BIO
Lim Yaohui (b. 1982) is a photojournalist with The Straits Times in Singapore. His passion for nature and the environment led him to work as a horticulturist with the Singapore Botanic Gardens after graduating from the National University of Singapore with a degree in Life Sciences in 2007. In 2012, he left to pursue photography and became a full time photojournalist in 2016.
Back in his school days, Yaohui was a course coordinator with The Photographic Society of NUS - NUSPS. Since joining The Straits Times, he has covered regional and international news like the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Germany, Malaysia’s 14th General Election, 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia and the Hong Kong anti-extradition bill protests in 2019.
Today, he continues to champion his love for nature and the environment through feature stories, from illegal wildlife trade across Asia to the last days of Inuka, the Singapore Zoo’s last polar bear to coral bleaching.
His keen sense for news has led him to break stories like the sperm whale found dead and floating off Jurong Island and mass fish death near Lim Chu Kang jetty.
In 2018, he was part of an award winning Climate of Change series that brought him to Cape Town to document the water crisis. More recently he was a Merit winner at the Asian Environmental Journalism Awards 2019 for his photograph on the oil spill near Changi Jetty.
A versatile shooter, Yaohui was also shortlisted as one of the finalists for Best Sports Photo of the Year at the Singapore Sports Awards 2019.
Awards
Award of Excellence, 8A – Photo series (single-day) category, “X marks the spot”, 42nd edition of Society for News Design’s Best of Print News Design competition, 2021
Newscom Monthly Awards, Cross Media of the Month for the cross media package, “How S’pore built one of the world’s biggest solar farms” (The Straits Times, May 18, 2021)
Newscom Monthly Awards, Special Awards for Excellence for the photo, “Among the first in line to get Moderna vaccine” (The Straits Times, March 18, 2021)
Newscom Monthly Awards, Special Awards for Excellence for infographics and video, “Great Singapore Cycle” (The Straits Times Online, Feb 28, 2021)
Newscom Monthly Awards, Picture of the Month, “Look what Covid-19 made me do” (The Straits Times, Jan 10, 2021)
Silver medal for “An immersive guide to the President’s official residence” project in the category: Features (The Straits Times Online, Oct 27, 2019), Malofiej 28th International Infographics Awards July 31, 2020
Top 5 finalist for Best Sports Photo of the Year, 2019 Singapore Sports Awards
Finalist portrait in the Top 50 photographers in KL International Photoawards 2019
Merit Award, Environmental Photograph, Asian Environmental Journalism Awards 2019
Excellence in Journalism, “Hong Kong protests series”, (The Straits Times, Jun 11, Jul 2, 10, Oct 6, Nov 24, 2019), EMTM ANNUAL AWARDS 2019
Excellence in Journalism, “Inside The Istana: An immersive guide to The President’s official residence”, (The Straits Times Online, Oct 27, 2019), EMTM ANNUAL AWARDS 2019
Excellence in Journalism, “Climate of change series”, (The Sunday Times, Oct 21, 28, Nov 4, 11, 18, 25, Dec 2, 2018), EMTM ANNUAL AWARDS 2018
Newscom Monthly Awards, Feature Picture of the Month Award – Lim Yaohui for his feature picture “Birthday bash in full bloom” (The Straits Times, May 30, 2017)
Newscom Monthly Awards, News Picture of the Month Award – Lim Yaohui for his news picture “Fitting farewell to a founding father”
(The Straits Times, April 19, 2017)
Newscom Monthly Awards, Feature Picture of the Month Award – Lim Yaohui for his feature picture “Modern-day mermaid makes a splash” (The Straits Times, September 22, 2016)
Newscom Monthly Awards, Best Digital Package of the Month Award – Wang Hui Fen, Winnie Chong & Picture Desk for their digital package “#guesswhereSG: Off the beaten track” (The Straits Times, August 11, 2016)
Newscom Monthly Awards, For Excellence In Enterprise & Teamwork – Benson Ang, Trinna Leong, Shannon Teoh, Lim Yaohui, Michael M Dizon & Rhoda Chua for their package on “Rail adventures / Hidden charms up north” (The Sunday Times, July 31, 2016)
Newscom Monthly Awards, Feature Picture of the Month Award – Lim Yaohui for his feature picture “A leap of faith” (The Straits Times, June 16, 2016)
Newscom Monthly Awards, News Picture of the Month Award – Lim Yaohui for his news picture “A walk in the park, come rain or shine” (The Straits Times, May 12, 2016)
Bronze, Events-Sport (Professional) category, Tokyo International Foto Awards, 2016
2 Honorable mentions, 2020 International Photography Awards Competition
1 Honorable mention, 2019 International Photography Awards Competition
1 Honorable mentions, 2017 International Photography Awards Competition
3 Honorable mentions, 2016 International Photography Awards Competition
1 Honorable mentions, 2015 International Photography Awards Competition
1 Honorable mentions, 2014 International Photography Awards Competition
5 Honorable mentions, 2013 International Photography Awards Competition
4 Honorable mentions, 2012 International Photography Awards Competition
Honorable Mention, Press/General News category, PX3, Prix de la Photographie Paris, 2018
Honorable Mention, Press/Feature Story category, PX3, Prix de la Photographie Paris, 2012
8 Honorable mentions, 2011 International Photography Awards Competition
Gold, “Prix de la Photographie, Paris” (Px3), 2015
Bronze, “Prix de la Photographie, Paris” (Px3), 2011
The New Paper, Big Picture Week 5 Winner, 2014
The New Paper, Big Picture Week 7 Winner, 2013
The New Paper, Big Picture Week 30 Winner, 2012
The New Paper, Big Picture Week 14 Winner, 2011
4 Honorable mentions, 2010 International Photography Awards Competition
6 Honorable mentions, 2009 International Photography Awards Competition
Merit Award, thewedding.sg “My Valentine” Contest, 2009
Honorable mention, 2008 International Photography Awards Competition
3 Selected entries, NUSPS “Simplicity” Photography Competition 2007
NUS Student Achievement Award (Arts and Culture), 2006
Distinguished Award (Student Category), Montage 2006:Behind The Seen
Top Prize, NUS Science Club love@sci Mini Photography Contest 2006
Merit Award, CNB Anti-Drug Photography Competition 2006
3 Merit Awards, NUSPS “Colour & Contrast 2006” Photography Competition
Merit Award (Youth Category), Tampines, My Home – Digital Photography Competition 2006
2nd prize, ClubSNAP Photography Contest for Dec 2005
3rd prize (Student Category), Montage 2005: The Mosaic of Life
Merit Award (Top 5), NTUC “Vitality and Me” Photo contest 2005
Commendable Award (Top 12), NTU ‘Lights! Camera! Action! 2005’
Merit Award and Honorary Mention, NUSPS “For Love, For Life” Photograhic Exhibition 2004
Honorary Mention, NTU ‘Lights, Camera, Action 2004’
Exhibitions
2019 16 photos selected in ‘The Straits Times best photojournalism work of 2018 and 2019’ World Press Photo 2019, National Museum
2018 6 photos selected in ‘The Straits Times best photojournalism work of 2017 and 2018’ World Press Photo 2018, National Museum
2017 Home In Focus, Objectifs
2017 3 photos selected in ‘The Straits Times best photojournalism work of 2016’ World Press Photo 2016, National Museum
2015 1 photo selected in ‘12 of The Straits Times’ best photographs’, World Press Photo 2015, National Museum
2012 10 Years of Shooting Home, National Museum of Singapore
2012 Montage 2012 | Showcase of Alumni Works, Shaw Foundation Alumni House
2012 Shifting Homes, 5footway.inn
2011 The Straits Times Through the Lens “Spotlight” Featured Photographer
2011 BUD: Student Photography Exhibition, Objectifs
2011 The Year in Pictures @ Platform 11.1, National Museum of Singapore
2010 Shooting Home Reunion Show, Objectifs
2009 Shooting Home, Objectifs
Ngee Ann Photographic Exhibition 2008, Ngee Ann Cultural Centre
Montage 2008: Tension, Suntec City
2008 The Body, NUS Arts Festival Open Art Show
2008 Eye e City, SMU
2007 Windance (Joint personal photography exhibition with Feng Yikang), NUS Central Library
Montage 2007:The Unforgotten, Suntec City
2007 Eye e City, National Library
Ngee Ann Photographic Exhibition 2007, Ngee Ann Cultural Centre
Ngee Ann Photographic Exhibition 2006, Ngee Ann Cultural Centre
Montage 2006:Behind The Seen, Suntec City
2006 The Kiss, Singapore, epSITE
2005 100 photo project in The NUS Story: 100 years of heritage, NUS Museum
Montage 2005: The Mosaic of Life, Suntec City
Ngee Ann Photographic Exhibition 2005, Ngee Ann Cultural Centre
2004 Spot and Shoot Photography Challenge, Singapore History Museum
Clientele
College of Surgeons, Singapore
Groupe SEB Singapore Pte Ltd
Health Promotion Board
inSing
Institute of Technical Education
National Parks Board
National University of Singapore
NBCUniversal
OCBC
Parkway Group Healthcare Pte Ltd
Parkway Hospitals Singapore Pte Ltd
People’s Association
Sembcorp
Singapore Tourism Board
Singapore Press Holdings
Society of Transplantation (Singapore)
Tan Kah Kee Foundation / Tan Kah Kee International Society
Lim Yaohui (b. 1982) is a photojournalist with The Straits Times in Singapore. His passion for nature and the environment led him to work as a horticulturist with the Singapore Botanic Gardens after graduating from the National University of Singapore with a degree in Life Sciences in 2007. In 2012, he left to pursue photography and became a full time photojournalist in 2016.
Back in his school days, Yaohui was a course coordinator with The Photographic Society of NUS - NUSPS. Since joining The Straits Times, he has covered regional and international news like the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Germany, Malaysia’s 14th General Election, 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia and the Hong Kong anti-extradition bill protests in 2019.
Today, he continues to champion his love for nature and the environment through feature stories, from illegal wildlife trade across Asia to the last days of Inuka, the Singapore Zoo’s last polar bear to coral bleaching.
His keen sense for news has led him to break stories like the sperm whale found dead and floating off Jurong Island and mass fish death near Lim Chu Kang jetty.
In 2018, he was part of an award winning Climate of Change series that brought him to Cape Town to document the water crisis. More recently he was a Merit winner at the Asian Environmental Journalism Awards 2019 for his photograph on the oil spill near Changi Jetty.
A versatile shooter, Yaohui was also shortlisted as one of the finalists for Best Sports Photo of the Year at the Singapore Sports Awards 2019.
Awards
Award of Excellence, 8A – Photo series (single-day) category, “X marks the spot”, 42nd edition of Society for News Design’s Best of Print News Design competition, 2021
Newscom Monthly Awards, Cross Media of the Month for the cross media package, “How S’pore built one of the world’s biggest solar farms” (The Straits Times, May 18, 2021)
Newscom Monthly Awards, Special Awards for Excellence for the photo, “Among the first in line to get Moderna vaccine” (The Straits Times, March 18, 2021)
Newscom Monthly Awards, Special Awards for Excellence for infographics and video, “Great Singapore Cycle” (The Straits Times Online, Feb 28, 2021)
Newscom Monthly Awards, Picture of the Month, “Look what Covid-19 made me do” (The Straits Times, Jan 10, 2021)
Silver medal for “An immersive guide to the President’s official residence” project in the category: Features (The Straits Times Online, Oct 27, 2019), Malofiej 28th International Infographics Awards July 31, 2020
Top 5 finalist for Best Sports Photo of the Year, 2019 Singapore Sports Awards
Finalist portrait in the Top 50 photographers in KL International Photoawards 2019
Merit Award, Environmental Photograph, Asian Environmental Journalism Awards 2019
Excellence in Journalism, “Hong Kong protests series”, (The Straits Times, Jun 11, Jul 2, 10, Oct 6, Nov 24, 2019), EMTM ANNUAL AWARDS 2019
Excellence in Journalism, “Inside The Istana: An immersive guide to The President’s official residence”, (The Straits Times Online, Oct 27, 2019), EMTM ANNUAL AWARDS 2019
Excellence in Journalism, “Climate of change series”, (The Sunday Times, Oct 21, 28, Nov 4, 11, 18, 25, Dec 2, 2018), EMTM ANNUAL AWARDS 2018
Newscom Monthly Awards, Feature Picture of the Month Award – Lim Yaohui for his feature picture “Birthday bash in full bloom” (The Straits Times, May 30, 2017)
Newscom Monthly Awards, News Picture of the Month Award – Lim Yaohui for his news picture “Fitting farewell to a founding father”
(The Straits Times, April 19, 2017)
Newscom Monthly Awards, Feature Picture of the Month Award – Lim Yaohui for his feature picture “Modern-day mermaid makes a splash” (The Straits Times, September 22, 2016)
Newscom Monthly Awards, Best Digital Package of the Month Award – Wang Hui Fen, Winnie Chong & Picture Desk for their digital package “#guesswhereSG: Off the beaten track” (The Straits Times, August 11, 2016)
Newscom Monthly Awards, For Excellence In Enterprise & Teamwork – Benson Ang, Trinna Leong, Shannon Teoh, Lim Yaohui, Michael M Dizon & Rhoda Chua for their package on “Rail adventures / Hidden charms up north” (The Sunday Times, July 31, 2016)
Newscom Monthly Awards, Feature Picture of the Month Award – Lim Yaohui for his feature picture “A leap of faith” (The Straits Times, June 16, 2016)
Newscom Monthly Awards, News Picture of the Month Award – Lim Yaohui for his news picture “A walk in the park, come rain or shine” (The Straits Times, May 12, 2016)
Bronze, Events-Sport (Professional) category, Tokyo International Foto Awards, 2016
2 Honorable mentions, 2020 International Photography Awards Competition
1 Honorable mention, 2019 International Photography Awards Competition
1 Honorable mentions, 2017 International Photography Awards Competition
3 Honorable mentions, 2016 International Photography Awards Competition
1 Honorable mentions, 2015 International Photography Awards Competition
1 Honorable mentions, 2014 International Photography Awards Competition
5 Honorable mentions, 2013 International Photography Awards Competition
4 Honorable mentions, 2012 International Photography Awards Competition
Honorable Mention, Press/General News category, PX3, Prix de la Photographie Paris, 2018
Honorable Mention, Press/Feature Story category, PX3, Prix de la Photographie Paris, 2012
8 Honorable mentions, 2011 International Photography Awards Competition
Gold, “Prix de la Photographie, Paris” (Px3), 2015
Bronze, “Prix de la Photographie, Paris” (Px3), 2011
The New Paper, Big Picture Week 5 Winner, 2014
The New Paper, Big Picture Week 7 Winner, 2013
The New Paper, Big Picture Week 30 Winner, 2012
The New Paper, Big Picture Week 14 Winner, 2011
4 Honorable mentions, 2010 International Photography Awards Competition
6 Honorable mentions, 2009 International Photography Awards Competition
Merit Award, thewedding.sg “My Valentine” Contest, 2009
Honorable mention, 2008 International Photography Awards Competition
3 Selected entries, NUSPS “Simplicity” Photography Competition 2007
NUS Student Achievement Award (Arts and Culture), 2006
Distinguished Award (Student Category), Montage 2006:Behind The Seen
Top Prize, NUS Science Club love@sci Mini Photography Contest 2006
Merit Award, CNB Anti-Drug Photography Competition 2006
3 Merit Awards, NUSPS “Colour & Contrast 2006” Photography Competition
Merit Award (Youth Category), Tampines, My Home – Digital Photography Competition 2006
2nd prize, ClubSNAP Photography Contest for Dec 2005
3rd prize (Student Category), Montage 2005: The Mosaic of Life
Merit Award (Top 5), NTUC “Vitality and Me” Photo contest 2005
Commendable Award (Top 12), NTU ‘Lights! Camera! Action! 2005’
Merit Award and Honorary Mention, NUSPS “For Love, For Life” Photograhic Exhibition 2004
Honorary Mention, NTU ‘Lights, Camera, Action 2004’
Exhibitions
2019 16 photos selected in ‘The Straits Times best photojournalism work of 2018 and 2019’ World Press Photo 2019, National Museum
2018 6 photos selected in ‘The Straits Times best photojournalism work of 2017 and 2018’ World Press Photo 2018, National Museum
2017 Home In Focus, Objectifs
2017 3 photos selected in ‘The Straits Times best photojournalism work of 2016’ World Press Photo 2016, National Museum
2015 1 photo selected in ‘12 of The Straits Times’ best photographs’, World Press Photo 2015, National Museum
2012 10 Years of Shooting Home, National Museum of Singapore
2012 Montage 2012 | Showcase of Alumni Works, Shaw Foundation Alumni House
2012 Shifting Homes, 5footway.inn
2011 The Straits Times Through the Lens “Spotlight” Featured Photographer
2011 BUD: Student Photography Exhibition, Objectifs
2011 The Year in Pictures @ Platform 11.1, National Museum of Singapore
2010 Shooting Home Reunion Show, Objectifs
2009 Shooting Home, Objectifs
Ngee Ann Photographic Exhibition 2008, Ngee Ann Cultural Centre
Montage 2008: Tension, Suntec City
2008 The Body, NUS Arts Festival Open Art Show
2008 Eye e City, SMU
2007 Windance (Joint personal photography exhibition with Feng Yikang), NUS Central Library
Montage 2007:The Unforgotten, Suntec City
2007 Eye e City, National Library
Ngee Ann Photographic Exhibition 2007, Ngee Ann Cultural Centre
Ngee Ann Photographic Exhibition 2006, Ngee Ann Cultural Centre
Montage 2006:Behind The Seen, Suntec City
2006 The Kiss, Singapore, epSITE
2005 100 photo project in The NUS Story: 100 years of heritage, NUS Museum
Montage 2005: The Mosaic of Life, Suntec City
Ngee Ann Photographic Exhibition 2005, Ngee Ann Cultural Centre
2004 Spot and Shoot Photography Challenge, Singapore History Museum
Clientele
College of Surgeons, Singapore
Groupe SEB Singapore Pte Ltd
Health Promotion Board
inSing
Institute of Technical Education
National Parks Board
National University of Singapore
NBCUniversal
OCBC
Parkway Group Healthcare Pte Ltd
Parkway Hospitals Singapore Pte Ltd
People’s Association
Sembcorp
Singapore Tourism Board
Singapore Press Holdings
Society of Transplantation (Singapore)
Tan Kah Kee Foundation / Tan Kah Kee International Society