Baby's 1st birthday and flash photography

What did not tun out to me turned out to be actual; I became baby Amanda's 1st birthday's event photographer for the afternoon; there was a huge group of guests so I managed to capture the moments of her cutting the cake, birthday songs and group photos.

Next destination, Fort Canning.

The weather had been hot but we managed to do some practises with flash photography, courtesy of our unofficial "master", Allen.  Bounce flash had been improvised with a reflective interior of umbrella and the effects are amazingly good.

We had a little chatup after the shoot and learnt from Allen about the lost groups, which were unspoken in the news for those who ventured Mt Kinabalu, East Malaysia, which is also where he lived.  The place sounds pretty attractive as a guide needed to be booked 6 months prior to commencement of trip.

Some photo reviews on the event which I need to touch up on the bounce card on my SB-900 - Allen had given me his card ever since he lost his Fuji dSLR.

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Today's photoshoot might be more focused on heartland, since the hours are not sufficient for a full day shoot.

While waiting for my car to be ready, this is a good time for me to set my mind thinking about where I should go for these "short shoots".  The town that I had went by this morning seem to be a good place; just that I didn't want to stay too long there as that was not the primary purpose, no doubt in the vicinity.

Guess my full day shoot shall be left till tomorrow instead.

Coming to think about it, it has been coming to a year, but my exposure through the shutter had been something which is far more than many aspiring photographers out there.  While quantity are there, the more important thing will be quanlity.

From the feedbacks from most friends, they have given positive and encouraging comments which continues to spur me on to take greater pictures. PPwise, there's also alot more to learn to harnes the

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Campaign shots

Another corporate event where my photoshoot skills will be utilised.

Marketing team is doing some outdoor campaigns and require someone to take some photos of the occurence.  The good news is, they have hired a crew of pretty ladies to do the distribution, so my reply was "ain't I so lucky" to R...

Time to do some readups before the real thing.

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2 projects completion

FInally finished processing photos of both events slightly after dinner. The body is feeling some discomfort after the prolonged illness since Thursday.  Could it be the bad air, or just manisfestation of germs when sleeping in airconditioned room with dearie, who was also unwell?

Or could it be the bites from mosquitoes at the dilapidated bungalow shoot?  I certainly hope it isn't the last option.

I have to rest early tonight since I have to work tomorrow; hopefully, will be just perfect when I awake tomorrow.

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BBQ@Nicolas' place, Grandeur 8

The photoshoots turned out better with SB-900, especially for offical events as such.

Being the official photographer, eating is something which can only be done periodically after each series of shoots. It had been assisted with dearie this time, as she helped me collect the food.

I'll do the processing tomorrow since event ended quite late, and dearie wanted her Koi tea.

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The ruined bungalow with past glory: The Mission

10:48am

I had finally found the opportunity to move into the premises after a 100% coast-clear status.

At the first sight of the dilapidated house, one can recall how it had appeared with its past glory decades ago. What had happened since it's vacation from 1991? Being a bungalow, it has its own garage and I moved into the house. Level 2 is no longer accessible the staircase up have been fully destroyed. Even the flooring across the two main halls in the front have already eroded, exposing the wooden frames that held the flooring in place.

Hanging from the ceilings are peeled off plywoods. A couch can be seen dropping halfway through the floorway in the balcony. In my attempt to secure an access to Level 2, I could only see the wiped-out flooring on the rear of the house. Only the WC system stood planted on the already massively aged wall.

The only way to reach the kitchen was to do the 'tightrope' walk by footing on the wooden frame, however, no way out from the rear as the exit had been blocked by huge wooden blocks that crumbled from the top.

The side room, which should also be their living room, has a completely destructed flooring which I could not find any possible footing on. Sunken, crashthrough in the middle of the floor appeared to be a ruined air-conditioning unit which carries the technology of yester-years.

Cupboards lined the front room just beside a balcony handrail. Still no access to the top floor after a careful search.

After searching the rear, I took a walk into the garage. A portrait of Jesus hung on the wall, citing the owner to be a Catholic. Workbenches strewn with opened containers with mechanical
junk, a pass from 1PDF in 1999, whom doesn't have any connection with Ex-Services Singapore from what I know, which was the sign placed outside the right garage door - where the owner served.

Occasional thumpings could be heard as those overgrown trees slam their branches on the already weakened roof.

I made a dash when I saw the locked gate being pushed inwards, as if someone was opening the door, but later on, realised it was a knock by some passing by punks.  Phew.  A close shave.

I quickly finished off the shots before finding the right time to move out, checking occasionally from the gaps of the panel.  Finally moved out of the scene near around 12:20PM.

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The ruined bungalow with past glory: Pre mission

I'm in luck today. The house which I plan to shoot still stands, only being shielded from the public with zinc panels and self made doors.

Coast is quite clear now, only for the next action of moving in at the right time.

As the place is pretty uphill, the best form
of getting here is by wheels rather than by foot.

Right from the sidewalk, one can see how magnificent it stands, along with the long lost glory since inhabitance from 1991. I have never learnt about who the owner was until I did some homework online.

It seems that this place where I am carries a considerable amount of history. Wonder if properties planted along this area are of good value too?

It's good that I had moved out early this
morning to allow more time for missions like these. The nature of the mission requires me to operate on solitary basis thus it cannot be organised with extensive details. Just get it and when done, pull out.

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Acquisition of another tool

I've finally obtained the SB-900, the ultimate tool for night portraut and event photography!

Having ran a couple of test shots, the results are simply perfect; all I need now are a few rounds of practises and I'll be all set to make a good shots for events.

During my catchup with Marc, I chanced upon that he runs an events company which hosts a team of professionals, so that's where I can get opportunities to rub shoulders with people who are for real in the business.

Another good opportunity lies ahead for me...

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A probe into the history of Eric Choa's house

Further reading unveills the story of the empty house beside Paramount Hotel in Marine Parade Road. It had belonged to a late lawyer who passed on in Nov 2009.

The strange thing is that the house had been vacant - not a single time had I seen anyone entering or exiting the house at one time. The question is, if anyone of the family members are still holding ownership to that house?

Probably only those who lived there will know the truth; an indeed impressive view of its past glory.

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Major Coupeland's house

There's more than meets the eye on Mt Emily and Mt Sophia.

Major Coupeland's house stands at Upper Wilkie Road, but I wonder if it is still around.

I have not seen this house with my own eyes, but stories have mentioned that it had been abandoned for 20 years...

Definitely worth a sight.

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Abandoned temple

I spotted this temple when I was driving out of Upper Serangoon area.

Hidden behind somw conserved shophouses, it sits comfortably on a patch of grass and yet tightly bounded by overgrown weeds, it appears to be a tiny building amongst its surroundings.

I wonder on the history behind it...

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Abandoned Places - Seletar

The mission was carried out in the late morning as I had spent some time researching online prior to moving out.  My initial intent was look for Baker Street in Seletar, but ended up on a road which I could see the control tower of Seletar Airport, which also stand 2 abandoned colonial houses.  It took me awhile to gather shots of the place and as I was replying a message in the grass patch, I saw a police car and the driver was looking in my direction as it drove on the main road.  I made m move far away from the area to steer clear before coming back. 

When I was outside one of the used car dealer's premises, I realised that I had actually arrived where I had been looking for, after many kilometres of driving.

Later on, I spotted a few colonial buildings which seemed vacated; not a single soul in those areas and I continued a digital gatherance.

Mission completed for today slightly towards late lunch.  That place is getting more interesting...just wondering what that big building beside the road is used for?

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Mission Seletar

It is decided; today's journey will be to Seletar Barracks which is just about 10mins' drive from dearie's place.

No doubt I had been a little tired; it is already 10am now after tossing and turning in bed on numerous split slumber for the past 2.5 hours since I was awaken by my alarm at 7:30am.

Time to get packing before the sun starts to hit down hard.

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Pre-epic adventure

i've been liberated from the deak-chains. What a pity that I'm not armed with my digital sniper today as the attraction from Mt Emily still lures me close.

Come this weekend, an uncapped adventure to cover those places which have not been fully explored. Let's hope the journey go as planned.

This, will definitely make my adventure worthwhile, and bring back an epic collection.

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Abandoned Places - round up

Just mindmapping those places I have on mind which are still, unpublished to the public.

More details to fill my itinerary for these places....

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