Tuesday, January 27, 2009

So, my time here was well spent.

28.1.09, I will be back to Kuala Lumpur. This is the third day of CNY.

Here's some documentations of things we did in Alor Setar.
1. Visited the temple and Sifu.


2. Video for CNY celebration with the ladies.3. Got treatment for my ankle (injuries).



4. Got new sandals from the shops. Last minute shopping.


5. Lastly brand new lantern for the house porch. Haha. Wait till I assemble it with lights.

27.1.09 ; blogging from Alor Setar

27.1.09: Blogging from Alor Setar, Kedah.
Chinese New Year is normally quiet in the city. I'm blogging before my dinner buffet for a birthday party. So, I'll make it simple.

Dedicated to the pets people keep. I keep a budgie (actually two) as a pet. Here are some shots pet dogs.Pet labbie


Show me the love




Above : My pet budgie

Monday, January 26, 2009

27.1.09, Some wedding photo works



Wedding works are popular. I've done my fair share with my partners. Some new processing were shown here in the blog.

This was a wedding by a close friend and we were actually invited guest. Here, the OP (official photographer) was working, not us. If you like what you see, pls leave a comment.





The bride's maid of honour in splendid dress


The father of the bride giving her away


Overall, I do love wedding functions because of the culture and the happiness. If you are looking for a wedding photographers, look at the style and the processing. I'm not saying all wedding photographers are the same, even the expensive ones may not be convincing. Because I do take wedding photography, when I hired pro work (for my wedding), I am convinced about the pre and post work they throw in. Only then I ask them to name their price. I've seen some mediorce work many a times, and because I am not a working photographer, I am not biased to those who are good and those who are great.

26.1.09 : So I had time to edit photos


26.1.09, Kedah, I decided to upload the remaining photos that were edited for Chinese New Year. Hope the readers enjoy them as much as I do. Most of the shot were done using 80-200mm lens. Here, I have time to do editing and posting during the off-peak of Chinese New Year.




26.1.09, What have I been up to?

Dear Blog, Huat ah!!!! It's Gong Xi Fatt Chai, first day of OX year.
  1. I've got numerous sms wishes
  2. I've woke up for an early morning chant at the temple ( a first for me)
  3. I've received my ang-pows, (don't really feel keen to take them this year).
  4. Pingu and Pitt Pitt wished me happy CNY. ( and dearest too).
.....Me at the temple, the signage says "Qing Liang Jing Yuan, chanting temple".


On another note, my CNY competition photo got disqualified due to technicality, (missing EXIF). It's not a huge set-back, but I did thought I could at least compete a little while until voting stages. Bunmmer.

Ox year, I'm blogging with great expectation for the Ox, it's a great time to be thankful and be grateful with that we are blessed in. If the readers do have this thoughts, then the greed and the anger/hurt/betrayal etc shall be lesser and lesser. We can make a difference. Don't be too materialistic.

Saturday, January 24, 2009

Sunday Readers

Sunday January 25, 2009

No sex, just talk


I am 50 years old and married with children. I used to make regular phone calls and sms a few times in a month to my ex-secretary. She is 29 years old, still single and below average looking. She worked with me for four plus years. It’s just that she respects me a lot and both of us could talk to each other.

I tried to keep it private but my wife “caught” me about two years ago. During my ex-secretary’s birthday I called and sms her to offer her dinner. I was just jokingand didn’t really intend to date her out. I deleted the “sent message” to her in my handphone but somehow my wife managed to retreive it.

My wife accused me of having an affair there was no such thing. I only called my ex-secretary as and when she struck my mind especially when I was out of my house. All my calls and sms to her were insignificant as there were no feelings involved.

Sometimes it was just to return her call or sms. Or sometimes, I just called her when I was playing golf with friends. My wife got very angry, saying that I was not interested in the game even though there were so many golf balls around.

Once while waiting for my wife in my car during an outing, I just called my ex-secretary as there was nothing else to do. My wife was furious that I had reached a stage where I did not even respect her feelings and her presence . My wife asked what was there to talk about with her so much whereas I seldom talked to my wife at home.

To be frank, I do not have any feelings for my ex-secretary, just that the opportunity is there to have a cheap thrill. All men will do that. On the day my ex-secretary stops responding, I will also stop.

During that period, I always liked to start quarrels with my wife. I even laughed at her that her own sister and her brother’s wife did not like her, just to “provoke” her to become a better person.

My wife cannot forgive me for my remarks as she feels a husband should love and respect his wife. But not me, as I agree with others by laughing at her flawed character.

I stopped calling my ex-secretary on the day my wife caught me two years ago. My wife was suffering from depression and she liked to quarrel with.

Now, both of us are suffering. My wife has told me that I do not need to rekindle my love for her and our marriage is no longer important.

It’s all a misunderstanding of my behaviour. There was no affair, only phone contacts with no sex involved. I had been very mindful to remain faithful to my wife.

I tried to convince my wife that my love for her is still very strong and nothing in this world can tear us apart. I explained to her that I merely treated my ex-secretary as a friend and daughter But my wife still feels that what I had done behind her back for four years is too long a period to be forgiven. She told me even death could not mend her broken heart.

Of course I would like to maintain my family but my wife is not interested anymore as she feels that I am the one who killed our marriage

Now, I have already stopped all quarrels with her and am treating her better but I have still failed to win back her heart. Life with her is not so interesting and I always get scolded regularly. How can I mend my marriage?

Just a Misunderstanding

No sex, no affair, no betrayal. It seems simple viewed from your perspective. So why keep the phone calls, sms and birthday greetings a secret? Secrecy and deceit spells guilt. If you claim that it was never intentional, then how do you explain calls from golf courses, in the car, whenever and wherever she strikes your thoughts? This seems too often for a platonic, harmless relationship.

An emotional affair is not easy to define. If you choose to believe that you have never felt more than friendship and fatherly concern, then it’s easier to blame the wife for being paranoid and neurotic.

But if you can be honest, ask yourself if you have never harboured lustful thoughts of this woman. If she had accepted your invitation for dinner on her birthday, would you have told her it was all a joke? Had she invited you to bed, would you have walked away? Truly, has she only been a friend and daughter in your heart and mind?

However, it must have been flattering to know that someone cares about you, respects you, remembers your birthdays and enjoys chatting with you. Call it a cheap thrill but it’s a cruel game playing two women to get your high. And surely not all men are like you.

Stooping to belittling your wife during this period, picking quarrels, neglecting her and making her life miserable puts you high on the mean and nasty chart. So how can you still feel so smug and proud of yourself?

Do not make light of your wife’s feelings and reaction. She has gone through depression, heartache and much pain because of your bad boy behaviour.

If you want to mend the marriage, prove your love, respect her as your wife and mother of your children. She is the woman who has married you, been through much with you. She deserves better than your devious, selfish manipulation of her confidence and esteem.

Thursday, January 22, 2009

23.1.09 : In the news today

Sometimes, photographers were also suspected to be con men. Anyway, the soul of this guy is pretty much ruined. He just bought his one way ticket.

Friday January 23, 2009

Man claiming to be modeling agent has conned at least 10 women

By STEVEN DANIEL


KUALA LUMPUR: A man claiming to be a modelling agent has duped at least 10 women into posing nude as well as having sex with him by convincing them that they possessed the face of supermodels.

The 33-year-old technician was nabbed by the police on Wednesday, said city CID chief Senior Asst Comm (II) Ku Chin Wah.

The man is believed to have randomly picked up local women in their 20s at shopping malls. He would approach the victims and convince them of their potential.

The suspect would promise the victim RM40,000 if she agreed to a photo shoot in a hotel room.

“In the room, he would take photographs using his mobile phone camera. The suspect would then raise his offer to RM60,000 if the victim agreed to pose nude,” said SAC Ku at the launch of Rakan Cop’s crime prevention campaign at the Pavilion shopping centre yesterday.

He eventually got the victims to have sex with him with promises of big money.

“After sex, the suspect would take down the victim’s bank account number, claiming that he would bank in the ‘modelling payment’,” said SAC Ku.

The women never received the money. Instead, he would threaten to distribute the pictures if the victims refused to meet him again.

In the ensuing meetings, he would again engage the victims in sex, constantly scaring them by saying that he would send the pictures to the people they knew.

“We believe that at least 10 women fell victim to the con man,” SAC Ku said, adding that two women had lodged police reports.

He urged other victims to contact Deputy Supt Choo Lily at 012-2059668, adding that the cases would be investigated confidentially.

22.1.09 : Off to Kedah for CNY

The famed pekan cina, travelling by car



Our patriotic moments at the former house of Dr. M


Visited the house of Dr.M
Oh, I'm in Kedah.

In case you have not heard, the air is cleaner here. So that was what I was asked via SMS today.

-done with some important phone calls as I am still in working mood. (festive mood has not sunk in YET)

- Called some suppliers to get my lens.

- Waiting to get back to KL, to work and to run some personal errands.

But since I am here, I'll enjoy my Chinese New Year vacation/celebration.

Good news, I'm getting free CCTV (Satellite broadcasting from China) here!
I'm going to see CNY in Beijing, as their CNY are so much spectacular than KL.

Have a great CNYfor those readers celebrating.
At RM 0.50 per piece, this taste good and remains one of Alor Setar best selling karipap
Food , It's so tasteful I had to pose it

Monday, January 19, 2009

Fashion shooting experience sharing 19.1.09





19.1.09 : Here are some shots that I recently took. A fashion show. Yup, some of the rare photography I partake in. This was for Forever 21 and Noir. The models were experienced lots. Basically you'll see them in a few fashion shows around the Klang Valley. My favorite Russian/Ukraine model was not present. I do think that the others were sophisticated enough to carry the brands. Above: We photographers do look a little funny to the lay man/public.
Model shooting basically calls for patience and quickness. Sounds contradictory? Patience because there's plenty of photographers rushing for space. You have to know where to stand. The good spots are normally for those who brings their own "ladder"for leverage. So that's how desperate things have become. They usually stand at the end of the runway. Then there's the lens factor. The lens showcase means who carries the biggest, most expensive lens. It's like a road-show with lens as artilleries . The guys are no strangers to shooting fashion shows. Some have hanging bags, I jokingly call them "hangers". Quickness, is using a series of wits and equipment to get the shot. You shoot with the foreground (the model) and the background in mind. The model's eye has to be sharp, you wait for her to look at you before you snap. This can be frustrating because she (the model) may not even see your camera. The background has to be cluster free without distractions. No escalators, no heads, no funny objects that can ruin the shot. Personally I hate it when the signage was captured because of my anchored position. Some photographers are polite, others are very rude. Some are just ham-sap lo. I think that photographers are generally looking for angles but sometimes they get carried away and think that their photos of a general fashion shoot will earn them big bucks. Fat chance in Malaysia. Paparazzi are not handsomely paid here, unlike in the USA/Europe/HK. So, we all try to pretend that we are great photographers shooting for magazines, etc, in truth we are just trying to have fun and it indeed fun when you use a great long heavy lens. Size does matter here.

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Top 10 irritants , 16.1.09

from theStar, 16.1.09

Top 10 irritants


RESEARCHERS at Oxford University recently compiled a list of the top 10 irritating expressions.


The top 10 most irritating phrases:

1) At the end of the day

2) Fairly unique

3) I personally

4) At this moment in time

5) With all due respect

6) Absolutely

7) It’s a nightmare

8) Shouldn’t of

9) 24/7

10) It’s not rocket science

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

14.1.09, Blossom in Pink, Prosper in Red : 'blossom in spring' dance performance.

Above: to sweep her off her feet.


14.1.09 Kuala Lumpur. When the show started, I thought, "should I or shouldn't I wait for it to end?" as I felt let down with the initial performance. However, it was never dull from the start, as if to be able to build momentum, the show went on to captivate the audiences and even if I see it once more, I'll still be happy to photograph them all over again.


Above: The "hakka" pose.


I was off to work and this caught my eye. The dancers were pretty and good. Energetic, fun and most importantly very confident on stage. So I gave it some photography documentation. Yeah, like a journalist, just to encourage them lot. Overall, I do enjoy CNY much more with these dancers welcoming the Ox year.

Monday, January 12, 2009

Sunday, January 11, 2009

"Blomming of Cherry Blossoms" Dance Performances @ The Gardens Mall

Dear blog,

11.1.09:
It's that time of the year for CNY, and malls are packed with people. Events photography will be ideal at this time. Chinese dancers and cultural shows are abundant. There were the occasional fashion shows too.

These were
from "Blomming of Cherry Blossoms" Dance Performances @ The Gardens Mall

Taken with a zoom f2.8 lens, without flash, ISO 400, camera hand-held. This lens is so sharp. My dearest took a few and I added my own. Dearest composition has improved so much so that I cannot differentiate between my shots and hers. Well done.
Note: since there were movements, I did not want to freeze the dancers, some shots were motion blurred on purpose suggesting dynamics (dancing).


Below: flinging the cover dress.



Below: Dress spin.





Short movements

visitor

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