Oh, it's mine

i was blog browsing moments earlier.
(Yup, am aware of the time, but due to toooo much Chinese New Year activity, had had my time pretty turn upside down. Oh, Happy Chinese New Year to you too :D)

As i was saying before i had my train of thoughts being diverted (as usual as always), i stumbled upon a blog titled "Ben the Man' under one of me friend's reading list.
Truth be told, i have seriously forsake and forgot my blog which was started few years back.

To start off, lets give a recap/update of what has happened to me since i last login
(it says March 24th, 2010)
That is pretty much a year. A year gone by in a blink of an eye eih.


For starters, after a whole 1 YEAR tenure at as a photojournalist at the press, i have continued on with my studies as planned.
Truth be told, i was indeed kinda sad to leave the press, i mean, i did like the work there, albeit the impossible workload.

It's sad i wasn't able to write a blog about my life when i was at the press (only 1 miserable entry),
would be interesting to read in back in years to come, the challenges i met, the people i met, the environment, the politics, well, you pretty get the idea.


One thing i can tell for sure,
BEHIND EVERY GREAT PHOTO, IS A GREATER PHOTOGRAPHER


Skill and talents apart, INSTINCTS is one factor of utmost importance that has to be garnered, and is not as easy to come as skills and technique.

Stuff i learned was definitely beyond books and class. Thats for sure :D

And moving on:
Having resigned my job to further on continue with studies, i bought a new camera to erm, whats the word?

Accompany. yes.yes.

Accompany me through my journey from hence.

Spend quite a hefty amount from all my savings,
(i gladly worked overtime while at the press for this sole purpose)
i became the proud owner of the Canon 5D Mark II on August the 6th, 2010, therefore, slashing away 1 of my longterm Goals under my wishlist.

It was no doubt, by far my highest investment so far.
(i bought the lens and the flash 1 shot, so you can guess the amount),
but the satisfaction of actually realising one of me dream, it's
GRATIFYING

Ok ok, showing off aside, i'm well aware many kids have dslr these days so hence this is no biggie for many.
But what i'm trying to point out is not the fact that i purchase a camera that cost the same as the downpayment of a low cost flat, but merely to highlight the importance of achieving one's dream.
Now, how many stuff are there still on my list ei? hmm....


i'm doing my Bachelor Degree in Law now, first year, and erm, after 7 months of study, exams is up in 3 months time.
Mum has been 'reminding' me the fact that she wants to be THERE during my convo which is not going to happen so soon.
So yup, that basically is it.

Upon completion of that, whether or not do i progress to the legal field, i'm still vague about it. Ask me when i was 16, 17 what i wanted to be, and i would answer without a breath of doubt.
Ask me now, i would end up saying it depends.
So, fingers cross that when i read this post 2 1/2 years from now i've gotten the damned paper from London.



Hmm... what other update.
Oh, i'm photographing for a stipendiary every now and then, for the thrill of it and to support my expensive hobby.

i still strongly believe that everyone should be given a chance to have their photo taken professionally, at a reasonble price, hence the reason to my 'affordable' price.
No seriously, it's affordable.

Think of it in terms of PHOTO AID,
like the Legal Aid you can receive from the government for legal services if you fall under the not so rich category :D


What else...
1. i got a jacket from Zara to celebrate my 1 year tenure in the press.
2. My Compaq has retreated to eternal slumber after 3 and 1/2 years of service rendered. You shalt always be my first.
3. i've increased 6kg and 2 inches in waist.
4. i still hope to grow another 1 inch in height (eih, no harm there right)
5. am still single.
6. Back to playing basketball after the increase in weight. hahaha.
7. Is in plans to start a photography partnership with Nic and Priest(still needs the healing)
8. Is loving life :D


Thats bout it.
i shalt start posting photos again from next entry onwards :D

Updates to come promptly

For those whom still drop by every now and then, i know there are some, my heartfelt apologise for failing to update it. Job has been hectic. Seriously.

Any how, i'd promise i'll dropping atleast 1 post per week from the start of April. Would seriously want to continue typing in my life as a record for later days. Oh, and PHOTOS too. LOADS.

Just a short one before i go:


I PASSED MY CHINESE !! WOOO HOOO !!
WITH AN EFF-ING B !!
(result came out of the 11th March, 2010)



Til April,
:D

It's a Dream

It's a Dream, originally uploaded by shirostrike.

Along with the previous shot, "Bring Me That Horizon", this shot is shot at Sabak Bernam coastal line.

Single shot RAW, converted into 3 sets of different exposure of 2 stops difference.

Bring Me That Horizon

Bring Me That Horizon, originally uploaded by shirostrike.

i was send over to the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia for a few assignments. Shot in Sabak Bernam. i found this lovely spot while waiting for time to pass me by.

HDR-ed with 3 shots of 2-stops difference.

And you thought all we did was shoot

A month went by in a blink of an eye.
The cliched saying of "Time pass fast when you are having fun" is nothing but the truth, as my 1 month stay at the press was nothing but excitement, adrenaline-pumping action, and but of course not forgetting to mention lack of sleep.

Not knowing when to begin the post, i shall start my long dreaded story-telling adventure from Day One, and a few highlights that i would like you guys to know what kinda stuff i've encountered. Do endure with me as this is gonna be quite a long post :D (long-winded i mean)


Day One, AUGUST 1st
Like any F-N-G, i went into my new working place with much anticipation and excitement at heart, not knowing what assignment would i be send to. I was partially hoping to be send into the heat of the town, as on this very day, the ANTI-ISA PROTEST was happening in a few hotspot in town, but alas, who in their right mind would send the F-N-G to the 'highly anticipated event' of the year.
(Some even claimed it was as large as the Anuar's Protest that happened around 10 years ago)

As i entered the photodesk, i was greeted by the PhotoEditor, whom showed me what he does, and did a brief 'induction course' for me on how things work and run.

Twenty or so minutes after saying 'yesh... yesh, ohh.. okay, like that arh??" i was send to do my very first assignment,


Shooting the Traffic Condition at Jalan Bangsar,
which is right outside the office =.-


Kuala Lumpur: All traffics heading towards town has been heavily monitored thus leading to a congestion.

The traffic, if you didn't know, was badly jammed since the day before and lasted till late night on that very day. Thank to our enthusiastic, diligent and hard-working policemen ensuring everyone-no-one pass through and or, enter town without being thoroughly checked. The car i mean. Their capacity to work-so-hard on one very day exceeds my very expectation on any human being, for that, they earn me 'respect'.

The photoeditor, knowing that i have a wide angle lens, ditch me a large tele (which made me go OMGWDF) and spare batts to do the assignment.

"Proper gear would be assigned later by the Chief," he said.

I completed the task, came back, and was greeted by another fella colleague of mine, Sam. Wearing a stereotypical photographer vest and bag, it wasn't hard to tell him from a random journalist whom came in everyone now and then.

He went on complaining not assigned to the 'real action' in downtown, whereby he had already prepared all the necessary gear for it, for example mask and toothpaste.
(i'll explain regarding the toothpaste later)

It was around 2 p.m, and my photoeditor was getting anxious not receiving any photos at all from the hot zone at KL despite there was more than 2 photographers posted there. Sam was then 'despatch' to 'retrieved' the photos from our photojournalist posted there. And being there, i was offered to join :D





Kuala Lumpur: Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman (infront of SOGO) being heavily guarded by the Police and Federal Reserve Unit to render the protestors from passing.



Kuala Lumpur: Two unlucky protestor arrested by the police infront of SOGO Shopping Complex, Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman




Kuala Lumpur: A protestor doing his part in the Anti-Isa Protest that happened on August 1st.

Kuala Lumpur: A police armed with a tear-gas launcher is preparing to fire at the protestor below the Bandaraya LRT Station, Jalan Raja Laut.


Kuala Lumpur: A platoon of police awaiting the signal to fire tear-gas grenades at the Anti-ISA protestors at Jalan Raja Laut.

Kuala Lumpur: Protestors fleeing from the water cannon and tear-gas at Jalan Raja Laut.

(i'm not sure which international news agency covering this story, but heck, check the video camera man's stance)


Riding the motorcycle, Sam maneuvered through the thick amount of jammed cars heading towards the city with me at the pillion seat. We reached Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman in less than 30 minutes despite detouring a few roads due to the blocks.

Meeting up with the photojournalist stationed there, he took their memory cards and continued to find a 'safe spot' to upload the photos into the laptop to be send back to office. I tag along my other colleague to learn more about the situation.

Upon completing sending in the photos, Sam was to head to another hotspot to gather photos. i sat on the pillion seat once again, still psyched being able to be at Jalan TAR and manage to shot a few shots.

We exited Jalan TAR into Jalan Kuching, and there, we bumped into a group of protestors marching from Jalan Kuching towards Jalan Kinabalu, and from there, i presumed they were planning to go to Jalan Istana.

Now, being my 'first time experience inside a mob of protestors', i thought it was kinda cool.
Until i heard multiple shots and i saw white smoke heading our direction.

THEY ARE ACTUALLY USING TEAR-GAS.

FUCK YEAH.

MORE STUFF TO SHOOT :D
(or so i thought)

Sam told me to get off the bike as he mounted the bike on the divider preparing to head towards the opposite road. Being adventurous and seriously, not knowing how awesome the tear-gas was, i suggested we should head nearer.

He told me to start running, and that was when i inhaled my very first tear gas.
Tears started flowing like river, and both my mouth and nose was very much agitated with a weird sensation that made me sneeze and cough non stop.

Without a second thought, anyone, i mean anyone would have run the opposite direction by mere instinct. I ran, and ran with one breath in my lung, knowing that with another inhale i would sneeze and cough more, not to mention that i could even drenched in my own tears, seriously.

After 10 seconds of running while holding my breath, i gave up and exhale. BAD CHOICE.
Inhaling the 2nd mouthful of tear gas was far worst than the first.
i would say, the closest comparison to tear-gas would be, being continuously shot with pepper spray, and the pepper spray's gas linger around the atmosphere for more than 5 minutes, picture that situation, and multiply it by a 100.

i found Sam a few minutes later, still at the same spot i left him, with mouth mask on. He passed to be a tube of toothpaste, i was like wtf, and he told me to apply some on my cheeks. The chemical compound of the toothpaste, or the mint, 'nullifies' the tear-gas.

Simply awesome.

We climbed up a hill to use the pedestrian bridge that links to the Bandaraya LRT station. There, we continue to watch and phtographed how the protestors being shot away by tear gas and water cannon.

Another 30 minutes or so of dodging tear gas while trying to obtain some good shots, we finally headed back to the office.

and thus, end my first day as a photojournalist.



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






SOME RANDOM MUGSHOTS I'VE DONE THIS MONTH

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


Scoop

My very first Front Page Photo came on August 21st.
Like any other day after my first day at work, i thought it was just going to be a normal day with a certain degree of excitement, not too much.

i was driving from office to Taman Mutiara, opposite Leisure Mall, Cheras. 5 minutes on the road, i received a call from my photo editor, speaking ever hastily,

"Something.. something... something... DON'T GO FOR YOUR ASSIGNMENT....SOMETHING SOMETHING... WAIT FOR REPORTER TO CALL YOU"

Well, atleast i got the keywords, and i know it ought to be either accident or crime that happen nearby and i could be the nearest at the moment.

1 minute later, the reporter, called, identified herself, and told me to wait for her after the Salak Express Toll. Jolly good, i won't have to find my way.

2 minutes after the reporter's call, MY CHIEF called this time, telling me that my last assignment of the day has been transfered to another photographer, telling me to,

FOCUS AND DO WELL ON THIS ASSIGNMENT.

Now, i'm curious and worried on what i've been to assigned to.
2 assignment cancelled just for 1. INTERESTING.

Couldn't bear to wait another few more minutes before i meet the reporter, i called her up and asked.
She said we were going grave hunting, to hunt for the 'supposingly ANDY LAU's alleged father-in-law's final resting place', which he(the father-in-law) was going to be buried in tomorrow.

Met up with the reporter and she led the way there.
The cemetery was located at Bandar Tun Razak, not far from where i was heading, therefore, being the nearest to spot, i was choosen. (Seriously lucky me)

Question,
How do you find the specific grave in the whole cemetery?

Well, apparently, accourding to the reporter's credible source, the family bought a 'double slot grave' for both the mum and dad. Andy Lau's alleged mother-in-law, passed away sometime ago (i don't know when), and has already been buried there. Another spot beside her grave was meant for the dad.

Now, knowing which cementery the mother was buried, all we have to do is go there, and start looking. According to the reporter, a day before the burial, the grave would have already been dug to be prepared for the actual day. A tent, would then be built above it to keep it from rain or whatever than might falls into it.

We found the tent.

The moment we stepped down the car, a chinese dude whom was a supervisor/worker there came and attempted to stop us from venturing further. It was however a public area, therefore, the only thing he could do was to stop ME FROM TAKING PHOTOS of the tombstone.

My reporter walk around the tombstone and started asking question, while i observe the surroundings.
That dude followed behind her closely, afraid she might start jolting down names she sees from the tombstone.
It was then i realised, SHE WAS LURING HIM AWAY FROM ME.

I took out my gear, set it to the widest, aimmed, and fired a few shots before keeping it away. We then left.
i rushed back to office, as the photo was need for the night paper. After printing the photos, i went with the photo editor to explain the photos to a beared man whom at that point of time, i didn't know was the Chief Editor.

Apart from being front page, this was also a

SCOOP !!
for one day only though

Kuala Lumpur: Final resting place of famous HongKong singer/actor, Andy Lau's father-in-law.


The next day, i was position at the cemetery. By then, it was crowded with reporters and photojournalist.
After 2 hours wait, they finally arrieved.

Seriously, i wasn't sure who was this at first, but apparently, APPARENTLY, this IS Andy Lau's daughter.

Andy Lau never appeared after all.

And after all the big hoo-haa, i was called once again to go back to the cemetery a day or two after the burial. Apparently they are photographers there.

Someone came to pay their last respect a bit later than the others but heck, i didn't care.
Was still wondering why was i send back here AGAIN.

That night, GuanMing Press scooped everyone by successfully capturing a series of 3 shots of Andy Lau leaving the tombstone area.

It was stated that the shots were taken between 9:00am - 9:20am, i was informed to go to the site at 11:15am, reaching there only at 11:45am, was from Shah Alam okay.

Rumors has it that the photographer camped at the cemetery from 6 in the morning. Rumors though.



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





Malaysian Wushu Competition 2009

Heck, i've been uploading and typing for a few hours now and i'm getting lazy.
These are a few shots of the 1000 over shots i took that day. Only 1 shot was used in the paper.
Loved the performance and action;
Hated the lighting.

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



Fire at Kepong.
I was happily 'loitering' around KL awaiting my next assignement in Bangunan Sultan Abdul Samad when i received the call to head to Kepong to cover a Fire.

Partially glad a boring press conference was cancelled, partially excited to be covering fire for the first time, i called up Priest to give me direction to head to Kepong.

Getting the correct bearings, i reached within 20 minutes.
There wasn't fire or smoke anymore, but the firemen were still spraying at it to ensure no ember survives.



Even the altar is consumed by the fire.

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



I have a confession to make.
I do not like doing Chinese entertainment stories.
But heck, not that i can choose.

i was send to cover this Chinese Globe Award thingy something local entering international market something something something, gosh, my chinese sucks.

The media are given a ticket each to vote for the singer of their choice. I have no idea who is who.

A group called MANHAND and a dude i don't know whom who tag-along to get his shot taken along.

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

Robber Jumps into Klang River
My colleague was passing by the area between Pantai Dalam and Jalan Klang Lama in the reporter's car when he saw the action.

He stayed behind to cover the story while the reporter left.
I was send to 'retrieve' him from the site.

Quite a waste this was given much attention on the papers as this was a scoop.

Oh the best thing is, from the photos, you might have tought the police did all the work. Which wasn't.
A member of the public was the one whom stop the robber from entering into a pipeline/hole. Our police, apparently, was afraid to jump into the river.

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

Taman Midah Recycling
Seriously, some news i really wonder why are we (the reporter and photograher) are even sent to cover.
Don't get me wrong, not that i don't like doing it, but heck, does it even have that amount of news value to be worth covering?

I hope no Taman Midah Resident sees this.

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

Astro Malaysian Chinese Beauty Pageant Audition
Now this was interesting. Apart from the fact that the reporter was a decent looking chick, the thingy i was covering was much of my liking. Too bad didn't stayed long.

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


That would be all for now.
I seriously hope you enjoyed this entry. Uploading the photos alone took quite sometime.
I haven't done any entry before this was due to the fact i'm exhausted everyday after work. Seriously.
But while i'm still enjoying it, it's all worth while :D


Would try to update more frequent whenever possible :D