Armed with his discerning lenses, INSP (NS) Mohamed Nazirul Mubin Bin Mohamed Yunos finds beauty in both distant landscapes and the everyday details close to home.
While many of us might walk past a hatching butterfly without noticing, INSP (NS) Mohamed Nazirul Mubin Bin Mohamed Yunos, 31, once spent an entire morning observing a pupa, checking it every five minutes as he waited for the butterfly to emerge.
His patience paid off. He photographed the butterfly’s delicate wings as they unfurled, showcasing stunning shades of orange and brown.
This dedication to macro photography is just one part of Nazirul’s passion for capturing life’s beauty, which began when he got his first camera phone at 13. Surrounded by family and friends who were avid photographers — some even professionals — he quickly developed his skills and spent years refining his craft.
For Nazirul, a Senior Executive in Events and Marketing, passion and practice go hand in hand. “Consistent practice ultimately leads to improvement and mastery,” he shares.
His meticulous approach extends to how he prepares for each shoot. As a seasoned NSman — who served as an Assistant Operations Officer in the Central Division during his National Service in the Singapore Police Force and later as an Officer Commanding (OC) Troop at the Protective Security Command (ProCom) — Nazirul is always ready for the outdoors with his camera in tow. “I always bring tissues or a towel in my camera bag,” he says. “My face or hands can get sweaty or dirty, and keeping things dry ensures better control during the shoot.”
Nazirul also applies his organisational skills to his photography portfolio. This year, he hopes to curate a cohesive series with a clear narrative. “I’ve always liked how pictures can capture moments, memories, abstract ideas, and art,” he reflects.
His philosophy on photography? “There are no strict rules for what makes a good photo. As long as you enjoy the process, have fun and love what you do, that’s what matters most,” he says.
Nazirul shares with Frontline some of his most memorable photographs and the stories behind them, offering tips for aspiring photographers along the way.
“The butterfly completed all three stages of its life cycle — egg, caterpillar and pupa — right on my kaffir lime plant. Capturing this shot was relatively straightforward because butterflies usually stay still to dry their wings after emerging. However, the real challenge lay in predicting when it would eclose [emerge from its pupa].
When a butterfly ecloses, it has a brief window — usually 30 minutes or less — before taking its first flight, and this can happen at any time. To ensure I didn’t miss the moment, I prepared my camera in advance and checked on the pupa every five minutes. The ideal time to photograph the butterfly is when its wings are freshly eclosed and still wet, as the vibrant colours and contrasts are at their peak. In under five minutes, I captured as many shots as I could from various angles before it started moving and eventually took off.”
“A macro lens is essential for photographing insects. It reveals incredible details — like the tiny hairs or thorns on their bodies — that are invisible to the naked eye.
Capturing this shot was particularly challenging due to the caterpillar’s constant movement and the low light conditions, which required using a camera flash and adaptable focus techniques. The caterpillar’s ability to camouflage on its host plant adds to the difficulty of locating it. To improve your chances, look for host plants in parks or less urbanised areas where leaves are less likely to be contaminated by fogging or insecticides. Additionally, understanding the active times and behaviour patterns of both butterflies and caterpillars is crucial for spotting them.”
“The best time to photograph flowers is when they’ve just bloomed and there’s good natural light. You can see that the upper side of the sunflower’s leaves exhibit a pattern reminiscent of an urban map.
As an avid gardener, I find great joy in watching plants grow and thrive under my care. When they flourish, it gives me a great sense of achievement. Most of my plants are grown in my home’s corridor. I like to keep plants that stand out in such spaces, like the double-petaled butterfly pea plant, blood flower, banana and variegated monstera, to name a few.”
“This photo was taken at a reservoir located about 5 kilometres from HomeTeamNS Khatib. I had just returned home in the evening and noticed that the setting sky had a beautiful orange glow, which is quite uncommon in Singapore. Knowing that the light would peak in about 20 minutes time, I rode as quickly as I could to the location. Though exhausted by the time I arrived, the scene was breathtaking. Armed only with my phone, I captured the moment and enjoyed the sunset.”
“My friends and I befriended a local who took us to this island on a traditional boat. We went snorkelling in near solitude, surrounded by untouched, pristine marine life and incredibly soft sand. However, I soon realised I was surrounded by reefs! As I carefully navigated my way back to shore, I paused, looked up and was greeted by this breathtaking view. The serenity of that moment was unparalleled, and I captured this photo to preserve and cherish the unforgettable experience.”
“I had just enjoyed some of Penang’s amazing food and was on my way to a shopping mall (to use the toilet, haha). Initially, the view of the sky was blocked by Penang’s iconic alleys of shophouses. But as I crossed the final street, I came across this beautiful sunset and noticed a few others also posing and taking photos. That’s when I took out my phone and snapped the shot. What I love most about this photo is that it didn’t need any filter – that’s exactly how the sky looked!”
“That’s me, enjoying the sunrise and resting in the cold. My group of climbing kakis and I climb several mountains in the region every year, and this particular climb was part of our ongoing goal to conquer the Seven Summits of Indonesia. I find mountain climbing to be mentally, spiritually, and emotionally therapeutic, even as it challenges you physically.
We started with a two-day climb at Mt Latimojong followed by a night climb to catch the sunrise at Mt Bulusaraung. Unless you’re super fit and motivated, I wouldn’t recommend attempting what we did – even our guide team thought we were crazy! By the end of the trip, all of us were limping, and the pain lingered for some time.
But what makes these trips so fun is climbing with friends, meeting new people and conquering challenges together – it’s a truly rewarding experience. While photos can preserve those memories, nothing compares experiencing the moments with our own eyes.”
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