.: ShaolinTiger - Kung-Fu Geekery :.

Well I don't know if I'd call myself a photographer yet...but I've just passed my second year in photography..

I got my Nikon D70s on June 7th 2006, 2 years ago last month. I had some cameras before that, an old Olympus mju 35mm film point and shoot and I got my first digital camera in 2001 (which cost me a fortune) - the 3.2 megapixel Canon Powershot A70.

It did me well and most of my earlier pictures on this blog were from that camera.

I'd say I started photography properly when I got the D70s, before that I'd just started exploring what I could do with with the A70 and was starting to find it's limitations in terms of speed, noise at high ISO, accurate white balance and fine tuning controls. I decided against getting a bridge or prosumer camera and to go straight for a dSLR.

My choices at that time were the Canon 350D, the Olympus E-500 and the Nikon D70s.

I hardly got chance to use the camera, and had only just bought my first lens other than the kit lens (A Tamron SP90mm Di Macro Lens)...and my camera was stolen only 3 months after I'd bought it.

That was heartbreaking to say the least...by that time I'd completely gotten the photography bug though so I couldn't give up...I had a choice to make between getting the Nikon D80, which had just been released or the higher model the Nikon D200. I went for the D200 for various reasons (solid build, more accurate metering, CF card rather than SD and so on) and I have to say I've never regretted the decision.

Anyway here are a few of my personal favs I've taken in the 2 years since I've gone from complete noob to slightly less noob.

With the Nikon D70s

With the Nikon D200

I've had a stranger buy one of my pictures though, I've been published in quite a few magazines and national papers, I'll have a spread in FHM August, I've shot a major musical event and I've recently seen one of my pictures on a billboard! I've got a lot of unpublished stuff, so perhaps I'll make an effort to get it on my blog. Also of course we started Shutter Asia to expand my learning and network of photographers for outings and trips - so far it's been great!

It's a start!

I've still gotten a long way to go though, only 2 years into photography...probably another 23 years to go before I get any good Most things take at least 25 years to master reasonably well.

So it came down to the Malaysian Dreamgirl Final 3 for Season 1!

Adeline, Cindy and Hanis - Hanis being the clear public favourite, Adeline seeming to be popular amongst the young Chinese population and Cindy being expected to win due to certain 'outside factors'.

The finale itself was held as part of Fashion on 1 at 1-Utama new-wing Oval, on the main catwalk for the Fashion shows.

I propped myself up on the photographers platform with Kimberly and Mike and my new monopod and got a few shots in.

The stage was set for the MDG Finale in 1-Utama.

There was a pretty decent crowd in and outside.

And the photographers were ready on the platform.

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As you probably read, I'm a big fan of Yo! Sushi at the Pavilion - I headed back there with Kimberly for a Melium event we were invited to.

They were having a lifestyle event to promote the Yo! Sushi brand and introduce people to the concept.

Before anything else - we ate.....we ate plenty! Loads of Salmon yah! They had all of their special dishes out.

One of my favourites, the spicy chicken katsu ISO (Inside Out Roll).

And of course plenty of Sashimi - this is the dill and wasabi style, at the back is sesame seared.

The all time favourite Miso Black Cod (melts in your mouth!).

It was pretty much packed to capacity with people filling the tables and all the way around the bar.

Sushi Panning!

A while later they had a contest where they gave out some prizes, basically you had to lift a dish off the conveyor according to it's name announced by the emcee.

If you lifted the right plate - you won a prize!

Challenger

Following that you had to find a certain dish in the menu - again first one wins.

Over here - it's me!!

Lot's of happy people eating and drinking!

Enjoying the Sushi.

Shaz and Sandra.

Eddie Kong - the Manager hard at work.

People take their own pics too - but still look at me

Preparing the take-out boxes.

A fun event with some great people to chat with and yummy food - all good if you ask me!

Kim's write up here:

Delicious sushi and me.

And also Sandra here:

Yo! Sushi with Melium Group

You might remember I went to M-IFW a while ago, I posted one set TIAMO (Sylvia Lim) Presents Jonathan Cheng at M-IFW 2007 and promptly forgot I had stayed for another show after that.

The favourite of photographers, Triumph presents Justin Yap, Jimmy Lin & Ken Wong.

Somehow Triumph shows always tend to be the most heavily popular by photographers, I wonder why that is..perhaps it's indicative of the quality of their models? Or it's just something else. Due to that there's always a lot of heads, lenses and flashes popping into your frame, which makes it even harder.

This show was even harder technically speaking than the previous as the main lights were off and it was pretty dim, I had to bust out the flash for some fill. I tried shooting with the 85mm f/1.8 without flash, but it just wasn't happening.

I would have loved to catch Carven Ong a couple over the weekend, but I was busy on that day.

They started out with minimal clothing right away - always a good sign

I blame the cropped foot on using a prime lens..

Shooting with the 85mm did give fantastic depth of field though.

The models were definitely a class above what I've seen in Malaysia normally.

After that was some stuff from Sloggi, which you couldn't see as all the models were wearing boxes..no not boxers - BOXES!

Following on was some kinda sporty, casual theme with the lingerie integrated somehow.

There were all kinds of accessories like inflatable rubber ducks, raincoats, balloons and vinyl umbrellas.

Big hats were definitely in too.

The last set was a bit more kinky, black and red, lacy and more dressy.

Accidental Strobist

And that was the end of Triumph at M-IFW 2007, that's all I shot - maybe I'll do more next year if I win the lottery and get a 70-200mm f/2.8 VR!

Goodbye!

You can see the full set here:

M-IFW Triumph - Nov 2007

So these are the last few shots for Krystal, if you liked these you can check out the Kharu sets too.

These are a mix of urban shots, different processing and colour for different feels.

Defiant

Escape

Masquerade

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Due to Krystal being late the first day - Manny kindly gave us a few hours on the second day to shoot Krystal in the morning before she flew back to Bangkok.

We started off again in the earning morning light at KLPac, tried for different feels and looks for the second day.

Yellow Glow

Yellowgreen

Far Away

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So my first time shooting catwalk actually, I've always considered it but never really tried before. I thought it might be tough as I don't have a f/2.8 telephoto lens as I'm using the cheapo 70-300mm VR (f/4.5-5.6). I love the lens, but I guess I have to get the 70-200mm f/2.8 VR lens one day - weighs a tonne and costs a bomb *sigh*.

I went to M-IFW 2007 on the opening day in the afternoon to shoot TIAMO (brainchild of Sylvia Lim) Presents Jonathan Cheng, and then Triumph after that.

Designs by Jonathan Cheng and accessories/jewelery by TIAMO.

It was a pretty interesting experience, the lights had a tend to blow the highlights and the background was fairly dark - so getting decent subject separation wasn't too hard. I couldn't get a good spot in the middle at the front though as the platform was quite crowded.

The angle I got wasn't too bad though as it meant I could get the model and the brand in

It was a very subdued collection, mostly black with a bit of white and grey, heavy black eye makeup and solemn expressions.

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I was looking forwards to KLFW this year, as I managed to get a photography pass last year…but I couldn’t go as I had to fly of to hell Riyadh, Saudi Arabia..

It was supposed to be at the end of October, it was then postponed until November 11-14th, now it’s canceled for this possible showing it’s face again in March 2008.

Anyway there is still MIFA! I managed to go on the first day and get some pics, will post them later.

Speaking of which, Digi is having a Fashion related competition as a part of it’s Fu-Yoh Street Blast festival (Sports, Music, Fashion & Dance).

There are some decent prizes up for grabs like the latest Nokia Prism phones and bundles of cash $$!

Along side this there is another two sections to the competition related to dancing and sports. For the b-boy fans the best 8 will get to show off this Saturday at the finals, selected from various teams who sent their videos in. The sports section involves basketball and futsal.

Again, all these will be happening this Saturday, November 24th at Taman Tasik Titiwangsa (12pm onwards).

I might check it out as I really love watching break-dancing, it’s always something I wanted to do. Get down to the finals and check out who will be the Queen of Fashion or who has the best B-boy moves in town.

The X-trick competition will be fun to watch too with the X-games style tricks on skates, boards and bikes. If you want you can get even get flung in the air with the inverse bungee (G-Force)!

There will be various artists performing such as Gerhana Ska Cinta, Joe Flizzow, Sierra, Letto from Indonesia.

It reminds me I still haven’t processed or posted the pictures from Floor Combat back in February..that was ages ago.

Anyway get over to http://www.digi.com.my/fu-yoh/ to find out more.

So back to Krystal it is, somehow I got some steam over the weekend and finished the first day of the Krystal shoot....some nice pics in there. Day 2 is still looming with another 4GB of RAW files to look through.

I expect to be getting back up to date though as processing on this PC is a pleasure rather than a torture..like the old setup. I just need to learn to manage my time better.

These were shot in the abandoned bungalow in KLPac nearer to midday, that's why the light is quite harsh - but I had fun with that aspect. I tried to make this a more emotionally varied set.

It was fun anyway! Mostly shot with Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 for the wider shots and Nikkor 70-300mm VR for the tighter ones.

Mono Thoughts

Legs Forever

Distant

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Here was a few shots I got from the background while it was some other guys turn to shoot, these can be considered interim shots..

A warm up for Monday morning

Sassy

Trapped

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