(ANOTHER!) Happy Birthday Mama!

Yeah...we had a great weekend....and it did not stop there!
Another round of celebration for Mama (and Alisya insisted the cake is hers too) courtesy from a
hotel in the city center.....



....and we also had the yummylicious chickenwings for dinner....

ALHAMDULILLAH!!!

Happy Birthday & Happy Mother's Day Mama!

The weekend was splendid.....we celebrated Mama's birthday at home on Friday... then on Saturday at Concorde Hotel, together with Mother's day...

...and then on Sunday we celebrated Mama's Birthday & Mother's day again at HRC!

There's nothing more rewarding than being with the family!!
Alhamdulillah!!

Aliya's Artwork

I believe most people would use a diary or notebook (moleskine or not!) to write what they have in mind...or draw what they have in mind.
I did the same until recently I decided rather than just writing (or drawing) what I have in my mind why not I let my kids draw (or write) whatever they want in the notebook (no, not "the" moleskine, not yet!), it will be priceless memory down the years.
So, I started with Aliya (ok ok ok... Neena!). I drew the heart on that page presented above and asked her to color it... but then she asked me for my 0.7mm mechanical pencil (oh yes she really is fond of this particular pencil!) and started to draw the rest of the items on that page, then she colored the items.
Humming her tunes as she does her arts....my baby.
I love you Neena!!

Heartbreak

..finally told Mak & Abah about the situation....wish they were here & the kids too, badly need a family hug....

When we did our Hajj, one of Mak's doa & nazar was to bring my baby to Kaabah....and when Aliya is born....I targeted 2007 to bring the whole family and was so sure to achieve it (how stupid of me being too dependent on getting a good rating for a good reward, in the end, everything was shot down and nobody actually cared that much what I have sacrificed and done for that team, no friend is a trusted friend anymore from that moment)

So much for lesson learned, 2008 is the worst yet for me when it comes to rating and appraisals..and when I told Mak & Abah about my situation they were very supportive. I know they are quite confused because since the day I started working they always say I work too hard for the company...
Maybe I did...and now it is time I learn my lesson and change the did to don't.

"I know, others are enjoying what they have achieved...just bersyukur for whatever you have and for whatever it was those others has done to you, they'll be rewarded one day too..." said Mak.

Well, at least Mak & Abah are going for Umrah in a few weeks time...how they love to be there (Ya Allah only you know how I love to be there too!.....2010, with the family, insyaAllah....)

Just face the future, just let the river flow...just take each day as the first day of the rest of my life...

OK...let's work that documentary....

John Stanmeyer, co-founder of VII Photo Agency

I had another pleasant surprise...
John Stanmeyer - co-founding member of VII, contract photographer with Time Magazine since 1998, and works regularly on assignment with National Geographic magazine- replied my mail and added me in his FB. He'll be in KL end of 2009. I did mention I really want to meet him in person so hopefully I can, insyaAllah.

Some of John's marvelous works can be viewed here:


VII
Time's Exclusive

I Must really shift to the next level...more to come insyaAllah.

~ Khairil Faizi Jamian/ CHAPs, Malaysia

Joachim Ladefogeed, VII Photo Agency

Among some other professional photographers, I really admire the works of Joachim Ladefoged, one of the world's best photojournalist/ documentary photographer. Recently, while having a drink with Rahman Roslan (an international photographer - a local rising star in documentary photography), it just struck me that maybe I should get in touch with some of them via FaceBook....and move on to the next level of my journey in this arena.

...and Joachim Ladefoged was the first to add me as a friend. Thanks Mr Ladefoged!!
His marvellous works can be viewed at:
www.viiphoto.com/
www.joachimladefoged.com/

~Khairil Faizi Jamian/ CHAPs, Malaysia

~Recent TT with A.G & Rahman Roslan

MentalPrepSolidification

"It's like a river flowing in front of our doorstep...if what the flow carries is good, it's up to you whether you want to take it in or let it flow....if what it carries is bad, just let it pass...so, Khairil, just let it go (Do you understand me, Khairil? I think you do....just let it go.), because there are many other better things coming in front of your door step....insyaAllah..."

~ That's what I got yesterday from my mentor/ buddy/ a good friend/ a seasoned & very humble servant of Allah whom I have learnt a lot from....

Yeah...insyaAllah.

* The shot was taken yesterday morning...where I learnt (from another seasoned mentor) how to detect the blue most area of the skyline....thank you my Sifus....may Allah bless you all for your kindness & sharing of ilmu...thank you.

Mentalblockage

* Did what was expected from me for the day
* Listening to music by |R|A|T|M| all the time
* Still have something bugging my mind...

~ on Symbian mobile device

Happy Birthday Alisya Irdina

.....oh boy...too many things to write about...too many selected best (uhumm!) shots to edit & upload...office workloads...yadyadyad...but as I have always stated, my priority is my FAMILY...

So, this is more important than anything - Alisya Irdina is 6 years old today!!!

Yeah...we got her presents last night and she was happy with it...maybe a small celebration this weekend with the family...

I love you Alisya Irdina!

...and I hv another Lamy to complete the collection..this one's gonna be with red ink...at the same discounted price with the first too!

Kali ni janji masjid will write more & do some interesting things with the kids on the monologue papers....since 2008 been a bad year trying to be nice to the Zoo and the beings inside it , so 2009 is gonna be totally family & my personal journey oriented year...

XC.XX 2009 - II

XC.XX 2009 - I

Under the weather

Heatlh been really in a mess since I got that eye infection. With the F1 completed and XC.XX done, I am still suffering heavy fatigue and I have lost my voice for 6 days already. Cycling? No way, not risking my life!
Seems that there will always be this vicious cycle where people will get sick in hoards at once.

...and then after the bird flu, there's this swine flu H1N1...

Is the world not a healthy place anymore??
~ on Symbian mobile device

On Assignment

Yup...another shooting weekend. A bag of apparels & necessities. NatGeo backpack of main equipments & a Mac. NatGeo slingbag for my flashguns....and the most important package - myself, filled with eagerness & excitement! (plus a slight fever & cough...)
Miss the family already....but this is for them too...so, let's do it Torque!
~ on Symbian mobile device

The prettiest Lady on Earth...and beyond

When I did a recent massive printing job for a client, the designer reminded me about the importance of post-editing. Yup...like it or not, photographers must be able to master the arts of post-editing/post-processing be it on whatever softwares & tools available....but of course it is up to the person how much editing he wants to use for his works....
I prefer minimal editing...the best for me is to get a perfect shot but if that is not quite achievable then post-editing is there to cater for the desired outcome. I learnt from my mentors, when it comes to post-editing, cropping & level adjustments would be more than enough to make good images, IF you are really a good photographer!!!....otherwise, if you found yourself spending hours or days to get the best out of that shot you took, you're a media artist...nothing wrong with that, it's what you want to be!

The shots presented are re-shoot of actual printed photos, shot on monochrome mode using my D300 with 50mm f1.8 Nikkor, edited on Nikon's Capture NX. The lady is my wife. When a subject is pretty, you will end up with a pretty shot...otherwise, you should not bother holding an expensive DSLR!

Simple. Dark. Light. Love. Joy.

Mama had to stay back awhile yesterday so I went to fetch the kids and took them to KFC....aku tak tau la apsal aku tiba2 nak sgt makan KFC semalam!!! Ordered their meals..and and a dinner plate for myself - good thing I did not order the usual Snackplate, cuz the 3rd piece of chicken kena "pow" dgn Aliya!!!

Oh boy..the kids can really eat! The whole table was gone before they hit the playground!

....and I got the chance to take their photograph, under low light condition, high-speed anticipation...fun!

....stills, eyes, faces, motions, reactions, emotions....and of course, my signature - shadows.