Bottega Mediterranea is a family owned and run Italian restaurant in the heart of Malaysia’s capitol, Kuala Lumpur. It’s the real deal. The owner of Bottega, Riccardo Ferrarotti, is a close friend and over the years I have shoot much of their photography. When Riccardo asked me if I would be available to shoot all the new food items for their latest menu I jumped at the chance.
On Assignment: UMW Aerospace Malaysia
A while back an assignment for a UK based industrial magazine took me out to the UMW Aerospace manufacturing plant, just 20 mins from my home outside of Kuala Lumpur. UMW Aerospace Malaysia are Malaysia’s first homegrown Tier-1 aero engine component supplier to Rolls-Royce in the Asia-Pacific region. As the Group’s first venture in this industry, UMW Aerospace specializes in the manufacture of Fan Case Assembly Kits for the Rolls-Royce Trent engine assembly plant based in Seletar, Singapore. As a Malaysia based photographer, and an aviation enthusiast, I was really excited about the shoot, and to learn more about what they do here.
On Assignment: Veolia Waterforce Emergency Response
I’m really enjoying spending time rummaging through my image archive for this new website update. As a Malaysia based photojournalist I am always deeply interested in covering humanitarian work around the world. In 2008 I was in China when a massive earthquake struck the Sichuan region of the country. The quake measured 7.9 in the richter scale and levelled towns and cities in an instant. My agency at the time, Polaris Images, assigned me to shoot a reportage story about the work of The Veolia Waterforce team. I joined the team for several days near the town of Wei Schuan as they were constructing a clean water supply for the town’s population.
Bottega Mediterranea Photoshoot II
When Riccardo Ferrarotti the Chef/Owner of Bottega Mediterranea asked me if I would be available to shoot all the new food items for their new upcoming menu I jumped at the chance. Riccardo is a great friend and a real pleasure to work with.
On Assignment: Lafarge Earthquake Reconstruction China
The wonderful thing about having a photo archive, one of the wonderful things anyway, is the ability to time travel back in time. The photograph’s themselves often outweigh my own memories of the real moment. Assignment’s often come at you very quickly, and with little or no time to prepare. Sometimes you are just on one, and in it, before you know it! I had been in China’s Sichuan region already for many days covering the aftermath of a powerful earthquake that had just devastated the region. I had just got back to my hotel after being out for some days working in the most affected areas. Really last minute this one, but I remember the brief vividly. “Head out to the Lafarge cement factory for a day and document Lafarge’s efforts in recovery and reconstruction in the nearby community. There is a car coming for you in 30mins.”
On Assignment: UNICEF State Of The World's Children 2017 Report (Malaysia)
While the internet has opened up a world of exploration for children, it has also made it easier for bullies, sex offenders, traffickers and abusers to find them.
One country that is particularly well connected is Malaysia. More than 7 out of 10 households have internet access, and connectivity continues to surge. The country also has one of the highest proportions of ‘digital natives’ in the world – youths aged 15 to 24 with at least five years of active internet use.
A growing challenge in Malaysia has been for parents, teachers, policy-makers and the justice system to keep pace with the increasing risks children face online.
On Assignment: Fortify Rights In Kuala Lumpur
Rohingya women organise for change at a seminal in Kuala Lumpur organised by Fortify Rights. I was asked by Fortify Rights to take portrait photograph’s of these amazing woman during the seminar which was held over two days. The women in the group were all quite remarkable and had fascinating stories to share. The two days spent shooting was a pleasure for me. I was also very lucky to have @jillmh66 to assist me with the shoot.
“In Myanmar, we are denied opportunities, dehumanised, and destroyed. In the diaspora, we are creating our own opportunities, and using our skills, we are standing for the people.”