Most of my photos taken in RAW, spend time adjusting the exposure, brightness or contrast in Photoshop. The result after export to JPEG format, it just had some missing “feels” about them. Well, most of the prefer shots have to get some effects on it.
Lomography and High Clarity were my favorite effects to use especially for portrait.
Here was the Original Photo after exported from RAW (CR2).
It was taken during a birthday cum bowling events. To see more, click creadaq photography.
After touching up from Photoshop Lomo effects – See Tutorials from PS Tutorial
High Clarity effects – to make the photo more focus and impact. See tutorial from PS Tutorial.
Finally I have time to blog since traveled from this trip since June.
This mission trip was organized by my church (pkcmc.org). There were 12 of us on this trip, which sound like 12 Apostles. It was a first ever trip that experienced people of Thailand, and it was the longer travelling time on road – took almost 8 hours from Chiang Mai to Terd Thai (border of Myamar).
This was only highway to North, and we stopped by roadside for duck noodles.
Well, we managed to stop by some of the tourist attraction like famous Chiang Mai Hot spring. The place was huge and not many tourist around; we were the only group here.
This was the front entrance with 30 feet high water pressure spray from ground.
Nearly 10 hours journey from LCCT to Terd Thai, finally we reached center and already night 8pm local time, most of us were pretty tired and time to settle down our packing coz we had to wake up at 5.30am next day.
It was morning 6am and all the center’s children had settled down to praise the Lord together. Some of us giving the praise and worship performance and some testimonial; although we had different languages and there were a barrier, but some how GOD gave them wisdom to have someone did translation for us.
Yun-Nam Noodles, it only cost 20Bath (approximate RM2); overall it was unique (sources, peanuts, pork) and taste delicious.
Yau-zha-gua (油炸鬼) cost 1Bath (10 cents). It was crispy coz the size was only quarter of the original size we had in Malaysia.
Apart of that, roasted egg was new to us!
After we had our breakfast and it started rain again, but it didn’t stop us to go on our journey – to visit our beloved villagers.
Now I understand how useful we need a jeep with 4 wheels drive? It was the machine can overcome the mud (烂泥) and wet. This was the Jeep bringing the team up and down hill everyday.
Although it was 8km drive from Terd Thai town to Hill top. It took 30 minutes to reach Lau Wan village.
View from the top, it looked like Cameron highland. Weather was fine when we visited, if during year end and the temperature could fall down to 15 degree.
First impression when we reached the village. It was so much difference from the town although it was 8 km apart. They live in raised houses on low stilts, with a large porch leading into a square living area with a stove at the back. The roof is steeply pitched.
This was our church. And it was built since 2003. There were many churches around Terd Thai Hill, many of them were sponsored and donated by Malaysian Church.
According to my phone’s GPS way point indicate that another 10-15km will be reaching Myamar’s border. Never though of coming so close to this point.
Terd Thai has different Hill tribe, there were Lahu, Akha, Yao, Khamu etc. (http://www.chiangmai-chiangrai.com/hilltribes.html) and Lau Wan village was lived with Akha tribe. This tribe originated in Tibet.
Looked at my slippers- red mud had accumulated into 3 inches. The dirt and mud did not make me felt regret being this place, but my feeling was amazing while listening to the kids singing together with Pastor Daniel.
He wrote and sang all his song; most of the songs had healed those lost soul in this village. When he started to sing, children from village started to gather here and where they learned and sing along.
Each time we reached Lau Wan village, those innocent smiles has touched my heart and make me feel wonderful too. That was called spiritual smile.
I wish I could speak their language, to teach them how to manage and improve their living conditions.
More children picture from Creadaq.com.
One thing about Akha tribe, man did the cooking for guests. But woman taking care of their daily meal at home, coz man hardly cook most of the time.
I really respect the way they worked as a team and prepared the meal for us.
It was not first time I watched my mum killing live chicken. But this was first time I was watching live pig been ’sacrificed’. The screaming until silence, making my heart pumping so fast!
Akha’s dinner served! Where was the roasted pork?
We had great time with the children, we played games, and sing together. Once they got used to it, they start get closer to us.
Well, this journey has brought me a lot of messages. To understand and discover the other truth life in other part of this world, who need us to change their life styles.
God brought me here to listen, to feel, to see things that I had never seen before. To make sure things beyond us has appeared right in front of us. Through this journey, he gave us wisdom that what we should do when live in this world. We were stronger we become….
Lau Wan village and Children, I miss them. And may GOD bless them all.
The day before, I wasn’t knew anything about the Hot Air balloon fiesta. George told me about this event since I were having a meeting at Putrajaya, – 1st Putrajaya International Hot air Balloon Fiesta 2009. (www.myballoonfiesta.com). It was a 4 days event from 19 March till 22 March 2009.
In fact, my meeting was scheduled on 10 am, according to the fiesta’s itinerary that 7.30am onwards that the Balloons area was opened to photographers. Could be the
Woke up quite early and it was excellent morning for balloons day. When I reached Putrajaya Precinct 2 around 8am, where the balloons taking off, didn’t expect that few balloons were ready to go on air. Not much crowd although it was school holiday.
Well, first day of event, saw most of the photo kaki were well equip and everyone just busy taking their best shots! Surprisingly, Canon has a booth setting up too.
I stayed around but didn’t take much photos, firstly, my dress code was “not allowed” me to run around (yup! I wished I had pair of sport shoe with jeans). However, it was not cloudy but hot sun. Around 9.15am, another batch of team’s equipment was carried by the 4 wheels pick ups, I couldn’t wait much longer and decided to go off for my meeting.
There’ll be more.. please logon to www.creadaq.com
It was another phtography session during my Chinese New year holiday with my kids. And they love to see animals especially Gerald. Decided to visit Melaka zoo since we had bored of Zoo Negara. Well, it was only a day trip and took me an hour drive.
Surprisingly, what I had told that varieties of animals were much better than Zoo Negara; and entrance fees were cheaper too, it only cost less than RM30 for 2 adults 2 children. And parking was free.
I had taken most of the photos using my 135 prime lens. Apparently I’d never try that without changing lens for a day trip. Well, most of the angle and corner in this area was covered by trees, it was nice to walk around and less expose under the sun but lighting was an issue for photography.
Let’s see what I have here…
I have been taking photos and “stock” with more than thousands of it; and thought of upload it to stock photography website and sell it although it’s not a way of make a living of it. Rather to keep it in my GB hard disk.
Recently there’s many stock photography websites offer the services. Overall, there are 2 types of stock photography on market place, Stock (Macrostock) & Microstock. So what are their differences?
Stock photography websites are the traditional photography marketplaces where photo prices range from $1 to thousands of dollars.
Microstock is mainly from those newbies who able to capture professional photos with consumer DSLR or even the normal digital camera. Another word, the price of the photos was much cheaper.
Again, the rate of failed submission is very high too, because niche market could it containing million of photos; either you have to submit a totally new and creative photo to match the different needs.
Well, I have successful submitted and registered few of the Stock websites.
Fotolia
The more you sell, the higher your commission.
iStockphoto
It has huge database and containing million of photos and you can sell as low as $1. And you are earning 40% of it.
ClusterShot
It’s not just a website for you to sell and buy photos.
Shutterstock
It is the largest subscription-based stock photo agency in the world. Everyday added thousands of photos.
Dreamtime
You can find large variety of royalty-free stock images.
Stockexpert
Provide customers with affordable stock imagery while offering a powerful tool to photographers.
What is Tilt-Shift Photography (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tilt-shift_photography)? First time I saw it when Joe was showing me the effect recently, it amazed me how the miniature effects were recreated and impressive (http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2008/11/16/beautiful-examples-of-tilt-shift-photography/) with it. Or you might mistaken it was fake or a miniature display!
Well, if you don’t have the lens and equipment, there’s many way you could achieve the Tilt-Shift effects.
Found out this Online Tiltshift maker http://tiltshiftmaker.com; well, not that impressive with the free tools. There’s not much control on Saturation where allow to make the colors more enhancing.
If you are using Adobe Photoshop CS, I’m recommend one of the useful tutorial. The steps are clear and useful, and it’s so flexible to control the Lens blur and colors. Check out my first attempt.
Few months back, Evelina the bride had called me and booked my schedule for her wedding at Kuala Lumpur. 15th November 2008 was the “W” day and I’d wake up in the morning 5.30am and rush to KL Concord Hotel before her make-up artist had arrived.
Nevertheless, taking photos from morning till afternoon, I only had 3 hours of rest before heading back to dinner or the evening sessions! I really had great experience this time since I had well-prepared with my new Dem diffuser. No worry with my lighting issue or problems with my battery for flash. And I still remember the last photo taken @ 11:45pm!
Overall, I’m quite satisfied with my results; one more thing that amazed of, that I’d broke my own record – 1050 of pictures taken in a day!
Click here to view the wedding album from Creadaq.com.
Last week I was invited to the year end graduation concert for Tadika Tunas Riang, it was a half day photography session and I was quite enjoyed with entire setting and allowed me took some nice photos.
Overall, in just 4 hours I had managed to snap more than 400 shots; it’s tiring when I have to squat down and stand up and bend again! Next day, I could felt the pain of my leg’s muscle.
To view more pictures – click on Credaq.com
Anyway, for all the hard work, it was total worth of efforts to catch the moment of innocence. There were about 150 -200 students and we all squeezed inside a 900 sq foot markup room; and noise of kids’ laughing, crying and teacher was scolding, it was like a war zone. However, I was sweat but nuthing to stop me kept searching for the “face” that bring you “words”!
It reminded me when I was in kinder performance, so far that’s only 1 or 2 photos I had while I was dancing on the stage. How about the close up and the moment before going to stage? Personally I felt this moment behind the stage was absolutely difference.
What is Woophy? World Of Photography!
Globalization is the keywords now, take a look at woophy.com. You could find some nice shots by clicking the country or you could upload your pictures.
… images that represent the world’s beauty and peculiarity from all different cultural perspective.
Just signed up and uploaded one of the Sunset picture at pichilrechado.
Let’s share your picture here! Mine.
Last Sunday was last day of school holiday and my church had organized a “Kids Fun Land” for the children around 3-10 years old.
It was fun to see them having fun before they going back to school, as usual our programs included some bible story, dancing and games. And we did a mini Olympic for kids too, just enjoyed seeing them having so much fun.
“Professor Blur-blur”?
Time to move your body with our Bee-man!
A little science experiments to amaze the kids.
Wife was giving Bible Story to the children. Plus our professional actor who were acting seriously on the stage to make all the children understand more about the story!
This was the moment for them – games. They love it so much.
However, I didn’t manage to photograph much. Still learn to steady my arm and hand while taking with my Prime 135mm. Some of the shots were not that great, shake and blur. 
