Bengkel Teknik Fotografi DSLR JPA (Basic DLSR Photography Technique Workshop)

Hi all,

I had the opportunity to host a Basic DLSR Photography Technique Workshop for staff of Jabatan Perkhidmatan Awam (JPA), yesterday 21-DECEMBER-2010 at their headquarters in Putrajaya, Malaysia. JPA is the Malaysian Government's Public Service Department.

Many thanks to En. Shahril Nizam, En. Sariffudin and En. Izuwan from JPA who co-organised this event. This workshop would not be successful with the help from my team: Razali Hassan (my partner), our two facilitators Reza and Fauzi. Last but not least models Nila & Farah, who I couldn't thank enough their agent, Anna Sha for providing such prompt service for my short notice. Of course not to forget, our students/participants whom are the staff of all levels from JPA. Hope you all had an enjoyable time as much as we do.

I didn't shoot much but here's a group photo for your momento. High resolution image of this group photo available for download, below (in case you'd like to sent them for printing & framing):

For Participants: Download full resolution of this group photo here.

Participants having a go of what they learnt during the workshop. Now it's shooting time.

Beach Wedding

Hello All,

Here's some of the wedding photos I took for a lovely couple (they choose to keep their names unpublished). Let's just say, they're Mr. & Mrs. H. They were shot in Port Dickson beach. We had a great three-hour session from around 4pm till sunset. When these photos turn out on the LCD screen, I just jumped out of my skin they're gorgeous!  Here they are...enjoy!

p/s: BTW, that lovely dress? Mrs. H designed and made it on her own. It's fantastic!

The money shot: "The Sunset Kiss". Just perfect, don't ya think?:)



Here's another shot with some ambient background.



"Last Light". The sun was really setting down. By the time we finished this last shot, it was almost pitch black and we had a hard time getting back to the car through the sand. Lucky we had our mobile phones, which doubled as torch lights!



Just Lovely.








This is one of my favorite shots. It's at the beach, yet it really looked like they were in the Amazon!




The evening light is just beautiful, accentuating their lovely expressions. Simply amazing.


Can you get "Dizzy in Love"?  I'm pretty sure you can when love is "spinning" around.

Registration: 14th Simple Food Photography Workshop

Hello All,

Yeay! My 14th Simple Food Photography Workshop is now open for registration. This would be my 14th workshop since 2007. After three years of running a food photography workshop, this simple crash-course has evolved to become better and more efficient, with additional jam-packed information about food photography. I do make it a point to keep this workshop up to date at every point of time it's being held.

It has been quite a time gap between my last Simple Food Photography Workshop last year, due to my busy schedule on photography works. I'm happy to say that now I've got some allocated time to spare for teaching workshops to fellow photography enthusiasts.

Here are some good news to share:

1. Our studio has been going thru some minor renovation work to suit a more comfortable working space.
2. Some of us might not have any speedlights/flash, therefore, I'll be teaching some additional new information with regards to photographing your best with available light. Not to worry, learning to shoot with flash is included as previous workshops.
3. I love to support upcoming photography enthusiast in picking up new forms of photography. With that note, I've decided to maintain the registration fees same as the last workshop, which is only RM220. No price increase in fees! Cool 'eh, especially in this economy?

What you'll learn?

Food photography, from start to finish, including: preparation, lighting, composition, styling, shooting, edit, and selling.

Well, let's jump to it then. Registration's now open. Limited to 5 seats only. Please register first in the registration form below. After registration, you'll be emailed with payment instructions. Payment terms is round about 50/50, which is RM120 to confirm your seat, and RM100 paid on the workshop day.

What to bring?

1. DSLR

2. 50mm f1.8 (if possible, otherwise, a kit lens will do)

3. Plenty of CF/SD cards because we'll be shooting RAW

4. Thumbdrive. Just in case you'll like to transfer/copy some files.

Cheers!

Now, please remember to fill up this form below to attend:

Studio Renovation DIY. Self-proclaimed contractor

I've been doing some construction work lately (for my studio). To those who've been asking for progress photos, here it is, in video. Yes, it's me. Check it out!



Help was nowhere to be found, so I installed the final dry walls at FOTOMOMO STUDIO on my own this night. Took about 3-hours (which includes goofing around) to complete this task. Thanks to R.Mahafaizal for the raw materials, Sabri Idrus for the mitre saw, Arif Rafiq and Kyrol for being my assistants, and Adhadi for lending me the 8-step ladder which made this installation possible. Cheers all!

How I did the Campbell's shoot

Recently I've been pretty tied up with several work, which involved our studio and some personal work. It's been a long while since my last upload and I've been procrastinating the updates, until today it hit me that the update will never get done unless i just yank it. So, here goes.

My latest work involves the FMCG (fast moving consumer goods) category. In this assignment, I was hired by an advertising agency to photograph Campbell's soup products, which is under the Kimball Malaysia's distribution. What I'd like to share with you are some after and before photos of this commercial assignment, just to give you an idea of how simple my workflow is for a big job like this.

Art Direction credit goes to Steven Kee.

Here's a line-up of Campbell's Instant Soup in boxes.

Another line-up of some muscular Campbell's Condensed soup in cans.

Prego is also under the same group under the Malaysia distribution.

Here's another variation of the Prego's shot I did for the art director's selection.

So, here's how I did it.


Lighting

Lighting setup was pretty straight forward.
I had two side lights, one light to wash out the background and another overhead light for front fill. Exposures were measured using a flash meter.

The products was laid out on white plexiglass, which gives a nice smooth reflective effect. I love it because this cuts me time in post. It's just shoot, colour correct and bam! it's done! 

The Shot
For each setup, I used WhiBal and QP card for colour reference.

Post-Production
Imported the images in Lightroom, batch colour correct and export to hi-res TIFF! Simple as pie.


Hope this inspires you all to give a go at some product shooting on your own. Cheers!

Bella's photo shoot. (Wow! It's been a while since I last updated this blog)

Hello Friends,

It's been really quite a while that I've updated my blog. I was pretty blocked out with work and personal matters until now. As a matter of fact, I still am. But I has come to a point that life and work will always be jam packed with events and unexpected matters. If I were to wait for a free time to update, then the next update will be a long time from now.

Now, procrastination on updating my blog has to stop. Hence I'm updating this short post with what I've been doing lately.

Last week on the 14th, we had a short session to photograph Bella. This was her second visit to FOTOMOMO since February 2010. Bella wanted to update her portfolio in line to seek modeling assignments in town. In the beginning I thought that I could handle the session on my own without an assistant, but then again, I wanted to spend more time thinking about the overall look that we'll be shooting. On the last night before the shoot, I posted a notice seeking assistants in Facebook. It was quiet as expected, until in the morning, my good friend Denis Erroyaux, from Belgium, who's also a photographer, currently staying here in KL called me up offering his service. In my head, I said "Dang, why didn't I thought of him last night?"

I was glad to have Denis around. An extra pair of hands really speed things up, and free me up to shoot. Here are some out takes of our shoot. Enjoy!

A typical group photo to wrap the day. "Where's your shoes Denis? Safety 1st, isn't it?"
From left: Denis Erroyaux, myself, Bella and her husband, Rex.

Now, for some funny faces.

Denis giving me the grin because I took his job as an assistant for a while when I dialed down the flash power of one of the flash heads. "Hey! That's my job." he said.

Upcoming April Workshops. Now OPEN.

Hi All,

April's still around for another two exciting workshops. Registration is now OPEN, so please check out these links below. Thanks!

APRIL WORKSHOPS

Night Class: Introduction to Studio Lighting
23-APR-2010
More info

13th Simple Food Photography Workshop
25-APR-2010
More info

Registration: 13th Simple Food Photography Workshop

Hi All,

It's been a while since the last Simple Food Photography Workshop was held. I was pretty busy for all my weekends, and even my food photo project blog got stuck. There are a lot for me to catch up, but my silence was because I was prepping new techniques to add into this workshop series and also prepping for Level 2 Food Photography.

Well, let's jump to it then. Registration's now open. Limited to 5 seats only. Please register first in the registration form below. After registration, you'll be emailed with payment instructions. Payment terms is round about 50/50, which is RM120 to confirm your seat, and RM100 paid on the workshop day.

Registration: 2nd Night Class, Introduction to Studio Lighting now OPEN.

Hi All,

With the your support, the 2nd Night Class, Introduction to Studio Lighting is now open for registration. Everything else remain as crazy as before.

1. Crazy RM50 fee.
2. Crazy jam-packed 4-hours hands-on lighting learning.
3. Crazy fun!

Read more info on the past Inaugural Night Class report on my posting here.
For more behind the scenes images, please check out Mus'ab's facebook gallery here.

Please register below. You'll receive a confirmation on your seats, payment instructions and directions via email.

Thanks!

First Night Class Review

Hi All,

Our first Night Class was a blast!

Started at 8.00pm and we wrapped out nearly over an hour past 12.00 midnight. This night class is a short introduction to studio lighting. It's kinda like your "first date" with studio lighting. The participants got a chance to know how studio lights work, studio etiquette and how to communicate with a talent.

With 4-hours of time, all participants get a hands on with measuring light with a flashmeter, and understand the  concepts of exposure and tonal range based on Ansel Adam's zone system.

In summary, here are what we all learned:

1. Difference and similarities between studio light and speed light.
2. How to measure light? Using a flash meter, histogram method and guide number.
3. Exposure basics, f-stop, compensation and such.
4. Ansel Adams Zone System. How to get white, gray and black background with the same camera exposure settings.
5. Studio ethics and safety.
6. Model-Photographer ethics.

To those who missed this Night Class, register for the next Night Class on Friday, 23-APR-2010, 8.00pm-12.00am. Yes, it's a Friday night, so you can catch some sleep the next day. :)

Here are some images I took during the Night Classs. For more behind the scenes images, please check out Mus'ab's facebook gallery here.

Here's our first test shot. One light, 45 degrees from camera right.

Here's our second test shot. One light, 45 degrees from camera right.

Same exposure, but we increased the light for the background to 3-stops. We got a white background, with the same camera exposure.

Another white background example.

Here's a group shot of us, round about 1am. Wrapping the up class.

Night Class: Basic Studio Lighting for RM50/person. Would you be interested?

UPDATE! CLASS IS FULL. Thank you!
Hello all, please note that this Night Class is now FULL! Those who's registration number(turn) are #11 and above will be on my waiting list. Don't worry, you'll be privileged to be notified 1st before I announce future classes/workshops. Thank you for your support.

Hello friends, and friends of yours,

I'm just throwing a crazy idea. I'm in the mood of sharing (because I have some breathing space, finally, but only for a short while before work gets crazy again).

Here's the idea.

Idea #1: Night Class. 31-MAR-2010, 8.00pm-12.00am
Ideal for working professionals, hobbyist, or part-time photographers with a day job. This class is an ideal opportunity to learn hands on basic studio lighting. It's 4-solid hours from 8.00pm till midnight 12.00am. You can come straight from work, and get back home in bed, ready for your next day. It's just a fraction of your time, and a lot to gain.

Idea #2: Basic Hands-on Studio Lighting.
Since it's night time, it only makes sense to learn something in a controlled environment. Rather spending time chit chatting over some mamak stall, let's all spend some solid 4-hours to gain something for our knowledge.

When I say "Hands-on", this means that you get to shoot, measure light, set the light and learn some basic studio etiquette. This basic experience would be valuable for you in terms of opening up some doors to assist other established photographers and learn from them. Established photographers are looking for assistants that are reliable, dependable, knows what to do, and how to work around a studio environment.

Idea #3: Basic Expectations.
Here are some things can expect to learn in 4-hours.

1. What the heck is a light meter/flash meter?
2. You crazy? Light  meters are expensive. How can I measure light without a light meter?
3. Where do I position my lights?
4. I'm a newbie. For God's sake, I don't have four lights... How do I light with just one light?
5. How do I get that glossy white floor finish?

Summary.
In short, when you walk out of our studio door, I want to make sure you walk away empowered with these skills, which are your basic survival skills in mastering studio lighting.

1. You'll know how to measure light, and set exposure without a flash meter.
2. You'll know basic studio etiquette, so that when you rent a studio, the studio owner's gonna keep you in his/her good books (which may get you some discounts, just maybe).
3. You'll know how to light with one or more lights.
4. You'll know how to manipulate simple light to create various background tones.

RM50? You crazy? What's the catch?
RM50 to learn survival skills in studio lighting?
Yes. I'm crazy.
No, there's no catch.

Wait, there's one or two catch.

1. To ensure that information can get through your heads, and stay there for a long period of time (and also because of studio space), I can only take 10 persons maximum for this night class. 
2. You'll NOT become Joe McNally overnight in 4-hours, but I can assure you that you'll feel less intimidated with studio lights. Consider it as your first date with studio lighting, yes?

I just thought that it's time to give back. There's a lot that I've learned along my short photography experience, those of which I also learned from other great photographers. It's only fair that I passed along some of that knowledge to be spread around.

When photographers are empowered with knowledge, only then quality will arise. When quality arise, there's more great Malaysian-born photographers. When that happens, our photography standards will eventually rise and hopefully we won't have to charge peanuts just to make a living, because some clever photographer is desperate for money they lowered down their fees to succumb to client's ridiculous demands.

Location of the Night Class.

FOTOMOMO STUDIO

No. 9D, Jln Petaling Utama 12

Bt 7 1/2 Off Jln Klang Lama

46000 Petaling Utama

Selangor, Malaysia

Map to our studio here:

http://fotomomo.com/contact/

View FOTOMOMO STUDIO in a larger map

"If you think I'm crazy for giving away RM50 fee per person, consider this, perhaps you're crazy not to attend."

Now, did I get your attention? Register now. Sorry, registration is closed because class is full.

Register via this form below. You'll be contacted on payment methods and seat confirmation. Hurry, while stocks last and first-come, first-serve!

Upcoming Workshops and Events

When is my next workshop?
Hello All. In my effort to streamline my work schedule to balance work and life, i've managed to put my foot down in a long-term commitment to sharing photography knowledge with you. I'll be posting tentative and confirmed dates for my upcoming workshops in this calendar. Please do check them out periodically. If you want to be notified, please register below to be notified. Thank you for your support!

Simple Lightroom Workflow Seminar, 13 and 14-MAR-2010

Hello All!

I'm holding up my 2nd Simple Lightroom Workflow Seminar organised by Republik Studios.
Registrations are up on Republik Studios Facebook here at http://bit.ly/simplelightroomseminar

I'll be presenting this seminar on the 13th and 14th of March 2010, so come on whichever date is convenient for you. We appreciate if if you could please RSVP soon, so that we know how many Lightroom notes/booklets do we need to prepare.

If you love shooting but hate staring at the computer screen for post-processing, you should attend to find out how can you regain your freedom from tedious post-processing with the help of Adobe Lightroom.

See you there!


Venue
The Republik
20-2, Wangsa Delima 11
Wangsa Link, Wangsa Maju
53300, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Tel: 03-4142 9653 or 016-346 8910 (Khairil)
Email: khairil@republikstudios.com

Map to Republik Studios Here:

View The Republik Studios in a larger map

Thaipusam 2010

If I can remember, I've skipped about three Thaipusam's shoot from my last session. I've been putting off to attend this event for years and this year I made myself go. It was a beautiful day, the week's weather was good with blue sky and I didn't want to miss that for the world. Besides, it's probably a good time and place to hook up with fellow photographers. There was no specific shot that I wanted to take. I just wanted to go as an observer and look out for any interesting photos. Thanks to my good friend and photography associate, Chan (Chan Leong Hin), I got some advice on some of the good spots, energy conversvation tips and a good ol' chat to catch up on news. It took me a while to upload these images yesterday, perhaps because a thousand other photographers in Malaysia are trying to do the same thing and jammed up the internet line. Anyway, enough yapping, here are some of the photos I took. Enjoy!



Hindu devotees getting their hair shaved before beginning their walk up the stairs of Batu Caves. When I reached Batu Caves, this was one of the firsts shots I took.

A young Hindu devotee getting her hair shaved during Thaipusam.

I just found out about this new structure. It's the ramp that crosses the new operational railway track that terminates at Batu Caves. This is the original showering and Kavadi preparation area. Today, there's another location for this part of the Thaipusam preparation, which is on the other end, near the rail terminal.

Here's where the Hindu devotees shower after getting their hair shaved.

A Hindu devotee showering right after having his hair shaved, in preparation for the walk up the stairs of Batu Caves during Thaipusam.

A family of Hindu devotees preparing milk containers to be carried up the stairs of Batu Caves during Thaipusam.

Right after saying their prayers near the river at Batu Caves, a Hindu family prepares to carry the milk in stainless steel containers for the walk up the stairs of Batu Caves during Thaipusam

A Hindu couple saying their prayers on the riverside of Batu Caves during Thaipusam

Devotee in the state of trance during Thaipusam.

A Hindu devotee carrying milk in a stainless steel container on his head, walking towards the stairs of Batu Caves during Thaipusam.

Piercings on the back of a Hindu devotee, while performing the walk towards the stairs of Batu Caves during Thaipusam.

A Hindu devotee calmly getting ready to carry the Kavadi, while several men prepares the piercings on his back during Thaipusam at Batu Caves.

Men piercing the back of a Hindu devotee, who's about to carry the Kavadi during the walk up the stairs of Batu Caves during Thaipusam.

Piercings on the back of a Hindu devotee, before performing the walk towards the stairs of Batu Caves during Thaipusam.

Devotees taking a break.

Rythmic music accompanying the Thaipusam celebration. It's a very festive mood. I love the music.

I saw a man being lifted up amongst the crowd. Little that I know of what he, or shall I say they were up to.

A devotee walking on sharp blades during Thaipusam celebration at Batu Caves, Malaysia.

Last image for the day. Here's my good buddy, Chan Leong Hin. Fabulous travel stock photo photographer.