Thanks to Patrick who ask me to join this event

Treasures of the Rainforests Photography Conference and Challenge

few times for the last 2 weeks and of course all my sifu, masters who guide me thru since the day I am in wedding photography and all the judges of the day….This means a lot to me….truly appreciation from the bottom of my heart

Treasures of the Rainforests Photography Conference and Challenge

This is my first time joining a workshop held outside of KL and most of all, into the rain-forest! It is totally a new world out there for me and I feel the “Amateur” inside me again with desire and hunger to shoot for more, learn from others!! After 3 solid days of presentation, workshop, conference and outing challenge, I won the 1st place for the 1st Treasure of The Rain Forest Photography Challenge and Conference thanks to all judges. It was a great experience for sharing, learning thru out the 4 days events. Came to know a lot of new passionate photographers, masters like Patrick Low, Alvin Leong, Zung, Jim Liaw, Jimin Lai, Jason Victor, Yusuf Hashim, Saiful Nang are more than willing to share out their knowledge and years of experience..which I truly appreciate it…

Below are some of my own favourate shoots of the event and of course the winner shoot:

1st place in year 2009 Treasures of the Rainforests Photography Conference and Challenge

My favourate shoot, taken on day two, on the way to Hilton Batang Ai Resort on the ferry with 70-200mm (135mm) f2.8

My another favourate shoot in small town called Serian, half way to Hilton Batang Ai, he was a star of the day with so many photographers aiming at him..

My 3rd choice.. love the relationship btwn 3 of them. They were so shy in front of us...I love the touch of the brother

This shoot taken during our lunch time at waterfall while the ant was trying to climb up to the boat at the river side

More highlights click here

Continue from Day Three of TREASURES OF THE RAINFORESTS PHOTOGRAPHY CONFERENCE:

Day four started from 12am where I was in my hotel room uploading, selecting and post processing photos for the final photo competition. After I completed the photos selection, I was too tired and join in some casual chitchat at the pool side with some speakers till 3.30am

After morning breakfast and last speaker’s presentation, we are all busy on photo competition submission and fun group photo session

photo taken by Edwin Lay without me knowing!!

Patrick sharing with Edwin and Alvin

Entry point for photo competition submission

Zung getting ready on the group photo session

Edwin Lay and Shy Jason hahahaha

Shen and Jason

Due to my flight schedule, (and god blessed since the following bus only manage to reach Kuching at midnight!), I have to travel back to Kuching immediately after the photo competition results. We manage to reach airport at 7pm and met Jimin Lai who are still there waiting for his flight! I change my flight schedule to an hour earlier without any charges.. Thanks to AirAsia and reach home just 5mins before midnight.

This is one great experience I had and my first time shooting this type of photography. Really enjoy so much with new friends, meeting passionate photographers and of course all speakers who are willing to share their knowledge and experiences without any reservation.

Once again, thanks for all your effort!!!

Continue from Day Two, of Treasure of The Rainforest Photography Challenge and Conference after we have our breakfast in Hilton Batang Ai, here come our exciting journey of the day.. 1.5 hours long boat ride to longhouse…….I applied sunblock and get all my gears wrapped with platic bag. When I on board, (this is my first time go on longboat ride, i can feel the boat shaking and the water level is so close to me!!!) 5 mins ride from the resort, it seems so refreshing and so quiet in the middle of the lake..some of the longboat with native passing by and wave at us when we pointed our camera towards them.. I look at the cloudy sky and start worrying about my gears now….On board, we have Saiful Nang, Edwin Lay and Alvin Jong…since this is another long journey, they start taking self-portrait photos again hahhah.. I told Edwin Lay since he know how to swim and operate a longboat before, if anything happen, save my gears first!!!

Coffee, best for morning...

Shen seriously listen to Jim on MPA issue

Zip up the life jacket.. here we go!

Fresh before the journey start.. lol

go go go, this is like star-war troops, sending out spaceship one by one.. hahah, i think too much

Edwin said must capture nice selfportrait for his wife wo

Alvin relaxing at the back

finally, reach longhouse

Zung and Patrick shooting all the way

When we reach longhouse, there were a few kids swimming in the river, and attracting most of us over for some fun shooting.. best part is , at that moment, I heard some noise from the other side of the longhouse. When I walk over, I saw a pig which like to show off!!! hahaha, whenever we point the camera over, the pig will stick out the nose for nice posing oo, not believe,… see how Edwin Lay trying below:

Once everyone were there, we enter into the longhouse and were welcome by the chief with rice wine and traditional dance. Portrait session with native took us around 45mins before we heading to another exciting journey- WATERFALL…

Zung, you should wear black for ninja photographer hahaha

Clement and his tea break

Jimin Lai and his coffee break

Ning and her killer lens!

2nd part of the journey, we went against the water current, further up to the waterfall area. Due to dry season for the past few weeks, the water level is so low that majority of the journey required participants off the boat and walk pass the river for a small distance before we continue the journey. Luckily, our boatmen only ask us to come down for twice.. the rest of the journey, I saw other boatmen fell into the river, the stick stuck at the river side and etc.. Alvin told me, his friend met an accident few months back during the longboat ride with the boat overturn and two camera bags flush away during that time.. in fact, i felt very uncomfortable and guilty while seeing the boatmen (at least 60 years old) pushing the boat while I am sitting on the boat…..The tough journey took us another one hour from longhouse to waterfall area.

After the waterfall shooting where Jimin enjoy his swimm, we took our yummy yummy lunch at the river side…

yeap, it was very hot!!

On the way back to resort with direct sunlight was killing me!! i felt asleep few times in the boat itself.. lol…

The program continue after my hot bath in the resort with pretty model- April !! look at those cameras!!! after a few shoots, i decide to shoot the other way around on all participants hahahaha

Sunset model shooting lead by Patrick

That night after dinner, we continue the workshop with all masters of photography

Thanks Shen for taking this photo while you were poisoning by Canon hahaha

Alvin Leong, highly demanded male model by all participants

masters, sifusssssss

Final Day

My 2nd Day journey for The workshop The Treasure of The RainForest Photography Challenge and Conference , continue from day one

After we had our breakfast at Hilton Kuching and pack our lunch box around 8am, we are now heading to Batang Ai with 2 stops in between the long 4.5 hours journey….

Our first stop is Serian, kinda different from what I imagine as it looks like normal small town in West Malaysia to me….all the participants are split into several groups with lead photographers : Alvin Leong, Patrick Low, Zung, Yusuf Hashim, Jimin Lai, Jim Liaw & Jason Victor and I am under Jim’s group. Jim kick start with explaining basic of lighting and asking all participants to capture object with side light for more 3D effect. All of us were having fun time capturing images of wet market.. people are friendly and never stop us from shooting. We spend around an hour at the wet market and continue our Journey to the next stop..

Alvin Leong and his group

Clement with his stylish look lol

Jim sharing with all participants in his group on basic lighting knowledge

Next Stop: Lachau

yeah, you are right, Lachau, a small town with old coffee shop lot. Zung was so happy and telling us that he like these type of old coffee shop.. bring back memories to him…

Jim & Ning outside the coffee shop

told you, the journey is tiring hahahaah

Finally,with 4 hours plus journey, we reach at the Dam, I was amazed by the bus driver reverse driving skill (I am talking about reversing downhill with more than 500m oooh )…although some of us start screaming as the bus approaching the end of the jetty.. hahahah

Zung

I was told that Batang Ai Dam is as big as Singapore Island, 30mins ride from Jetty, we finally arrived at Hilton Batang Ai Resort. Patrick and I almost fainted when looking up the staircases from the jetty to the lobby…I dont think I can make it with all my bags!! when I started climbing up the stairs, our saver arrive!!! the hotel helper were there and so kind to help Patrick and I carried our luggage all the way up to lobby… hurray!!! hahahaha

Now you know what I mean, this is only showing quarter of the staircases

Within a short break, my boss, Patrick already pull out his laptop and review on his presentation for the following day workshop while some of us head for the jungle walk session and sunset session…

Look at all the gears!

Sunset is only few mins and the best time is few sec, shoot!

After shower, we head for the pool side for the official opening & ceremony of The Treasure of The RainForest Photography Challenge and Conference . I only manage to zzz around 1am after the workshop in the function room ended late night..

Following day: Long House and Waterfall visit!!!

The Treasure of The RainForest Photography Challenge and Conference

Last Friday, our journey to Kuching attending the workshop kicked start with 0800hrs flight from LCCT to Kuching…..One funny thing was, I was all the while sitting beside Clement and Ning during the flight and even join Clement with his Nitendo’s game not knowing he is Jim’s son…LOL.. 5 mins before we arrived Kuching, I told Clement that I am a photographer and he said, my dad too.. then I look at him and look at Ning… only I realise Clement has both Jim and Ning’s features.. hahahahah OMG.. my bad my bad.. I still remember Clement ask if I am full time photographer, when I answer no.. he answer– too bad. hahahahahah

After touch down, Alvin came to airport and fetch us direct back to Hilton Kuching. It was a relaxing afternoon and Ling, my client and friend now came over to fetch me for some nice tea break with bee hoon belacan and get myself some bird nest and rice wine.

Here we go some images during Hilton Kuching Cafe

What am I doing???

Alvin busy arranging for the day

Jason who arrived an hour later

Jim sharing his experience on ThinkTank Bag

Our first conference meeting kicked start after dinner

During the 1st meeting, we are given the schedule and briefed by Alvin and Kenny on the following days program. It is also my first time meeting up with Mr. Yusuf Hashim, the administrator of PhotoMalaysia Forum who share his travel photography experience with us on that night.

Everyone went back to own hotel room and looking forward the following days excitement…

Continue Day Two….

Malaysia Wedding Photographer

This layout is so COOL!!! Boon Teck, thanks a lot man!

Genting Trip

How can we forget about the excitement on the antique car ride lol

Amanda and Benjamin's first swimming lesson

Seriously, nice work Boon Teck!

www.edwintcg.com
Malaysia Wedding Photographer

Link for more details.

Due to wedding job assignment on both days, I only manage to attend 1st half day of the event which I miss out a lot of fun and sharing later on. Nevertheless, I am glad I join the event in the morning and met all the awesome photographers and videographers who are eager to share their experiences without any reservation.

After a fun ice breaking session where everyone is looking for the signature on self nude portrait photographer,Fiona was the 1st speaker and share her gears in her ThinkTank Airport Security with us. LOL, that was really a poison one… Later on, Ian invited Fiona, Jon Low and myself as the panel on his discussion, “To be or not To Be” discussion about whether one should turn into full time photographers like Fiona and Jon or remain as part timer like Ian and myself.

Sametime, Kris from WeddingsMalaysia and Dennis from PrettyinWhite were giving talk on the other sessions.

It was a fun and good experience for me and glad to see so many photographers and videographers who are willing to share their experiences and thoughts in this industry. It really offer a great help and clearer path for those beginners.

Ian for registration

Andy who know exactly what tee size for all participants without them telling lol

Grace, one of the important person behind ShootFest

Me, holding my dream lens, lol, Zach, i still love my 85mm f1.2

Joseph with his POISON D3!

Kee Sitt

Mun Keat and Zach Chin, "twittering before the event kick start"

Kris from WeddingsMalaysia

Jon Low

Fiona, LOL, this is how participants enjoying the meeting

Dennis, PrettyinWhite

New Proto Type Camera from Andy

The tallest photographer I hv ever meet so far- Andy Chin

www.edwintcg.com
Malaysia Wedding Photographer

Here it goes for mine beside the standard applications that come with by Maxis:

Sort by frequent of usage

• Twitterrific - use this almost hourly if i am off from the Pc/Laptop
• Facebook- My 2nd Priority after Twitter
• Black & White Chess (Games)- Leusire time to challenge my brain juice. Hard Level is too easy
• Strait Times- Important for news
• Wikipanion
• HeavyMach (Games) -Just bomb bomb bomb!
• 400 Sounds- Just to annoy someone
• Light Saber- A funny tool, iphone act as light saber, swing with sound effect and best of all, with background music
• FGT Lite (Games)- Ferrari Racing Game for My Benjamin
• RhinoBall (Games)- Funny and hard to control
• Special Ops (Games)
• Time Crisis (Games)
• BSkies (Games)
• Cooking Mama (Games)- ??? for my Amanda
• Star War Unleashed (Games)
• ifighter (Games)- Good old classic game for me and my Benjamin
• FishFrenzy (Games)
• Toilet Trainer (Games)- How to aim the toilet bowl.lol.. if u think this is easy? try it out !!!
• Choco Shop (Games)- For my Amanda
• iTalk
• Y!Music
• Poses Vol 3- Good for posing reminder
• WordWeb
• Pandora Box
• Dictionary- You never know when you need one
• iTranslate- You never know when you need one
• Pac Man (Games)
• Penguin (Games)- funny penguin use themselve as weapon to attack polar bear
• A+ Burger Shop (Games)
• Fairies Lite (Games)
• Anti Mosquito- Never know if it works, it say release sound which we, human ear cant hear but can chase away mosquito
• iDare (Games)- Lame game for lame people like me sometimes lol
• Currency- Important for travel
• Chinese Calendar
• Skype

www.edwintcg.com