Images That Speak

Dedicated Mom

2012-01-31T06:55:00.004+08:00

*She must be searching something for her son... Now, who else can be more dedicated than the mothers in the world?

Love Series . 009

2012-01-21T08:41:00.001+08:00

Do Not Let Technology tear us apart!

Love Series . 008

2012-01-20T21:20:00.000+08:00

Walk with me till old...

Love Series . 007

2012-01-19T01:33:00.000+08:00

Rushing for love

Love Series . 006

2011-12-29T10:06:00.000+08:00

Love Series . 005

2011-12-28T17:04:00.002+08:00

Love Series . 004

2011-12-02T17:27:00.000+08:00

Love Series . 003

2011-11-25T02:44:00.000+08:00

Love Series . 002

2011-11-24T00:15:00.000+08:00

Love Series . 001

2011-11-20T05:27:00.001+08:00

Sayang

2011-11-18T02:37:00.000+08:00

The word "Sayang" is commonly used in Malaysia. It basically means love. (Click Here)
It's common to hear "I sayang you ah..." (Manglish/Malaysian English)

Figures

2011-11-16T23:52:00.000+08:00

Untitled

2011-11-10T01:13:00.001+08:00

Earn-a-living Series

2011-11-09T19:34:00.001+08:00

I am still collecting images for my "earn-a-living" series which I started in 2009.

Untitled

2011-11-08T00:40:00.003+08:00

Arts and Artist

2011-11-06T00:00:00.000+08:00

Do-re-mi

2011-11-05T02:51:00.000+08:00

Keeping a Business

2011-11-04T05:09:00.000+08:00

Moment

2011-11-03T03:13:00.000+08:00

"Fill Us Up"

2011-11-01T01:48:00.001+08:00

Photographers' Rights

2011-10-30T01:06:00.001+08:00

Reading the blog post on The Online Photographer (HERE) reminds me of this shot I took just 2 days ago.

"A citizen's right to film government officials, including law enforcement officers, in the discharge of their duties in a public place is a basic, vital, and well-established liberty safeguarded by the First Amendment."

—The federal First Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston,
in a recent ruling
Source: American Police Beat

281011, Kota Raya, Kuala Lumpur

2011-10-29T10:31:00.001+08:00

Untitled

2011-10-21T12:28:00.001+08:00

Untitled

2011-10-08T09:12:00.001+08:00

Pocket Money

2011-08-20T11:55:00.001+08:00

Earn-a-Living

2011-08-18T17:27:00.002+08:00

Oh btw, a man who looks like he's 50-60 years old with full proper limps and face was begging just a few metres away. What a shame! And this man choose to sing you songs.

What's In?

2011-08-14T02:26:00.002+08:00

Image taken on 7 Aug 2011 in Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur.

Hot Babes, Dannok, Thailand

2011-07-17T22:24:00.001+08:00

Education

2011-07-13T18:26:00.001+08:00

I Know My Mess

2011-06-27T07:24:00.001+08:00

Hot Babe!

2011-06-16T19:42:00.001+08:00

Freedom

2011-06-15T00:49:00.002+08:00

Freedom is a condition of your heart. It is not something which can be seen by "shallow eyes" and people with "shallow" hearts. It does not seek approval, or "like", or even others' understanding. It is a selfish pleasure of an individual. When you are truly free in your heart, no matter where you are, you are truly joyful.

Have Hope!

2011-06-13T23:03:00.003+08:00

Seller has hope. Buyer has hope. Hope is the element which keeps life going.

Cool Grandma!

2011-06-12T14:15:00.001+08:00

Baby Safety

2011-06-11T23:07:00.001+08:00

This photo is taken just yesterday in Malaysia. I believe the lower income group in Malaysia is earning so little that most can't afford a car or motorbike. And for those families with babies among the lower income group, this sight is common. Some parents even ride their bikes with 2-3 children on it. I don't think any helmet for babies are available in Malaysia. And the police are more interested in "catching" rich car owners than poor motorbikers in general. This is life in Malaysia.

Solitude Shown

2011-06-11T01:34:00.001+08:00

The Yoga Goat

2011-06-10T12:12:00.000+08:00

Click to Enlarge

The "Photo Expert"

2011-06-08T11:39:00.000+08:00

Ah Beng: "Bro, you received the Sony image file I sent to you ah? The one with your face in it?"
Ah Seng: "Yup, replied ur email. The skin tone not bad, but colors still look a bit digital lah..."

Ah Beng: "How about the Olympus one I sent?"
Ah Seng: "Ah.. that one nicer... the skin tone I meant... doesn't look so digital... but I hate the noise!"

Ah Beng: "I'm just wondering... if you like film so much... why don't you shoot film?"
Ah Seng: "Shoot film troublesome lah... expensive... hard to find a good lab... etc etc..."

Ah Beng: "Hey, what do you think of that film scan I emailed to you, the one I shot with Lucky Color Film on my M6 the other day... remember?"
Ah Seng: "Oh yeah... I like the film look but... the skin tone sucks!"

Ah Beng: "How about the one I shot with Kodak Portra?"
Ah Seng: "Oh... that one the skin tone is nice... but when indoors, not so nice..."
Ah Beng: "You think it's better than digital?"
Ah Seng: "A bit grainy lah... I like the smoothness in digital... like the Sony's one."

Ah Beng: "I'm just wondering, since you like film look, but don't like grains; yet you prefer Portra's skin tone, but you don't like to shoot film; you prefer Oly's skin tone to Sony but don't like Oly's noise... what do you shoot with???"

Ah Seng: "Oh... Hahaha... I basically hang around forums commenting on others' shots... I own a Nikon but my son uses it more... I also do have a Canon but it's for leisure... you know... daily shots... but it's too bulky, so I usually leave it at home... But I usually try all sorts of cameras my friends have... when they bring their gears during our *Teh Tarik sessions..."

Ah Beng: "Oh, so you do photowalks during the Teh Tarik sessions?"
Ah Seng: "Erhem... we usually just sit down and talk..."

*(terminology: teh tarik means having tea)

"Mind Your Language and Sit At Your Own Risk!"

2011-06-06T13:05:00.000+08:00

Click to Enlarge

Stripes

2011-06-05T00:42:00.001+08:00

Click to Enlarge

The Opposition Party

2011-06-03T12:37:00.001+08:00

The next generation always goes against the previous. History repeats itself all the time.

Commitment

2011-05-29T22:15:00.001+08:00

Click to Enlarge

Malaysia Police

2011-05-26T14:14:00.004+08:00

CLICK Twice to View Largest Size

If you live in Malaysia, you would probably understand better about what I want to tell through this image. The subjects in the picture are mere representation, being there at the right time, at right place, showing their expressions, and you can say I was lucky to be there, with my camera, at the right time, in the right place to capture this moment. My heart aches whenever I look at this image I took. My heart aches, but yet laughs with sarcasm at what I already knew and experienced in this country where I live in, over the last 8 years. But yet, I shall continue to do my best within my ability, to capture, to tell, to make art, to share, even if I may offend some along the way. I believe to each has his or her own calling to fulfill.

Not Talking

2011-05-14T09:03:00.000+08:00

Your Audience

2011-04-27T05:19:00.001+08:00

Thinking of who's looking at your pictures does make you shoot in a certain way, right or wrong?

My wife who is not a photographer BUT someone who does know how to tell a a nice picture from another will never be able to advise me which lens gives a "better" result, etc. But yet, she can tell me which picture she likes best and which she finds there's nothing interesting.

On the other hand, my photographer friends who know more about lenses will start asking me what lenses I used, film or digital, and all the questions regarding the equipment I used when they see some "nice" pictures from me.

So I guess, the "Nice" when my wife said it must have a different meaning to the "Nice" when my photographer friends said it.

So now, what?

Should I aim to please my wife or my photographer friends? (as a reminder, my wife is quite a critic at pictures. She's not very artistic when compared to many others but at least she has some art sense)

When I said, "ART is selfish, you only set out to please yourself, you should only shoot for yourself, you shoot what you feel NOT what you want others to like... etc..." erhem... "Bullshit!" that's what the realists will say! Sometimes, I am a realist too!

We all want an audience, don't we?

But some can go so crazy in "Fans-collecting" that they often lose themselves, lose their own character, lose their gut feeling, lose their moxie in doing what they want, in fear of losing their fans and losing their audience.

If my audience is a bunch of gear nuts, I'll be changing gears constantly in order to satisfy my audience.

If my audience is a bunch of non-artistic business people, I'll only be shooting what makes money, whatever that's "in-season".

If my audience is a bunch of sensitive people who appreciates ART, I'll be more sensitive in the content I wanna present in my images.

So I guess, it's either Change Your Audience (if you find you're not getting the right audience) OR Change You (to suit what's most "popular").

The Fatherly Figure

2011-04-25T18:15:00.000+08:00

How important it is, for a dad to spend time with his kid?

Enjoying Photography as Art

2011-04-23T09:19:00.000+08:00

Photography as Art is all about emotions, your inner senses, your gut feeling. When you look at an image and can't feel what the photographer is saying, you fail to communicate to the photographer. It's like reading body language. Sometimes, the photographer leaves an open end for your imagination, sometimes an immediate answer to your question. It's pure unspoken pleasure between the artist and the viewers, and willing audience only.

The ones who try to define photography with rationalism fail to communicate with their feelings. They skip the pleasure of the senses. It's hard when photography is so dependent on cameras. It's hard to avoid thinking about the camera and lens behind an image, and the exposure settings, etc. We can go on and on about sharpness, the "right" way or your "preferred" way of doing it, and forget the emotional communication between you and the photographer.

Try understanding the photographer through his/her images. You'll be a happier person.

Running Away

2011-04-21T11:43:00.002+08:00

HINTS

1. Can't wait to get away, far far away... ...

2. Running away from reality

3. Fighting to be in the first place

It's sad that I even have to list out the above to get your imagination running... we seem all dead in our senses living in this part of the world. Photography has become all about cameras and lenses, nothing about imagination anymore. If we can't read images, how can we make images of our own expressions?

All we know is to ogle at how difficult some images seem to be made by some professionals, how about the tons of hobbyists who make fantastic expressions through images? It surely does not take a pro to make better images... ...

The Child in Me

2011-04-19T00:35:00.002+08:00

Can't Stop

2011-04-17T23:17:00.002+08:00

... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...

2011-04-14T01:10:00.001+08:00

The Mystery Meat Seller

2011-03-13T01:04:00.000+08:00

Looking Beyond Sharpness. (Pic: Two Different Shades)

2011-03-11T17:25:00.000+08:00

Click to Enlarge

I've been keeping quiet for a long time and I believe I'll continue to keep quiet. That's because I choose to let my images speak for me instead of my writings.

In this country I live in currently, I face the problem of people reading and understanding images more than anything else. We have no lack of knowledge of the latest cameras, photographic technology, the best lenses, the newest remote flash gimmicks, Photoshop tools, etc. but we lack people who can read images beyond simply sharpness and bokeh.

Is sharpness and bokeh all that you see in an image? If you are asked to describe an image emotionally, can you do so? If we can't even read images, how can we shoot them?

What's the reason of you picking up photography? To earn FAME or CASH?

I enjoy photography as an art form. I shoot what I see and feel, and what I see and feel changes at different stages of my life. I practise it because I like it, NOT because others like what I do OR give me recognition and cash.

I enjoy sharing my images and what I know. I like being myself. If what I share benefits you, stay with me. If not, please find someone else who benefits or inspires you.

In photography, it's hard for us not to talk about gears. But to grow in image-making, it's time to look beyond cameras, lenses, sharpness and bokeh. You will see no mention of gears in my blog this year.

Determination

2011-03-06T20:25:00.000+08:00

Click to Enlarge

Working in the Rain

2011-02-28T00:15:00.000+08:00

Click to Enlarge

Different Lives

2011-02-25T14:27:00.002+08:00

The Balancing Dog

2011-02-24T06:47:00.000+08:00

Click to Enlarge

Balanced News

2011-02-24T00:34:00.000+08:00

Click to Enlarge

Where Time Stops

2011-02-22T11:01:00.000+08:00

Click to Enlarge

Clock Repairman in Penang, Malaysia.

Anger and Fear

2011-02-21T21:30:00.000+08:00

Is Your Life Like This?

2011-02-20T23:57:00.000+08:00

Faithful Follower

2011-02-20T16:37:00.000+08:00

Click to Enlarge

Shot in Balik Pulau, Penang, Malaysia.

Slaves to Technology

2011-02-20T01:17:00.000+08:00

Click to Enlarge

Being Painted

2011-02-19T13:11:00.001+08:00

Click to Enlarge

Street Artist, Somerset Road, Singapore, on Valentine's Day 2011.

Tired...

2011-02-18T22:13:00.000+08:00

Click to Enlarge

Shot in a high class shopping mall along Orchard Road, Singapore.

Love on Valentine's Day

2011-02-18T13:30:00.000+08:00

14/2/2011, Valentine's Day, Orchard Road, Singapore

Valentine's Day is for everyone.

The Valentine's Balloon

2011-02-17T08:21:00.000+08:00

Click to Enlarge

Shot in Singapore on Valentine's Day, 2011.

Wait

2011-02-16T23:30:00.000+08:00

Click to Enlarge

Q & A

2011-02-16T16:10:00.000+08:00

Q: What camera should I buy?
A: What do you intend to shoot?
Q: I'm not sure. A bit of everything?
A: I need to know more specifically where your interest lies.
Q: hmm.. maybe Macro?
A: Then, get a DSLR with a macro lens.
Q: But... it's too bulky. Is there another option?
A: Get the E-PL2 with the macro converter.
Q: But I would love to shoot portraits with very blur background like those pros do. Can I?
A: Of course you can with the E-PL2. Use the Nokton 25mm F0.95 lens, but it's manual focus.
Q: Ha? But I don't want manual focus...
A: Then, get a DSLR.
Q: But I love street photography too! I heard the pros use Leica one?
A: Not necessarily Leica. Rangefinders in particular.
Q: What's a rangefinder? It must be Leica. That famous photographer Henry something also used that right?
A: You mean Henri (pronounced as "onri") Cartier Bresson?
Q: Ya ya ya! I want a Leica.
A: But it's manual focus too!
Q: Sigh! Don't they have autofocus Leicas?
A: Nope. And a rangefinder can't do Macro shots.
Q: Why? It's a camera also what. Can change lens right?
A: Ok ok... maybe you mount the DR(dual range) Leica 50mm summicron on it to do closeup shots, plus some additional closeup filters... but there will be parallax errors.
Q: What's parallax errors?
A: Arghh... ok.. forget it. Trust me, get a DSLR. The Leica is a manual focus camera, remember?

to be continued... ...

The Red Side

2011-02-15T23:16:00.002+08:00

Click to Enlarge

Shot in the red light district in Singapore.

Seduction

2011-02-15T00:28:00.001+08:00

Click to Enlarge

Shot in the red light district in Singapore.

THE T.V.

2011-02-14T11:34:00.000+08:00

Click to Enlarge

Growing Old...

2011-02-12T22:03:00.000+08:00

Click to Enlarge

It's Tough Being a Mum...

2011-02-12T11:33:00.000+08:00

Click to Enlarge

Similarities, Thaipusam 2011, Malaysia

2011-02-10T13:32:00.000+08:00

Click To Enlarge

Ballerina from China

2011-02-09T11:04:00.000+08:00

Happy Kids with Cheap Toys, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia

2011-02-09T03:18:00.000+08:00

Click to Enlarge

Start Young

2011-02-08T10:28:00.000+08:00

Click to Enlarge

Sibling's Love, Life in Pulau Ketam, Malaysia

2011-02-07T11:51:00.001+08:00

Followers

2011-02-06T15:56:00.000+08:00

Click to Enlarge

They used to be popular...

2011-02-06T01:00:00.000+08:00

Click to Enlarge

Silence, Thaipusam 2011, Malaysia

2011-02-04T23:33:00.000+08:00

Click To Enlarge

Cock Chase, Thaipusam 2011, Batu Caves, Malaysia

2011-02-03T14:08:00.000+08:00

Spot That Which Belongs to the Airline...

2011-02-01T11:16:00.001+08:00

Click To Enlarge

Strangers' Stares

2011-02-01T00:19:00.000+08:00

Thaipusam 2011, Batu Caves, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

2011-01-30T23:43:00.000+08:00

click to enlarge

The Leader

2011-01-26T23:21:00.000+08:00

Buying Hope... ...

2011-01-26T18:20:00.002+08:00

Passer-By

2011-01-26T12:26:00.000+08:00

We are all "passer-by" in each other's life...

Non-Verbal Communication

2011-01-21T23:51:00.000+08:00

Chinese Saying: "Blessed is the one who can eat"...

2011-01-10T12:08:00.000+08:00

Shy Dog, Pulau Ketam

2010-12-27T15:05:00.000+08:00

Pulau Ketam Houses

2010-12-18T07:36:00.001+08:00

click to enlarge

A Tired Boss, Kota Kinabalu

2010-12-17T03:11:00.000+08:00

Kota Kinabalu, 161210

2010-12-16T06:55:00.000+08:00

Little One in the Long House, Sarawak

2010-12-13T19:07:00.000+08:00

Playing in the Rain, Pulau Ketam, Malaysia

2010-12-11T00:35:00.000+08:00

I truly enjoyed the one morning I spent at Pulau Ketam last Saturday. It was an organized gathering with Malaysia's Olympus Users. The island seems locked in time, back maybe in the 80s... Kids as young as 5 years old are playing in the drizzling rain... the only vehicle on the island is bicycle... people are friendly (though some are camera-shy, probably too many tourists have been shuffling their DSLRs into their faces?)...

We had our group photo taken outside the one and only Police Station by a police constable. We ate delicious and affordable seafood. The light drizzle softens the day, cools everyone down with a cool temper. We strolled instead of walked fast like the typical "City-chaps". The island was "big" enough to give each one of us "freedom" from one another in doing our own photography. That was nice!

Looking at the simplicity on the island, it's again another reminder to me that knowing contentment is wisdom, and it leads to true happiness.

"Want what you have and you will always have what you want."

Life in the Long House, Bintulu, Sarawak.

2010-11-30T18:15:00.000+08:00

My sincere apologies to all for "missing-in-action" from updating my blogs recently. This is due to my many photographic assignments lately... and I also have been spending much time processing my past negatives which I have shot since year 2009. I shall resume "A Photo A Day" as soon as I "clear out" my current outstanding assignments. Here's a negative I processed lately, shot in 2009.

Gone, It's All Gone... ...

2010-11-17T13:16:00.000+08:00

Click to Enlarge

The Longhouse, Bintulu, Sarawak

2010-11-16T13:36:00.000+08:00