Minimalist Lines

I know, it has been long a time since I have done a posting. Quiet and resplendent, well, I guess even the knack of photography has its timing and being in the right place. Of late, because of work, I haven't had a chance to really shoot but I was told recently on IG by some of my followers that there have been a change of directives in my shots, also a friend even jokingly have asked perhaps maybe I should look at picking up photography full time.

I believe like everything else, nothing beats having the passion to shoot and an eye for detail. I like simplicity where shots are concern. In the last 2 years or so, the challenge is never about what to do but how you divert the changes from your comfort zone. I daren't say it's easy because with every shot evolving, we are constantly looking out for something different, challenging yet not forgetting the consistency of each photo shot.

I've seen some amazing line ups from epic skylines to silhouettes and subtle vividness of lighting. I can't say I any good at it, maybe because I am striving to find my need to always be different but yet looking for the extraordinary that details the essence of my work. But like all things, I think patience grew the better of me. A shot can be ordinary but the editing effect create a completely different look and feel. Perhaps that is also a story line behind the mood creation.

So recently, I've taken the opportunity to define finite lines with infinite possibilities. Here goes my shots and edit of the Millenia Walk Mall roof top spectrum, blind panels of the National Museum of Singapore and its walkway.  Refining structural consistency with the extraordinaire.

 

 

So until my next excerpt entry, good day and goodnight.

 

Cheers,

 

Kaz 

 

Reflections...The First Quarter

Perhaps the passing moment for many of us don't come often but when it does, we realized time has swiftly gone by. And we look back and wonder what we have achieved? What could we have done better? Can we still make up for it? Well, here I am, feeling exactly just that.

It's April, yeah, start of the second quarter, and I know it has been 2 months of absence since my last posting. Time perhaps in essence was part of the reason why I have not pen down my thoughts of late. Looking back, I have missed the point of what "real" photography really meant. It is often a miscontrued ideology that photography is just taking passing moments, but I realized every detail imagery define its moment. Skyline, lighting and above all, minute details gravitate the colours of nature hence affecting the mood of edit.

I haven't also had a chance to really taken many shots of late, hence the lack of posting even on my own personal Instagram feed so I have been told I was missed by many of whom have been waiting eagerly for a posting from me. It was never a deliberate attempt to actually NOT post or just NOT shoot for that matter. I believe in every new hobby we adopt, sometimes when we lose the zest for it, it takes time for us to find the inspiration to come back to it again. There are times I would have that eagerness to shoot just about anything and everything that I can find, but these days, the hindrance isn't so much what I can't find to shoot but the desire to want to shoot.

Yes, I do have my moments with editing too, I can shoot and perhaps leave the editing of a shot to a good week later, not because I don't want to do it immediately after and I realized by doing it instantaneously - it forces you to actually post without having think through what exactly you have in mind when you edited. Hence I feel, every edit speaks of sentiments at that moment, and believe it or not, colours define us whether it's don in black and white, sepia or simple mono coding.

So here goes a collaboration shot and edit project I did together with an IGer from Japan, his shot spoke of clarity and defiance. Shot might have been simple but it's the creative touches I did in the editing that defined the moment for me. Some things need not to be complicated, perhaps that is just a reflection of our own judgement?

This was his shot of Tamagawa River in Tokyo, Japan on December 31, 2012 and my edit.

But nothing defined it for me when I shot this reflection of the "super trees" at Gardens by the Bay in Singapore. Beauty as they say, is perceptive to our eyes. So this is my reflection of stillness mirrored in those waters.

Till next time, goodnight, good morning and have a great second quarter.


Cheers,

Kaz

Sweet February

For those of you who have been waiting for a blog entry read from me, I know it's been a long time, and well, the lack of inspiration and time have gotten the better of me lately.

And today being February 14, Valentine's Day, what better way to start my February with my thought defining this day. Well, some define it with romance and go all out to make it special for their loved one from roses to dinner, whilst others choose to define it with almost no celebration at all - for me? Well, I don't really have much thought about how I would define my Valentine's Day - perhaps I am quite a realist rather than someone who is melodramatic with all the romance and love hype.

Though the connotation to it perhaps may be defined in a form of photography. Well, this Valentine's Day, one of my shot was selected and it was featured on Marathonsg Facebook page, their IG feed and also their twitter mention. I wasn't expecting it but I think of all the shots I've taken since I broke into the Instagram scene some 1.5 years ago, this has to be one of which where no editing was don nor was it filtered and I left to to the eyes of those who judge photography best in its natural aura. Considering that the shot was taken by IPHONE 5, I was pretty amazed at how crisps, sharp and defined the shot was despite it was shot late at night.

I think every shot has its moment and timing. I love the defining touches to it simply because it defined the edgy personality in me. The depth defying moment creates a zest of vibe, the succintness in detail and of course, above all, the conspicuousness in clarity. So for those of you who are out tonight celebrating the declaration of love with your loved one tonight, make it a night to remember and here's wishing you a Happy Valentine's Day wherever you are.

This is my shot of the Marina Bay Sands in Singapore, by Iphone 5, on February 9, 2013 at 10pm.

Just wanted add, love is about respect, honour and cherish.

Till my next blog post, good day and goodnight.

Cheers,

Kaz

6 Degrees of Separation

Every now and then we are driven apart by what I'd call distance - whether it's empty space, the sea or perhaps just the geographical phenomena. Well, today, I'd like to think that for each separation, there is beauty in-between. I have missed the beauty of those beaches; the wonders of mother nature - and I would often reminisce of those times where I wish I could be there right at that exact moment.

And as we know it, just like the changes in the skylines, those moments in the shorelines are no different, in fact, every notable foreshore have its own unique features. Our city landscape may change but the seas, well, they don't really change all that much. Visual perception is perhaps the underlying detail in defining my ideology of the sea. When I was 12, I was actually made to swim in the sea as part of our swimming lessons at Cottesloe Beach, Perth during summer.

That 8 weeks of intensive daily lessons literally killed my LOVE for the beach then only because I totally hated a) being dumped by crazy waves and b) constantly being told off by our phys-ed (physical education) teacher for NOT being able to do what I was suppose to do ie swim through the waves when it was coming. As a 12 year old, what did you expect when I was totally freaked out by those huge waves that came in? Let's just say, I had a phobia those days and to be honest, I totally hated swimming in the sea then and 8 weeks of swimming lesson in the sea was torturous so I vowed and promised myself never to return again.

Well, that vow didn't last long, because when I gotten my driver's license at 17, the beach was where I first returned to for star gazing at night while enjoying those long walks along the shoreline and I was drawn and mesmerized by the waters. Defiant as it may be, I am still captivated by the very beauty of what mother nature defined across the azure skies. So here's my definition of "life's a beach" captured.

Note that the third picture below is a collaboration project with a Sydney-sider. My edit of his shot, Calalla Beach, New South Wales. The changing skies are the beauty that define our shorelines...

This is my moment...till next time.

Cheers,

Kaz

Vividness

It has been a while since my last blog post, for those of you who have been waiting anxiously for the read, I am sorry I haven't had the time to blog an entry of late. Well, I guess Iphotography has its moments and we all need the inspiration not just shoot but also to blog with a themed headline that connotes visual perspective.

The random moments of shooting the right image and editing takes not only time but also mood to interpret the imagery defined. Colours are what drive us to edit and it is tough when we sometimes are stuck finding the right colour to edit the shot that "speaks" to our audience. I realized that even on IG each time when I took a 2 or 3 day break, there would be a immediate spur of the moment comments when I post a new shot - perhaps also, with every shot quoted, it gives a thought provoking moment to the viewers of my gallery.

So today, I am defining my subject healine "Vividness" - this has been a long awaited headline that has been on my mind for a while but I was finding that right moment to conceptualize the right pictures to justify the headline. Recently, I've taken the love for nature and also did a few collaborative shot and edit projects with a few of IGers I've gotten to know. I am mesmerized by their shots, I think through visual editing it gives it a dreamy effect and a hint of surrealism.

We may find beauty at first glance but with every soft tonal edit it appeals to the eyes creating a vivid imagery. Colour effects create mood and with every collaborative project I do, it gets harder. Even slightest colour connotes another effect that hinders perceptive appeal

So here are my edits and some of the shots taken by a friend and 2 IGers I've worked with, but the bottom right being my personal shot and edit. The top left photo was shot in Mount Norikura, Nakano, Japan, second right was in San Francisco, National Maritime Park, California and the third bottom left was shot at the Pacific Ocean, Quepos, Costa Rica.

Boldness define creativity and visual conceptualization defines vividness with colours of "fantasia".

Till my next blog entry, wishing you good day and goodnight.

Cheers,

Kaz

The Best of 2012

If there's anything I've learnt since I started Iphotography is patience when it comes to taking that shot. Like many first timer photography enthusiasts, we are often caught with photography theme, the type of photos we shoot and of course, the over zealousness in taking that perfect shot. After all, every shot has its depth, it's how we choose to shoot that matters most in the end.

I wouldn't dare say I have that perfect eye because every shot taken has its moment. I think it's through time we learn how to build that structure or theme our shots accordingly. The skyline I must say, gives us that moment...from the clear blue skies to moving clouds, that one minute of "goodness" can define the colours of our shot. Recently, I've developed an interest for silhouette shots which I have seen in many of the IGers (Instagrammers) feed that I've been following, some delved their edit almost to perfection whilst here I am still learning at the "beginners" level but every shot has its own inspiration.

I feel that photography is about having the passion, effort and time. Some of the IGers who followed me for the longest time, would be the first to say my shots have evolved over time; from skylines to building structures, shorelines and food, believe me, I have done them all. And you wonder what my favourite out of these are? Honestly, I love the beach - that to me defines peace and ultimate freedom.

I don't know why when I was growing up in Australia, I didn't cherish those moments then, yeah, nostalgia brought moments of reminiscence in my childhood and how much I have missed home since I came to Singapore. It's ironic that only when I have left home that I realized how much I have missed those "good moments". So if there's anything at all, I've missed Cottesloe and Scarborough beaches in Perth.

Anyways, here are my personal best of 9 shots that made 2012 a year to remember from Singapore to Australia. These were shot and edited using Iphone 3GS and Iphone 5.

Below are some my favourite best of 9 photo edit from the various IGers I have collaborated with across the globe from US, Australia, South Korea as well as Singapore in 2012. They defined the moment for me through their lens, I am captivated with every shot they've captured, yes, those moments took my breath away. These were edited with Iphone 3GS and Iphone 5. Their shots, my edit.

 

 

I shall leave you with a quote that defines my interpretation of photography the way I understood it.

To me, photography is an art of observation. It's about finding something interesting in an ordinary place... I've found it has little to do with the things you see and everything to do with the way you see them. - Elliot Erwitt

Till next time, good day and goodnight.

Cheers,

Kaz

Into Deep

It gets harder with each blog post because of the expectation perhaps we have on ourselves and the viewers of our blog but with each challenge I always find that there is a turning point. I guess we have to find the point of interest and how the story is to evolve and develop.

Being a new blogger on the social media realm, each blog post gives an insight to my thoughts and perception and photography has a way of creating a story of its own. It is not easy because we each have to find our own niche and how we create those stories define the images captured. Sensory imageries create stories behind. More often, we are inspired by what has been done by fellow Iphotographers. I am often amazed by the edits they do and of course, I wish I could capture the refining details behind them.

But I realized no two Iphotographers or photographers in general are ever the same no matter how closely they follow each other. I like still images that capture details but leaving a mystery behind where it comes to editing. It gets you thinking...I have learnt a lot over the last year or so but seriously, I am far from being perfect with photo editing mybe because I take comfort in doing what I perhaps do best on images that define my world of photography.

I am still trying to find my feet for new directives and inspiration in the choice of shots and edit, sometimes  it's not about copying what others do but rather finding the images that speak to you and how you "own" the shot like it was meant to be yours from the start.

It is not easy to select our choice of shots but here are some my personal shots that define the title: Into Deep...

The first shot was shot and edited with an Iphone 3GS whilst the second shot was shot and edited with the Iphone 5.

 

 

 

Just to add, it is never about the phone you use but the person behind the camera.

 

Cheers,

 

Kaz 

Beauty is in the Eyes of the Beholder

So they say, we are often mesmerized by what our eyes see but yet we forget what we see is only just the surface and never looking beyond what beauty defines. Juxtaposed against nature's perceptive point of view, what exactly does that mean? It is never about what we see it is always about what we think we would like to see.

Nothing in this world is ever so ugly that can't be made beautiful just like our very own beauty, in fact these days, cosmetic surgeries are well-known and going under the knife is considered a norm and let's face it, where beauty allures, we stand to gain all. True isn't it? The noble context of beauty is always skin deep, the question I have is, how far will we go? What is the price we pay to gain what we think we deserve?

The same context applies to photography, I love the very nature of photography that comes with unique editing styles and variations to define the lustre of each coloured shots. Remember, I may be the photographer but I am also the composer and how I choose my shots define my character and whether or not it oozes the appeal it deserves, I make that judgement call. And ultimately, I beautify the very nature of what is in my eyes and the imagination I have.
 
I love it when they say, there is NO WAY you could do the impossible but who's to say that a caterpillar can't turn into a beautiful butterfly? To me, beauty is definitive to the eyes of the beholder, even an ugly photo can turn heads, it is how you reconstruct the impossible to fit beauty that speaks not just to you but those around you. Iphotography is about creating an imagination beyond the realm of reality and that's the crux of it from the start. I may be the creator and composer but ultimately I am the one who makes all things beautiful beyond your imagination.

Here are some of my shots taken by the Iphone 3GS and Iphone 5, a mirage of beauty perhaps, stark contrast to what would you'd probably never imagine? I will let you be the judge to that.

 

Perception is using creativity in defining "dull" moments of photography and bringing it out alive. After all, beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. These are my edits filtered with photoshop, snapseed, qbro, VSCOCam, prohdr, and photofx.

 



 

I will leave you with this food for thought:

 

Beauty - in projection and perceiving - is 99.9% attitude. ~ Grey Livingston

Till my next posting, I hereby bid you good day, goodnight and remember, beauty is always perceptive and the noble means of beauty is always SKIN DEEP.

Cheers,

Kaz



Eternal Flame

It is not everyday that we see surreal skylines that define our visual interpretation but for every detail defines thought, depth and pre-conceived ideology. It gets harder with each edit in every photograph simply because of the set expectations we have on ourselves and of course, the viewer's expectations. A slight deviation of colour edit could perhaps result in what I'd call, moments of truth and perhaps reveal the vulnerable side of us.

But I often believe each colour edit we don on reveals our personal character whether it's strong, weak, charismatic or stubbornness. In my opinion, the darker the edit, the stronger our character, whilst the softer the tones the more reserve we are. To be honest, there's no hard and fast rule about it nor right or wrong. I just feel that we are what we are because of the nature of our character.

I love strong colours because that reveals our true character with nothing to hide. And of course, the type of shots taken also defines the person behind the lens. Nothing we see is an obscure refinement of our true self. So what does a perfect shot and edit mean then? Perfection of a shot is always in the eyes of the beholder, what you deemed as perfect may not seemed all that great to others but what you deemed imperfect is seen perhaps, well received by those who appreciates the light hearted moment of photography.

After spending a good three years with an Iphone 3GS, I am actually thankful that I am now a proud owner of the Iphone 5 since September 21, 2012. I can tell you this much, the difference is remarkable from a killer shutter speed of the camera to the depth and sharpness of each shot taken. So tonight, this is yet my favourite collaborative shot and edit of all times on Instagram (IG).

This was a shot taken in Ontario, Canada by an IGer from Texas on July 7, 2012 at 8.17pm with the Iphone 4.



And my edit that the defined title "Eternal Flame" edited using photo editing apps on the Iphone 5.

So they say, the sky is the limit, my sentiments exactly.

Cheers,

Kaz

You

I was once told it is not everyday that we meet someone who could be influential in our lives. The good ones are hard to find and when we do find them, they are the ones we keep for life. Today was one of those rare moments I have and I figured since I have just jumped onto the wagon in the blogging scene, there are some people I would like to thank for being part of my life.

I started the journey on IG some 1.5 years ago in July of 2011, those days, I had perhaps ONE FOLLOWER, the friend who introduced me to IG, and I could remember when she told me, "please get on it and you will get a ton of likes, commentaries from people around the world". My immediate response was, seriously??? So what's with all the type of photos we shoot then I asked. Her response was "trust me, just take any photos and you will see people liking them". I found that rather hard to believe, because to me, photography is not just taking ANY photo but ONE that speaks to you and defines your moment. Of course, I started with what some may call "crappy" photos. And those days, hey, getting on IG was already the route to get noticed.

To be honest, that wasn't my intent because a) I knew nuts about photography and b) WHAT IS PHOTOGRAPHY in the realm of IG? And of course I started off with crummy fuzzy IPHONE 3 photos that really had NO MEANING to me whatsoever but ironically, I still gotten a few likes but somehow or rather, I couldn't even get past the "ugliness" of my photos then. So then I met a few food bloggers on IG whom perhaps changed my whole perception of Iphotography on IG.

Oh believe me, those were my PAINFUL days with all the ugly photos and all but slowly I realized, we each have to find our niche in photos that define us. Some of them don food photos like those out of a magazine, and I was impressed by the crisps and sharpness of those shots. Perhaps very little editing but hey, photography isn't always about editing it is about how you make those photos "speak" to your viewers through detail imageries, lighting and effects.

And in the course of the 1.5 years of IG Iphonography, I have met some people who are influential, down to earth, willing to teach, and also provide constructive criticisms. For me, the low down isn't about what they have said, but it's what they have done and the result of what I have become today because them. I am humbled, thankful and blessed to have met them and we became great friends through the realm of IG.

There are more to this honour roll list but this is The Smiles Hall of Fame honour roll of people who one way or another have impacted my life on IG and perhaps brought me to the blogging scene. I have Daniel to thank when he requested for this Smiles Hall of Fame last year so Daniel, thank you for the friendship and Maureen, thank you for introducing me to the blogging world.

I shall leave you with a quote to define my thoughts in sharing your world with me.

No love, no friendship, can cross the path of our destiny without leaving some mark on it forever. - Francois Mocuriac

Until my next blog entry, here's wishing you a great weekend wherever you are.

Cheers,

Kaz

Lust. Caution. Danger...



It is my inaugural post tonight with my IG (Instagram) world of photography. It has been little over a year and half since I started my journey on IG when a mutual friend introduced Instagram to me, those days, I really didn't know what exactly was INSTAGRAM to begin with let alone the meaning behind every shot taken.

We all started out with some sort of photography to get noticed from food, nature, some fancy buildings to the skyline but I was told then IG is about how you share your world of photography to the viewers of your gallery. I won't deny it that when I first started, I knew nuts about PHOTOGRAPHY let alone the fancy edits that came into picture. But it is the nature perhaps of my personality that I decided to venture into the world of IG and understand a little more about photography as a gamut and not just taking a photo for the sake of it.

Also, I realized as photography evolved so did our perceptive thoughts. To me, photography defines a person's character, personality and every edit is done based on mood and thoughts. That also includes defining the quotes behind every shot. And that's my style of photography.

I love edgy and sharp details because through colours, it gives in-depth vividness behind the shot. There is no perfect kill shot but there is certainly the perfect depth of defining that moment. So after a year and half on IG, I started with various collaborative shot and edit projects with some of the best IGers around the globe and to be honest, there is NEVER a dull moment on IG. Because through their eyes, I was able to define the realm of photography with my own thoughts. 

So here's a shot defining my title tonight: Lust. Caution. Danger. Through the moving clouds we are able to encaptulate the vivid details of expectation and defining moment.

Below is the shot and edit collaboration with an IGer (Instagrammer) from Texas. 

This was his original shot of Baton Rouge, Louisiana on September 4, 2012 with the Iphone 4.



 

Here is my edit of the Baton Rouge, Louisiana skyline using the Iphone 3GS and the various mobile photo editing apps.  

 

 

I guess this is my MOMENT of INSTAWORLD through my eyes. Until my next blog entry, good day, goodnight and hello world.

 

Cheers,
 

Kaz