Model Shoot

Sorry guys if I kinda lack updates these few days. Class started and guess what, its only the end of the third day and it felt like it has been 2 weeks in college. Yes, that is how freakingly stressful just at the beginning of the final semester at Taylors. 4 assignments from 3 subjects will be due in 2+ weeks and time is really running short on us. So, forgive me if the updates slows down a tad.

On a different note, before I came back to K.L., I had a photo shoot with my friend Mary who graciously decided to help me in this style of photography. Model photography is not really what I want to pursue but it is good to practice and improve in it. And it is thanks to the first photo shoot which inspired me to do this one, *click*. However, this one is not a competition. Just having fun. As a new comer in this style of photography, I would like to ask anyone to comment so that I as a person can improve in my photography skills. All comments are welcomed, Positive Or Negative. Seriously, I don't mind.

Location: Ku-Tian Gong Yuan (Ku-Tian Garden), Sibu
Model: Mary
Photographer: Aaron C
Camera: Fujifilm Finepix S9500

I promised I will only put the 3 of my favourite shots for this session. So hopefully she likes it too.

So, What do you think?

P.S.: Thanks Mary for the help.

Byul By Youme

Korean Version:

Param-kyori cha-ngeu-rheun-teul-go
Nae kiman-han cha-gun naye bang wi-ro
Arum-taun-ke pyul-bit-durun
Kaduk chae-wo-chuneyo
Sel-su-obshi manhunt pyul-tu-reun
Ji-chyo-in-nun na-reul oru-man-chimyo
Nae mam-soge katok tamun
Nun-mul tak-ka shu-neyo

Man-hyi apa-ha-ji-ma
Nal kkung anun-chae
Tado-kyojumyo chal-jara
Wero-hae ju-neyo

Goshi mo-thal man-kum
Hime gyowa apa-wado
Nun-muri a-peul kar-yowado
Gatchi-mothan nae sarang apedo
Na usul-lae-yu
Cham-shira-do gyote
Haeng-bo-khaet-don giok-turul
Ga-sume gan-ji-khal-kkeyo
Tunune sunoh-a-jin
Cho pyol-deul-cho-rom yongwonhi

Kkumul kku-deut taka-uneyo
Yu-nu-nhi-do balkun naye byol hana
Nunbu-shi-mi panjja-gimyo
Okkae-wiro naer-yo-wa

Jakku sulpo-hajima
Son kkong chabun-chae
Nal manchyo-jumyo
Tta-seu-hi nal kamssa-shu-neyo

Goshi mo-thal man-kum
Hime gyowa apa-wado
Nun-muri a-peul kar-yowado
Gatchi-mothan nae sarang apedo
Na usul-lae-yu
Cham-shira-do gyote
Haeng-bo-khaet-don giok-turul
Ga-seum-soge gan-chikhal-kke-yo
Tunune sunoh-ajin
Cho pyol-deul-chorom ooohhhh

Na onul-manun anu-royu
Nun-muri kadokchowado
Chogi cho byol-deul-chorom
Na u-seul-lae-yo ooohhhh
Haeng-bokhaet-don giok-modu
Ga-sume gan-ji-khal-kkeyo
Tunune sunoh-a-jin
Cho pyon-deul-cho-rom
Yongwonhi

English Translation:

the wind is shaking the windows,and over my small room,
the stars fill up the sky, shining brightly too many to count,
the stars reassure tired me
they wipe away the many tears that are deep inside me

don’t be hurt too much..they hug me tight and pamper me
and comfort me,
telling me to go to sleep

though I’m exhausted to the point where I can’t walk
though my tears blur my vision
I’ll still smile in front of my love that I’m not able to get

Even though our happy times were short, I’ll treasure it deep inside my heart
like those countless number of stars, forever

My dream is coming. though it is unusual that my one star is bright
it is very bright, even blinding..it comes down to my shoulder
stop being so sad..it holds my hand as it touches me
and gives me a warm hug

though I’m exhausted to the point where I can’t walk though my tears blur my vision
I’ll still smile in front of my love that I’m not able to get

Even though our happy times were short, I’ll treasure it deep inside my heart
like those countless number of stars, forever

Only for today, I won’t cry though my eyes fill with tears
I want to laugh like those stars
Oh~ I want to cherish all my happy moments deep inside my heart
Like those countless number of stars, forever.

Well, I am back in K.L. for my final semester and my first class which starts at 8 a.m. later and here I am listening to Korean music. This song is from the Korean movie "200 Pound Beauty". What a beautiful song...

Well, yawns... I can't be late for the first studio class...... Ciaoz....

In the Garden 2

The sun is shining, I feel happier because somehow, nature is smiling back at me. Today, went to grandmas house again to pick up some bananas she grew. Thank goodness I brought my camera because some of the lotus bloomed for me. When I saw all these beauty in life, it cheered me up. Don't ask me why.. See for yourself....

White lotus





And purple lilies... The pond was full of life and colour.


Lavender flowers....



With lavender butterflies on it... Beautiful....


A field of yellow....


Even the lonely white looks so beautiful under the sun...


I love the garden....
It makes me just want to stay in Sibu....

Haih... But class starts in a few days so bohoo.... Final semester. Stress stress stress.. Need to apply for university, need to write training report, Studio 4, environmental studies, making visa to where ever I am going... Bla bla bla... Thats why I love home... No need to think so much. HAHA....

Well, I went back to my old Kindi today to see my aunt. Well, I didn't study here when I was a kid. But I did spend my afternoons there after my first kindi and came here for play.

And you know what I miss most about my Childhood?


The carefree days when I went to the old playground to play......

Those were the days......

Pictures of the pitchers

Some random fun facts before I start the post.

Yesterday afternoon, I met up with 3 photographers in Sibu to head out to a jungle, some 25 km away from Sibu town at Rantau Panjang to hunt for some pitcher plants. This is not the first time the three photographers went to the place and you can read this at, *click*. Thanks to Philips planning and Bowison Hii ("Bowison Hii is a Fellow with the Royal Photographic Society of London (FRPS) and his prestigious fellowhip was obtained 7 years ago with an outstanding series of 15 pictures of different species of the pitcher plant taken throughout Borneo.") for guiding us to the spot with all this pitcher plants, I got some amazing shots of the jungle life.

How many of you know that Pitcher plants are endangered? How many of you know that Sarawak houses one of the most species of Pitcher plants in the world? When I got there, I was not intrigued only by the numbers of the plants but also, the size....

There were so many types of Pitcher plants everywhere we stepped. So many that we had to watch our steps. Didn't want to step on any of the plants. It was so amazing to see so many in just one spot.

The biggest surprise was this...

The biggest Pitcher plant we found was almost the size of my head.


Adrian (my cousin) also joined us.

Joining photographers like Philip, Steve and Bowison gave me the insight on lighting and ways to "cheat" during photography like bringing a mirror and use it to reflect light to the object you want to take a picture of due to lack of light. It works much better than the flash.

All of the Pitcher plants were unique in its own way. By its shape and size and length.
And sometimes, how they grew is clusters...



We had to be very careful where we stepped because it was everywhere. And I had to keep reminding myself that these plants are endangered. So had to pay attention where I walked and also be alert to spot the interesting ones.


We also had to pay attention to the ones which hung from the trees. Not many, but still when you find some,


It is so worth it. This shot was taught by Bowison. As soon as the sun shined on it, he called out to us to quickly take a shot of this Pitcher Plant. It was moments after we took it, the sun beam shining on these two slowly moved away. Timing is crucial. One moment you got a shot, the next moment, it is lost. So one lesson learned; act fast, snap fast.

After an hour or so in the jungle, we got out to a path and entered another zone to look for wild orchids.

Philip (left) and Steve (right), searching for orchids.



We didn't find many flowering wild orchids but we found some wild berries growing from the trees. It was so dark there that I had no choice but to use my flash.


The only orchid that I found was this one. Which grew on rocky lands. how beautifully it bloomed under the radiant sun.

We left around 430 p.m. with a beautiful sky ahead of us.

The rays were shining through the clouds. Just amazing and beautiful.


These are not photoshop-ped. The rays are real.

The day ended with me having around 300 pictures, dirty shoes and tired feet. But I am really glad to be able too.

If you are interested, please come and visit Sarawak!

Next aim.... Hornbill hunting (photography hunting la), another endangered species. Next holiday perhaps. Anyone have any idea where I can find some? HAHA....

In the garden

So today, while visiting my grandma or Wai Po, I decided to go to her huge huge huge garden to take some critter pictures. I was actually searching for the giant grasshopper I used to hunt for during my childhood. Believe me when I call it a giant because the body length (not inclusive of the out stretched hind legs of the grasshopper) is already 10 cm. And yes, I used to catch it with my bare hands. But sadly to say, because my uncle is doing some landscaping work, the once "Wild" garden is now bare and neat, creating an environment where I no longer am able to find the giant hoppers.

However, managed to take some micro shots of the creatures which I found while walking in the garden. And, not being a biologist or insect researcher, I have no idea what are some of the insects.

*Attention, if you do not have a strong stomach for insects and creatures, please CLOSE this window now.*

But please enjoy the pictures.

Close encounter..... "Beware.... Human spotted!"

"Strike a pose!" "Cheeeeeeessssseeeeee!"

"Dear Lea,
This is what you will be returning to in December. It may not look like much now, but I believe it will loke beautiful in another 6 months. Your dad is doing a great job. There is a small pond with beautiful flowers and lotus and lillies which are growing slowly day by day as I write this......

Aaron"

P.s. Hopefully I get to push you into the pond. HAHAHA....

I was just joking. But the top part is true.

The pond used to be where my grandpa used to stock the timber he sold at his factory.
Timber piled up = roddents = Snakes (poisonous and non-poisonous) in the area. But now, it is cleaned up after the timber were slowly sold and transported back to the factory after the my grandpa passed away back in 2000. I miss him dearly. I guess he is proud of what the land is transforming into.

My childhood playing on the piles of timber with my cousins then later getting scolded by mum and warned of snakes and blah blah blah are still so vivid in my mind. I miss the old days. SO carefree..... But now, its my Haven for photography. The pond now houses creatures like frogs, fish, various species of insects and plants. I sat there for nearly an hour under the hot sun to capture some of the living creatures. Its like the "Wild" in the town.

My grandma loves growing fruits and giving us to eat. And one of her prized fruit in the whole garden is the dragon fruit. Did you ever wonder how these weird fruits grew? Well, here are the pictures to show you the progression of the growth of the fruit.

Hope you get it... Well, its not instant okay.. For those who thinks it is..... I am just lucky to find all the different progression today. The fruit, according to my grandma and mum is super duper sweet.



And have you seen pomelo on trees before? Well, at least I know what fruit I will be eating this week.


And of course, BANANAS!!!! And my grandma have a few clusters which she needs to give out fast!


Good news is, this is just practice... Tomorrow afternoon, I will venture into a jungle and hunt for pitcher plants with some of the photographers in Sibu. I just can't wait. But I am glad the pictures turn out great today. My camera is back with a clean lens, a new set of batteries and a new CF card with 2 GB of memory... Jungle, here I come!!!

Those who wants to join, please contact me here or just meet me at Jubilee park at 2:30 PM sharp! See you there.....

Oh yea.. Please comment on the photos....