KL Street Photographers: Meet and Street 2

KL Street Photographers group had their second Meet and Street event on Saturday, April 26th, 2014 of which I am doubt of joining in the beginning as we have planned our own KL Street Photowalk.02 following our good KL-Street Photowalk.01 outing on April 12th.
The good memory and the friendship which we foster during our KL Street Photographers First Gathering in September last year melt my heart and with heavy heart we cancelled our outing and join the KL Street Photographers event instead. From the abyss of my heart, I am really sorry for the nine wonderful friends and passionate photographers who had responded of going for the KL Street Photowalk.02.
The KL Street Photographers Meet and Street 2 started off with the gathering at MacDonald, Bukit Bintang on the 1st Floor but some seems to confuse of the place of meeting. We are sorry for being not more specific of the place of meeting. Rosli Natiman aka Wak Li, dear friend, I am sorry.
I was moving around meeting wonderful passionate photographers whom I admired for their passion and sacrifice for the art. I love the friendly and cheerful faces of the old and the new faces alike and willingness to share their passion with each others. As an event photographer, I moved around a lot and seek for those lost their ways and later I understood that organizers namely Nick Wade and Luke Ding had divided the photographers into four groups which is very good for better street walk and shoot approach. Luke Ding informed me that I am free to choose and I choose Raja Indra Putra group which consist of Scott Chung, Alvin Lau, Leong and the man in Blue.
I am very active in Flickr as there is where I share and store my images for EVERYONE to view and I have created one particular group for KL Street Photographers to pool our good images. At the moment, I promise to comment every images and critique ONLY upon request. Feel free to JOIN if you are on Flickr. By the way, Flickr gives 1 Terra bytes FREE. If you want unlimited storage, then you have to pay extra.


Here are the my journey images and the images taken during the event.

All images taken with Olympus OMD E-M5 and lens 12-50mm f3.5-6.3, 45mm f1.8 and flash FL-600R.

My Journey begin at Kelana Jaya LRT Station

Saturday Photowalk .01

I have been walking the street of Kuala Lumpur alone most of the time since I started street and candid photography end of 2011. At one time, I was walking the street with a talented street photographer Ivan Tan (Flickr's name Foxama) until his work takes more of his time. He may join me again in the future. I also joined others like the Olympus Photowalk organised by a well-known blogger and Street Photographer Robin Wong which introduced me to Pudu Wet Market. I have many good things to tell about Pudu Wet Market but most memorable one, it's a Street Photographer's paradise.

What drives me to walk alone in the street and shoot?
Two powerful active words: Interest and Passion.

When you have interest, you tend to dig deep into what you are doing, learn whatever it takes to be the best you can, practice the technique until it become yours, sharpen your tools until you know when you lift your camera you are 100% sure you will capture what you WANT as it is already drawn in your mind. It's like in the martial art, when you strike the target; actually you are going through the target and are one with it.

When you have passion, your do not use much of your brain but your heart which move you beyond the limit of your brain. You brain said with reason, "You cannot do it because .....", but your heart which engulf with passion said, "There is no mountain too high to climb, no current too strong to swim." That's make you a passionate person and you shoot with passion. You do not need others to push you as you have the push from within yourself. Your friends may move on but your passion keeps you going and shoots the more.

Being having these two tenets and I am selfish if I do not share them as it is a gift from the One who created me.

Hence that give me a thought of sharing with my fellow street photographers that gift and last week I posted on my Flickr (KL Street Photowalk) and Facebook (Saturday Photowalk ) which open to all. This is just the beginning and more bi-monthly street photowalk will follow.

Why Bi-monthly? That is the final agreement with my wife for me to have date with people on the street. In marriage life, a promise with your wife is very important.

My time of walking in the KL street always start at 9.45AM as agreed with my partner. We start from home at 8.00AM. After having breakfast with my beloved wife at a Malay stall in Puncak Alam, she drives to Petaling Jaya, she drops me at Kelana Jaya and I take a train from Kelana Jaya LRT Station at 9.10AM to Pasar Seni LRT Station. Last saturday, I should be late as the train was having a technical problem yet I am in time. Thanks God for that good timing.

The street photographers and student photographers participated in the KL Street Photowalk were Mahfuz Jaafar aka My JumpStreet (a seasoned street photog), Rosli Natiman aka Wak Li (Flickr & FB's friend), Chek Mat's student which comprised of Naufal Nasir, Aiman Ariffin and their friend and last but not least my fellow Sarawakian from Sibu, Alifga Wausin Alwie.

We covered Petaling Street and its surrounding area, Jalan Masjid India and Jalan TAR with three stops for two drinks, one lunch and fellowship to share our passion on street photography during those stops.

The Walk and shoot was good (could be better) and the mood was great. Everyone seems to be enjoying their time in the street except I was walking too fast which I need to improve. I still need to improve with walking in a group as most of the time I walk alone and I walk fast and shoot fast.

Note: Mahfuz Jaafar and I have created our own group on Flickr namely Malaysian Street & Daily Life (Documentary) and KL Street Photographers respectively. Should you want to join these Flickr group, you are most welcome.

Here are some of the images taken during the Saturday Photowalk.

All images taken with Olympus OM D E-M5 and lens m.zuiko 12-50mm f3.5-6.3 and 45mm f1.8

My train delay due to technical problem

KL Photowalk: Petaling Street-March 8th, 2014

It's a hot clear day on the Saturday, March 8th and we continued our shooting spree to Petaling Street in the hope that we will meet some of the Fotografi Jalanan Malaysia's (FJM) member whom were having their Photowalk Event on this same day. We parked our car at a Methodist Church compound and walked toward Petaling Street to continue our shooting adventure.
We could not see any of FJM members at Petaling Street or we could not recognise them. Maybe next round we will meet them.

Earlier on at Pudu Street, Joey Tai lended me his precious M.Zuiko 17mm f/1.8 which I felt it's very good for documentary shooting or environmental portrait. Based on my previous shooting with 12-50mm f3.5-6.3, most of my focal length were at 19mm to 25mm (38mm - 50mm on 35).
17mm f/1.8 good for shooting from the hip though.

Here are the images that I captured during our walk at Petaling Street.

All images taken with OM-D E-M5 and lens 12-50mm f3.5-6.3

Dancing in the street

KL Photowalk: Pudu Street - March 8th, 2014

I thought it's over with Pudu Wet Market but later I realised that we have to walked all the way back to our car. Along the way back we come across these characters which attracted me.

Here are the 2nd part of Pudu Photowalk.

All images taken with Olympus OM-D E-M5 and lens 12-50mm f/3.5-6.3 and 17mm f/1.8 which belong to Joey Tai



Joey Tai ready to capture me in action.



KL Photowalk: Pudu Wet Market - March 8th, 2014

As I turned around searching for my friend, Joey Tai's car, I saw as a man waving from inside a car parked at the arrival portion of KL Central. My heart cried with joy and thought, "That must be Joey Tai!" whom I never meet physically. Sure enough and as I approached the car, the man in car beaming with friendly smile wave with his hand invite me to come into his car.

At that moment, I lost my surrounding including the car, I only concentrated on this man like a detective in a movie. Friendly smiles and apprearance, soft tone and commanding voice, his words were straight and selective with no bad words which indicate that he must be a very good example father to his children. Ah! I thought, I have a good new friend here! Further on as we drive towards Pudu, he drives with confident which indicate that he knows this city road like the back of his hands and his driving is skill is superb.
That is abit of my new shooting buddy, Mr. Joey Tai.

How about his shooting? Go to Joey Tai's Facebook and see for yourselves as photograph speaks louder than words.

This is my second time, shooting at Pudu Wet Market and the first was during Olympus Malaysia Photowalk back in December 2013. which was organised by Olympus malaysia and led by Robin Wong and his team. My first outing was more of an event coverage which I loved to do and getting close to subject for portrait shots.

This time around, I will concentrate on capturing the moment in the subject's daily life at the wet market without any posed shot. I may stage some of the shot (the last shot with birds) and let the characters enter into the scene but without stop and pose for me. Lights and perspective will play the major role in my shooting which I believe with give something extra to the photograph but not to ignore the facial expression and the mood of the moment.

Here are some of the images that I took during the photowalk last Saturday, March 8th.

All images taken with Olympus OM-D E-M5 and lens 12-50mm f/3.5-6.3 and Joey Tai's lens 17mm f/1.8.



Car Park Ticket Machine

KL Photowalk: March 8th 2014 - KL Central

I have planned this photowalk specially for my fellow St. Ignatius Church's photographers who wish to have a feel of street photography and have fun along the way. I can explain to them the theory but I believe in the street itself gives them a better understanding.

I knew about the Photowalk organised by Fotografi Jalanan Malaysia which I longed to join but my own plan has to go on. Beside my time at 9.30AM and their time 7.30AM is a bit out. My transport depend on my wife and I can not force her to come earlier that the time she had decided.
Maybe one I will join their walk.

My initial tavelling plan was from Kelana Jaya LRT Station with a stop at KL Central for a few shots of street images and then head for Brickfield Monorail Station with some more shots. Then from Brickfield Monorail Station take a train to Berjaya Times Square.
Follow by a walk on foot while shooting any intersting characters or activities on the street from Berjaya Times Square to Pudu Wet Market. Pudu Wet Market will be our main shooting area.

At the eleven hour, they decided not to go as that same Saturday night, there will be a Church Event namely RCIA 2013/2014 Rite of Election. By the way, I am also one of the photographer that will shoot that night. Well, passion is a very strong motivation.

I kept my mind on going and on the same late Friday night a fellow street photographers from KL Street Photographers group whom I knew as Joey Tai who is also an Olympus OM-D shooter but never meet him before, called me on another event called 'Holi - Festival of Colours'. He ask me whether I am interested and told him that I am not free for the shooting and ended with "I am going to Pudu Wet Market this Saturday."

The next thing I know, I have a new shooting buddie. The plan changed and he will pick me up at KL Central instead. KL Central is not my area and one area with another is almost the same at KL Central.

While waiting and looking for Joey's car, here's my shots to cool the day.

All images taken with Olympus OM-D E-M5 and 12-50mm f3.5-6.3

Photowalk: Chow Kit Wet Market

Last Saturday, I made my first lone Photowalk for the year 2014. Initially I plan to walk with my fellow street shooter, Ivan Tan but he could not make it as he works on Saturday.

As I used to be a Lone Street Shooter, I continued with my plan. My walk will start from the Pasar Seni LRT Station and the route will cover Petaling Street, Pasar Karat, Jalan Masjid India, Jalan TAR, Chow Kit and the Chow Kit Wet Market. I will be back to Pasar Seni LRT Station via the same route.

Choice of gear:
I carried both Nikon D7000 + 50mm f1.8G and Olympus OMD E-M5 + 12-50mm f3.5-6.3

I start of with Nikon D7000 + 50mm f1.8G as my main theme is Street Portrait beside the low lighting in the Wet Market required the wide aperture.

All images taken with Nikon D7000 + 50mm f1.8G



Tourist | 1/200 F1.8 ISO800

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.

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.

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

 

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.

First Shutter Therapy with a Flickr's friend

I always wonder how is it to do shutter therapy as Robin Wong called this exercise with a partner as I always walked the street to shoot as a Lone Ranger and I shoot at will. Actually I am very excited to walk the street and shoot with others as sometime I can lost in my own world when the camera is in my hand. I can be very focus and passionate in what I am doing until I lost the sense of the real world even the pain that I endured. That's the magic of camera which can transform me into someone else completely.

All images taken with Nikon D7000 with lens AF-S Nikkor 50mm f/1.8G
All images captured in RAW format and convert to JPEG format using in-camera preset setting.

Last Saturday, I walked the street with my talented Flickr's friend by the name of Foxsama aka Ivan Tan.  Actually we never meet before and I do not know how he looks like. In this suspense time, I started my shooting alone.
 

Street Transporter

(I captured this image using a direct attack method where I run from the other side of the road. Then squat in front of his on-coming route, compose, frame and shoot. Give a thumb up and walk away. Later I was informed by Ivan that he is a bit nasty some time.)

Hopefully I will capture him on my camera in the process.