Wrong side of 30

I am genuinely touched by the well wishes of friends and clients who have wished me a happy birthday.
I think I've mentioned this before, my wife and I have the same birthday, and also the same age.
Birthdays don't mean much to us after we passed 30, and I've postponed our celebration today because I have a football game coming up (guys out there, I've set a low benchmark for you)!

Being on the wrong side of 30, I find that I am taking longer to recover from shoots and football games. Exercise is of paramount importance at my age, and diet is to be strictly observed if I were to keep my body in good shape.

One thing that no amount of cycling and football-playing and pills can help is the deteriorating performance of my favourite organ.

Nowadays, the brain can't remember things very well. Sigh.

Topless

The car is the main subject, as the owner is going to sell it in exchange for something more practical. That's the thing with getting married and starting a family.

Every consideration is made around the family. At least a three-bedroom unit, a seven-seater, family meal (more bang for my buck), beach/park (no entrance fees needed, cheapo!) etc.

I can sense a tinge of sadness in Jamie's voice as she spoke about the sale of the little red car, which she referred to as "Xiao Hong" (Little Red One). I would too. Bye bye to the "uber-cool", "individuality", and the "wind-in-the-hair freedom". Bye bye to the chick-magnet, and hello grey/faceless MPV. Sometimes, I still try to look cool by winding down the window of my Toyota Wish and let the wind caress my hair....which of course makes it easier for kind-hearted motorists to come up to me and said:" Uncle, you forgot to switch off your hazard lights."

Merry Xmas 2008!

Despite the current gloom and doom, we should still take time out to celebrate the gifts of life and love during the Christmas season. We members of WPN had a rare opportunity to go in front of the camera and pose for a "Well-wishing" photo. It was really hard work, when we were told to run, jump and somersault. Now I can empathise what couples go through.....in suits and gowns some more!!

I would like to take this opportunity to wish all readers a heartwarming week ahead.


(L-R)Front: Yu Hsin (Tinydot),Wan Sheng (Feldberyl),KC (Greymatter),William Chua, Eng Hong (39east); Back: Yixin, Alwin and Kelvin (all from Lightedpixels),Jonathan (Expressively JoHo),Eadwine (Plush),George (A Photo Story),Gabriel Mendes, Ron (EYEDEAS), and the head on top belongs to Gilbert (9frames). Absent: Kuang (39east).


This shot is very flattering.........to me. makes me look delusionally slimmer.


This was one of the most "siong" (strenuous) shot because we had to keep jumping for the camera. As you can see, I was the laziest (some say smartest) of them all, by striking a pose that required minimal effort. In the end, the photo turned out pretty good.

Ironically, on a day when we were all not shooting, the light was amazingly beautiful after days of grey skies. Pity. The light was wasted on me, in particular.

Baby Talk

Yu Hao:"Lately, there's been some quiet whispers about me looking a bit like some internet billionaire called Jerry. Well, i don't really know who he is but millions others know him and also his baby by the name of Yahoo!!"

"I've been hearing my dad and mum quarreling too....well, I don't know why they are doing it, but I did hear my dad keep asking my mum 'why?why?why does he look like Jerry Yang? he sounded upset, especially when he said something about the photos."




"My mum kept insisting that she doesn't know this billionaire, and that she hasn't been to USA for the last 10 years. She also protested that she is a Google user. By the way, what's Google? All these mumbo jumbo the adults are saying really confuses me!"

"Then, my dad sounded a bit disappointed....and he sighed and mentioned something about blackmail....child support....rich...and stuff like that. They sure like to use biggish words that I don't understand."

"Well, enough talk. who's hungry? Anyone keen on milk? I'm going to cry real loud now.....I can share my food, and anyway, my mum has another one which I can't always finish."

Chance Meeting

1st bride to 2nd bride: "Hi. Getting married today?"
2nd bride:" Yes...and you too?" (I'm a prettier bride.)
1st bride:" Yes...today is a good date....which floor do you live on?"
2nd bride:" 7. You?" (I'm prettier.)
1st bride:" 9, 2 floors higher."
2nd bride:" Your groom's name is not Chris, I hope?" (My eyes are bigger.)
1st bride:" Oh no no no....not Chris. Doesn't even sound remotely like it."
2nd bride:" Mine is Chris. A good man." (Confirmed. I'm a prettier bride!)
1st bride:" And a good day to you."

Funny Snippets

Just 2 funny pictures to share from Carolyn and Alvin's wedding.


This picture is just ok, but when put into context with Carolyn's job, it seems funny, at least to me. You see, Carolyn is actually a magistrate in the family court, and someone who know right from wrong and make sure others know it too. I think to a certain extent, it also involves settling disputes. I thought she looks like she's working.


I wonder what Carolyn's sister and good friend are doing.....you can see other people are not clapping but they are happily doing so. Hmmm....must be for the camera.

Sometimes I Need Two

Why say "I firmly escort him to the door and bid him goodbye, making sure that he is not to enter the house again" when a simple "I ask him to f*** off!" will do. Same with picture-taking. Concise.

But sometimes, really, a picture might not be enough to tell the whole story (could be due to incompetence). For example, what's making Granny so worked up and what's the finger jabbing about? A single picture asks the question.


It's grandpa's inappropriate footwear, it seems. The second picture provides the answer.

A Story A Picture Tells Not

This is one of the rare shots that I have Sheryl appearing as a demure and shy bride whom she never was. Well, I'm going to stop telling lies with my photos. (For now, you can see the real her here).

Relax....it's a short week!

Spot the error

Two sides

You see a Casanova taking the initiative
I see a predator zeroing on its kill. (Meow.)

Hua Zhong.....Ooosh!

Being an old boy of the now renamed Chinese High School, it was a nostalgic and fun time shooting Serene and Gary's pre-wedding session back at the Bukit Timah campus.

They were super enthusiastic about the concept of the shoot and had so many ideas that my brain couldn't keep up with their thoughts. However, the underlying conclusion is: we are going to have fun!

The chinese characters etched on the slopes of the school are "zi qiang bu xi", and loosely translated, it means self-improvement is a never-ending endeavour (shouldn't rest on your laurels). They made a lasting impression on my young mind back then, and that's probably one of the reasons why I chose the school (I'm sure you have your own weird reasons for certain decisions).

I'm not going to let this opportunity slip by at the shoot. It was my idea....looks corny, but hey, it sure was fun because these were the type of photos that I'd take back in my school "daze"!

Preview only.
More fun shots to come!

Chase the Monday blues away

Just for Laughs.....It's Monday!

I realise my first love is being a cartoonist. Ha.

Cheer Up, it's Monday!

Excuse me, are you a Malaysian?

A client recently asked me if I have acquired a Singapore passport (I am a Malaysian). I told her I almost did, but then did a U-turn and now I am on the fence again.

I've been studying in Singapore since Primary One but I still love pretty much a lot of things back in Malaysia: the food, the space, the beaches, the nature, and the people. I still follow Malaysian politics as much as I can, and still try to sell the good side of JB to my wife.

However, since I am a product of the Singapore education system since a tender age, I also consider myself a half-Singaporean. I'd criticise and complain about many things Singapore (like all Singaporeans do), but behind the criticism is a veiled and quiet admiration and love for a country which had provided me with a wife and given birth to a lovely daughter.

So, if you ask me now how I feel being a Malaysian settling down in Singapore, my answer will be:

"From behind, I feel like I am being sodomised (by the messy politics and crime rate), and from the front, I feel my balls being squeezed (by the escalating cost of living)!"

Child exploitation

Go on, sue me!

The most difficult customer

As a photographer, I am facing one of the biggest challenges in my career.
My 2-and-a-half-year-old daughter is deliberately trying to look away from the camera whenever she notices me sneaking up on her with a camera, despite the fact I never ask her to smile or look at the camera.

She takes pleasure in seeing my exasperated frustration and yet I can't do anything about it.

Good Timing

Just two days ago, Tharman was taking great pains to educate/persuade/advise workers not to demand higher wages, but rather asked them to work smarter to earn more money. This is to prevent a so-called wage-price spiral (higher wages, higher business costs, hence higher prices and so on...).

Then yesterday, the Ministry of Transport declared: bus fares are going up. Period.

I guess those policy-making people in the ministry and the public transport companies are smart people, and to resort to increasing fares means they must have reached the peak level of productivity already. How can you drive the bus or MRT any smarter than they already are, right?

But we workers, we can work smarter. The hawker can fry kway teow with two woks and toss them with both hands simultaneously. We double the productivity, we earn more.

The foot masseur can also sell insurance policies while performing foot reflexology on clients. As the clients grimace in pain, the masseur can say:" You want to buy or not? I will stop pressing on this spot as soon as you sign." The chances of success should be very high. Not only can he collect massage fees, he can also earn commissions.

We can all work smarter to counter inflation. Who cares if bus fares rise or not.

I certainly don't. Apparently, the fares become cheaper if I transfer buses. The more I transfer, the less I have to pay, so if I believe if I make enough transfers, I won't need to pay at all! That's smart.

Aerial display at a Wedding

At a recent wedding, the couple even managed to commission the RSAF Black Knights to perform some aerial stunts for their guests. Interested couples who like to add a bit of absurd humour to their big day, can call 1800-LIKE2BS.