PENANG – In continuation of Han Chiang University College’s (HCUC) Comm Fest 2023 Day 1, a photojournalism sharing session titled, “Story Through a Picture”, was given to the students and fellow staff members on the trials and tribulations of a photojournalist. 

Vincent Thian (50), senior member of Associated Press.

The sharing session was given by a senior member of the Associated Press (AP), Vincent Thian. Vincent (50), is the only Malaysian photojournalist who has been working at AP for 25 years. During his over twenty years of experience, he has covered many types of events and news. These events included tsunamis, political coups, ASEAN Games, Olympic Games, and riots. During the sharing session, Vincent gave the audience insight into how photojournalism worked. He mentioned that during his tenure at AP, while he was abroad covering events and news, it was important for photojournalists to always be prepared, as at any given moment, the opportunity to take photos of an event could be gone within mere seconds. 

Additionally, he also said that in times where his personal morals and work ethics were brought into question, he would need to first oblige his employers first as the opportunity to capture the moment through a photo can be gone in an instant. In which he commented can be very heartbreaking, but it is what he is paid to do. 

Students borrowing the camera and lenses.

After the session, the audience were welcome to take part in a photography session, where Vincent and the crew from Sony came to lend cameras and lenses to the audience who were present at the time. Students and staff were given the chance to try out cameras with various lenses for the sake of taking fast shutter speed photos.