This blog haven’t been updated for almost two years…
Hopefully from now on I’ll manage to put something up, and won’t leave it idle for too long. Two years is wayyyy too long!!!
Photos in this slideshow are from a trip to Aceh & Weh Island in April 2011 with Azmi Bogart, Dashuki, Sseme & Tok Mat
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Few weeks back an ex colleague approached me for few shots to be included in his assignment, a HR booklet. He work for a giant MNC… No I’m not gonna mentioned it!!
When I met him he shown the draft and similar booklet from their home country and other well known MNCs. He explained the shots needed and where to take it. He stressed that his boss got no budget for this and can only give me a small token. He mentioned how much roughly the token.. but I’m not going to tell you all.
Knowing their operation very well, I explained that the shots can only be done on weekdays at one of their business premise. I have a day job to pay my bills and put food on the table…. so I’ll need to take one day off. I told him that he’s one of the HR Manager in the company and he still can check how much I earn then. I was very open and told that now I earn 30% more. Whatever token in his mind must be able to offset my one day pay, petrol and meal….. at least.
After I walk away from that nasi lemak lunch… I didn’t hear anything from him.
I don’t mind taking photos for FREE……. I have been doing it and will keep doing it. I’ve shot at least four weddings for FREE. The bride/groom just pay for the photobook printing. Yes……. I’m not a pro wedding shooter.. but whoever I shot was very happy with the results and their friends were envy of them because they got reasonably good quality wedding photos for FREE. I can safely say my photos is much better than many of the wedding photographer who charge close to RM2,000 per day.
I believe many of us been doing that… ..
I think myself as a serious hobbyist. Being able to shoot is good enough. It also improves my skills. I have the intention of doing photography to finance the hobby. With the FREE wedding shoots I can build my portfolio. They also my relatives.
I also have been taking photos for client …my day job client. Not a small company, they just complete RM300M worth of property. Simple shots, but if they get a pro to do it will easily cost them few hundreds if not thousands. And I’m happy doing it. Not so much of trying to KIPAS them (they are my client, and I need to kipas them anyway!!) but being able to see your work being appreciated is much more satisfying. (Yeah!! I know.. I know. I can say that because I have a day job!!)
But I’m not going to do it for DIRT CHEAP….
My self and Sseme went up to Bukit Broga on Christmas day.
I been to the hill few months back. But because I was there in late afternoon….around 5:30. I did not to climb to the top. I was alone and while I walking up the hill, everybody were walking down. I don’t want to end-up up there alone when night falls.
The hill is about 15km from my place. We were there at 8:20am. What surprised me was car owners who wanted to park their car in the palm oil plantation were charged RM2…. due to that quite a few cars were parked along the narrow road. I pay the RM2.
Like my previous trip, while myself and Sseme walking up everybody else were walking down. That give us good excuse for frequent stops along the trek. I lost count of our stops in less than 20mins into our ascend!!! Every body actually can make it to the peak of this hill. Some climbers bring kids as young as 3yrs old. There was a young couple who carry their baby up!! Few girls even climb with their sandals.
Just before we reach the hill top, a young boy walking down with empty drinking water bottle & beer can. It was left behind by climbers and the young boy who were with his family collect it, I believe to be sold.
During the ascend.. approaching the first look out.
We reach first look-out point in approximately 40 mins… it’s a shame actually. Many of the climbers can reach the same point in less than 30 mins.
This family is from Kuantan and start their ascend at 5am…. to watch the sunrise & picnic.
The happiest man at the peak….Sseme!
P/S – If Abang Azmi Bogart still not convinced that he can make it to the top… only one thing I can say. If Sseme can make to the top, everybody else can.
Moto GP entourage is in town again…. what it got to do with allahyarham???
Exactly two years back I was in Sepang for the Moto GP. What make Moto GP 2007 will remain in my memory in many years to come was not the race, I don’t even remember who won the race or the championship that year. But because I was there with our beloved brother Allahyarham Prof Dr Kamaruddin Mat Salleh or better known as Pak Din to most of us.
The main reason I went was to try my panning technique and I got allahyarham to company me. After the races, I felt a bit guilty because I can clearly see allahyarham look a bit tired. The consolation was allahyarham enjoyed the day even though we all know arwah not really a big fan of Moto GP.
As soon as we pass the main gate , allahyarham requested me to take his photo……with his alpha 100.
Allahyarham uploaded more than 30 images he capture while we were in Sepang in his picasa web album here. Two shots of me by allahyarham….
Allahyarham even got the ticket posted in the web album..
Big regret is I can only find one allahyarham photo during the event from my archive.
Good bye my dear brother, we will miss you….
Two weeks after shoting DS Nizar at SS 15 Sport Complex in BB Bangi, another political icon at the same venue last night. I was there with Sseme …….Here are some of the shot.
I don’t remember when was the last time I attended any PAS ceramah. Even though PAS had it’s ceramah almost every other week at Komplek Sukan MPKj……two minutes drive from my house.
When they put up banners that DS Nizar was coming, I know that I need to attend this one.I believe all Facilities Management people in Malaysia who attended PPK courses know him very well…..
When I was Head of FM in an MNC, I called DS Nizar (masa tu Encik Nizar je!!) few times asking his advise on few issues (I don’t think he remember me, everytime I called I have to tell him that I’m from X company attended his course) but he always willing to offer his opinion.
And………. I still have his personal mobile no…:-)
Now……few shots of Leading Contender for Malaysia 2009 Man of The Year!!
When I heard that few Moto GP riders is having 2 days official testing in Sepang, I took the opportunity to be there and refresh my panning skill.
I was there on Day 2 of the testing (7 Feb 09). I reach Sepang circuit abt 2:00pm. When I unpack and start shooting, I was struggling to get the correct setting. I guess my mistake was I immediately go to the lowest shutter speed I normally do – 1/80….. and I can’t even get a decent shot.
When I restart at higher speed 1/200, I slowly manage to get better shots. After almost two and a half hours before the test ended at 5:00pm….. I used up 4GB of memory and here are some of the shots.
Nicky Hayden - 300mm f10 1/80 ISO100
Tony Elias - 300mm f7.1 1/160 ISO100
The Doctor (Valentino Rossi) - 300mm f6.3 1/200 ISO100
Casey Stoner - 300mm f9.0 1/80 ISO100
I like this one most, because of the spark!!….. Too bad he rode too far from the kerb and the bike is not colorful enough, making this shot look very dull!!
Sete Gibernau - 300mm f11.0 1/80 ISO100
I was at Ted Adnan’s Barebone studio again yesterday for another workshop. This time around for Basic Studio Lighting. There were suppose to be 6 participants but a guy from Gopeng did not turn up.
My wife was not too happy….. we had to miss 3 kenduri because I wanted to attend this workshop. There were Tony (from UK and been in Malaysia for 14 years), Wasabi, Intan and Ted’d ex-colleague from UIA (sorry Bro… can’t recall your name la!)
The model was Udd and we really had a good time learning few basic guides in studio lighting…
Here is some of the shots from the workshop……..
Ted in action……
..full attention from Tony & Intan.
Group photo….
Left to Right.. Intan, Wasabi dewd, Tok Wae, Tony, Udd, Ted & UIA Bro
I’m not sure about the ret but I ha hard times getting the right to for Udd’s red cloth.
Overall it was a very informative session and nice knowing fellow photogs.
I’m embarassed to say that in my 36 yrs life…I never step my foot in Kuching. And yesterday was my first time, memang teruk!!! Luckily my employer need to open a branch each in Kuching & KK, if not I just don’t know when I’ll visit this two city.
Anyway… I catch 8:20a.m. Air Asia AK5218 from LCCT with my colleague… En. Rohman. Two shots I got during the flight.
Look at his goatie…… mahal!!
Look at the wing & window screen…..this Airbus A380 badly need a wash!!!!
Like other first timer in Kuching, two things that we do was makan Laksa Sarawak & take a boat ride asross Sungai Sarawak (…???)
At the other bank of the river I got few shots of Kuching Water Front. I’m quite happy with this one….
Inside my Lowepro Rolling CompuTrekker AW for this year balik kampung….. This is the only reason why I hate flying back. I spend almost one hour stuffing things into the bag and I have to leave behind my 300mm.
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