JENSEN CHUA I am a freelance photographer. I had my first taste in photography at 15 years old when I was handed a camera by my literature teacher during a school outing. From that very moment, something about photography made me click. In the world before the birth of internet, I built my basic skills via distance learning with trainers from New York Institute of Photography via printed assignments and cassette-recorded critiques in mail parcels couriered across continents. Having grew up during the days of films and manual cameras shaped my personal philosophy about photography. True photography is about honest imaging and faithful to real life with minimal software enhancement and retouching. My passion in capturing life’s fleeting moments garnered a Canon Powershot Hall of Fame award (2011) and Canon Creative Award 2014. I was chosen as one of Canon Brand Ambassadors (2015) and promoted to Council Member, a senior position at Canon EOSWorld (Singapore) since late 2015. One of my photographic awards include - Singapore Garden Photographer of the Year 2015 (National Parks Board), People and Nature category - Top 10 award. In 2014 and 2015, I was selected by the Hokkaido Tourism Bureau for sponsored photography trips and appointed by Jetabout Holidays as their JetBlogger since early 2016.
WEBSITE. www.jensenchuaphotography.com.sg FACEBOOK. @ jensenchua.photography INSTAGRAM. @jensenchua all images copyright Š Jensen Chua Photograpy & Holiday Tours & Travel (Singapore)
In collaboration with Tourism Tasmania and Tourism Australia, Jetabout Holidays’ Aussie Specialist – Cindy Loo together with me, had a wonderful time driving around Tasmania in spring 2016. Tasmania presented a more laid back ambience with wide vista of natural landscapes and fresh seafood that Tasmania is renowned for. Travelers on self-drive will experience long drives but be rewarded with stunning natural scenery. As some remote parts will be out of reach to GPS connectivity, a printed route map is still comes in handy. Quite a few of my friends’ impression of the great wilderness of Tasmania as being “boring and nothing much to do”. This is definitely quite the opposite as the island is truly spectacular and even surreal. If you like Hokkaido, then Tasmania will not disappoint you. In my humble opinion, as long as you have great travelling companion, it will for sure be an enjoyable adventure.
TOP LEFT. The adorable Tasmanian Devil, Cradle Mountain TOP RIGHT. Cradle Mountain at Lake St Clair National Park BOTTOM LEFT. Cauliflower Seeds cultivation in Curringa Farm BOTTOM RIGHT. Homemade scones at Curringa Farm
SOUTHERN LIGHTS, LAKE PEDDER The Southern Lights, one of the trip highlights, appeared before us at 2.30am, in 4-5’c chill at Lake Pedder Wilderness Lodge. We were just so lucky as even many of the lodge staff have not seen it before. As time progresses, the aurora became more intense but it was from our camera LCD screen that we realised how vibrant the lights were. As with our naked eyes, it looked somewhat like a layer of shimmering lighted mist at the horizon. It was truly exciting moment to experience one of the nature wonders.
PHOTO. Southern Lights, Lake Pedder
CURRINGA FARM, HAMILTON Nothing quite prepare us for the amazing moments at this gorgeous expansive 750 acre farm. This is an award winning farm with excellent accommodation and superb nature activities. Meeting the owners, Tim and Jane Parsons, was like a meeting of old friends. We were hosted to a delicious lunch of Cape Grim beef with garden harvested greens and lemonade made with Tim’s mother secret recipe. Jane even takes time out of her busy schedule to bring us on a farm tour while Tim personally drove us to his colonies of sheep in the middle of the farm, with his sheep dogs for some photo opportunities. Two thumbs up and a 5 stars experience at this beautiful farm and I strongly recommend at least a 2 nights stay at this beautiful farm.
TOP. Newly built cottage in 2016 CENTER. Tastefully decorated room BOTTOM LEFT. Cape Grim beef sizzling on wood-fired hot plate BOTTOM RIGHT. Picture of us, taken by Tim, the farm owner
RIGHT. Beautiful landscape at Lake Pedder Wilderness Lodge
BOTTOM. The spectacular Gordon Dam. This dam, also known as the Gordon River Dam, was built in 1974. At 198 metres (650 feet) long and 140 metres (460 feet) high, Gordon River Dam is the tallest dam in Tasmania and the fifth-tallest in Australia
TOP. The gorgeous Russell Falls at Mt. Field National Park, one of the most scenic waterfalls in Tasmania BOTTOM. Beautiful landscapes along Lyell Highway. Spotted a solitary Eucalyptus Tree, a wonderful place for Instagram picture
BONNET ISLAND EXPERIENCE, STRAHAN One of Strahan highlights is to spot fairy penguins at Bonnet Island. The event was a 2.5 to 3 hours twilight cruise conducted by Gordon River Cruises to the remote and isolated small island where lighthouse keepers and their families worked. The island is now a habitat to a colony of small sized Fairy Penguins. Watching these cute creatures returning from foraging for food in the sea was indeed a privilege. We also enjoyed the lovely coastal scenery and sunset during the cruise.
TOP LEFT. One of the fairy penguins we spotted during the Bonnet Island Experience Tour TOP RIGHT. Started a lovely day at Strahan with a delicious “Aussie breakkie” BOTTOM. Our transport for the evening , the MV Sophia for the Bonnet Island Experience Tour
TOP RIGHT. Adorable wombats, short-legged but muscular quadrupedal marsupials. They have extraordinarily slow metabolism, taking around 8 to 14 days to complete digestion, which aids their survival in arid conditions
CRADLE MOUNTAIN
LAKE ST. CLAIR NATIONAL PARK
TOP LEFT. Beautiful landscape at the park CENTER. Wallabies, a small or mid-sized macropod
TOP LEFT. Kate Berry Farm in Swansea serving delicious strawberry ice cream
TOP RIGHT. The World Heritage-Listed, Port Arthur Historic Site. This is Australia’s most well-preserved and evocative convict site. This huge former convict settlement was built in the 18th & 19th century to house convicts and re-offending criminals in the early days
BOTTOM. Tessellated Pavement on Eaglehawk Neck
TOP Wineglass Bay Lookout, Freycinet National Park LEFT. We had a sweet and fruitful day at Sorell Fruits Farm RIGHT. Richmond Bridge, Tasmania Oldest Bridge
TOP LEFT. Works of various selected artists as far as the eye can see at MONA TOP RIGHT. Amazing expansive gallery at the end of the MONA museum tour MIDDLE LEFT. Spectacular immersive art by Japanese artist, Yayoi Kusama at MONA – Museum of Old and New Art
MIDDLE RIGHT. Delightful wall arts on many buildings throughout Sheffield
BOTTOM. Sheffield the “Town of Murals’
MOUNT WELLINGTON, HOBART Mount Wellington, one of the city’s most popular attractions, 20mins drive from the CBD. We reached the Pinnacle Lookout Point at 5.30am to enjoy the panoramic view of Hobart below and to the east, the Derwent estuary and also glimpses of the World Heritage Area nearly 100 kilometres (62 mi) west. The mountain rises to 1,271 metres (4,170 ft) above sea level and is frequently covered by snow, sometimes even in summer, and the lower slopes are thickly forested but criss-crossed by walking tracks and biking trails. We were rewarded with the spectacular view at the peak and it was indeed the perfect way to seal the completion of this epic road trip.
TOP. The lovely Franklin Wharf at dusk, Hobart BOTTOM LEFT. Hordes of seagulls scurrying for food from visitors at the Franklin Wharf BOTTOM RIGHT. Fresh Oysters, Freycinet Marine Farm