Darul Hana bridge and the Sarawak state legislative Assembly Building, Kuching, Sarawak
Cover Darul Hana bridge and the Sarawak state legislative Assembly Building, Kuching, Sarawak

Award-winning photojournalist David ST Loh is famous for creating iconic and captivating images. Here are 10 taken over Malaysia that will make you view familiar local scenes from a different perspective.

Internationally published award-winning author, photojournalist and aerial landscape artist David ST Loh is famous for creating images from the sky, on land and underwater. He has held several solo exhibitions in Malaysia and in Singapore and many of his works, including limited edition prints, are owned by private collectors worldwide. 

Based in Singapore for more than 20 years, Loh returned to Penang where he established Elaton Asia Services and Elaton Publishing with his wife Rebecca Lee. In July 2019, they published Over Penang, featuring unique aerial images across Penang which was well-received. The couple currently runs a successful fine art photo gallery in Penang, which also houses Ilford’s second print gallery in the world.

When asked about what drew him to drone photography, Loh has this to say:

"We are always on the forefront of using technology and the drone gave us a new perspective to how we capture images. Being a photojournalist and having done underwater photography, I've found the drone to be another photographic tool that allows us to capture stunning and evocative images, sometimes at impossible-to-reach locations. There is always an element of surprise when photographing with a drone. You never know what you may capture till you see the files; a palette created by the roof tops, patterns from tree tops or an eagle flying past the drone!"

Here are 10 "surprising" shots taken during Loh and Lee's travels across Malaysia, accompanied by his descriptions.

See also: Bettina Chua Abdullah On The Making Of Award-Winning Book 'Over Penang'

1. Ubudiah Mosque, Kuala Kangsar, Perak

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Ubudiah Mosque, Kuala Kangsar, Perak
Above Ubudiah Mosque, Kuala Kangsar, Perak

Ubudiah Mosque in Perak is lauded as the most beautiful mosque in Malaysia. Completed in 1917, in the Mogul-Gothic architectural style, it is lined with marbled floors and fine wall-to-wall Persian carpets. A chandelier hangs from an intricately decorated ceiling in one of the halls.

2. Paddy fields in Sekinchan, Selangor

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Paddy fields in Sekinchan, Selangor
Above Paddy fields in Sekinchan

Fields of gold and emerald, the different areas of paddy fields that are being harvested created this patchwork-like palette that stretched for miles in Sekinchan, one of the major rice producing areas in Malaysia.

See also: The Most Idyllic Luxury Holiday Resorts In Malaysia

3. Silver Chariot and devotees, George Town, Penang

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Silver Chariot and devotees, George Town, Penang
Above Silver Chariot and devotees, George Town, Penang

The silver chariot procession is pulled by oxen during Thaipusam celebrations in George Town. Devotees surround the chariot making offerings and seeking blessings.

4. Petronas Towers and surrounding skyscrapers, Kuala Lumpur

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Petronas Towers and surrounding skyscrapers, Kuala Lumpur
Above Petronas Towers and surrounding skyscrapers, Kuala Lumpur

Standing at 452m in height, the Petronas Towers are the tallest twin buildings in the world. They loom over major skyscrapers in the well-developed part of Kuala Lumpur.

See also: 4 Iconic Residential Buildings in Kuala Lumpur

5. Over the Sabang River, Sarawak

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Over the Sabang River, Sarawak
Above Over the Sabang River, Sarawak

This shot was taken on a flight over the Sabang river that meanders towards the sea. 

6. The Federal Territory Mosque, Kuala Lumpur

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The Federal Territory Mosque, Kuala Lumpur
Above The Federal Territory Mosque, Kuala Lumpur

The morning light cast a soft glow over the stately Federal Territory mosque in Kuala Lumpur and its sprawling complex of 22 domes and sky-piercing minarets.  

See also: 7 Beautiful University Campuses In Malaysia

7. Darul Hana bridge and the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly Building, Kuching, Sarawak

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Darul Hana bridge and the Sarawak state legislative Assembly Building, Kuching, Sarawak
Above Darul Hana bridge and the Sarawak state legislative Assembly Building, Kuching, Sarawak

The twinkling of lights from the buildings on the right bank of the Kuching river couldn't rival the glow from the new Sarawak State Legislative Assembly Building. The building’s design takes the shape of a nine-pointed star and it is capped with a roof that is a direct representation of the‘ Baruk’ (headhouse) roof of the Bidayuh community, the second largest ethnic group in Sarawak, Malaysia.

8. Communal Picnic during the Kaul Festival, Mukah, Sarawak

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A community of Melanau celebrates their Thanksgiving festival called Kaul at the mouth of the Mukah river in the Malaysian Borneo state of Sarawak. April 21, 2018.
Above A community of Melanau celebrates their Thanksgiving festival called Kaul at the mouth of the Mukah river in the Malaysian Borneo state of Sarawak. April 21, 2018.

Villagers celebrating Kaul gather at the estuary of the Mukah River in Sarawak for a communal picnic.  The Kaul festival celebrated by the Melanau ethnic group in Sarawak is a traditional celebration to appease and thank the spirits or guardians for a good year and pray for a bountiful year ahead. 

See also: Home Tour: A Multi-Generational Family Home In Miri, Sarawak

9. Over the heritage zone of George Town, Penang

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Over the heritage zone of George Town, Penang
Above Over the heritage zone of George Town, Penang

An aerial view of the UNESCO World Heritage Site in George Town, Penang.  A palette made out of roof tops in George Town where diverse communities live and trade. Penang also has one of the largest collections of pre-war buildings in Southeast Asia.

10. Sunset at Manukan Island, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah

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Sunset at Manukan Island, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah
Above Sunset at Manukan Island, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah

Manukan Island during a sudden burst of colours from the setting sun. In this island paradise, there are well-appointed villas by the hillside that open up to a view of the beach and surrounding vegetation. With long stretches of white sandy beach it is just a 15-minute boat ride from Sutera Harbour Marina in Kota Kinabalu. A popular site for a day trip of snorkelling and if you are lucky, a friendly encounter with the resident Blacktip reef shark off the jetty!

See also: 6 Stunning Beaches In Malaysia To Visit In 2021

Credits

Photography  

David ST Loh

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