Labels: Architecture, Documenting, Landscape, Photography, Techniques - Long Exposure, Trek, Trippin', Vietnam

Posted by SoulJah at 5:14:00 PM

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Went to KL almost a month or so ago, to do a coverage of Didi and Khalil's wedding there. Did quite a number of things over there, of which sightseeing and being a tourist was one of them. Wouldn't have gone to the Aquaria at the KL Convention Centre if Nikki and Mashee didn't drag me out there. But it was good times anyway, snagging the above photo made the RM38 entry fee just bearable.

Ok, list of things I did there this time.

1. Rode on a bike during a wedding coverage. Weirdest, moment, ever.

2. Finally got to visit YL Camera at Pudu Plaza. Had to sneak out really early for this, so I wouldn't get dragged out for shopping. Truly a mecca for photographic fiends everywhere. Ask for anything here, photography wise, they'd surely have it, if not at the back, it'd be upstairs in their other unit(!). Got some lightstands for me, and a servicing for my camera body. Ask for these stuff from other retail shops in the big shopping centres in KL, I'd bet you'd be met with a blank stare.

3. Stayed at other places than Bukit Bintang; stayed somewhere near Jalan Masjid India, and then moved out to a posh hotel at Mid Valley, called The Gardens. The area where we stayed initially is particularly good for my early morning wanderings. I frequently visit a small shop selling top ups for the Malaysian telephone line (those things run out pretty quickly if I may say so.) and stop by the numerous mamak eateries dotting the place. A lot of things to shoot really.

4. Met a lovely model over laksa, and shot another.

All in all, quite a fun experience, and I'm honored to be able to cover Didi and Khalil's wedding events, from Brunei all the way to Senawang. Wish I could join you guys in Amsterdam!

Labels: KL, Paid Shoot, Photography, Trippin', weddings

Posted by SoulJah at 1:42:00 AM

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I've just realized I haven't posted quite a lot of Trippin' photos lately, as I have not been out of the country with the camera lately. So in an effort to bolster my Trippin' collection on this site, I'll have to regurgitate some photos I've taken from my New Year's trip to KL.

As I was waiting for everyone to return from their shopping, initially I tried to sleep off the afternoon to lessen the effect of the previous boat/plane/bus/LRT ride, but how can you when KL is beckoning just downstairs? So with camera in hand, I set out to explore a bit of Jalan P. Ramlee, and what it has to offer.

Instantly as I set out of the apartments, this was waiting for me at the shoulder of the intersection. Composing it against the background of blaring lights and music, sets off a tone of normalcy against the hectic city life. Great area we stayed in actually, stalls just down the road, a small grocery shop (important!) and a great Indian eatery just a bit of walk away down a small road, where I get my breakfast everyday while everyone's still out of it on their beds.

I find that I'm a bit reluctant to shoot on the streets of KL. While the other lads are more than happy to hang around and shoot their hearts content along Jalan Bukit Bintang, I still feel a bit concerned about whipping the darn thing out in public. My lenses aren't actually tiny, save for the 50mm and the 105mm, but I tricked myself that I'd be more inclined to shoot in public only if I have the 50mm with me. I'd have done so too, if we weren't too busy shopping and eating! Yeah, show me to the nearest Adidas boutique or sports apparel shop, I guarantee you you'd find a shopaholic in there (me!).

Oh I wanted to try the steamboat after a long night of partying, but at 3AM, it was already gone. Darn.

Labels: Equipment, KL, Photography, Trippin'

Posted by SoulJah at 10:13:00 PM

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Labels: Landscape, Meta, Photography, Trek, Trippin'

Posted by SoulJah at 2:31:00 PM

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Labels: Landscape, Meta, Photography, Trek, Trippin'

Posted by SoulJah at 7:33:00 PM

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First and foremost, Happy New Years 2009 everyone! Hope you had an awesome time in 2008, an awesomer time at New Year's Eve, and the awesomest time in the year ahead!

As you can clearly see, I was back in KL to do a spot of partying, a spot of R&R, and a spot of photography, if you can believe that. Figured I'd stuff my bag full of clothing rather than photography items, I gambled on just bringing my D300 body and 50mm f/1.4D, as my main target was to do another shoot with my fave model there. And I've worked out a booking with Ted Adnan and Barebones Studio so I have my shooting space and lighting gear ready when I got there, so I have the opportunity of utilizing a bigger shooting space, without having to lug my heavy lightstands around, as my backpack is heavy enough, and finally get a chance to meet one of the region's Strobist heroes.

My travel was not without it's perils. The boat, Seri Anna, taking me to Labuan disembarked so late and travelled so slow that by the time I reached Labuan terminal, I was literally already late for check-in at the AirAsia counter at Labuan Airport. Got out of the terminal, I whistled for a cab and when it came near The license plate said fresh and it had dice in the mirror. If anything I could say that this cab was rare, but I thought, "Nah, forget it. Yo, holmes to Bel-Air!" I pulled up to the house about 7 or 8 and I yelled to the cabbie, "Yo holmes smell ya later!" Looked at my kingdom I was finally there, to sit on my throne as the prince of Bel-Air.

...sorry, sorry... Internet meme... Had to do it...

Anyway I whistled for a cab, got in as fast as I could, paid him double so he could get me to the airport within like, 5 minutes, jumped out when I got there, ran to the counter. I asked what the closing time for the counter was, and he said, "9:45"; the exact time I have on my watch. The same kinda thing happened as well when I was going to KLIA's LCCT. Finished the shoot quite late at 4pm, while my flight was supposed to be 6pm. Ted's studio was in Kajang. KLIA was quite a ways away. Traffic was jammed.

Under the predicament at hand, the model need not send me to LCCT, she was late for an appointment anyway. But she sent me still anyway, getting lost in the process. And people wonder why she's my favourite model... Well fortunately that's the end of my perilous journey to KL. Hopefully in the near future, I'd pick out far better travel arrangements so as not to stress myself out during my supposed R&R session.

Anyway, here's an ubiquitous shot of Petronas Twin Towers at night. I'll post other shots soon. Again, limiting myself to one lens is quite a good exercise in getting the shooting cobwebs out. More shots to come soon!

Labels: Architecture, Equipment, KL, Photography, Season's Greetings, Trippin'

Posted by SoulJah at 11:52:00 AM

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One of the great things I noticed during the whole Asean Youth Festival was the great organizational skills and the thought they have put into the whole festival. For instance, the Tourist Passes for use during the race that entitles us to use the excellent public transport systems, not one, but two discount cards that entitles the delegates to discounts at a variety of stores, booklets and maps highlighting the activities outside of the festival that happens nearby, even comes down to tie-ins with clubs, bars and restaurants that would waive entry fees for all the delegates. There's a whole lot more I'll cover in future posts, but even with just all these, it shows a well thought out, meticulously planned event, that I won't put it past Singapore to pull off without a hitch.

Needless to say, the organizational aptitude of all the committee members and Liaison Officers, the forum organizers and everyone involved, there's a sense that there's no holes left unplugged, meaning they have planned for every contingency, imaginable or not. Even if there's a problem that might prove too much of a bother, I felt that most of the decision making hadn't the need to go all the way up the chain, as most of the decision making can be handled by even the L.O.'s, negating any complicated and long drawn out decision making process. Mind you, these L.O.'s are actually youths themselves, some even way younger than me. Coming from a culture where decisions are made from a cascade of approvals from the higher ups, to me this was quite a surprise.

And even if there's a need to go higher up the chain for approval, the highest level organizers I believe are not even in their 30's yet! Just shows how much trust and faith they have in their Youths.

There will be an upcoming post that shows how this culture of youth is a big integral part of Singapore culture, and the lengths at which the government supports them but still giving them autonomous rein, by far surprised me the most.

Labels: AYF, Photography, Singapore, Trippin'

Posted by SoulJah at 3:03:00 PM

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Whoever knows me in real life, I'm quite reserved when it comes to meeting new people. I need to feel them out to see if I can click with them... and if it clicks, I'd be at ease and it's easier to interact with them and form friendships. Faced by delegates from 12 different countries, it'd be easy to bet that I'd have a hard time feeling out each and every one of the countries, let alone each and everyone of the delegates.

Just like smoking cigarettes, which immediately breaks down the barriers of normal societal interactions that us adults put up, and you can discuss everything from the weather all the way to religion in just one smoke break. Now, my chosen drug of choice is photography, and that in some ways allows you to interact with others that are 'in the know' and you have a conduit from which you can interact with others, whether they notice it and strike a pose, or whether whether you catch them being themselves, anything ranging from emotional outburst of joy, laughter, quiet contemplation or even at their worst state of sleep deprivation.

The number of DSLRs present at the events were quite remarkable, but not too surprising. Some of the delegates were like me as well, there for the photography competition; and there were others who brought their own cameras to capture the goings on at the forum, as would I, if I was not part of the competition. So it's not a surprise that we immediately identify with each other, knowing full well that we all share the same passion, and of course checking each other's gears, which is to be expected, really. A Singaporean, which was to become my group mate for the forum format, came up to me, and we instantly hit it off. Others, like the one in the accompanying photo, I only managed to get to know over the course of the event. At this movie screening, I still didn't know he was Andri Tei, the first place winner for the photography competition. But over the course of the event, we're almost like buddies, more like a mutual respect for each other, being in the same brotherhood of photography kin.

Over the course of this series, I'll show the importance of any cameras, be it DSLR or Point-n-shoots, in creating a lasting bond throughout all the delegates.

Labels: AYF, Photography, Singapore, Trippin'

Posted by SoulJah at 6:41:00 PM

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After a bit of shopping directly after our touchdown, and after a bit of familiarization with Singapore's decidedly awesome MRT system, we were packed into buses for a movie screening at a newly renovated school, named, aptly enough, OldSchool. It's a great place where, if I recall correctly, artists, musicians, theathrical performers, photographers and the like can call their own, allowing them to use the facilities there to create their masterpieces. The area we were gathering was called the Sinema, where screenings of local movies and film festivals are regularly held. I've also heard they do some concerts there once in a while. Hip and trendy place actually.

The movie was titled 'Journey to Kaabah''Road to Mecca', chronicling one man's journey across land, from Malaysia, all the way to Mecca, to perform the Hajj. While not the best movie ever, I reserved all my opinions to myself, opting not to grab the open mic. I'll be civil on my first night at AYF.

Anyway, this is our first chance to have most of the delegates in one area, so some delegates took their chances getting to know each other. As I had other programmes ongoing at that time, which was capturing all the happenings, emotions, moments and interactions for a special programme, I kinda laid low for a bit, just so I can snag some stolen moments. But then again, it didn't stay like that for long...

(To be continued...)

Labels: AYF, Photography, Singapore, Trippin'

Posted by SoulJah at 7:26:00 PM

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To the new friends I made during my AYF, one week stay, I'd like to welcome you all to my website.

I'd like to thank you all for making my trip there a memorable one. From the delegates, our lovely Liaison Officer Dhini and Yi Na, to the event organizers, I'd like to express my heartfelt gratitude for the wonderful hospitality that you've shown to us. I wasn't sure what to expect at first, and having not once ever joined a youth gathering such as AYF, I didn't know what to expect. But the new people I've met from all over the world, the wonderful atmosphere, the great camaraderie, the friendship, I don't think I will ever forget my week there.

I'll follow up this post later. Still trying to straighten out all the business cards I have.

Labels: AYF, Photography, Singapore, Trippin'

Posted by SoulJah at 12:24:00 PM

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Labels: KL, Outing, Photography, Trippin'

Posted by SoulJah at 5:48:00 PM

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Labels: Architecture, Documenting, Experiment, KL, Landscape, Outing, Photography, Trippin'

Posted by SoulJah at 1:25:00 PM

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Man, Kuraman is like the Venus sculpture. It's beautiful overall, but looking at it closely reveals imperfections. I'd go back if not for the one hour long ride on a small boat. My whole body was sore from the boat ride, and I think I swallowed too much sea water that I'm still nursing my sore throat.

Labels: Documenting, Landscape, Office, Outing, Photography, Trek, Trippin'

Posted by SoulJah at 4:28:00 PM

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