Yay, I got a rubbish bag that can win me prizes!

Yay, I got a rubbish bag that can win me prizes!, originally uploaded by shianghan27.

Hello everybody!!

Since I'll be starting work a bit later, decided to blog about this photo for today.. Taken at the NDP preview I attended, its a school girl posing with the rubbish bag they gave us inside our funpacks that can win us prizes! Guess I like the lighting and the flag drawn on her face plus her smile of course!!

Got some photoshop books from PixSync yesterday and will be learning some new tricks and so on for the next week or so.. Part 2 of my GF's gradshoot will be at the Esplanade area at night!! Hope it doesn't rain!! :)

Changes in plans

Well, Pix Sync actually got back to me about my starting date.. Will be starting on 1st Sept instead.. :) This is because their current intern wants to extend her internship.. so i'll be working with them ad hoc first.. and trying to improve my photoshop skills mainly i guess.. Last month of non-working life I guess!! :)

Sorry!

Hey people..

Sorry i haven't been posting the past 3 days.. too many things happening!! Went to the Garden Festival on Friday, spent maybe 4 hours taking photos till my wrist ached (i think my camera is too small for me to grip comfortably..) then on saturday i went to my GF's house to spend time with her, and unfortunately checked the 2004 website for the Guiness 9-ball Pool tournament (why is it number one on google??) so when i went to Novena Square there was nobody there!! Worse of all I told Ray that there was a match and he and Nic turned up.. Sorry ah!! But they were quite nice about it and we went to have some fruits!! Thanks Nic!! Then on Sunday, I did my first ever photoshoot of my GF and her 2 sec school friends in their grad gowns.. one from NUS, one from NTU, and one from SMU.. took them to Orchard, Bukit Timah Campus to take photos, some standard, others more interesting!! And I had to get new clothes for my job!! Starting on Thursday! Hope I can make it!! So when I have time to finish processing my photos I'll put them up k..

One more thing, I think a photo a day might not work out anymore.. So a photo when I can k!

Warrior of the Seas

Warrior of the Seas, originally uploaded by shianghan27.

Hi everyone!!

Well, I got good news and I got bad news.. The bad news is: my days of slacking are over! The good news is: I got a job!! As a photographer with Pix Sync!! :)

I start my probation period next thursday!! Quite happy because I think I will learn not only photographic skills but also business skills at the same time! Which will be useful later on in life definitely!

Yup, this photo is taken once again at NDP NE show, and is part of the performances.. They feature like the first few settlers coming to Singapore in their boats.. And I like the use of the light to create shadows on the sail.. Also guess this photo aptly accompanies the start of my journey into the working world! :)

Sediiiii----A!

Sediiiii----A!, originally uploaded by shianghan27.

What would an NDP be if it didn't have a parade segment right? This photo is of the Commando Guard of Honour Contigent.. The elite soldiers of the SAF..

Yup, nothing much else to say.. The Singapore Garden Show is tomorrow!! and I got a free pass to go in!! Hope to take lots of nice photos of flowers, both of the arrangements and hopefully some nice flower macro too.. :)

I so need to get a job.. Read in the papers today about Liza's plight.. MOE didn't pay her!! For 2 months leh.. how can like that!! haha.. (did you get paid or not huh, I'm guessing only..)

had a marathon pool session with Ray on tuesday, 28 games in total.. We were supposed to play first to 5 games.. I won the first set 5-2, he won the next set 5-0 (dunno what happened!!) then the last set we drew at 4-4, so play on, 5-5, 6-6, 7-7 before I finally succumbed and lost 9-7!! Good one Ray! :)

hello!

Hey people,

sorry i missed posting yesterday.. anyway, took quite a while to edit and to make an animated .gif file.. which cannot be played on blogger or in flickr.. sigh!

Going for an interview tmr!! will let you all know how it turns out ya?

watched a video given by a dying man today.. check it out at Carnegie Mellon, just google Randy Pausch.. Quite a long video, but I enjoyed it and was very touched by it!! Its the last lecture he's giving in his life.. I mean, he knows he has terminal cancer, but his view of life is great!! and he's achieved quite a lot..

Colour in the Rain

Colour in the Rain, originally uploaded by shianghan27.

Hey hey..

Went for the National Day Parade rehearsals for the National Education program (which meant for the Pri. 5 kids)..

Yup, the weather was seriously not good at all.. started raining before we even got there.. and continued till just before the pre-parade segment started.. Then it stopped (luckily) but the clouds were still there (which meant dull colours and not enough light).. But still weather aside, it was fun!! Thanks to Liza for giving me the tickets.. My GF appreciates it a lot too!!

The problem with taking photos that day was mainly one of light.. The overcast sky made everything seem gloomy.. and it was not even 5pm yet.. So we made do i guess.. this is the first of the photos.. taken right at the end actually.. I took it using my GF's camera.. haha.. so she sent it to me first.. Haven't downloaded my own yet (kinda no space on laptop hard disk)..

Yup, because of the rain, the colourful lights really stand out and i kinda like colour.. so here it is.. haha..

Thanks for reading.. and more to come (once i clear some space on my comp..)

The past and the present.. Time zooms by, but some things remain..

The past and the present.. Time zooms by, but some things remain.., originally uploaded by shianghan27.

Hi all..

Been quite busy sending out resumes lately.. so haven't gotten new photos except for my GF's commencement ones which i can't put up unfortunately.. so here's an old one from Rome!

The coliseum.. Marvel of architecture in its day, ruin now but still gorgeous.. Deliberately walked around the whole thing just to find the right angle and decided that this spot in the middle of the road was the angle i wanted!! talk about interesting and daring huh..

Hope you like this one!!

Apsara Dancer

Apsara Dancer, originally uploaded by shianghan27.

Hi all..

Just received an email from Nikon Club Singapore, where I sent in some photos previously.. They want to use one of my photos for a Calendar.. Unfortunately, part of the Terms and Conditions stated that I granted them the right to do so with regards to Nikon Club. So I won't get paid for it. But hey, its going to be published somewhere right?? So I am quite happy about that..

Still looking for a job!! Sigh.. This is hard work..

Well, this girl is from Siem Reap, and she's doing the traditional dance called Apsara.. Apsara actually means Heavenly Nymphs.. And they are used in decorations at Angkor Wat and the other temples.. In Angkor Wat, the Apsaras there on the walls have 36 different hairstyles.. haha.. Interesting right??

Yup, so this was taken in a restaurant, Dead Fish, where the girls dance every night and its free.. Her foot was blocked by a stage light.. so i just left it out of the photo..

Photo competitions to join!! Will be entering a few.. The prize of a D300 is a major major draw!! If i win it, I'll start free lancing as a photographer straight away!! :):)

Wish me luck!!!

Sitting Pretty

Sitting Pretty, originally uploaded by shianghan27.

Hey people..

This is a year old photo taken in Switzerland.. When we stayed in the little village of Gimmelwald in a Barn.. Yes, a barn, where the cows sleep in the winter.. So as you can imagine, it was smelly at first.. but you get used to it after a while.. and surprisingly comfortable to sleep on a blanket over hay.. haha..

Anyway, this photo earned me a S$115 when I sold the right to use it to a Russian Company for a year.. interesting eh..

Like to shout out a huge Congratulations to my GF and her friends who graduated yesterday with Honours!! :)

Ta Prohm

Ta Prohm, originally uploaded by shianghan27.

Hey people..

Here's a look into Ta Prohm.. the most distinctive feature of a temple totally claimed by the forest.. Also the site of the Tomb Raider movie.. haha.. Basically, this temple showcases the power of the forest to reclaim their land.. The roots of these huge trees just crumble solid rock, push down whole walls and just become one with the temple.. Simply Amazing!

This was a special place for me because this was where Liza called me to ask if I graduated.. haha.. I had totally forgotten to check my results.. Luckily and strangely, there was reception at this particular temple.. so while watching people take photos with that huge tree in the centre, I smsed NUS for the results and with great trepidation opened it to see that I, Lim Shiang Han, had accumulated 120 credits!! I graduated!!! haha.. so happy lor!!

My Graduation Day!!!

My graduation Day, originally uploaded by shianghan27.

Well, i promised graduation photos.. but in sad reality, I dun have very many.. all of the good photos are probably with Chee Tat!!!!!!!!! sooo, here's what i have, one taken with me and my parents after the ceremony.. don't you think we all look happy??

Well, the scroll my dad's holding is empty.. the folder my mom is holding contains two pieces of paper, one of my degree, the other of my transcripts.. each of those pieces of paper costs like maybe $10,000.. haha.. expensive right?? So i am really very grateful to my parents who paid for my education!!

Thank you Dad! Thank you Mom!

Offerings

Offerings, originally uploaded by shianghan27.

Hi all!!

I am now a GRADUATE!! haha.. thats what it says on my scroll!! Since 30th June actually.. Well, I guess maybe a better photo would be one taken yesterday, but I dun really have nice ones yet.. Hmmm, yesterday's Commencement ceremony was quite boring.. sitting there watching other people go on stage is boring.. haha.. but luckily it went by faster than their estimated time..

I think wearing the graduation gown and mortar board looks quite cool! Felt really really happy to graduate.. Also very grateful to my Parents who not only paid for my education, but also supported me when I needed help.. :) Also, thanks must go to my GF for her help in choosing modules, and her love and companionship!

Of course what would a thank you post without mentioning Ray and Liz, my two best friends in Physics.. Without them life would have been boring!! No pool with Ray, no crapping with Liz.. sigh.. Lectures would have been hell.. Quite sad to have to part ways with them.. but i think we'll be friends for life lah.. :):)

Special shout outs to all my friends who also graduated yesterday (in no particular order): Jian Kuan, Joel, Prashanth, Jun Ji, Zhi Wei, Sean, Chee Tat, Yi Xin and Liz... All the best in your future careers and endeavours!!

Okay, back to this photo.. something different right? This was in Luang Prabhang, when we went to visit the Pak Ou Caves.. This was a very long stair climb up during a heavy shower.. JIALAT!!! then the cave was so dark you couldn't really see all the buddhas they had inside very well also.. But anyway, they placed all the buddhas that were worn out or damaged in two caves.. Outside one of them was this table with this flower offerings on it.. So while waiting there for the rain to subside I took this photo of the offerings..

Guess what I like about it is the 3 flowers in front, which are quite nice.. yup.. anyway, stay tuned for Commencement photos!! Watch this space..

Taken with Nikon D40 + 70-300mm VR @ 220mm f5.6 1/30 iso800 EV+0.7

Street in Siem Reap

Street in Siem Reap, originally uploaded by shianghan27.

Hi everyone!

Today is the Big Day!! Its Graduation Day!! Going to wear that huge heavy and hot gown with the mortar board and get my degree today!! :)

Anyway, this photo is a street in Siem Reap, Cambodia.. it kinda reflects how hectic things really are over there.. not to mention how polluted the air is.. Somehow the photo's elements are interesting in a way..

Gotta go iron my gown for Commencement!! and where's my tie?

Black Knights @ Sunset

Black Knights @ Sunset, originally uploaded by shianghan27.

Took this photo on the rooftop of my GF's house on last Saturday.. they were circling around waiting for their time to enter the Parade.. So i took the opportunity to snap some photos!

They were quite far away when I took this one, so can't really zoom in to see the details, but what i like is the colour and the silhouette of the F16s.. Somehow it reassures me that we have these planes and pilots to protect us if need be..

I also felt this slight sense of sadness, because I kinda always wanted to fly in a fighter jet since i was a small kid.. haha.. but oh well..

Taken with Nikon D40 + 70-300mm VR @ 300mm f5.6 1/500 iso400

2 faces @ The Bayon

2 faces @ The Bayon, originally uploaded by shianghan27.

Well.. Back to the Bayon in Angkor.. This temple is famous for its faces on the spires.. :) Sending out resumes now.. thinking of getting a full time job while building a portfolio.. Will see how its goes.. :)

Taken with Nikon D40 + 70-300mm VR @ 165mm f5 1/1250 iso400

Common Tit

Common Tit, originally uploaded by shianghan27.

Another one of the butterflies i took in Telok Blangah.. This one is more intricate i guess.. the markings on the back end of the wing simulates the butterfly's eyes and the tails represent the feelers.. this is to fool its predators and possibly allow it to escape..

Took some photos yesterday at Sime Forest too.. Met my friend Wong and a new friend James who drove us there.. quite impossible to walk in there on your own.. Too bad the weather did not cooperate very much.. wanted to get a shot of the 5-bar Swordtail but couldn't.. oh well.. stay tuned!

Taken with Nikon D40 + 70-300mm VR + Canon 500D @ 195mm f10 1/320 iso800 flash fired

The Malayan

The Malayan, originally uploaded by shianghan27.

Hi..

Last tuesday i went on a dedicated butterfly photography shoot with a new friend from the Butterfly Circle forum.. He brought me to Telok Blangah Hill Park where we spent about 4 hours searching and taking photos of the elusive insects..

This little butterfly is called The Malayan (Megisba Malaya Sikkima). It is a small 1cm large butterfly that is not very easy to approach.. The best part was how my new friend could see it in the first place.. But thanks to him i managed to get a nice and rare photo of this butterfly..

Should be going for another shoot with another new friend tomorrow! Hope i get somemore beautiful shots.. :)

Taken with Nikon D40 + 70-300mm VR + Canon 500D @ 280mm f14 1/200 iso800 Flash Fired

Railing

Railing, originally uploaded by shianghan27.

Now, what's this you might be asking.. This is a railing at Angkor Wat.. haha.. What? Angkor wat.. Yup.. but why a railing? Well, for me I like this photo because this is a thousand year old railing that still has its carvings on it.. and yet, it has succumbed to time with the moss and lichen growing on it.. The lighting was soft sunlight at 5.30am in the morning and that makes the colours very rich and nice.. what do you think??

On another note, commencement is 1 week from today!! Can't wait.. To think that 3 years of my life has paid off with this degree in Physics.. Now if only i can find a job related to photography.. Hmmm..

Taken with D40 + 70-300mm VR @ 195mm f5.3 1/125 iso200

Angkor Morning - Changed WB

Angkor Morning - Changed WB, originally uploaded by shianghan27.

Hi!

been a bit busy lately, sorry for missing yesterday.. Here's Angkor Watt.. reflected in the lily pool.. For this photo i had to wake up at 4.30 in the morning, and I still missed the natural blue colour of the sunrise, as by the time we got there the orange/red part had started..

So i cheated! I changed my white balance setting to tungsten, which gave it this blue colour cast.. haha.. I really like blue, maybe it looks a bit fake.. but oh well, call this one a "creative" shot.. haha..

Taken with Nikon D40 + 18-70mm @ 31mm f6.3 1/125 iso200 WB-Tungsten