Hiking Photoshoot with Tai Jia Le

We kicked off the hiking photoshoot with Jia Le at Pandan Reservoir under the blazing afternoon sun. Honestly, it wasn't the most ideal timing—if I had my way, this set would have been saved for later in the day when the light softened. But due to logistics, we had to start with it, and that meant both of us were already perspiring before we even got into the rhythm.

The midday sun was unforgiving. I could barely make out the LCD screen, which made framing each shot a challenge. I'd intended to capture Jia Le in a soft, relaxed style to complement the reservoir's calm atmosphere. But under that harsh light, the original concept no longer fit.

Instead of fighting the conditions, I decided to roll with them. I suggested that Jia Le lean into the situation—get a little quirky, playful, and let the harsh light become part of the story. To my delight, he went along with it. Suddenly, what started as a challenge turned into something fun and spontaneous. The sunlight, though unforgiving, gave us bold shadows and a raw kind of energy, which added a unique twist to the set.

It was a sweaty, slightly exhausting beginning to the session, but it set the tone in an unexpected way. We laughed, embraced the heat, and made the best of what we had. Sometimes, it's these imperfect, uncomfortable moments that spark the most genuine expressions—and that's what made this opening set memorable.