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Photography

Photography

Jul 22

Portrait photography – meeting Pansy

By Photography
Pansy, the model who gave her time to us for portraiture photography

Pansy, the model who gave her time to us for portraiture photography

After the Starbizz’s Shooting Date event at Dataran Pahlawan last Sunday, Kenn-Wai, Angel and I went for a coffee at the Old Town Cafe. We shared the shots we took for the event with each other, and taking advices from others to improve our shots.

Kenn-Wai, who does a lot of portrait photography, shared his valuable portraiture photography experience with us. We were so motivated and wanted to put this into practical. While brainstorming for a subject to shoot, Angel’s friend, Pansy came and joined us for the coffee session. Straight away we invited her to be our model.

We then moved to an open area of Dataran Pahlawan, and the four of us had a short discussion of our camera, the area and atmosphere, light sources, and the posture of model. It’s essential to study this before shooting. Although this was not a planned photography session but it was so fun to learn and to spend time with friends.

We had to thank Pansy for sparing her time with us, and of course being patient with us. Special thanks to Kenn-Wai and Angel for their company and sharing their experience which benefits me so much. May everyone be happy. Sharing some shots after the jump:

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Jul 14

免费早餐

By Photography, Rambling
Meng-Hong at a coffee shop in Ipoh (photo credit: Cinda)

Meng-Hong at a coffee shop in Ipoh (photo credit: Cinda)

巴刹楼上的食肆都各自为政，就连桌椅都形形色色，务必要让客人一眼认出，仅此一家，别无分号的吸引力。当我们选择了要吃的食物后，就必须坐在有该档子记号的位子，否则，他是不会帮你把食物送到别的“地盘”去。

公公爱坐在一间点心档享用早餐。偶尔我和妈妈去巴刹，就会遇到公公一盅两件，手舞足蹈地和朋友们聊天。然后他会唤我们过去，说是要请我们，免费吃早餐。有免费的早餐吃我固然开心，所以刚开始遇到公公时，心里都很雀跃。但后来渐渐发现，那间点心档附近没有我爱吃的面，跑到老远去叫了食物，老板却摇手拧头地不愿送去那里，害我只能闷着吃糯米鸡，喝着不搭配的普洱。

自此之后，我都在心里偷偷默许着，希望下次再去巴刹时，不会和公公碰上。这样，我就能坐在那些面摊前，吃着我要吃的食物。荏苒，我逐渐长大，鲜少陪妈妈去巴刹，也没碰上公公，直到公公去世，我想到再也没机会和他吃早餐，心里不免悲戚。

而今早，我和外子到久违的巴刹去，踏上楼梯的那一刻，仿佛瞥见一个熟悉的老人恣意地喝着普洱，高谈阔论，然后唤我过去，情切如故。

瞬间，眼泪婆娑。

文：刘美君（芙蓉），刊登于星洲日报副刊

Jul 13

Sunset photography at Pulau Melaka

By Beautiful Melaka, Photography
sunset view at the north side of Pulau Melaka

sunset view at the north side of Pulau Melaka

After doing the sunset photography at the Portuguese Settlement last week, I decided to try again yesterday. The weather was acceptable during evening, clear sky yet windy. I traveled to Pulau Melaka, a man-made island in Melaka and headed to the north side of the island. Driving into the bush and I found a good spot to view the sunset. 

dusk arrived and two men were fishing at the beach of Pulau Melaka

dusk arrived and two men were fishing at the beach of Pulau Melaka

The spot seems like a small bay where the beach is partially surrounded by rocks and concretes. There were only a few people fishing there when I arrived. It was high tide and the tide was flowing which left me a little room of the beach to setup the gears. Shame to say that the beach was full of rubbish such as plastic bags, bottles, straws, and food wrappers, which I had to clear those junks to obtain clean shots.

The precious golden hour was short and luckily I managed to try some shots with different settings. The shots turned up to be alright but not quite what I expected. I wish to try the shots again during low tide. Soon after dusk, I headed back home.

Please beware if you go to the north side of the island: when the tide set in, part of the drive way will be flooded and your vehicle will get stuck in that area for hours before the tide ebbs.

Sharing some of the shots I took. May all being be happy.

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Jul 09

爱摄影：啟蒙老师无私传授‧陈德政感受摄影“人情味”

By Photography

陈德政有幸遇上一些无私授教的啟蒙老师，让他感受到摄影艺术的浓厚“人情味”。（图：星洲日报）

陈德政在摄影的路上，有幸遇上一些啟蒙老师，他们无私地传授摄影技巧和心得、用心提拔新人的精神，让他这位后辈感受到摄影艺术的浓厚“人情味”。

陈德政是怡保人，49岁，从事全销生意。他於15年前开始和摄影结缘，全因偶然机会下认识了黎兴这位前辈。

一次他去一家摄影器材店选购相机，由於对摄影一窍不通，不知如何下手挑选。这时黎兴刚好在那裡，就对他指点一番。

当时的初相识，促成了这段师徒缘。当时他和黎兴聊得很起劲，也让他对摄影產生浓厚的兴趣。

就这样，他和黎兴成了好朋友，并通过他认识了摄影家符国建和其他摄影好手。

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Jul 09

Sunset shooting at Portuguese Settlement

By Beautiful Melaka, Photography
the Kristang fishermen couples on the boat

the Kristang fishermen couples on the boat

When the Portuguese conquered Melaka back in the 16th century, some of the soldiers married with the local Malay women and for some possibly Indian or Chinese. And their decendants, who is called Kristang ethnic founded their own settlement in 1930s by purchasing 11 hectares of land in Ujong Pasir with the purpose of creating a haven for scattered Kristang and their culture.

Initially the fishing village was known as Saint John’s village. It was a swampy land with 10 wooden houses with earth floors and attap roofs built. The villagers live along the coast as fishermen and soon the village attracted additional Kistang from all over Malaysia. The village then grew to become on of Malacca’s main tourist attractions today.

an uncle and auntie were walking along the walkway of Portuguese Settlement

an uncle and auntie were walking along the walkway of Portuguese Settlement

Portuguese Settlement is very near to my house, 5 minutes drive away. I remember when I was young I’d love to cycle there with my friends often to visit our Kristang friends living there. Their homes had the shore right behind them and there was a long jetty built of rows of plank supported by stilts constructed as platform for the fishers to dock and undock. It always seemed to be collapsing, yet a beautiful and scenic place for us to hang out. Today we can no longer seeing the wooden jetty.

Recent reclamation project in Malacca extended the shore of Portuguese Settlement, creating new land, building a hotel, replaced the wooden jetty with a cement paved walkway and a new stretch of seafood restaurants which offer delicious Portuguese style seafood. As a result of this the standard of living of the villagers is improving. However, the villagers no longer enjoy a sea front view of the Straits of Malacca behind their homes.

the sun was going down

the sun was going down

Today while having some free time in the afternoon, I rang up Angel Wee to shoot sunset photos and I provided her with two options which were Portuguese Settlement and the Eye of Malaysia. She happily agreed to join and chose Portuguese Settlement for the shooting location as the place is not too far from her house compared to the Eye of Malaysia.

We arrived there in a good time and spent an hour snapping the photos the sunset there, really beautiful sky with layers of hues blending in complexity above the horizon. Besides we were also getting some shots of the new jetty walkway and the people there. Lucky to have met two lovely and friendly little girls who were from China and came here to visit, they were curious on what we were doing. Angel asked them to be our models as they were really cute and photogenic and they couldn’t resist.

Soon it came to dusk when the sun disappeared below the horizon. We ended our shooting session with a sweet and sour mango juice bought from one of the stalls of the seafood restaurants. It tasted so good and refreshing, and it cheered up the beginning of a beautiful night.

The whole shooting session was pleasant and I learned so many things from Angel. I really loved some of her shots she took with nice lighting effects and good composition. Thanks to Angel for being my company and my teacher, and I hope we have a chance to go for another phototaking again.

May all beings be happy. Sharing some of my shots:

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Jul 06

Photography along Sungai Duyung

By Beautiful Melaka, Photography
an abondoned fishing boat sighted beside Sungai Duyung

an abondoned fishing boat sighted beside Sungai Duyung

Muara Sungai Duyung is the river mouth for fishing activities in Permatang Pasir, Melaka. This is where you can see many fishing boats docking and undocking and also purchase varieties of fresh catches from the sea of the day. Towards the end of the river there is a hidden treasure where fresh, delicious and inexpensive ikan bakar (Malay, meaning baked fish) can be found.

The place is not far from Melaka Town compared to other famous seafood places in Melaka such as Anjung Batu, Alai and Umbai: you will be able to reach there for a 20 minutes drive from Bandar Hilir. Just drive along Padang Temu Road and you will find a river named Sungai Duyung. Turn to your right after the river and drive on the gravel road along the river to the end, then you will see the place. There are only two seafood restaurants at Muara Sungai Duyung so it’s not difficult to locate them.

It takes me 10 minutes drive from my house to Sungai Duyung though I don’t go there often to have seafood. Nevertheless, my good friend, Henry Lee invited me to have some seafood last Sunday and I happened to discover a good spot here for photo shooting. And I did it today.

It was hot this afternoon. I’d decided to click on the dusty shutter again since I had my last shooting quite some time ago. Driving alone to Sungai Duyung, I then drove along the river and stopped at a few spots to take some shots. It was a bit scary to shoot alone beside the river after I saw a yellow sign board written in Malay, which means:

Please don’t disturb or hurt the crocodiles if you happen to see one in this area. They will not do harm if they are not offended. Kindly contact the authority if you see someone harming the crocs. 

It sounded scary yet how I wished I could see one so that I can take some photos of the croc. Unfortunately I did not sight any. I saw some monitor lizards along the river and my car was nearly run over a two-meter one which ran across the gravel road when I drove. Both the lizard and I got a shock. I made an emergency break while it jumped speedily into the river.

a little monitor lizard fleeing away from the camera

a little monitor lizard fleeing away from the camera

It was sunny yet the view there was really good and serene with attap houses and coconuts trees. There were also some fishermen I met when I stopped my car and walked along the river. They were resting and ready to head out to the sea to make a living.  These friendly fishermen waved hello to me when they saw me.

However, it’s sad to see that this place is being developed as I could see. And soon this fishing settlement will be vanished and transformed to a residential area. Before then, it was good for me to take some shots of Sungai Duyung to keep evidences of its scenic views. I spent an hour there before I headed back to town and I really enjoyed this tour-and-shoot session. Share some shots I took:

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