Life behind the Scene

To be Continue - Life Behind the Scenes2

2010-11-28T14:42:00.002+08:00

It is exactly one year I seriously went into photography. I never knew photography is such fun and full of amusement. Ones tend to appreciate things around you and the people and cultures that you never knew or met. Whether it is family album, important events such as weddings, birthdays, people of different cultures and races, good photogarphy will definitely amazes friends, relatives and brings back fond memories as the years went pass. To continue viewing my blog, please click or go to this blog below:-

http://lifebehindthescenes2.blogspot.com/

Thank you guys for viewing. Contructive comments are all welcome;)

The Last of the Indigenous of Sarawak - The Penan's today.

2010-11-21T12:54:00.004+08:00

They used to live a nomadic life(Penan) and as time passes, the forest of Sarawak are fast depleted due to deforestation for the Dams, timber logging and oil palm plantations. The Penan are the last and least develop people of Sarawak. Photography is a way to capture and record their lives as time passes and this photos are the Penan today.

Cameron Highlands - A cool and tranquil place of Malaysia.

2010-11-06T00:03:00.008+08:00

A group of fourteen from Miri photography society went to attent KL photography festival 29th-31st October 2010. I am not a keen photographer for natures and scenery and I joined them just for the fun of it and see what I can learn from it. Ya, it really nice to go places and people you have never been and see. We left KL on the 31st to Cameron by bus from bukit Jalil. Judy my daughter drove me from KL to Jalil to meet my team. Having arrived at bukit Jalil early, Judy thought we could go around and come back. She made the wrong turn going into the expressway back on the lane to KL again. Almost missed the trip but they asked the bus to wait for me before moving and there was a delay of ten minuites.
Cameron highlands is a cool, mountainous plateaus and valleys with interwinding narrow road tracks going through the santuary with vast tea plantation owned by BOH(the big one), vegetables farms, nuseries and orchards.Many cities and major towns dwellers drive there just to get away from the heat in the lowland and the hasty lives. It is advised never to come on weekends and public holidays as the narrow track will be jammed with traffics for hours.
According to Wikipedia, the Cameron Highlands is one of malaysia most extensive hill stations. It cover an area of 712 square kilometres. It got its name from William Cameron, a British serveyor who was commisioned by the colonial government to map out the area in 1885.

Down below the valley, can see a cottage's driveway light still on while over the horizon we stand above waiting for the light to come up.

This is the tropical rain forest reserve in Cameron park. It was wet and with intermittent rain shower when we arrived at this reserve. As its cool and wet weather in this forest reserve, moss can be seen growing on rocks, older tree trunks and grounds with big roots covered with fallen leaves and overgrown making the ground soft and risking trekkers foot stepping into a hollow ground hurting themselves if not careful.

Looking out from my three stars hotel's room as night set in, this is Brinchang town and it is the biggest town of the retreat.

Mother's Love

2010-10-15T11:24:00.004+08:00

A mother's love is very profound and hard to comprehend. One need to look at a wider prospective and go around in order to understand. They are a dependable source of comfort; They help in times of trouble; They support you whenever you call. It is no wonder there have been songs written to their merit. They are truly wonderful creation to the humankind of this world:).
Women are very particular on their looks and will very much want to look their best. In this instance, sorry to say I did not gave her the time and readiness for this photo shots. I took two unplanned portraits shot of my wife and son and here are the outcome - messy, yet simple and natural with a sense of attachment.

Miss Sarawak Model of the World 2010

2010-09-26T18:54:00.015+08:00

A photo shooting session with Miss Sarawak Model of the World 2010. She also grabbed the Malaysia International Model of the Year 2010, 1st runner up Miss Malaysia Model of the World 2010 as well as the subsidiary title of Miss Model Best Personality. Wow! truly she has won herself a place in Malaysia and has become a top model. Later ~~this year~~ next year she will be sent to Korea to compete for the Miss World International Model of the Year. What an achievement. In my blog from last year, I did mentioned she has a dream to be a model. Well, her dream has came true. Well done and congratulation, Edwina!

Reaching Out - The Penan

2010-09-23T23:32:00.008+08:00

This was my second mission trip to the Belaga area to give support to our missionaries stationed there and the Penans'. It was a survey mission and we went with two four wheels vehicles consisting of my pastor, Pastor Law of GMC, Pastor Ling from Sibu, the other driver from Bintulu brother Hii and two brothers from Miri, Joseph Tan and Afred Sibat. The missionaries stationed at two longhouses separately have been doing a tremendous job teaching the kids how to read, write, prayer and sing. They are all ladies and most are very young and come as far from Kuala Lumpur to teach and improve the life of the Penan in Jungle of Belaga. They are truly amazing.
Feedback and responses form this Penan folks and kids can be viewed positively good. Those longhouses who have our missionaries, spread news to other longhouses and that's why we have made trip to them to survey their need. Most of the settlement areas we visited will eventually give way to the Bakum Dam. We also visited Long Urum where there is a boarding school, SK Long Urun, and was informed 70% of the pupils are Penan and the number can be estimate to be around 100 pupils all together in the school. Pastor Law would love to see more and more the parents of the Penan will send their kids to the government school. Like always I photoshoot some of the Penan hoping anyone who have not seen or unable to venture in the interior Sarawak forest in the Bakum dam and I hope my photos will give anyone some insight of the Penan.

Pupils washing and cleaning up at SK Long Urum boarding school.

Rumah Tua(head) at one of the longhouses.

A child and mother's affair bathing in the river.

Rain Forest Girl

2010-09-01T18:08:00.006+08:00

Driving twenty minuites from Miri to Lambir Waterfall, one of the many rainwater forest reserve in Malaysia, and a stroll into the green and enjoying a cool, refreshing fresh aroma and sights of the forest. This time around we bring along Miss Chee Oi to be our model. Spent the whole morning til the early afternoon shooting. She has been our great model for that day.

Lollipop Girl

2010-08-30T14:23:00.005+08:00

Nine months into photography and it is getting more exciting. Every photo session is an assignment to me and I thank helpful photographers and enthusiasts who came to me to comments and gave advice. Today's blog is themed "Lollipop Girl" model and I thanks ShutterBugs for allowing me to join them in their photo session. They were fun to work with and I look forward to have more photo session with them;P

You can have my Lollipop:)

Batu Niah Cave - The Great Cave of Sarawak

2010-08-07T17:13:00.008+08:00

This is the cave I have visited three times but never have I walk and complete the exploration of the cave. So many tell tales about the cave, forest, indigenous people and my grandmother had never allowed me to go remote places such as this and furthermore years ago the trails to the caves were slippery with just two pieces of planked footpath that you need to balance yourself and prevent getting yourself off the muddy swampy wet ground from forest's leeches and bites from insects.
This was my fourth trips and I was determine to capture the beauty of Sarawak's blessed natural rain forest, its environments, its inhabitants and most of all the great cave, Batu Niah Cave.
Today's journey to the cave is much much easier with 3km or more, 5 foot planked footpath, starting from the entrance, for people to walk to the caves. Going to Batu Niah is accessible by road from Miri, about 1hour drive. Sarawak's Niah Cave claim to have the oldest relices of human habitation in South East Asia with remains dating back 40,000 years. The great caves within the park also contain paintings estimate to be over 1000 years old. This is a "It's magnificent!" remarks by an Australian woman I encountered but could not manage to make it to the painting caves as she was exhausted to walk another ten minutes further.
Sure am glad I am able to see it with my own eyes and captured it with my photography. The caves is an important pre-historical site. Truly awesome and unique beauty of Sarawak.

Can you see the five foot planked stairs walkway? It show the hugeness of the cave.

This is the traders cave before getting to the main cave.

There is a zine roofed shelter where exhausted travellers can rest. The roof is to prevents dropping from swiftlets. If not for the opening above the cave it will be total darkness. One will need to bring along a touchlight as 80% of the way to the end of the, about 1.5km, main cave took us about 1hour 20minuites to complete.

Painting on the cave

This are the painting dating well over 1000 years.

Miss Sarawak Model of the World 2010

2010-08-03T15:29:00.014+08:00

Yet another major event happening right in the city of Miri. This time is the Miss Sarawak Model of the World event. So happy for my niece Edwina Yong, she is crowned Miss Sarawak Model of the World 2010 plus she also won two subsidiary titles - Miss Popularity & Miss Model Beautiful Body. 2nd place went to Christina Wong of Sibu and 3rd Yvonne Supang Lukas, Miri.

Borneo International Yachting Challenge 2010

2010-07-30T21:20:00.000+08:00

The Borneo International Yachting Challenge was the 7th season( a yearly event) which was held in Miri. This event is a joint effort of three Malaysian Borneo states, Sarawak, the federal territory of Labuan, and Sabah, organised under Malaysian Yachting Association.

Natural Light

2010-07-26T20:49:00.000+08:00

The nature and beauty of nature's light and its environment can play an important role in the mood and emotion as shown in these photo shots.

The Story of Jong & Rena

2010-07-09T11:01:00.018+08:00

Jong is a close friend of mine and he has never thought or dreamt of getting married. Having came from a family of pepper farmer in Serian during early 70s', life were hard then. His mother forced them to venture out to the various major towns of Sarawak. Jong worked very hard as captain in restaurant and eventually found himself into the seafood industry.
All those years of hard work and fear of insecurity has made him a successful businessman. Today, some might say it is fate and a little bit of persuasion from friends, he is happily married. It was a straight forward marriage, friends and family members were invited for dinner to celebrate his marriage.
May your marriage bring you all the exquisite excitement marriage should bring, and may life grant you also patience, tolerance and understanding.
May you always need one another - not so much to fill your emptiness as to help you to know your fullness.

Congratulation & Cheers!!!

Splash!

2010-07-08T00:55:00.003+08:00

Water seems to be an interesting and irresistible for many photographers to shoot. This is my first time trying to shoot images of the sculptured droplets. Not very impressive but worth taking as an aspiring photographer. Could have spend more time observing by adjusting the various speed to see the effect of slower shutter speed. These photos were taken at 1/250 at ISO200 with speed lite on.

The Past To The Present

2010-06-08T15:12:00.022+08:00

Miri's origin is one that is truly lost in the mists of time. Before the arrrival of James Brooke, who was to become the first Rajah(King) of Sarawak, no written record was known to exist.

In 1882, oil was discovered in Miri. But it was not until 1910 that the first oil well was sunk on the hilltop now called Canada Hill, and Miri's fame began.

At that time, Miri consisted of 20 scattered houses and few shops. These included a bazaar, a gambling farm, a pawn shop and an Arab shop. But Miri thrived, survived a riot, a world war and today is named Miri Resort City since 2005.

About 300 acres of land reclaimed from the coast to link the seafront. On this land, the legacy from the river give birth to Miri, a Marina Park. In the years to come, the people of Miri will be able to describe their city with pride.

High Street during the early 50s'.

River Road and in the middle was the old bus station and on the top right one can see the land rig.

Yacht parking at the Marina Park.

International Deep Sea Fishing Competition Event held yearly in Miri. 1st prize for 2010 rewarded RM10,000. Photos: Competitors put up their prized catch.

Beautiful Sarawak

2010-06-05T23:40:00.006+08:00

This is Miss Tourism Intercontinental Malaysia, Sarawak's costume shot during the Miss Tourism Intercontinental 2010 final in Miri, Sarawak.

Miss Tourism Intercontinental 2010 Winners

2010-05-21T01:07:00.019+08:00

Tonight's title for the Miss Tourism Intercontinental 2010 crown goes to Miss Venezuela. 1st runner up goes to Miss Australia; 2nd Miss America; 3rd Miss Belarus and 4th Miss Thailand. It has been a trilling and exciting night. More will be uploaded soon. Good night;)

Standing in the middle with the flag is Miss Tourism Intercontinental 2010. From the right Miss Thailand, Miss America, Miss Venezuela, Miss Australia & Miss Belarus.

More photos coming....just be patient. Enjoy the photos gala;)

Miss Tourism Intercontinental Beauties Pageant At Miri City, Sarawak.

2010-05-18T15:46:00.013+08:00

In conjunction with Miri's fifth anniversary elevation as a city, Miri has been privileged to the hosting of the tourism pageant for the second times in five years. 33 finalists will be eying for the World Grand Final held at Miri Indoor Stadium on the 20th May 2010. Time: 7pm - 10pm and ticket sell is available for RM10.00. I will try putting up some photos on those beauties and will update more. Meanwhile do try to get hold of the ticket for the live Grand World Final for only RM10.00.

Representing Malaysia is a Mirian.

Miss Macau China

Coming this 20th May evening, can you all guess who will the winners in this Miss Tourism Continental 2010?

Plain Truth

2010-05-12T19:56:00.001+08:00

After six months into taking an interest in photography, I am beginning to feel the difficulty and slow proccess into getting good at it especially one learn the hard way to do it by self study through magazines and internet search and some comments from friends to keep going. I find it it is totally different from the snap, snap, snap camera men and as long as the subject is in the frame it is just fine. What make photography so difficult is because it is an art and it attach with beauty and at the same time the person who see it, comes alive with emotion and imagination even after long it has been photographed.

Today's photos are the girls I photo shoot four months ago and I now put some more up on this blog, hopefully would see some critics and comments, so as to understand and appreciate further.

They are sisters with different dreams. Volunteer to be my model and with very mild make-up as can be seen from the photos.

Go Green

2010-05-01T22:07:00.010+08:00

The launching of the Miri Fest 2010 was started off with the campaign of "No Plastic Bags Everyday, Using Green Shopping Bags" and an attempt to create a Malaysian record to use the most Ecobags for Outdoor Shopping in a Stadium. A small step into a right direction to promote and educate Miriian to be more enviroment friendly. The morning activities were started with aerobics led by Jennifer. Stalls were also setup for shoppers. Among the participants were Deputy chief Minister YB Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan Hon Nam; Minister of Energy, Green Technology and Water Malaysia YB Dato Peter Chin Fah Kui; Assistant Minister of Communications & Assistant Minister of Sports Sarawak, Datuk Lee Kim Shin; Member of Parlament YB Datuk Andy Chia and dignitaries.

At the Grand Old Lady - Sunset

2010-04-25T22:35:00.008+08:00

This sunset was taken today on top of Miri which was on the Canada hill. On this hill is 'The Grand Old Lady', struck oil on 22 December 1910. It was Miri's no.1 oil well in the country. It was affectionately called 'The grand Old Lady' and it produced oil for 62 years. Next to it is the Science Petroleum museum.
This was my second time having to take an umbralla with me shooting landscape photos. There were slight drops of rain and I can't risk my len getting wet. Not a good timing for photo shooting. And for those of you who are not from Miri and want to know about Miri, please click on this link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miri

2nd Generation

2010-04-24T10:38:00.001+08:00

2nd generation I choose to put it because the photos I posed here of the swiftlets, I believe, actually come from the 1st!. The first it was in 2008, the first generation swiftlets built their nest and I saw it nested the young one, grown and flew off. The nest was removed by our house maid and that was the last time I saw them until many months sometime in November 2009 I again saw two young swiftlets hovering around my home just outside my verander's ceiling hanging on to exactly where the previous nest was. They were courting and hanging around what seem months. I was telling my wife three months ago the young don't do thing like the older generation do thing or maybe they don't bother to know how to bulld. Strangely after saying it, the swiftlets did not return for more than a week. Then one came back and later we saw two again and not until April this month the work on the nest was intense and completed with some eggs seen laid upon. Simply facinating and superb to see how this tiny birds survive and live. They just know by instinct the food is out there provided by nature and the only thing they needed is to work and seek for it. They are truly born architect, engineeer, survival and builder by their own right.

Photo taken on 14th November 2009

Photo taken 17th April, 2010

Precious Light

2010-04-19T12:53:00.006+08:00

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was all over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light from the darkness. God called the light "day," and the darkness he called "night." And there was evening, and there was morning - the first day. - Genesis 1:1-5(NIV)
From the biblical view and term, earth was formless, empty and darkness all over. Then came the creation of living creatures of all kinds. From this view, it can never be denied the importance of light. Without it nothing happened.

An elder man on a wooden floor curling up in a dark room and in between him, a burning oil and morning day's light from a tiny hole seeping through.

2010-04-13T12:18:00.038+08:00

It was Ah Oi birthday and we were invited with few others. We were not just relative to her but also good friends. Both of them are pleasant and humble couple. Eager to be friends that lasts. Sometime anger come and go but friendship remains...that's the quality as friends these couple want. There wasn't any plan for me to take photos for her as I expect others or herself would be doing it. On reaching Nikko Japanese restaurant, something prompt me I need to have my camera with me. Jennifer had to turn back home for my camera. Good thing we did all the little things and she was happy she had someone to capture the moment of joys for her.

A happy outcome with everyone put on their sweet smile:)

Morning In Little Miri Resort City

2010-04-11T14:00:00.008+08:00

I was planning myself the day before to take some photos in the morning to feel and see what it will be like at the city's water way. There was some intermitent shower. And trying to make the most of the situation, I took some photos with an umbralla trying to balance it with my shoulder and neck and with my hands holding the camera steady snapping the pictures. Not a beautiful morning though but worth doing it. The morning city's life was a bit sleepy, slow to pick up, unlike big city like KL or any big cities.