Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 VC for Street Photography

This is my 3rd weekend using my new Tamron SP AF 17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di II VC LD IF which I have bought for my Church event photography.

I brought it to the street to familarize myself with the lens and give a try on the street. It's wider angle gives me more room to capture bigger scene beside the main subject. As for my normal lens Nikkor 50mm f/1.8G is smaller angle but much lighter.

You need more guts to use 50mm as you have to point directly to your subject whereas with Tamron SP AF 17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di II VC LD IF you can aim at something else and yet you still capture your intention target.

But something is missing!!! You do not feel the fun and excitement of the moment. You take the photograph without emotion. Thus I still prefer 50mm with 17-50mm be used when additional details needed to enhance the subject story telling.

Here are some of my shots during the weekend which I captured around Petaling Street and Jalan Masjid India.

Camera: Nikon D7000
Lens: Tamron SP AF 17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di II VC LD IF

Reflection: Seeing is deceiving

Graffiti on the move

Against the Tide

Child's Curiosity

Walk with Confident

Life Crisis

 I felt really sorry for this man of whatever his life crisis maybe.


Collision

If we lost focus in life, we may end up collided with each wants and war begins.

Knees give way

When we get older, the knees seems to be the signal of being old.

Negotiation

And yet some are still going for IT.

Get lost

Some subjects on the street are not happy when you took their picture and show you the sign by their facial expression.

Smile

And yet some subjects just smile at you.

Whatever reaction or facial expression or hand sign that you get on the street, they are part and parcel of being a Street Photographer.

Your respond: Always smile and a big thank you with thumb up.

The Stage

 With wide angle you can set your own stage and let the characters filled in.

She is waiting for me?

I captured this lady because she always smile in my direction as I head for Pasar Seni LRT Station. May she mistaken me of someone else.


Train arrival

When the train arrived, I know it's time to head for home. I have a great time with lots of fun and make a few new friends during this 'Know the Street Session'.
Hope to see you again in my next session. Appreciate your comment. Thank you.

Snatch thief at St Ignatius Church

Snatch thief at St Ignatius Church?
"This can not be happening in the Church's area" was my first response when the Church security guard informed me about the incident late Monday night on June 11th, 2012.

I was just finished my offering of prayer to our late brother Alda Evan Tan whose body was in the parlour and I was waiting for my wife relate to me the incident.

According to the security guard, the victim was also coming for the same purpose that is to offer prayers to the decease.

This is how it happen as per the security guard.

A man on a motor cycle rode into the church compound whom he recognised as a young Malay guy. The guard told motorbike rider not to park his motorbike in the church's car park. The man on the motorbike respond with "OK" as he made a U turn and rode out of the Church compound.

A lady with her hand bag hanging on her shoulder was standing next to the gate which was also next to the guard house. She maybe waiting for someone there.

As the motorcycle passed the gate, the motorbike rider grabbed the lady's handbag and rode off.

Ops!! So easy to be conned and rob!

Further the security guard told me that he could not see the motorbike's plate number and he just pointed to the CCTV camera hoping that the camera captured something. I doubt that as it was quite dark.

Lesson to be learned:
Ladies, watch out for your handbag. Keep it close to your body. Keep it on the inside of the road when you walk on the road..
Man, Watch out for your ladies.

I wonder why human are so desperate out there? Is there no other job available or just lazy to get a job?

No body is to be blame but we have to look at the source of these social challenge.

Parents: Watch out for your children or else they may mix with the wrong type of people.

Good Bye, Alda Evan Tan

As every Monday, I headed for St Ignatius Church, Kelana Jaya except today we were having a SIC Scripture Study facilitator meeting. I wonder why so many car at the church. Someone told me that there was a body in the parlour.
Wonder who?
As I took photos of the evening sunset and the flowers around the church, my friend Ignatius Massang came by with his beloved son. Actually we had been not seeing each other for few years. He mentioned that his beautiful wife is still at work.

Then he told me that his friend passed away. In my heart, I said if it's his friend then I should have known.
I do not ask him who was in the parlour but instead I went upstairs to do my meditation.

We started out meeting at around 8.00pm and the first thing our Chief Co-ordinator Mr Francis Khoo mentioned was the passing of our senior SIC member's son. He mentioned the name as Alda Tan.

I am curious as my heart pumped faster and I ask, "Is it Alda Evan Tan?"

He responded with, "Yes. He passed away at 4.45AM this morning."

Sadness overcome me as my soul pray in tongue.

I may not know him and never meet him personally but through my prayer since I first knew about him as in my blog , I am close to him in my soul.

During our SIC Scripture Study meeting, my heart was trouble and I can not wait to say good bye to the friend whom I never meet.

I rushed down to the parlour and the Charismatic Group was reciting the Rosary. Brother Richard Lai motioned with his hand to me to join them. My heart was really trouble and I prayed in tongue outside the parlour. When the rest of my group arrived, I joined them inside to recite the Rosary and Divine Mercy prayer.  I just lost my words and pray in the words I do not know.

After the prayer, I sprinkled the holy water on his photo and then moved to the coffin and through the glass, I saw him face to face. Laying peacefully in the coffin was our late brother Alda Evan Tan.

No words just a tingle in my heart said, "Good bye, my friend".

"Heavenly, our brother Alda Evan Tan's soul rest in peace. May his parents, his sister, his wife and children be comforted by your love and grace. Grant them the strength and courage to overcome the passing of their beloved one. In Jesus Name I pray. Amen."

Elly the Henna Artist

Street Photography is my passion and I love to do it as it is the best way for me to know the characters on the street better. Beside I may make new friends in the process or grow my Flickr 100Strangers Project
I want to do street photography weekly if possible. Now I am settle with twice a month.

Who are these character?

Elly

One of these character whom I have met and having a short conversation twice in two weeks is Elly, the street Henna (Inai in Malay) designer.

His humble stall is at Jalan Melayu on the way to Masjid India, Kuala Lumpur.

How to find him?
Look for the images of henna decoration on his stall's wall or look for the man who wear Newcastle United FC Jersey.

Elly waiting for his customer

Elly who is originated from Gombak, Selangor had been in this business for many years and he is specialize in casual, party and wedding henna decoration. If you have any other request, you may ask him and he will give his best to meet your request.

Elly at work

 On the way back from Jalan Masjid India, I saw Elly is busy with his work.

What do you think of his workmanship?

Normally it takes a few minutes to complete one hand decorated and it takes another 30 minutes to get it dry.

How much is the cost?

MYR 5.00 which I consider as cheap based of the uniqueness and quality of his work. He is good at his task and he is really an artist.

How long will the image last?
According to Elly, the image will last for a week. Not bad for a mere MYR 5.00.

If you are interested in doing some temporary decorated images on your hands or feet, you come to his stall at Jalan Melayu, Kuala Lumpur or you may make an appointment with him via his telephone number.

You may personally contact him at 012-329 5167.

Hope to see you again.

Appreciate your comment, please.

Happy Weekend and happy shooting.