majun: adventures of the underpass

What better way to have a first real photo shoot than to have a trusted friend as a model? So I took the opportunity for a pre-flight meet up with Miss Ma to end with a photo shoot. I didn't really have anything in mind, only vague visions of catch lights in the eyes, pretty bokeh, and great lighting. So terms of an objective I really could have done better. Here are the photos:

Things started off slowly, since I didn't really know where to start, and how. Neither did Majun, so we began with more talk than photographs. Still, I got her to laugh a little. Initially, I was going for a contemplative mood, but obviously being the happy person Majun is, I didn't get the chance to reveal that side of her.




So, we spent a great part of the shoot at this underpass, where I saw great light coming down, as well as a wind at the entrances at the tunnel. So I got her to throw her hair around for about an hour or two. Kudos to her for not complaining.




Learning points:

• Always have what you really want in mind. Be specific.
• Things may not always go as planned, be flexible.
• At any point, make sure you know where the nearest toilet is.
• Edit ruthlessly.

To the last point, I ended the shoot with 135 photos. But for the sake of quality, I painfully whittled it down to these 6 which I actually can accept. It can be demoralising, to have so many of my own photos being rejected, never to see the light of day. But I know it will be worth it...

arielle

safe, originally uploaded by misterthomas.

I am thankful that I listened to my urge to take out my camera for some quick shots of Arielle, and that's when I was rewarded with this shot.

Recently I've also been taking up a personal A Photo A Day project, and I guess it's really a good way to learn to see. And to follow up on what you see with what you shoot.

jack

jack, originally uploaded by misterthomas.

As I go along in my daily routine, I am beginning to understand when the more esteemed photographers talk about perfect lighting, and how lighting makes or breaks photos; Because it's about the play between light and dark, and the resulting contrast that makes certain photos interesting.

Very much like how our lives need its ups and downs in order for it to be memorable. How interesting would the biography of my life be if I never felt the extremes of human emotions on either ends?

a single look spoke volumes of our journey through Singapore's IT show.

We bargained, waded reluctantly through the muddy crowd, went without water, grew hungry and sore, collected flyers, compared prices, but ended up with the realisation that we didn't have the money we needed in the first place. All the effort and false hopes down the drain...

how do you see yourself?

Soul

Someone once said when you take a photograph of someone, you take a part of that person along with you. People may like it, or people may not.

But one thing's for sure, a great photograph, like all pieces of art, will evoke a response from the person viewing it. A great photographer can even determine the kind of emotion that his works plant into the viewer. It speaks to them on a personal level.

That, is something special.

For me, until I get there, I'll probably keep trying.