Wednesday, May 31, 2006

Hindrances.

There has been something that, I only recently realised, has been a hindrance to my (photography) work. It's not about equipment, quality of images, lack of subjects, lack of inspiration or serendipity (can you lack serendipity?? - one of my fav words of late), or just plain being lazy.

It's something which I seem to need to do regularly, which I don't want to do, but i still do it, and I always remember telling anyone that confides in me, that the most beautiful thing about being human is, we have the ability to make choices to make things better. I truly believe in that. Heck, even animals make choices to make things better for themselves. But I'm not Nat Geo on cable so I'll stop with the animals. So, for now, I am doing something that's against my wishes.

I feel the hardest choices to make are those that affect people other than yourself. If a choice you make doesn't affect anyone but you, even if it's wrong, you suffer, it's ok. But if it affects others, that choice just seems so hard to make, especially when the people that can be affected are so close to you. Then upon further thought, you start to QUESTION the value of such people. it almost becomes as if, you have to choose between the happiness, adequacy even, of either yours, or the other party or parties. It becomes a "should I be selfish" or "should I be selfless" question.

I have to rid myself of such hindrances while trying not to hurt, offend or inconvenience the ones I love, value or respect. I have no idea where to start. Whatever's in my mind now, I doubt that it's possible to resolve it such that everyone's happy. Such is life.

Monday, May 29, 2006

Rainie is coming.. CONFIRM!



dunno if i'll bother queueing up. i don't necessarily need her autograph, but still gotta queue up to get near enuff to shoot her. hmm..

anyway darran, there's the info for u man, click on the image above for a bigger one. dunno if the source is accurate.. but should be lar.

u know.. so many pple i know dislike her. WHY? ahhaha... idolatry was never my thing, even as a teenager. shit lar.. pple grow up, i grow down. my ex-boss almost choked on his lontong when i told him i would probably be attending her autograph session. he's got curry stains on his shirt for the rest of the day. sucked-in!

anywayz.. looks like a wordy post.

which ends here. i'm at pena now and i'm sleepy.

Wet and Vibrant

I'm SHACK ar!

wet:


vibrant:

Sunday, May 28, 2006

Interesting quiz!

Taken from Ron

1) What is the phone brand?
Dopod 818

02) What are the last 3 digits of your mobile number?
536

03) What does the 2nd message in your inbox say?
From Ron (ahhahha!): "Steady. Cya tmrw!"

04) Who's the first person who comes up under the letter M?
M5 Andrew

05) Who's the last person you rang?
Lyndnn

06) Who was your last missed call from?
Unknown number.

07) Who's the 2nd person who comes up under D?
Daphny Tay - her photo is in one of my previous posts... =P

08) What does the last message in your inbox say?
from Jean: Hp totally no batt. Meet other times ok? (17 Feb 2006)

09)Who comes up under J?
Janice... hmm who the hell is that??

10) Go to your Sent Items - what does the 10th message say?
to Wendy (HK): Going Sydney 1-7 Aug.. Bris is b4 or after.. not sure yet.

11) Who's the 4th person who comes up under S?
ex-colleague "SCB Desmond"

12) Who's your network provider?
Starhub

13) How many messages are currently in your inbox?
1227

14) What do you have as your background?
this

15) Who's the 2nd person who comes up under R?
Reeny - hmm it was just yesterday that I spoke to her cos she wished me happy bday.. b4 that we haven't spoken for at least 6 months.. or longer..

16) Who do you have on speed dial 3?
Adrian!!! ahhaha

17) If you're on Pay as you Go, how much credit do you have?
Well i'm not, so no need to ans!

18) Who's the first person who comes up under C?
California Fitness

19) How many bars of signal do you currently have?
Full

20) What do you have as your main ringtone?
Matchbox 20 - Unwell

Saturday, May 27, 2006

I R I S : smile my world pink

Finally, I decided to change my desktop wallpaper to this..



Make up : Lyndnn
Hair : Bryan
Lighting phtoography DI : jOhO

More Kyra

Really happy with her shots.. great look, make up wonderfully done by lyndnn too.. and the photographer.. well he didn't have to do much. (that would be me!)







ok gotta get down to editing weddings.. bday over liow stop wishing me! hahaha...

Friday, May 26, 2006

K Y R A : wrapped in confidence

OMG i LOVE this shot.



Make up : Lyndnn
Hair : Bryan
Photography, lighting, DI : jOhO

Club 30

I'm tired from editing the girls' photos...

anyway, thanx to everyone who has given their well-wishes, my closer friends will know what i truly want. it's not something that can come wrapped with a ribbon. well, not usually anyway!

maybe i'll write more about life thus far tomorrow.. maybe not.

Happy? *nods* happy enuff. i don't usually have to try too hard to be positive. things are good, they are. =)

For those who are lost, i am THIRTY today lar... KAOZZZZ stop giving me that look!! *growLz*

Thursday, May 25, 2006

More studio stuff.. with a twist.

Thanks to Lyndnn for providing the opportunity to shoot a portfolio project. She's building her make-up portfolio, got another make-up artist in and a hair stylist, 8 girls, i got myself and ron in (2 photographers) and all of us had a mass orgy in a 3rm flat. ok.. that last part ron didn't take part, in case ms clover reads my blog. TRUE!!! eh bro.. i haven't "officially" met her leh...

ANYWAYzz...

some pics.. not all processed yet. and as usual u know where to find the rest.

Miriam:






Destiny








Maggie




Kyra




Iris






CREDITS:
Lighting : Ron
Make-up : Lyndnn & Shirley
Hair : Bryan
Photography : *duh*


Iris is SACCHARINE SWEET... kaoz.. major toothache like you would not believe. take note, sweet does NOT mean the cutesy "teh" kind.. sweet is sweet is something u shouldn't take too much cos diabetes is an expensive illness to treat.. that kind of sweet.

check the gallery for more.. i haven't processed most of them yet.. still got alot...

Wednesday, May 24, 2006

She's so cute!

This song always reminds me of Jean... maybe becos it's been on her blog for the longest time..

anywayz, the camera in the first scene is a Nikon FM ... steady!!




i especially love the part where she's jealous when he was shooting another girl.. ahhaha.. oh my... ok.. enuff of this. =P

Monday, May 22, 2006

D & C

As promised:











Congrats again bro!

Friday, May 19, 2006

Congrats in advance to Dennis and Christine

Dennis called up while i was watching Da Vinci Code with adrian and wendy, returned his call and the conversation went something like this:

"eh broooo... i very gan cheong leh!!"

"why? worried something will go wrong?"

"yeah.. just gonna be a big day tomorrow."

"you know, anything can go wrong, the bouquet can wilt, she can even trip over her own dress, but as long as you are not marrying the wrong woman, no matter what else goes wrong, it will be right. so are you marrying the wrong woman?"

"no, she's definitely the right one."

"then you have nothing to worry about. congrats bro!!!"

I'm glad i could make him feel better. still, he won't get much sleep tonight!!

Hope the photos convey how "right" the occasion will be. can't wait!

Wednesday, May 17, 2006

Falling sick...

I think too much nosebleed..

ok i PROMISE not to post such pics in the next one... wait you also sick then i feel bad.

but truly, i'm under the weather.

Anywayz:







yeah those should be my favourites.. the rest are in my usual gallery. u know where to look.

---------------------

I'm shooting "passport photos" for Miss Singapore International. you know those mug shots on the media posters and stuff for pageants... yeah those. today and yesterday. no comments so far... not that any are needed!!

ok i'm gonna suffer thru the shoot later with runny nose.. no blood for sure.

Saturday, May 13, 2006

Charby's Models....

yet another uncreative title...

anyway, had a GREAT shoot today, with william and kenneth. kenneth is just excellent at lighting. credit goes to him for lighting up those images which well... have light! (for the uninitiated, by "light" i mean where strobes, or "flash" were used, incl the coloured ones..)









the rest are here.

i know some of u will really enjoy these... glad to be of service. =D

Thursday, May 11, 2006

Finally!!

got the studio set up today.. was meant to be up and running before CNY.

oh well no point giving reasons... but definitely a must post first few test shots with the new studio.

willy and i took turns taking photos for each other. here's one he took of me.



and a more intersting shot:



my d2hs being used as a counter weight for the reflector holder.. MUAHAHAHAHAH

the umbrella was there in case it fell off.. bleah.

Wednesday, May 10, 2006

Piano...

no not another piano post... but then again, i just shot another piano recently, at dennis and christine's MTV video shoot at mark's place.. maybe i could post a couple of photos up.. ehheh

but anyway, yeah piano?

yes lar.. PIANO lar.. the WILDEST thought came to me during the MTV shoot and it was spoken out loud to no one in particular: "Am I too old to learn the piano?" to which mark's reply was "It's never too old to do anything...". I guess his case is laid to rest.

So how? learn piano? have to buy a piano first, a cheap electronic one is $1.5k.. just forgo one lens, got that money liow ahahhahaha.... no way i'm gonna get a real piano and try to squeeze it in this flat, and squeeze it out if i move out.

ok.. let's see wat should i post tonite.. hmm

ok here's one:

Tuesday, May 09, 2006

Wedding photos!

It's amazing that being a wedding photographer, this is the first time i'm using this title. lacking in creativity.

Been quiet for a few days, but these should be worth the wait i hope!















taken on sunday.

will post pics from sat's portrait shoot another time..

Wednesday, May 03, 2006

Another piano shot...

I can't get enough of the piano.... but only when someone is playing it.

Just a photo that I enjoyed very much:

Tuesday, May 02, 2006

Listen...

Taken from a wonderful place called the internet:

We all know what it's like to get that phone call in the middle of the night.

This night's call was no different. Jerking up to the ringing summons, I focused on the red, illuminated numbers of my clock. Midnight! Panicky thoughts filled my sleep dazed mind as I grabbed the receiver. "Hello?" My heart pounded, I gripped the phone tighter and eyed my husband, who was now turning to face my side of the bed.

"Mama?" The voice answered.

I could hardly hear the whisper over the static. But my thoughts immediately went to my daughter.

"Mama, I know it's late but, don't. . . . don't say anything until I finish and before you ask, yes, I have been drinking. I nearly ran off the road a few miles back and . . . and I got so scared. All I could think about was how it would hurt you if a policeman came to your door and said I'd been killed. I want to come home. I know running away was wrong. I know you've been worried sick and I should have called you days ago, but I was afraid."

I paused and tried to think what to say before I could go on, she continued.

"I'm pregnant, Mama and I know I shouldn't be drinking now especially now-----but I'm scared, Mama. So scared!" the voice broke again and I bit into my lip, feeling my own eyes full with moisture. I looked at my husband, who sat silently mouthing, "who is it?" I clutched the phone and stared at my husband, seeking guidance.

"I'm here. I wouldn't hang up," I said into the phone.

"I should have told you, Mama. I know I should have told you but when we talk, you just keep telling me what I should do. You read all those pamphlets on how to talk about sex and all, but all you do is talk. You don't listen to me, you never let me tell you how I feel. It is as if my feelings aren't important. Because you're my mother, you think you have all the answers but sometimes I don't need answers.. I just want someone to listen."

"I'm listening," I whispered.

"You know back there on the road, after I got the car under control, I started thinking about the baby and taking care of it. Then I saw this phone booth and it was as if I could hear you preaching about how people shouldn't drink and drive. So, I called a taxi. I want to come home."

"That's good honey." I said, relief filling my chest.

My husband came closer, sat down beside me and laced his fingers through mine. I knew from his touch that he thought I was doing and saying the right thing.

"But, you know, I think I can drive now."

"I know, but do this for your mama, wait for the taxi please." I listened to the silence, fearing. When I didn't hear her answer, I bit into my lip and closed my eyes. Somehow I had to stop her from driving.

"There's the taxi now." There was a click and then the phone went silent. Moving from the bed, tears forming in my eyes, I walked out into the hall and went to stand in my 16 year old daughter's room. The dark silence hung thick.

My husband came from behind, wrapped his arms around me and rested his chin on the top of my head. I wiped the tears from my cheeks.

"We have to learn to listen", I said to him.

He pulled me around to face him. "We'll learn. You'll see." Then he took me in his arms and I buried my head in his shoulder. I let him hold me for several moments, then I pulled back and stared at the bed.

He studied me for a second and then asked, "Do you think she'll ever know she dialed the wrong number?"

I looked at our sleeping daughter and then back at him. "Maybe it wasn't such a wrong number."

"Mom, Dad, what are you doing?" The muffled young voice came from under the covers.

I walked over to my daughter, who now sat up staring into the darkness. "We're practicing," I answered. "Practicing what?" she mumbled and laid back on the mattress, her eyes already closed in slumber.

"Listening," I whispered and brushed a hand over her cheek.

Monday, May 01, 2006

Videographer in the making?

Met Mark for dinner and he passed me a couples' wedding video that we shot together. (I on photo, he on video). It had footage that i took in it! ahhahah so happy, captured some moments of the couple towards the end hugging each other and waving bye to the camera.. and i caught it on video ahahhahaha.. happy sia i dunno why.. sibeh kns i know, but i guess video is a new thing to me, not that i have time to take it up lar.

I'm still listening to Rainie... left it on overnight and i think i dreamt of her!! wah lau.. sadness.

IF ONLY i can remember my dreams.. i NEVER do! even if i do, like i would probably remember who i dreamt of, and as for whatever else, i would forget! but if i could, i would definitely write a story of the dream, and dramatise it. but.. i can't remember leh!!!

u know now i recall, there is this one dream i remember, becos when i woke up, i WILLED myself to draw all the details back.. it's very vague but this is how it went:

My parents gave me a present each. My dad's present was insignificant (i assume) because i have NO IDEA wat it is, forgotten. but my mum's gift was a cheque to my name, starting with the digits "1" and "2" and is had a total of 6 digits, excluding cents or not i can't remember. now comes the strange part, in the dream, i thought to myself, as soon as the cheque clears, guess what i'm gonna buy...? A NEW PAIR OF SHOES..

i got AT LEAST $1200, and all i can think of was a pair of shoes???

so.. i've never gotten that dream interpreted... anyone? this happened oh... at least 2 years ago, the dream i mean.

ok i'm gonna have an early night.