Siew Yen Photography

We Have Moved!

2010-11-10T04:56:00.000-08:00

Hi guys!

Thanks to everyone who has been following this blog to date :) I have great news and that is I have migrated to a new website at www.siewyen.com and I'm really excited about it! I hope you'll continue to enjoy my photos and stories that I will share in the near future as photography continues to fascinate me, day after day.

Looking forward to meeting you at my brand new website! Cheers to everyone!

3rd Canon EOS 60D Review

2010-09-26T04:22:00.000-07:00

The Canon EOS 60D review could not have come at a better time as my friend's wedding was during the weekend! I had previously taken some casual photos of Jeffrey and Austral prior to their wedding day with my other friends and it was a pleasure to take their photos again during the church wedding.

Doing a wedding shoot is always challenging because you have to be alert and be constantly on the move. Most importantly, you have to be quick with your camera settings to adjust to the different lighting and events happening in front of you!

In fact, that is why most wedding photographer will carry two cameras at the same time with two different lenses to ensure that no time is wasted and that each precious moment is captured! I only used the EOS 60D for this shoot and as it was a church wedding, I used my 580EX II flash and decided to switch between my own 17-55mm f2.8 and the 18-200mm f3/5-5.6 lens that came with the EOS 60D.

One of the things that came in handy was the quick control dial on the EOS 60D which allowed me to switch my settings immediately. The back of the church had fluorescent lighting while the front had used tungsten lighting. This made me have to adjust my white balance constantly and quickly to ensure that the colours turned out properly!

The high ISO helped again when I didn't want to use my flash. By using a high ISO and a faster shutter speed, I was able to prevent camera blur caused by shaky hands and motion blur. Trust me, this is useful.

I also took photos from one floor above the church in order to capture different angles and this was when I used the 18-200mm lens. You will see from some of the photos below that I had taken from above and managed to zoom in at 200mm. Something I was never able to do previously because my maximum focal length was 55mm with my other lens.

However, I must add that this was no joke having to balance the camera with the flash from the top and holding the lens steadily because it was quite heavy! In fact, I was praying hard that the camera will not slip from my hands or that would be the end of it!

The EOS 60D also has an iFCL metering system with a 63-zone dual-layer sensor. As a result, it is able to provide better exposure because the focus point location data and colour data are both analysed, whatever the situation.

Using the EOS 60D for a wedding was a pretty interesting test as I really had to experiment with various types of shots and lighting. In short, you definitely need a reliable camera when you're taking photos of a once-in-a-lifetime event!

EOS 60D Microsite:
www.canon-asia.com/eos60d/

EOS 60D Product Page @ canon.com.my:

EOS 60D Body:
http://www.canon.com.my/p/EN/114-Digital-Cameras/200-EOS/1733-EOS-60D/

EOS 60D (18-55):
http://www.canon.com.my/p/EN/114-Digital-Cameras/200-EOS/1741-EOS-60D-Kit-EF-S18-55/

EOS 60D (18-135):
http://www.canon.com.my/p/EN/114-Digital-Cameras/200-EOS/1742-EOS-60D-Kit-II-EF-S18-135/

EOS 60D (18-200):
http://www.canon.com.my/p/EN/114-Digital-Cameras/200-EOS/1743-EOS-60D-Kit-III-EF-S18-200/

2nd Canon EOS60D Review

2010-09-22T07:59:00.000-07:00

I was really keen to experiment with the Canon EOS60D again and so I decided to call up Regina and Eric who gamely agreed to be my guinea pigs! Eric even called up his friend Chin Hooi to bring his bike and so I was able to have some interesting biker shots! Isn't it wonderful to have such sporting friends who are willing to be victims?? *flashes wide smile*

Since I had no time to do a day shoot, I decided a night shoot would be best. I've also always wanted to experiment with street-light shooting and I thought a good venue would be in the neighbourhood! With the nice yellow lighting from the street lamps, it provided a great place for me to take some night shots.

My favourite photography subject will always be first and foremost, people. In normal instances, I would use my 50mm f1.8 lens for portraits but I decided to give the 18-200mm lens that came with this model a try.

In fact, I only used this zoom lens throughout the entire shoot which was quite a nice change, knowing that I didnt have to keep changing lens because I could change the focal length anytime I wanted!

It was also the perfect time for me to test the high ISO setting that the Canon EOS60D offered and it worked beautifully. Believe it or not, these pictures below were taken with the 18-200mm lens at ISO6400. I decided to stretch it to the extreme and the noise is barely visible in the pictures. You can even increase the ISO via the ISO expansion to *gasp* 12,800.

I was still able to take some nice shots despite the high ISO i used.

Playing around with different angles as seen in the photos below for that different edge.

I also decided to play around with the white balance setting to cool things off. This gave the photos a blue tinge instead of the glowing yellow lights from the street lamps.

And of course, I gave the articulating LCD a spin throughout the shoot as well for different angles.

The next thing I wanted to try was the integrated speedlite transmitter and this was pretty fun and easy. I used the EOS60D to remotely control my 580 EXII flash which was set as a slave with both the camera and flash in the same channels. Eric helped me to hold the flash from different distances to have various effects.

As you can see from the first picture below, the shadow is quite strong for a more moody look while the second picture has more light on Regina's face.

I really had a fun time during this second shoot and I must thank Regina, Eric and Chin Hooi for being such great models! I was also continuously laughing throughout the shoot because they had to pull off these poses while wheeling their bikes up and down! I'll end this post with a shot of Regina leaping in the air that describes my sentiment on this review, "wheeee!"

Enjoy a New Perspective with the Canon EOS60D

2010-09-20T09:01:00.000-07:00

The tagline above is used by Canon to aptly describe their latest product. I was pretty thrilled when I found out I was one of the lucky 21 to review the Canon EOS 60D which wasn’t even out in the market yet!

The review was held in One World Hotel on 19 September and I must say that the Canon people really did a great job organising the briefing event as it was informal, informative and loads of fun.

We were warmly welcomed by Tee Ngin Yen from Canon and she explained to us that the review programme involved only a few simple steps. We are to review the product for 2 weeks and are free to comment on anything at anytime! Thereafter, the Canon product guru, Xavier Chan, patiently explained the product details to us.

There were 3 kits available for the review, namely the EOS 60D (18-55mm), (18-135mm) or (18-200mm) and we took lucky draws to determine who will receive what! I ended up getting the 18-200mm lens with image stabilizer. This was pretty interesting for me as my existing set-up is a Canon EOS 450D with a 10-22mm, 17-55mm and 50mm lens. As you can see from the photo below, it is a real beauty.

The first impression..

My Canon EOS 450D is an entry-level DSLR so the Canon EOS 60D was a really different experience as the buttons were placed differently. First of all, there is a quick control dial and 8 direction keys centered within the control dial for greater convenience.

I took some time to adjust myself to the new control dials but soon enough, I was able to twiddle my thumb and twist it accordingly. Having almost all the buttons on the right hand side allows you to use only one hand for control. Overall, it has been designed to allow photographers to change settings quickly and this is crucial during events as you do not want to miss any important shots!

Another new feature for me was the mode-dial lock, where it can only be turned by pushing the button. However, I thought the camera could have done without the lock because I wouldn’t need

to push an extra button to change my camera mode.

As a female photographer, I always get questions on whether it is heavy to carry the camera! Well, if you like taking photos, sometimes you don’t mind carrying the extra weight! So comparing with my EOS 450D which is 475g, the EOS 60D is 675g which is still bearable! Its size is between the EOS50D and the EOS 550D.

What are the outstanding features of the Canon EOS60D?

1) This is the Canon DSLR with an articulating LCD!

So what’s so great about having an articulating LCD you may ask. Well for one thing, you can twist and flip the LCD to view it from various angles. Personally, I like to shoot at different angles which give me more creative shots and a new perspective of my subject.

This 3 inch Vari-Angle Clear View LCD monitor lets you take photos above people’s heads who are blocking you and ground-level photography, similar to how a child or animal would view the world. Also, this will allow me to take shots from below without having to kiss the floor! And yes, you also can leave the guesswork out when you want to take photos of yourself because the articulating LCD allows you to look at yourself at the screen and position yourself correctly. Perfect for those who enjoy cam-whoring =p Below are 2 shots which I took by experimenting with the LCD.

2) Superb Image Quality

This baby has an 18-megapixel CMOS (APS-C) sensor with a DIGIC 4 imaging processor. What this means is that you are able to produce high quality images that you can proudly print and hang up on your wall as a feature poster! Yes, you can impress people visiting your house and tell them that you snapped that gorgeous pic!

3) High ISO

Believe it or not, you can crank the ISO on the EOS 60D to 6400! This is a major leap from my EOS 450D which is only up to ISO 1600. This is definitely useful when you are in a nice restaurant or club and you would like to capture the nice ambient light without much noise.

I remembered being in Shanghai with an amazing night view and wishing I had higher ISO to capture the street lights without any blurry shots as my hands were not steady! Below are photos which I took during the review inside the hall where i didn't use any flash but simply cranked up the ISO from 800 and above to suit my settings. As you can see, the images are pretty sharp. They were also taken with the 18-200mm lens.

4) Continuous Shooting

I love catching human emotions on camera and I use continuous shooting a lot because I will compile all the photos and put them side by side to display the different angles. The EOS60D allows continuous shooting of 5.3 fps which is fantastic for capturing action and sports shots. And yes, I do pet photography sometimes and trust me, pets don’t often stay still so this is really useful!

5) Creative filters

This is a fun feature which allows you to enjoy soft focus, grainy black and white, toy camera and miniature effects. I love black and white photographs and I was definitely eager to test this feature out. This turned out to be really easy and I was even able to adjust the contrast and save it immediately as a new file!

6) EOS Movie

Once upon a time, I had dreamt of becoming a movie director. No, I kid you not because I always felt that making movies are an amazing way of telling a story to anybody who would care to watch. Maybe that explains my obsession with movies and music videos! My EOS 450D did not have this function and I have yet to test this out and will definitely be posting my review on this feature soon.

7) Integrated Speedlite Transmitter

I haven’t tried its built-in wireless flash control but I’m sure this will be useful as I sometimes like to take photos with an external flash placed to the side of my subject for more dramatic lighting.

8) In-camera Raw Processing

For those who often groan about having to process raw images, this feature allows you to process raw images in the camera and save it as JPEGs. You can even apply different picture styles at the same time!

Overall, it is still early days and there are still many more functions which I need to explore and above is just a quick snapshot of the Canon EOS60D to date. Here is a brief overview on the features as highlighted in dpreview:-

• 18 MP APS-C CMOS sensor

• Advanced creative features with Basic +

• Vari-angle 7.7cm (3.0”) 3:2 ratio LCD

• Full HD movies with manual control

• DIGIC 4

• ISO 100-6400, H:12800

• 5.3fps shooting for up to 58 JPEGs

• 9-point cross type AF System

• iFCL metering with 63-zone Dual-layer Sensor

• Integrated Speedlite transmitter

• In-camera RAW processing

I will certainly be taking more photos and updating all soon! Before i end this post, below are photos of Xavier Chan and Ngin Yen in action!

Please find below the links for the body and the lenses as well.

EOS 60D Microsite:

www.canon-asia.com/eos60d/

EOS 60D Body:

http://www.canon.com.my/p/EN/114-Digital-Cameras/200-EOS/1733-EOS-60D/

EOS 60D (18-55):

http://www.canon.com.my/p/EN/114-Digital-Cameras/200-EOS/1741-EOS-60D-Kit-EF-S18-55/

EOS 60D (18-135):

http://www.canon.com.my/p/EN/114-Digital-Cameras/200-EOS/1742-EOS-60D-Kit-II-EF-S18-135/

EOS 60D (18-200):

http://www.canon.com.my/p/EN/114-Digital-Cameras/200-EOS/1743-EOS-60D-Kit-III-EF-S18-200/

Joey Sze & Family

2010-09-12T06:44:00.000-07:00

I knew Suzanna from uni days and she had recommended me to her sister Joey to do a shoot for her family and in-laws. After a quick discussion with Joey, we decided to do a picnic shoot in a park and it was fantastic to see the close bond between the entire family!

On the day of the shoot, it started to drizzle in the morning and we had to change our location to another nearby park. It was my first time at this new area and it proved to be a wonderful choice as the park was beautiful and surrounded by lush greenery.

Everyone in the family were good sports, smiling and laughing throughout the entire photo shoot! I took photos of Joey and her beautiful family and it's amazing how she maintained her svelte figure after having 3 kids!

I also took photos of her husband's parents who were such a loving couple and were celebrating their anniversary of more than 30 years. Joey's sister and brother-in-law also brought their partners and it was a truly fun shoot with all the couples. I'm sure they will certainly have lots more happy and boisterous family gatherings in the future!

Cameron Highlands

2010-08-31T00:45:00.000-07:00

I always found Cameron Highlands a nice breakaway from the hustle and bustle of city life although I have to admit that this time, the journey was pretty long! This was partly due to the fact that we stopped for lunch at a vegetarian restaurant in Kampar which served up pretty decent dishes. That drive alone took us over an hour! Loved the mushroom dish although I had no idea how they whipped up the sauce.

The other contributing factor was the fact that we drove through Simpang Pulai, the longer route to reach Cameron Highlands because my husband's colleague had kids and they weren't too keen on the winding roads via Tapah. Overall, it took us 6-7 hours to reach our apartment, I kid you not!

Nevertheless, upon arrival we immediately went to the Boh Sungei Palas Tea Centre which was a very challenging and tricky drive in! The road looked more suited for a one-way drive as we had oncoming traffic to deal with and of course, the scary thought of dropping off the cliff! But I was too mesmerized with the view of the plantations to worry about that!

The tea centre had a modern design twist with its cafe perched vicariously for guests to enjoy the view. There were also narrative posters that painted a colourful history of the Boh plantations along the entire area. Unfortunately, we arrived at the premises at 4.30pm which was closing time! So we were unable to have our cuppa tea but I managed to take some photos of the view. Important to note that it is also closed on Mondays, so plan your trip carefully next time!

Thereafter, we went to the night market to indulge in some street snacks. I am a very big fan of the two-tone coloured corn because it tastes amazingly sweet without the need for any salt or butter to flavour it. This is definitely the best corn ever, period. We also indulged in deep-fried straw mushrooms which were absolutely delectable while the rest tucked into fried pumpkin balls and potato chips! There were many other offerings and we had to try our very best to resist the temptations!

Next stop was of course for dinner (yes, we believe in being absolute gluttons when in Camerons). No trip is complete without eating in the charcoal steamboat restaurant where we were served heaps of fresh vegetables to be dunked into the hot, boiling broth. I drank bowls and bowls of the soup and ate perhaps a basketful of vegetables. Yes, I felt quite proud of myself for loading up on the veggies!

We later adjourned back to the apartment and I suffered from really bad sinus! If anybody has a sure-fire natural cure for sinus, please let me know. I start having sneezing fits whenever I am exposed to dust, change of temperature, etc etc. The perils of living with sinus! I'm sure the icy cold shower I had didn't do me any good *sheepish smile*

The next morning we decided to have breakfast at the Ye Olde Smokehouse, a boutique hotel which was formerly a mansion built in 1939. It is a 2-storey Tudor-style mansion with a beautiful garden which made me feel like I was Alice in Wonderland. The main attraction was of course the scones which were served with cream and strawberry jam which was not too sweet. Although it is pricy, I suppose you're paying for the environment and better-than-average scones! I do miss the scones in Miss Marple's in Dandenong, Melbourne though. Those were really, really good.

After tucking into our scones, we decided to call it a day and head back home because we had another appointment waiting for us in KL. Although it was a short trip, I'm sure I'll be returning soon enough to enjoy the cool weather as well as fresh fruits and vegetables!

Shanghai

2010-08-07T20:19:00.000-07:00

It has definitely been awhile since I last updated my blog and this was partly due to my busy schedule and various events that took place in my life! However, I'm glad to say that I'll definitely be blogging on a more frequent basis to keep everyone updated with the photos I have taken.

I'm a true blue travel junkie and I feel that there are still so many places I have yet to explore! As such, I'm glad to say that I recently had the opportunity to visit China for the first time via my visit to Shanghai as my husband Siew Mun, was there for work. Being one of the most modern cities in China, I was impressed by Shanghai and the stunning array of sky-scraper buildings that filled every street.

However, it has successfully retained its old-world charm and despite the rapid pace of modernisation, I was still able to soak in its historical and cultural heritage by visiting its landmark attractions such as the Yu Yuan Garden, Shanghai Old Street, Jade Buddha Temple, Antique Street Market and many others. I even had time to watch the famed acrobatic act in the Shanghai Circus which has received positive reviews from local and international fans.

Naturally as a foodie, I checked out the local delicacies too and I was satisfied with the xiao loong baos that I tasted! I also have to thank my friends Huey Farng and E-Kiang who are Malaysians staying in Shanghai as they proved to be the perfect hosts and helped ensured we had a good stay in their adopted home!

Below are the pictures and hope you enjoy looking at them as much as I did when I took them :)

School Mates

2010-06-18T21:46:00.000-07:00

Here are Wen Sze and Huey Farng, two of my closest high schools mates. We have always kept in touch regardless of the different locations we're in! It is definitely a great feeling knowing that you have your good friends standing by you for the rest of your life : )

Li Sarn

2010-05-29T10:26:00.000-07:00

After more than 3 years, my cousin still remembers how much i love 'Decadent' chocolate chip cookies from Australia and bought it for me! Ever since we were kids, my cousin has never failed to amaze me with her thoughtfulness and i was really happy to meet her after so long. She is now staying in Melbourne and I am definitely looking forward to seeing her again soon.

Cupcake Wishes

2010-05-24T06:23:00.000-07:00

Here are some photos that were taken during Reg's birthday! Bought her some cupcakes from Cupcake Chic in various different flavours ranging from chocolate, peanut butter and coffee! In the first place, cupcakes are known for their sweet icing but make it a Cupcake Chic cupcake and you get sinfully sweet icing! Guaranteed to give you a sugar rush anytime, anywhere!

Su Lyn & Marcus

2010-05-07T08:26:00.000-07:00

I was thrilled when Su Lyn called me one day to do her maternity shots as I've known both her and Marcus since I was in university! Theirs is truly a wonderful love story that stood the test of time and I say this because they have the longest dating history amongst our friends. It was also a happy moment for all of us when we attended their wedding a couple of years ago.

Su Lyn looked absolutely radiant throughout her pregnancy and I guess what they say about a mother's glow is true! Su Lyn was also brimming with ideas for her maternity shots and it was a really fun session with both of them.

In fact, she made pregnancy look like a breeze with her boundless energy and effortless interaction with the camera. Marcus was equally comfortable, right after he stopped pulling funny faces!

Su Lyn will be giving birth to a baby boy soon and all of us are eagerly waiting for his arrival. I'm also pretty curious on whether the baby will be named Lucas or Malcolm!

The Press Room

2010-04-19T08:30:00.000-07:00

As much as I like my street food, I also enjoy caving in to my cravings for delicious, sinful desserts. So it was after a long night out that Regina and I decided to check out The Pressroom in Bangsar Shopping Centre. For the longest time I have heard her rave about this restaurant and I finally understood why.

The first thing that strikes you as you walk in towards the entrance of The Press Room is its stunning gold and red backdrop. In fact, you can't help but feel that you are dining in a vintage-inspired European cafe that has been designed to impress. With its gorgeous interior design, I immediately took a liking for this joint.

Naturally, the main agenda was to pore over the menu and to choose our desserts which we finally did. I settled on a lemon meringue ice-cream which was refreshingly good on a hot night. The lemon sorbet was topped with a generous serving of almonds, whipped cream and other delicious ingredients. Regina on the other hand, ordered the Amandine which was a dreamy combination of almond ice cream topped with pistachio, hazelnut, butterscotch and whipped cream.

While I only had space for dessert that night, I will definitely return for another visit to check out the main dishes!

Soong Kee Beef Noodles

2010-04-13T07:09:00.000-07:00

If there is one hawker dish that I can't resist, it would most probably be beef noodles! I chanced upon the original Soong Kee Beef Ball Mee restaurant at Jalan Tun Tan Siew Sin a few years ago and I have enjoyed its food ever since! However, I can tell you one thing that it ain't easy to park in this part of town!

So when I read in the papers that Tan Sri Francis Yeoh had decided to coax his favourite hawker stalls to be part of the new Lot 10 Hutong food court I was naturally intrigued. Finally, an easier way to have my favourite dish. To convince established hawker vendors to leave the comforts of their own "territory" and have a stall in a fancy air-conditioned food court is certainly no easy feat and lucky for you and me, it has happened.

I managed to convince Regina to try a bowl of beef noodles with me which she gamely agreed! The Lot 10 stall has a special set at RM7.50 where one can enjoy a plate of vegetables, a bowl of noodles topped with their specially prepared minced pork (yes, how did pork suddenly enter the picture? only the owner knows), soup filled with beefy goodness (spare parts - beef tripe, beef balls, beef intestines,etc) and a glass of pandan red tea which i opted to have plain water instead (no pandan flavoured drinks for me, TQVM).

The noodles were just exactly as I remembered it, springy and dripping with delicious morsels of minced meat that has been marinated with dark soya sauce. The beef balls remain the main attraction and they go well with the stall's tangy chili sauce. Skill is definitely required in preparing these bouncy beef balls, from ensuring its freshness; tenderizing, mincing, marinating and finally in boiling them. Although I wasnt sure exactly what I was eating in the medley of spare parts in the bowl, I suppose I enjoyed the different textures (dont get all grossed out on me now).

As you can see from the pictures below, Regina is enjoying her bowl of noodles with much gusto, hehheh (Reg, don't kill me). So if u're ever in Lot 10, don't forget to check out this stall!

The Baptism of Baby Paul

2010-04-12T07:02:00.000-07:00

I was recently asked to take photos of baby Paul Yeow's baptism by Choo Ki and I willingly obliged as this was my first time doing so! For those unaware, it is the Christian religious practice of baptising an infant to join the family of the church. This baptism ceremony is done amidst prayers by the congregation and by sprinking water on the infant's head.

It was an interesting ceremony and it was evident that Choo Ki and her husband were absolutely devoted to their firstborn. I have to admit that I was surprised by Paul's good temperament as he was completely unafraid of the many strangers staring at his cherubic cheeks and especially with me pointing a gigantic lens at his face! I have been duly informed by Choo Ki that he has been trained from the start to face the camera which is good! Below are the pictures that were taken during the baptism ceremony.

Richard Branson - The Autobiography

2010-04-05T08:10:00.000-07:00

Once upon a time, not too long ago (or so I would like to believe), I used to have a voracious appetite for books. Fast forward to the future, I admit that my *ehem*, book-reading habit has dwindled a tad bit! But of course, every now and then, kind souls would lend me interesting books (Thank you Choo Ki!) which includes this Richard Branson autobiography, Chairman of the Virgin Group.

Aptly titled 'Losing My Virginity' (what else could he have possibly called it?), this book chronicles his childhood years and the experiences that have helped shaped his amazing entrepreneurial and savvy business skills.

I've only begun reading the first few chapters and already I'm hooked. He writes in a very personal manner, so it feels like he's right there next to you, telling you his story. (creepy, isn't it?)

I must also admit that I was quite intrigued by his cover shot for the book. It looks as if he's calmly standing alone, completely at ease with himself (who wouldn't be, with the knowledge that there are gazillions of money sitting in your bank account?) and facing the ocean with the salty breeze blowing right across his hair. A nice portrait shot I must say! Which makes me wonder if I had a chance to shoot a book cover for any famous celebrity, who would I like to shoot? Johnny Depp and Christian Bale! (Call me, I know you're reading this).

Essentially, I love reading about other people's lives, hence the instant preference for biographies. But of course, there are many that I have yet to read, so if there are any good recommendations, please let me know!

This also explains my rather unhealthy obsession with E! True Hollywood Stories. I have probably seen every other celebrity's life story (Please do not repeat the Britney Spears' episode, again. I probably know every ex-Mickey Mouse club member by now). Which reminds me, I need to subscribe to that new Biography channel in Astro! (No, I am not being paid for endorsing this!).

So anyway, I will probably be spending my nights reading this book and I'm guessing it's going to be one interesting ride.

PC & Family

2010-04-03T00:20:00.000-07:00

When PC told me that she wanted to do a photo shoot of her family, I told her that I was more than happy to help her out. Her sister Pooi Mun had just returned from overseas so it was the perfect timing to do a shoot with the whole family before she left again.

So these pictures were taken over brunch at a nice, quiet restaurant as they tucked into their meals and enjoyed the relaxing environment. The 3 siblings gelled together really well and they definitely weren't shy to poke fun at each other! Their parents were also game enough to take photos with their 3 fun kids. It was definitely nice seeing the whole family enjoying each other's company.

My Photo Blog is Finally Up!

2010-03-21T07:02:00.000-07:00

Whenever the sentence "Life is Short" pops into mind, I can't help but feel whoever first said that was absolutely right! After much thought, I have decided to take the next step and create a photo blog to share my journey in photography with everyone :)

In this blog, you will find pictures of people I've met, places I've visited, food I've eaten, events I've attended and everything that celebrates life's everyday moments. I have also decided to take on more photography assignments for those who are interested.

I enjoy taking photos of people as I am constantly amazed by how photos are able to reveal each individual's unique personality and evoke emotions from others who see them. I also constantly experiment with new styles as I believe that it is important to learn new methods as I evolve as a photographer.

As such, I am happy to announce that I will give away a free photography session for the first 3 people who email me at v2silvera@gmail.com and express their interest! In this free session, it will be a half-day shoot with whoever you wish to be photographed with :)

However, not to worry, after those 3 free sessions, I will also be introducing a special promotional rate for a limited time period so that more people can have their photographs taken as well. I can assure you it will be affordable!

So I humbly look forward to hearing from any of you out there and dont hesitate to drop me a line if you have any questions at v2silvera@gmail.com

Thanks all and hope you enjoy reading through this blog!

Edwin, Joy & Jayden

2010-03-02T07:09:00.001-08:00

Edwin and Joy are such doting parents to Jayden that you simply can't help but feel the close bond between the family. My friends and I decided to take pictures of the young family at the popular Taman Tun park which were filled with people, young and old alike who were getting their weekly fix of exercise.

Although it was scorchingly hot, Edwin and Joy were game to take pictures while Jayden was excited about the mini-playground! Jayden is quite a hyperactive kid as it wasn't easy to keep him still during the photoshoot!

There was also a stream in the park and at first, Jayden was apprehensive about playing with the water. After awhile though, he was happily playing around in the stream like there was no tomorrow!

Soo Ming

2010-03-01T07:49:00.000-08:00

Soo Ming is a friend of mine who I knew while studying back in Melbourne. We used to do all sorts of shopping together, from grocery shopping at Coles to clothes shopping at Chadstone and in the city! She has since left for Brisbane to work and it was during her recent visit to KL that we decided to take some fun photos.

MIFA

2010-03-01T07:39:00.000-08:00

Regina and I were invited by Putri to take some photos at the MIFA fashion show and we were only too happy to oblige. There were some really nice designs on the runway which demonstrated the promising talent of Malaysian fashion designers. However, what was mind-boggling was the view of the numerous cameras and super-long lenses at the venue!

Bidor

2010-03-01T07:35:00.000-08:00

Made a quick stopover at Pun Chun restaurant in Bidor which is famous for their wan tan mee, duck drumstick noodle, chicken biscuits and loads of other chinese pastries.

I enjoyed taking photos of the place as it allowed me to capture the essence of the sleepy old town and how time seems to stand still as you eat in this small coffee shop. So if you're ever travelling down to Penang, don't forget to take some time out and unwind and tuck into some good ol' hawker food.

Wan Sze & Arthur

2010-03-01T07:23:00.000-08:00

Wan Sze was one of my closest friends while studying in Melbourne and we used to cook up a storm in the halls and made dinner that was enough for 4 people instead of 2! It was also always nice to know that she was only living 2 floors above me whenever I needed to chill out with someone after a long night of studying!

She now lives in Melbourne with her husband Arthur and it was only natural to take some photos of the good-looking couple upon their return to KL :)

The Launch of Dennis Lau's Debut Album 'DiversiFy'

2010-03-01T07:04:00.000-08:00

The very talented Dennis Lau launched his debut album at the classy Starhill Gallery and performed with Shawn Lee a beatboxer, Jimmy Sax, Yuri Wong and Syafinaz Selamat.

To say he is talented would be an understatement as he writes his own compositions and performs them with pure passion. However, I think what really impresses people the most is his drive and determination to ensure that he not only achieves his goals, but exceeds them. Below are some pictures taken during the entertaining launch.

Lai Yee & Yih Wey's Wedding

2010-03-01T06:47:00.000-08:00

Lai Yee was one of my closet childhood friends and i still remember the days where we used to hang out at the beach with our other close friend Audrey without a care in the world..feels like it was only yesterday! Fast forward years later and I was happy to share her happy day as she married Yih Wey, her college sweetheart. She looked absolutely radiant :)

Penang

2010-01-13T07:37:00.000-08:00

Nothing else really stirs up the imagination and appetite more than Penang food. With its amazing array of mouth-watering street food, it'd be an absolute crime not to treat yourself to 5 meals (i kid you not!) a day if one is in the island.

Resistance is futile when a hot plate of char kuay teow that has been perfectly fried with the right amount of dark soy sauce, prawns and crunchy bean sprouts is laid right in front of you!

Below are pictures of some of my favourite Penang street food such as rojak, char kuay teow, popiah, assam laksa and thai laksa!

Jeffrey & Austral

2009-11-07T02:25:00.000-08:00

Jeffrey and Austral are such a fun-loving couple and weren't afraid to experiment with new angles which made their photoshoot a breeze.

Even though they had been up since the crack of dawn, their enthusiasm never faltered throughout the day and the chemistry between them was electric. These shots were taken at Putrajaya and La Salle PJ, Jeffrey's former secondary school.

The Actors Studio Opening

2009-11-06T22:28:00.000-08:00

I was left mesmerized witnessing Ramli Ibrahim, one of Malaysia's most celebrated dancers perform an Indian classical dance with his protege Guna at the Actors Studio Opening at the rooftop of Lot 10.

It was indeed a surreal experience watching the two perform together and it served as a wonderful reminder of the many wonderful cultural traditions and art forms that we are surrounded with.

Jason

2009-10-30T06:52:00.000-07:00

It's really not often you'd find a guy who is completely at ease when talking about fashion and the latest trends, but that is what Jason does all the time!

As a result of his keen interest in styling and clothes, he decided to set up a men's fashion blog at http://www.jasonchow.org/ So here are the photos that were taken within the vicinity of his apartment to spruce up his blog.

Joanie & Gavin

2009-10-30T06:32:00.000-07:00

Joanie is another dear friend of mine whom I met while studying in Melbourne ages ago. I was really lucky to have met such a bubbly and unbelievably fun person as she is always up for anything!

I always used to turn to her whenever I needed directions to any part of Melbourne as she always knew the best places to eat, shop and have fun!

So when I heard she was coming down to KL with her husband Gavin, I couldn't resist taking photos of the bubbly duo at KLCC.

Breakfast

2009-10-30T06:19:00.001-07:00

Being a foodie, I am always searching for new food in new places. So naturally, I enjoy taking photos of food as well! After all, why bore yourself with the same food when Malaysian is bursting with all kinds of delicious grub?

Here are some shots I took at Raju's in Jalan Gasing where they serve up some of the fluffiest roti canais you'd ever have the pleasure to eat.

Snowy

2009-10-30T06:13:00.001-07:00

Here is Snowy, my friend Kenneth's good-looking and amazingly photogenic cat! With that beautiful white coat and piercing blue eyes, I just had to take pictures of the majestic feline. Snowy seemed pretty calm and cool when I was taking the photos too!

Lembah Beringin

2009-10-30T05:51:00.000-07:00

I had the rare opportunity to accompany Regina to visit the home of a German-born etcher extraordinaire at Lembah Beringin or 'wishing valley' as Regina calls it :)

This home has traditional malaysian architectural features and every part of her home had been meticulously designed to create an idyllic getaway..

I was also left amazed by her wide array of intricate etchings which were painstakingly produced..

With such a beautiful setting, i def could not resist taking some photos!

Family Shoot at Lake Gardens

2009-10-30T05:46:00.001-07:00

Parents should always take loads of photos of themselves with their child. As a child grows, it's always nice to know you have photos that captured each phase of their life because before you know it, they're all grown up and ready to move out!

So here's a family shoot that was arranged by my friend Ariff and taken at Lake Gardens.

Portraits

2009-10-30T05:30:00.001-07:00

These are just among some of the portraits I have taken over the past year :)