IGOTW: Daredevil @Kiwikeow Captures Cities Around The World From Dizzying Heights
This week on IGOTW, we feature Malaysian photographer Keow Wee Loong, also known as @kiwikeow on Instagram who captures rare sights of cityscapes from the highest vantage points.
By John Lim — 28 Sep 2015, 01:41 PM
Photographers are a dedicated lot, to say the least. They spend hours on end perfecting their craft and splurge on expensive cameras and equipment. But when it comes to capturing the perfect shot, some photographers will go to the extreme.
Thrill-seeking Instagrammer Keow Wee Loong a.k.a @Kiwikeow has taken his photography to new heights, capturing dizzying images of cityscapes from the tops of skyscrapers with views typically reserved for birds
Wee Loong's adventurous photo escapades include climbing the Marina 101 in Dubai and the Ping An Financial Centre in China, just to name a few. We caught up with the elusive daredevil over the weekend where he revealed to us his preferred camera equipment, being arrested by cops and how he ventured into rooftopping. WARNING: Do NOT read this if you're afraid of heights.
SAYS: Tell us a bit about yourself, Wee Loong!
Wee Loong: Hello there, my name is Keow Wee Loong and I'm from KL. I currently work as a full-time photographer which means I spend most of my time travelling around the world. I really love my job!
How did you start rooftop photography?
I've seen a lot of photos captured from ground level and it's way too common. In order to differentiate myself from other photographers, I explored rooftop photography, fell in love with it and have not stopped ever since.
Before venturing into rooftop photography, what were you shooting?
Well, I worked as a photojournalist for quite a while before this. Also, I was the campaign photographer for Datuk Anwar Ibrahim and Dr. Wan Azizah!
Who or what inspires you?
Honestly, I don't really need anyone to inspire me for the things I love doing. I'm really proactive and will pursue my goals without much hesitation and thought.
What do you wear when you climb?
It's nothing fancy! I normally wear a pair of sandals, shorts and t-shirt from Uniqlo and a sturdy backpack to carry my camera and equipment. It's very important to travel light, to avoid any restrictions in movement.
How do you get access to the buildings you climb? Have you ever been arrested?
Normally, I just climb in through a wall to get into the buildings. Oh yes, I was arrested by the cops for climbing the 33-storey One Sentrum building during the first day of Ramadan and was charged in court!
What has been the most difficult building to climb thus far?
Every climb is different. When I climbed the Marina 101 in Dubai, it was during the summer where temperatures run as high as 60 celsius. As for the Shanghai Tower, I took close to 24 hours to reach the peak. It was freezing cold and I only wore a pair of shorts.
Do you use a camera or phone to capture your photos? What apps or software do you use for editting?
I only use my trusty Nikon D800 to capture my photos as most of them are printed for commercial use. Photoshop is my go-to for editing purposes.
Wee Loong has over 2k followers on Instagram. He uploads photos throughout the week, with an average of 200 likes per post.
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