A packet of tissue paper, nasi lemak, and kopi, these some of the unique objects Singaporeans brought along to a photoshoot that aims to reflect the spirit of our nation, and they couldn’t be more relatable. Indeed, we’ll consider the Faces of Singapore campaign, a worthy initiative by OPPO, an ode to Singapore — made even more impressive when we found out that all 30 portraits were photographed on a smartphone.
Award-winning photographer Ivanho Harlim puts the latest OPPO Reno10 Pro+ smartphone to work, using its Ultra-Clear Portrait Camera System for professional-looking portrait images that capture stunning detail and vivid colours. Smartphone photography is, certainly, in its new era, where we can achieve DSLR-like results at a click of a button, with a device that easily fits into our pockets.
“We featured a mix of all ages, races, ethnicities, and occupations for Faces of Singapore that can encapsulate the melting pot that is Singapore,” said Dylan Yu, Head of Marketing of OPPO Singapore, on the campaign, while further elaborating on how it coincides with OPPO’s 10th anniversary in Singapore.
The concept of “unity, shared heritage, and values of Singaporeans” is also brought about when looking at how the 30 individuals, dressed in symbolic red-and-white, each brought along items that represented their various passions and what it means to be Singaporean.
Ahead, we hear more from Dylan about the Faces of Singapore campaign, and just how the OPPO Reno10 Pro+ is the ideal smartphone for nailing picture-perfect portraits.
Was there any particular visual concept and message you’d like to convey through the Faces of Singapore series?
Dylan: “At the heart of the portraits behind this campaign, is really our show of love — from OPPO to Singapore. This is weaved into the visual concept of our campaign, which is led by national colours of red and white to truly make it all about Singapore.
The main message we want to convey through the portraits is our utmost gratitude to Singaporeans for their love and support for OPPO throughout the years. In return, we will continue to go above and beyond to deliver products that will further enhance your lives — as we have done for the past 10 years — and many more to come.”
How was the experience shooting these portraits with a smartphone?
D: “We had to shoot all 30 portraits in one single day and were working with different personalities who were all not professional models. That meant that communication was very important, and we had to capture them in the most natural setting as much as possible, which was where Ivanho helped a lot.
Moreover, we had to take into consideration that shooting photographs with a mobile phone is different from shooting with a DSLR. Given that the OPPO Reno10 Series was designed with Portrait Expert in mind, we did not face typical smartphone photography challenges. The session proceeded with ease, producing beautiful shots of our featured individuals without compromising on quality.”
Do you have a favourite image from the series?
D: “One that left a deep impression was Vanessa Tan who brought the unmistakably Singaporean Kopi to the shoot. As we both work in the marketing field, I felt a connection to her story on what being Singaporean means to her. Her philosophy on building relationships aligns with how OPPO conceptualised the Faces of Singapore campaign to kindle meaningful connections.”
As mentioned by photographer Ivanho, the OPPO Reno10 Pro+ feels like a “DSLR in your pocket” — why do you feel that’s so?
D: “When we think about traditional professional photography, not just the DSLR, we think about the gears and the set-up needed to execute it. Leveraging on the convenience and accessibility that is inherent to smartphones, we wanted to take it to the next level by bringing professional photography to the pockets of users in one simple click.
The result we achieved is a smartphone that feels like a “DSLR in your pocket”.
This is a game changer in how we capture moments in day-to-day life. The Reno10 series unlocks unlimited possibilities in the types of shots that can be taken by the everyday user.”
Was there any particular feature of the phone that surprised you / Ivanho while on set?
D: “Rather than a specific feature, what really surprised Ivanho was the level of clarity he could achieve with the Reno10 series overall. This is what we have intended with the Reno10 series as it is supported by advanced algorithms that can better separate the subject from the background, and even anti-facial distortion algorithms that makes every portrait picture perfect. This made capturing these portraits even more seamless and shooting with the OPPO Reno10 Pro+ came very intuitively and with ease.”
Do you have any tips for shooting portraits with a smartphone?
D: “It’s all about understanding what you have at hand and using it your advantage. Even without added equipment and accessories, you can easily take a cinematic photo or picture-perfect portrait with the Reno10 Pro+.
The key to taking a good photo, especially portrait shots on a smartphone, is understanding how to make full use of the different camera functions.
The Reno10 Pro+, for example, comes with the telephoto portrait camera which allows users to capture photos at 3X optical zoom and to play with shot composition when shooting portraits.
One good example was actually Adele Chan from NYLON Singapore, who snapped stunning shots of Bali’s landscapes with our OPPO Reno10 Pro+. She demonstrated that knowing how to work your smartphone camera really makes a difference in the quality of your shots.”
What are some of the features that make the OPPO Reno10 series stand out?
D: “The Reno Series itself has always had a strong legacy of being a Portrait Expert. For the Reno10 series, we continue this legacy in introducing the Ultra-Clear Portrait Camera System, the most significant upgrade in Reno’s history.
It features a triple camera system that touts and impressive Telephoto Portrait Camera, an Ultra-Clear Main, a Selfie Camera, and an Ultra-Wide Camera.
In fact, the telephoto portrait camera on Reno10 Pro+ 5G is 64MP, which is the highest megapixels of any smartphone with a telephoto camera. Backed by this incredible line-up, the Reno10 Pro+ also provides amazing imaging features that includes Pro-Portrait Mode and Pro-Portrait Video to deliver pro-level shots. With all these features, everyone can shoot portraits just like a professional.
Beyond the Reno product line, there’s also OPPO’s Find series where smartphones truly become cream-of-the-crop. The Find series is also where OPPO is really breaking new grounds in challenging the possibilities of what we know of smartphones, such as in form factor. The newest addition of the Find series launched locally saw the first-ever OPPO foldable, the Find N2 Flip, introduced to Singaporeans with much fanfare. And it is through such innovation that we will continue to stand out and excite Singaporeans about OPPO.”
[click on the images below to expand.]
See the full series of Faces of Singapore images here.
The OPPO Reno10 Pro+ 5G in Silvery Gray and Glossy Purple, $1,149. Available at at OPPO Concept Stores, OPPO Official Online Store as well as OPPO’s Lazada, Qoo10, Shopee, and partner consumer online stores such as Challenger and iShopChangi.
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