This is my Homage on All Things That Rocks – The Earthly Type, an appreciation piece to our rocking home, Planet Earth.
This is not a music blog featuring rock stars. No rock stars were harmed in the writing of this blog. Except for the mention of Chris Stein (Blondie) whose recent memoir is called “Under A Rock” as well as Simon Phillips (Toto) and Rob Zombie who graciously allowed me to photograph them in graveyards.
This is my companion (Yang) blog to my previous blog on Wood (Yin). Please read my “Wooden It Be Loverly” blog.
Our beloved Earth is the third planet from the Sun and the only astronomical object known to harbour life-forms. Water covers 71% of the Earth’s surface.
Whenever my buddies introduce me to new friends as being a rock (music) photographer, I jokingly quipped that of all the four major types of rock genres – sedimentary (heavy metal), igneous (folk rock), metamorphic (classic rock) and primitive (indie rock), I am most partial to metamorphic. Reminder: the rock genres and rock music association are merely my joking quip.
Metamorphic rocks form as some other type of rock, but have been substantially changed from their original igneous, sedimentary, or earlier metamorphic form.
Metamorphic rocks form when rocks are subjected to high heat (stress in handling fame, drugs-use, stress from touring), high pressure (from record labels, album sales, hit songs), hot mineral-rich fluids (from band member differences, song composition credits recognition) or, more commonly, some combination of these factors.
“Rocks That Do Not Roll” (above image). Photographed in Christchurch, New Zealand.
The “Rock” in “Rock and Roll” comes from the phrase “rocking and rolling”, originally used by sailors (yacht rock, anyone?) to describe the movement of a ship on the ocean. The term was later adopted to describe the energetic, danceable quality of the music genre now known as “rock and roll”.
Alan Freed was the first to use the new popular music genre “”rock and roll” to describe the uptempo rhythm and blues records he was playing as a radio disc jockey in 1951.
Rolling Stone Magazine Headquarters, New York City (above image). I am super honoured to be invited to the offices of Rolling Stone magazine by Deborah Dragon, Rolling Stone Photo Editor. She had attended my solo rock photography exhibition in New York City and graciously invited me to the Rolling Stone offices. Deborah posed me in the magazine cover (through the decades) hall of fame corridor and took the priceless photo. For a Photo Editor, she certainly has the Eye. Thanks, Deborah!
I had read Rolling Stone magazines as a teenager, was enamoured by the rock images by Baron Wolman, Jim Marshall, Bob Gruen, Mick Rock, Barry Feinstein, Herb Greene, etc. who later became my friends and distinguished colleagues at the Morrison Hotel Gallery. My teenage dream had finally come true.
My “Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame” Museum Fridge Magnet (above image). I was lucky to have visited the temporary “Rock And Roll Hall of Fame” exhibition in New York City. Got this magnet as a fun memento of my visit. One day perhaps, I will check out the rock mother lode in Cleveland.
“Out There Reality” (above image). A zen plaque in my home porch, reminding me that a home can be like heaven if you want it to be. May all your complications be out there, not in your tranquil and loving home. The elaborately carved picture frame is from Bali.
“Celebrating A New Home” (above image). I always love to photograph couples and their family celebrating acquiring their new home. When Jeremy and Michelle got the keys to their new home, I was there photograph their monumental moment. This image was captured seconds after they walked into their home for the very first time.
A New Hope (above image). Besides photographing friends’ new homes when they enter it for the first time, I also love photographing my buddies whenever they acquire their new business spaces. As a good luck gesture, I was there to photograph Khit’s new gym during the construction stage. He cautioned me that it would be messy and dusty. I replied, “the messier the better”. A stoic Gym Instructor standing next to the resting workers during their lunch break gave my gym image a juxtapositional feel.
From an Acorn Seed to an Oak Tree (above image). Before Mighty Jaxx became the now formidable toy company, it was a self-believing outfit masterminded by my friend, Jackson Aw. I wanted to capture the ascend of their entrepreneurial journey from a cosy rental unit – to quote Jackson in his social media post, “to remember that we came from nothing”.
Hard Rock Cafe, Singapore (above image). Me in concrete wilderness, holding my framed “Blondie in Wilderness” print, which had been hanging on the wall of the Hard Rock Cafe’s old set-up. Here they are renovating in keeping with the new corporate restaurant identity. I am honoured that they will feature this framed Blondie print and others on a personalised Eddie Sung wall when the renovation is complete. Thanks, guys!
My Wall at Hard Rock Cafe, Singapore (above image).
The Pure-Zen-White Venue For My Solo Rock Photography Exhibition, Singapore (above image). Eternal thanks to Jeffrey Koh of Flabslab for masterminding and curating the awesome exhibition. Thanks, Jeff!
“Led Zeppelin Vol. 4 Urban Wall Double-Spread Album Cover” (above image). One of the best album cover ever by a rock band.
“House Of Dis-Card” (above image). Photographed in Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii. Taken from a page in my rock photography book, “Monochrome Manifestos: Rock Stars, Hawaii and other Heavenly Encounters”.
“The Old Guard And The New Kid In Town” (above image). Sign of the ‘revolving earth’ times, the old makes way for the new and young.
“Maui Style Resortwear”, 1992 (above image). Shot along a tranquil country road in Maui, Hawaii in 1992. Taken from a page in my rock photography book, “Monochrome Manifestos: Rock Stars, Hawaii and other Heavenly Encounters”.
Mountain Theme (1) – Devils Tower, Wyoming, USA (above image). This is the site of Steven Spielberg’s splendid 1977 alien movie “Close Encounters Of The Third Kind”. Eight years later (1985), me and my college friends camped under the mountain, cooking and eating our meals by a stream.
Stonehenge (above image). I wish I wore warmer clothing.
Mountain Theme (2) – Grand Canyon (above image). Even as a College Kid, I knew I would be a tireless mountaineer, not!
Well, decades later, let’s just say I am still in the rock business.
Volcano Theme (1) – “Volcano Craters” (above image). Was privileged to join the Geophysics Department of my university in 1983 to explore Volcanoes, in terrains that were prohibited to the public and tourists. Taken from a page in my rock photography book, “Monochrome Manifestos: Rock Stars, Hawaii and other Heavenly Encounters”.
Volcano Theme (2) – “Volcano Trail” (above image). Was privileged to join the Geophysics Department of my university in 1983 to explore Volcanoes, in terrains that were prohibited to the public and tourists. Taken from a page in my rock photography book, “Monochrome Manifestos: Rock Stars, Hawaii and other Heavenly Encounters”.
Note my George Harrison song quote – “If you don’t know where you’re going, any road will take you there.” from his song “Any Road”. Original quote by C.S. Lewis.
The late George Harrison lived in Maui, Hawaii.
Volcano Theme (3) – “Lava Upheaval: Birth of the Cool”, 1983 (above image). A rare sight to behold – the birth of new land emerging onto this Earth. Taken from a page in my rock photography book, “Monochrome Manifestos: Rock Stars, Hawaii and other Heavenly Encounters”.
Volcano Theme (4) – “The Big Hole” (above image). You can tell the size of the crater by looking at the geophysicist at the crater rim. I am just glad the ground around him did not give way. This is exactly why these dangerous volcanic terrains were prohibited to the public and tourists.
The hardened lava are brittle and sharp. One has to be very careful when walking on lava surfaces, it may crumple beneath our weight. You must avoid tripping and falling at all cost; when you break the fall with your palms, the sharp and brittle surface will cut your flesh. There is also the possibilty of lava poisoning.
“Twelve Apostles” (above image). Fun fact: there was never twelve limestone rock stacks along the Melbourne coast to start with. It really began with only nine. From these, two subsequently fell (2005 and 2009) since then, so now it’s “Seven Apostles”. But it’s still a glorious sight to witness.
“Juxtaposition Between Land And Sea” (above image). An amazing island outcrop in La’ie, Oahu, Hawaii. Taken from a page in my rock photography book, “Monochrome Manifestos: Rock Stars, Hawaii and other Heavenly Encounters”. Thanks, Brian Ching for bringing me there in 1987. As the page note stated: “My homage to Ansel Adams.”
Note the strategic hole (Yin) in the middle of the island outcrop and the puddle of water on land (Yang).
Sand Theme (1) – “Clonetroopers By The Beach” (above image). 501st Garrison Clonetrooper Hansen Khoo masterminded the photography session.
Sand Theme (2) – “Me and Family on Camels in Dubai Desert” (above image). My e-Christmas and 2015 New Year well-wishes to my friends.
Sand Theme (3) – “On Camel at the Pyramids of Giza” (above image). Do read my “Tea In The Sahara” blog.
“The Full Moon” (above image). Earth’s faithful neighbour. Every self-respecting photographer must take a decent picture of the moon for their portfolio. Hand-held, lazy me.
Abandon Theme (1) – “The Alkaff Mansion” (above image). Built in 1918, the mansion was in an abandoned state when this picture was captured in 2004. It reminded me of the Eagles’ song “Hotel California”. These days it’s spruced up and marketed as a lifestyle and dining destination.
Abandon Theme (2) – Ghost Town Shopping Centre (above image). Shot during the “Busy as (un)Usual” Covid lockdown – a major shopping centre is like a ghost town during shopping hours. Perhaps the “E” in the background stands for “Empty”.
“Beautiful Planet Earth” (above image). The world is actually a beautiful place, it’s us humans that complicate the blue planet. I always hear people urging “be kind to Gaia (Earth)”. Instead I say be kind to ourselves (humans). Gaia will still be around after we, homo sapiens, are long gone. Just ask the dinosaurs.
“Under A Rock” (above image). Proud that my image of Chris Stein’s (Blondie) at CBGB during the last days is featured in Chris’ long-awaited memoir.
Gravestone Theme (1) – Rob Zombie (above image). It’s true, Zombies does hang out at Gravesites.
Gravestone Theme (2) – Jim Morrison of the Doors (above image). When I said a prayer for Jim Morrison at Pere Lachaise Cemetery, Paris, France at 3pm on a weekend, there were at least 20 hippies around the site.
Gravestone Theme (3) – James Joyce (above image). I was in Zurich in the late 1990’s for business, when I found out James Joyce was buried in the city. I paid a tribute visit to his resting place. I had read his “”Portrait Of An Artist As A Young Man” for my Cambridge G.C.E. “A” levels. I was impressed by the works and words of Irish writers like Oscar Wilde, W.B. Yeats, W.H. Auden and Jonathan Swift.
Gravestone Theme (4) – Simon Phillips of Toto (above image). Simon paying his respect to his half-brother.
Chiam See Tong (above image). I asked respected former Opposition Leader Chiam See Tong to pose stoically in front of a weathered “firing squad’ wall on a Sunday afternoon. He was known to stand up the ruling party for decades. Singapore’s first Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew openly expressed respects for See Tong and former President S.R. Nathan attended See Tong’s daughter’s ceremonial dinner (so did I). My Hero.
Ancestral Wall (above image). A shop with soul.
“The Journey Through The Past” (above image). I still remember the moment I captured this spiritual, poignant image like it was yesterday. The deeply-weathered floor in the ironsmith’s shop is just historically gorgeous.
The three-feet framed print (above image) hangs proudly in my home, reminding me daily to live a long, well-lived and contented Life and to always be a Blessing to those less fortunate.
Hope you enjoyed my metamorphic “Rock” Photography images patiently captured over the decades.
Lesson Learnt – Kindness is the master-key to gain entries (invites) to interesting privileged places and special auspicious moments.
Rock On!
