SINGAPORE - At the top of an escalator, I wait eagerly for Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam to ride up on it. He is supposed to address the media after

securing 70 per cent of the sample vote

I move away from the scrum, anticipating to snap a picture that would look as though he was on the ascendant. Initially facing away, he turns and it seems I will capture what I have envisioned. But after some cheers from his supporters, he turns and leaves the hawker centre.

Instead, I snap this picture: The lines of the escalator handrails lead the eye towards Mr Tharman and his spouse, Ms Jane Ittogi, as they stand amid a sea of jubilant supporters.

Little did I expect that it would be on the front page of the next day’s paper, showing me anew how a picture can contain and convey deep emotions.

Growing up, I collected all kinds of pictures – newspaper clippings, stamps, postcards, you name it. It was my way of keeping the world with me. 

When I was in secondary school, joining the photogr...