Monthly Archives: August 2009 - Page 3

Of Silhouettes and Grains

Posted by Ena on August 7, 2009 No comments

This is way overdue. Sometimes you have a picture and you just have no idea how to post-process it. Do you get that sometimes? Its really annoying. Initially I had edited these silhouettes in black and white but there wasn’t any sense of depth and feel. I think its because generally, my black-and-whites are usually high contrast which doesn’t quite work in my silhouettes shots below. So here’s my attempt at something different; sephia and grain. When I first started photography, I hated grains/noise in my pictures. But after being exposed to film, grains are something so…so…delicious when the mood is right

*tilts head at the picture below* It is slightly crooked huh? Tough… blinds aren’t aligned with the side walls. And also, I think I wasn’t perpendicular to the windows.

Isma - Office

Asia Photography Contest – People Category

Posted by Ena on August 6, 2009 4 comments

Despite the gloomy morning, an e-mail I received at the office today cheered up my day. I was informed by the Head of the Asia Pacific region of the company where I work at that I’ve won the Asia Photography Contest under the People category. Yay!

A few weeks ago and a day before the dateline of the contest, I brought my camera to the office and gathered around some of my pretty (and handsome) colleagues to snap a few pictures. What I had in mind were stock photos – clean, bright and minimal editing. I set my flash on wireless trigger, placed it about 10 feet away from the models, bounced it at the ceiling and tadaa…. sufficiently-exposed photos

So anyway, here’s the winning photo. You won’t see it anywhere else and this will be the last that I post this picture as it is now fully copyrighted under my employer. Nothing fancy, but its her eye-contact that I adore.

Asia Photography Contest - Best Photo in People Category

Search di Awan Biru Concert

Posted by Ena on August 4, 2009 9 comments

What a long day it was. I arrived at the Bukit Kiara sometime around 3.30pm and lucky me, having Su & Hibat around, I manage to secure a parking spot inside the club vicinity itself (yay! thanks you guys!). While it was good that Pesawat was the first up in the line of the opening acts, I didn’t like the fact that any shots I took of them looked as if they were just practicing on some stage. Sorry guys

Much to my surprise, Mado came over to join the gang (yay! Didja know it was so hard to convince him to get out of the house to accompany me to the concert? Pft). Good thing was, we had some time to kill before the main show started at 9pm. After surveying the stage, we agreed that a wide-lens would be useful and hence we went all the way to Subang Jaya to borrow lens from our good friend, Mail. As you know, I only own a 50mm 1.4; Mado has his 17-55 but his entire gear is at the Nikon centre. So anyhow, we made it back at Kiara just in time for the show.

Not gonna blog much. Perhaps I’ll continue tomorrow…considering..oh my god. 5 am!

Let’s see. *puts on her thinking cap*

Lighting
As a photographer, this is the first thing I would judge about a particular gig or concert. I’m not good at describing lighting but to me it was just normal. Yes, lighting was sufficient, but it was normal. It did not highlight the performers, it did not match up to the rock mood. I’m the type who likes to play with flares and back-lighting but I just couldn’t achieve it at this show. I was trying so hard to figure out how to get the lighting to work with my shots and I caught Amy’s eyes a few times when I was just staring up and looking blankly. Haha. Look at the shots below; the lighting was just everywhere (or what in malay we say bersepah). Best lighting I have to date was at a free (yes! free!) concert – Rockaway 2009. The lighting was just superb and enjoyed shooting the show tremendously.

Sound
Ok. I’m not qualified to review this part but all I can say is the sound is bad. Not bad… but again flat. It lacks…clarity…it lacks the oommmph.

Showmanship
I couldn’t feel the rock in the air. In my opinion, Amy could have interacted more with the audience. He also seem to have a troubled-look on his face through out the show. Probably he was worried a of a second power-trip. (Yep, there was a power trip in the middle of the second song)

Seating
If an audience had paid for ‘VIP’ tickets, they would have been greatly disappointed. If you’ve been to the polo field at the Bukit Kiara club, you would note where the grand stand is. Now imagine paying for ‘VIP’ tickets, but the stage is placed at the other opposite end of the field. You could bareeeeely see the performers. Actually I take that back, the performers looked like ants from that distance. I know that for a fact because I had to walk all the way to the back, in search of some drinks (drinks supply backstage was zilch except 2 flask of Austin Chase coffee which has been left out in the open since morning).

My purpose is not really to complain, but more of towards a reminder that there are so many things that the organizers can improve on.