3 Jan | Merdeka 118 - Seeing beyond the Tower with Sanjit Das and Suzanne Lee

This photowalk isn’t about photographing the 118 tower itself, Malaysia’s newest symbol of
ambition and progress, but about keeping it in the frame’s periphery, letting it exist as a
silent presence that shapes how we experience and photograph what surrounds it.

The walk focuses on what lives around the tower: changing urban landscapes and
everyday life unfolding in its shadow. We’ll use the afternoon light and long shadows to
follow the rhythm of the city and explore how old Kuala Lumpur adjusts to its gleaming new neighbour - the cafés, the tourists, the vendors, in all its glory while focusing on the quiet
details that reveal change over time.

During this walk,  there will be a parallel Sofort session with 3 children, Leica Kids. They will be guided to explore the same streets with openness and instinct, to notice movement, shape, and feeling in the ordinary. 

The challenge for this photo walk is to find your own way of seeing in a place that is both
familiar and is transforming.

All children below 13 years will require parents/guardians for the photowalk. 

Date: 3 January 2025 (Saturday)
Time: 4 pm - 8:30 pm
Meeting Location: Leaf & Co. café. (53, Jalan Sultan, KL)

Workshop Agenda:

4:00 - 4:15 PM | Meet & Greet

4:15 - 5:00 PM | Intro & Briefing
Meeting Point: Leaf & Co. café. (53, Jalan Sultan, KL)
• Welcome and short introduction by Sanjit, who is leading the walk with Leica
photographers and Suzanne, who’s leading the Sofort with 3 children.
• Discuss quick visual cues : geometry, reflection, scale, community, contrast, and
Light.

5:00 - 7:30 PM | Walk & Shoot Segments
Area: Toward Petaling Street edge and the Merdeka precinct
• Capture it indirectly: through reflections, scaffolding, signage, puddles, or glances.
• Visual exercise of frame the tower without showing it.
• Observations along local trades, fading textures, tiled walls and layers etc.
• Encourage slow seeing and intentional photography.

7:30 - 8:30 PM | Wrap-Up
Regroup at a nearby café (Luck Bros Kopi for Satay & Teh Tarik).
• Share and discuss 2 - 3 frames per participant on-screen/Leica Fotos app.
• Discuss what makes to an edit and which don’t - this helps in not only recognising
one’s style, but also improves one’s shooting flow.
• Open conversations and discussions.

What to Expect
• 1:1 Interaction: Sanjit will spend time with each participant during the walk, offering
feedback and guidance on technique, composition, and storytelling.
• Build confidence in photographing street scenes with a wide lens (28 or 35).
• Develop a narrative eye, learning to see connections between moments rather than
isolated frames.
• Practical insights on sequencing and quick methods to build a cohesive photo story.

What’s not included:
• Camera. Please bring your own camera, ideally a 28 or a 35.
• Transport/food/meal/drinks