A forlorn-looking Tom Jones, a grim-faced enigmatic Tony Leung, the ethereal Cate Blanchett with wrinkles and Lin Chi-ling in a “compromised social situation”.

These are just a few of the shots captured by award-winning celebrity photographer Dominic Khoo in his new exhibition titled “Access All Areas” - a photographic exhibition which reveals a rare behind-the-scenes look at local and international celebrities.

“Access All Areas is journalistic photography of celebrities in their surroundings, in something that they’re comfortable with but still a side they never show to people and still you see a moment which is different from what the public perceives them to be,” said the 32-year-old Singaporean photographer.

The exhibition is a culmination of five years worth of photographing famed personalities - from red carpet events, to exclusive watch launches, and even to Formula 1 parties - Khoo is one of the few authorised photographers who is given backstage access to these events that are often attended by VIPs.

“I see a lot of things backstage which people do not see”, said Khoo, while giving examples of deejays doing finger-stretching exercises before a gig, and actors and actresses putting on make-up for each other.

Held in a darkened room with photos hung on strings, the exhibition is open to public on the top floor of the EFG Bank from July 24 to August 7.

Viewers will be greeted with photos that are somewhat typical of Khoo’s style - black and white shots, as well as grainy, vintage-looking prints are what spell the timelessness of his work.

Candid shots of actress Maggie Cheung, supermodel Gisele Bunchen, French footballer Zinedine Zidane and DJ Samantha Ronson, are just a few of the personalities featured in Access All Areas.

The former branding manager for a watch company has been photographing celebrities and social personalities over the years and picked up photography only five years ago when his mother bought him an SLR camera for his birthday.

The avid watch collector, who first started taking photos of watches and prominent guests at luxury watch conventions, has since become known in Singapore’s social scene for his unique sense of photography.

His previous solo exhibition, Pure, was a charity exhibition held in 2007 in the form of a coffee-table book in which Asian celebrities and socialites were photographed laughing or crying in the nude.

Khoo is also the appointed photographer for the Prince of Brunei.

When asked which photo from the Access All Areas exhibition was his favourite, Khoo likened it to “asking a father to choose his favourite son”.

However, he did say that he felt strongly for the shot of Welsh singer Tom Jones during his concert in March at Resorts World Sentosa in Singapore.

Khoo captured the singer looking “very sad” while he was apologising to the audience for having to cancel his show due to an illness.

“I got a photograph of him when he apologised and you could tell he was very sad; he was very disappointed, his whole face was sweating, he was trying very hard,” described Khoo.

Access All Areas is an exhibition that questions the notion of glamour and peeks into the life of celebrities when they are away from the limelight.

Are they still the leading ladies and gents we are used to watching and is celebrity life what we think it is?

Khoo’s exhibition allows us to metaphorically access areas that are forbidden to the public and to see for ourselves what “glamour” is really all about.

Access All Areas

July 24 - August 7
Top floor of EFG Bank, corner of North Bridge Rd and High St
Mon to Fri: 10am - 5pm
Sat: 10am - 3pm
Closed Sunday

Prints available from $3,888 to $6,888, limited to five editions per exhibited photograph.