My Journey...

A Photo A Day: Set 2

2009-11-14T17:21:00.003+08:00

Notice:

Photographs displayed in "A Photo A Day" sets are the sole property of photographer. Not any part of these pictures can be reproduce or reuse in any method without the prior permission from the owner of these photographs. Anyone who found violates the Rules and Regulations, legal action will be taken accordingly.

A Photo A Day: Set 1

2009-11-14T17:15:00.002+08:00

I will be posting 5 pics per set...stay tuned and enjoys

I am back...

2009-11-14T17:10:00.002+08:00

Hi, been out of action for a while...busy with life and career...so now I am back with a mission. My year project, yeah you heard me...it is a year project.

What is this all about? This is my photography project in which I created is comprising of 365 photos. This project called A Photo A Day where I produce picture everyday. The content will be mere randomness which comprises of anything that appears in my life...whats up next?

Stay tuned...

5 days of wonder...vol 2

2009-06-06T22:29:00.004+08:00

here are some pictures that I photographed during the trip...pictures were taken in some of the tourist attraction/ places of interests...temples, museum...and many more...

5 days of wonders...

2009-06-04T08:21:00.003+08:00

wow!!! the first impression after the 5 days trip. I went there with my 'sampat' sister Xiao Thoong to meet a few friends of her and mine, too. We were hosted by a kind lady that knew XT for quiet sometime back...her name is Nong Ting ('Nong' is referring to somebody younger than us in Thai)... We were staying at Ram Inthra which was about 45mins ride from heart of Bangkok (we took gruelling taxi rides daily to travel from her place) Daily taxi rides cost us about THB450/ day (RM45)...imagine for travelling for 5 days...ish...ish...ish...

When we touch down at Suvarnabhumi (pronouce 'su-va-na-bum') International Airport at around 1140hours local Thai time (+7 GMT). We were greeted by a group of friend namely Nong Ting, Nong Fern and Nong Krit...we headed towards Nong Ting's house right after that...

After unpacked, the fun-filled holiday get away just started...more photos to come...

a day with new friends...

2009-05-17T20:25:00.004+08:00

Phew!!! Long time did not post any blog so gotta get something done before it getting more dull... A few weeks ago was meeting a few new friends, they were introduced by one of my university mate from Penang...they were friendly and nice of course...

I got a chance to shoot at available light in their own hotel room, ambient light was superb and created a nice cozy environment. I was using my EOS40D plus a Sigma 30mm f/1.4...ok, let me show some photos then...

A trip to Sekinchan

2009-02-15T23:16:00.003+08:00

On a fine evening, I drove my grey Proton Wira to Sekinchan in the state of Selangor. I went there with 2 of my friends and try to enjoy the scenery there. But the timing is not the usual period that every photographer will go. It was a post-harvest season and farmers were busy burning their paddy field. The field is not as green as the harvest season but enough to provide the atmosphere of the environment.

We reached there about 5pm plus after more than 1 hour drive from Kuala Lumpur...I parked my car in a nearby paddy field and start using shooting using 17-40mm f/4L USM lens but later on found out that a composition on a wide angle is not so nice and hence I change to my telephoto zoom 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM lens. Shot a few workers working on the field and the feel was dramatic...the duration was not long and then we continue to drive to nearby local Kopitiam to have a sip of coffee and not to forget the traditional toast and half boil eggs...ermmm...is just so delicious...yummy...after that we continue our journey to nearby fishing village to capture some sunset shots...

We arrived at a nearby pier...I took out my necessity for the settings of the shot like tripod, shutter release, some Cokin filters etc...I took some shots of sunset with many fishing boats around...later on, we shifted to deeper location where nearer to the seaside. Saw some guys collecting dried shrimp after a long day of drying process. It will be processed and re-sell into the market...ok, to start with a few photos that I took and felt that it was ok...enjoys...

to be continued...my Phuket trip

2009-01-19T22:43:00.010+08:00

hi, sorry for the late posting for my Phuket trip...got some tasks that needed immediate attention so lack of time to write a travelogue...ok, was there on Nov 2008...which was about 2 months ++ ago.

It was a bad weather window in Phuket back then because it was raining for 4 all days I was there...sob...sob...sob...the first day I reached there, I checked-in into a "hotel" and get freshen up before we start our journey in the Island of Phuket, Thailand...we got ourselves something to eat before starting the journey. The food I had was Mid Eastern food which did not taste good at all...and moreover it is expensive though. How could we save when the food was so expensive. Wah!!! We walked to Bang La Street where all the happening thing in Phuket...Phuket is all about entertainment and "farang" (westerner for Thai). We did shop for some souvenirs to bring back to Malaysia for our family and friends, of course...

Along the evening we walked all the way from our hotel which was 10mins walk away from town till Bang La Street...looking aorund and of course hunting for exotic goods...result - NEGATIVE, I did not buy anything at all, only purchased a trip to Phi Phi Island of the following day...haiz...let me post more photos and talk less...

Just Married!!! with Max & LiYen...

2009-01-13T00:07:00.003+08:00

Congratulations to these lovely couple...Max & Li Yen who tied the knot on the January 3rd, 2009 in front friends and family members...both of them are a friend of mine from my university...their love story are so enchanting and mesmerizing till nobody will ever believe it...I knew this from the bride but let's keep it a secret though...

I was hired as their official photographer and I tried my very best to capture the most authentic moments of their lifetime event - Marriage!!! My day was started at 7am where I arrived at Li Yen's house capturing her candid moments towards preparing herself for the day...in becoming the bride...later on at around 8am, her 'chee muis" aka galfriends came and prepare the ultimate food for later consumption (this is really awful as this was the preparation for the games-the groom had to go through many levels of difficulty). Ingredients included wasabi, cili padi, condensed milk, bittergourd, milk powder etc...wow...that was really cruel...even for me...

wowowowo...the time had arrived, the troop from SS2 had finally reached their destination...the 'chee muis' preparing to start the game and of course the groom side preparing to go through different tests and difficulties...the game has just begins!!! Ok, let cut the story short and brief...the groom went through all the tests and passed...went the groom entered the room, he opened up her veil and give a deep kiss...wow...so passionate...was so touched by the love shown by them...

Lets not talk much and show you some photos of theirs...

Happy New Year 2009

2009-01-12T23:36:00.004+08:00

Hi, long time no see...were away for quite sometime though. I was really busy preparing for many things such as my buddhist camp namely INCOVAR Dhamma Camp which held twice a year, my project...still struggling with that...ok lets not linger too much what I did in the year of 2008.

I want to wish my friends Happy New Year 2009, may all of you be well and happy. Hopefully not too late for that though, hehe...for this year new year eve, I was on a party with my fellow good friends at Klang. Gotta name a few and of course not to forget the host Chong Thai who had the courtesy to let his house as the 'port' for us to hang around and catch up with friends. Ya, friends ah...like Jia Yen, Xiao Ai, Ai Qian, Kevin, Mian Ying, Wei Loong, Miao Chin and the list through and through...so many people mah!!! We had our steamboat party rev up with groove music and some sentimental ones...wooooooooo... Some were drunk and some weren't...the drunk one of course fooling around and pulling everybody into their fantasy of their own...some drunkard vomited and some just sat down looked so gloomy...luckily I was awake and know what was happening surround me...having fun all night long...of course missed the fellowship as well.

Such a wonderful night!!! Happy New Year everybody!!! Woahhhhhhhhhhhh!!!

my trip to Phuket

2008-11-11T18:23:00.002+08:00

Today has come to an end to my trip at Phuket, Thailand... Haha, I am still sitting in a cafe having a cuppa of mix fruit smoothies and it tastes good. It just cost me about 75THB...what can you asked for?

The trips in these few days was not so encouraging or as expected because it was raining in all 4 days I am here...what's a pity? I arrived at Phuket on the 1430 hours (GMT +7) 08 Nov 2008 which is an hour earlier than Malaysian Time Zone. It was drizzling at that time and checked into a taxi to look for hotel. Wahahaha...we did not book any hotel while in Malaysia before this trip and yet we were able to book a hotel, a budget hotel in Patong Beach...cost me 1200THB per night. During the night, I went to Patong Beach most happening place in town, Bang La Road (sounded like Bangla road-LOL) to shop around and managed to buy some souvenirs to bring back home...

Ok, need to pack off and fly back to Malaysia. I will be flying at 2115 hours and stay tuned for updates...more photos to show...a travelogue...

Signing off...

High-keyed Portraiture with April "The Law"

2008-10-29T10:43:00.005+08:00

This week did some breakthrough in my photography journey. I learned indoor photography with controlled-lighting environment...what we called Studio aka Strobes Lighting...some fundamentals to grasp and find it hard to digest at first...after awhile things get warmed up and shooting got hot up...wow, what a fanstastic experience to remember...

The shoot consisted of 3 photographers, a model and a MUA...superb combination with fun-filled session. Now I am salivating over strobes light and looking forward for another shoot. Let's not talk more and first picture to present you...April "The Law"...

a day off...

2008-10-24T15:11:00.002+08:00

I am sleeping at home today because was caught with fever. Now I got bone aching all over my body...at least I do not feel good now...

After a hectic week, I finally laid back a bit for celebration of Diwali...well, I am staying in a multiracial country and everybody live in harmony...hope this will continue...

So, holiday is around the corner. What do I do next? Of course, go for shooting spree. Fashion show, studio shoot and many more things to do. Hahaha...

Finalist submission for Kuala Lumpur Photography Festival 2008

2008-10-20T17:30:00.003+08:00

On the second day of Kuala Lumpur Photography Festival, I had submitted 7 photos for Portraiture Photoshoot Competition sponsored by Fujifilm Malaysia. Each of photographers can submitted as much photos as they like for the competition...

The contest features several beautiful models as the subject of photography...joined by a throng of enthusiast/ amateur photographers with thousands of photos being submitted for the competition...and judged by 3 renowned judges with representative from Fujifilm. And 15 pictures being selected as finalist...jeng...jeng...jeng...my picture went into the last 15 finalists, a breakthrough from last year as my picture only went into 2nd round...

Here is the submission that made the grade...

An ending to a love story...

2008-10-10T10:59:00.002+08:00

I have not written in my blog for a while due to work commitments and out of idea how to write...so now I gotta sleeve up and write something here...

For the last week, I am so miserable and sad after broken up with my girlfriend of 3 years++...this was such a disaster to me and seem like end of the world... At that particular moment I thought, there will be nobody for me...I was just can't accept the fact my beloved girlfriend had left me, left me in vain and sorrow... The feeling of sorrow had taken over me for a few days, at least. As for now, I am all ok for the all the support that my friends and family had given me. I must thank them sincerely... THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!!

Life is not an end if someone left you..there are so many other options you can get outside there. Currently my life is all about career and personal development...love life must only come after I have completely wash away all my past and starts again...

Life is so beautiful, why only thinking on one person.

My first anniversary...in photography

2008-09-02T15:05:00.004+08:00

I was pondering my journey in the past one year as a hobbyist photographer... I started off with a Canon EOS400D, an entry level DLSR from Canon. It was a good camera, why 'was' because I sold it off and bought an upgrade which was Canon EOS40D... Upgrading was not due to I am gearheaded but I felt that need to step up to a better level from that on...

Is my photography getting better and better after a year of non stop shooting and learning. I can felt that my learning is a steep one as people around me have been shooting for quite sometime, one of them almost 25 of delighting years... To me photography is something very subjective and everything you put inside your image are emotional... Images are emotion-filled matter and it will touches certain people in a certain way... beside my OOF (out of focus) pictures, haha...

Throughout these 12 months endeavour as a photographer and as a person, I have learned both photography and way of life... Firstly, I need to pay special gratitude and acknowledgement to a mentor who always give guidance and a frequent 'knock on the head' gesture...who have taught me the things that develops me into a person as today. I am an improved person from a year ago...he is no other than the "White Man" (name undisclosed to protect anonymity of the person). Another person is Mdm S.O, whom I go to beside my mum who always give me some valuable lesson in life (could not get any photography knowledge from her)- she is going to knock me on my head again because of my english which is directly translate from Chinese... The another person I want to thank is another photography buddy of mine who has 25 of delighting years in experience which I mentioned earlier on....who taught me photography in a quite unique way which isn't like any classroom teaching. I got a lot from him as well, part of my perseverance and persistent into my learning. He sometimes gives up on me as I am a very lazy person and sort of spoon feed guy...ya I am quite lazy in a way or two...I need to apologize to him for my attitude, will do better from now on... Lastly to all the people who are directly and indirectly guide me through my journey...a million thanks and you all shall earn my utmost respect... And I apologize to any party that I had conflicts or misunderstandings with while working with them, sincerely... I seek your forgiveness...

I have now developed some interests in portraiture, landscape, travel photography...hoping to make it big in photography scene... And now I am broke with many outstandings debts...haha...kidding...

Stay tuned for more photos...

Just edited...editorial pre-wedding

2008-09-02T12:11:00.005+08:00

I have spent my whole weekend sitting down exploring Adobe Lightroom 2...it is to my surprise, much more easier to do complete my post processing with it compare to Adobe Photoshop CS3. Indeed, I am beginner in post processing eventhough have been taking photos for the last one year...

I was spending my weekend at my dear girlfriend home at Sungai Petani, Kedah. I took my bus to her home on Saturday and it was a long ride...just to see her... Ok, let me start working with the photos first as I need to pass the photos to Norman after final retouching. Really hope they like it as this is my first pre-wed shoot...

Here are a few selected for viewing...

Pyrotechnic fireworks in display at PICC...

2008-08-13T10:20:00.003+08:00

Last night I went to Putrajaya to have a taste of photographing fireworks...outcome...as expected...No Good!!!

I was trying some of the techniques of capturing fireworks...places to stand, of course angle of anticipation of fireworks bursting...Poom!!! Poom!!! Poom!!! the roaring and deafening sound of fireworks being projected into the air from the Putrajaya Bridge...

I arrived there at around 2030 hours with my fellow photog who accompany to that area...while equipped with the essentials like camera, wide angle lense, tripod, shutter release and a bottle of water to quench my thirst...exactly at 2130 hours, the countdown and the a dazzling firework display by the Malaysian team bursted off to the sky and brighten the sky with beautiful colours...

what is love all about...

2008-08-11T14:44:00.002+08:00

In a fine afternoon, while I was having my quick nap...something flashed my mind. It was indeed a mind boggling matter to be exact...what is that???

LOVE...erm...what is this thing...sex, lust, desire or something else which is more serene and pure...can somebody please tell me about this ancient feeling...where does it come from??? Air, water, steel, wood or fire (according to chinese metaphysics elements)...

How would you react when somebody tells you that they love you??? Will you accept them if they are meant in mutual kinda things like a guy loves a gal...or a son talked to her mother...will it be the same...there are so many kinds of love in this world...how would you differentiate them...to me I got my first love 3 years back and I am still loving her strongly...it is kinda an affection from me towards her...

There is another love that I know from my spiritual practice, Buddhism. My teacher, The Buddha had taught us loving kindness which to portray love kindness to everybody even top your enemy...this will eliminate all the sufferings that we are having now...

What is love???

...my day at work...

2008-08-04T23:30:00.002+08:00

Today, I was wondering what am I suppose to do...daily tasks at my workplace...seismic interpretation, log interpretation, people and my BOSSSSSSSSSSSSS...

As usual, can't really focus at work while I am learning to do so...my KPIs have made me like that and I want it to be exactly like that because it is all about achievement. I have never achieved better ratings in my years at my workplace...what should I do??? Achieving KPIs or achieving my goals??? Please enlighten me...

Life has been ups and downs for me in recent years...taking up things, letting go things... At the moment photography has made me feel my life to the fullest. Am I achieving something here? It is expensive hobby though, is that affecting my work...to obssessed with it???

Darn it!!! Love what you are doings and maybe occasionally do what you love most...

Stay tuned...

...production in the making of "D..."

2008-08-03T22:18:00.002+08:00

hey, my weekend just ended...I found this weekend was so enriching because get to work with some young guys in my buddhist community...a production of a trailer for one event...psssstttt...

The art direction was set up by the MEtz team (a multimedia production team for INCOVAR)...

This is a story about an INCOVARIAN who has strived hard in the working world where he is to obssessed with his career...too busy to do things and neglecting people around him as well...in the end he is strucked by unexpected moment which bring him back to the way he was before...

My new baby has arrived - The "EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

2008-07-31T10:03:00.000+08:00

Haha...gotta laugh out my lungs as to show my new anticipation for the arrival of my EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM"...tested last night and testing various parameters to be continued today...

The results will be out soon...

Stay tuned for updates...

Pre-Wed Editorial: Tiffany and Norman

2008-07-30T00:41:00.000+08:00

Here is my first work of pre wedding editorial featuring Tiffany and Norman who will happily tie the knot on November 2008. Let's celebrate this couple on this auspicious event...

Such a lovely couple...

I started my morning by having my dose of roti canai, teh 'o' ais limau and half boiled eggs while waiting for my photography pals...

Special thanks to pal, John Ishii for the given opportunity to learn while having fun...not to forget all the fun that the couple had during the shooting which so much joy was shared throughout the entire day...

Stay tuned for more...

This is the part 2 of my editorial pre-wed shooting with more varieties...hope you like it...hehe...

My first journey

2008-07-29T14:35:00.000+08:00

Hello, would like to introduce myself in first blogging experience. My name is Lai Kar Wei, 27 years old currently residing in Kuala Lumpur. How should I start off after my brief introduction huh???

Well, I am currently pursuing my career in the Oil and Gas industry. Well...it is quiet challenging in my daily undertakings. At least I am happy with my new found challenge in a new area of work...haha...

I took up photography recently and found it very enriching hobby...training myself to be good and of course, getting a good mentor in it. I am a strong believer of coaching techniques...but to get a willing one is not a easy task with people mindset being stuck in the world of the own...no spoon feeding of course... I personally like portraiture and landscape, trying out some photojournalism...if there anybody willing to give some guidelines or take me as their apprentice. A person who is willing to learn, my passion for learning is just there (the fire is inside...sounds like Intel Inside).

Ok...thats all for the time being...

Stay tuned for more updates...