Singapore

THE PAGODA  by  JOSEPH K. S. TAN

Hon.FMPA, FMPA, APSA, PPSA, FSIIPC, ES.FIAP, A.WIEP, Hon.FPSG
Region Director, Region 30 (S.E.A) for the Photographic Society of America
International Representative for Singapore for the Photographic Society of America
5-star Color Slide International Exhibitor

1) Joseph K.S.Tan was born in Pontian, Malaysia and took up photography in 1964. In 1967, he sent his works for an International Exhibition Competition and won a major award which ranked him among the Ten Top Photographers of the world. At the age of 42, Joseph left a secure job as Head of Oil Accounts with Shell Company to begin a new career as a Professional Photographer in 1970.

2) 1968 – 1970 : Appointed International Salon Chairman for 3 consecutive years by the Photographic Society of Singapore for organizing International Salon of Photography. Adviser to the Raffles Photographic Club for organizing inter-school competitions and conducting free photography courses for their members.

3) 1968 – 1973 : Member of the Photographic Society of America. Actively participated in the Overseas International competitions (Monochrome Print section).
During this period, occasionally had been assigned by the P.S.S. to give a series of lectures to the R.A.F Tengah, R.A.F Changi, R.A.F. Seletar and Naval Base Photographic Clubs.

4) 1969 – 1970 : Hon.Secretary of the Pictorial group and Asst.Hon.Secretary of the Photographic Society of Singapore.

5) 1970 – 1984 : Set up his own business and spent several years in Europe studying some aspects of photography in particular Portrait Photography.

6) 1971 : Awarded the Distinction Diploma Services Rendered in April (ES.FIAP) by the Federation Internationale De L’Art Photographique (Berne). .

7) 1985 - 1989 : During his 5 years with Robinson Portrait Studio, he has been the Royal Photographer for Her Royal Highness and also photographed the Sultan, Her Majesty the Queen and other Royalties.
1986-1989 appointed Photography Instructor by the Peoples Association to conduct photographic courses at the Kampong Ubi and Changi Community Centres.

8) 1987 : Featured in the Straits Times and Asia Magazine being the first person in Asia to be awarded the “Associate” of the UK-based Master Photographers Association for Portraiture and Wedding photography.

9) 1988 – 1996 : Panel of judges for Kodak “Bride of the year” annual contest.

10) 1989 : Elected Vice-President of the Photographic Society of Singapore.

11) 1990 – 1991 : Set up “Canvas Bond Studio” in Bangkok. In December, 1990, Joseph had an audience
with Thailand King Bhumibol Adulyadej at the Royal Palace followed by a photography session of the Royal Family.

12) 1992 : Upon his return from Bangkok, he was fully committed to teaching photography full time, conducting various types of photography courses for both amateur and professional photographers.

13) 1993 : Received Award of Merit for 2 & 3 stars respectively from the Photographic Society of America for works submitted to world-wide Salon competition. Guest speaker at the Rotary Club (Queenstown) chapter. Awarded the “Associateship Services” distinction certificate by the India International Photographic Council (AS.IIPC)

14) 1995 : Guest speaker at the 4-days “PHOTOWORLD MANILA’95 on Wedding Photography organized by The Federation of Philippine Photographers Foundation Inc., Manila.
Received Awards of Merit for 4 stars rating by the PSA. Guest speaker for 5 days on Portraiture for delegates attending the 13th India International Photographic Council (Workshop & Conference) at Jodhpur, India.

15) 1996 : Joseph was honored by AMPHOTO in New York in the book ‘THE BUSINESS OF PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY” – A Professional guide in marketing and managing a successful studio, with a profile of 30 Top Portrait Photographers around the world.

16) 1997 : Elected “Associate” To The Royal Photographic Society of Great Britain (ARPS). Appointed International Representative for Singapore by the Photographic Society of America. In December 1997, was invited to Port Macquarie, Australia by Mr.Warren Scott, tutor of the North Coast School of Photography to promote an exchange of programmes between Australia and Singapore. During his visit, he was interviewed by Australia Media and was featured on Channel 7 at their Prime Time News.

17) 1998 : Joseph was the first person awarded the “FELLOWSHIP” (FMPA) by the UK-based Master Photographers Association (MPA) Joseph is the organizer and one of the speakers at the “DELPHI FAR EAST – MASTERS CONVENTION” for Singapore and Indonesia on behalf of the Master Photographers Association.. Five distinguished Master Photographers from U.K. and 1 from Indonesia were guest speakers. Joseph was also appointed “Ambassador” for the M.P.A.

18) 1999 : In a world wide competition organized by the Master Photographers Association, Joseph was awarded the Overall winner of the MPA Overseas Category B&W Photographer of the year 1999.

19) 2000 : Joseph received his 5-STARS rating and PSA Distinction Certificate of Proficiency (PPSA)

20) 2001 : Joseph was honored by the India International Photographic Council – The Fellowship Service coveted International Honor (FS.IIPC) for providing several decades of dedicated photographic services to fellow photographers.

21) 2002 : The Photographic Society of America has elected Joseph to the level of “Associateship” (APSA)

22) 2005 : In October, Joseph received the Master’s Highest Honor Award, the “Honorary Fellowship” (Hon.FMPA) from the UK-based Master Photographers Association. He is the first person in ASIA to have been conferred on this rarely given award.. During this period, Joseph has produced a booklet entitled “A Household Guide to Taking Good Pictures”.

23) For over two decades, Joseph has submitted his work to Overseas International Salons of Photography all around the world. He has won many awards and more than a thousand acceptances world-wide.

24) Throughout the years, Joseph has received many honors around the world which includes Asia, Europe and U.S.A. An accomplished photographer, he was also featured in many Newspapers and magazines. Also being interviewed by foreign radios and TV News.

25) 2006 : Joseph received his 25 years long membership from the Master Photographers Association.

26) 2007 : Appointed Region Director, Region 30 (S.E.A) by the Photographic Society of America.

27) 2009 : Conferred “Honorary Fellowship” by the Pakistan Salon Group (Hon.FPSG)

28) 2010 - On the World Photographers Day which was celebrated in Delhi on 19th August,

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