Just finished our first shoot at the abandoned railway bridge at Sunset Way yesterday. Kai, Natalie and I couldn't help laughing most of the time. My hands couldn't stop shaking because I was laughing too hard at all the random things. I enjoy shooting Natalie in an environment she's comfortable and happy in. Kai and I kept saying silly things to make her laugh to capture those magical moments.

Hmm, somehow the shots we took during sunset didn't turn out very well. >.< I think I got the wrong exposure...

After 3 model shoots so far, I've been thinking about what's lacking. It's kind of funny because certain shots did make sense to me and looked quite nice when I was taking them, but when I go through those hundreds of photos, I don't really know how to piece them together. I wonder if I started losing the 'focus' halfway through the shoot... I'd say that the photos from each shoot seems to be getting better, bit by bit, but I just can't shake off that strange feeling. So, I'd sit there for a few hours, going through all the photos over and over again, pick out a few to edit and upload them.

I've been trying to find the right words to describe them and put the pieces together to form a story. And make some sense out of them, somehow...

Some people think that photos are enough to tell a story, without any words present. Maybe I'm just too used to the illustration style of always having words and pictures together. I don't really need a 'wow' factor in my photos. To me, they're more like documentaries or something.

I think I really need to expand my vocabulary. XD

One problem I've been trying to solve is overexposure, for plants in general and white subjects. This afternoon I tried taking some underexposed photos today while waiting for my neighbor to finish washing his/her car. (So that I can take more photos of their white flowers).

1) Unedited photo of Jewel (underexposed)



2) Edited photo


I tried using the spot meter instead of evaluative function to reduce the exposure for my neighbor's white flowers, will post those photos next time.

Every time I look at the photos in the numerous folders in my D drive, I'd think about what a photographer asked:

Why do you take photos?

Most of the time, I just collect bits and pieces of things I like. Things that tell a story, or just appeal to me because of the colour, shapes and other factors.

Here are some close up shots of one of the sculptures at the Greek exhibition (National Museum) , 16/03/08

















Of course, I like the nudes too, but there's something sensual about how those folds on the sculptures' 'clothes' seem to flow so gracefully on their figures.












Some visitors asked why there's a cowboy. I'm not too sure who this guy is.

The sky was a really nice blue in the afternoon. I usually reach home at night, or in the evening.
I've been thinking of taking some nice photos on the way home these few days.

Thankfully, I haven't forgot afternoons like this. Days like that really make me feel a lot better.
Passers-by probably think I'm crazy for smiling to myself while walking home alone, but that was
something to be happy about, in a way.
 
To the little black cat (Amy):
Here are some little 'pieces of a dream', haha. The pieces of
dream thing was inspired by something I read in Daryl's blog and
our random conversation last night about dreams.

Still trying to figure out how not to overexpose white subjects... Ren Hui suggested using the spot meter setting. Will try that next time.

















 I'll try not to fill all my entries with plant photos...  XD