Armed with a camera since 18, my photographic career has spanned many subjects. Photography is beyond a job for me: it’s a passion. Actually, until early 2012, it was a full time passion and a part time job; I’ve shot commercial assignments on and off for the last eight years, but went full time just recently. I’m a physicist by training – I graduated from Oxford at 16 – and subsequently left a senior corporate career in M&A/ private equity (and more recently, as a senior exec director of McDonalds) because it simply wasn’t what I wanted to do, and so far, have been lucky enough not to regret it.
This of course means it’s very important to photograph the things you’re passionate about in their own right – which is why I specialize in watches, food and architecture/ interiors. Every photographer aims to find a unique look to their images in order to create a signature look for their clients. I take inspiration from many sources – classical photojournalism, abstract art, motion picture and film – to deliver a unique look and style for my clients. Natural color and dynamic lighting create a strong positive emotion in the viewer, which in turn makes the subject of the photograph – your product or service – memorable. I work on location with both available light and controlled lighting, depending on the needs of the client and subject.
I have a diverse international client base including Jaeger Le-Coultre, Van Cleef & Arpels, Maitres du Temps, Richemont, the Swatch Group, Hijjas Kasturi Architects, Tange Associates Architects, Sunway Group, Maybank, Eastern & Oriental, The Boston Consulting Group, several Michelin star chefs including Fergus Henderson and Bruno Menard, The City of London and Moon Travel Guides. I also maintain an extensive library of over 100,000 high-resolution images available to license, both directly and via Getty Images. For 5 years, I was Contributing Editor to CLICK! Magazine, Malaysia and Editor for 2010. I am also a Nikon Professional Services member in the UK.
Please do not hesitate to contact me to discuss a project, request a quote, or a specific portfolio of images.
Ming Thein
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Email: mingthein@gmail.com
Phone: +60 17 387 6700
Portfolio
Flickr
Ming Thein on Getty Images
Exhibitions/ In the media:
- DSLR Magazine, cover interview/ featured photographer (Feb 2013 edition)
- ‘Diametric opposites: East and West’, Leica Gallery Starhill, Kuala Lumpur (18 Jan-18 Feb 2013)
- New York Times/ International Herald Tribune – interviewed on watch photography (24 Nov 2012)
- The official Leica Camera Blog – interview/ featured photographer (8 Nov 2012)
- BFM 89.9 Tech Talk on Photokina 2012 (8 October 2012)
- BFM 89.9 Tech Talk on photography (29 June 2012)
- BFM 89.9 Careers unusual (4 May 2012)
- The Edge Malaysia, July 2-8 Edition, p Op18
- Horological photography exhibition sponsored by Jaeger Le-Coultre and Leica Camera, May 2012 at Starhill Gallery
- The Malaysian Reserve, 14 September 2012 edition – commentary on democratisation of the industry and local support in Malaysia
About this site:
- Started in late February 2012; welcomed the 1 millionth visitor end-August 2012, and 2 millionth in early December 2012. We passed 3 million just before the 1-year anniversary in late February 2013.
- I get on average 200-300 emails/ comments/ FB posts/ Flickr communiques per day on photography related subjects, and I do my very best to answer every single one of them. I’ve always thought that if somebody took the time to write to you, the least you can do is write back.
- 550+ articles covering 1,200,000+ words of content – yes, I write a lot.
- The design and layout has changed in a big way three times already – I firmly believe in making the content and archives accessible and present; if you’ve found a typo, or have any suggestions or feedback, please send it along!
How do I subscribe to his blog/column ??
Easy. Scroll all the way to the bottom of the page, and there are several options.
Just wanted to say hi, and thank you so much for your generosity in terms of time and sharing your knowledge and talent so freely. I am just getting started in the world of photography, strictly for personal enjoyment. I am still getting to know the “lie of the land” in terms of the breadth of photographic styles, and where I fit in to the spectrum. I am looking for informal “mentors”, people whose vision and technical mastery can guide me to my own style. Though the level of technicality in your work, and in the blog, far exceeds my capacity to hope to achieve (this being a time-limited hobby for me), I am very inspired by your images, and your words. Thank you once again.
Thanks for your compliments, Ian. Perhaps you might want to consider my Email School of Photography?
I certainly will…once I have the basics covered, and a camera system (once i have decided what that will be…currently have an X100, which I love, and have a D800 on order – but might hang on and see what the next batch of mirrorless cameras and x-Pro 1 lenses bring). From what I can see with what you are offering, your email school (which sounds brilliant btw) will be best for people who have some insight into what they are trying to achieve, and need help to get there. So, I think it will be invaluable a little further down the line when I have identified my photographic goals and style.
A system isn’t entirely necessary. In some ways, mastering one camera and one focal length will give you much stronger results than if you were trying to decide which perspective of your 24-70 to use. I find one lens liberating…also to be the subject of a future article
‘Goals’ can be as specific as ‘master wildlife photography’ or as general as ‘I want to be able to shoot like XYZ’. Style is an ongoing process, and before you get there you need to have sufficient control over your toolbox to be able to make the changes required to try the outcome you want. 
I hear what you are saying, and I am loving the freedom and spontaneity the x100 gives me, and the faith I have in it to make an image which pleases me, if I take the effort to work within the fixed lens’ limitations. I live in Derbyshire, UK, just on the edge of the peak district, and want to be able to do justice to its impressive landscapes (thinking either a Zeiss wide angle or a tilt/shift option). The reality is though, with time and transport limitations, that most of my shooting is local walkabouts, and concentrates on details within the rural and old industrial environments in my area. There are times I wish had a bit more reach – 100-200mm say. Part of the reason I havn’t jumped into a “system” is because I don’t want to waste the opportunity I currently have, being unencumbered by brand loyalty, or money invested into lenses, etc. I want to make sure I choose well. I also feel that we are currently on a cusp of change within photographic technology, and am intrigued to see what the next year or so brings in.
Have a look at the OM-D…I think it makes an excellent portable camera system especially if you’ve got to carry it long distances.
Hello Ming , hope everything is alright for you. I have a great audiovisual representation on 18m2 screen at a festival in France , and I prepare an other one, what was was missing till now was the part of story telling although my presentations although they are only about wildlife in different aereas it is the all that comes with it that I missed to shoot ,but getting the big DSLRs with the big lenses. Ready is too painful. on trip i am somehow happy to have the stoffed away. But I still need the quality and post processing capabilities, ev printing. So what do you consider to bethe best in 2013? Thank you for your reply and thank you for your continuing enthusiasm and efforts
Still the D800E.
Thank you for a wonderful web site. Your reviews and comments are extremely informative and practical. The quality of your writing attracts a lively debate and exchange of information, whereas the comments to some other photography sites all too often degenerate into the depressingly childish and pointless exchange of insults. You are providing an invaluable service to the international photographic community.
Thanks Ronald. Let’s hope other people see the value in it too, it’s slowly turning into a full time job over here!
great works !
Hi, I have been following your blog for quite some time. Your photos are really great! Here is a lovely blog award for you. If you accept it, you can see the rules of the award here. http://chikhongphotography.wordpress.com/2012/09/09/another-lovely-blog-award/
Regards,
Liew.
Thank you, but I must decline – I just don’t have time to surf around and find 15 good blogs…
It’s ok. It does consume me quite a lot of time to find some good blog, which your blog is one of it. Keep up all the good work!
Just came across your site … Wow! You are a prolific writer and a superb photographer. Thank you for sharing your experience and your expertise. You are amazing!
Thanks Franco!
Dear Ming Thein,
Since coming across your blog/website, i have become less concerned about the equipment i have and concentrated more on getting the most out of it, getting to really know my cameras and taking time, thought and visualisation over each image. My workflow and editing has become much more careful, exact and i find myself even more critical, so most photos are removed leaving only the best. I owe this to you.
Thank you for the time, thought and real effort you put into your blogs. Your photography is a genuine inspiration!
Thanks Malachy! I’m flattered and glad to hear it.
Ming, I follow your blog and I’m impressed of your sharp pictures. I’ve tried with lightroom, photoshop smart sharpen, highpass-filter, unsharp mask and whatever. And I can’t find the crispy taste of your images. Please, can you give me an advice?
//Per Lofquist, Sweden
Thanks Per. What you see is downsized then sharpened for web – some look a bit oversharpened actually because flickr (the image host for the blog) has started doing another sharpening pass lately for the downsized images. But if you start off with an image that is sharp at the 100% pixel level – mine all are – then any size you display it at will retain the same sharpness. Using lenses with good microcontrast helps, too. Have a look at the post on shot discipline…
Thank you for the answer. I’m testing several techniqes for the moment. On my new websight (under construction, have not used WordPress until now) I’ve tried with a basic sharpen in Lightroom and then downsized the images to 950px. Thereafter highpass radius 0,3 in PS. I’ll be happy if you would give me a comment of the result.
http://www.wp.tauruz.se (the sight is in Swedish).
Best regards,
Per
Looks good to me!
Thank’s for Your time Ming!!
Hello Ming,
One of our members at the Four Thirds Forum cited your blog, and I am sure glad I followed up. It’s just super to have a blog from a working pro/enthusiast, and one who loves macro as well.
One comment and question: Olympus has started turning out superb optics (e.g., µ4:3′s 75/1.8) without weather-sealing. As a long time user of the legacy OM system, it seems almost obscene to produce world class optics with no protection from the elements. I know the 60/2.8 is dust/splash-proof, but some of us would love to build an Olympus ZD system with more than one lens.
How do you protect your ZD lenses that lack weather protection? Hopefully, you are not forced to wrap the lenses in cellophane during rainy/snowy weather!
Most respectfully yours,
John in Atlanta, Georgia/USA
Thanks for your compliments. No idea why Oly has chosen to put weather sealing on the lower grade lenses – the 12-50, for instance, is hardly a candidate for demanding applications. And no, it doesn’t make sense seeing as the body is weather sealed.
Honestly, I just tuck the thing inside my coat or bag if the weather goes bad, if not, I carry a small towel to wipe it dry intermittently. Not had any problems so far, except the time I had to change lenses in Macau and 99% humidity…the OM-D went nuts after that and didn’t fix itself until some time in a drybox.
Greetings, Mr. Thein! Happy new year from Costa Rica although in Malaysia you’re day ahead of us
I have to tell you how much I am enamored with your deeply philosophical approach to composition and exposure which is so immediately apparent in your images. Yes, I hang on many of your salient points in your writings, but it always points me back to the pix to study and appreciate how you transpose your heart, mind and eye into your compositions. To me, a yogi, you are the Patanjali of photography. Sure, there are others, but few who are as articulate as your Self. Composition is about reducing to the lowest common denominator in a scene (most of the time) and capturing Essence, in which your mastery prevails powerfully…
I’m almost finished gearing up again. I went with two outsiders, namely Sony and Fuji. After letting go of all my Canon gear, L glass, etc. years ago, I’ve had several small rigs: G10, NEX5, X10 and shot and loved each for differentiated reasons. Good fortune has allowed me to move up the food chain, now owning an A99 with the CZ2470, 70200G, cheap Sony 50 and a couple legacy Minolta primes just for giggles. Actually, I’m gonna de-click these little buggers and use them for video! I also bought an X-E1 got a walk-around and LOVE IT. Lesser rez LCD aside, this is a sweet improvement over the X10. Fuji has some really good ju-ju going on in their sensor technology… The colors are outstanding.
Thank you so much for creating your iPad app. I bought it as soon as I saw it in a reblog on PetaPixel. I literally soak up your stories like a sponge… “Shoot less”… ¡Si, verdad! Philosophical composition and exposure… Om namah shivaya! Namaste.
Clint Kapp
http://www.clintkapp.com
darkasana.tumblr.com
Happy new year – and thanks for your compliments, I’m flattered! Don’t gear up too much, photographic opportunities pass as one tries to decide what to use…
Exactly why I bought the X-E1 with one lens, the 18-55. And now that I’ve been using it frequently, I realize I could have just gotten the 60 as I generally use the longer end of the zoom to keep some distance! The A99 has other applications, so I’ll need the flexibility as the nature of my work varies broadly. Thank you for your reply. Clint
Hello, I give you the right to re-post my image as part competition announcements and posts.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/quicopedro/6817232661/in/pool-mingtheinbwchallenge
Thanks Ming
Best regards
Jose
Thanks Jose!
I’ve just begun to follow your blog. You’re an excellent writer with much to teach. However, I was surprised by your comments today regarding the camera-shy folks in Myanmar. There are many places in the world (notably the Congo region in Africa) where photos are taboo. It sounds as though Myanmar may be one of them. Photographers should respect the culture, traditions, and religions of the countries they visit. Just as with wildlife, it your human subject reacts to you, you’re doing something you shouldn’t be doing.
I think I’ve figured out why: photos are not taboo, but Asians taking photos probably have too much of a bad collective cultural memory given their history. It seems that westerners have no problems, probably because the chances of the image being used for ID or some political purpose later is pretty much nil. I’d get people covering their faces even if I was just holding the camera by my side and not aiming it at them. The older generation would be much worse than the younger generation (<40 or so) – who were more than happy to be photographed most of the time.
Hi, Ming
Just discovered your site. I love your work, just neat. I have been living and working in Singapore in the 80′s and 90′s and frequently visited KL. Good to see such great talent coming from that region. My heart still there.
Wish you the best for your future work.
Cheers,
ingo
Thanks Ingo!
As a professional, I subscribe to Reid Reviews, Digilloyd’s DAP and Guide to Mirrorless. I think some people are perfectly happy to pay for good content. I’d encourage you to go that route too. Although there are many people who blog about photography, most of it is not updated frequently enough. I have my own blog but I have not updated it in probably 9 months and I also don’t have the time to devote to my blog. However, seeing that you write well and I do enjoy your articles, I think you are in a good position to move to a subscription based model. I’d support your site for sure.
Kenny
Thanks Kenny.
Hello !
I write you from Toulouse in France.
Could you tell me how you scan your black & white photos with a Nikon D 800 ?
Thanks
I have a custom rig to hold camera and film.
Tanks.
Could you tell me the lens you use ? Macro or normal (1×1) ?
Macro – normal wouldn’t get you close enough.
Found your blog while blogging around elsewhere. Amazing blog; very sensible reviews and great photo’s. And a lot! must come back. Thanks for sharing. Cheers, harrie.
Thanks – have a look at the archives, there’s plenty to keep you entertained for days…
Hi Ming, Really enjoy and appreciate your site! I have a D800 and am thinking about getting a Zeiss 28mm f2 for scenics. Planning to do a bit of hiking this summer in Scotland and am also thinking that the D800 may be a bit heavy for long hikes. This led me to researching the Sigma DP1 Merrill with its 28mm equivalent f2.8 lens. I’ve read about the quirky workflow, but excellent results at iso 100. Do you have any thoughts on this camera? I know you’re a 28mm connoisseur and figured this camera would interest you, but you don’t seem to mention it on your site. Thanks very much, Larry
I’d seriously give the Coolpix A and upcoming GR V a look. Review on the former coming very soon.
Just discovered your site last week. I greatly appreciate being able to tap into your knowledge and experience.
All the best!
Thanks Bart!
You are an amazing individual. Consider me an avid follower!
Thank you!
Hi. You’ve got a great website and some fantastic content, really enjoy your pics. I was puzzled by a few of your pages where you say: This page will contain an archive of all of the main articles I’ve written by category and sorted with the most recent first – it seems that there are some fundamental navigational issues with WordPress that I can’t get around other than by manually updating this page with every new article. It’s a work in progress, of course…
You shouldn’t need to update anything manually unless you have set up a static page rather than a category. Just select a category when you’re writing a post and it will appear there automatically. For Nikon, for example, set up a category called Nikon rather than a page.
Great review on Nikon Coolpix A, you’ve convinced me to get one.
Best wishes
Roger Packer
That’s true, but I want a list of article titles with links, not an article dump – that’s the limitation.
Enjoy the A!
Very interesting site and well done comments and photos. My thanks for taking the time and making the effort to provide information and guidance to many photographers.
For those such as I who shoot large format film and contact print our images the essential issue is if digital capture as exemplified by images taken by the Leica M 240 and MM are “as good as” those same images captured on film. It is difficult to make conclusions based upon the photos that are posted and viewed on a monitor. One would have to see the images taken by film and the Leica side by side, correctly printed, etc., etc. I would be interested in your comments about the digital black and white images from the newest Leica M240 using Leica glass as printed and compared to those images captured on 8×10 film and contact printed.
Obviously LF film photographers do not pursue street photography. Thus, landscapes and more studied subjects are emphasized. From the images shown my initial impression is that the digital capture is lacking the mid tone gray separation that well executed black and white images on film evidence. Not that the digital images are bad; the film images are, to my eyes better. The differences are subtle, but obvious to me and perhaps others who are experienced in the tonal values rendered on film and then well printed on silver papers. Would such differences be obvious in the same Leica images that are skillfully printed, and compared to film images similarly printed? I suspect printed digital images would be superior to those seen on a monitor, and thus I would look forward to such comparisons.
Users of large format cameras and film would do well to take a careful and detailed look at the new Leica M 240. The cost of both the M240 and the MM is prohibitive for many. Thus, alternatives using Leica M lenses on other mirror-less cameras well be worthy of investigation.
Thanks again for the hard work.
Thanks. FF digital isn’t going to beat large format anytime soon, especially not Leica’s sensors; they’re better than the M9 generation but still not as good as the D800E, and I’d say that’s about on par with a good 6×6 negative. That said, you’ll have to print very large to see the difference – I can only start to see a gap between the M 240 and D800E/ 6×6 at about 20×20 inches and upwards.
Film isn’t better or worse: it’s different. The difference lies in a) the native (nonlinear) tonal response, which makes for richer shadows and gentle highlight rolloff – compared to the linearity of modern CMOS and b) not having discrete pixels, which removes the impression of being resolution-limited due to the fixed reproduction ‘grid’ size.
Leica lenses on mirrorless won’t give you anywhere near the quality of full frame digital, let alone large format. I think you’ll be very disappointed. The closest you’re going to get to large format in FF digital is probably the D800E and Zeiss glass.
Thanks for confirming what I had suspected.
The price of the 800E is certainly more reasonable!
Can you be more specific as to the Zeiss glass that you have in mind? Does Nikon make an adaptor so that one can use the Zeiss lenses on the Nikon….one can only assume so.
Incidentally, would you care to comment about the comparison of an enlargement made from 35mm black and white film taken with Leica glass vs. the same scene taken with Leica glass on the M240….both enlarged to 11×14. One understands the additional variables of an enlarging lens, etc., etc., etc.
Elliot