To All Photographers and True Lovers of Photography

Quote: "Use your fxxxing brain. People don't think enough. People don't use their brain. They use copy-paste. Your brain is free. It is fast. Wickedly fast." Erik Spiekermann (1947), German typographer and designer.

To think I haven't spoken enough of the industry's lack of integrity, conscience, ethics and self-respect earlier, you can read more here and here. The world truly is upside-down.

Proven Marketing Strategy 1: Study what images sell in the market, copy them.
Proven Marketing Strategy 2: Study how established photographers source for business, copy them.
Proven Marketing Strategy 3: Study the influential, if possible, join and conform, be like them.

If we still have some self-respect, just like those Japanese retail workers I mentioned earlier, we should start taking pride in what we do. They wrap your purchases better than some photographers claiming they are artists.

My Proven Marketing Strategy is Do What You Love and Love What You Do. If you are not enjoying it, why do it?

Let us remind one another NOT to Prostitute Art for Money/Fame. Each of us have our own group of followers. We have no reasons to be insecure.

Lastly, if you are truly enjoying the art of copying, please forget this blog and forget me. You too will have your own group of followers. That's a worldwide FACT. Again, no one can define "COPY" to be exact, but we should all have our own conscience to answer to, even if you don't believe in God.

Here's an old archived image from year 2003.

Music, An Essential Part of Our Life, just like Images

Image taken from www.last.fm

I grew up with his music. One of my favourite artists. Always remembered. Legendary. Childlike. Purely Original. Now always will be missed by millions. Music brings back memories, smell, taste, sensitize all our five senses, even the sixth. True artists are original, proud to be original, sharing, giving, childlike, sensitive. Here's another story where fame does not equate fortune. But his impact upon our lives, at least for those who loves his music, is forever. Let us learn from great artists, taking pride in image-making, or whatever arts you do. Let our vision be original, for each one of us has our own uniqueness. That's where real joy is. I'll miss Michael Jackson.

Here's one great MTV by him, a necessary statement! Click here.

Hey! It's MY BLOG. You can have YOURS too!

Just a really gentle reminder to all who reads this blog... ... This is my blog. I write what I want. You can have yours too and write what you want. If you don't like what I write, click away and forget you have ever come across this blog please.

I wrote about my personal preference of shooting in "Aperture Priority Mode" during weddings and some who shoot "MANUAL" responded behind facebook calling me names. Though I still don't have facebook till now but I have friends telling me and emailing me about it.

A BIG THANK YOU goes to all who reads my posts FAIRLY(as it is entirely a personal preference which I did mentioned). Also, in regards to my sentiments about the Malaysia Wedding Industry written here and here, it is also ENTIRELY my personal feelings and observation and do not contain any hidden agenda of sabotaging. I wrote them simply to point out the SERIOUS ISSUE OF BUSINESS AND PERSONAL ETHICS AND VALUES. No names were ever mentioned, just issues. I want you guys to focus on the ethic issues we face, NOT otherwise. I also believe we face such ethic issues everywhere, just that usually Malaysians keep quiet about it.

Who cares whether you are shooting AUTO or MANUAL, film or digital when your shots are simply stunning! Let's focus on better things.

The Current Blogging Trend

Just to share some of my thoughts on the current blogging trend... ... entirely personal... ... please don't take it personally... ... like some of you out there who read my earlier posts here and here and here


I have just been deeply thinking, this current blogging style of presenting our works as artists online, a NEW photo/s per day/per week, just kind of make us feel that our old works are being replaced by new ones, that the old aren't good anymore, that the old are "out-of-trend", that the old deserves to be forgotten, deserves to be chucked aside, even trashed(sometimes archived is almost the same as trashed since no one looks at them anymore, that we probably have to dig for hours for that one great shot we suddenly remembered).

Digital = Instant Gratification. Digital photographer who has never shot film will never understand the excitement, the anticipation and the fulfillment from shooting film. New images replaces the old. Digital shooters shoot thousands. The fear of missing shots. 9 frames per second? The lack of confidence. I thought digital shooters should have more confidence since they can preview on-the-spot??? No, obviously not. Digital makes us lazy, dependent on the latest technology, lose confidence (if you are that confident in your competency, DON'T PREVIEW!), and even losing the pride of an artist! The pride of an artist does not rely on "CHANCE SHOTS"! He relies almost entirely on his INTUITION. He treasures every frame he shoots, and remembers them by heart.

Haven't you realize that even as you set your latest digital SLR on multiple-shot mode, you end up getting the best shot on your first frame many-a-times? That is if you are already an Intuitive Shooter. If you think you are still not one, I shall invite you for a personal session with me to "open up" your senses.

So, do we really update our photo-blog because we have something genuine to share? Or do we just update it because we want Google to send some crawlers to our site and help us gain some traffic. Is all that extra traffic really that necessary? How many of your audience really appreciate your works? Are we doing ARTS just for money OR are we enjoying ourselves CREATING WORKS (NOT COPYING) while earning an income from it? Are we more concerned about outdoing our competitors OR are we more concerned of whether we are truly enjoying ourselves, freely expressing ourselves and getting real fulfillment from genuine lovers of our works?

Hey! That's what money can't buy! Money buy you advertisements, publicity, fame but never TRUE JOY IN THE REAL CRAFT OF PHOTOGRAPHY AS ART! That explains why many FLICKR enthusiasts shoot better than PROS! Even some of my students shoot better than some wedding pros I know. That simply is because they really enjoy what they do, not just bragging about it. In my life as an earning photographer, I learn more from people who really enjoy what they do than some who call themselves PRO. And most of them are just photo-enthusiasts! You shoot from your heart NOT your mind or somewhere else for those who are so bloody dependent on high-tech instruments! Use your equipments NOT the other way round.

NO IMAGINATION, NO ARTS!

I don't know about you but I don't need that extra "Back-scratching" from someone in the industry(anyway, I'm glad I'm OUT!) just to remind me that I better scratch his back in return in future. I'd rather have a small pool of people who genuinely appreciates my works than a whole lot of traffic to my site. And well, I still include one picture in this post just hoping it won't get archived and forgotten.

Answers to Quiz

I have been busy with my projects that I haven't been updating. These are the answers to the 1 AVENUE's Quiz:
1. Camera in the picture is NIKON D3
2. His favourite lens now is Canon 35mm F1.4L
By the time I post this, he may have a different favourite lens again.

Changing a favourite lens after a few months(or weeks for some) does freshens up our perspectives and how we see things, don't we? Using PRIME lenses forces us to walk nearer or away from our subjects to crop our shots when we shoot. This builds a discipline in us until the perspectives become a part of our intuition, a second nature.

Challenge: Try achieving 6 shots worth to be hanged on your wall with one lens(one fixed focal length if you are using a zoom lens) before changing to another lens. Give yourself a week or two to achieve it. If you are disciplined and can live with the minimum, you can do this for a longer period. Having a whole arsenal in your backpack does not necessarily make you a better photographer. Half the time you don't use all the equipment. Having the best equipment is not gonna make you a better photographer too.

For "The Quiz Photographer", you can refer to http://xuenphotoz.blogspot.com
He is the GURU when you have questions on what equipment to buy!

Tips on Wedding Photography

After more than 9 years shooting weddings as a professional, and now turning it part-time as I'm pursuing other artistic projects, I have these simple but yet important keys to leave behind for all interested in shooting weddings, whether part-time or full time.

1. Speed
Some snap-shooting is definitely necessary at certain times when action and movement are happening quickly BUT that does not rule out "PREVISUALIZATION", which is still the basic discipline in outstanding photography.
I always crop my shots before I press the trigger, make full use of whichever camera format I use edge to edge, frame my shots with a concept in mind, decide whether to stop down my aperture, whether to use a slow shutter speed to depict movement, etc. before I ever point my camera at my subjects. A weak composition is a weak composition, no matter how you crop it afterwards.

2. Quick Thinking
I personally find it stupid, to use "Manual" mode if your camera has "Aperture Priority" and "Shutter Priority". I only use "M" when I shoot with my Nikon FM2, Bronica SQA, Leica M6 or Sinar F, when I'm given no choice. C'mon guys... we are on the move in weddings, we are photojournalists, we need to be super-quick, and all the modern cameras since Nikon FE days already have "A" mode to help us cut down one step in thinking so we can concentrate better on framing our shots! And not-to-mention the advanced "Matrix Metering" by Nikon and "Evaluative Metering" by Canon.
BUT please please, don't set your camera to multiple-shot mode and start spraying throughout the day like an insect repellent! Although, today's "Repellent Shooters" do win multiple awards from associations like WPJA. It's QUESTIONABLE how much do we really take pride in our works. A retail salesgirl in Japan probably takes more pride in her job than most of our local wedding "professionals".

3. Advance Planning
Always plan 2-3 steps ahead of whatever that's gonna happen next. Example: Be at the gate before the bridal car arrives, enter the house before the groom enters, be at the car when the bride gets out of the car at church, etc. We've gotta plan our shots. Conceptualize our shots. String up the whole event well with minimum "missing links". All these come with experience. Never rely on 2nd and 3rd shooters assisting you entirely. Ask yourself the question: "If there's no 2nd and 3rd shooters, can you deliver?"
Also, if you are used to shooting with 2 cameras, ask yourself, "If one camera fail, can you still deliver?" And we are talking about delivering a similarly good job. I have been shooting alone in this career for more than 7 years. It's only about 2 years ago, I started using 2nd shooters to kickstart my teaching career.

4. Some Choreographing
You can't shoot a wedding like a dumb person. We need to communicate. We need to get along, get into the environment and blend in, celebrate the event like a part of the family, enjoy, and no matter how troubled you can be on the day due to whatever reasons (once, I had the saddest day of my life when my dog has gone to heaven), SMILE!
A smile gets your subjects to reciprocate. A smile starts a conversation. A smile makes you get the shot you want.
See a piece of tissue paper in the background? Get rid of it. Some idiots will still shoot it with their F1.2 or F1.4 aperture hoping to blur it, but I'm telling you, it doesn't work that way. You can still see a nice blurry dirty tissue paper.
Some annoying video cameraman gets in your way? Don't fight. It pays if you have greeted him in the morning when you first met him. Tap him gently on the shoulder to let him know you are going in for your shot and do it quick, step out of it. Remember, you are a professional, you are supposed to get your shot precise and quick.
As photojournalists, MINIMUM CHOREOGRAPHING PLEASE!!!
You spoil the mood when you point a video light at someone, miss a shot and ask the bride to pose for you again(especially when you take your own sweet time getting the shot). Even if you badly need to ask the bride to pose a little for you, do it in less than 3 seconds please. The longer you drag, the more you spoil the mood.
You also will spoil the mood when you talk too much.
We should be good secret agents, blended in the midst of the wedding crowd, choreograph only when necessary, shoot without being obtrusive, absolutely likeable among the crowd.

I'm often being asked,"Are you a friend of the couple? Are you doing this for a living?" Ha ha.. :) Instead of feeling offended, I feel so delighted. My standard reply,"Oh yes, I know the couple, I am asked to cover the event.. with a big smile :)" - My "secret agent mission" successful. Confidence should come from the end-results-your works! NOT your super-huge "L" lenses or camera bodies.

Lastly, for all interested in taking lessons from me, I do it in a "NON-CLASSROOM" environment, casual and practical, results-oriented personal style. I've just finished a course on wedding photojournalism, and into my 4th batch of Basic Course.

I AM NOT A WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER!

Oh.. I feel so ashamed. Never have I feel so ashamed in my life to be called a wedding photographer. So, from this moment, please, let me declare, "I am officially not a wedding photographer anymore!"

You can call me, a Black & White Photographer, an editorial photographer, a community photographer, a part-time wedding photojournalist, a street photographer (where many of my works on film are still under compilation), a portrait photographer, a non-profit photographer or a crazy photographer... up to you. I'd love that!

As I have concluded earlier, "rot, let it rot!"

JV Epidemic

Latest Industry News:
(This post contains explicit and sensitive content meant for the Malaysia Wedding Photography Industry. Offence is only intended if you imagine it to be.)

Lately in the midst of the deadly H1N1 Virus is another "JV Epidemic" potentially spreading! I've just heard from reliable sources that some self-acclaimed professional wedding photographers with strings of awards from DBKL, oops.. sorry, it should be WPJA or AGWPJA has started accepting students, teaching courses and conducting workshops.

Professionals who are genuinely concerned about the development of the wedding photography industry in Malaysia should be aware that in the name of "bringing up our standards of photography" in the industry, we're actually killing it by unknowingly(or knowingly) encouraging certain untrained professionals to start a new money-making path in teaching photography.
Oops.. sorry again.. who am I to say "untrained" when WB'kl' has accepted and awarded them.

That probably explains partially why a well-known wedding photographer in Sabah quit WPJA lately. I'll think it's a wise decision. You can read it here.

Awards definitely does not necessarily prove anything, especially when it's subscription-based.

Guess the good old days when we get real teachers who practice what they preach is long gone! Today, everyone and anyone can teach. See? You don't necessarily have to do it first before you teach someone. It's sad! Have we all become con-artists instead of real artists?

(Of course, not all awarded photographers, WPJA/AGWPJA/PPA/etc. photographers are crap. Please read this post like you eat a fish-that is, leave the bones, you are not a cat!)

1 Avenue Photography - Quiz

Photograph taken from 1 Avenue Photography

Quiz: (Photographer Circled) Guess the camera brand in the picture above and his current favourite lens choice for wedding photography.
Prize: RM188 Cash Voucher from 1 Avenue Photography

Hint: Some information about the photographer above...
(When I googled for Malaysia's firsts.. I've got:
1. Autoworld - Malaysia's First Automotive Portal
2. 4D2U.com - Malaysia's First 4D Results Statistics Website
3. Proton Exora Malaysia's first MPV from RM69,998!
4. Malaysia's first astronaut
5. Malaysia's first Scorpene submarine
and etc...) Unfortunately, he's not listed yet...

This photographer above is, as far as I know, The First Wedding Photographer in Malaysia to use almost the full range of Canon Prime "L" Lenses (except Canon 14mm L lens) to shoot his weddings. He also at the same time uses another equally famous brand of professional photographic equipment. Of course, best optics does not equate best images, but they certainly help in creating the dreamy effects which is often so popular in wedding photojournalism. :)

Terms & Conditions:
1. Only the first correct answer to the above quiz received via email address 1avenuephotography@gmail.com will be awarded.
2. We reserve the rights to amend our rules and regulations at all times.
3. Prize can only be used for 1 Avenue Photography's Wedding Day Packages.
4. Prize must be claimed before 30 June 2009.
5. Winner will be notified by email.
6. Last date of submission is 15 May 2009.