Category: Photography

Face Fix

Since I have the folder opened, let’s have another look at gorgeous Indonesian and native of Cirebon Lix Xia. This is done as a demonstration by me and if you have any criticisms, please direct them at me, not her.

A five foot way is a great place for a street portraits. There is diffused light that is soft and pleasing, I first worried about the red pillars casting a red hue but it turned out alright. Good that she has a natural smile and it always helps to talk to your subject and make a few jokes while you click. Don’t be too serious and your subject will be relaxed too.

This image gives me a chance to try Portrait Pro face retouching software. Lix Xia is such a natural beauty and it pains me to apply make up and face sculpting on her.

You may be surprised to learn that almost every face or body you see on a magazine cover and ad nowadays has extensive touch up applied. Anyway I am sharing with you my bag of make up tricks to open the yes of the uninitiated. There are no hard and fast rules as every face is unique and the fix required is subjective and depends on personal taste or a client’s requirements.

Most apparent effect is face sculpting that makes a face appear slimmer. Neck was made longer too. I used eye whitening and also darken pupils controls too. Software also has eye widening and reshaping suitable for narrower Asian eyes or mata sepet.

You need to be careful here as removal of reflections or catchlights of pupils may make the eyes seem unnatural. I used Photoshop’s native tools to brighten her eyes and whiten her teeth. Portrait Pro also sharpened her eyebrows. Lips are what makes a face glamorous and sexy. Her lips were made plumber, lipstick colour deepened and her lips moistened or made wet.

Skin smoothing control removed pores, wrinkles, skin imperfections and will also remove shine or oily patches, if any. I left some pores and moles on her nose for a natural look. Only regret is the software removed all the freckles that I like.

Not easy being a digital make up artist. Heh. If I have more time, I like to play with hair control and texturing. Hope this gives you and idea of what goes on behind the scene.

Anyone knows a freind or girl who is cross eyed or cock eyed? The software has cock eye removal and I like to practise that too. Send me your pic which you think need fixing for non commercial use..

Sony Alpha A7R, ISO 200, f4, 1/500 sec.

#portraitpro #face #retouching #sculpting #makeup #lixxia #beauty #streetportrait #sonyalpha #a7r #glamour

The Half Jungle

Since SJK (C) Chong Fah Phit Chee was founded 109 years ago, in 1909, it gives an indication as to how long ago the Chinese community settled in Pudu.

Till today, Pudu is still known as Half Jungle in Chinese. It harkens back to the early development days of Kuala Lumpur when it was partially developed..

Half Jungle was the area between Pudu Jail and Cheras. Search to see my photo essay on Pudu Market for more insights.

Back to the school. From its original humble wooden building, a new building was built in 1952. It is both privately and publicly funded. In 2011, funds were raised to modernise the old building from 1952.

The ceiling, roof and wiring were replaced with funds from a community chest to keep the school and students safe. Inset picture of renovated building from Community Chest website (http://www.commchest.org.my/).

I don’t like the school emblem or logo that was possibly inspired by the winged emblem or logo of Harley Davidson. I forget that school badges often took this shape. Used to collect metal school badges as a hobby. The enameled button badges have a safety pin welded to the back.

I wonder if people still collect school badges? It was gratifying and an honour to do badge exchanges when visiting another school for a sports event or science fair. Life was simple then.

While photographing the Pudu Market, I met many female traders who were from the more than a century old Pudu English Secondary School (PESS). I know my Fb friend Kimyee Wong was. 🙂

It is located at Jalan Foss, opposite the former F&N factory. I think I may have collected its unique purple badge. Sadly, I don’t know where my collection is now.

#school #chineseschool #pudu #history #pudumarket #pess #landmark #documentaryphotography #chongfahphitchee

Caution: School Kids With Heavy Bags Crossing

Across the road from 168 Restaurant is a Chinese primary (elementary) school founded 108 years ago in 1909. Like many Chinese schools nowadays, SJK (C) Chong Fah Phit Chee has many students who are Malays, Indians and other non-Chinese.

Outside a Chinese school, students can almost always be seen carrying oversized and heavy backpacks.

The standard school crossing traffic warning sign (inset) seems outdated as no school-going kid can cross a busy street so leisurely and without the burden of a heavy backpack these days.

Without a warden and sign, surprised that only one car slowed down and stopped to allow this girl to dash safely.

For those not rich or lucky enough to have a chauffeur parent waiting in a car or a domestic helper (maid) to help carry the heavy bags, getting to and back from school can be a daily struggle that may toughen them for the realities of life later.

I know. If you are conscious or aware of your surroundings, there is so much to do and to think about even while having a leisurely street side lunch. This is what street photography entails. I composed the captions in my mind too, right after I clicked.

Panasonic Lumix GM-1. ISO 200, f8, 1/250 sec.

#chineseschool #crossing #school #traffic #streetphotography #pudu #roadside #traficsign #documentaryphotography

Twilight Ambush

Found one of my images of Bagan Lallang beach frrom 2013. Maybe it was my overactive imagination and I spooked myself. Standing there at twilight, it looked like the lalang (weed grass) were creeping up silently and surrounding the unsuspecting family, before strangling them on the white sands.

#baganlallang #beach #goldcoast #selangor #seaside #sand #beachcombers #nature #travel #twilight

Bagan Lallang Beach

My first trip to Bagan Lallang, was as a young man in the 1980s, courtesy of Texas Instruments Malaysia of Ulu Klang. I went there to shoot some pics and videos of their Family Day and they brought a few thousand employees and family members there. The beach was virtually unknown then and was very deserted on a normal day and was nicely undeveloped. Even finding the remote and secluded beach was a problem as there were no GPS or Waze then. My fondest memory was walking in low tide and climbing up on a skeletal boat wreck not far from shore. Today the wreck is gone and there is the beautiful and luxurious Avani Gold Coast Resort. dotting the coast. Seen here in the background, its beautiful palm frown shaped design protrudes into the ocean. It is best seen as an aerial view. The beach is still serene and deserted on a weekday. Love the neat rows of casuarina trees on the sand. There used to be plenty of lalang (weed or cogon grass) on the sand, true to its name. The foreground old exposed brick wall or rustic pillar, iron fence and creeper plants were created by a filter in Smart Photo Editor. The software has a suite of thousands of bizarre and weird effects and filters which you think you will never use and will scoff at. Depending on the picture, if it works, it works amazingly well. The resulting picture reminds of the time I was having a drink by the beach side at the covered concourse or foyer of another faraway seaside resort. It was the Spanish inspired design of the Awana Porto Malai (now Resorts World Langkawi) in Langkawi island. Anyone remembers or knows the enterprising event organizer Vincent Joseph from T.I.? Would like to get in touch with him. #baganlallang #beach #goldcoast #selangor #seaside #awanisepang #texasinstruments #nature #travel #smartphotoeditor