Hi! I'm Jean
Jean Qingwen Loo

Jean Qingwen Loo is a freelance documentary and travel photographer who loves exploring the world with her camera and notepad. Fascinated with the diversity of people and cultures around the globe, she hopes to accumulate a life of adventure and create social awareness through her work.

Jean is currently based in Singapore and works around Asia. She graduated from the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication, Nanyang Technological University in 2007 with a degree in Journalism and worked shortly at The Straits Times and Bloomberg News. In 2009, Jean's work won honorable mentions at the International Photography Awards and was featured in the PDN Photo Annual. She was also selected for the prestigious Eddie Adams workshop in New York City. Download Jean's Bio



LIVING THE EVERYDAY

I WAS dozing off in a cold computer lab when a slideshow of James Nachtwey’s images woke me up. Barely audible sighs and whispers echoed across the row as one by one, my classmates and I sat up in our chairs to focus on what had caught our attention.

That morning in August 2006 spent discussing his work changed my life forever. It started with questions about the sheltered, comfortable city I had grown up in, progressed to fear of nonchalance once the week was up and ended up in big dreams.

Then at the brink of adulthood, I toiled over ideals, expectations and defining a sense of self. Photojournalism and documentary photography lifted the clouds and showed the way forward. They are great teachers in the school of life who open doors to turbulent times and compelling cultures that were beyond my comprehension.

My photography and writing work not only express the lessons I’ve learnt, they are more importantly, proof that the joy is in the journey. I hope to encourage others to look beyond their social circles and explore today’s world before it becomes tomorrow’s history.