Saint Andrew's - School Reopens!

[Headshotzx]

Hey guys! Here to share some photographs from yesterday's school reopening ceremony at Saint Andrew's Village.

I field tested my new 70-200 2.8IS lens. Photographs are from a gripped 400D with 17-40L and 70-200 2.8IS, some shots also have fill-in flash via 580EXII.

A little explanation on my part:
Students from the secondary school and the junior school will gather at the field. Around them will be parents (and lots of them!), teachers and friends (usually old-boys). There will be the national anthem, hymn singing, a dedication for the new year by Arch Bishop Rev John Chew, and then the mess starts-- An all out stampede. Students who graduated from the primary school and secured a place in the secondary school will stand the line at one side of the shared field. At the count of 3, they will have a mad dash to the secondary school side of the field (to the tune of O When The Saints Go Marching In by the SAS Military Band), signifying the cross-over. It's a tradition that dates back a long time.

Without further ado, here are the photographs. Do enjoy.

#1 - School Photographers

#2 - Passion in Music

#3 - The Hands that Sing

#4 - Fists Over Hearts

#5 - The Pledge

 

[Headshotzx]

#6 - The Three Principals: School Hymn

#7 - The Benediction (by Arch Bishop Rev John Chew)

*excuse wrong title- was doing something else for the boarding house*

#8 - Hands Clasped, Head Bowed

#9 - In Prayer (SAJS School Capt)

 

[Headshotzx]

#10 - Ready to Sing the School Song?

#11 - Focused Mind - Brian Lim, SASMB

*excuse wrong title- was doing something else for the boarding house*

#12 - Clarinets @ SASMB

#13 - Cornets @ SASMB

#14 - Prefect Line-Guard

 

[Headshotzx]

#15 - Saints! Are You Ready?!

#16 - The Mad Dash!

#17 - Stampede!

#18 - Last, But Surely Not the Least

#19 - Sorry Kids, Back To School!

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And that concludes my showcase. Hope you've enjoyed it!

Happy New Year to all!

And to all the Saints out there-- UP AND ON!

Cheers,
Zexun

EDIT: Yes, I *did* put my bags down and ran with them using my 17-40L. Fun, but super tiring, and 3fps / 9frame buffer really isn't enough. Maybe it's really time for an upgrade.. nah =/

 

[gunawan]

hiya zexun, u're a Saint? Great pics, right in the centre of the action. Memorable place. Especially the old pri school across the river. I tink they chopped down the old giant tree just inside the main gate ya? Last stepped foot there more than 20 yrs ago.

 

[Headshotzx]

hiya zexun, u're a Saint? Great pics, right in the centre of the action. Memorable place. Especially the old pri school across the river. I tink they chopped down the old giant tree just inside the main gate ya? Last stepped foot there more than 20 yrs ago.

Thanks! Yes I'm a Saint. Just graduated sec4 from SAS, most probably going to SAJC =)

Nice to find another Saint on the boards! I'm not sure about the trees though haha.

EDIT: OH! That tree! Yes. They chopped it down to make way for the school courtyard. The Woodsville house is still there, though.

 

[chiangkxv]

Nice series...

PIC 13: nothing to do with the pictures, but are sec sch kids allowed with such long hair nowadays? lol during my time its a NONO

 

[trident]

Headshotzx,
Thanks for the nice set of photos.
I can hardly remember the time I dash accross the field,
it was a long time ago.

 

[Madmax]

Haha! The tradition still lives on. Man..I dashed across 29 years ago at the old school premises.

 

[drumma]

looking at #14, the 2 prefects on the right look like they're gonna faint soon!

 

[starysnow]

Such an interesting tradition! Too bad only you guys will get to see it happen as a former female SAJCian will never get to see something like that happening.

Kind of miss the time when Berlinda Charles was the principal. Kekz. Brings back some SAJC memories with these photos. Great captures. Thanks for sharing the moment!

 

[ArcticFox]

Nice series. So, you changed lens in the middle of the event?

 

[wormz777]

Nice pics.... an ex-saint dropping by to say hi!

 

[gunawan]

Good to see so many Saints here. Actually, it was almost 30yrs ago...
Anyone remembers Mr Harry Tan & the principal before him?

I feel they shouldn't have cut the tree down. I believe it is easily more than 100 years old. Such a pity. We used to play wif the red seeds from the tree, shoot the teachers wif it :vhappy::blah::devil::nono:

 

[Headshotzx]

looking at #14, the 2 prefects on the right look like they're gonna faint soon!

Haha, really?

Such an interesting tradition! Too bad only you guys will get to see it happen as a former female SAJCian will never get to see something like that happening.

Kind of miss the time when Berlinda Charles was the principal. Kekz. Brings back some SAJC memories with these photos. Great captures. Thanks for sharing the moment!

Thanks! Yeah the running cross over is a pri/sec school tradition. Sec to JC crossover is a march.

Nice series. So, you changed lens in the middle of the event?

Yes I did. I always change lenses-- this time I changed it about 5 times.

Nice pics.... an ex-saint dropping by to say hi!

Hey! Nice to meet you =)

Good to see so many Saints here. Actually, it was almost 30yrs ago...
Anyone remembers Mr Harry Tan & the principal before him?

I feel they shouldn't have cut the tree down. I believe it is easily more than 100 years old. Such a pity. We used to play wif the red seeds from the tree, shoot the teachers wif it :vhappy::blah::devil::nono:

I covered Mr Harry Tan's funeral service as a serving school photographer-- yea I remember him.

 

[simranjits]

Nice series...

PIC 13: nothing to do with the pictures, but are sec sch kids allowed with such long hair nowadays? lol during my time its a NONO

Yup it is allowed , skinheads are not. Short hair is not tolerated now.

 

[simranjits]

Btw first pic , i see a school photographer shooting the A700! Good taste.

 

[Headshotzx]

Haha. Sony, Pentax and Nikon in the first photo.

I'm very impressed with my 70-200. The photo of the Bishop was shot with the sun in frame (at the top). Was just trying out the flare resistance and I see none! Only a bit less contrast-- awesome!

 

[marvintheroundone]

Great Stuff.
Hahaha, good insight to what happens in SA
Thanks

 

[ayatokamina]

This is nice. I was an SAJCian myself. Great work!