Christmas Post....

Quite a different Christmas eve i would say...

had a shoot in the studio, in between ryan and damian came to view the studio, ended up staying and we went out and had dinner together, with another friend of ryan's, desmond (i think!!) who lives just down the road from me.

all (except desmond) are photograpehrs so we spoke about photography but more of industry stuff than technical stuff.

so.. 4 (single?) men spending xmas eve having dinner together. and it was fun! i laff until cock... desmond being the politically slightly dry humour without even knowing it kind, ryan the semi-aggressive and fierce fast to react spontaneity and damian, quietly one corner until we mention maisie.. Mahhaha.. oh well if they read my blog they will know wat i mean, maybe i'll send them the link. As for me well, i dunno wat persoanlity i am, i guess the kumster that cracks lame jokes....

i'm amazed. i hardly know these guys, but i enjoyed myself. damian i've met at some shoots 2 or three times, ryan once, altho he says twice, and desmond first time tonite. our ages ranged from 29-40 (won't reveal who's who ahhaha) but was great just chatting.

funny how the simplest things just.. work. light, honest and friendly banter among like-minded people.

then.. back to the real world.. my empty house. yes i know, wat's the go, always end up "unchristmasy".... cmon indulge me lar, i am SURE i have written in here somewhere before, and here it is again: man was not made to go thru this life alone. period.

well one more xmas gone being single, u'd think i'd be used to it. then again xmas is not over, i might meet someone tomorrow? ahahah.. there u go, lame jokes? maybe not...

and what happened to God and Jesus in all this? well, i do ask myself too.

All in all, it's been a great year, there's really nothing i can complain about. man should not be so greedy, everything in good time. in good time.... God's time? =)

Merry Christmas one and all, whether or not it's merry for you, it will be one day, believe that.

Iris, are you reading this!!?? =)

Enjoy your Christmas....

Felicia said that to me thru sms, followed by "dun spend your xmas rushing thru photos".

Then i thought to myself, that was exactly what i was gonna do. the rushing photos part. the enjoying part, well, that's kinda the sad story. enjoy what? the jams? the crowds? the rain?

ok sorree to sound all UN-christmasy... lol. anyway here's a shot of Felicia and Yingyao, at their ROM a while back, their AD shots on the way:



Adeline (and Gerald) also smsed to say not to rush her photos, being extremely understanding:



I have wonderful customers, they are my christmas wishes come true. There's nothing less i could do than to make sure the images are edited the best way i can, even if during christmas, i truly (and sadly?) have not much else to do!

Have a few bbqs and gatherings to attend, they don't take whole days, few hours at a time, which reminds me:

thanx for the invite Hshin and Diana, i'll be there for your xmas cum house warming party?! another wonderful couple that have never failed to keep in touch. and they know how to invite me.. "you must come and see the huge blown up photo u shot for us"... win liow lor.. use my ego against me. hahahah.. i'm smiling as i write this. they are truly my xmas presents. my lovely couples!! Here's the front page of their collage album, click to see whole album:



Merry Christmas to all my customers, may the love of Jesus strengthen the love you have for one another, and those around you, like myself, which I am extremely grateful for!

on another note, talking about the jams, crowds and rain this period, i got reminded of a story i wrote, which in the second part, tells of the (secular? - non christian) DIFFERENCE between complaining abt xmas (which i did) and loving it totally. read on and see if you you know what i mean.

Memoirs - Part 2

I remember how I met her.

I was shopping for a bath robe for my mother at Robinson's and being the typical male, could not, for the life of me, find where they were. I looked around, found a staff member and asked for help. Goofy was how I sounded.

"Would you mind telling me where I can find the bath robes?"

Her delayed reply rather annoyed me. I was already silently cursing at the screaming kids, irritating Christmas jingles and mindless people that were foraging through the Christmas items on sale. Lucky for her, or me, she was rather good-looking. That helped things a little.

"Why don't I bring you to that department? Maybe I can help you select a suitable one. Is it for your wife?"

Now, I don't remember Singaporean sales staff being that helpful, nor personal. Before I could think of a suitable reply, I found myself following her to a section that I swore I browsed through moments ago. I guess being male makes you blind when buying bath robes.

"Well? Who is it for?" She asked again.

"Er... My mother." I replied.

"Her favourite colour?"

"Yellow."

When we (more like she) finally decided on which one to get, I proceeded to the cashier and paid for my purchase. She was still with me, like she was worried I wouldn't pay or something.

"Say, do you want to help me shop for something for my dad now?"

My dumbfounded look was a Kodak moment. I couldn't really find anything intelligent to say so I muttered, "Huh...?"

"I said, I need to get a present for my dad, and I'd like you to help me out. That's why I'm here. I don't work here."

I wanted to dig a hole and bury myself. And plant some cabbage while the soil is still soft. I don't know how long it took me, but when I finally found my voice,

"Then why did you....?"

"Because you're cute!" She cut me off. It's like she anticipated my every move. Are men that predictable? "So are you gonna help me or what?"

I had never experienced the feeling of total elation coupled with extreme embarrassment at the same time. My heart was beating double time and my stomach, triple. I looked at my feet. Damn! My shoes needed cleaning.

She slid her hand under my arm and started to head for the men's section. "Come on, relax, it's not that hard, my dad isn't really fussy."

After we selected a blue pinstripe Aldo Rossini business shirt size 15, and paid for it, I was feeling much more comfortable with her. She showed no hint of remembering my embarrassment from moments before. Instead, by that time, I not only knew her father's shirt size, I also knew that he didn't like green, that his favourite food was fettuccine carbonara, that he called her roly-poly when he wanted to annoy her (she was a fat kid) and that his golf handicap was 18. I was smitten by her through and through. So lively and spontaneous, open and uninhibited, charming and intelligent.

"I want to see you again." I said as we left the department store.

"Why?" I swore that sounded a little cold.

"Because I still have other presents to shop for, and I'll need your help again." Of course, that wasn't the reason.

She raised an eyebrow, and then smiled. It was then that I was taken. The pure, unadulterated smile that is her signature.

As we navigated through the Christmas crowd that evening, I could only sense all things beautiful, the Christmas carols lingering in the festive air, the smiles of little kids eating lollipops, and the joy in my heart that would only grow in time to come.
____________________

Let me know if any of you want to read the full story. Most of my friends have already. This was written about 4 years ago.

The "4 hr appt couple"...

ok... they do have names.. hehe, Michael and Anna:





here are other wedding shots that i've not posted here b4, i think:







most updated wedding shots can always be found here.

i hate giving titles!~

i did mention that this laptop will be the bane of my life didn't i? again, in bed now just rotting away with this chunk of metal burning my lap, so might as well scribble some stuff..

so according to the last post of my star signs, and also other readings, i am supposedly a very outgoing person. i don't like to stay indoors, or home, and i like vigorous activity and exercise/sport..............................

ok.. do not adjust your tv set, this is perfectly normal, u didn't come to the wrong blog.

that is just SO WRONG. i'm the homeliest person i know!! even adrian, whom is pretty darn homely, goes out much more than me! but then again he's married and they should go out and do stuff together... and i'm single and busy with photos. so there u go...

then wat's this with vigorous activity? hello?? even cycling which i have failed to do on a more frequent basis wouldn't constitute as "vigorous"....

so much for horoscopes.. but some of the points aren't too far off.

anywayz.. on to more mindless chatter:

met michael and anna today to have a chat about their ROM on friday. first things.. i think i bloody talk too much! of the 4 hours (that is not a typo) that we were chatting, i think we only spend 20mins on the topic of the ROM itself. the other topics were about their AD next year (ok, partly related), about our lives in au (they studied there too), then suddenly i'm like talking about my parents and my aunty, of course in between somewhere i shared how i felt about the true meaning of photography.. which.. come to think of it, i never really shared it here. i guess it's something i can speak of without batting an eyelid, it's something that comes straight from the soul to my tongue, it doesn't have to go thru the brain, so it flows better when i talk about it, not type.... and why do i have to justify that i did not write something here in this blog is beyond me.

ok point of above paragraph? michael and anna, u have made the record of the "longest customer appt" i've ever had! ahhaha.. the second place is evan and rany (mainly rany) shorter, but more frequent long chats, in person and on the phone too. actually ar.. i think my first meeting with them was also about 4 hours.. hmm.. ok... out of point out of point!!

i feel so blessed when i can attune to my couples in a deeper way. i just hope they dun find me lor sor and tok cock too much.

ok.. to prove that i'm sincere, i shall stop the lor-sor-ness here.

p/s i was reading thru previous posts and realised i have quite a few typos. usually i'm quite particular about them, but i'm really just rambling here, typing very fast, so.. u guys please correct the typos urself, hor? =P

Thanx Yvie for this link... eheheh

alabe freechart



Rising Sign is in 12 Degrees Sagittarius
You are known for being open, frank, outgoing and honest. At times, though, you are also blunt and quite indiscreet. Others have to learn not to take everything you say personally, because you usually do not mean any harm. You appreciate living your life in a straightforward and simple manner -- you dislike social niceties and consider them to be hindrances to real communication. You have lots and lots of energy and tend to become quite restless if you feel confined. You demand the freedom to do as you choose -- you must be self- directed or you feel trapped and anxious. With your abundant energy, you enjoy being outdoors, and you should be attracted to physical exercise or to those forms of sport which can help you burn off some of that excess energy. Very gregarious, you love to socialize -- your innate enthusiasm livens up any gathering.

Sun is in 05 Degrees Gemini.
You have a quick, bright and agile mind, but an extremely short attention span. You love the external, kaleidoscopic aspects of life, but you tend to avoid (and even fear) deep, close emotional involvements. As such, you seem to enjoy travel and sightseeing and generally being "on-the-go." You get quite listless when things around you become static and dull, but your excitement returns whenever you are stimulated by a new idea. Chatty, inquisitive and quite playful, you enjoy practical jokes and games in general. Your moods change quickly and often -- you are very restless and constantly in motion. You are known for your versatility and adaptability. Your vivaciousness enlivens any social gathering.

Moon is in 06 Degrees Taurus.
Warmth, comfort, security and familiar surroundings are necessary for you to feel at ease. Very loving and affectionate, you prefer a steady, patterned way of life. Patient, calm and steadfast, you are not easily upset. Others look to you for support. You tend to be a slow starter and a slow mover -- others may try to rush you, but they will never succeed. Emotionally, you are quite stubborn -- your attitudes about people and things were firmly set in your youth and will change very little as an adult. You are also very cautious and conservative about spending money. It is not that you are selfish, you just need to feel secure. Beware of a tendency to become overly complacent and too self-satisfied.

Mercury is in 26 Degrees Taurus.
A slow and careful thinker, you like to present ideas visually and concretely. Abstractions are quite difficult for you to understand. For you, everything must be practical and useful in order to merit your attention. You are a perfectionist -- you enjoy being skillful enough to handle the dexterity required of fine craftsmanship. Cautious and conservative in your thinking, you are very slow to change your opinions. You are more apt to respond to an appeal to your feelings than to an appeal to logic or reason.

Venus is in 29 Degrees Taurus.
You are known to be a warm and affectionate person, and you tend to form long- lasting attachments. The reverse of this is that you can also be quite possessive once you have made a commitment. The beauty, luxury and comfort of your surroundings are important to you and you will devote much time and energy to making your home just right. Beware of your tendency toward self-indulgence, especially with respect to eating incorrectly. You also need outside stimuli to get you in gear When things come too easily for you, you can be lazy and indolent.

Mars is in 05 Degrees Leo.
You are a very proud person. Strong, bold, courageous and self-possessed, you love to be the one to initiate significant actions. When people expect a lot of you, you respond positively and will work hard in order to maintain their respect. But when your dignity or pride is threatened, you tend to become sarcastic, arrogant and domineering. Try not to take any challenge or resistance that you meet as a personal affront. You are very stubborn about your right to live your life according to your own principles.

Jupiter is in 14 Degrees Taurus.
Growth only occurs for you after you have found a stable lifestyle and a dependable, protective and secure environment. You are at your best when those around you provide you with a great deal of affection and support. When you feel insecure or threatened, you tend to become possessive and grasping and self- indulgent. You are an inveterate collector with an expensive preference for all the good things that life has to offer.

Saturn is in 29 Degrees Cancer.
The most important issue for you is emotional security. You have a deep and gnawing fear that those on whom you depend for emotional support will prove to be unreliable in the long run. When you are unloved and insecure, you distrust others and tend to feel isolated and lonely. Very cool, detached and objective, you can be counted on -- in situations that are inherently stressful or full of tension -- not to lose your self- control. That is a great and welcome gift at such times.

Uranus is in 03 Degrees Scorpio.
You, and your peer group, demand to confront life at its deepest and most meaningful levels. Very compulsive and obsessive in your approach to everything, you will avoid anything that is casual or superficial, especially when it comes to relationships. You will seek out and explore new methods of healing as well as different ways to deal with deep-seated emotional problems.

Neptune is in 12 Degrees Sagittarius.
You, and your entire generation, are heavily involved in investigating and idealizing foreign and exotic intellectual systems and religious philosophies. The most extreme ideals will be pursued with gusto. You will be at the forefront of humanitarian attempts to improve the lot of those who are in need of assistance. You will be comfortable with the concept of the "global village."

Pluto is in 09 Degrees Libra.
For your entire generation, this is a time of radical changes in society's attitude toward marriage and interpersonal relationships. There is a general fear and awe at the power inherent in making emotional or contractual commitments -- they will not be entered into lightly.

N. Node is in 12 Degrees Scorpio.
You have a special aptitude for working by yourself, or with a like-minded group of dedicated individuals. Once you've committed yourself to a person or group or project, your loyalty and devotion are total until the group's goals have been realized. Not at all gregarious by nature, you're uncomfortable around strangers, greatly preferring to be in known and familiar situations. Others may regard you as shy or eccentric, but those who know you well are aware of the intense loyalty that you have to your friends.

It's one of those nights...

when you just don't wanna go home.

no, it's not becos of naggy parents (they are 7000km away - and stopped nagging me 10 odd years ago), or bad housemates.

it's just, there's nothing there to go home to. i guess, there's no ONE to go home to is more accurate. i do have photos tho! i have customers to email too!

obviously i'm not home now. bleah.

so i'm gonna shut down this computer i'm on, get into my car, and ... drive home, unless i think of somewhere else i could be.

night QAD, u mentioned something about being left hanging? hahahah, the irony!

well anyway, thankfully, such nights are rare.

W

Can you believe it... my first "proper" shoot in my own studio. that's how busy i've been with weddings (and other location shots, not using my studio).

and... who says i only shoot girls? =)

Mr W, not a professional model, models better than many I've shot. And i am truly impressed at how "shang jing" he is, can't tell by just looking at him! slightly impromptu and totally unplanned shoot nevertheless:








more at u know where..

Sandy Lam RAWKS!!!!

oh my god she is SO GOOD!!!!!

i thought maybe becos i seldom go for such concerts that's why i so suaku, but seriously, i enjoy myself alot.. she is very talented. there's one thing to be able to sing (which she certainly is!) but it's another to keep your fans, or at least the audience, ENTERTAINED for 3 whole hours. Kudos to her and her team!

On another note, i'm now sitting at conrad hotel with shervon on my laptop with wireless@SG... seems ok, a little unstable with a weak signal, but i'm online and surfing! she managed to check her email without hiccups just now too.

anyway here's the photos taken just moments ago, thanx shervon for coming to the concert with me at such short notice. apparently she was supposed to play mj or something, ahhahahha, oh well:



man.. can't get over how good Sandy was... it was the last leg of her world tour so apparently the ending was something special only for singapore. hehehe =)

The photography conspiracy...

yeah.. they all gang up and bully me!!!!!!!

btw.. i do apologise for the mindless "blogthings" crap that flooded this blog. one or two is fine, but i realise 20 million... isn't. just like photos. hahahah

anyways, it's sometimes interesting to read and see if it agrees with wat you think about urself. however, i do not think that you would know yourself best. i think there is one person, or a collective group of persons, that would be able to tell you who you really are. i think alot of what we think we are like, are self-deluded. then of course there are secrets we all keep, i guess if they are really secrets, no one else would know. wtf i'm a talking about anyway.

i really can't wait till 2006 ends. i need a more wholesome life.

on another note, i'm taking this laptop i'm typing on now for a 1 to 1 exchange tomorrow. actually i've grown attached to this laptop, hot pixel and all, but i dun think it's fair for me to keep it since it's brand new and shouldn't have any flaws.

i haven't been able to connect to wireless.SG at all with this fella, i saw it on the available networks for a brief moment (full reception too!) and then it disappeared till i had to leave about 15 mins later, couldn't get it back on the list. not sure why, was at BK Raffles City.

i remember a test from blogthings that mentioned something about the type of blogger i am. truly, there are plenty of things i will not talk about here. i won't even bother putting up a private blog just to say stuff that i don't want pple to read. i mean wat's the point of writing when no one reads? i guess pple who do so just need an outlet, and wouldn't mind reading back on their lives after some time. not i. i cannot talk to myself like that. no man is an island, and i definitely agree to that.

that said, i can function very well being alone. loneliness doesn't usually set in, i guess thanx to the power of the net when alot of my frens are just a click away. and speaking of that, i realise alot of good frens who are NOT on msn, seem to drift apart whereas frens that are on msn we will constant update each other. sad? quite actually... i can think of a few really good frens that well.. not say not good anymore, but haven't spoken for ages. MOO YOU ARE ONE OF THEM and i would definitely strike 4D if he reads this - even without buying. even if adrian told him to read it, he prob wouldn't. nevertheless i hope he's doing well. ahhahah

damn.. another mindless post. i think it's becos of the above reason, i just can't say alot of things i want to. well not that i WANT to... just stuff that is better left unsaid.

and before any of you say... wats wrongggggggggggggg?? nothing! it's always been like this! i just decided to say it out now, for some reason.

oh... i remember wat i wanted to write the other day. was kinda bizzare for me...

Shot a wedding last weekend, and the bride reminded me so much of pf. but u know.. these things happen and so no worries, i just shoot happily and it was a pretty normal day, great couple and all...

then in the evening during the banquet, i met PF's mum!!!!!!!!!! omg.. i didn't even see her properly, and looked up and saw her i was like..... silence. then she asked me "Forget me already ar?" and i said "nononono, how are u, good?" (all this in chinese, actually she replied in cantonese, my cantonese was kinda stuck for that moment). then something happened that i had to shoot and i carried on.

after the banquet driving home, i wondered how PF is. then i turned up the music louder, you know how class95 plays those songs in the middle of the night, and THANK YOU GOD for giving me the ability to very VERY efficiently (for want of a better word) being able to only remember happy things. that is such an advantageous trait to have, to be able to recall happy times. so many pple eat themselves up retaining emotional baggage, i sometimes wish i could pass some of my genes (or germs) to them.

there u go, this post wasn't so mindless after all.

PF, i know you sometimes read my blog. i think u're happy, hope you stay that way. =)

for the uninitiated, PF is my ex, and we don't speak much at all. as to what happened between us, it doesn't matter, anymore.

I'm at it again...

this laptop will be the bane of my life....!

Your Love Element Is Fire

In love, you are a true listener and totally present. For you, love is all about feeling more alive than you've ever felt. You attract others with your joy and passion. Your flirting style is defined by your strong ability to communicate. Fun and play are the cornerstones of your love life. And while your flame may burn too brightly, it's part of your appeal. You connect best with: Wood Avoid: Water You and another Fire element: will likely burn out quickly

What Element Is Your Love?

why am i not surprised....

You Are 76% Happy

You are a very happy person. Generally, you feel content and that all is right with the world. Occasionally, you have a down day - but you have the ability to pick yourself right back up.

How Happy Are You?

if you say so...

You Should Have Been Born Under:

You've got a ton of energy - and need plenty of room to roam. You tend to follow your whims, and it's hard for you to stick to one thing. Specific jobs, loves, and friends are always changing and never a part of your life for long. Very intuitive, you tend to know what people are thinking before they say a word. You are most compatible with a Dog or Tiger.

What Year Should You Have Been Born Under?

alrity then... i was born two years too early....

Your Dominant Intelligence is Interpersonal Intelligence

You shine in your ability to realate to and understand others. Good at seeing others' points of view, you get how people think and feel. You have an uncanny ability to sense true feelings, intentions, and motivations. A natural born leader, you are great at teaching and mediating conflict. You would make a good counselor, salesperson, politician, or business person.

What Kind of Intelligence Do You Have?

ok.. sounds good to me!

You Passed 8th Grade Science

Congratulations, you got 8/8 correct!

Could You Pass 8th Grade Science?

high school was a breeze for me, that i remember. yes.. i went to HIGH SCHOOL.. grade 9 to 12.. in australia. but no.. i was still in singapore in "8th grade".

You Should Get a MBA (Masters of Business Administration)

You're a self starter with a drive for success. You'd make a great entrepreneur.

What Advanced Degree Should You Get?

i just sneezed....

Your Personality Is

Guardian (SJ) You are sensible, down to earth, and goal oriented. Bottom line, you are good at playing by the rules. You tend to be dominant - and you are a natural leader. You are interested in rules and order. Morals are important to you. A hard worker, you give your all at whatever you do. You're very serious, and people often tell you to lighten up. In love, you tend to take things carefully and slowly. At work, you are suited to almost any career - but you excel in leadership positions. With others, you tend to be polite and formal. As far as looks go, you are traditionally attractive. You take good care of yourself. On weekends, you tend to like to do organized activities. In fact, you often organize them!

The Three Question Personality Test

ooooooooooooooooooooook something is WRONG here...... bad bad bad bad bad test!!

Your Birthdate: May 26

You lucked out the the skills to succeed in almost any arena. Put you in almost any business or classroom, and you'll rise to the top. You're driven and intense, but you also know when to kick back and cooperate. Your ability to adapt to almost any situation is part of what's going to make you a success. Your strength: Your attention to detail Your weakness: You can be a little too proud of your successes Your power color: Turquoise Your power symbol: Arrow pointing up Your power month: August

What Does Your Birth Date Mean?

hmm.. ok.

Your Hidden Talent

Your natural talent is interpersonal relations and dealing with people. You communicate well and are able to bring disparate groups together. Your calming presence helps everything go more smoothly. People crave your praise and complements.

What's Your Hidden Talent?

yeah they figured this out from just one pic... interesting.. or just crap?

The Keys to Your Heart

You are attracted to those who are unbridled, untrammeled, and free. In love, you feel the most alive when things are straight-forward, and you're told that you're loved. You'd like to your lover to think you are loyal and faithful... that you'll never change. You would be forced to break up with someone who was emotional, moody, and difficult to please. Your ideal relationship is lasting. You want a relationship that looks to the future... one you can grow with. Your risk of cheating is zero. You care about society and morality. You would never break a commitment. You think of marriage something you've always wanted... though you haven't really thought about it. In this moment, you think of love as commitment. Love only works when both people are totally devoted.

What Are The Keys To Your Heart?

think i did this b4....

Your Luck Quotient: 73%

You have a high luck quotient. More often than not, you've felt very lucky in your life. You may be randomly lucky, but it's probably more than that. Optimistic and open minded, you take advantage of all the luck that comes your way.

How Lucky Are You?

cool then~~

You Are Boston

Both modern and old school, you never forget your roots. Well educated and a little snobby, you demand the best. And quite frankly, you think you are the best. Famous people from the Boston area: Conan O'Brien, Ben Affleck, New Kids on the Block

What American City Are You?

MAUAHAHHAHAHAHAAHhahahahhaha oooooooooook.. time to sleep...

Bored in the wee hours of the morning...

yeah man.. i went to blogthings...

Never Date a Scorpio

Jealous, paranoid, and possessive - deep down, your Scorpio will never trust you. And even if you are very trust worthy person, Scorpio's paranoia may drive you to act out. Instead try dating: Aries, Gemini, Libra, or Sagittarius

What Sign Shouldn't You Date?

Cheryl was a scorpio but i never saw the jealous streak in her. anyway i've long known that scorpios and geminis will clash, according to the stars, if you believe.

You Are A Realistic Romantic

It's easy for you to get swept away by romance... But you've done a pretty good job keeping perspective. You're still taken in by love poems and sunsets You just don't fall for every dreamy pick up line!

Are You Romantic or Realistic?

hmm think this was a test for girls... ahhaha

You Are A Good Friend

You're always willing to listen Or lend a shoulder to cry on You're there through thick and thin Many people consider you their "best friend"!

What Kind of Friend Are You?

hmm.. i'm not sure about that.. i must have been lying during the test ahhahah...

You Are a Social Blogger!

Your blog is more of a semi-private affair for your friends. It's how you keep in touch... sharing stories, jokes, and pics.

What Kind of Blogger Are You?

this one was a little tough. alot of the questions, none of the choices i wanted to pick.. like the first one.. wah lauuuuuu

You've Experienced 72% of Life

You have all of the life experience that most adults will ever get. And unless you're already in your 40s, you're probably wise beyond your years.

How Much Life Experience Do You Have?

i'm not sure how accurate this is... *Shrug* actually.. i'm not sure how accurate ALL these tests are.. but i know i should be sleeping!!!

You Are 78% Grown Up, 22% Kid

Congratulations, you are definitely quite emotionally mature. Although you have your moments of moodiness, you're usually stable and level headed.

How Emotionally Mature Are You?

hmm this one quite boliow hehehe, hmm they all are!!

Your Kissing Technique Is: Perfect

Your kissing technique is amazing - and you know it. You have the confidence to make the first move. And you always seem to know what kissing style is going to work best. Sometimes you're passionate, sometimes you're a tease. And you're always amazing!

Are You a Good Kisser?

ahahhaha.. i have no comment!! one question about whether my lips are usually dry, wet or soft.. i'm like.. HTF i know!?!?

You Are 60% Extrovert, 40% Introvert

You are quite outgoing You are a social connector - you know a ton of people While you aren't a wild extrovert, you are a great talker A fantastic storyteller, you keep everyone laughing

Are You An Extrovert or An Introvert?

ok.. getting a little sleepy liow.. soon can sleep ahahahah

Your True Birth Month Is August

Sauve Romantic Attractive Observant Loves to joke Easily jealous Easily angered Learns to relax Loves to dream Thirsty for praise Loving and caring Brave and fearless Extraordinary spirit Careful and cautious Independent thoughts Angry when provoked Loves to make friends Sensitive but not petty Too generous and egoistic Takes high pride of oneself Loves to lead and to be led Thinks quickly and rationally Knows how to console others Poor resistance against illnesses Firm and has leadership qualities Talented in the arts, music and self defense

What's Your True Birth Month?

wat the.....................????!!

You Are Somewhat Honest

You do tend to tell the truth a lot But you also stretch the truth on occasion You figure a little lie isn't a big deal As long as it doesn't hurt anyone too much!

How Honest Are You?

hmm are the results always so diplomatic and politically correct in nature? if i'm a bastard just say it! hahahaha.. but honestly, i can lie if it doesn't hurt anyone. sometimes... it's like that lar. like.. "am i fat?" from your gf, the correct answer is always.. NO. lie or not.

You Are 24% Bipolar

Overall, you're a pretty stable person. You may be a bit moody, but nothing out of what's normal. As long as your emotions aren't severe, you're totally in control!

Are You Bipolar?

this one also quite boliow...

You Should Rule Jupiter

Huge and hot, Jupiter is a quickly turning planet with short days and intense gravity. You are perfect to rule Jupiter, because you are both dominant and kind. You have great strength and confidence, but you never abuse your power. You are always right. Even if you make mistakes, you compensate for them... before anyone knows it. Headstrong and ambitious, you always have a goal in mind. You are optimistic and believe thing things will always work out.

What Planet Should You Rule?

hmm this one is kinda good.. i have NO IDEA how i managed to land this result.. but well i guess it's quite true. and i had problems answering some of the questions... like none of the above would have been the best ans that kind of question...

You Are An INFP

The Idealist You are creative with a great imagination, living in your own inner world. Open minded and accepting, you strive for harmony in your important relationships. It takes a long time for people to get to know you. You are hesitant to let people get close. But once you care for someone, you do everything you can to help them grow and develop. You would make an excellent writer, psychologist, or artist.

What's Your Personality Type?

WTH is an INFP...?

Your Emoticon is Cool

You're not feeling particularly up or down, just relaxed and calm. You're ready for whatever is going to happen next!

What Emoticon Best Represents You Right Now?

ahahhaa... this is a winner test.. yes.. i'm ready.. TO SLEEP!!!

Damage from SITEX

yeah... i went.. bought a laptop and a 1TB ext usb/firewire hdd.

and i'm not on my bed typing this with my new laptop.. with a very stable wireless connection that hasn't dropped since i connected yesterday, and everything's set up with my email and software and stuff... and... I FIND A HOT PIXEL ON MY SCREEN!!!!!!!!!!!

anyway called them up already today, gonna get a 1 to 1 exchange, but who's gonna pay back my few hours of configuring the laptop to exactly the way i like it? sigh... as i said to the sales girl that sold this to me, "sibeh liow kang leh!!!" but it's not her fault lar. at least she knows the meaning of a "hot pixel" and didn't ask too much just say she can chage it for me on friday or saturday, as she'll be on leave tmr to thur. fair enuff. but still.. LIOW KANG!!

i'm looking forward to ending this year, not that it's been a bad one. this year end period is amazingly busy. 2007 is much more breathable and i think i will try to keep it that way.

someone asked me if i studied photography formally. i said no. she said why not, i said, well.. now i'm doing fine without it, so it's ok lor, and anyway with such things, pple usually and should view the portfolio to judge the skill level. that said i did tell her that i would love to do a course on photography more on an interest level than for a "certification" and an arts degree from melbourne would be 3 years as i get no credit from my commerce degree. so that would make me 33+ by the time i come back, if i go tomorrow (and school starts day after).

then.. in those three years, i would have lost my market share here in sg, should i choose to come back and shoot. then it would take another 2-3 years to build it again. that would make me 36.

but wait.... i think i missed something out...ooooohh getting married!!!!

then i just stopped thinking lar. simple: i'm too old to do it now. i can do it, maybe when i am much older (and richer??), just for interest, self-fulfilment... etc. but u know.. i suspect (and hope) that such things would be gotten from a perfect family. there i go dreaming again.

this is gonna be some long winded, pointless and scattered post.

let's see wat else to update... besides shooting weddings, there's not much else i'm doing. studio is kinda running fine, anyway i've kinda left it in the backgroud becos i need to get my wedding photos done, i won't even talk about how many there are, i just need to head down and get them done.

haven't bought a new phone.. still surviving with the screen alignment problem. i did see the dopods at SITEX and they looked good... but prob could wait till the price drops. anyway with my laptop now which is meant to be my mobile office, i could easily check it when i'm on the go, just that it's of course not as easy as checking a pda... but well... i am gonna wait till i get the 1 to 1 exchange and decide how i would handle the use of a laptop + pda together.

Jeff getting married month end... the laptop will be put to good use to edit his images for and express montage. told him i usually decline to do it becos of the stress and the tight deadline, but then for him i agreed. laptop is definitely fast enuff for it, specifically chose a higher end model so it can double up as an editing station on the go. anyway i think he'll have a day room available and i can just crash there and edit in peace, no need to go home. Wonder if roy would wanna hang around with me while i edit jeff's pics.. if not one person also sian. hahaha..

happy anniversary to roy and vanessa, belated, and to adrian and wendy, in advance. in case i forgot lar. vanessa, my wallet also koyak liow leh... so sad.. no wife to buy for me. mauahhah

man.. how's the long windedness coming along? i can still keep going one...

it's just really shiok to lie here and keep typing.. maybe i couldn't find anyone on msn that i would like to chat with so i end up boring you guys here. well... i'd say most of you wouldn't read this far, those of you who do, PLEASE leave a message somewhere or tell me (now!! send me an sms, or msn, or watever!!), at least i have some indication of who reads my crap. i seldom post crap here.. i mean this is truly.... HIMBOTIC...

lemme see.. plans for 2007. i will be shooting less weddings. not that i am slowly giving up, but most of you might know, prices went up, new website is on the way. i will have more time to myself and to do more bridal shots, and commercial projects. i will also embark on personal (photographic) projects which may or may not be part of my portfolio, and i will be cycling more. and as mentioned, i will want to combine cycling with photography and see how that goes.

no.. i dun think i'll be getting married in 2007. so u guys save up the angpow. inflation would probably kill it's value if i keep dragging it.. ahha. but nvm.. u no need to pay 7% gst.

pple i need to meet and/or catch up with:

sabrina - QAD!!!!!!!!!! notti QAD~~
fj - it's a bag of beans... in various shapes and colours. see u on sunday.
ling - this sweet girl needs some cheering up i'd say, don't u?
mark - saw him recently, but jerry kept us silent with his constant chatter couldn't get to talk to mark much - he is very inspirational and i love his resilience)
shervon - saw her recently too, wonder how is her "indecent" boss' case is.. ahhaha (don't worree only her and i know this personal joke, sorree to confuse everyone)
roy - we, or rather i, need to come out cycling more. but then i guess i'm stuck till january. nevertheless, will see u at jeff's wedding if all else fails!!
adrain / wendy - i guess you guys are still the friends i meet most, thanx adrian for always being around, u are one super "plate full still can put somemore" person that is so freaky! but i'm glad things are going well for u!
dennis - eh boss.. (i dun even know if u read this blog! ahhaha) long time no see leh!! anyway hope to cycle with u also, but then u have to slow down for me... dun say i didn't warn u!!
jean - we're going shopping! see you on the 13th also.. i've already made arrangements to ensure my attendance!
pat - we have been talking about hanging out, go for drinks or sing or wat for ages, but i guess i always cannot make it, well i will have to make it happen. again, for some reason, the year 2007 comes into mind again, 2006 is highly unlikely. lucky, it's only less than a month away... ahhaha

hmm can't think of anyone else, but i'm sure there are, so forgive me if i've temporarily forgetten you... suddenly i keep staring at my damn hot pixel... argh!!!

xmas is coming.. wat's ur wish? wat's mine?

SITEX...

I:

- need to
- want to
- could
- would
- should

GET SO MANY THINGS FROM SITEX BUT:

- do not want
- could not
- should not
- would not

SPEND ALL THAT KIND OF MONEY!!!

arghhhhhhhhhh...

ok here's some goodies i might/could/would/should need:

- PDA phone (dopod launching 5 new models)
- Brand new powerhouse PC
- 30" dell going for $1999!!!!!! (prob clearing stocks for the new model releasing soon)
- laptop - FUJITSU IS THE BEST!!!!

yes yes i know.. stop rolling ur eyes, this isn't "the undead" (or any silly ghost story you can think of cos i can't).

most likely i will not get any of the above, MAYBE the pda phone... (that's the cheapest item on that list and it's still just under 1k that kind of price...)

but i DEFINTIELY will need to buy a monitor and a pc system for pena. have been tasked to shop for those.

man.. somebody tie me to a tree till SITEX is over.... oh when u do that, at least let me have access to my MILLIONS of photos to be processed....

deleted!

there has been a couple of rude and senseless remarks on my chatterbox, of course, from "anonymous". pple like doing that all over the place.. so again, may i remind anyone who wises to post vulgar, rude, senseless or displeasing remarks will be deleted instantly. that inclides comments in the posts too. there is no way i will reply or retort to those comment bringing myself down to your level.

i figured, if you don't wanna identify yourself, then you're not worth my time. even if it's a "constructive insult" - not sure how that can be - you still need to tell me who you are before i even bother.

How true!

Something i chanced upon on break.com

First ride with boss roy!!

Rode to his place at hougang, then together to sengkang for breakfast with alex, then to punggol beach, sit there tok cock for a while:



then after that rode back, alex turned off towards amk, we continued back to roy's place and this is where i got the "shot of the day"



roy's bike and his condo in the background.

i guess that's the whole deal about photography. it doesn't have to look great, but it has to mean something to you. for roy, it's an image of his bike, at his place, a memory he will treasure down the road. it helps that it's such a BEAUTIFUL day today!!

37kms travelled today.

images taken with my dopod! now it's hanging... kaozzzzzz

50 kms on the clock

Tomorrow will be more interesting, i have to cycle to roy's place (about 9km) then go cycling with him, say 20km, then back, another 9km... woooo

once i get fitter i will start shopping for racks that can hold a camera so that i can go cycling to "exotic" places (if there are such places in sg) and take photos as well.

incidentally, nikon just announced the d40, the smallest (and lightest) ever nikon dSLR. and cheapest too!! 6mp only, which is more than what i need, so seems like a good deal. maybe i'll just throw on the sigma10-20 since it's light, and a 50 since it's also so small and light, and i could get some nice shots.

gotta go find out where is nice to shoot...

Good start?

Just came back from an 11 click ride in the middle of the night... not very far by most cyclists' standards i guess, but hey, i'm a newbie!!

Went down jelan besar, all the way to national museum, past phoenix hotel, past taka, back out to main road, right into scotts road, newton circus, moulmein, and back home. like very far, but only 11 clicks. dunno how long it took me.. maybe about 40 mins? didn't really push too hard.

the cool breeze is really shiok.

total mileage on bike so far : 43km in 3 days.

i guess this blog will record my rides? i dun think i can be bothered to open a blog just to log my rides.. but then it'll be easier to track...

and oh... MY ASS HURTS!!!

well, not really my ass.. but the part between my balls and my asshole... okok i know that's kinda obscene, and i know there's a term for that part of the body, but i can't remember it off hand, but hey that's not the point.

if the pain moves forward, i'll have to apologise to my future son... sorree junior!!

I'm a man of my words..

I did mention that i would try to spend money on non photographic items didn't i?

well.. here we go, not only is it non-phootgraphic, but it has the potential to make me slimmer, and it's much cheaper than most photographic items (that i buy anyway!)





wish me luck on my biking "career"!!!!

(actually.. my first thought to buy a bicycle was so that i could ride to have supper....)

so much for losing weight...

thanx to roy (boss!!!) for bringing me there and spending the 2 hours choosing and deciding which bike and parts/accessories to buy.

i got slicks on my MTB! wOOt..~~~

Earliest wedding ever - 130am...

Friday 130am was the time to report.

So on thursday morning 9am (stayed up all nite) i went to bed, woke up at 2pm, contractors came to fix stuff, back to sleep again at 6pm, woke up at 11pm, had dinner/supper, then went to bride's place.

came back home at 11am, slept till 4pm, 5pm back to hotel for banquet.

then i shot this:



click it. the small version makes the black embroidery on the gown look like a post processing mistake~~

tomorrow.. another wedding, 630am.

WOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Iris

This is why you should come to my studio and visit me soon!



found this while i was going thru old photos while "taking a break".

take break also see photo... i'm insane.

tell me if you like it when you see it.

Hilarious!

was laughing my guts out just now looking at photos from a muslim engagement i shot MOONS ago, and here goes the story of why it took so long (also, if any customers read this, take heed!!)

usually i will try to "insist" that if a couple chooses the slot in album from me, that i should do the selection and if there were shots in the CD that wasn't selected for print, you can still get them printed (that's wat the CD is for!).

but some brides would really love to do their own selection, to which i will agree. so i send the thumbnails thru, and await her selections before i send for print.

to cut a long story short, after 6 weeks... yes SIX WEEKS (with a couple of emails in between asking her to "hurry up leh!") she replies and says, she likes too many of the images and can't narrow it down to the agreed no. of prints to print, so has decided to let me choose instead.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ok no i'm not angry lar, just a GOOD story to tell people why i "insist" that i choose. here are the reasons why couples take FOREVER to choose photos if it were left to them:

1. they go for a LOOOOOOOONG honeymoon
2. after the LOOOOOOOONG honeymoon they have a HUUUUUUUUUUUUUGE back log of work to dive straight into.
3. when they finally find the time to sit down and choose photos, they dun usually agree on which photo is "valuable" enuff to print.
4. some get pregnant quickly or the process of getting pregnant, so they forget about their photos.
5. besides wedding photos to pick, they also have to pick honeymoon photos.

i could come up with more, but then it's 3am in the morning and i'm editing so i won't elaborate. and serious, i'm NOT making the above up, every single point is true! i have had a couple actually come over to do the selections till they argue quite heatedly until i have to say, ok u both go home, I CHOOSE, go home and make babies. go go! and they went.

ok BACK to hilarious part. so now i have to choose the photos right.. so i choose lor, and while going thru the photos, there were so many images that just brought back memories of the day, in particular, the bride and her girls wanted to do funny poses and asked me to suggest. i said, just be your silly selves and everytime the flash goes off, change ur silly pose and we should come up with something good. and there i go with at least 6 exposures with 3 different groups of girls, each of these shots netted possibly the most shameful photos that those girls have ever taken!! man... i laughed out loud in front of my computer until i had to recompose myself and continue choosing. no wonder the bride had difficulties!

point of this? photographs need not be artistic or even aesthetic, to induce emotions, to recall events, to remember how much we mean to each other. i am "just their photographer" (if you want to put it that way), but i was there, and i remember wat happened, and i smile that it did.

Congratulations on your engagement, Naime. your photos (SELECTED BY ME!) are on the way!!!! =)

Focus

no.. not to get the image sharp.. but to get LIFE sharp.

there is so much work to be done that it is actually making me HATE everything that is PREVENTING me from doing the work.

anyone that is reading this now, remember, NOTHING in this world (at the moment) is more important than my work. ESPECIALLY NOW, when it is a peak period.

i have said this many times, but let's officiate this here:

when i deliver a wedding overdue, it's not just "a wedding". this is what it is, in bold in case anyone ever forgets (i certainly won't):

Wedding photographs are eagerly waited for by not only two people, but their families and friends AS WELL. We are looking at a minimum of 50 people (25 per side) PER WEDDING that are waiting to see the images.

This means if I have 12 weddings sitting on my computer undelivered, there are AT LEAST 600 people WAITING FOR ME! (thank god for multiplication tables eh???)

now... u get the point?!

so, sorry to sound all high and mighty, but yes, i don't have time for you. not now. no FJ i'm not talking about u. u've probably been the nicest to me thru this period, even if i don't see you much.

i'm gonna sign off b4 i really get too irate.

Thanx all that have offered to help me edit photos. no, u can't help. there are a couple of things:

1. customers pay me to do this, because i do it at a higher standard (again sorree if i sound high and mighty).

2. there is no way i can trust anyone (for now at least) with my life's work. if any of u profess to know me, know this: my work is my life. again, for now at least. it's the only thing that gives me the REASON why i am alive. while i'm still looking for other reasons, this remains the only one for now.

thanx again guys.

p/s before any of my friends/associates/customers take this personally, please don't. that's all i gotta say. let me rant once in a while, i seldom do.

Wish list...

I think i need one...

you know it's strange, i always think about what photographic equipment i need, or i might/will/should need/want, but when it comes to everything else, i dun bother. for example... panties! oopz.. i meant underwear... (pitcha lobang liow)

ok seriously, besides the new phone which is not extremely urgent, esp since white hair can look kinda nice, i need a new watch. yes... this is possibly the first time u'll see someone wanting to replace his watch becos the pins on his metal strap keep coming off, and each time he just manages to find where the pin went and put it in. recently he has actually lost a pin, and he used a paper clip... sad.

i need a new watch. before anyone says that i should just get the strap replaced, already done that once, and it's high time for a new watch. this watch was given to my by cheryl, i never did like it much, she knows it, but i wore it becos she bought it, wear one time, became 4-5 years... hmm...

studio is up and running, not 100% yet still got minor stuff to fix. i'm dead beat, tonnes of weddings to process, and many appts lined up as i was away whole last week.

u know sometimes no matter how much sleep u get, u still feel "tired". sleeping while stressed just isn't restful enuff. i need to clear my work, and then have a good sleep. there's more stress now too... every month when the rent for the place comes, the hair whitening process takes an adrenline jab in the ass.

have some (wedding) photos recently done.. post another time lar, or those that know my clubsnap gallery, can just go there regularly for updates.

i hate my phone!

someone recommend me a PDA phone with WM5. and dun tell me windows sux, i already know that, just that i'm stuck to outlook for my schedules so i need WM5, unless other OS syncs with outlook without problems.

my dopod is giving me screen alignment problems every 2 hours!!! i can't begin to describe the angst it puts me thru daily. it's certainly good training for anger management, and definitely a good hair whitening technique. and u only thot skin whitening was in style huh!

anywayz, i'm thinking the 838pro, yes another dopod. reason: at least it's got a keyboard and it's still relatively small. screen cock up can still poke the keys.

_____

i'm back in sg, and while i was transiting in bkk for 2hr+ i got on the internet cafe and started typing long story and it all went to naught when the time was used up and it just stopped me from using the computer! i guess it wasn't meant to be, i have no idea what i wrote and i definitely am not gonna write it again. it wasn't important anyway.

to top it off, the flight was delayed another hour! man.. oh ok.. ya i remember now, i mentioned that i HATE NON-DIRECT FLIGHTS WITH A VENGEANCE. yeah....

missed the friday portion of the studio open house entirely, but tomorrow is the big day and i'm still awake processing photos. gotta wake up early and pay my road tax too. man, as soon as i landed i smelled stress in the air. but i'm glad to be back.

thanx adrian and wendy for giving me a lift from the airport!

Major update!!

I've officially moved in to McNair, and it's been hell of a week.

First things first: here are some shots of the studio:

STUDIO 1






STUDIO 2





Yes that's right, we have two studios up and running!

Thanks to Pierce who has worked tirelessly with me to get this running, it's been wonderful thus far bouncing ideas off each other.

Thank you to Kenneth also for his invaluable help by way of equipment and advise!

I will be having an open house this coming weekend, for those interested to pop by and pay me a visit, please contact me!

On another note, i will be in Kunming, Yunnan, China tomorrow for the rest of the week, really have to rely on Pierce and Kenneth to get things ready for the open house.

I'm not sure if i'll have time to shoot the lovely province, but will try.

More unpacking to do (since i just moved house) and packing as well (since i'll be going overseas in a few hours).

oh.. hmmm... WHERE IS MY PASSPORT!!!!!!!!!!

It's been a while

since i've written anything substantial.

lots of things are happening in my life, mostly good and entirely busy. i have to move house, clear tonnes of weddings and go to china for a week and that's all to be done by the end of the month. i love my schedule!

yeap, will be moving out of toa payoh after more than 5 years of staying here. the only thing i won't miss is the bloody car park which is always full. the place i'm moving to on the contrary, the car park is always empty! *phew* and it's cheaper season parking too... beat that!

admist all the busy-ness... matters of the heart came into play. but it's not going well and at times i feel destined that i can only ever share others' joys, but never really experience it. well, so far that's been enough, but how long would that last?

mama wrote me a lovely email updating me on their lives. wat an absolutely stark contrast to mine. i'm always busy and swearing at other drivers on the road while they are enjoying the golden nest with each other, living life after working so hard.

saw adrian yesterday after what seems like so long, managed to get new tenants for the tpy flat, so at least he doesn't have to worry about this place being empty. i siong liow lar, i have to totally fix up the place, i owe it to him, living here for 5 years i really know the place better than him liow. quite a few of the florescent ballasts are gone and the place needs some serious cleaning, but after i pack my stuff then i will do (or probably pay someone) to do a proper thorough clean.

man how boring can this post get?

i'm tired, excited and disappointed all at the same time. that's 2 bads vs 1 good. must tilt the odds somehow. i think the easier to fix would be the "tiredness".

Singapura History

I'm injured from falling off my chair:

Two more...

click.

TIme...

or the lack thereof...

I'm SO busy.. wat's new? Altho, there is new news... but i don't have time to write them down. lots of things happening, and i will try to find time to pen them all down so those that are interested will know wat's going on. it might shock some. nothing bad, mostly.

ongoing, are plenty of weddings to shoot, some shots:











clickable.