tangible memories

Launch of a new blog!

2010-06-28T13:58:00.001+08:00

Hi Everyone,

I've not been updating this blog as i've been trying to set up a new blog. I'll be updating the new blog instead of this one from now on! Visit the new blog here!

PicsCanFly Blog

Max & Tracy

2010-03-31T14:19:00.000+08:00

Eddie & Grace

2010-03-31T14:08:00.006+08:00

To view more images, click here for..
Part One
Part Two

Damien & Pui Yee

2010-03-16T16:43:00.006+08:00

Joan & Kevin

2010-03-13T23:54:00.003+08:00

My first meeting with Kevin and Joan wasn't a stressful one even though Joan's Dad who is a veteran photographer came along to "screen" the photographer but this lovely couple made the whole meeting such a lively one!

Towards the end of their pre-wedding shoot, Kevin has become such a professional poser that he even entertained the thought of having another shoot! haha..

I'm really glad that i can be a part of all their important days, looking forward to shoot for their engagement and wedding day!

Susan & Gabriel

2010-03-13T22:24:00.003+08:00

When i first met Susan and Gabriel, in my mind, i thought, "wow such a charismatic couple!".. and all of us hit off so well, we ended up eating XO fish head noodle together at Holland V after our first meeting.. I was really looking forward to their interesting wedding at a bistro located at a rider's lodge.. We had a short portraiture session right before the wedding.. here's some pictures to share with you guys!

Joan & Kevin Preview

2010-03-11T22:31:00.003+08:00

Wonderful day + Amazing couple + Beautiful sky = ???

My first humble award..

2010-03-05T23:37:00.003+08:00

I'm really glad and awesomely surprised to be awarded by WPJA (Wedding Photojournalistic Association).. Its a great affirmation and motivation for me to strive to capture more awesome images.. Thanks everyone for rendering your support to me!

"There's a simplicity and intimacy to this -- it's playful and draws you in. nicely done" by WPJA judge.

Vivian & Lawrence

2010-03-02T09:49:00.002+08:00

Teaser: Tracy and Max

2010-02-27T12:01:00.004+08:00

Had such a wonderful day with Tracy and Max yesterday! They were so excited about the shoot and did a 3 days recee before that! More images to come!

New Website!

2010-01-23T18:42:00.004+08:00

Hi there! The new website is up! It contains a compilation of some of my collections from various weddings! Check it out at PicsCanFly. The new blog will be up soon!

Overseas Bridal...

2010-01-21T15:30:00.004+08:00

Hi everyone,

for those who are interested in overseas wedding day or bridal photography, I'll be going to various countries for this year. If you would like to tag along for these trips, feel free to drop me an email!

:: April - Europe (Germany, Austria, Czeck)
:: August - Melbourne
:: September - Bali

Big Tree or Big Fish?

2010-01-18T10:00:00.005+08:00

Last night as I was editing this image, I just felt that it was strangely familiar, as if i've seen it somewhere and suddenly i recalled that years ago, i watched this movie called Big Fish..

I think all of us are influenced and inspired by the things that we come into contact with everyday. It could be anything!

I chanced upon this excerpt from another photographer's blog..
"Nothing is original. Steal from anywhere that resonates with inspiration or fuels your imagination. Devour old films, new films, music, books, paintings, photographs, poems, dreams, random conversations, architecture, bridges, street signs, trees, clouds, bodies of water, light and shadows. Select only things to steal that speak directly to your soul. If you do this, your work (and theft) will be authentic. Authenticity is invaluable; originality is non-existent. And don't bother concealing your thievery - celebrate it is you feel like it. In any case, always remember what Jean-Luc Godard said: "It's not where you take things from - It's where you take them to."

- Jim Jarmusch"

Kamal and Michelle

2009-12-19T00:13:00.001+08:00

I had an amazing shoot with Kamal and Michelle in September at Capella.. The awesome architecture and landscape design provides photographers with endless photo opportunities!

Gown: Silhouette

-Yixin

.

Ivan & Seendly

2009-12-19T00:12:00.005+08:00

Indeed, we were blessed with a good cloudy day despite the fact that it has been raining almost everyday.. Seendly's bubbly character is so contagious and it made the whole shoot turned out to be fun for all of us! We ended the shoot with dinner in a japanese restaurant and though we were all dead tired at the end of the shoot, this amazing couple drove me back from town to Jurong and gave their friend a lift to Yishun and finally to Bedok where they resides in.. Ivan wasn't the driver, Seendly's sister was..

Zhengmin and Weiling

2009-12-19T00:12:00.004+08:00

Zhengmin and Weiling are such an amazing couple.. Kailian, Alwin and myself spent a total of 14 hours together with them! They brought us to places we have never been for lunch and dinner.. We had so much fun with them that we even went to their house during the short break we had.. When we start talking about traveling, it just doesn't end.. They showed us photos of their backpacking trip which includes 15-20 cities in Europe after their exchange program in Finland!

This lovely couple got their charming and delicate gown from Silouette..

Thanks for having us for your bridal shoot.. ;)

- Yixin

Johan and Sherina

2009-12-19T00:12:00.001+08:00

I had such a great time talking to Johan and Sherina during our first 2 meetings.. We just clique instantaneously when we talked about India and Kashmir.. All these while, it was quite an excitement as i look forward to their wedding day and as expected, the day turned out amazingly fun for me! Some of these precious moments also brought me to tears..

Here's some portraitures we took on the wedding day..

- Yixin

This playful couple actually wanted to ambush their bridesmaids but ended up giving a stranger a shock of her life!

Xiao Chen and Catherine

2009-12-19T00:08:00.000+08:00

It was such a wonderful experience to shoot for Xiao Chen and Catherine.. When i met them in the morning, they were so energetic and all ready+excited for the shoot.. It's nice for me to explore new places that i've never been before, like the temple that we went and the airbase.. After the shoot, the 3 of us had a feast at sunset grill.. The buffalo wings are speechless! You literally can't speak after eating it! Try level 30 and u'll know what i mean!

As i was editing this set of photos, i feel that the setting and location makes me feel so nostalgic and retro.. I hope you guys like the retro colors too!

- Yixin

Guess what? Catherine made her own wedding shoes! Isn't that amazing! It was done so nicely that i couldnt tell it was hand made!

Terence & Jerine

2009-12-19T00:06:00.001+08:00

It was an incredible wedding that i've shot last friday.. Terence is such a lively and entertaining man, i've had a good laugh during the gatecrashing.. The groomsmen were ingenious, they brought along $1000 over dollars worth of $1 coins..

During the wedding dinner, they had a pre-wedding video montage, the bridesmaids and Jerine dance really well..

It was nice to see many familiar faces in the wedding.. Besides meeting Sue-ann, Kelvin's bride, I also met Zhing from Spellbound Wedding whom i got to know through a recent wedding shoot.. It's great to hav her around.. Although she was a bridesmaid on that day, she took such good care of the videographer and myself..

- Yixin

Superman!

When negotiation fails, plyer works the best!

The bridesmaids were told to choose either the briefcase filled with $1 coins or these foreign currencies..

On a wedding day, u can't get around without money..

I love Sandy.. She's practically like a dog trapped in a cat's body!

Kelvin & Sherlyn

2009-12-19T00:02:00.002+08:00

Sherlyn is one of my good friend when we were in secondary school.. I'm really glad that i wasn't just a guest but was able to capture so many precious moments of her beautiful wedding day! Even though that was the first time i met Kelvin, he's got a bunch of really fun and unconventional groomsmen!

- Yixin

Eric & Lynn

2009-12-19T00:02:00.001+08:00

Eric and Lynn got to know each other when they were working in the same company.. Interestingly, I found out that Eric came from Mauritius! It's puzzling to me that he would leave such a beautiful island surrounded by crystal clear blue water to another small island surrounded with miry water and overpopulated... So when i asked him why did he choose to live in Singapore, he exclaimed, "I came so as to meet Lynn!"

This is my favourite shot of the day...

- Yixin

Hua Feng & Wendy..

2009-12-19T00:01:00.000+08:00

Wendy and Hua Feng are a brilliant couple.. Yes, i mean BRILLIANT! They met each other when they were studying in the States.. The best man said Hua Feng can dance like Michael Jackson! I was absolutely impressed when the best man presented a video clip of Hua Feng dancing!

- Yixin

I didnt expect that the fighter pilots would stop the couple from marching in.. absolutely outrageous! keke..

Look how amazed they were when they saw Hua Feng dancing video clip!

Kevin & Angela

2009-12-19T00:00:00.001+08:00

Angela's bubbly personality is so contagious.. When Kai Lian joined me for the evening shoot, Angela's first response was, "so you are Kai Lan (芥兰) whom i've been corresponding with!"

I guess her new house reflects her character.. so colorful!

- Yixin

Kevin's niece, Atina is extremely adorable.. She was frowning the whole morning..

I didn't know toy guns work on little girls as much as they do on little boys... love her smiles..

It's really amazing to see how Angela brings out the fun-loving side of a calm and cool man..

Jeffrey & Meishan...

2009-12-18T23:59:00.001+08:00

Alwin and myself had so much fun during the shoot with this couple! It's really fun to do crazy things together such as placing a red sofa in the middle of the road.. We were even tempted to row a boat out into the pond but it started drizzling so didn't get to execute our crazy idea.. Here's a preview from me!

- Yixin

Jeffrey & Meishan...

2009-12-18T23:59:00.000+08:00

Ingo & Rini Bali Wedding..

2009-12-18T23:51:00.000+08:00

It was such an amazing wedding and I'm so blessed to part of it! I spent 2 wonderful days with the bridesmaids and groomsmen before the wedding.. It makes me feel more like a guest than a photographer!

Ingo & Rini, thank you for everything!
And to the bridesmaid and groomsmen, you guys are a great bunch to be with!

Here's the welcome drinks for the guys!

Hot babes in bikini!

Cheers with the chinese "hua diao jiu"!

Ingo with the "Desperate Housewives" mask!

10 Promises to Ms Empress Dowager!

After receiving the red packets from the Ingo and the guys...

Beautiful Khayangan Estate!

Julia was such a spontaneous girl.. When she was volunteered to join the band singer in a duet, she did without hesitation!

Rini was completely touched by Christian's unplanned speech..

I love their expressions!

Limbo dance! Rini gave me a surprise when she took my camera and asked me to dance!

WeCallTheShots w 5DmkII!

2009-09-09T17:58:00.001+08:00

Last month, a group of us, young professional photographers went out for a fun shoot during the National Day.. One of our friend Liwei came up with the name "WeCallTheShots", i think it sounds rather cool! It's always nice to be able to shoot for fun besides the many fun wedding and bridal shoots we have.. If not for the weight of the camera, i would love to bring my equipments out more often.. Hopefully we can have more casual shoots but in view of the busy months ahead, i doubt any of us would have the time to do so..

Here, I've got a chance to bring my new 5DmkII for a test run.. I absolutely love it, love the high ISO that produces really high quality images.. Now that I look at the images i shot with the old 5D, they always seem noisy to me.. keke..

Thanks to our friend Celest who avail herself to be our model on that day..

The joy a child brings...

2009-09-04T14:37:00.003+08:00

Back from Aussie land...

2009-07-05T13:10:00.003+08:00

This is Brighton Beach in Melbourne... I saw the picture in a postcard so i thought i had to witness these art pieces on this beach... The beach houses are bought and painted by individuals who simply love the beach and use it to store their seaports equipments.. I heard that each beach houses can go up to $80k aussie dollars...

I guess as a wedding photographer, whenever I see such nice places, I wish I can bring a couple to shoot here! haha...

Here's my friend Xiuyi who studies in Perth and we met to travel together..

I'm really amazed at how well the beach houses are painted!

We met Molly.. She is such a sweet dog.. I thought she is still a puppy until her owner, Margot told us that Molly is 13 years old..

Molly asking us to stop talking and move on...

Sidney & Laverne...

2009-06-15T15:43:00.004+08:00

Everybody was gazing at Laverne..

Sidney was asking the bridesmaid to be nice to David because he's a married man.. Who ever says married man has special rights?

money, money, money...

When Sidney was asked a couple of questions to test how well he knows Laverne, his expression give away his nervousness..

His common phase.. "for you, Laverne!"

Little adorable pageboy, Issac playing peep a boom..

I realised that Laverne was drown in tears when the youth group presented their item for them..

The youth composed a song that tells the story of Laverne and Sidney.. He was so amused by the lyrics..

Obviously Jiajun, Priscilla and the other bridesmaid were just pretending to catch the bouquet!

When asked to finished the plate of Chicken liver which was his most detested food, Sidney said "For love, for Laverne!" I thought he was going to stuff all the liver into his mouth.. In the end, he volunteered his best man Ah Bee to eat it for him.. What a friend he has in Ah Bee!

John Paul & Pecilia...

2009-05-14T17:44:00.009+08:00

It was such an amazing day! It was my first time shooting a wedding at 3 different hotels in a single day - Ritz Calton, Raffles Hotel and Intercontinental! My first time seeing the bride in a full Chinese traditional costume! The first time I cried when I heard the speech given by the bride's sister! My first time feeling that I want to dance in a wedding!

John Paul loved the Chinese culture and this lovely couple were dressed in the traditional costume which was totally stunning!

Pecilia's sister was such a sweet girl with a warm and caring personality...

She gave such a touching speech, both Pecilia and her ended up in tears..

... and the party begins! The band was unbelievably astonishing! They are called the Jive Talking and currently they are performing at the Pumproom in Clarke quay.. I could see the guest completely enchanted by the music.. so was I...

The guitarist was just playing the guitar throughout the whole gig till the last part where he sang "Always be my baby".. I thought David Cook was here.. The same kind of husky voice that totally mesmerized you..

3 Ginger cats...

2009-04-23T16:46:00.004+08:00

Here's a triplets! Adopted by a friend of mine.. haha.. I love their expressions.. Guess what they are looking at? FOOD! Nothing can capture their attention other than food and birds..

These 3 Kitties hate to take photos.. They just want to look elsewhere except at the camera.. I guess for this photo, I probably gave him a shock when i got so near..

One of them often dash into the glass door when he sees birds outside..

Adrian & Valerie

2009-04-15T18:23:00.006+08:00

Adrian and Valerie are such amazing people who are surrounded with loving friends and family.. The first time I met them, I felt that we just cliqued instantaneously.. They treated me with so much kindness and I had so much fun with their friends.. Hope to see you guys soon!

Valerie is such a bubbly girl but when I took this photo, I felt a moment of serenity as if she was praying..

Well.. these men in black are so fortunate to be spared from the door games..

A couple of Valerie's bridesmaid travellered all the way from Perth to attend her wedding..

Adrian's mum was brought to tears by the couple's speech..

Bali, here I come!

2009-03-30T11:44:00.007+08:00

I was really excited when I met up with Rini last week to discuss about her Bali wedding in June.. I've never been to Bali but I've heard enough of how amazing the place is! I believe its gonna be a great wedding in such an awesome location! The interesting thing is that Kelvin has planned a company trip to Bali for us in May so we'll be there for 5 days to chill out and check out interesting places to shoot for bridal too.. Wansheng from feldberyl will be joining us! I guess we'll be having lots of laughter with him around! Then I'll be back for a week and before I knew it, I'll be back to Bali again! I'm so looking forward to it!

Adrian and Michelle..

2009-03-23T14:00:00.002+08:00

Woo hoo.. It's been a great morning with beautiful clouds that stretches along the blue sky.. So inviting.. Here's a shot taken this morning for this cool couple..

Gunner & Fei..

2009-03-20T18:32:00.003+08:00

A while back, I followed Kelvin for a pre-wedding shoot.. We came across a funky little bar that has a beautiful white vintage grand piano.. The more interesting thing is that when we went into the toilet, there was a swing in it.. While Kelvin was taking some beautiful portraitures of Fei seated on the swing, I found many small pieces of mirrors that made up this image..

Time flies, next Wednesday will be Gunner and Fei's wedding. I'll be following Kelvin to shoot their wedding and I'm really looking forward to it!

Kin Meng & Lorraine..

2009-03-19T17:16:00.010+08:00

Their hearts were filled with thankfulness for the grace that brought them together.. Kin Meng and Lorraine have such distinct characters that are totally opposite of each others' yet its really amazing to see these two people coming together. Well.. it's true that opposite attracts and they compliment each other.. haha.. It is even proven in scientific experiments that only the South and the North magnets attracts..

Here's how everyone describes Kin Meng - "He is never punctual, he is always early". I heard this at least 5 times from a few different groups of people on the wedding day.. And Yes! He is always early, even on his wedding day! We had to park somewhere and waited for 30 minutes because we were just too early! Whereas for Lorraine, she is such a warm and friendly person that everyone describes as... - "When she starts talking, she never stops". It's funny that even the priest said that during their church wedding ceremony!

Yea, these are all real $50 bills in Singapore currency.. Finally the real stuff is out after trying to bluff their way through using rupiah and other currencies.. Obviously they didn't succeed as there were 10 brilliant bridesmaids!

keke.. I kind of like the little girl scratching her head..

Yea, that's Kyra, she's one of the flowergirl on that day too!

Ernest & Connie..

2009-03-12T16:12:00.011+08:00

Couple of months back, I followed Kelvin for Ernest and Connie's bridal shoot.. Time really flies and I'm glad to be part of their wedding last sat evening to see the both of them tie the knot! I remember how surprised I was when they told me that they've never had a girlfriend / boyfriend prior to meeting each others.. In the chinese saying, means "初戀情人". Pretty cool huh? haha..

Cris & Lily

2009-03-10T17:08:00.004+08:00

Last week, we had a pre-wedding shoot with Cris & Lily. Their friend Derek came to helped them. They were such people, I think Kelvin enjoyed them totally! After the shoot, we rewarded ourselves with a mini-feast at one of the popular Yong tau fu stall.. I guess at the end of the day, besides the nice photos taken, it is also the friendship built that makes the whole experience so rewarding!

Ryan & June..

2009-02-28T00:00:00.010+08:00

Decided to update my blog after lying on the bed for an hour but could not sleep.. Was really hoping to get a good rest to prepare for the wedding day shoot tomorrow.. I was discussing with my friend Xinxuan what are the ways that works for her.. She said reading makes her feel sleepy but i doubt it works for me.. I recalled 2 years ago I was traveling in Vietnam with some friends and it was so cold that I had to consume some wine. Right after I finished the cup of wine, I was totally knocked out without my knowledge.. That makes me wonder if i should store some wine at home but the only problem is whether I can wake up at 5am the next morning for the shoot.. Too risky right?

So here's some photos to go with the sleepless night.. :)

haha.. I can see Kelvin's face in the background..

Ryan & June (Part II)

2009-02-13T16:07:00.005+08:00

Last but not least, here's a photo we took with Ryan and June! Looks like afterall we had fun..

Ryan & June..

2009-02-11T19:05:00.005+08:00

Haven't been updating my blog for a while.. I bet most of us have been busy with the Chinese New Year (besides spring cleaning, busy collecting ang baos but not really for my case) and after the new year holidays, I went to Thailand to visit some of my Thai friends.. So greetings to u guys.. I hope it was a good break for all of you and no one suffers post-holidays blue..

Yesterday Alwin and myself went for a bridal shoot with Ryan (Kelvin's brother) and June.. It was a fun experience shooting this lovely couple though there were some stressed involved on our side as well..

We called this tree the "$5 note tree" as it was on our local $5 bill. June wanted to take some photos at this location very much.. When I saw it, I just thought maybe it would be a good idea to let her rest and relax by lying on the branch.. True enough, at the end of it, she didn't want to get up.. It was just too comfortable..

I'm still in the midst of editing their photos.. will be posting more, probably tomorrow!

musing...

2009-01-23T01:46:00.005+08:00

Today was a thoughtful day while i mull over the book I read - "Till we have faces" written by C S Lewis (the author of Chronicles of Narnia).. It was such a good read.. Absolutely addictive. I started it this morning and got stuck to it for 2 hours as soon as I reached home after work.

I was also looking through a war photo journalism book lying in the office.. Didn't know that such great books are lying in the office and it actually slipped through my eyes.. A friend was sharing with us about a photo which caught the attention of the media in 1992. It showed the body of a couple, Admira Ismic and Bosko Brkic who became known to some as the Romeo and Juliet of Sarajevo.

Here's excerpt which I saw on some website..

"No two people have more exemplified the tragedy of the civil war in Bosnia, than 25-year-old sweethearts Bosko Brkic and Admira Ismic. The only impediment to their love was living in a country who's people are divided solely on the basis of ethnic heritage. For Bosko, a Serb, and Admira, a Muslim, the love they once expressed only for each other was forced to become a secret. The couple, who had been dating for seven years, since high school, were both chemistry students at the University of Sarajevo. Bosko remained in the city to be with Admira despite his families flight from the blood shed. Finally,in the spring of 1993, Admira choose to reward Bosko for staying behind by fleeing Sarajevo with him to Serb territory.

They knew their escape would be a dangerous one. To get to the Serb side they had to cross the Vrbanja bridge, the front line between Bosnian Serb and Muslim Forces. While most who wished to flee the city dared not risk the sniper fire, some had successfully crossed over. On the day of their planned escape, carrying two bags, Bosko and Admira approached the government soldiers on the Bosnian side of "no mans land". They asked the soldiers to let them try an escape, and the police snipers assented.

The young lovers began running as fast as they could across the bridge. They had almost reached the Serb side when snipers opened fire. The machine gun fire came so rapidly that the couple had no chance to seek cover. Bosko was killed instantly, his body laying twisted on the ground. Mortally wounded, Admira crawled the few feet to her lover and wrapped her arm around him before she died."

Here's a song sang by Sammi Cheng.. Pretty old song (as you can tell from the MTV) yet beautifully written about this couple.. Here's the youtube link..

The cat at night..

2009-01-15T01:01:00.003+08:00

Yesterday while I was playing with my fat cat, I smell a stench.. That was from Da Fei's mouth.. My sister, Yiyi said that his mouth is like an open grave.. So this coming chinese new year, we're going to clean up the grave in my house.. That will include the grave in my cat's mouth.. We are thinking of where to send him for a make over.. another words, grooming.. Does any of the pet shop do mouth sanitizing? Can anyone recommend? I hope that doesn't freak him out..

Faithfully waiting..

2009-01-13T01:20:00.001+08:00

Han Keong & Wei Peng

2009-01-12T17:22:00.012+08:00

Indeed, like what Kelvin mentioned, it's good to get a handshake from the couple at the beginning of the day but a hug at the end of it.. and I got a card from Wei Peng too! I could feel the surge of joy at that moment.. As I look back, I'm really glad to be involved in Han Keong and Wei Peng's wedding..

With Han Keong around, he brightens everyone up! He is such relational and cheerful character.. He strangled me when we realized that we were both born in the year of pig and I teased him that he is 12 years my senior.. Nevertheless, he is so young at heart!

Wei Peng is a super cool lady! When we talk about traveling, she has endless experiences to share.. She even went Maldives for a dive alone last year.. Isn't that cool? I wish I have the guts to do it too! haha.. As her friend Clara has testified about how genuine this friend is, I personally experienced it too.. I'm glad to know her as a friend.. Maybe someday we can travel together but I have to pick up diving first.. keke..

An affectionate kiss to his mother-in-law..

One of the bridesmaid Valerie.. I think she looks like Corrinne May.. Maybe they are of the same age too..

Peace to all..

I didn't notice he actually folded his tongue! The kids were asking me how i raise my eyebrown individually.. I told them I have supernatural power.. He has it too!

His favourite toy...

2009-01-12T01:21:00.005+08:00

A friend was asking what is Da Fei's favorite toy.. Here you go..

Everyday he waits outside my room...

... for this weird looking ball with some strands of feathers..

大肥猫

This is a photo of a stray cat i took today... Who says animals do not have expressions? He was looking at me with curiosity.. curiosity kills the cat.. when i snapped a photo of him, he suddenly ran away.. I think he was probably wondering what was that huge black box I was holding..

I wonder if he just had a prison break encounter.. He needs a shave...

Love me...

2009-01-09T16:50:00.005+08:00

Do animals have feelings? I think they do... I could almost see in their eyes and hear their plea - "Love me.." Especially for dogs.. They are such people-centered animal.. My sister has 3 dogs name Kuki, Krim and Mocha. Even though they have the company of each other, it just never seem to be enough compared to the companionship of a human.. Quite intriguing, sometimes I wonder why God created them this way..

Last week, I went to the beach with a couple of friends.. We saw a dog running towards us where we park our mat.. This old man came along to leash the dog that was running away from him.. He started to drag this small frail doggy and kept flinging it into the sea.. Ya, and i mean FLING.. Fling till all the limbs are flying at different directions even though still attached to the body.. The dog just kept crawling back to the shore with a trembling body after being thrown in again and again. I could see the fear in its eyes. That wasn't all. The other old man leashed the dog and dragged it into the water. I saw the poor little doggy, being tossed by the waves and struggling to swim up the shore but the leash just held him back and kept him in the sea that seems to be consuming him.. Well, of course as a bystander, I ran up to intervene..

Perhaps they may be a little naughty at times, they may bite your shoes, tear your socks, dirty your house, pee on your bed and the list goes on.. I guess they are like little kids, you need patience to train them and forebear their mischievous acts but never abuse them or abandon them cos you're the one they ever wanted.. It was a lesson I learnt for myself..

So now, I learnt to spend a bit of time everyday to play with my cat, Da fei (大肥). He sits and waits outside my room with great anticipation to play his favourite toy every night.. He is about 11-12 years old so he is turning yellowish.. Original color was grey.. You can literally see his eyes sparkles at the sight of his toy, his pupil enlarge..

Missing India..

2009-01-08T02:36:00.004+08:00

Suddenly I missed traveling so much.. I guess traveling gives you a whole new perspective to life and even photography where there is no boundary to your creativity.. Everyday new experiences await you that stimulate your mind and leave you dazzled with amazement..

I took this photo about a year back when I was backpacking in India.. It was taken in one of the Punjab state called Amritsar where it holds the only gateway to Pakistan from this country.. The temple at the background is called the Golden Temple. As the name suggested, it is not just because the temple is golden in color but it was plated with 750kg of gold which the Maharaja gave for the building of the temple.. Everyday, there are thousands of people visiting this temple.. They come from different parts of this vast land, from all walks of life.. It was a pity that I didn't get to enter the temple as you can see the never-ceasing queue.. I think it'll take me more than a day to queue to get in..

Miss the culture, miss the people, miss the forts and palaces, miss the Himalayas, miss the snow, miss every bit of India, both the good and the bad..

For more travel photos I took as an amateur photographer, click here.

Random entry...

2009-01-06T12:45:00.004+08:00

An empty space..

2008-12-30T13:35:00.006+08:00

I was really surprised to receive a belated Christmas present from Kelvin and Beth.. Kelvin got a book for me from Perth and it was really interesting.. The title of the book goes like this - "This is for you".. The author is really talented.. The whole book is made up of papercut prints created by the author Rob Ryan.. Here's one of the papercut made by him..

Here's an excerpt from the book..

When I was smaller
When I was a child, a boy
One minute worrying, the next not having a care
I woke up and got dressed and did all the things that you do all day
All the feelings you feel all day long
Feeling scared and then feeling brave and then feeling scared again
All day long every thought and blink and fear
You only dare to share it with yourself

And then for the very first time
I began to feel very alone

I walk and I thought and I walk and I thought...

And still this feeling of being alone stayed and lingered inside me

It's not that I feel alone because I have no friends
I have lots of friends
I know that I have people who can hold me and reassure me
and talk to me and care for me and think of me
But they can't be inside my head with me all the time -
for all time.

I mean, well what I really mean
I can't easily explain
Except that in here - In this thing called ME.
That's the very problem - It is always just me
Myself alone
And it just isn't enough

I tried to ask other people if they felt this way as well
and they all said no, never, not at all, until i felt as if i was going mad

I cried and I screamed at the sky
I don't want to feel like this for the rest of my life
But the clouds were indifferent to my tears and why should they care
They float and drift and join together and part and reform for eternity

And his mum said to him..

The problem is your heart is too big for you alone
And with only you inside, it feels like an empty space

Maximus's Birthday Party!

2008-12-22T17:58:00.005+08:00

It's little Maximus' 1 year old birthday party.. I guess he must be really happy to have such loving parents..

and he loves to be "squeezed"...

This little boy is so cute, he was dragging his balloon duckling and went "woof woof".. He must be thinking that it was a doggy..

The professional entertainer Derrick was really outstanding! He could do all sorts of cartoon character on balloon sculptures..

It's really heartwarming to see how parents love their children unconditionally..

and they are always there to guide them patiently..

Liam & Shihui..

2008-12-16T23:16:00.012+08:00

Kelvin just came back from Jesh De Rox's course in Perth and today he shared something that I thought was really interesting.. He said, "the opposite of love is not hatred but the opposite of love is actually fear.." I guess its our fears that hinder us to love another person, to express our love for our family and friends.. Fear of being vulnerable, fear of rejections, fear of being hurt, disappointed and uncertainties of how the other party would respond or if he/she would reciprocate the same love to you.. If only we could cast aside all these fears and express what's truly in our hearts..

It's funny how a little hug makes everyone feel good.. In every place and time, it's always understood..

It kind of warmed my heart to see the couple receiving hugs from their loved ones, especially from Shihui's parents.. Unhindered by the Asian culture, Liam's Father-in-law gave him a hug and I could literally feels his joy of welcoming Liam into their family..

I love this photo of Shihui's mum giving her daughter a big and unreserved hug..

They held their engagement in a gallery at Dempsey Hill.. Isn't that cool!!!???

One of the reason that Liam and Shihui picked the gallery as the ROM location is because they wanted dear Sasha to come along..

We took a ride in the limousine to the cozy restaurant for dinner..

Sasha was in a daze while the rest are having an enjoyable meal..

William & Michelle..

2008-11-24T12:28:00.011+08:00

William and Michelle met in NIE and I heard that it was because of a dengue fever that William had which brought them together.. They were such a kind couple and even arranged for their friend to capture the table shots so that I could rest and enjoy the lunch banquet together with the rest.. I'm really glad to be a part of this wedding.. I felt like a guest or rather a friend in the wedding..

Michelle has 7 bridesmaids.. I called them the 7 evil sisters.. here are 3 of them, all ready to sabotage the groom and groomsmen.. haha..

i noticed Michelle's mum crying in the background..

Michelle's students were really thoughtful to give her a surprise visit even though they were in the midst of their exams.. and they presented such an excellent song item that i thought it was a waste that they didn't do it on the stage.. I guess she has really made a great impact in their lives, I've never seen any teacher so close to their students..

Here's Michelle's best friend, Carmen.. She was such a great wedding coordinator that I thought she should become a full-time wedding planner.. haha..

A small world...

2008-11-21T17:40:00.004+08:00

Last night I went out with one of my best friend, Priscilla.. I know it sounds ironical - best friend can only have one since it is the BEST already but I do have a few best friends, they are just BEST in different ways.. Recent years, we started to hang out twice in a year - once on her birthday, another on mine.. the rest, i really don't remember at all..

Anyway, she went around shopping for a friend's wedding gift. Her friend is getting married tomorrow.. This afternoon, we realized that we are actually attending the same wedding which I'll be shooting tomorrow. I'm just amazed at how tiny and puny our homeland is.. I'm extremely excited about the wedding..

Christmas is coming soon but as I grow older, excitement over Christmas fades away gradually, just like how birthdays do.. Significance of it fades away too.. The past 2 years, I spent my Christmas somewhere out of our puny island, in Vietnam and India where lights are not as easily available as here.. I've never notice that so much electricity is used for this special occasion...

Here's an evidence of it..

Joshua & Grace Part II

2008-11-15T12:06:00.007+08:00

Here's some of the photos i took of Joshua & Grace during their engagement when we had a bit of time to sneak away from the crowd..

My panda

2008-11-13T18:48:00.006+08:00

I love my panda.. When I was shooting him, I asked him to freeze and this was his expression.. He has a huge belly so i have to shoot from top down, if not, his tummy will cover his flat face..

He is very supportive of my job.. When I spend hours on photoshop, he supports my wrist..

Ernest & Connie..

2008-11-12T01:37:00.006+08:00

After coming back from Yervant's course today, I was super impressed with his post-production work.. Most of his photos are like art pieces but behind the post-production is a man who has a mind filled with concepts and glamorous ideas that produce glamorous pictures.. He was so nice to share with us some technics which he uses in his digital imaging.. Got so excited about it that I came back home to try them out on this image..

Here's a photo I took when I tagged along with Kelvin for an outdoor shoot.. He posed the couple and I was just standing right behind him so couldn't resist the temptation to shoot.. keke.. just a disclaimer - the idea and copyright belongs to him..

Joshua & Grace...

2008-11-09T16:03:00.005+08:00

Yesterday I shot this lovely couple's engagement.. The ROM was held at Joshua's place.. This young couple is so in love with each other and filled with spontaneity.. I had a lot of fun too.. Here's a teaser and a reminder for me to post the rest of the photos.. keke..

Tomorrow and Tuesday I'll be going for Yervant's course!!! He is a renown wedding photographer from Melbourne and I'm so looking forward to learn from him! Guess I'll be so captivated and won't have time to update my blog for the next 2 days..

After seeing others' blogs with huge images, I feel so tempted to enlarge the size of the photos I display so I spent an hour editing my blog.. Here's the first larger image!

Nicholas & Michelle

2008-10-30T19:27:00.013+08:00

It was my first time tagging along with Kelvin for a wedding day shoot.. I was really glad to be able to learn fr him, he taught me quite a few things and i went "Wow, I've never seen it in that way!"

Nicholas and Michelle's wedding was such an exciting one like no other! Besides having their wedding banquet at a gorgeous location (St Regis Hotel), there were plenty of surprises throughout the whole day! The morning was filled with unceasing laughter during the gate crashing and even the tea ceremony!

Here are some images to share with all of you.. I think there are a few more to come in the next few days..

Michelle's cousin posing as a cat..

You may be wondering why is she saying "Hi" to the ceiling.. They actually had a web cam installed near the ceiling so that their relatives staying overseas could join them in the tea ceremony over the web conference!

Nicholas in the bikini, describing how he almost had a heart attack anticipating Michelle's response to his proposal..

I almost laugh my lungs out during the tea ceremony..

Michelle's gowns were absolutely gorgeous.. Her bridal gown is designed by Tanyoong and her evening gown is designed by Francis Cheong..

Michelle's aunt was filled with sentiments as she witness the couple exchanging their vows to each other..

Michelle in her stunning red evening gown.. She carried it off so well..

Nicholas said that he would love to bring all his guest to a bar but it was impossible so he brought the bar to everyone..

Tze Leong & Adeline..

2008-10-22T23:51:00.008+08:00

Adeline wore an extraordinary beautiful gown on her wedding day.. It was designed by the renown designer, Vera Wang..

She was pretty nervous until her best friend cum hairstylist came to brighten her up!

I kind of like this location where they had their solemnization..

and the little decorations too!

Tze Leong was such gentleman and his friends were all telling me that he is known to be the Mr Nice guy..

Here's Adeline's hairstylist.. She's such a comical character.. I heard her calling me "darling" and I felt that it was kind of warm but later did i realize that she calls everyone the same name.. haha.. She probably couldn't remember my name.. well.. that's why.. keke..

When Tze Leong was encouraged by the crowd to sing Adeline a song, she was totally awed that he could sing so well..

The 3 friends who find themselves identical in size decided to have a group hug..

dreams..

2008-10-22T01:45:00.004+08:00

Another futile attempt to sleep, lied on the bed for an hour trying to enter Lala land.. Woke up to surf around the web and started checking out Kelvin's blog. I used to visit his journal everyday, wanting to be inspired by his images, sometimes even several times a day.. Today I just saw his new entry and my photos of Kyra on his blog.. Beth told me that she loves one of the photo of Kyra with cream all over her face.. It was such a great encouragement.. even though i feel a little inferior to see my photos in a blog that contains nothing but breath-taking images but I'm glad that now, I can be inspired by the grandmaster himself.. I'm really looking forward to follow him on this saturday's shoot..

When I start looking back, memories of yesteryear came rushing through my mind.. I recalled those times when I was still a Software engineer, facing the computer everyday, I questioned myself the purpose of it all - dragging myself out of bed each morning and dreading to go to work especially on a Monday morning plagued with a typical "Monday blues".. I can't believe that today I actually looked forward to go to work! Well.. 4 years back, I wouldn't believe that I can have my passion as my vocation but now such an unreachable dream has come true.. and perhaps your dreams await for you too, just a little bit of patience will bring you there..

Kyra's Birthday..

2008-10-20T13:21:00.006+08:00

Last night we had a birthday party for little Kyra.. She's 2 years old! She was so happy to have so many "Jie jie" to play with her last night.. Totally not afraid of strangers and big groups, she went happily imitating our actions when some of them were playing with Kelvin's wii..

I must say that the lamb chop and steaks were better than those in Tony Roma's and Jack's Place.. I believe many would have agreed with me..

Narcissism

2008-10-14T12:56:00.007+08:00

It's my 2nd day working in Lightedpixels.. I'm thankful for this great opportunity that was granted to me by Kelvin and Beth.. of course, not forgetting the fun guys in Avenue 8 especially Bernard who has taught me so many things..

My new colleague Alwin introduced me to this fun website (photofunia) that generates these pictures within few seconds.. you can skip all the steps in photoshop!

Someone gazing at my photo with deep sentiments and nostalgia..

Alwin has this picture on his blog too.. I would have gone crazy if someone had a tattoo of me on his body..

When did i become an advocate..?

I love these kitties! I bet my cat (dafei) wouldn't gaze so intently at the TV if it was a picture of me.. anyway, nothing can capture his attention except food..

If only i own this set of tv.. old school.. cool..

u dun need to be Yusof bin Ishak to have your photo printed on a bill..

Love = Vulnerable

2008-09-22T01:01:00.002+08:00

To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly be broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket — safe, dark, motionless, airless — it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable.

~ C S Lewis

This quotation is taken from a book which was written by C S Lewis (the author of Chronicles of Narnia). I read it many years ago and read it a couple of times because it was a too "chimz" for my puny brain. I saw it lying on my table so extracted a part of it..

I find it so true that loving means being vulnerable.. Vulnerable to rejections and disappointments.. Whether or not it is towards our family, friends or anyone.. Yet, despite of that, we are made to love, we are made to be relational beings and nobody can live without it.. Love is the fundamental sustenance of life and the whole essence of life. Imagine a world without it, everyone will be selfish, our hearts will be hardened, impenetrable and unbreakable..

Reflections ...

2008-09-16T18:42:00.016+08:00

I was so amazed when i found out how Kelvin and Angela met each other.. About 6 years ago, Angela was on her way to Australia for further studies. Coincidentally, she took the same flight with a friend who was going to further his studies in Australia as well. Sitting right beside him was Kelvin.. That was the first time Angela was introduced to Kelvin by her friend, they were complete strangers back then.. The few youngsters realized that they were entering the same university and decided to rent an apartment together.

... 6 years later, Kelvin and Angela were joined in matrimony ...

Sometimes, it really amazes me to see that there are so many "coincidences" in life.. I believe they are all divine arrangements.. same day, same time, same flight, same country, same state, same university..

I had such a great time taking some casual shots for them right before their engagement as i could feel the "connection" between this couple..

I love reflections, they reflect who we are.. Likewise, personally, i feel that photos should reflect who the couple truly are and how they feel towards each other..

My funny friends...

2008-09-15T23:14:00.004+08:00

It's been such a long time since i last went out with these 2 friends..
PS: You girls are really FOC (full of crap!!!) but they brought me lots of fun and laughter.. I felt so exhausted at the end of the day.. I hope I can join you more often.. argh.. I really miss the outings with the sisters..

This is Xinxuan, she's known to be a Natasha fanatic.. Can you imagine she even bought her the Vietnam traditional hat when we went Vietnam together?

This is Shiyun.. Witty and humorous.. the photos reflect who she is..
PS: Hey sy, next time try not to make funny faces la.. I know you are camera shy but funny faces shot not so pretty leh..

Here is Xinxuan's stinky Natasha with that hat.. Can't stand her smile.. **act cute.. bleah.. I think she travels more often than me cos Xinxuan brings her out to every single camp and overseas trip she goes.. Nat even went to Berlin with her 2 weeks back.. All of us can't stand her, been trying to get rid of her..

Alex & Irene..

2008-09-11T16:01:00.006+08:00

Alex and Irene were such a warm and friendly couple and so were their family members.. Every now and then, they kept asking me to eat and make sure that I was well fed.. It was a very fulfilling day shooting for their wedding and I had a lot of fun mingling around with the whole family..

While waiting for the auspicious time to enter their new house, Irene was tossing her bouquet at the HDB flat area..

This is Irene's cute and affectionate grandma.. Once in a while, I'll peek at her and catch her grinning from ear to ear.. She seems to be the happiest person to see her granddaughter getting married..

Irene loves greenery and we went to the botanic gardens for a quick shoot in the afternoon.. The weather was absolutely beautiful..

It didn't rain at all, just in case you thought it did.. keke..

After I took this shot, Irene's cousin was saying that they looked so comfortable lying on the green pasture.. haha.. In fact, it was pretty warm when the midday sun shone on them..
PS: Alex and Irene, thanks for being so cooperative.. You guys are fantastic!

Mr Bottle Kid's Club

2008-09-02T18:51:00.007+08:00

I volunteered myself to shoot for one of the event organized by Mr Bottle Kid's Club when I saw the exciting programs lined up for the kids.. There were Nail Art, Face & Hand painting, Lantern Workshop, Tile Painting Workshop, Sand Art Workshop, Cookies decoration Workshop, story telling and even magic show! Besides just loving kid's photography, I love kids.. Well, I feel that they brighten my life with their childlike characters but of course some parents may tell you that there is a little monster living in each of them.. keke..

Cookies decoration! Yum Yum..

It's great to see that the parents and kids enjoy the workshops tremendously..

Hand painting..

Ooo.. this is my favorite boy.. i know i shouldn't show favoritism but i can't help it.. He is so so adorable and affectionate!!!

This is his brother.. Both of them are such happy kids and it gets so contagious..

The magic show was really entertaining to the kids, yet it was puzzling to the adults..

Face painting! I love this.. Wanted to get my face painted too but the artist was too occupied with the long queue of kids..

So amazed..

Even the teachers were so awed by the magic show..

I met these few loving teachers who are actually students from Laselle.. They were imparting their skills to the little ones and at the same time enjoying themselves..

.. and teaching them how to make flowers.. I tried but mine doesn't turn out to be a flower.. bleah..

Hooray day..

2008-08-29T13:17:00.006+08:00

When i received the sms yesterday - "Bring your camera tomorrow, we're going out for a shoot".. I went "hooray!!!" haha.. it was good getting out of the office and being able to enjoy the warm of the sun.. In the end, Sherman became my model of the day.. **actually both of us ended up shooting each other and did some experimental shots..

I love the texture on the wall..

My colleague asked me whether i used my len hood to get this framing.. haha.. nope.. this framing can be found everywhere.. guess where?

Here are some photos of me taken by my colleague Sherman.. I really love them.. Thanks bro for these great shots! See, I didn't disappoint you either.. ;)

This is my favourite of the day!

David & Svetlana

2008-08-26T11:53:00.005+08:00

It was a fun-filled day shooting for David and Svetlana's wedding. Everything was so spontaneous and they simply enjoyed the time with their family, friends and especially each other..

Here's a view from their bedroom..

National Dog Walk

2008-08-05T13:09:00.010+08:00

I went for a National Dog Walk over the weekend at West Coast Park. Noah's Art CARES attempt to raise $50,000 to sterilize 400 stray dogs through this charity event. My sister and brother-in-law have 3 little rascals (dogs) - they are Kuki, Krim and Mocha. It wasn't easy bringing the 3 of them out, especially when the 2 beagles are pretty strong..

This is Kuki, a 5 year old beagle. She belongs to my sister. Kuki used to stay with me before my sister got married. It was interesting to have cats and a dog living together under one roof back then.

This is Krim (cream), we call her "Krim Krim". She's my favorite because of her character. Timid and affectionate but she does not fight for attention like the other 2 beagles do.

Don't be mistaken, this is not Kuki, this is Mocha, the youngest among the 3 little rascals.. She looks like Kuki, just that Kuki's face is more wrinkled.. (*a sign of aging) haha..

WINGMama

2008-06-24T13:55:00.006+08:00

A friend of mine is starting a food kiosk selling American food at Suntec city. His aunt who spent more than half of her life in the United States is a great cook and she is a partner of my friend. Here are some pictures i took for their menu..

This is a specialty of WINGMama - WINGMama JUMBO ONION BLOSSOM. Similar to onion rings, the Jumbo Onion Blossom is a gorgeous battered onion flower..

WINGMama's fiery Buffalo Wings called the "4 (HOT) CHICKS".

WINGMama CHICKEN TENDERS loving care - Boneless Chicken Fingers (6pcs) Lightly crisped succulent rib meat carefully trimmed from the breast. Served with your favorite flavor.

WINGMama Calamari

WINGMama CRISPY NATURAL CUT FRIES

Marcus and Xiao Yan's Wedding..

2008-03-26T18:26:00.016+08:00

Last sat I went for a wedding shoot with my one of my colleague. I was blessed to meet this couple who was so kind to us and their joy is contagious, especially the groom, Marcus. He is such a spontaneous and expressive person, i could see Xiao Yan's joy whenever she was with him. Most of the time, during a wedding, a couple has so many things to be concerned about (eg, tight schedules, the ceremonies, guests...) to the point that they find it hard to enjoy the day. This is my first time seeing a couple enjoying themselves so much..

Don't be shocked, this is not another episode of brokeback mountain. They were told to pass a small piece of seaweed using their lips during the gatecrash.. These guys were really sporty! .. and did it without hesitation..

I took a picture of Marcus' family members when he was giving a speech which was so touching. They were laughing with tears of joy.. but too bad, the tears are only visible when i view this picture in a higher resolution..

This is Marcus' parents. It warms my heart when i see such a lovely old couple..

Sentosa Flower Festival

2008-03-25T16:17:00.008+08:00

Here's some flowers i took during the sentosa flower festival last month.. i was so engrossed in wanting to shoot nice pictures of them that I totally failed to appreciate the beauty of these flowers.. What a pity! During one of the fireworks festival, i was so engrossed in shooting. For the whole of 15 mins, there was a series of amazing fireworks but i was looking into the view finder all the time n missed the awesome show. So subsequently, i went to watch fireworks without my camera but at times i do regret not bringing it.. Quite a contradiction..

This is my favourite flower.. The size of this flower is smaller than a 20 cents coin and not significant at all until you take a closer look at it. I love the little flowers within this flower that look like stars. Amazed at how God has designed this flower and the little details in it though as small as it is.

Tangible Memories - Oxymoron?

2008-03-18T13:48:00.000+08:00

Hi, i want to thank you for visiting my blog..

Thought of sharing with you the reason i named this blog as "tangible memories" though it sounded like a contradictory statement since memories are not tangible. When i was younger, i loved taking pictures using my family's first compact film camera. After many years, whenever i look at the pictures, they never fail to stir up fond memories of the past. It makes me feel nostalgic which is not a very nice feeling bcos of the longings to travel back to the past yet unable to do so. Well, traveling back to the past is impossible unless you are a "superhero" with special abilities. Though it makes my heart feel restless but as a typical melancholic, i love to dwell in the past.

Nowadays, computer memory storage is so cheap and large, we can store as many movies, music, pictures and data so long our pockets enable us to. But no matter how advanced technology is, it will never be as powerful as human memory because computer memory is made by man but human memory is made by God. We are familiar with short-term and long-term memory but interestingly, there is another part of the human memory called the "sensory memory". Memories can be stirred by our senses such that when we see photos, smell a familiar scent or hear a familiar tune, it can trigger a floodgate of memories and stir our emotions till we are overwhelmed.

Now, as a wedding photographer, i hope to learn as much to captures the most important event in one's life (oops, mistake, it's "two persons' life"), to make these moments tangible in the form of photographs.. Well.. I guess it's a process of learning, a never-ending journey and my journey begins here...