Adi Aizuddin - Photography Blog

Dira Abu Zahar & Helmi

2011-11-30T01:14:00.001+08:00

A photo assignment under 8Tahun Studio in collaboration with Qarmastura Wedding and Events at Merlimau, Melaka. A great experience shooting a TV celebrity. Photos below:

Merlimau, Melaka

Post-Wedding @ SMK Jalan 3

2011-11-08T07:59:00.000+08:00

An impromptu post-wedding shoot at SMK Jalan 3; where the newlyweds first met each other, sweet huh? Too bad there were no old school green board (the ones with chalks), I had so many ideas to execute, but was only possible with a green board. Not to mention the poor lighting, since it was an unplanned shoot, I didn't bring any of my strobe set up. But the shoot must go on....here's a few shots from the session.

SMK Jalan 3, Bandar Baru Bangi

Sneak Peak..

2011-11-05T10:16:00.003+08:00

Sneak peak of next post..

Getting Ready

2011-11-04T14:16:00.001+08:00

I love natural light~

Bandar Baru Bangi, Selangor

MMU 12th Convocation 2011

2011-10-20T01:03:00.001+08:00

Woah 5 months without any updates...my apologize for that, I've been too busy with photo assignments and killer deadlines. So expect a whole bundle of posts coming to recover back what this blog has been missing.

Lets start with this one, MMU 12th Convocation!

Pika Push!

2011-04-04T05:42:00.002+08:00

Sorry can't resist, too cute..

see more Gifs

Re-Designing

2011-04-03T05:34:00.000+08:00

Sorry if my blog seems 'naked' at the moment. I'm trying to redesign everything after some error with my previous script. I never knew HTML, CSS & Javascript could be so hard!...I'm a Finance major, capisce?

Taking it nice and easy...

Minum Petang

2011-04-02T05:10:00.005+08:00

Experimenting with tones, a big thanks to Zhikun for the color combination ;)

I'm still looking for that creamy warm sunshine kind of tone though, if you know how to do it, or know a link somewhere, please drop a comment please, I've been trying to get that tone for ages!

Starbucks Alamanda, Putrajaya

Stock Photos

2011-03-17T20:51:00.005+08:00

Stock photography is the supply of photographs licensed for specific uses. It is used to fulfill the needs of creative assignments instead of hiring a photographer -Wiki

I've just started doing stock photography and all I have to say is it's easy money. I have earned USD100 (RM300+/-) in a few months for selling just a few images on several stock photo websites. Even though that isn't a huge amount, but that is just the income from 2 photos! Can you imagine if I uploaded 100 images? Wohohoo...

Its quite easy to start, all you need to do is register as a contributor, then you're good to go! Well there is some strict criteria that you have to follow (base on the website), but that's just a minor setback from the easy money you can gain ;).

Stock photos require high technical level in terms of color, definition and lighting. The image must also contain good commercial concepts, marketable good composition and so on. I usually use good lighting equipments (strobe, softbox, light tent) for this kind of photos, but you don't necessarily need top of the line equipment for good stock photos. The below examples, all I used was 1 speedlite, a cheap trigger, a good sturdy tripod, and some props. I'm not that good in food styling, so bear with me ;).

f/8 - f/16

100-200s

ISO 100

Flash 45 degrees on left side at 1/2 - 1/8

Easy huh? now instead of just storing those photos in your hard drive, why don't you upload it and earn some $$$! Give it a try!

Hareez's B'day

2011-03-16T01:47:00.000+08:00

A few snapshots from Hareez's Surprise B'day...

Lighting Up

2011-03-08T03:39:00.000+08:00

A souvenir from Ana! Its a mosaic/ottoman/turkish lamp~ Gives a good ambiance to my room~

Still Learning

2011-03-04T15:49:00.000+08:00

The past 3 years as a freelance/hobbyist photographer (seriously that is; minus the school days) has taught me a LOT of amazing things. Things that you can only experience yourself, and not through books or other technical stuff you can find on the net. But I'll only mention the photography side of things, since this is a photography blog right? So here fellow photographers are some of the things that I learned (not in any particular order):

1. ALWAYS bring your camera; doesn't necessarily have to be a DSLR

2. Take peoples opinions into consideration, but just use it as a guideline

3. Open both eyes when looking through the viewfinder, close one when your ready to push the shutter

4. Carry your camera proudly...ignore haters, haters gonna hate anyway..

5. Unless its a commissioned job, leave the extra gears at home

6. When in doubt, just use E-TTL/ I-TTL

7. Noise is better than blur...bump the ISO

8. Focus more on taking photos, not your gears..

9. Don't make excuses, make use of what gear you have and situation that you're in

10. Their photography style is great, but yours is better.

11. Be friendly

12. Stop reading those online notes, go out and shoot more!

13. Try a different angle, crouching is nice, lying down is better..

14. Get closer

15. Don't push the delete button, those 'accidental' shots could be a gem

16. The end result is what matters

17. Stop worrying about your shutter count, just shoot

18. Respect peoples privacy, if they do not want their photos taken, don't..

19. Bring an extra battery and memory card, its light, just toss it in your bag

20. Don't get too comfortable, try something different!

Well this is just what I can think of right now, I'll add on some more later on...I'm still learning~

Killing Time

2011-02-28T14:55:00.004+08:00

Men talk of killing time, while time quietly kills them. -Dion Boucicault

I had a very unproductive week; all I did was watch TV, eat pizza, have coffee, and take afternoon naps. I need to go out more (-_-")....

The Cobbler

2011-02-25T18:07:00.002+08:00

Adrian and I were walking down the streets of Seremban when we met this cobbler. At first he was a bit uneasy with our presence. I don't blame him, 2 guys with huge DSLRs can be really intimidating. Since I don't know how to speak Cantonese, Adrian did all the talking. The cobbler tought that we were from the PRESS, then Adrian tried to explain that we were actually doing this just for our hobby. He couldn't understand how photography can be a hobby ;P. Well after trading a few jokes, he was glad to pose for us.

Streets of Seremban, Negeri Sembilan

Walking around Seremban

2011-02-24T09:47:00.001+08:00

Bandar Seremban, Negeri Sembilan

Market on a Sunday

2011-02-23T03:38:00.001+08:00

Pasar Besar Seremban, Negeri Sembilan

Jalan T.A.R

2011-02-08T06:09:00.000+08:00

Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman, Kuala Lumpur

Grain

2011-02-01T03:47:00.000+08:00

The huge impact that film grain can give to a photo is truly amazing...

What I've been up to these few weeks...

2011-01-30T05:49:00.001+08:00

Damn busy with assignments, projects and exams...not to mention photo assignments...I need more time!

Babies again...

2011-01-08T09:54:00.003+08:00

Last weekend, I did a photoshoot for Mom's Little Ones. It was a tiring, but extremely fun 2 hour shoot. I always accept photoshoots with anyone under the age of 2 as a challenge; working with kids is never easy. Its all about timing, patience and....patience. The baby is the boss, YOU have to follow their timing and their mood. If they say its lunch time, then its lunch time dammit! So if you have a shoot with kids/toddlers/babies, be prepared...be well prepared ;)

PS: Recently I notice that I had a lot of opportunities shooting babies. I have another shoot with MORE babies in a few weeks time.....is it a sign?

MyCats 2010

2010-12-25T05:10:00.004+08:00

A few weeks ago I went to the Malaysia International Cat Show 2010 in PICC Putrajaya. I never knew there was such an event in Malaysia until Ana informed me about the ad she saw online. So as a cat lover myself, this is an event I can't miss!

The event was quite OK. A LOT of cats, British Shorthairs, Scottish Folds, Persians, Sphynxs, and others. But I was a little disappointed though, there were no Munchkins (my favorite breed) around :( . Other than that, the event isn't that photographer friendly; no flash photography allowed since it might scare/distract the cats when they are being evaluated by the judges. LNo biggie, luckily I have a FF and a 2.8 lens ;)...

Not many photos since I went there right after an akikah photoshoot in Seremban and most of my CF cards were already full.

A British Shorthair being comforted by his owner

Another British Shorthair relaxing on his grooming section

A Maine Coon, a very big cat! (focus on the cat, not Elmo)

A proud owner holding his cat. (any cat expert can verify what species it is?)

Ribbon awards

PS: I talked to one of the owners there and asked how much does her cat cost. She simply said "RM12,000" like it was nothing..And that does not include the monthly costs! Damn, I can buy 2 'L's with that kind of money...But judging by the Coach/Gucci and Rolex they were wearing, I dont think money is an issue for these owners (-.-").

Majlis Bercukur Jambul & Akikah -Cinta-

2010-12-14T14:59:00.003+08:00

My first time covering such event, I'll just post some from hundreds of pics here. She's adorable huh? and quite lively too. Its so hard to take her photo, she wont stay still! But I had great time covering the event. Owh and I love her name, Cinta~.

Oopps....My bad

2010-12-12T04:07:00.000+08:00

I was in the car with my dad, looking for a parking space in a mall. My dad was driving very slow, constantly looking right and left trying to find an empty parking space (Saturdays, pfft). Trying to be smart/tech-savvy/what eva shit, I pointed to the light indicators on the ceiling:

"Ayah, do you know the function of the lights on each parking space? Green means its available (empty space) and red means its already taken (car parked). So you don't have to drive so slow, just look at the lights~"

My dad gave a good stare at me; the kind when I did/said something wrong and he wants me to figure it out myself....and that's when it hit me.....

My dad's color blind...Sorry! My bad! :(

Pool Date

2010-11-30T16:03:00.001+08:00

Yup, and she's quite good at it...

Mines Shopping Mall, Seri Kembangan

Cross-Processed

2010-11-21T01:11:00.003+08:00

"A smile is a curve that sets everything straight." -Phyllis Diller

Just trying out some heavy processing, not my normal workflow..btw, can you see me? hehe

Just Hanging

2010-11-14T23:30:00.003+08:00

An-Naz Maju, Cyberjaya

Alley King

2010-11-14T19:39:00.001+08:00

"Every city in the world always has a gang, a street gang, or the so-called outcasts." -Jimi Hendrix

Natural

2010-11-11T03:33:00.002+08:00

"Beauty is not in the face; beauty is a light in the heart" -Kahlil Gibran

ps: she's trying not to squint her eyes; strong sunlight behind me...

Acap's 22nd

2010-11-10T04:56:00.002+08:00

A photographers nightmare; low light venue, mixed lights, and no speedlite/flash to save the day. That's exactly what I faced when covering Acap's surprise birthday party at The Social, Bangsar. Since I do not have a speedlite at that time, I had to push up my ISO to 3200-6400 and used f/2.8 throughout the party, and still I was just getting 1/25s-1/40s. My hands aren't that steady, so those shutter speeds can be a real challenge. However some photos turned out well despite the slow shutter speeds.

Even though I had to use such high ISOs, the noises aren't that noticeable. I guess this is when a full frame sensor comes in handy. I'm just glad that this isn't a commissioned job. Note to self, always bring a flash if you don't know the condition of the venue.

Some outdoor shots~

To the birthday boy, Happy 22nd Birthday bro, hope you are always happy in your everyday life and may you have a long and prosper life ahead.

Balloons~

2010-11-05T03:29:00.002+08:00

I was looking through my archives and found an unnamed folder hiding in another folder (-.-"). I guess I accidentally moved the file into it. Well these were taken during the Putrajaya Hot Air Balloon in March 2010. The first day was great; beautiful skies, strong natural light, but since I went there quite late (6pm) and the place was already packed, I decided to spend the remaining time I had left in the carnival nearby. Well that was a huge mistake; it was cloudy the next day :(. However I did go for the 'finale' at night. It was ok~ but I wished I had a wider lens. 24mm is hard to work with on a crop body.

Blue-Green

2010-10-31T06:28:00.003+08:00

Colmar Tropicale, Bukit Tinggi, Pahang

Post-Valuation Syndrome

2010-10-26T04:00:00.001+08:00

It's weird that until now, I am no where near satisfied with the outcome of my photos. Every time I self-filter my photos, it goes like this:

Chimping phase = "Wow this is great, can't wait to see it on my laptop"

Transferring phase = "Woah looks way better on my laptop!"

Editing phase = "Hmm, i suck at this"

Final outcome = "Tadaaaa! A masterpiece!"

The following day = "Owh man I took this? this sucks!"

I call it Post-Valuation Syndrome (-_-"). If I take down photos that have errors in them, my blog would be empty. However I'm taking this as a base for me to strive better in photography; never give up, never surrender. I just wish that I had more time to practice and take my photography to another level. I rarely have time to pick up my DSLR, let alone take photos :( . I should start a project, a 365 maybe?

Those Scones

2010-10-15T00:58:00.004+08:00

An impromptu trip to Cameron Highlands was what I needed after a long semester. I had an urge to go all the way there after reading an online article on how great the scones were at a place called Cameronian Inn. The next morning I woke up at 10am and called Ana:

Me: You wanna go to Cameron Highlands? :D

Ana: When?

Me: NOW!

We departed at 11am and reached there at about 2pm. After dropping by the must visit locations (tea plantations), we headed to our main destination, Cameronian Inn. The place was not what I expected; its more to a guesthouse than a real Inn. We were greeted by the friendly hostess/owner where she showed us the dining area. We made our order; 2 homemade scones and tea. All I can say is that it was the best scones I had in my entire life :).

After satisfying our taste buds, we went back on the road for another 2-3 hour drive back home (-_-"). But if you ask me if I'm going to drive all the way there again to have the same scones and tea? HELL YEAH!

Adventures of Miss Container Head!

2010-10-14T00:56:00.002+08:00

I dared her to wear the container throughout IKEA....and she wore it proudly till the cashier counter :D...

IKEA, Damansara

Different View

2010-10-11T15:05:00.002+08:00

Things are sometimes not what they seem to be. Try to see it from a different perspective, you might see something that you would not expect at all.

Pullman Putrajaya

Fullhouse

2010-10-07T13:03:00.002+08:00

My internship with EPF for the last 3 months was a real pain in my social life. I had to wake up before 6am to go to work, and by the time I got back home at 6-7pm, I would be too tired to do anything else. Not to mention it was also during the fasting month (-_-"). I even had to sacrifice my cinema outings with the guys! My weekly date/food sessions with Ana was also put on hold since she too was doing her internship. So now everything's done; its time to continue where we left off :P. FOOOOOOOD!!!

Check out the straw, awsm...

The mushroom soup was a bit sweet, I prefer mine to be on the salty side.

Ana had chicken chop

I settled for the dory, not bad...I love the puree

Now that its back to student life in a few weeks, more food sessions coming soon~

Gardens

2010-10-06T10:51:00.005+08:00

"In every man's heart there is a secret nerve that answers to the vibrations of beauty" -Christopher Morley

Gardens, The Curve

4 a.m

2010-10-04T05:59:00.005+08:00

"I often think that the night is more alive and more richly colored than the day" -Vincent Van Gogh

There were no strobist setup for this shot, taken only with available light from the ceiling fluorescent light.

Oldtown Cyberjaya

Intriguing

2010-10-02T13:19:00.002+08:00

Don't go, its a trap!

1 Malaysia

2010-10-02T03:34:00.001+08:00

I found this interesting mural near Pasar Seni LRT station, Kuala Lumpur. I told Ben to pose with it, but the shot looked boring. I asked him to do something else; and this is what he did..

Pasar Seni LRT Station, Kuala Lumpur

Suprise!

2010-10-01T11:11:00.001+08:00

J3 BBQ and Reunion - Laila's suprise birthday

Bandar Baru Bangi, Azrie's place

What's taking them so long??

2010-09-26T01:20:00.002+08:00

Chillis, One Utama

Sorrow

2010-09-11T01:01:00.003+08:00

While we are celebrating Eid ul-Fitr with our families and friends, someone out there is celebrating it alone on the streets. While we are feasting on delicious food, someone is begging from passersby to fill their empty stomach. While we celebrate with new clothes and shoes, someone is wearing the same shirt for months. While we celebrate in the comfort of our homes, someone is desperately sheltering themselves from the cold rain.

Even though Eid ul-Fitr is the time for us to be happy and to have a good time; let us not forget of the unfortunate individuals out there striving for survival.

Going around KL pt. 2 (Raya Eve)

2010-09-10T05:24:00.002+08:00

I went to Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman and Jalan Masjid India with Ana for some last minute Eid al-Fitr shopping. As expected, the place was still packed with last minute shoppers and people who are waiting for stock clearance bargains by traders. Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman and Jalan Masjid India is known for its wide range of fabric and textile shops located within the area. Therefore, every year during Ramadan, people looking for Malay traditional attire like the kebaya and baju melayu; will go there to purchase these items with a very low price. The Ramadan bazaar which is held every year is also a main attraction.

There is a lot of photography opportunities there especially during this time of year; human interactions, colors and just the environment is enough to excite any photographer (or is it just me?). But I wasn't in my 'shooting' mode as I was tired from fasting and was more focused to get a baju melayu for myself. However I did manage to get some shots; I just cant resist the urge :P.

If you plan to go for an outing there next year, my only advise is to come prepared. The place is full of people and sometimes you have to do the 'penguin walk' to get around the place. I also advise to wear some loose clothing since it can get a little steamy with all the people gathering and of course the Malaysian heat! Another thing is to watch out for pickpockets. Be aware of your surroundings and avoid straying to desolated areas to avoid unnecessary misfortunes; i.e robbery. The last thing you want is to loose your gear in such manner.

HDR?

2010-09-07T01:25:00.001+08:00

I don't get it whats up with the sudden HDR craze, yeah I know it looks cool and all, but do you really need to HDR process EVERYTHING? Seriously, not all photos look good in HDR. Sheesh!

Sorry just need to get that out...

Muted

2010-08-28T00:53:00.002+08:00

Well I've been busy with my internship till I just can't find time to do the things that I love; go to the cinemas, hang out with the guys, coffee sessions, and of course photography.

My semester break is going to start in a few weeks, so till then I have to focus on some more important 'stuffs'. I cant wait to abuse my underutilized DSLR...

Whispers

2010-08-25T09:28:00.007+08:00

Even though the devil/shaitan is chained up during Ramadhan, that doesn't mean we are free from committing sins. Let's just hope our 'nafs' are strong enough to go through this holy month.

Ramadhan Kareem everyone!

Post-Surgery

2010-08-21T00:40:00.004+08:00

My doctor gave me a 1 week leave after my surgery. So after a few days, my wounds were starting to heal and I needed some fresh air; so Ben and I decided to go around KL to take some photos. Even though I was going against what my doctor said (not to go out!); feeling the sunlight and morning breeze was exactly what I needed. A week of pain and painkillers is a real bummer.

Shot taken at KLCC Park, Kuala Lumpur.

Lost

2010-08-13T17:01:00.004+08:00

Opposites

2010-08-13T11:57:00.004+08:00

This was taken during a Christmas Eve photo outing with my 2 photog housemates (Ben & Jong) in 2009. The cute girl was actually posing for her mother/sister. So I took advantage and composed Ben in the shot as well.

Pavillion, Kuala Lumpur

No Rules

2010-08-09T23:32:00.004+08:00

Photography?

2010-08-05T01:36:00.005+08:00

I received a private message on a public forum asking me what gear I was using.

"Hi, may I know what lens you are using for the 'Vintage Japan' set? I want to take a photo just like that!"

Sometimes I get a little annoyed when people ask me these questions. It gets more annoying when they are actually phrasing my camera/lens for any photos that I take. I understand the enthusiasm of some photographers, but please stop being such a gearhead. Yes I know that a camera or lens plays a huge role in the quality of a photo, but that doesn't mean that is the MAIN reason.

If someone has a Canon 1D mark IV or a Nikon D3, that doesn't mean he/she can take remarkable photos instantly. That person still has to learn the fundamentals of photography and of course the in and outs of his/her camera. In another case, a person with a strong knowledge in photography can still take a beautiful photo with just a simple point and shoot. I admit the gear a person use can determine a good photo, but I strongly believe the person behind the camera is much more important. Think about it :)

Talk to the damn french fries!

2010-08-03T00:19:00.003+08:00

What's french fries if its singular?

Gaya Street pt. 2

2010-08-02T11:10:00.005+08:00

So much things to see here, so many people from all over the world.....I must say its a photographers haven, just wished I was using a prime at that time.

Gaya Street pt. 1

2010-08-02T00:17:00.004+08:00

Taken at Gaya Street, Sabah during my vacation there. Back to my birthplace :)

Going around KL pt. 1

2010-07-22T00:50:00.001+08:00

KL Shadow

2010-07-15T11:43:00.003+08:00

Pasar Seni LRT station, Kuala Lumpur..

Death

2010-07-12T00:18:00.007+08:00

Death....its sometimes beautiful..

Natural light, shot at home..

Petronas Twin Towers B&W

2010-07-11T00:19:00.004+08:00

KLCC, Kuala Lumpur

Ana's 22nd

2010-06-20T02:43:00.010+08:00

It was Ana's 22nd birthday last week; and the fact that we were all young adults, I think surprise parties weren't suitable for us anymore...but I didn't say anything bout surprise dinner didn't I? Everything went as planned; she didn't expect anything from us and was fairly surprised when we entered The Apartment. A big thank you to my housemate Hareez and Ana's new housemate Tina for helping me arranging and organizing the dinner. Special thanks to Saufi, Ben and Afiq for coming, couldn't have done it with out you guys...thank you!

The Apartment, KLCC

Tilt & Shift Midvalley

2010-05-28T02:42:00.003+08:00

Another busy weekend in another mega mall...tilt and shift try out.

Midvalley Megamall, Petaling Jaya

Cameron Vintage

2010-05-28T01:48:00.003+08:00

Sg.Palas Tea Plantation, Cameron Highlands

Paintball HDR

2010-05-20T01:25:00.006+08:00

Paintball photo shoot with my team mates.

Raptor Paintball Club

Tanah Merah Paintball Park, Sg. Besi

Serene

2010-05-18T17:35:00.004+08:00

I did a mini photo shoot with Ana after our exams. It was in the middle of the day and was extremely hot. But somehow Ana managed to give this beautiful smile as if the weather didn't bother her at all.

Talent: Ana

Water Lily

2010-05-18T17:18:00.009+08:00

I was having my lunch when this beautiful water lily caught my eye. It was odd that it was in a drainage and I guess it grew there naturally. Luckily I brought my DSLR...

Vintage Japan

2010-05-18T16:39:00.009+08:00

Talent: Ana

I tried a new vintage post processing to go with the Japanese theme photo shoot.

Japanese Tea Garden, Bukit Tinggi

Masquerade

2010-05-18T16:30:00.007+08:00

I accidentally left my speedlite at home and I needed a light source for this low key shot. So i improvised by using the light from a LCD monitor by placing the model a few inches away from it.

Reverse L

2010-05-18T11:10:00.011+08:00

Reverse L

Campus

2010-05-18T10:58:00.008+08:00

Some shots taken during a photo shoot for MMU yearbook. Me and the participants had a great time, as you can see from those photos above :)

Multimedia University, Cyberjaya

Black on Black

2010-05-18T01:34:00.006+08:00

Well by now you must know that I like cats. So here's another one....in b&w

Green Eyes

2010-05-18T01:21:00.008+08:00

I was having a meal with my mother when this little guy started to meow under our table. It had one of the most beautiful green eyes I ever saw, just had to take a photo of it.

Restaurant ZnI, Bandar Baru Bangi

Street Abstract

2010-05-18T01:14:00.006+08:00

Some shots taken from my street outing.

Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Bored

2010-05-18T01:07:00.008+08:00

It was almost 3am and I was still wide awake. I was alone in my hotel room as my friends went out partying....a bad time to have a fever...

Concorde Hotel, Shah Alam

Running Away

2010-05-18T00:27:00.017+08:00

The orange one was trying to get away from me as his brother takes a peek through the fences...

Taken with a 50mm at f/1.8