Shooting from low angles

Was on an assignment where there was a lion dance.

Thought I will share this tip - try shooting from very low angle.

Shucks, I have deleted the other image that I meant to post so that you can decide whether it is better to shoot from floor level, eye level, or top-down. Sorry.

Anyway, give this low-angle composition a shot. You may just have a winning shot!

More macro shots - near Lolo Waterfalls, Selangor

A rather interesting week, that just flew past without much done. Yes, following developments in politics in Malaysia might keep us dumb. No make us dumber if we just try to make sense of what our Ministers say as most of their statements are contradictory to what is actually happening.

Never mind them. I attended a talk by Louis Pang this week at the newly established Nikon Centre in Berjaya Times Square Kuala Lumpur. I understand that this is the first of such center in Malaysia. Well done Nikon!

As soon as I can remember what Louis shared with us, I will blog them. Promise.

Anyway, some macro shots taken near KL. Was there a while back with some Malaysia Nature Society Folks. Did not make it to the waterfalls as the many flora and fauna slowed us down to a snail's pace.

The photographs of the various insects and caterpillars were taken along this trial.

Trip to Pulau Ketam (Crab Island)

Interesting that this island, off Klang Port (the now infamous money losing PKFZ), is called crab island. Did not see any crab there, but had the chance to see lots of crap underneath and around houses built on stilt.

I was invited to join my friend, Chan, on this excursion organised by the Photographic Society of Petaling Jaya (PSPJ). Cannot remember why I did not want to organise a trip to this island when I was heading the organisation. Guess I had not been inspired on my many trips there. I could only remember cyclists, houses on stilts, mud-skippers, a couple of temples, coffee shops, fishing vessels, and nothing much aside from these.

This trip was probably my best, as there was a chance to see some 'action' shown below:

A fisherman drying salted fishes. Seldom get to see this on a beautiful day.

There are also smaller species being dried.

one way to take the pix

another way to do it!

And this table football machine which I used to spend a lot of time with when I was a student in UK. Why did I not think of making one like this instead of spending lots of money feeding the machine.

Tourist angle

A slightly more personal angle

An angle not many photographers will take from. I like this angle best. Some people will take quite a while to figure out what these objects are.

And the highlight of the day is probably this, taken on the ferry ride back to the mainland:

All the pictures above were taken with my Panasonic LX3.

Sharing

Since I starting photography in earnest, I find that the more I share, the more I learn, and the better I become.

The past few months had been rather hectic, and I have not been able to share much. My aim is to be able to glean some pointers from experts and share it with you through this blog.  I thought this favourite photograph of mine should remind me to share as much as I can.

Here, you can see SM Chan teaching the two ladies to shoot from an angle where most beginners will never think of doing. The result could be the shot that you have always wanted to take but never thought of doing so.

Here's a possible outcome. Have not edited it yet. But I can already see some potential of this shot.

Artistic Nude Model Shoot - Iveta Niklova

Felt rather apologetic that I did not get an opportunity to update my blog for a couple of days.

Reason is that I organised a model shoot in KL. The model we have, Iveta Niklova who is based in London, is such a brilliant model that taking good shots of her isn'd difficult.

Organising the shoot, getting the right number of photographers for the outdoor shoot, charging just the right amount to cover the expenses, that is tiring. Then again, with such good response, I may just organise another shoot in the not too distant future.

Got to thank my host with regards to the outdoor shoot. Excellent buildings, and fascade. Truly enjoyable in the company of wedding photographers, event photographers, bankers, all great companies. Best to show some pix now/here. Let me share three for now.

'Angels' from Starbucks

if you come across these people, stop, take a cup of their sampler, and then proceed to buy a decent-size serving! Really, posting this to show how AI works in our life. The top pix was taken with the on-board flash, while the second one was taken using existing light. Not very different. Impressive AI flash.

KL Skyline - 1

Took some photographs from a condominium near KLCC. The colour of the sky was really dramatic. Just could not resist giving some 'oomph' to the photo (2), using Nikon's proprietary software, ViewNX, with a very surprising result. I love the photo. Rather pleasing to the eyes, in my opinion

photo 1

photo 2

Video vs Still Photography

I took up an assignment shooting the interiors of a corporation. Was rather worried about the time I will need to carry out the assignment as there are lots of rooms and facilities (plus talents) to take photographs of.

My contact then informed me that we are to take stills at the same time as the video crew. I agreed, without any hesitation. I only thought of not having to use studio lights and that if the client can save money on talents, why not.

Why not indeed. What a nightmare.

My assistant and I were given worse than third class treatment. Come to think about it, the reason why they can be so loud is the number of people they have in their team. Let me recall. They have:

1 Director
2 Creative Directors
1 Director of Photography
1 Director of business something
1 Camera man
1 Camera man's assistance (wire puller)
1 cue card writer / displayer
1 heavy equipment carrier
1 clamshell carrier (the remote screen)
3 assistants (2 ladies and 1 guy)

The photograph shown (intentionally blurred) is of half their team!

Thank goodness my client came to my defence after I protested that I cannot get any good shots if they continue with their bullying. My assistant got lots of flaks although we are always making sure we are not in their way. I was contemplating packing up and let them have their fun. Oh, and guess what. They shot using available lightings. That is not the worse thing. Some shots of theirs took forever. What we could have done in 6 hours, we had to finish in more than 20 hours - most of the time waiting..waiting... Cannot wait to see their video.

Interestingly, I was reading a book on photography today, and the author who shoots lots of wedding photographs, encountered the same problem with some video crews.

The reason I post this - if any of you have an assignment where you have to work with a video crew, make absolutely certain that your client will be firm with the video guys in that they do not ride roughshod over everyone, including the client. Otherwise, you may want to decline taking up the job.

My entries for the BASF Petronas Conscience Camera Award contest

As promised, these are two of my entries.

An ant holding up an injured ant

A pair of mating butterflies

Results of the Conscience Camera Award - BASF PETRONAS Chemicals

This year, the theme is “Chemistry in Our Life”.

Photographers must interpret and capture photos that show aspect/s of the theme clearly. Every photograph must have a short caption (in English) clarifying the theme depicted in the photograph.

The prize is good, so I participated. I am happy that my 2 entries were shortlisted, but not happy that I did not take home any money.

Nevertheless, I wonder if a couple of the winning shots answer to the theme. More like 'Chemicals' and not 'Chemistry'!

Here are the winning, and not so winning shots, taken at the exhibition site. Oh dear, having a tough time arranging the photographs. Never mind, I will just label them, rather than arranging the photographs.

Shortlisted - cuties submitted by my buddy, Paul Chan and his kid

Ahh, two of my entries. Guess which 2

Consolation Prize

2 Consolation Prizes

1st Prize

3rd Prize

Another Consolation Prize

The Judges -

2nd Prize

More Consolation Prizes

and more...

and there are a couple more short-listed photographs which I missed out.

Premier Quality Hashish?

Checked the back of the T-shirt. The one highlighting premier Hashish. No luck. No treasure map leading to the halucinatory world of hashish. For now, Heineken will do.

Prints on Canvas

Have you ever thought of printing your favourite photographs on canvas? Looks really cool. Cost is very reasonable, approximately RM0.20 per square inch. Our gallery can arrange for these prints if you are interested.

I have a good friend cum client, ordered this picture (yes, this has been processed), of fireworks at putrajaya, Malaysia. Very happy that this photograph is now adorning a wall.

Panning - girl on swing

I was visiting a friend and saw his daughter, Mel, playing a the swing. Sharing with you a photograph of her, after being absent for a couple of days. Panning this shot with a point and shoot. turns out ok.

If I have the time, I will edit my photographs before posting. Otherwise, they are posted straight off the camera.

Macro shots - two fighting spiders

Had been really busy finishing a couple of asignments, and that include preparing and sending out invoices. These two hairy spideys provide some relief to the mounting pressure of work.

What you see in the first pictures were two spiders circling each other. Then,

they were locked in battle. Alas, not for long. They scuttled away as soon as this photo was snapped.

I can still remember the days when, as a young boy, we went in search of similar type of spiders. These spiders normally make their nests in between two leaves that were strung together with their webs. Not that difficult to find once we became adept in locating their nests. As in photography, it is not too difficult to find interesting subjects when we are constantly scanning for them.

Anyway, for city folks who do not have the pleasure of growing up in Kampungs, we catch these spiders, place them in matchboxes (the matchboxes of yester years are rather difficult to come by these days), and bring them out to face their foes - another spider that is held in captivity until such 'fights' can be arranged. The good old days...

A great get-away near Bukit Tinggi

Again, I these pictures will tell more than what I can with thousands of words.

My neighbourhood was invited by this generous family who knows and appreciates the finer things in life. And what a life...! I can only share these few photographs (unedited) here. The rest will soon be uploaded in my website.

The place is great, the companies are great, and the fruits - yummy...

a brook running past the 'resort'

brook / river, taken from another angle

a shed overlooking the river/brook

yes, you guessed it, right outside the washroom

an outdoor jacuzzi

the host opening some durians

melts in your mouth, full flavour

the host and hostess ensuring that we have the best fruits