Beyond Swimsuit Photography; is to jump into the pool!

Over the weekend, I had wonderful workshop on swimsuit photography. Not merely shooting swimsuits but sexy models in in too. A last minute thing/decision to attend the workshop; plus I needed to find new things to venture. Held at Dynasty Hotel and organized by Nikonian Academy; it was conducted by Andrew Boey and Sean Liew. One of the cool things about it is to find how easy and relaxing working with models that day. Very professional and of course, hot and sexy (the terms and description I can think of)

Model : Sharon. A very tight crop to catch her expressions.

Just a few days before; I had this very weird idea of jumping into the pool to do the shoot. And true enough I was encouraged by Andrew B. and Sean to do so. I was very cautious at first; trying not to get the strap and camera body wet. IT's brand new lar...sayang, u know. But Sean insisted to just get the strap wet and I pretty much didn't care less after that. I enjoyed it so much that I didn't even want to leave the pool! After awhile, we all decided to try new things with the two Andrews jumping and diving into the pool. Soon later, even Chris decided to join in our fun.

This is what Sean manage to capture of me coming out from the pool. Coooool....Read more about in Sean's blog. Also check out Andrew B's blog for his amazing photos. I jealous the D300 man!

Here are some shots that I did.

Model: Jill Moo. Shot against the sunset with 2 off flashes. Time was so crucial that we quickly took turns shooting; in a queue! Model: Sharon. One of the many shots I did in the pool. This shot is always so flawless cause her makeup stayed even after so many times she submerged into the water. Model: Jenny. We tested out off-flashes with colour gels just to give it a mood. Probably one of the most hilarious and the best accidental shots I had. I was in the pool waiting for the shot but this turned out....sooooo well; albeit it was unintentional! Chris calls it the "kinky" shot. Use ur imagination!

Check out the rest of the photos here.

It was such a great experience and eye-feast to the max.

Returning back to KLue Urbanscapes

KLue Urbanscapes 2008 has finally returned after a 4 year hiatus. I must say; they returned in a big bang; and burned our wallets too. This time around; KLue has really out-do themselves by having a massive concert+art event. I was already "wowed" on the first one at Soho Grappa in 2002. I was lagi "blown" in 2004 at KL Sentral. This year, after a long wait.... I'm totally impressed. Albeit that; I couldn't party as hard as I use too. Damn...too old.

Arrived at KLPac bout evening after work; and only had my eyes for the progressive trance and dance gigs. Was already asked by fellow friends to come in the afternoon; but gotta cari makan lar. Besides; I ain't sure I was able to withstand 12 hours of partying.

KLPac is definitely huge. My first virgin visit to this place; I definitely want to come back more to check out more gigs and perhaps theater acts. But being all huge and big is a problem too. Because of the crowd; I had to park far, far away in a some galaxy. By the time I walked to the event; I had a good "workout".

Once there, met up with friend Aaron who boosted a new DSLR; a Nikon D-ahem ahem ahem + a Nikon VR ahem-ahem lens (due to request; I was asked my Aaron not to review his baby). Ok lar, Aaron. I'm too jealous already. Aaron did some amazing shot at the Acoustics Sessions.

Then later met up some friends here and there; everywhere. The one I was expecting to see was a long time doxob friend, Mr. Muid Latif and his sister Abby. We have not seen other for aeon years and it was good to finally bertemu kembali. The power Facebook help too; or not we wouldn't be in touch again. Muid and Abby was one of the featured artist at Urbanscapes this year; representing behind Digital Malaya. It's good to see that Muid is still active in the design industry; where else I am doing mostly arty stuff + "non-paid jobs".

Joined with me later is gym friend Kat, and we proceeded to the outdoor gig of dance music by the DJs known as Lapsap. Yes, you read it correctly. Crowd and DJs were great. Sound system; verdict "no comment".

Soon we proceeded to a gig that I was looking forward to is trance/techno music by DJ Van in the building. Having a air conditioned & sound proof room is definitely a welcome. Me and Kat were shooting photos like crazy kids. I took advantage of the cool lighting. Brought only my compact. I didn't want to dance and party with my DSLR. If I did, I must be crazy.

I'm already showing my "so-so" hynotic state.

As the night went on, Kat left for Velvet (too damn energetic lar this girl) & I called it a night for myself. I realised that I don't have that tolerance to stand partying non-stop for more than 5 hours. Gee... I couldn't stop saying I'm ahem-ahem.

Crazy Kat still went on and on and on. Can summo ajak people go Body Pump next morning?

The event was great and I definitely look forward for the next one. And I definitely hope I wouldn't have to wait another 4 years.

Annual Blood Sucker Visit

It's that time of the year again. No. It isn't Christmas. Is that too early?

Every year, my blood will sucked out by the blood suckers from the Tabung Darah Negara. Ok lar... It doesn't sound that bad. I been donating blood since college. The first time I did it was out of a curiosity and I took a bet. I survived and my friend puked.

Jokes aside; donating blood was the only "genuine" charitable thing that I can do besides giving money. With blood, it goes straight to the hospital and those in need. With money, everything is channel through, God knows, how many channels and processes. And then of course, money cannot buy blood; or the type of blood you want.

So that's me doing my annual bid last Saturday. I was so good that I didn't had a trace of alcohol in my body before the donation. It ran so smooth; it was probably the fastest blood-pumping donation I had!

The Blood Pumping Action

There were indeed a few surprises that I saw when I filled up the application form. First of all, the questionnaires were slightly updated and easy to understand. Now, people with tattoos and piercing are allowed to donate! For years, tattoos are a absolute NO-NO for donors. If you have ear piercing, you have to wait for a year before you can donate. NOW, any fresh tattoos or pierced individuals need only wait for 6 months. I think I should high time consider my ear piercing and tattoo too.

Nevertheless; with caution, the doctor did mentioned that they need to know where the tattoo or piercing is done. Hmmmm....sounds errrr? I dunno how to explain. But does it really matter where "it" is done? And yes, they were going to check it too! Sounds shady...

Ok, perhaps now that the Ministry of Health is not so tight-a** about rules on donating blood; but there are still certain rules we need to abide. Being healthy and fit is definitely a criteria. But being questioned about your sexual life is....... hmmmm again. I ain't no player but asking "that sensitive question" is a little "OTT". Shan't elaborate either.

Craps aside; blood donation is definitely the best possible thing a person can do. Our blood banks really runs low on blood everyday. A bag of blood could possibly save another stranger from perhaps dying.

Being a good samaritan in some way; goes a long way. So why don't visit the National Blood Bank. Plus I heard you get a free food. Was told that the Nasi Lemak they serve packs a good punch. When I donate at church; all I get is a bun, milo and biscuits. Boohoohooo....

Life with a DSLR

Not too long ago, I attended the Nikon D60 Public Workshop. It was meant for all new D60 owners to further explore their new DSLR. To me, I figured out all the basics....NOT! A DSLR is definitely more to learn that film SLR; albeit not as difficult. Owning a DSLR is actually quite a challenge. My mother didn't understand at first why I like to lunge around big cameras when there is so many compact options in the market. Even my transition from SLR to digital; I still opted for larger prosumer digicams. I had my first taste of a DSLR when I was in my advertising years. It was a Nikon D70. Sure did blew me away with the great image results.

Another great advantage that I find out is that people around you starts noticing you (or your gear!) I had this experience many years back when I carried a film SLR and a compact digicam to a fashion show. The models won't look at you if you carry something like "a toy" but when you lunge the "big guns" out; they start to give you the best poses! Not bad for attracting attention (but maybe a little too much)

The best part is, when the models are actually willing to pose with you! Thanks Pat for the pics. They are hilarious!

Attractions has its cons too. Some of my friends are afraid of me when they see me coming towards them with a camera. Gee.... I love terrorizing people. As much as they hate it; but many moons later, they thank me that I did their shots. AHA!...Told you guys so!

So far, I'm still experimenting and studying alot of DSLRs. My knowledge in film has helped and hopefully further help me in the digital process.

In the mean time, it has been attracting plenty of lovely ladies. Booyah!

The Return of the Bugger

This is probably my longest absence from a written blog. Almost 4 months; to be exact. I remember that I had a long absence before this; and marked my entry as the “return of the prodigal son”. But this time returning as a....bugger? Yuuuupp...the bugger is returning in a very low profile manner. XP
Groooowl...I have returned!

It has been nice that some of my readers and friends had express concern on my absence for blogging. But with FB, Multiply and Friendster, the world is getting smaller by the minute and keeping in touch with long lost / long distance / long whatever friends and family have never been easier.

So the thing is; why return now?

Honestly, lately I had lost the ability to compose a blog entry. Perhaps the lacking of creative ideas or just plain laziness. It could have been possibly both; but my work had kept me very occupied the past year and finding leisure time for hobbies is very, very precious.

Talking about hobbies, I finally purchased my DSLR! Been snappy happy since then. More updates on this in the future. It’s a Nikon, by the way.

Besides my usual gym-ing; I had gone through a “break-up”. That much I’m going to say. It has been so long already that I didn’t want to begin with. I didn’t even tell anybody. Well, almost. But we parted ways, both with mutual understanding and respect for each other. It has been a good few months.

Being single again; of course I picked up much from where I left. The biggest major move was actually investing on my camera and began my initiation of design studies again. It’s funny that I realized that I actually missed the design world so much. But I had known it all this while that I can only do art for the love of it. Hence why I left its “working” industry years ago.

Been experimenting with a lot of photography work lately; it’s like a reborn hobby again. I don’t like to call it work. Friends had been encouraging and some had modeled for me. Thank you guys and you are the greatest and paling spontaneous! I do definitely look forward for more opportunities like this.

Shot of my fellow colleague, Aisyah

Shot of my fellow colleague, Katilah

Shot during the D60 workshop. Model - Angela

Shot during the D60 workshop. Model - my long-tine-no-see friend, Chris

Shot during Tomas's T-Grooves. Tomas Mendez Diaz. It shows I can still shoot and still do some killer dance moves!

You girls ROCK! Sharifah, "Yoda" Shareem & Mimi Kahn

Caught you, Richard! YOu do pose well for a person who hates taking photos. LOL!

Advance Digital Photography has definitely branch out a new horizon for me and I look forward to more to EXPLORE!

Ok…enough ramblings. Probably more updates in the future.

Re-calling the past

Lately I have been doing up a lot of house cleaning and reorganizing. Dug up a whole lot bunch of stuff. Brought back a lot of memories. Some were happy, some sad & some devastating. Was going through my old photo albums (digital ones). Saw Su Lian's photo. Gosh, I really missed her. It has been almost a year plus since her passing and I still remember vividly about her. The jokes we use to share, working together, how she fought for me when I was "attacked" by anonymous people in my blog & etc. But most of all, I miss her laughter, her energetic spirit & always being my mentor. Many close friends said she went off too soon. I agreed. But I still remember her...very, very well. God bless her soul.

I also dug up some really old stuff that I didn't know that I owned it in the first place. Example like Portable CD players, CDs, Walkman (the cassette ones) & mobile phones.


I usually keep my old handphones because of nostalgic reasons. I never trade off my old phones; except one that drove me up the wall for 3 months. Motorola E380 to be exact. Got a new mobile last month and I am very happy with it. A Sony Ericsson K550i with a CyberShot camera. Cool features except there is no 3G capabilities. No sweat. I don't need it at the moment.

After all the digging and spring cleaning, now my house is back in a mess. Sigh...the bachelor lifestyle.


Another topic about recalling the past is about my hair colour. I used to colour my hair often when I was in college and during my advertising days. I did it again last January just for the fun of it; and now my roots is growing out really fast. Just look before and after; in just a month. Quite shocking that my hair can grow out so fast. Are my vitamins or my constant shampooing affecting the growth of my hair?

And now it's too early to cut before I go on my holiday but it's too long to maintain it now. Ughhh~! Dilemma.


It has already been the last 3 weeks since my little accident with my feet. I haven't been doing Body Combat since but had been hitting the weights area more. I even joined back my Body Pump class. My weight has yo-yoed and I did a detox program for 5 days in between the weeks. So far everything seems to look good and OK. I realised that my shirts are getting a little tighter too. A good sign?

Besides that I have been doing fine. Thanks to all my buddies who has been concerned about me; espeially since that I am not blogging as often as I can. Work is great; hence been very, very busy at times. Business is looking well too.

Till then...

What's been going down in Feb?

So let's see, what's been down in the month of February?
Well, there's been loads going on. Hence I never been updating frequently until now.

There are so many times I wanted to blog but due to unforseen circumstances; like time factor, inspiration or whatever. There are so many things that happened but I think some things are better left unsaid.

In a nutshell, let's just see what I have been up to lately.


I started my CNY holidays from the 1st onwards. Things were going cool and I was keeping myself busy the last week of January. Loads of office work to finish up before I was away for my long break. When my break started, been doing a lot of house cleaning/house redecorating. It was tiring but well worth the effort but I still need to find a drill so I can start hanging my picure frames (been postponing it for more than a year).


When it's a long break, means that gym time was flexible. I attended as many classes that I could. Kristin was back from Norway & I was delighted to see her. This time she was already a Body Pump and RPM instructor! Ahhhhhh~!!!!!....What happened to me?! I need to buck up ASAP! Marcos & Ana also came back from their long break but this time as husband & wife.


I was also manage to attend my first Body Pump class in months. I was in for a BIG "Suprise". I realised that I was not able to push up my usual weights. I was already panting after the squat track! So this is the feeling for not doing Body Pump for months. I felt horrible but nevertheless, I manage to pull through the class but slightly with lesser weights + concertrated on techniques.


During the 1st few days of CNY I was with my mom and grandma for the holidays. This year no fancy trip back to Sabah. Was keeping a low profile CNY this year as my grandma wasn't at her best shape. Was keeping her in check most of the time and I didn't go out much. I still kept an exercise routine by going for daily swims and reading by the poolside. I also controlled my diet as well by not indulging into "fatty" food. But I did indulge in loads of ice cream; more than I should. Got sick and diarrhea in between. Strange as it sounds but alot of people had the same effect that period of time. Must be a virus going round.


When I have too much time for myself, I start to thing a lot. Loads of things about the past and what's coming up in the future. Some thoughts make sense; and some were a whole load of crap. I went to watch the sunset for 4 days, for no apparent reason. Just felt like it; or maybe I just like sunsets.


Had my first and only "Lou Sang" for the year at Clarah's house. It was great to meet back with friends during CNY; especially I felt sad that I wasn't able to meet up with my old high school friends back in Ipoh; yet again. So many things had happened and changed since I last saw my old mates. Some are married, some went overseas, some had kids (intentionally and unintentionally), some were already big shots (and I am still a "small fry"). Thank goodness for Friendster & Facebook; or not I have no idea we were going to keep in touch after all these years.

So back to Clarah's house. It was all a cheerful event until this happened...


"What can greediness and a broken cookie jar do to you?" The answer is a long deep cut under the sole of your feet. I unevitably dropped a jar of cookies, lost my balance and stepped into a large piece of broken glass. How silly can I get? Being the joker I was, I refused to get stitched up until I was dragged by Clarah to the nearest clinic. The result was 3 stitches & loads of silly photo opportunites.


At least I was really in the mood to joke around. Pain is nothing, man!


Even when the blood is flowing like crazy. I haven't even counted the blood stains I left around. Sigh....

Here are some funny moments during the minor surgery at the clinic. I must not have been under the knife & needle for some time. To keep myself calm, I started to laugh around and keep everyone cheerful and comical. Must be one of the best surgeries I had.

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As the weeks past through

Alright, alright. It has been pretty long.

I already had this post on hold since the last few days and today is already the 28th.

Been tight lately with work and blogging duties seemed "unreachable" nowadays.

But why let go top waste some good photo shots?

So let's talk briefly of what happened the last few days (or weeks)



I am still cycling. Thank goodness I am still steady with my RPM classes. Besides missing Body Pump for a few good months; a class a week of RPM is like considered "lucky". My schedule has been going up and down that sometimes I can't cope. But all is still good; since I am still hitting the weight area whenever I can.



Charlotte was back for a few good weeks. Had a few RPM and Body Combat classes with her. Love the energy. Love the pressence.

I did the unimaginable. I coloured hair after a long lapse. Did for fun and did it cause I just felt like a change. Good change, though. More about it next time.

Reflecting through the past year

Yes, Yes, Yes...I know, I know...

It's really been like ages since I last updated. I can easily blame it on work (which is undeniably true), I can blame it on time (which most of the time I lacked) but most of all; it's because I lacked the inspiration to write (which is unfortunately true).

I was too hacked in my office work & year end functions that sometimes I'm just too tired and uninspired to blog.

But nevertheless, I had not forgotten about my blogging "duties.

I thank my readers for continual support. Honestly I didn't know "you" all were actually been frequently here. "You" know who you are.

So by starting my first blog for the year, I like to talk what i like to talk most about. "ME"...

Yes, I would like to talk about myself. As vain as it can be; please do bare with me.

I'm not a person who "sets" what my year resolutions are. I'm more of a person who looks at the realistic perspective of life and try his best to achieve; in whatever possible ways possible.

If you read my old entries in the past 2 years, you realised that I haven't realised some of my dreams yet; BUT that doesn't mean that I would give up. Just probably that dream would take a longer time and patience. Sometimes I may be disappointed too when I look back and see that I couldn't achieve my dream at a given time frame. But as long as I dare to dream and achieve it, at least I have set my goals and priorities straight.

"Tak apa lar kalau tak berjaya kali ini, tak semestinya tak berjaya selalu. Asalkan ada semangat & tekad untuk mengejar impian sehingga berjaya."

But for the dreams that I was able to achieve; I really thank GOD for giving me the opportunity and courage to go through it. It was hard & difficult. Sweat & tears are shed. But the final result was sweet and great.

And talking about "ME" again; let's see how I "evolved" visually in the past year.

A glance of AC in the past 1 year!

Honestly, I didn't see much in changes, in terms of looks. I kinda still look the same. I had a "Mohawk" hair cut for the past 1 year; but probably in different lengths. Was thinking of going military short or bald this year, but "someone" was against it. :(

I think I might go colour my hair again; but it depend whether I am up for it. Once I went so bright brown I look like a Chinese Street Gangster. The colour didn't enhance my looks but instead made my face sharp. Sigh....pay money to look "horrible"....

Besides that, I hope that I can continue to "jaga" myself physically and mentally. The episode of me going to the hospital last year was traumatic enough, so I better take care myself better this year. And this time seriously too.

I already started the year with a mild sore throat & flu that lasted till today. Blame that on weather.

Till then, I need to better rest so that I can be inspired to blog again.

Happy Quarter of a Century

Weehoo.... It's official. I have finally reached the big 2 & 5.

There is so many things I wanna say. There is so many things I want to express on this joyous day.

But due to the lack of time (and my work is keeping me busy), I decided I shall blog another day.

A quick & big THANK YOU to all who send their well wishes to me. Sorry if I cannot reply everyone of you in time; but I promise I shall soon.

Till then, this now "older" man gotta continue with work.