This is another part of my photography life besides weddings. There’s still alot of work to be done here. I think some images need a little more work. Anyway, here’s something for you guys:D Click the image to go to the gallery. There are two galleries for now (you can choose them from the drop down list).

I just want to share a little bit on what I learned over the past few years after I made photography part of  my never ending list of hobbies.

In 2004, I visited Sydney with my mum. I brought my DSLR along and took some images along the way. I kinda like what the power of a camera gives me. It allows me to draw a picture just with a click of a button. No pencils, no crayons, no pastels and no mess. Having it in digital is even better. Everything can be done in the comfort of an air conditioned room and a comfy chair. During the trip, I took some images of my mum while we went traveling. This is one image that I love (even though her eyes was closed).

I came back alone while mum stayed with my sister for another month. Back in Singapore, I quickly ran through the images I took in Sydney and started edited them. I’d always put the portraits last, since to me, it was the least important (at least during that time). Days later, I started to work on some of the portraitures. Going through the images of my mum nearly made me tear. It was only during the editing process, that I realized how much she has aged. It has never occured to me that age is catching up with her. Perhaps seeing her everyday just made me took things for granted. But at that very point, I felt really bad. Guilty. Not because of how much she has aged, but my failure to notice.

I could go on and on on this topic. But I’d just say, looking back at the images, I really enjoyed that holiday. I hope I can go on another one with her again.

It’s never too late to start appreciating the people around you. Yes, they can be annoying at times. If it helps, dig out some photos of the happier days.

One man’s meat is another man’s poison. In this part of the world that I live in, there is almost zero chance of us having a foggy day (note: foggy != hazy). When I was in Germany in 2005, I was totally mesmerized by the fog that blanketed the entire town one morning. To me, it was surreal and beautiful. But when I reach the office, I heard more people complaining about the fog than being fascinated by it. Same goes for snow.

That was my last day in Germany. When I woke up and saw the fog, I skipped breakfast and rushed towards the old town. Managed to enjoy that beautiful scene and took some images before heading for office, 30 mins late.

My board is in hospital for a week. So the closest I’m getting near the water is going through the image archives. So happening right? Let’s see what I found.

Suter spinning, FS, BS… whatever…

Creating some misty effect in the morning.

One of those very rare couples that I signed up without even meeting them. Both Elvin and Renee were working overseas and I only got to meet both of them 3 days before the wedding. I was really glad we got along really well. And they actually took up dancing classes for the wedding. I was impressed and envious (because they told me their Russian instructress was HOT!!!!). All in all, a great wedding and one that I got one of my favourite picture of 2008.

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Your computer’s fine, your internet’s working. I really didn’t post anything for the past 1 week:D

It’s not that I don’t know what to write or what pictures to put in. It’s just one of those days that every time you turn on the computer, you don’t know what to write. But once you step out of it… you’ll be thinking, I want to share this this that that and those.

One of the things that I want to share came from a conversation with my parents. We were talking about kids (not mine! although some people have been asking me, when’s my turn. I say 不要害我), family traditions and stuff. They said, USUALLY, the maternal grandparents will be closer to the grandchildren (do I make sense here?). I thought, “wow, that’s something that I didn’t know (although I did notice)”. My mum said it’s because it’s the child of her daughter. So it’s natural for her to show more affection (I think it’s a woman’s thing… coupled with some in-laws politics). And this followed with alot of traditional chinese way of running the family. It was something really new for me. I thought it’s in fact, damn good education. *Enlightened*

So here’s a poll. Let me what you think ok? And guys, don’t worry, it’s annonymous, your grandparents won’t find out:P

 Very often, I’ll bring my camera along when I go wakeboarding. I love to photograph the riders in action, not just because I think the actions look really good. But it gives me the opportunity to practise my photography. Outside of weddings, I hardly even do any photography anymore unless I travel (I’m trying to work on this…) or ocassionally photographing the dogs. Over the few times that I took these guys in action, I found that it is actually quite similar to weddings in a way. Lighting, timing (this is so important), anticipation and composition. I think it’s pretty good training. And it makes me feel better that at least I did something good out there, since I suck at wakeboarding:D

Someday, I’m going to take it a step further to go on the tube. Someday…:D

Suter  up on a Raley

Epa doing a shifty

Andy going for a Indy shifty

grabbin’

When I was younger, my parents always scold me when I stay up late. They claim that I look yellow (I am chinese… duh) if I stay up late all the time. Read the papers yesterday and saw some interesting findings. Found the same report on the web and thought I’d share it with you guys, you can read them here (Graveyard shift linked to cancer).

Personally, I think sleeping late is never good. Cancer or not, leave it to the experts. I think, if it’s possible, try to sleep early. And… based on this report… I think vampires must’ve died of cancer:D

It’s G0-Karting Wednesday again! So we headed down to Plentong Go-kart circuit in JB (Malaysia). We have 5 people in the car, 2 singaporeans and 3 hongkongers. When we reached the Malaysian immigration, the officer said he needs to see the air tickets of our hongkong friends. Honestly, I won’t bring my air tickets if I travel by car. But, according to the officer, it’s compulsory, especially if your passport is from China, India and some other countries.

Now, the thing is, our friend came to JB twice over the last 2 weeks and no one ever mentioned it. The officer claimed that not every officer wants to check. Anyway, here’s an excerpt of our conversation,

officer: I want to see your air ticket.

me: (I was relaying message to the officer since I’m nearest to the window) he don’t have his air ticket with him.

officer: I need to see his air ticket.

me: he bought an E-ticket, so he don’t have it with him

officer: Where is the air ticket? I want the air ticket.

me: It’s an E-ticket, it’s in the laptop in the hotel, he didn’t print it out.

officer: I know it’s and E-ticket, where is the air ticket?

me: We don’t have it here. It’s an E-ticket, you know, Electronic ticket.

officer: Yes ok, where is the air ticket? (I kind of think… he thinks I pronounce E-ticket as Air ticket… )

me: We really don’t have it here. why not we go online and show you the ticket through the email now. we can do it via mobile phone now.

officer: that’s a phone…

my friend: it can connect to the internet… i can show you.

officer: no, i want to see the air ticket

(This conversation was REPEATED for the next 20 minutes. The cars behind us were honking impatiently. I started to think he behaved like Miss Swan)

officer: (finally found the conversation stale…) I am going to ask my officer.

(Once he got out of his little cubicle, a very unhappy looking driver from the car behind got down and confronted him. Asking (loud enough for us to hear) him why is he waiting so long. Without even talking to his so-called “officer”, he came back in and stamped the passports)

And we’re off in the next minute. Had a good laugh. It’s truly the highlight of the day. Kinda remind me of this clip from “Dude, where’s my car?”
 

 
Remember your EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE-ticket next time. Why the hell do they even bother doing an E-ticket if you have to print it out. Isn’t it why it’s called the Electronic ticket?

Our email servers are currently down. If you have tried sending emails to me  from yesterday onwards, I may not have received them. In the meantime, please forward a copy to feldberyl@gmail.com. We are in the midst of resolving the issue. Sorry for all the inconvenience caused and thank you for your patience.

edit: Our mail servers are up and running again!:D Thank you for your patience.

It’s been a long while since I was forced to do repetitive admin work (eg. scanning receipts…). To make the best out of my AIO (all-in-one) printer, I digitized all my receipts:D Now everything seems more manageable. No more reading off faded receipts. Let’s just hope this habit stays.

While waiting for my dinner last night at a coffeeshop, I saw this old lady holding a camera, mumbling to herself. I am pretty sure she’s mentally unsound. 5 minutes later, she started screaming at some empty space. I felt a little sad for her because ME thinks it’s not a normal social behaviour. Then, I tried something else. I put myself in her shoes and found out that, maybe it isn’t as bad as I thought it is. I mean, seriously, how do you think a mad person sees the world (will dr kenneth please answer this question? ok, that said, I know we need to meet for lunch soon:D)? She might even be happier than I am.

Do you feel like you feel or do you feel like what people feel about you? In this inperfect world, I think we’re somewhere in between. But I think she belongs to the extreme end. I wonder, how does it feel to be there. I went home with alot of questions, alot of things to think about. One mad woman.

Alrightie! I’m feeling very good today. Will be doing up my photo clip project tomorrow!:D *does a little jai ho jiggle*

Over the past few years, I’ve been getting weddings that are smaller and smaller, which personally, I think it’s more manageable and usually alot more relaxed (which usually translate to lesser stress). One location, 20+ guests, no fuss. After the solemnization, we went out for a short portraiture session, while the guests relaxed back at the villa. At 7pm, they ran a slideshow about them, their family and their friends. I didn’t get to watch alot of it, but judging from their expressions, the images must’ve brought back alot of memories.

This was followed by a round of speeches by the couple, their family and friends. Through them, I found out alot more about the couple that I ever did during the meeting. I stayed behind after that for a round of drinks and Wii with their dads. It was crazy fun. Man… I thought my bowling was good… till I saw them play (and they claim it’s their first time… yeah yeah… first time thrasing me maybe:P)

All in all, a very simple and beautiful wedding.

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After weeks of agony, I finally decided I’ve had enough of the shi-tu-pee-ed printer!! Ever since it went out of ink and I had the entire set replaced, it has been showing me some attitude. Started randomly givng me “replace ink cartridges” messages and wouldn’t print no matter what I did. Today, it ruined my entire afternoon. So this is what I did… (felt so so so good after that)

*the following act is done by trained professionals, please do not attempt at home*

For those who have not watched “Office Space”. Trust me, it’s one of the best movies ever made:D It’ll change your life. This is quoted from the movie,

“…we don’t have a lot of time on this earth! We weren’t meant to spend it this way. Human beings were not meant to sit in little cubicles staring at computer screens all day, filling out useless forms and listening to eight different bosses drone on about about mission statements.”

Took me awhile to join AGWPJA because of the vetting process I think. Submitted some entries for the Q4 contest and got some nice placings. Came in overall 10th as well. I believe in beginner’s luck. So I think I’ll have to try harder the next round. And yes, congrats to our fellow WPN photographers Eadwine and Kelvin!:D

Engagement Portrait (10th)

 

 Ceremony (2nd)

At least it looks like it.

I love taking pictures from the plane. I will always request for window seats, since I only need to go to the toilet once every 12 hours (on flight… oh yes, I think my body has a “flight mode”) and I don’t have the habit of chatting up the stewardess:)