you're going to get,” enthuses Grace Tan, another photographer whose work, Shallow, is on display.

Shallow was created using slow shutter speed, through exposure of film to light for long periods. No one would have guessed at first glance that the subject captured is a sparkler, the kind a child plays with during festivities.

So what makes one a photographer, and a good one at that? Would having sophisticated camera equipment help? What if the potential hobbyist lacks capital?

“No, having good equipment is not the most important thing in developing yourself as a photographer,” advises Belinda “It takes more than just good equipment to be a good photographer. However, it is not just good equipment that makes good pictures. It's what you do with what you have. Understanding your equipment and knowing what it can do with it is important. But when it comes to buying cameras and lenses, our advice is to buy the best within your budget. Do not be a gadget freak and end up with loads of cheap camera models. How you compose a picture is more important.”

The three photographers interviewed are unanimous in the opinion that to improve in what one does is to shoot from the heart, to practice, and to show your works to others for constructive criticism.

“Photography in Malaysia does have a future,” says Grace, “And it is definitely more accessible than other forms of fine art. The increase of interest in digital imaging as a whole makes photography more accessible to a greater range of people.”

The Rebirth exhibition will be on display at Picture This & That till 31 August 2003. All avid photographers, amateurs or professionals, are invited to submit works for evaluation and potential exhibitions at Picture This & That. Call 03-2145 2430 or send an email to thisthat@tm.net.my.