Olympus Malaysia Photowalk: Walk continues

Part 2: The walk continues for the participants of the Olympus Malaysia Photowalk.
As we walk on toward the Pudu Wet Market, we have more opportunities to take pictures as the people in the street seems to be approachable and friendly. They are camera friendly.

Here are some of the participants action and photos taken during the walk.

All images taken in RAW with Olympus OMD E-M5 and kit lens 12-50mm f/3.5-6.3

Olympus Malaysia Photowalk: Pudu Wet Market

Olympus Malaysia had organised a photowalk session at Pudu Wet Market, Kuala Lumpur last Sunday which led by Robin Wong and assisted by two of his team mates from Olympus Malaysia.

This is my first time to venture into Pudu Wet Market as my normal hunting ground are Petaling Street, Jalan Masjid India, Jalan TAR and Chow Kit Road. I recommend this place if you are not ready to be scolded or not have gut to shoot with your DSLR through the view finder.

The session start at 8.30AM and I was sent to Pudu Plaza which is our gathering place by my beloved wife Agnes Ngieng. At first I thought of walking from Pasar Seni LRT Station to Pudu Plaza as she told me the night earlier that she will leave me at Kelana Jaya LRT Station. Praise the Lord, she have better plan for me.

When I arrived at the Pudu Plaza, no one was there accept for one man whom I later know as Mr Khoo Beng Kai. We think that we are the early bird but Robin and his group were having breakfast nearby.

Later we joined Robin, Carmen, Ms Lim Pek Yah and one handsome guy (sorry forget your name) at their table.

All images taken in RAW with Olympus OMD E-M5 and kit lens 12-50mm f/3.5-6.3

Breakfast time: Pek Yah, Carmen, Robin and Orangeman.

Tan Tiong Choon: Old face with Passion

Thanks God for this beautiful sunny Saturday morning with a nicely formed clouds and superb blue sky. As plan, we go for our Perkeso Medical check up at BP Healthcare in Taman Sea. This is no connection with my earlier visit to Assunta Hospital as Assunta visits were purely on the matters of the Heart.

Yesterday at Assunta Hospital, I met Mr Thon Lek, one my admired wonderful people whom I long to follow their footstep. Today after completed our test, we went for breakfast at UPtown and an old couple came in and guess who.....

It's another passionate people whom I admired whom I have not meet for years. I knew him as a very talented and passionate manager who can do anything either in marketing or sales. He can even relieve his boss for almost a year without any problem. When you meet him, you can be sure that the fire and passion within still burning strong.

His name is Mr Tan Tiong Choon.

His advice: Keep on exercise and keep a healthy lifestyle.

Sir, I always salute you! May God bless you and your wife with good health and joy of hearts.

 

John Ragai shutdown and rise again

As my earlier promise to you, my dearest friends who were eager to know what actually happen to me which lead to my visit to Assunta Hospital. I will share with you my life experience since last Saturday, Oct 16th 2013.

Actually I was banned from shooting in the street by my beloved wife as sometimes I can be carried away in my street shooting and chasing after the pickpocket in October was not of her liking. Due to her love for me and my passion in street photography, she allowed me to roam the street again on Saturday, November 16th.

On that Saturday, I sensed that I am not well and I took one soluble panadol with a bottle of mineral water as an insurance. But I WANT to go for the street photography whatever it takes.

I have a good times doing shutter therapy at Petaling Street, Jalan Masjid India, Jalan TAR and Chow Kit Road. I covered these areas from 9.45AM to 2.30PM but the rain started to fall when I returned back from Chow Kit. Upon reaching Masjid Jamek LRT Station, I am wet and I love it as I have more subject to shoot in the rain and I love reflections on the road. But the rain took a tool on me.

St Ignatius Church got talents

This is Part Two of the 25th SIC Anniversary Family Fiesta 2013.
Let's continue with what St Ignatius Church has to offer. Rough observation during the event, I would say SIC got plenty of talents.
I am glad that they showcase their talent during this beautiful event which marked the 25th year the existance of St Ignatius Church. Proud to say that SIC is my Church, my place of worship and fellowship.

Let's meet this wonderful talents that grace the event and entainment the Church as a whole.

All images taken with Olympus OM D E-M5 and lens 12-50mm f/3.5-6.3

Norah Khor, a freelance artist and she is also a part of our SIC Scripture Study Group.

25th SIC Anniversary Family Fiesta 2013

As the days come near for the 25th St Ignatius Church (SIC) Anniversary Family Fiesta 2013, I have to make a decision on the gear which I have to take the photograph during this special event. The choice is either Nikon D7000 and lens Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 VC which I have used during ALL my previous official Church events or company events OR make a change with my new Olympus OM D E-M5 with it's kit lens 12-50mm f/3.5-6.3.

Some of my friends said the OM D E-M5 kit lens is good but not good enough for official assignment. They suggest that I better get 12mm f/2.0 and 45mm f/1.8 for performance in low light and better image quality. I want to have those two awesome lens if I can but my pocket is very shallow and very tight on the budget. Beside I have finished off my 2013 budget for camera and lens.

I am a jungle man and a martial artist. Normally the limitation gives me a push to bring out my best in doing of what I have to do. That's why I opted for the Olympus OM D E-M5. It's a challenge.  In the midst of all these, I have a thought like "If Robin Wong can do it 90%, I can do it 10% is already very good."

The event was great and the shooting was fantastic but when I open the images on my Notebook that Sunday night, I am doomed. ALL the photographs that I have taken during the event were horrible.
I cried out, "Oh My God! I need help."
First thought come to my mind, first thing in the morning I have to contact Robin Wong for console or any help he can give to at least how to make this images look better. I prefer shooting right than editing later. My Church Web Editor will screw me and his confident on this Olympus OMD E-M5 will surely drop as I am promoting this tool to him. I could not sleep that night, worrying of what I have done for being so confident in this new tool.

But when Monday came, I uploaded the same images to my PC and this is what I get which I will share with you. Appreciate your comment on these images for my growth. Beside you may go to my Flickr to view the the Out Of Camera version.

All images taken with Olympus OM D E-M5 and lens 12-50mm f/3.5-6.3 and no flash.

Road Accident: Puncak Alam Highway

It's Saturday, November 9th, 2013, a hazy cloudy day. Not good for colour photography but good for Black and White.

As we drove along Puncak Alam Highway early this morning, the traffic was slow down due to an accident at the junction going into Fairy Park. I did not witness the accident, I presume that the motor vechiles involved could not break in time that cause the accident based on the damage incurred.

Note: Camera setting still using my last night setting at ISO 1600..too fast to think of setting...lucky my fingers auto set the mode to P.

Images taken with Nikon D7000 and lens 50mm f/1.8G



The scene of the accident

OMD E-M5 with Filter Art#5: Grainy Film

Thursday morning is special day for me as there will be Thursday Morning Wet Market at Jalan Universiti. I never missed this wet market not because I want to purchase vegetables or fishes but just to walk and take photography of the life at the wet market.

This particular morning, I have decided to used OMD E-M5 internal Art Filter # 5 which is Grainy Film.

These images was taken with OMD E-M5 and lens 12-50mm f/3.5-6.3 and engaged Art Filter #5
All images without any further adjustment or editing except resize to 1024.

Into the Light

 

Surabaya: Coban Rondo Waterfall

One of the interesting place which I visited during our last trip to Surabaya was Coban Rondo Waterfall which is located at Pandesari village, Pujon District which is about 32 km away to the West from Malang.

Coban Rondo waterfall is a beautiful waterfall on the slope of Mount Panderman and the height of waterfall is about 60 meter. The small stream flow from the foot of the waterfall is a very good spot for slow shutter speed photography. The surrounding scenery are also very scenic for portrait photography though the light is abit low.

On that particular day, the weather was not good, cloudy and drizzling.

Place of interest: I would recommend this beautiful place should you visit Surabaya, Indonesia.

Here are some of of the images taken with Nikon D7000 and lens Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 VC.

Coban Rondo Waterfall

Chasing Spider Session with OMD E-M5

Chasing Spider Session as I called it is actually my mind relaxing and patience enhancement excercise which other photographers called Macro Photography or mere close to nature time.

Why chasing spider?
Many times I have told my friends that I will NEVER buy a macro lens for my Nikon D7000 and true enough I do not buy any so far. Psst! Budget constraint also as one of the factor. But I never knows what lays ahead when we bought another camera Olympus OMD E-M5 which come a macro capability lens 12-50mm f/3.5-6.3 EZ (splash proof lens).
That was back in April 2013 and ever since I practice my skill daily in chasing spiders as spiders are the easiest insect to find at the back of the office where I work. Trust me, if you want to master or good in one thing, you have to practice and practice and dig some more information to make that one technique suits your way of shooting.

Sound crazy right?
Well, that's how we master a simple technique in Tae Kwon Do to make it a deadly single blow. No other way but PRACTICE until it's yours.

Location: Behind our office in Petaling Jaya.

Gear for this Spider Chasing session are:
Camera Body: Olympus OMD E-M5
Lens: Kit lens 12-50mm f/3.5-6.3 EZ
Flash On-camera as flash trigger: Olympus FL-LM2 Flash
Flash Off-camera : Nikon Speedlight SB910 (set as SU-4 Remote)

(Note:If you are really serious to grow, Robin Wong blog is a very good place to start.)

Lets walk and meet our tiny friends.
Wait a minute....Spider is a very shy creature and it senses the motion which trigger it to hide behind the leave or under small stick. Walk like a cat hunting for it's food...slow, silent but super alert.

Lynx Jumping Spider lives in your garden.

PJ Section 17: Thursday Morning Wet Market

I am always itchy to shoot either weekdays or weekend, morning or evening or anything in between. Capturing photo for me is something that I have to do everyday in order to practice and grow in photography. It's the push from within, it's a scream from within and it's something others called passion. When you did not do it, you feel reckless and powerless but when you do it, the whole world is yours. You can do anything and your confident sky high. That's what I get when the camera is in my hand.
Why this happen to me? I think when you drink too much fermented water you get drunk and transform you into a new person and that fermented water is photography. It's very addictive if you are striving for your best from within. When the best come forth, satisfaction is overwhelming even when your body is dead tired.
How I release this desire to shoot daily?
In my case, it's real easy as office is in Petaling Jaya and before office hours I can go to daily morning market at Taman Sentosa, Section 17, PJ and also to Thursday Morning Wet Market at Jalan Universiti.

All images taken with Nikon D7000 and Nikkor AF-S 50mm f/1.8G

The walk begins

Olympus: OM D E-M5 meets OM D E-M1

Early morning of Saturday, September 14th 2013, I was really excited of what to expect during our KL Street Photographers' First Gathering.

Which camera to bring Nikon D7000 or Olympus OM D E-M5? Do I need to bring flash as it is an event? Do they allow me to capture the moment? I just can not sit still when there is an event. What activities they have in store? Street Walk and shoot before and after the gathering?!

In the end, I packed all the tools (2 camera, lens and flash) I have in my camera bag with a bottle of boiled water. Still I prefer 100Plus when I am really thirsty.

I started off with Olympus OM D E-M5 with it's kit lens 12-50mm f/3.5-6.3 as that's the only lens I have which I intend to utilize to the fullest. In the future, I may add two more lens for lower lighting condition and longer focal reach.

Let's follow my journey for the day and see who I have met and what I have seen along the way.

All images taken with Olympus OM D E-M5 with Lens 12-50mm f/3.5-6.3

Breakfast with Nasi Dagang which is very famous in the East Coast of West Malaysia.

KL Street Photographers: First Gathering 2013

KL Street Photographers which make up of various genre of photographers who come together and have passion to capture in the street either in characters, action, daily life, joy and sadness or just buildings and motor vehicles.

Their reaction and reflects are lightning fast as of the gunfighters of the old wild west. Their precision and timing are as the archers of Robin Hood's days. And yet their minds are faster than the best computer ever build in composing and framing their subject matters. Their eyes are always alert as the bird of prey. Their survival instinct are as sharp as the fighter in the ring. The best of all, they shoot with a smiling faces and friendly gestures. Some may despise them but some gave them thumb up. They are real passionate people who really fall in love in their photography passion.

Last Saturday, September 14th will be remembered by them as special as on that day they have their First Gathering at Coliseum Cafe & Hotel, Jalan TAR, Kuala Lumpur.

All images taken with Olympus OMD-EM5 & lens  12-50mm f/3.5-6.3 and Nikon D7000 & lens 50mm f/1.8G

Robin Wong with Rees

Robin Wong with Luke Ding, Nick Wade and Kelvin Ng

 

Luke Ding: Let's move inside

Luke Ding is the man of the moment cum Organiser for this event

 Entering the Coliseum Cafe

Interior of Coliseum Cafe & Hotel

Nick Yoon shares his awesome works in a form of photobook.

Nick Wade has a tough choice: E-M1 and E-M5

Nick with OMD-E-M1 + 45mm f/1.8

The Camera Man: Dom

All eyes on the two OMDs: E-M1 & E-M5

Nick with Dominic's tools

ChokPing gets a feel of OMD-E-M1

Mun Keat on e-communication

Best of Friend: Yeow & Scott

Luke Ding: Bill, please.

Photographer in Action

Robin Wong leaves the cafe

Time to leave

Thank you all for the special occasion. Thank you, Luke Ding for inviting me to be part of the group.
Thank you, Robin Wong for the walk.

Should my itchy fingers offended you, dear friend, forgive me. I just could not sit still when my camera is in my hands. Beside I just love event shooting.
Hope to see you all again in the future.

Safouene joined our Street Walk

This is our Shutter Therapy Session #4. Normally Ivan and I roamed the street of Kuala Lumpur but this time, an internship candidate from France named Safouene Kallel joined our team. Actually I met Safouene in the KL Streetphotographers' group on Facebook. I am glad that he want to join us as most of the time I have been roaming the street of Kuala Lumpur alone (before Ivan joined me) looking for interesting and worth capturing images. Sound crazy but for me that's PASSION.

As usual we will cover Petaling Street, Jalan Masjid India, Jalan Tun Abdul Rahman, Jalan Chow Kit and Dataran Merdeka.

How long that walk will take?
Normally we start at around 9.45AM to 3.00PM which include rest when we feel tired or too hot.

I choose Saturday because my wife can go to work while I can do my street photography. Later I can have shower at the Church around 4.10PM and attend evening mass at 6.00PM. That's is my whole plan for the day.

All images taken with Olympus OMD-EM5 and kit lens 12-50mm

Safouene waiting for me at the Pasar Seni LRT Station

As Safouene has arrived, lets start the journey...

Nikon walks with Olympus - OMD-EM5

In my previous post Nikon walks with Olympus - D7000, all images were taken with Nikon D7000 and its 50mm f/1.8G lens. We continue the journey with the images taken with Olympus OMD-EM5 and its weather sealed kit lens 12-50mm f/3.5-5.6 which also has macro capability.

Based on experience during my previous shutter therapy session, I set my OMD-EM5 as follows:

Exposure Mode: Shutter Priority (previous outing Aperture Priority), Mettering Mode: Matrix, Shutter Speed: 1/200, White Balance: Auto, ISO: Auto, AF-Continuous and let the camera do the rest.

Some Street Photography sifu advise for shutter speed at 1/500 but I think with this lens 1/200 is good enough for me.

Why Shutter Priority(SP) and not Aperture Priority(AP)? Previous outing show that when AP was used, shutter speed can go down below my hand-shake threshold in some area of the street which resulted in a blurr image.

 

Question: Is this shutter speed at 1/200s good enough?

Let's walk with me and see..

Nikon walks with Olympus - D7000

In my previous Shutter Therapy session #2 with a partner Ivan Tan, I forced myseld to use Olympus OMD-EM5 as my only tools for the session.
Now on my Shutter Therapy Session #3 with a partner, I am more comfortable with both system hence I gave Nikon and Olympus to walk together again on the street.
In the first part of the journey, I will post images taken with Nikon D7000 with lens AF-S 50mm f/1.8G.

Nikon gives me the intimacy and full contact with the subject matter. It also gives me the sense of being there with subject matter and connected to their soul. I love this tools (D7000+50mm) as I really immerse myself in the life of the people in the street.

Lets walk and experience of what I meant.

Shutter Therapy with OMD-EM5

My First Shutter Therapy Session in the street of Kuala Lumpur with OMD-EM5 was not working very well as I am also bringing along my Nikon D7000 with lens  AF-S Nikkor 50mm f/1.8G.

I hate to say this but I am lacked of discipline as halfway through the session, I switched back to Nikon D7000 of which I am more familiar.

But this time around, I forced myself to use Olympus OMD-EM5 as I leave my Nikon D7000 at home. I have no choice but using Olympus OMD-EM5.

My partner during the Shutter Therapy Session is a talented fellow street shooter Ivan Tan.

All images taken with Olympus OMD-EM5 and kit lens.

Masjid Jamek

It's a beautiful day with bright sun and beautiful clouds to start with.

Dinner at YAMA & J Japanese Restaurant-Jaya One

In the morning, I was informed by my wife that we are going for dinner at a newly opened Japanese Restaurant at Jaya One. I wonder which one...

It's Yama & J Japanese Restaurant which located at Lot M-6-1, Palm Square, 72A Jaya One, Jalan 13/6 Petaling Jaya.

Images taken with Nikon D7000 with lens 50mm f/1.8G and OMD-EM5 with kit lens.



The Entrance