Robert’s Photography Blog

This month’s issue (No. 37, 4/2006) of Asian Geographic magazine features images of Singapore taken in 1950s, 60s, and 70s by the late Yip Cheong Fun. Mr. Yip photographed people and places in both Singapore and Malaysia from the 1930s when he saved enough money to buy his first camera, a Rolleiflex, until his death in 1989 at age 86 (still clutching a camera). Mr. Yip was designated ‘Outstanding Photographer of the Century’ by the Photographic Society of New York in 1980 for `Rowing at Dawn’. He was conferred the coveted Cultural Medallion in 1984 by the Government of Singapore “in recognition of his artistic talent, creativity, and commendable achievement in Photography.”

His son, Andrew Yip, an accomplished poet among other achievements maintains a small shop in Singapore’s Chinatown – 48 Pagoda Street – in the Chinatown Heritage Centre. There you can buy prints of Yip Cheong Fun’s famous images made from the original negatives. In the photo above (clickable), Andrew is holding the print ‘Braving the rain – Kreta Ayer Road’. This image shows the indomitable courage and quiet determination of the women in Chinatown in the 1960s.

If you are a visitor or a local in Singapore, go down to Pagoda Street and pick up a few prints. Aside from their historical value, Mr. Yip’s photographs are well-taken. And, you’ll have a piece of history!