Kinabalu Mountain: Plane eye view

I flew to Sandakan using AirAsia plane for a wedding event on 29th December 2007. I choose to travel via airplane because with road i can get dizzy. Every time travel with airplane, I make sure that i get the window seat so i can take some interesting photos such as UFO and others. At this trip, I didn't get any UFO photos but I managed to snap some photos of Kinabalu Mountain because the plane i took fly passed it.



I didn't know the plane will pass by the mountain if not for the pilot announcing it to us. Luckily, i had a camera standby and quickly i snap some photos. The photos above were taken during the flight from KK to Sandakan.



Blue gradient tone enhanced with photo shop.



The mountain range blocked the cloud from approaching the west coast Sabah. That is why it called "Sabah, Negeri di Bawah Bayu". This only applied for west coast Sabah.



I filtered out the blue and gray color and leave the green color and red intact.



The photo of blue gradient tone mountain range.



It is hard to take a clear shot of outside view then a big air plane wing cover most of the view. I found this photo look interesting as the composition of the wing and mountain fits nicely together.

Sabah Horse Polo Club: The Horses

I has an opportunity to cover photo and video polo match recently last week (15 December 2007). This is quite different because most of my jobs are more on weddings and not worried too much about the task. This job is quite new to me because i needed to snap photo and doing a video shot together at the same time. Luckily i managed to hook up my friend to assist me on that day.

I didn't sleep on the night before the event because of my different sleep pattern and i needed to wake up early to travel to the horse track field in tuaran. I never knew there is a new horse track in Tuaran that never being used.



I will not write about the events in details, but only to show some horse and some others photos I took during that day. My first impression on the horse stable is old and under maintained. The horses look messy but my friend told me that before it is even worst. Taking care a horse stable is not an easy task because it is so complicated to do plus the expenses is high. That is why few people can own a horse even to play polo.





I brought two digital cameras and one video camera on that day. I felt that two digital cameras are necessary because of the limitation one lens can do. By having two cameras fitted with two different lenses, one can snap more variety of photos instantly without keep changing lenses during the work. I started with 50mm f1.8 lens to take some portrait of these horses. I sense their shyness towards me when i pointing the camera towards them.





Later, when they know what i am doing, they just continue with their routine. At least they are not running away for my camera as most did in my wedding jobs.





This horse basically getting used me snapping his photo. It looks like he trying hard to pose for my camera. Luckily he didn't bite my camera as i was pointing the lens so close to his nose and mouth.







A worker gave the horse a bath after the match.



The horse barn.





Another side of the barn.



I will post up photos of the polo match on my next post.

Kota Kinabalu Gaya Christmas Carnival

Gaya Christmas Carnival was held for three day started from 19 - 21 December. I went to the first day on the 19th to take some photos. My first impression over the carnival was different. I couldn't sense the Christmas spirits except over the stage performance with people singing some choir and worship songs. The decoration look so commercialized and not a hint what Christmas is it. Yes, it is about Jesus.





The strange thing was that the carnival was look more like Chinese New Year rather than Christmas itself. I guess the government rules and regulation hinder us to put Christian icons and symbols to the decoration. It quite disappointed when Christmas look like a shopping and discount season to lure people to spent more money.



I saw Joyblee over there and he was involved in the performance. If he tells me earlier i can snap him as my photo subject rather than blindly and wildly looking for subject to snap. Guess what, he is a freaking loaded. Look at him flashing his money with people around looking at him.



Then, i went on to the market place and found out most of the stall selling stuff that no one want to buy or willing to spent upon on. On the other side, i managed to snap a photo of pretty girls that request me snap their photo but never thought of asking for me the photo later.











I planned to went home after going to the market place but i stumble again with Joyblee and as usual we chat little bit more because his brother is taking some photo of some event that I'm not even know. Joyblee told me that they're putting the baby Jesus on the stable while being watch by the three wise man as a symbolic gesture of opening the Gaya Christmas Carnival. I took some photos only after the event and not many people. At last, something about Jesus among all the insignificant ridiculous decoration for this events.





Joyblee again told me that later they will showing the puppet show. I knew that Josie like this puppet show and too bad that she missed it. So, i took some photos of this puppets show for her to see. The puppets show is the same one performed at the Sutera Harbor Carol by Candle Light events.













I always think that three MC talking in three different languages is a bad idea. It make them look like the three stooges.



One policeman and two policewomen that can be easily out run by illegal bandits puff and huff when something bad happen not really a convincing and relieve environment.

Christmas and New Year Greetings

A few words to ponder during this holiday season.

Some where in Tuaran

I got a job that needed me took me to Tuaran to snap some photo and video. I'm going to edit lots of photos and video at the moment. I am so happy with the outcome of the photos and the best is that the client has the same feelings too. The photos look so nice even before the post processing work. Would like to share it in this blog but the rules is, the client needs to see it first before hand. At the meanwhile, what i can show is the morning view of a ranch that took my breath away.



I snapped some photos at the Gaya Streets Christmas Carnival. Might upload it later after Christmas or New Year, depends if i can squeeze out some time for that.

Photos: Sutera Harbour Carols By The Candle Light 2007

Josie wrote in her blog about the event in Sutera Harbor, the Carols by the Candle Light 2007. I went there at 6.30 after taking some photos in Asia City for HobbyCon Event. Lots of people arrived and park spot in Magellan Resort was full and i think it is best for me to park in Pan Pacific as suggested by Flanegan. Indeed it is a wise choice and lots of parking spot and unknown to most others i managed to find a shortcut pathway.





I arrived at the event earlier and the worship team and the carols practicing a last minutes rehearsal. I realized that the lighting on the stage is low especially on the carolers on the left and right side on the stages. I bump joyblee and his brother standing there snapping up photos. His brother is using a Sony A100 Dslr and him using a Sony DHC-H1 semi pro digital camera. I snap some test shot to find a best setting for the camera. So, i decided to jack up the ISO setting to full 1600.

First, I tried out the 70-300mm zoom lens and with a flash gun SB800. I snapped a test shot and find out that the space is too wide and the photographer space was actually too far from the stage to take nice photos. The photo was good but it actually used all the batteries flash up to maximum and the light distribution not even. Moreover, i didn't really find a good subject to snap and i used the opportunity to have a bit chat with Joyblee and his brother while waiting for the event to start.

Then, i saw Josie walking to the event with her two nieces that look like cousins among them. I tried to zap her with my electrical eye zap but it seems my eyes and my camera flash has a same faith of low level of batteries power. I then do my tarzan calls that can work without batteries and that when she saw us.



I find it really hard and tiring of changing lens each time for different photo snap. I need two bodies to work. Luckily, I'm not getting paid for this event and if so, i will be so stress to miss out lots of good shot. I decided to use the single 50mm f1.8 lens most of the time and changed to 70-300 and 18-70mm interval and it is so tiring when i had to walk back to seat where i put the lens where Josie and nieces kindly enough to guard it for me.





I took some photo on the arrival of the VIP and the sing and worship session. None photos looking good for me to give it a touch up and publishing value because most of the photos turn out to be invaluable blur. The best moment snap shot for me is the time when i change to 50mm f.1.8 lens and a candle light lit session. All of the people starting to lighting their candle and from there i saw a good opportunities to take the moment. So, i snapped lots of people lighting the candles.







After the candle lighted, people sang again. Again a moment was perfectly good for a snap shot of people singing and holding the candle and snap shot of children and babies.






Josie’s nieces i actually forgot their names. For anyone information, i'm not good remembering people's names if met first time.


A baby girl’s portraits I took instantly. I turned on my flash and snap at this girl. It was a perfect moment.


Puppets performance that got Josie excited. How i wish i can be like her.








Carolers are singing the Christmas song.




I don't realize i snapped a photo of someone on my friendster's contact list until after i review and touch up all the photos.


Christmas Candle Light






This Kadazan costumed carolers that brought Josie to this event. She told me that she actively involved with this group of singers. Most of the carolers don't even know how to speak english, but they learn so fast and sang so well.





And at last, some snap shot portraits.







There are some few photos i didn't put up. Please click here to see it in slide.