Singapore commercial photographer Geoff Ang says he is a 'thief' of images

Before each shoot, international advertising photographer Geoff Ang (right) meditates upon late basketball superstar Kobe Bryant - only instead of visualising shooting three-pointers, he meticulously plays out every detail of his upcoming set.

- Clement Yong Correspondent

The 51-year-old Singaporean has the analogy ready. "You know how he trained and thought of himself carrying the trophy, how he took a helicopter to training as opposed to getting stuck in Los Angeles traffic.

"It's that kind of extreme mindset - you are dealing with 100 people on set, half a million dollars. There's no failure," he says.

Ang is speaking to The Sunday Times at camera manufacturer Leica's store in Beach Road for the launch of his manual Inside The Mind Of A Photographer, a distillation of his wisdom over a distinguished 35year career.

Before embracing a slower pace now that he is in his 50s, he was a hotshot jet-setter, his work running the gamut of still life, high fashion, beauty and car shoots.

He proudly calls himself a "generalist". Advertising campaigns he has directed include those for global brands such as Audi, Nivea, Evian and, closer to home, Changi Airport Group and Tiger Balm.