Meeting the Master

[suwen]

I have been sending my black and white negative to Pak Tai Photo Studio for developing for quite some time. All the while it was sent to the Studio by dispatch. The negative came back perfect every time. I have no idea who did it. Lately, an urge made me wanting to know who did it and the developing process taken. So I decided to head to the Studio to find the answer.

Before going into my visit, some history of Pak Tai Photo Studio.


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Photo Courtesy of Mr K K Low
Taken around 1995-1996

The Studio started around 1940’s. It was then known as 南京影社 (loosely translated, Nanjing Photo Studio). Subsequently, ownership changes hands and it was renamed 百代影社, Pak Tai Photo Studio. Mr K K Low took over the Studio in 1968 and retained the name till today. All I know about the Studio then was through information from my wife. The Studio does great identity photos and accordingly, most students from Kuen Cheng Girls’ Independent High School, as they were then known, will get their identity photos taken there for the School’s year book.


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Wife’s section from the 1988 Year Book
Identity Photo shot by Mr Low

Unfortunately my wife no longer has the actual identity photo.


My Visit

Came the day, I visited the Studio. It was a busy day for the Studio and I guess I was just plain unlucky. Nonetheless I voiced my interest in their negative section and hopefully, to get more information and if allowed, to see their process. Mr Low seems reluctant and did not provide me any avenue to proceed further. Although I came to a wall, I did spend around an hour or so at the Studio. With Mr Low busy at his desk, I spoke to Mrs Low mainly. I left empty handed. Although such, I decided to return and hopefully, my luck will be better next round.

Over the next couple of weeks, I visited the Studio a few times. Sometimes I will catch them busy and other times not so. Nevertheless, I got my acquaintance with Mr Low going and I am finally heading somewhere. We spoke in length on all matters and not just on photography. Most of the time I would catch Mr Low alone at the Studio with Mrs Low away busy on other chores. At times, the Studio will be at a peak with Mr Low unable to handle all the customers alone. While I was there, I chip in a helping hand. Gradually, I got to see the whole of the Studio and found history of it on all aspects. With these, it seems right to have them recorded in one form or another. So I decided to do a shoot on the Studio and 罗师傅 (Sifu Low), whom I started to address Mr Low as.

Initially, 罗师傅 was reluctant. Not so much on photos being taken on the Studio or him, but the worries of interference during peak time business and possible theft during crowded customers’ time, which has happened before. Nonetheless I managed to assure 罗师傅. It was decided that the shoot be done on 29 August 2011, Hari Raya eve, when it will be an off peak period for obvious reason. And the journey begins.

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[suwen]

The Darkroom

The Studio is at a pretty old building. It has seen time and the darkroom is no longer at a full functioning state. 罗师傅 only uses it to develop negatives. The enlarger is no longer in use.

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[suwen]

The Studio

We did not expect any customer to come on Hari Raya eve. So we did a mock shooting with my fellow Terence “Macha” Geh pretending to be the customer, and 罗师傅 is sporting enough to play along.

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Out of our expectation, real customers did come by. A family came to have their family photos taken, and I was glad to be able to shoot 罗师傅 in actual action.

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I took a shot of the family, the print was given to them.

[suwen]

Around the Studio

We spent the whole day there. Taking shots here and there, and taking breaks here and there. Taking breaks more than usual and we chatted away, again on any matters that came to light other than photography.

We got 罗师傅 posing for us. A thing that is unusual for him. As most of the time, it is the customers who pose for him.

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To our surprise, 罗师傅 utilizes only a Nikon D3000 with the kit lens, but yet, great photos came out from it.

Bulk of the Studio’s work comes from the Police personnel, mainly for the identity photo for their Authority Card. Most of them will end up with at least a framed 8x10” print from the enlarged identity photo. From the Studio walls and shelves, one could see all ranks of officers patronizing the Studio.

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Since the inception of the digital age, 罗师傅 has adapted himself, and has adapted well.

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[suwen]

罗师傅 is well versed with digital processing and he utilizes a Mac to deliver his jobs. His system is adequately complete with digital printers and an Epson V700 scanner.

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It is usual for any of us, the so call younger generation to have such a system and skills if we were to be in the business. But for 罗师傅, who is almost 70 of age, it is an unusual sight. Most people I know will never bother to learn, or change at that age. They probably won’t even know how to turn on a computer, let alone doing the complicated stuff 罗师傅 does. 罗师傅 definitely has a calling card better looking than mine.

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Although in the digital age, most of the old stuff is still kept in the Studio. Walking around the Studio and seeing the interiors and items, it is as if I went back to the past. Among things still kept are the negatives 罗师傅 shot, studio shots mainly.

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They date back to the 1970’s. I was in luck I thought; maybe I could find the negatives of the identity photos of my wife taken in the 1980’s. Unfortunately all the black and white negatives were sold, for the purpose of extracting the silver in them.

[suwen]

My Shots

Initially I thought of doing the shoot with digital. After due thoughts, it is just right to do it in analogue. I chose instant, probably it is like something in between, nothing goes through the computer but yet you see a print almost immediately.

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I did about 30 plus shots, in 4x5. Peeling them apart and laying them out to dry covers quite some space.

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I guess it has been for awhile for 罗师傅 to see a print processed the conventional way. These instants, although not the strict conventional process via an enlarger etc, I guess it is close enough. It sort of gave me a feeling that while 罗师傅 was looking at them, it brought him back memories.


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Commercially, 罗师傅 has turn to digital process 100%. But once in a while, he will still shoot analogue. He just did a roll with his Pentax 67. At the day of the shoot, he just developed that roll in the morning.

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[suwen]

罗师傅, K K Low

罗师傅 learn the ropes by following a Sifu at a pretty young age. This was the ways of the old days.


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罗师傅 is seated on the left while his Sifu, 劳荣基 is third from the left standing. Unfortunately 罗师傅 has lost contact with his Sifu. This was taken on 1 April 1960 at the studio in Perak Darul Rizuan, where 罗师傅 learns his ropes.

Will the sun sets on Pak Tai Photo Studio, or 罗师傅? I guess not. For the past 43 years 罗师傅 held fort, and in hope, for many more years to come holding it. I will look at it as 罗师傅 reaching a point enjoying the sunset. As 罗师傅 put it, it has never been easy to run a photo studio. But he did make it and it gave him a career.


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We ended this session with this print, 罗师傅 and I, on his right. Joseph Chia is on 罗师傅’s left, a new found friend who just happens to be at the Studio taking some shots. Thank you Terence “Macha” Geh for triggering the shutter, and sorry for forgetting to bring along the shutter self timer.


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And a good cup of Chinese tea wrapped up the day.

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********

[suwen]

Sori Kawan2. Ni dah di blog gua dalam Inggeris, so cut and paste ja. Malas nak tulis sekali lagi dalam BM... hehe...

[mfmy8892]

Hi Suwen,

A great weblog! Digital starts from analog and it shouldn't be denied the existence and importance of analog photography.. It is wonderful to hear that the Pak Tai Photo Studio and its owner/master are still in great shape and able to process analog film. I hope that their next generation would take efforts to learn as much as they can from him..

Must visit the studio one day.. Hehe..


I want to share my story too.. A friend whom also a mentor of mine passed away 2 years ago leaving a photo studio to be taken care by his children, unfortunately they didn't have the passions and didn't inherited all the skills required from their late father.. It is a lost indeed.. I wish I had learn more from him when I had the time.. May God be merciful to him.. If he can 'see' this, all I want to say is 'thank you' :)

[tuantanah]

Suwen, i believe you can be the B/W moderator. We'll open up a section for film b/w section.
If you can take this offer, I will offer you mod. U ok?
Pak Tai is my long lost friend 11 years ago when I shoot with
Yashica b/w film when I was sneaking into Che Mat's class in MMU.
Harap anda boleh pertimbangkan pelawaan ini :D

[suwen]

Suwen, i believe you can be the B/W moderator. We'll open up a section for film b/w section.
If you can take this offer, I will offer you mod. U ok?
Pak Tai is my long lost friend 11 years ago when I shoot with
Yashica b/w film when I was sneaking into Che Mat's class in MMU.
Harap anda boleh pertimbangkan pelawaan ini :D

Ribuan terima kasih tuantanah!!! This is an utmost honour. I am more than glad to take up your offer and hope to be of assistance in any aspect.

[suwen]

Hi Suwen,

A great weblog! Digital starts from analog and it shouldn't be denied the existence and importance of analog photography.. It is wonderful to hear that the Pak Tai Photo Studio and its owner/master are still in great shape and able to process analog film. I hope that their next generation would take efforts to learn as much as they can from him..

Must visit the studio one day.. Hehe..


I want to share my story too.. A friend whom also a mentor of mine passed away 2 years ago leaving a photo studio to be taken care by his children, unfortunately they didn't have the passions and didn't inherited all the skills required from their late father.. It is a lost indeed.. I wish I had learn more from him when I had the time.. May God be merciful to him.. If he can 'see' this, all I want to say is 'thank you' :)

Thanks Bro. Digital analog semuanya sama (per se) asalkan ianya dapat menghasilkan gambar yang berpatutan.

Sayangnya kawan anda, berapa baiknya kalau sejarah fotografinya dirakam. Saya pasti ianya dapat menfaatkan kita.

[tuantanah]

Greattt!! Later we do film outing and send to Pak Tai. He was my sifoo too. Bila hantar gambar nanti dia bagi komen juga Pak Tai. Will be glad to open a section.

Dulu dah ada cadangan buka section ni tapi tak ada orang nak jadi mod dan tak nampak macam ramai peminat. Skrg dah makin ramai ok kah.

Its ok campur malay n english cuna kita utamakan bahasa kebangsaan klau boleh :)

[Balthear]

Great article mr Suwen, hope you can share more for us younger generation. :encouragement:

[kareem2]

before I got my own developing kit, this is the place where I sent my BnW filem to be developed.

[suwen]

Greattt!! Later we do film outing and send to Pak Tai. He was my sifoo too. Bila hantar gambar nanti dia bagi komen juga Pak Tai. Will be glad to open a section.

Dulu dah ada cadangan buka section ni tapi tak ada orang nak jadi mod dan tak nampak macam ramai peminat. Skrg dah makin ramai ok kah.

Its ok campur malay n english cuna kita utamakan bahasa kebangsaan klau boleh :)

ON!!!


Great article mr Suwen, hope you can share more for us younger generation. :encouragement:

Aiyo Bro, gua pun tak tua sangat lah, hehe... Kongsi? Pasti... dah pun ada seksyen baru, marilah kita meriahkan ia, dan keseluruhan forum jugak...


before I got my own developing kit, this is the place where I sent my BnW filem to be developed.

DO sendiri banyak kebaikannya, pengelaman and ilmu yang didapati, tidak dapat dihitung.

[pak mat]

Membaca BM Encik Suwen, pak mat segan, kerana BM pak mat, hancussssss he he.

[Ruzlan Mohd Zin]

Rasanya susah dah nak cari studio lama macam Pak Tai Photo Studio. Suatu hari apa kata kalau kita buat outing kesana.

[suwen]

Membaca BM Encik Suwen, pak mat segan, kerana BM pak mat, hancussssss he he.

Hehe... BM gua pun 3 suku ja...


Rasanya susah dah nak cari studio lama macam Pak Tai Photo Studio. Suatu hari apa kata kalau kita buat outing kesana.

Ya, studio lama dah kurang, lebih2nya di KL. Outing kesana? Boleh, mungkin kita aturin satu...

[lensasaiful]

a good one ... photo essay ..

[syibli]

Very nice photo and well written.. :encouragement: love it :02.47-tranquillity:
mmg betul2 bleh rasa the emotion masa baca dn tgk foto tuh..
Thank you Suwen,

[suwen]

Very nice photo and well written.. :encouragement: love it :02.47-tranquillity:
mmg betul2 bleh rasa the emotion masa baca dn tgk foto tuh..
Thank you Suwen,

Terima kasih Bro!