'08 to '09

This is the yearly ritual of documenting what has happen and what I hope and want to do for the coming year. Year end marks the beginning of the another year. Year 2008 has been a great year for me. A very good year indeed. As I am seated here in front of my comp, I still couldn't believe that in a few hours time, year 2009 will soon take over. Like many years before this, I have some resolutions that were never met. I'm beginning to feel that resolutions are over rated. Everyone makes one just to feel that they are welcoming another new year. Having said that, not all of my resolutions were met. I realized that my resolutions were petty. After so many years, I should have visions and missions. I need to get and be somewhere and next year will be it.

Now that my life is stable, no more unnecessary drama, no more endless crying, no more disappointments, no more heartaches, I feel that life is indeed good to me. Although last year I have been so low, thankfully the tables have turned. Life is good now. Love is good. I am contented. I am loved, pampered, appreciated and respected in every way. Sometimes it makes me wonder why did I ever take so long to ditch the useless old crap. To tell you the truth, I never knew why but at least I am out of it and some people are still stuck in it. Stupidity. Having said that, I am finally happy. Joy to the world. I have partied and never felt sad ever this year. Met new friends, felt welcomed, partied, raved and I am happy.

Everything falls into its place when I least expected it. Somewhere in April I was torn between two very promising career paths. There were 2 offers in hand. I was hunted by someone who had interviewed me a year ago for a position which I very much wanted but sadly they hired a mandarin speaking guy at that time. A year later, they got rid him and want me in return. I must have made an impression considering the fact that she remembered me a year later and she is more than happy to buy me out from my current company. After working for so many years, I have finally landed myself in a position where I am suppose to be.

My manager is quite a character and I've learned a lot from her. My boss, tho long winded and soft spoken, is the most humble person as a boss I have ever seen. My employment was confirmed early, my manager and I worked on a high profile event which featured a famous actor, I got to design (tho not very good at it) and will be manning the department on my own soon. For someone who has so much to learn, I am really feeling nervous but opportunity doesn't come knocking on your door all the time. I have so much to prove and this is the time. I have a reputable company in hand and it is my job to make sure that it gets the proper publicity that it deserves.

I have dreams and visions as to where 2009 will take me. It will test and prove me that the impossible could be possible if we put our heart and soul into it. This year, I am indeed very lucky to be introduced to the world of photography. I never thought I would love photography until I had the opportunity to discover it for myself. The satisfaction of taking stunning photos, the satisfaction of being able to visualize and feel the artistry of taking a good photo -street, black and white, candid, journalistic wedding coverage. Capturing moments and making it last. I think I have found the answer to my artistic needs and I have never been so enthusiastic about anything before. The feeling of that mad dash through the crowd, constantly kneeling, bending over and even lying down just to get the perfect shot is unexplainable. When you see what you can achieve through that lens at the very moment in time is just fulfilling.

I am anxious to see how far both my love and I can grow in terms of working together. I have ideas and he is technically good. With both minds supporting each other and working hand in hand, I am very much excited to see how this can be big. Some took as little as only 2 years to be where they are now and hopefully in time, I hope we could be there too.

So let's see what happens same time, same day on 2009.

Goodbye 2008!

You've been good.

1st AD

My neck hurts. And so does both of my wrists, fingers, arms, shoulder, back, thighs and knees. Oh and I got a blister on my right thumb too. I feel so beaten up. I have never been so tired and exhausted before but despite all of the pain, I have gained a wondeful experience. My 1st AD and my first time working together with my love. Seriously.

I was thrown into the sea and I had to keep swimming. No matter what. In this case, I had to keep snapping. This is do or die. Despite only handling the DSLR not more than 5 times, he believed that I can do this. I have no experience in taking people pictures, nor event and needless to say I was pretty darn nervous and pressured. AD is not like taking pictures with friends. This is no casual affair. This is a couple's very important occasion and this happens only once in a lifetime. What if I miss important shots? What if something goes wrong with the camera? I can't be running to my bf all the time. He can't miss shots too. You can't ask people to pose for you in the midst of all that is happening. You can't rewind the scene that has passed. When a moment is gone, it is gone forever. You have to get it. The night before, I have to practice changing lenses multiple lenses with my sling bag with me. I have to be fast enough yet handling the expensive lens and body with good care. Anything goes wrong with lens or body and I will be dead and broke. Many months of my full salary will be gone. I was so nervous that I couldn't even sleep well. So many things were going through my mind. He needs this and I can't let him down. With sheer determination and excitement I shut my eyes and prayed for the best.

Next morning, we got up really early. Ealier than we would usually wake up for work and headed to our destination, Seremban along with all our packed equipment and gear. Finding the bride's house was not very difficult, thanks to my love who checked wikimapia the night before. All we needed to do it to spot the house with a red cloth hanging at the gate. We arrived at a huge white and grey bungalow with a vast area of garden. We were greeted by the bride's second brother who lead us to the bride. There she was, sitting in front of the mirror greeting us while her makeup artist continue to work on her. We introduced ourselves briefly and carried on with our work.

So off we went to separate areas of the house to familiarize ourselves with the area. Lighting, He started with shooting pictures of the bride getting her makeup done and I started off with the wedding dress. As time passes more and more people arrived at the house. It was such a happy occasion. Everyone is dressed up and looked really happy, the kids were running around. I snapped away and not long after we heard it. The sound of car horns blasting outside endlessly. That is the sign of the arrival of the groom.

I quickly changed the lens and dashed out to the front gate and to my surprise, the groom arrived in a trishaw! A red, traditional trishaw and only god knows where they get it from. It was the most cutest scene I have ever seen. A groom with a bouque of ferrero roche, looking handsome and smart in this black suit sitting in a trishaw, smiling from ear to ear. From that moment onwards everything that I do has to extra fast. As he moved out of the trishaw, I saw Anthony out so I know its time for me to get in before the girls lock the house gate. I am to cover the girl's side. My goodness these girls are sure having alot of fun torturing the guys. The guys were a creative and funny bunch. They came with their hawaiian shirts and mohawk style porcupine hat and one even with a soldier vest. They are so ready for war I tell you. They were so hilarious and very sporting. They had to eat raw bitter gourd, mashed bananas in pampers, down wine. You get the idea. Everyone was bursting into laughter and the negotiations were endless. Angpous after angpous. I went up for a while was lucky to have found the bride looking out of the window. She was smiling to herself and you could see it in her eyes that she is genuinely happy and for a moment her eyes were closed. You can tell that she was thankful for this special day. A shot not to be missed.

After distributing angpous from the groom. He made it through. I rushed and stayed in the bride's room. Now, we all know this isn't going to be easy. The groom still has to go through some more games and torture. From questions to singing song. Kesian fella. What is her favourite fruit la...when did you both started holding hands la..it was so funny. I too joined in the laughter but too bad I couldn't see what is happening outside where Anthony is covering. Thankfully the groom got all of the questions correct except for his singing. The bride grinned but eventually burst into laughters, laughing herself silly at her husband's singing. After all the havoc and negotiation the groom enters the room. One important shot. Then he unveils her veil, helps her wear her shoe and kisses her. Such sweetness. This is the part where everyone is hovering over and it was gettin difficult to get shots as the area was not big and many people were moving about. Nonetheless fire away. When you thought it was over..it was not. The guys had a 'gift' for the girls. The next thing they knew they took out party sprayers and sprayed all over everyone. The comotion was damn havoc. The girls were screaming and the guys were running around spraying till their cans got empty. Sneaky isn't it.

After that, we all knew it was the tea ceremony coming up. Family pictures. And then moving on to the groom's old house. This time the bride has to lift up her heavy wedding gown and sit herself in the trishaw. A trishaw followed by a beeline of cars and people. Tea ceremony again and then over to the groom's new house. My goodness the house was huge. I should say a bungalow. Few bungalows altogether. We quickly dashed to the groom's new room and took pictures of the decor, the bed, kids jumping on the bed, group pics and we are done.

Quarter way to done. Now, these photos taken during the day has to be selected and edited to be showed as a slideshow during dinner - which was in 5 hours time. After shooting all morning and afternoon under the schorching sun we have to rush rush and rush. Selecting the photos was a little time consuming as it has to be picked out carefully from thousand over photos. After that, the conversion of the photo format etc. Luckily the template was prepared before along with the requested songs from the bride and the end result was good. The only thing which bothered us was the projection of the slideshow. We forgot that we were in Seremban. Not some fancy hotel ballroom with decent sound and video system. Instead of plugging our laptop, we had to burn vcd and thus the quality was not so good. Bummer. We had no choice but to cross out fingers and hope the bride is happy with it.

So off we went straight to the restaurant. It was only meters away from the house. Now this is where my nightmare begun. Flash is officially my worse enemy. I couldn't handle and control the flash properly. I was not getting the shots that I wanted and was pretty dissapointed. Took a short break, had some food. At the third dish, the slide was shown. Both of us were so nervous. We were afraid that it would turn out horribly as the colour seemed pretty washed out during testing earlier on. To my surprise people actually cheered and clapped at some shots. Some were singing along and most of them were glued to the screen. Now that is satisfaction. We nailed it for the slideshow. Not long after we continued working. After only 10 minutes of eating we were asked to follow the couple. We had to go table to table, yam seng after another yam seng and another yam seng. These people can really drink their asses off. Guys were screaming from the top of their lungs, downing wine after wine. And even the groom's mother was downing wine from table to table. Terrornye aunty.

Halfway throughout dinner, the groom's brothers, sisters and cousin performed a number - when you say nothing at all. They dedicated it to their uncle who had passed away earlier this year and you could see they were holding in their tears so hard but eventually some burst into tears. I was touched by how close their family bond was and needless to say I had to take some crying shots. After that we walked round and round and round and I was getting pretty exhausted. Carrying the camera plus flash around is like carrying dumbells. You lift them up and down. Up then down. You have to bend over, kneel and at the same time avoid the kids who were running around not having the slightest idea that you are behind them, people walking from left to right and turning round and round around you. What annoys me the most are the waiters. Seremban memang seremban. They will push a huge trolley of beers when the bride and groom is walking down the red carpet in front of them! How terrible is that? That seriously happened. I am not sure of the bride but I would be freakin pissed. I'd prolly stop and yell at them but then again it ain't my wedding so I had to fire away.

At 11.30pm after shooting most of the people saying goodbye to the happy couple, after shooting some candid family shots on stage, we called it a night. Time to go. We worked from 8am till 11.30pm till my arms and fingers were aching. I went back to our table and those kind people who sat with us actually saved food and desserts for us. After having few bites we said goodbye and left Seremban. We were only half way done.

What a day. AD isn't easy at all but it sure was fun and interesting. I wish I knew more and could do better to help my love. Tho my neck and shoulder hurts, my wrists, arms, fingers, back, knees bruised, it was all worth it. It is like war. You have to be quick and precise. No second chance. No time to loose. You have to squeeze your way through without hurting anyone and the camera. Bend, kneel, climb if you have to. I better be bruised. If I am not, clearly means I didn't get enough shots.

Now half to finish up the other half of the work.

PP. Not my favourite.