Through My Lens

Me and Bobby. I look like one of those girls who uses
DSLRs only for selfies. I can assure you I'm
not like that. 

In early 2010, I made the big decision to pull out some of my hard earned money to buy a DSLR. I was Form 4 back then, and I had a growing passion for photography. After much debate, I settled on a Nikon D5000. (One of the key features I loved about this camera was you could flip the screen down and hold your camera high for a picture, which is quite useful for vertically challenged people like me.)

For the next two years of high school I cherished my camera with all my heart, and I nicknamed him Bobby. As I was a school photographer I brought my camera to school almost every day. Through my lens I snapped school events, countless portraits for the teachers, prefectorial board and librarian board committee members… I was constantly on my feet. Although it was enjoyable for me, it was ‘work’. In 2011 I graduated Form 5, and naturally, Bobby graduated with me too.

Sad to say that once I started my internship, I was busy working and there was no time to take photos anymore. I left my camera alone at home in his bag, and there he stayed for a good two years, only coming out once in a while for special events.

Then came Project WHEE!. Sure I'm the project boss, but I also held the position of official photographer. 

After I took this picture, Tepuq Sina Rang was telling me
how happy she was to have Kit May with her. You
can see it clearly in Tepuq's eyes. 

I would get calls from WHEEans during the day that they and their Tepuq were doing something out of their normal schedule and “oh Rhon can you please come take a photo of my Tepuq and I??” Getting calls was exciting, because I got to share some special moments with some people in Project WHEE!, just by being there to snap a photo. 

My camera is no longer pretty like he once was. He is full of battle scars from climbing Prayer Mountain, being in the middle of the sawah trying to get the perfect angle of someone planting, being poorly covered in a t shirt in the rain while running back home, having damp hands hold him to get a picture of everyone’s team spirit in the hydrodam, and the list goes on. Every picture that you see in the Project WHEE! Facebook page, Bobby took them.

And when we return from our trips, Bobby sits next to me thankful for a rest; while I browse through what was captured through my lens, and it never ceases to amaze me.

Indian breakout during cultural night.
I sure had lots of laughs that night! 

Through my lens I caught photographs of laughter. Laughters of Tepuqs watching WHEEans try their best at performing tasks like planting paddy that are so normal to them, but seem like a challenge to these kids.

Through my lens I caught photographs of excitement. Bright faces of WHEEans during their first few days in Bario.  They had curiosity written all over their faces, eager to learn more about this wonderful new place.

Through my lens I captured photographs of joy. The joy on everyone’s faces during cultural night; dancing, singing and having the time of our lives. The joy of the Tepuqs faces when we learn how to say something in Kelabit.

I chose this photo because I've been told
capturing a photo of a crying Wai Min
is a rare opportunity.  

Through my lens I captured photographs of fun. WHEEans running around in the paddy field throwing and painting each other’s faces with mud, and then jumping into the freezing waters of the hydrodam.

Through my lens I captured photographs of tiredness. Sleepy WHEEans who put their all out for a task, and crash on their beds for well deserved sleep.

Through my lens I captured photographs of sadness. Tepuqs and WHEEans embracing tearfully, uncertain of when will be the next time they meet again.

Through my lens, not only did I capture photographs, but those moments captured my heart, and I will cherish them for a lifetime.

And through my lens, there will be more memoWHEEs to capture in batches to come.   

Rhonwyn