Where to buy your camera's / lenses

I had not been able to post for a while now as I have some major problem with my photo-processing software, not to mention the problem my pc is giving me.

Time to upgrade or change - mayby to a Mac?

This posting is not about the problem I am facing. Just wanted to alert fellow Malaysians who are keen to either upgrade their photography equipment at a fair price. There is a shop at KotaRaya (near to Pudu bus station) that will probably give you a price that is very reasonable. Catch is, just mention my name! Really.

The shop:
LTK Electronics
Lot 2.20, 2nd Floor
Kota Raya Complex
Jalan Cheng Lock
50000 Kuala Lumpur
03-2078 2339

Action shot

We were lucky to have seen this split-second power play. The tigers at the Taiping Zoo were all lazing around in the mid-day sun when all of a sudden these two tigers were chasing each other. Lamented the fact that I did not have the right settings for this shot. Could have been better. Then again, if I have a better, more expensive camera, I could immediately dial a high ISO without having to worry about grains.


Two tigers caught playing!



French Recipe Book - Cocktail Passion:Entertaining with Love

This labour of love, by Nathalie Arbefeuille and Jaen Ang with yours truly as the photographer will soon hit the the market. In fact, I expect to carry some books starting from next week. You can place orders with me.

The food was mouth-watering good. You can either buy the book and try out your hand at making some of the cocktails, or visit 'Nathalie's Gourmet Kitchen' located at Solaris Mont Kiara.

Cocktail Passion : Entertaining with Love

ISBN 9789833317790

Author : Nathalie Arbefeuille

List Price : RM135.00

Here are some of the teasers prepared by the publisher

Front Cover

Chef's Lovely daughter

Contents Page

Preparation

Tuna Bruchetta

Gorgonzola Toasts

Pineapple and chestnut verrine

Back Cover

Night photography

Did not realise I had been lazy. Only one posting in July? Bad, Bad

Now that I had chosen, edited, and submitted a couple of photographs for the BASF Petronas's Conscience Camera Award photo contest, I can settle down and plan for my next project. Will update once done.

Meanwhile, here's one of my favourite night shots taken at the Merdeka Square a while ago

Mr Kuala Lumpur

This is not the one. Someone beat him to it. I had to leave before the winner was picked. Well, with luck and maybe quite a bit of work, will be back next year for the full coverage.

If you were at the competition site, you will realise that it is not easy to sculpt a body. With the many 'mamak stalls' that open 24 hours, it is rather difficult not to over-indulge in tons of carbohydrates and of course the often too-sweet tea that comes with your order of roti canai.

This is a sampling of the contestants before they appear and when competing on stage.

Just cannot image myself being a body builder, or as one senior body builder Mr Henry Lim puts in his card, "turn your body into a fat burning machine" - machine they look!

Last but not least, a very pretty lass who is also a body builder. Won't you like to see her ripling muscles. Did not quite get her name. Kimberly, I think. The secretary of the Kuala Lumpur Body Building Federation, Mr Vincent Ho in the picture, also did not show off his muscles as he has to make sure the event runs smoothly.

Dragonboat competition at Putrajaya

Time really waits for no man. Gosh, did not realise that I had not posted anything for such a long time.

This shot was taken in the morning.The sun was hiding, and the air was kind of hazy. Nevertheless had a couple of ok shots. Thos friends of mine who will be there tomorrow, do pay for better weather.

Panning Shot - Easy rider

Panning is easy. But to get the right picture with 'oomph', it takes lots and lots of practise. Try by setting your shutter speed to 1/30 second on a relatively fast moving object.

In this photo, I snapped the photo of the motor cyclist from a moving car. The motor cyclist was travelling at about the same speed as the car I was travelling in. Not so interesting an image, but will do as a practise shot.

Don't forget to crop your photograph, if that helps to make it a better picture. As in most photographs of moving objects, ensure that there is more space where the object is travelling towards. It shows movement. Does that make sense to you? Take a look at the photo above and below and make your own judgement.

Shooting up!

Shooting up - I meant the angle in which a photo is taken (very low angle)

Many a times, we find that a building that we want to snap, or a statue that we want as our background object, are just too high that we cannot have both our subjects and the background objects in the picture.

Sometimes, for a different effect, we do that too. Otherwise, all your photographs will not be any different from those taken by any other tourist or photographer.

Just like these two photographers. One lying on his back, and the other squatting and shooting 'blind'. Forgot to check with them how their photographs turn out. Probably pretty good, if they had used their flash (or they want to have silhouttes).

Two photographers taking photo of anchovies being fanned out to dry, in Pangkor Island

An afternoon at the races in Ipoh

A good friend managed to secure for us an entry to the race in Ipoh. Not very often do we get a chance to be about 10 feet or so from the horses during a race.

The weather was not very encouraging as there were scattered drizzles occassional lightning and thuner. To top that off, the sky was a featureless grey. Nevertheless, we had a great time 'shooting' the horses and riders. Some of the images to share with you:

Riders and horses going round a corner. Just love the speed and gait of the horses (and riders)

Right off the bend

... and coming towards us.

before heading for the finishing line. A photo finish!

Here's the winner (from a different race)

Saluting the photographer?

Shot most of the above on rather high ISO setting (1600) and shutter priority (1/2000s)

Portraiture - Iveta

Finally found some time to review some photographs that I took a couple of months ago. Here's one of the images. A couple of others can be found at this site

She's happy, he's happy

Love her smile, and his too

Artistic Photo - Iveta

Living in Malaysia, it is really difficult to decide what to post, or rather what can be posted without alerting offending some people. Anyway, I believe these are 'safe' to post.

I wonder how the other photographers fared. Beautiful silhoutte, but rather unfortunate that there are just too many distracting objects in the background. Never mind, will find a better spot for the next shoot, if there is any. Understand Iveta will be in Malaysia again soon.

Was going to write about not using wide angle lens as the hands were huge, being closer to the camera, while the legs were really small, being much further away from the camera. Will leave the image to your imagination!

A totally selfless man

Thought this image will encourage more good deeds.

The temporary barriers set up by the road construction team fell due to the heavy rain and wind. This caused a major traffic congestion that stretched out to about 2km.

This motor cyclist (my hero) stopped his machine by the side of the road, and risking his life and limb, proceeded to push the barriers out of the way. He single-handedly cleared the road and went on his way. While he was helping, many impatient motorist just honked at him. Felt guilty that I did not step out to help. Would you?

Right after I posted this, I read this article, "Do unto others quietly …" in MalaysiaInsider. How touching. I hope I too had touched and helped someone in the past.

More Chinese New Year Gymnastics (slow shutter)

you may want to try this out. stabilise your camera against a wall, and set shutter speed to 1/30 second or slower.

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.

Food Photography - Peranakan @ One Utama

Took these photographs a couple of months back. A sample of dishes (also called nyonya dishes, I believe) served by the restaurant, Peranakan Restaurant, is as shown.

I tell you, they are good, really good.

Oh, the shop, yes, the shop - you won't miss it.