Wednesday Clicks

Posted on August 4, 2010 by Mark

It’s Wednesday, that means there can either be two things, one, you only have 2 more days before completing your work. Two, the weekend is almost at hand. When it is a Wednesday, this means it is time for a Wednesday Clicks!

I always suspected that a car wash business is actually good. Check out this one, he can charge up to $11,000 for a car wash!
You just got to love the chinese for doing what they can really do, copying off Apple’s product. Check out their website here and see it for yourself!
So after so many years in operations, Proton has decided to go back to the old drawing board and used Mitsubishi car designs for their next Waja replacement models. Are they not the least bit innovative or have they wasted so much money on useless R&D that sky rockets their costs up?
How do you use the iPad as a photographer’s helper? Check it out here.
I have always been trying to get my colleagues to head over to Lot 10 all the way from Cyberjaya to try their food. Although the journey is long, but I feel that it is worth it. Check out some of the delicious food here.
Don’t forget to vote for me and Mun Tzin here at the PJ Hilton competition! http://bit.ly/vote4mark

Have a great week ahead folks!

Wednesday Clicks

Posted on July 14, 2010 by Mark

Wednesday Clicks

There are Wednesdays and there are some Wednesdays. Monday was a zombie day for me as I was up all night watching the world cup. I think everyone in the office did the same as well. Anyway, it is Wednesday today which means that there is time for a Wednesday Clicks.

Ever tired of the Mac vs PC war going on out there amongst your friends? Well here are some bit of news to add more salt to those war wounds. Three Mac features I want on my next PC and Three PC features I want on my next Mac
Tokina announced the 16-28mm f/2.8 lens for both Nikon and Canon
If you think sending smses to oneself was dumb, try sending threatening smses to oneself and get sent to jail.
Spain won the world cup, boohoo! I hate divers
A new Star Wars Tower Defense is coming for the iPhone, woohoo!
Gordon Ramsay, the tough guy from Hell’s Kitchen actually cries. Check out this photographer who captured that image!
Photo Mechanic 4.6.5 is now available. Check out what is new with this version here. Download the file over here.
Fashion shoot using an iPhone 3Gs? Yup, someone has gone ahead and done just that.

Its so going to be a very very long week ahead!

World Refugee Day at KL Sentral

Posted on June 30, 2010 by Mark

A couple of weeks ago, I blogged about the World Refugee Day or sort of announced that it was going to take place at KL Sentral over the 19th and 20th of June. So, on the 19th of June, I decided to head over to KL Sentral to check out the World Refugee Day myself and I did have a bit of fun. What I am also pleased is that my photos also managed to be published here on the Nut Graph. Hopefully they will be able to make an impact and create more awareness about.

Here are some photos which I took when I was there. One of the things I noticed was that there was a huge crowd already gathering around the stage as there was a competition or quiz being held by the UNHCR folks. Basically the emcee will ask a question to the crowd and whoever can answer the question gets a prize.

The UNHCR have set up two booths or rather exhibitions for members of the public to enter in and view. One of them was called “Take a Minute to be a Refugee“. The exhibition provides a view of how a refugee lives by showing images of real refugee shelters look like. A good touch was that they also recreated a room where refugees normally would live in, and this isn’t some single room for a person but where up to 5 people might have to squeeze in and share. This really provided an up close perspective of how a refugee has to live even in our country.

WorldRefugeeDay Blog 019 World Refugee Day at KL Sentral

A visitor taking an image of the exhibition sign

There were plenty of stalls there where the refugees were able to sell some of their wares. I managed to get some items for Mun Tzin during the exhibition which made her very happy. Unfortunately, I only noticed that most of the tourists were the ones who were browsing through the stalls. My theory is that because of where the event was located, which was at the entrance of KL Sentral towards Le Meridien and KL Hilton, that is usually where tourists would walk by. As a local, when I disembarked from the LRT (yes, I took the Putra LRT from Taman Jaya), I couldn’t find where the exhibit was. Location does play a very important role but I am guessing because the locations where there is high traffic, businesses would have already paid the management of KL Sentral for.

Overall, I hope that the event manage to gain more awareness among the public and I even do hope that this blog post and my images will help create awareness amongst the public. This is UNHCR’s first public event on World Refugee Day so I really do hope that there will be more to come.

For more information about refugees, check out this site here.

Take a look at the rest of the images I took below.

: A security guard buys a drink at a vending machine whilst the refugee performers are waiting for their turn

: A visitor viewing the “Take a Minute to be a Refugee Exhibition”

: A visitor taking an image of the exhibition sign

: A huge crowd gathering around the stage listening to the UNHCR rep speaking

: Even the police were checking out the UNHCR booths

: People trying to catch the performances from upstairs in order to avoid the crowd

: A man stares deeply into the exhibition room

: A view of how a refugee lives

: A mum teaching her children about refugees

: A refugee performer plays the drum in front of the visitors

Cameron Highlands Portraiture Shoot

Posted on June 14, 2010 by Mark

Cameron Highlands has been a very nice and eventful place for me. Mainly because I can only remember going there twice when I was very young and the only eventful thing that occurred to me was that I bought cheap flowers there and the weather was quite cooling and there was a roti canai that was completely covered with flies!

You can find out more about Cameron Highlands in my other posts here and here.

Whilst I was there recently with my friends, I decided to bring some of my gears up to Camerons with me to take some portaiture shots at the tea plantations. Here are some of my favourite ones.

These shots were taken at the Boh Tea Plantation where it was quite difficult to drive in. Trust me, it is only a one way dirt road so I think this was where my car rims got bent when I was travelling through it. The view there was fantastic and I just loved the tea plantations.

On the way back from Camerons, we also passed by another tea plantation called Cameronian Valley and decided to snap more shots there as well.

And finally a group photo of us before heading down back to KL.

Sorry guys, I will pass you all the full set of photos soon ok? Organize a makan event and I can pass it to you all then.

Help your friend win a free portrait shoot!

Posted on May 11, 2010 by Mark

Now the title of this post says it all, instead of finding ways to always treat ourselves and making ourselves feel good by buying that really nice new gadget (hides in shame as I have been lusting for the iPad), lets do something different for a change, lets make that difference in someone’s life.

So, do you know of someone who would love to have their photo taken? It could be an engaged friend who wants amazing wedding portraits but cannot afford it. Or it could be the family living next door that has been contributing so much to society but just never had their family photograph taken. Or it could be a friend living with a terminal illness.

It’s up to you.

Tell me their story.

Contest Details:
1. Nominate a friend and write an email to (grace.tan [at] stories.my) explaining why this person / family / couple deserves a free shoot. It is up to you to be as creative as possible with your entries! Please attach a photo of your friend. If you don’t have a photo, you can create any kind of graphic with images or text and send it to me. The photo can be a web resolution photo. Please include the contact information of your friend (eg. phone number or email).

2. Every week, selected images and stories will be uploaded onto the Facebook Stories page. Invite your friends to ‘like’ your story.

3. The contest will end by 31 May 2010.

4. Judges from Stories.my will select the top 2 stories with consideration of the public votes. However, the number of ‘likes’ may not necessarily influence the final decision of the judges, who will decide based on story idea. Your nominated friend will win a 1 hour photography session with Stories.my. He/she will get all the photos on CD (printable up to 4R size) and one 15″ x 10″ matte photo print. Shoots are to happen within the month of June or July 2010 within the Klang valley.

Looking forward to hearing your stories!

For more information about the contest, head over to the following links below

Bobby and Rennie: A quick shoot

Posted on May 6, 2010 by Mark

I have to personally thank Nick for asking me to tag along with him during his portrait shoot with Bobby and Rennie. Nick was one of the participants of the recently held got Mojo? Camp organized by the crazy folks over at RedNinja (me included!) and I thought I could help him out and also offer to carry the reflector for him. He was also in the group that I was leading during the individual and group challenges.

The shoot was held at Pavillion, right at the heart of KL itself but it was early in the morning. Traffic heading there was pretty smooth and I was pleasantly surprised that the guards didn’t chase us away.

Here are some of the photos I took including some of the behind the scenes shots.

I managed to catch this moment when they were playing whilst Nick was packing up his stuff.

After staying under the hot sun and making everyone walk about from end to end, we all decided to head to Starbucks for a quick drink.

Bobby seems a little intrigued with Nick’s flash. Nick told him that he was a flasher!

Here are some of the behind the scenes photos.

I find Bobby’s expression priceless when Nick was trying to explain the pose.

Nick was really trying hard to blend in together with the taxi stand.

I was literally behind the scene for this shot. Funnily, the couple in front wasn’t Bobby and Rennie, they were just coming out of the toilet! Imagine their surprise when they saw Nick and Hsien Ming right in front of them like that. LOL.

Actually, this was the start of my labour day last Saturday. It’s Thursday everyone, have a great weekend ahead!

RedNinja.tv got Mojo? Camp

Posted on April 27, 2010 by Mark

Yes I didn’t manage to squeeze in a blog post last week. Why? Mainly I was busy with work, late teleconferences as well as preparing with the RedNinja.tv gang for the got Mojo? seminar and camp over the weekend. Definitely had an amazing time with the participants and all of the great fun and sharing that we had. Totally sapped all of my energy from me until I got sick on Monday when I returned to work.

It was such an honour to have Wiki and Ilona over as the main speakers and I am very sure that the participants had an equally fantastic time as well. Just search for the #gotMojo on Twitter and you will see their responses

Anyway, since a post should not have no images on it, I am going to post some shots which I took over the weekend.

I also liked this shot which Grace shot of me. She said I was doing the macarena which I don’t recall that.

Big credits goes to:

Models: Rachel & Ser Young
Make Up & Hair: Shinny Ong (her work is amazing, just look at the models!)
Gowns by: Pretty In White (Pretty in White was one of our sponsors as well)

Couldn’t have done it without them smile RedNinja.tv got Mojo? Camp

Cameron Highlands Trip – Day 2

Posted on April 13, 2010 by Mark

One of the places you must visit when you are at Cameron Highlands is the Boh’ Tea Centre. Getting there is not an easy task and I would really advice against driving cars which are really huge as you might have to squeeze through oncoming traffic on a horrendous narrow path. Also car pool if necessary and try to use a 4 wheel drive just to feel a little bit more at ease.

But once you drive through the horrible stretch of road (don’t forget to honk when you are approaching corners!), you reach the Boh Tea Centre which is surrounded by hills covered with tea leaf plantations. The sight itself was magnificent and you should be catching a couple of glimpses of the scenery on your way to the centre.

The moment you arrive at the parking lot, you get a view of the tea centre where you get to enjoy a nice cup of lovely tea as well as scones and strawberry jam.

Although the walk up there wasn’t exactly an easy one, ok, maybe I was just out of shape. But the climb is definitely bearable and the cool air up there does help a lot.

But once you reach the top, you get welcomed with this incredible view of the valley surrounded with tea plantations.

When I was up there, I ended up taking loads of photos there that I completely forgotten about my tea and scones. Yes, I ate a bit but forgot to take the photos

The houses below are where the workers who worked at the tea plantation lived.

A quick group shot of us while we were still at the top of the tea centre.

Besides just the Boh Tea Plantation, there is another one which you will definitely pass by when you are driving up to Cameron Highlands, and that is the Cameronian Valley.

Personally I liked the view from here a little better and you get to walk through the tea plantation and can take really awesome portrait photos here as well. Make sure that you have good shoes on or else you might slip on the mud.

Frankly I am very proud of Cameron Highlands and it is indeed a great place to chill out, relax with friends and enjoy the cool breeze. Can’t wait to plan my next trip there again and hopefully shoot more of the scenery as well as organize some portrait shoots there.

Also I will be posting up some portrait photos that were taken during the trip there as well in my next post

Nico Hulkenberg – AT&T Williams F1 Driver

Posted on April 8, 2010 by Mark

Just only last week did I have the privilege to be able to cover an event at my office. It was a huge event for me to cover mainly because as the title suggests, it was to cover a press conference as well as a meet and greet session with Nico Hulkenberg who is a formula 1 driver for the AT&T Williams team which Accenture has sponsored for the last 16 years.

Nico and his account manager arrived earlier than expected so we brought him through a tour of our office on the 66th floor in Tower 2 at the Petronas Twin tower. Our country managing director was glad to make them a cup of coffee before the press conference and I was glad that they arrived early. That means I get to sneak in a couple of shots in earlier before having to fight with the press photographers later.

The moment we headed down to the 65th floor, there was a flurry of people crowding around the main pantry area trying to get photos as well as a glimpse of Nico. Nico signed two boards before heading to the meeting room where the media was waiting for him.

Straight into the meeting hall, the press conference began with a quick introduction of Nico. It was his first year as a F1 driver following the footsteps of Lewis Hamilton who also won the GP2 and then made his move to F1. To Nico, Shumacher was one of his boy hood heroes of Formula 1 and he must be quite excited since that his first time in F1 and he gets to also race against Michael.

Overall it was a good experience for me but I was sweating like mad in the end and continuing work right after that was definitely not easy. Both Nico and Richard could articulate their answers really well and I really felt that for a 23 years old, he could answer the questions really well. Then again, the questions raised were more personal questions rather than formula 1 related questions.

Before I go, here is a quick photo of me and Nico taken by Kay Nny. Did I mention that Kay Nny was one of the lucky few who won free passes to the Paddock Club?

Nico 300x210 Nico Hulkenberg AT&T Williams F1 Driver

Nico Hulkenberg and me

How do you recuperate?

Posted on March 29, 2010 by Mark

After a grueling time throughout yesterday’s wedding shoot, I was just asking myself how does one recuperate from a long day’s work? That got to both me and Grace talking about those photographers who shoot two to three weddings in a row.

Now the story began yesterday when I was up very early for a shoot in Puchong. I dragged myself out of bed at 5ish and reached the groom’s place before 6.30am. By that time I was already wishing that I had slept earlier the night before but thanks to some printer problems, that kept me up till way past midnight. Anyway the shoot went on until about 2pm in the afternoon so that would mean we have already shot for 8 hours non-stop.

During the morning shoot where we were shooting at the indian temple in Shah Alam, we had to go about barefoot and walk around barefooted on the tarred road which was riddled with small pebbles and stones (extremely painful experience). And not to also mention that it was broad daylight and the road was definitely heated up!

By the time I got back home after the shoot, I was completely wiped out and my feet were aching! I just couldn’t help but take a long and refreshing cold shower and rest as much.

Now the question comes to mind, how do you recuperate from a long shoot?

I know some photographers tend to take power naps.

Others might go for foot massages.

Some eat extra energy bars.

Anyone knows a quick and easy way to recuperate some of that lost energy and aching feet? If you do know, please write them down in the comment section.

Note: This question is open to all, not just those in the photography line

Image by Maggie Smith – source

Mark Leo Dot Net

Loving all things photography, tech, gadgets, Apple and cars

Tag Archives: Photography

Wednesday Clicks

Wednesday Clicks

World Refugee Day at KL Sentral

Cameron Highlands Portraiture Shoot

Help your friend win a free portrait shoot!

Bobby and Rennie: A quick shoot

RedNinja.tv got Mojo? Camp

Cameron Highlands Trip – Day 2

Nico Hulkenberg – AT&T Williams F1 Driver

How do you recuperate?