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.

 

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

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

A Man with a shoe

What would you think when you see a man with a shoe in his hand and a camera hanging around his neck? Is he ok?

I think that the questions of pass-by in Damansara uptown today when they saw a man with a shoe in his hand going to a bank. I am also feel weird carrying a my 'Camel' shoe around after I got it repaired.

I have to think fast as we have to go to two more bank namely AmBank and Hongkong Bank. I have to change the pass-by perception on me.

And this is my choice which change the pass-by perception to "Oh, he is a photographer!"

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

Waiting outside the Bank

Is she a Bengal?

A stranger walked to my door on Sunday and this is her first encounter with me. Her face looked like a domestic but her fur looked like a Bengal. Based on my observation, she is an inhouse pet as she always want to enter the house. Beside she do not eat my ever ready cat food near my door.

She is friendly, active, alert and responsive to my call.

Who is she? Is she a Bengal?

I am in her eye. I think she likes me.

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

Along the Way - Change of Plan

Saturday is the day that I am always waiting for. Why?
It's a day of passion and love. It's a day of releasing my desire and passion for the one I love to do that is roaming the Kuala Lumpur Street and capture the life in the street. My initial plan this morning was roaming the street but my wife has another plan which is to accompany his brother to look for a Basic DSLR.

As he is a Canon 60D user, I presumed that he is going for a Canon. Yet I am trying my best to promote Nikon D3200 as the price is within his budget. Lens wise, it's better for him to get a Canon.
Let he decide and I will be his bodyguard.
(Latest update: My wife's brother can not make it as he is not well.)

How about me and my itchy fingres?
I have to release this urge and itchy fingers some how. Thus I have a change in plan.
All these while I have been shooting from a moving car as my wife is driving either day or night, morning or evening. I shoot anything from road accident to nomal vendors by the roadside and I am getting better at it as I have being shooting thousand of images from the car since I was using my Olympus UTough 8010 then Nikon D7000.
The only different the way of how I handle the two system are Olympus UTough 8010 using P Mode while Nikon D7000 using M mode. In Olympus UTough 8010, I normally ramp up the ISO to increase the shutter speed. That's one of the reason, I get a DSLR in the first place. I want more control on my camera setting. While my setting in Nikon D7000 with a good morning sun lighting as of today was Manual Mode, ISO 100, F/4, Shutter Speed: 500s, W/B: Sunny or you may set as Auto, EV-7 and capture in RAW. I capture in RAW because I want to process directly in camera and by the time we reach the office my shots are ready.

How I handle camera in the car?
Normally I hold the camera firm in my right hand and the left hand supporting. Do not support on the window as that will increase your camera shake. Back of my body of the off the car seat to compensate the movement of the car. You become the human camera stabilizer. Relax my body and keep my eyes for the relevant SUBJECT MATTER far before hand as the car is normally moving in the range of 50KM to 100KM per hour. As my wife is a very good driver and the Malaysian Roads are good, so I normally get a smooth ride.

When to squeeze the shutter?
Normally when I see a SUBJECT MATTER in view, I plan, estimate the distance of attack, camera ready. When the subject matter reach the distance of attack, follow through the subject, compose, frame and squeeze shutter. You will be surprise at your composition after alot of practice.

How about Focus and metering Mode?
Ops almost forget the most important issue, if you use the wrong AF the camera can not focus and you can't shoot. I normally use AF-C (Auto Focus - Continuous) with metering mode either matrix, point or weighted, depend on what you want to capture. In AF-A, the camera can not focus and you can not shoot.

These are the images taken with Nikon D7000 with Nikkor 50mm f/1.8G attached that I captured since my breakfast this morning.
All images are not crop unless stated



Breakfast: Nasi Dagang



Choice: Left or Right

 As the car moved at 50km/h, a fruit vendor in view.


Roadside Fruits Vendor

 

The Pole

 As the car moved at 60km/h, a cyclist in view.

Exercise: Cycling



Missing Driver

 The car slow down to 40km/h after the traffic light.

Half Open



Crowded and Dying

 THe car is accelerating to 95km/h. Here I need a burst shot.


Swamp as in the movie 'Platoon' (Crop bottom-to clear orange road block)

Mist and Sunshine - this shot was taken on a misty day at this same location from a moving car. This image is one my TOP 50 according to Flickr's Interestingness.

Construction area and the car slow down to 50km/h

Late for work

 The car is moving down hill at 60km/h.

The car stopped at traffic light.

Advertisment: Commercial Land for SALE

 The car move again and it's getting faster.

Discussion on the Project

 The car is going up hill at 70km/h


Ready to work

The car is going down hill and almost reach the traffic light which is the end of Puncak Alam Expressway.
The cars give way to a group of training cyclists.


Give Way

 I turn and squeeze the shutter as one of cyclist passed our car next to my window.

Out of Focus

After the traffic light, this cyclist seems to be racing with this man in the Blue uniform.

Lets Race

 At the traffic light next to JAYA ONE or next to UIA.

ALL MUST BE SOLD

 When this sign comes in view, we are near to our office at Jalan Universiti, Petaling Jaya.



ONE MIC STAND

A familiar figure.


DON'T SHOOT ME!

Did I capture her picture?
Yes I did but no one recognise her in this image.
My dear sister, don't worry. A photographer always have a way to hide your identity and still can share the image as an art.
May you have a great day.
Happy Weekend and Happy Shooting.

Samantha's Birthday 2012

Today, June 26th is a special day for Samantha. It's her birthday. 

The serenity of the Kuala Lumpur night skyline is perfect view to celebrate her birthday.


View from 22nd floor Endah Promenade.
Camera Setting: 17mm(25mm), f/8, 15s, ISO100



Seng Ping ready a cake for Samantha



Seng Ping lighted the candle.

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SAMANTHA.





Samantha feeds Seng Ping





Birthday Cake



Memory picture with Seng Ping's Father

 

Memory shots with Agnes and Father



And final discussion between Agnes and her father on Seng Ping and Samantha marriage arrangement.

 I think they have to continue some other time as it's a bit late now.



View 22nd Floor Endah Promenade.
Camera Setting: 50mm(75mm),f/2.8, 3s, ISO:100
Lens: Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 VC

Good night May you have a great and peaceful evening.