Supermoon before dawn over the Flyover Bandar Hilir of Jalan Syed Abdul Aziz Melaka

Closer look of the supermoon, which appeared for 5 minutes as the weather was cloudy and rainy whole day in Melaka

Kenn and I was looking forward to see the supermoon here in Melaka but the weather was not promising. The sky was blanketed by dark clouds since last night. Right before 7:00am just now, there was a window in the sky which the supermoon shone through for 5 minutes. It was luck and we got to see it just before sunrise.

This would be the closest full moon to earth since year 1948, and the next even closer to earth will be on 2034. See you again in 18 years!

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One of the float from Seck Kia Eenh Buddhist Temple passing by the iconic Clock Tower outside Stadthuys of Melaka

Wishing all Buddhists a very happy and blessed Wesak Celebration. May Wesak Day brings all peacEE and harmony.

Some photos taken during my visit to the Wesak Day Procession in Melaka yesterday with Kenn Wai.

Kenn and I visiting Wesak’s procession this year.

One of the symphonic band, from SMJK Yok Bin

Lion dance team from Sam Tiong Keng Temple, Semabok Melaka

Trishaws providing rides to senior citizens.

Float from Centre Of Humanistic Buddhism Malacca

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Chinese New Year at Bukit Cina (iPhonegraphy)

End of the year and beginning of year is the busiest period for photographers with wedding assignments and commercial photography. Most of the time we filled our working days with DSLR camera and gears. Therefore, we try not to bring our heavy camera during our leisure time.

It doesn’t kill our passion even without having the camera with us. Phone has thus become our best friend. Nowadays they provide amazing camera feature and produce good quality images.

During this Chinese New Year festival season in January and February, I wake up early with my daily routine and always walked around Melaka town to do preparation prior to Chinese New Year. It’s in me to capture some images of Melaka with Chinese New Year mood. Not with the DSLR camera but the lighter camera I carry always, ‘my mobile phone’.

Here are some of the shots I lovEE. 新年快乐！ Happy New Year and Happy Chap Goh Mei!

Reading at Bukit Cina (iPhonegraphy)

A friend’s music shop, Love Music in Bukit Cina (iPhonegraphy)

Morning walk at Taman Tun Fatimah (iPhonegraphy)

Chinese restaurant oppositePay Teck Chinese Primary School (iPhonegraphy)

Tea time at Second Floor Ka Fei Guan (贰楼咖啡馆) (iPhonegraphy)

Crossing at Jalan Bunga Raya (iPhonegraphy)

Chinese You Tiao (油条) (iPhonegraphy)

Breakfast in Semabok (iPhonegraphy)

Post office with the little girl (iPhonegraphy)

Spring cleaning (iPhonegraphy)

‘Fei Fei’ the dog (iPhonegraphy)

Bamboo (iPhonegraphy)

Spring (iPhonegraphy)

Shopping for Chinese New Year at Bukit Cina (iPhonegraphy)

‘Lulu’ (iPhonegraphy)

Ride red (iPhonegraphy)

Resting cat (iPhonegraphy)

Purple flowers (iPhonegraphy)

Wood carving at Cheng Hoon Teng Temple (iPhonegraphy)

Chinese New Year at Cheng Hoon Teng Temple (iPhonegraphy)

Chinese censer (iPhonegraphy)

Morning prayer at Cheng Hoon Teng Temple (iPhonegraphy)

Senior citizen devotee (iPhonegraphy)

Lanterns at a temple in Kampung Pantai (iPhonegraphy)

Sun drying (censored) at Jalan Jawa (iPhonegraphy)

The Daily Fix Cafe (iPhonegraphy)

Stranger at The Daily Fix Cafe (iPhonegraphy)

Paddy (iPhonegraphy)

Morning toast at Lui Chiu Coffee Restaurant in Taman Pertam Jaya (iPhonegraphy)

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Love in paddy field with Ban Kim & Pei Ling

Congratulation to the two lovely people, Ban Kim & Pei Ling who tied the knot early this year, and thanks sharing their journey with us, so much of love and sweetness.

Prior to their wedding ceremony, we had a wonderful portrait with the lovely two at a beautiful and calm paddy field near Ban Kim’s work place in Melaka. Gunung Ledang was sighted from the site, which symbolized the strong bond shared between two people, their loyalty and their friendship.

Thank you again to Ban Kim & Pei Ling for sharing your journey of love with us. You are one of the perfect pairs! Heartfelt congratulation again, have a blissful conjugal life!

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Couple portraiture with Eric & Yan in a beautiful evening (Love+ Photo Artistry)

Congratulation to Eric & Yan who got celebrated the birth of their first baby boy, Raphael. We covered Eric & Yan’s engagement and wedding. And before Yan got pregnant this year, we did a session of couple portrait with the two.

It was a warm evening and we were just in time for the golden sunset. It made a magnificent landscape for the beautiful two, who showed so much love for each other.

The photos here speak for themselves. Thank you again Eric & Yan for choosing us as your photographers and sharing your love with us. We hope to see you again soon with your little prince charming!

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Inspired by the love of Yuan Jun & Hui Jie

Yuan Jun & Hui Jie are both sweet couple full of creativity and DIY ideas, They did most their wedding preparation by themselves. We were invited to photograph their lovely garden wedding at A’ Farmosa Resort Melaka. They did most of their prewedding portraits by themselves during their trips to Ipoh and Muar.

A month before their tea ceremony in Tampin, we were invited to join one of their prewedding sessions at a very ‘Chinese-style’ tea house in Melaka. Yuan Jun was wearing a coat and Hui Jie was dressed in an elegant red Cheong Sam. Both of them were just stunning.

Thank you Yuan Jun & Hui Jie for inviting us be a small part of this fantastic day and sharing your love with us

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Hands on Canon latest flagship DSLR camera, EOS 5DS R and new ultra-wide angle lens, EF 11-24mm f/4L USM at Hideout Coffee with Ms. Vna from Canon Malaysia, CW Tay at the back, and Kenn Wai on the right

The new Canon EOS 5DS R, full-frame 50.6MP DSLR camera

They are in Melaka: Canon EOS 5DS R camera and EF 11-24mm f/4L USM lens.

Last Friday I and good friends, Kenn Wai and CW Tay were invited by Ms. Vna from Canon Malaysia to do a test and review on Canon latest flagship DSLR camera, EOS 5DS R and new ultra-wide angle lens, EF 11-24mm f/4L USM.

We met up at a new cafe, Hideout Coffee just across the road from our studio. We had the review over coffee with Vna. She had this session arranged for the three of us with yummy latte.

A hidden cozy cafe in Taman Kota Laksamana (shot with Canon EOS 5DS R and Canon EF 11-24mm f/4L USM)

Camera vs coffee (shot with Canon EOS 5DS R and Canon EF 11-24mm f/4L USM)

This new full-frame Canon camera features 50.6MP CMOS Sensor with dual DIGIC 6 image processors. I will skip the specification part which is available over Google.

I did a few shots of the cafe, testing the grip, focus, quality of the output, shooting in full Raw which is about 50MB of size per image, and tested the new EF 11-24mm f/4L USM lens. It feels like Canon 5D Mark III.

The uncle at Hideout Coffee was kind. Knowing that we are wedding photographers and doing some test shoot, he helped us to switch on the all the lights of the cafe, and asked us if we required anything to shoot inside. In addition, the barista serves nice coffee.

Kind uncle at Hideout Coffee (shot with Canon EOS 5DS R and Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM)

We enjoyed good coffee on a rainy (shot with Canon EOS 5DS R and Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM)

This ultra-wide angle lens is truly amazing.

Capturing at 11mm however shots were less distorted, out of my anticipation of a ultra-wide angle lens. It was ‘Wow’ to all of us how wide it could cover at 11mm. Despite shooting at f/4 widest aperture with low shutter speed, we needed nothing to worry about minor hand-shake. The advantage of its super wide focal length at 11mm could compensate the minor effect of handshake.

How wide is 11mm, shooting your own feet? (shot with Canon EOS 5DS R and Canon EF 11-24mm f/4L USM)

Minimal distortion at 24mm focal length (shot with Canon EOS 5DS R and Canon EF 11-24mm f/4L USM, no lens correction in post-processing)

Much lesser distortion compared to other ultra-wide angle lenses, even at its widest 11mm focal length (shot with Canon EOS 5DS R and Canon EF 11-24mm f/4L USM, no lens correction in post-processing)

Being one of the widest lenses available now with much lesser distortion and provides super-sharp images, the Canon EF 11-24mm f/4L USM lens is a magnificent lens for landscape and architecture photography. Added to my wish list

Since the test was done with ambient and objects in the cafe, I then requested Vna to be my model so that I could test the quality of skin tone it captures, comparing to 5D mark II which I am using. Reluctantly yet kind Vna agreed.

Vna with her coffee (shot with Canon EOS 5DS R and Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM)

Smile… (shot with Canon EOS 5DS R and Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM)

Relax… (shot with Canon EOS 5DS R and Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM)

With Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM lens mounted to 5DS R, I captured Vna with mainly windows light and ambient of the cafe. Then switched to 5D Mark II with Sigma’s 50mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM, captured Vna again with her precious 5DS R.

Comparing the shots taken with these two system, even with different lens, both cameras captured skin tone with obvious differences. 5DS R delivered a more contrast and color rich tone, compared to 5D Mark II which gave a more pinky and soft skin tone.

Isn’t it cool with 5DS R and a Canon tele-lens (shot with Canon EOS 5D Mark II with Sigma’s 50mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM lens)

Vna with her favorite camera (shot with Canon EOS 5D Mark II with Sigma’s 50mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM lens)

With its gigantic megapixels resolution and superb sharpness performance I read online, I requested to do some test at our studio. Vna again agreed to be our model.

CW Tay had a shooting session going and couldn’t join us. Before he left we captured a big family photo (image on the top of post). At 11mm ultra wide focal length, we could probably capture the whole cafe-full crowd.

So we headed to our studio, Craftify Studio.

Four strobes were setup to photograph Vna who visited our studio for the first time. Kenn Wai helped with the lights while I briefed Vna on the pose. Using Canon 5DS R camera with Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM, we did two postures: half-body and full-body, making the half-body one a formal shot and full-body a fun shot. Vna later described the latter as shopaholic pose. Sniff. Sniff.

Originally Vna (shot with Canon EOS 5DS R and Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM at Craftify Studio)

Vna in shopping mode (shot with Canon EOS 5DS R and Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM at Craftify Studio)

The new Canon EOS 5DS R camera is a great camera for studio photography, especially the sharpness surprised us. Ultra-large megapixels however requires extra work and time for the post processing, as minor retouch will make a big difference visually.

It is a pricey camera however, for photographers who specialize in studio shooting and commercial photography, 5DS R is a good camera to have in arsenal with its large megapixels and sharpness performance. We have yet tested the 5DS R to its full capability and new features. We hope to have more time to review again in near future.

Big thanks to Vna and Canon Malaysia giving us this opportunity to try out this stunning full-frame camera.

May all bEE happy

Some images of Canon EOS 5DS R and Canon EF 11-24mm f/4L USM taken at Hideout Coffee over the session:

Canon EOS 5DS R with Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM

Canon EOS 5DS R’s front view

Canon EOS 5DS R’s rear view

Canon EOS 5DS R with Canon EF 11-24mm f/4L USM lens

Guess whose eyes? (shot with Canon EOS 5DS R and Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM at Craftify Studio)

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Our first experience capturing the stars in Melaka (from left, tiny Vernon, tiny Ee, tiny Kenn Wai, tiny Chow Gui and tiny Jacky)

Often looking at the stunning photographs of Milky Way other landscape and cityscape photographers have taken, such as signature stars shots of Church of the Good Shepherd in New Zealand, Mt. Bromo in Indonesia and etc., I always wanted to do it here in our home town Melaka. I kept survey for locations far from light pollution especially from places away from houses or buildings or traffics, with minimal light visibility.

During an engagement portrait the Klebang beach of Melaka last month, where I was photographing a couple at a sand dune by the beach of the reclaimed land, there were no street lights, no buildings, purely land of sands dug from the sea, piling up like a sand dune desert. It seemed like an ideal place for shooting Milky Way, dark and far from light source.

Hari Raya’s eve was a good day, it was new moon and the weather was good after we checked the forecast. We organized a small group of friends (Kenn Wai, Ee, Vernon, Jacky and Chow Gui) to travel together to kill time and for safety purposes.

When we arrived at site on the evening of eve of Hari Raya, it was very dark and we had to park our cars far from the sand dune, where the tracks of tires ended in sand. It was too risky to drive further in to the sand dune and might get the cars stuck in sand. We carried our gears and walked about 500 meters on a wide open area of sand to the sand dune.

The weather was perfect. No clouds with little breeze, and the sky was absolutely beautiful, filled with stars. We used an IOS app to track the position of the Milky Way. We could see partial of it with naked eyes.

It was 11:00pm, one hour to Raya. The Milky Way was at the south-eastern direction. We setup our gears facing south which was the direction of the Strait of Malacca.

There were three light sources which somehow would pollute our exposure. One from the east, which was a berthing Star Cruise on the Strait of Malacca, and one from the from the west which might be the oil refinery at Tangga Batu’s beach, and lastly the spotlights and street lights from the north which was the Dataran 1 Malaysia ground. Three sources were far from us however could still make impact to the shots.

Our main objective was to capture the Milky Way with sand dune in our composition. As for myself, I was shooting using a Canon 16-35mm f/2.8L II lens. 16mm was the widest range I could get into.

On the first 2 hours of our shooting, it was difficult to capture both Milky Way and sand dune even with 16mm focal length as the Milky Way was high up from the horizon, at about 70 degree. And the spotlights from the Dataran 1 Malaysia ground was annoying even they were kilometers away.

Patiently we tried and tried, from different angles and various camera settings, yet we couldn’t get any ideal shots.

At about 1:00am, the game was changing. The spotlights were switched off. The Milky Way ‘moved’ too, from south-eastern to the south and closer to the horizon, at about 45 degree.

Milky Way and sand dune were in our frame. We continued to capture with long exposure. At last, Milky Way was clearly observable in our camera’s playback. We got it.

It was exciting for everyone of the group especially on this very first attempt. We had fun with shooting the Milky Way, and did some lighting-painting group photo as memory.

There are still lots of things to learn of shooting the stars. Setting up few challenges in the future, I started to follow some stars everyday and read more about landscape and cityscape photography always.

Below is one success shot of mine captured on that Raya’s morning 1:30am. Specially dedicated to all parents of the world!

May all bEE happy.

Milky Way shot at the beach of Klebang in Melaka (Canon 16-35mm f/2.8L II, ISO1000, f/3.5, 30sec exposure)

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Couple sighted under the sunset at the beach of Taman Kota Laksamana (iPhonegraphy)

Gorgeous sunset near the beach of Taman Kota Laksamana, where couples always here and immerse themselves in romance by the sea breeze.

The setting reminded me of the song “Two Less Lonely People in the World” by Air Supply.

May all bEE happy

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KLCC Sky Bridge (iPadgraphy)

A see-through window on the top of the bridge (iPadgraphy)

During an event photography coverage at the Grand Hyatt Hotel KL, the guests were invited to the Malaysian Petroleum Club Restaurant of KLCC for dinner. Most of guests were from overseas and thus they were too invited to to tour the Sky Bridge linked the two towers for the evening KL’s view before meal.

Guests were divided in few groups to access to the Sky Bridge, and we as the event photographers had to stand by at the bridge for each group’s visit. We were glad that we could stay longer at the bridge and enjoy the magnificent view of KL’s evening from the 42nd floor. Our lovely first experience!

May all bEE happy!

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Rear entrance of Backlane Coffee at Jonker Street Melaka (iPadgraphy)

Backlane Coffee is a new coffee place in town recommended by my good friends Eric & Yan. As its name suggests, the cafe is located on rear part of an old building near the stage of Jonker Street where there is a rear entrance access from the back lane between Jonker Street and Hereen Street.

After a few visits, when Singaporean couple Daryl & Su Ann approached us for prewedding portrait in Melaka, we brought them to Backlane Coffee for a short break, relaxed and chilled ourselves in this place full of DIY items and old-fashioned vintage decorations, and filled with aroma of coffee and freshly baked desserts. The place reminded me of the cafe back in Melbourne.

With the consent of the sweet lady boss Shu Lin, we took some portrait with the couple near the large windows of the cafe facing the back lane. Shu Lin told us, we were the first to do portrait over there

If you visit this place, don’t forgot to try the tea in menu besides the good coffee, they too offer variety of sweet homemade macaroons and cakes. Recently some light meals were added to the menu, which I haven’t had a chance to try but I will.

We’d love to share this album from Facebook, of the bridal portrait with Daryl & Su Ann.

May all bEE happy

The post Back lane’s cafe of Melaka, Backlane Coffee appeared first on juesatta (CJ Photography).

Hazy Melaka – view from The Shore (iPhonegraphy)

A nice aerial view of Malaka River and Jalan Munshi Abdullah snapped from highest floor of The Shore Melaka on its opening day. Melaka was covered in haze during the week.

Have a lovely day. May all beings bEE happy.

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Happy Chinese New Year. May you have a goat goat year

愿您与家人新年快乐！在新的一年里，天空一片晴朗，快乐心中徜徉，自由随风飘荡，身体力行健康，奋劲儿热情高涨，顺利成就梦想!

Wishing you and family a goat goat year! May peace, love and joy fill your heart all year round!

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Inspired by the love of Lawrence & Susan

When we heard good news from Lawrence & Susan last week, in which they are getting engaged end of this year, we feel so happy for the both of them. Lawrence & Susan are sweet couple whom last year we had a couple portrait with. It was also the first couple portrait for which Love+ photo artistry family was formed last year.

Lawrence is the prince charming who always carry a sunshine smile and similar to Susan who is a teacher and has beautiful and sweet smile whenever we meet the both of them. Lawrence & Susan had been together for a year before the shoot. Yet we felt so much love in them and between them, for every shutter we clicked in that afternoon, the moment was so authentic and loving.

The evening light was settling deep and golden, amplifying the passion between them. The experience was so magical and powerful.

Thank you again to Lawrence & Susan for sharing their love with us. We are thrilled to share this album with you now!

May all bEE happy.

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