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Just finished a Magazine feature shoot in KL Heritage Row. Apart from using my regular D3, i also try out the Olympus PEN EP1. Not exactly easy to use the PEN in low light condition without flash but the effect is just what the fashion editor wanted. So I ended up using both camera for this shoot.
Here are some samples taken with the Olympus PEN. As i was using speed as low as 1/8s is not easy to get pin sharp pics with people as they tend to move.
 
 
 
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Ok I must admit I haven¡¯t been that excited about any particular camera for a long time. That¡¯s is till I saw the new Olympus PEN P1. Like a kid with a new toy I was eagerly taking pictures with it when I managed to get hold of the silver version with the 2 lens kit. Actually I am very taken in by the white version with the leather case. It¡¯s really fashionable, a stylish camera, small enough to fit into my working computer bag to have it with me all the time. Something that I have been looking for some time as I don¡¯t feel like carry my huge DSLR and anyway the DSLR doesn¡¯t fit into my slim bag. In casual environment the huge DSLR is intimidating and inconvenient. Where else a smaller camera but with the quality of a DSLR is a good combination as the compact can¡¯t fulfill my needs. For casual shooting the PEN looks less intimidating and obstructive making it easier to carry and shoot without scaring off your subjects.
Photo taken in my office.
At a Hokkiem mee stall in downtown KL
My fishes in my office room
Apart from the usual compact camera settings and features the PEN gives you the option of manual over-ride with A and S priority. These are standard features that are expected. But it is the Art filter that gets me feeling excited. The B/W is grainy and nice, the pinhole gives you a nice vignette at the corners with colours and feel of Lomo. The pop art give out strong graphic colours while the soft focus is great for those dreamy and romantic moods. It reminds me of those old classic Hollywood movies.
My room in Thistle Hotel JB
These photos using different Art Filter are taken in PS cafe in Paragon Singapore during our lunch.
And how does it fare when it comes to pictures quality? Well here are some samples, not the most critical yet as I am still working around the camera to understand this new toy. But I am confident there are better to come as this PEN is mightier the some DSLR. The only setback is it comes with an equally mighty price tag. But then you can¡¯t put a price tag on Art.
JB airport on my flight back to KL.
Flowers from a plant in my office
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The final pictures that were published in Faces september issue. Not entirely happy with the results but it was a hectic shoot. Cramping all 10 models into a single day is not my idea of fun shoot.
 
 
 
 
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Just came back from Tawau... |
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Day 1, Aug 8
4am flight to Dakka, transit 4 hours. Arrived at Kathmandu early morning.
10 of our member bag are missing, only 6 got their bags on arrival at Kathmandu.
Panic and chaotic at the lost baggage counter with dozens of people searching for their bags and the woman on duty was not helpful.
Day 2, Aug 9
Was told the Chinese consulate at Kathmandu was closed from 8 ¨C13 Aug due to some idiots hanging ¡®Free Tibet¡¯ banner at the Great walls and we will not able to get our Tibetan visas.
In the morning visit Swoyambhunath, and then lunch at Buddhanath.
Evening the 10 of us went shopping for T-shirts, underwear and toiletries as our bags are still missing.
Day 3, Aug 10
Went to Bhaktapur in the morning then return after afternoon to Patan. Reached Kathmandu late afternoon to find out only 2 bags have arrived but 8 other still somewhere out there. Good news is we managed to get our group Tibet Visas as the Chinese office have for some reason open again.
Mad rush to stock up our clothing, sleeping bags, toiletries etc as we couldn¡¯t wait for the remaining bags to arrived. Feel like hanging ¡°Free our bags¡± banners at GMG airline.
Day 4, Aug 11
After an early morning briefing, we left Kathmandu for Zhangmu via Kodari. Unfortunately numerous roadblocks by ¡®highway robbers¡¯ delayed us. Just 5km to the Chinese border our bus and many others were stop and we have to pay them to ¡®carry our bags¡¯ across a bridge which is block by 2 huge trucks put there purposely by them. When we finally reached the checkpoint at Zhangmu we were half hour late and have to stay another day to get our visas stamped. Got news that the airline found our bags and will try to send it to us.
Day 5, Aug 12
After getting out visas sorted out, we were told the road is closed for repair during daytime. It¡¯s only open from 8pm to 12pm for traffic down to Zhangmu and 1am to 4am from Zhangmu to Nyalam, which is the way we are going.
Our driver tried to bribe his way thru and we wasted 2 hours at the foothill before turning back to Zhangmu. We were told our bags would not reach us in time, as there was a landslide before the Chinese border. Another mad rush to buy whatever needed for the next few days.
We finally left Zhangmu at 11pm and it has been raining the whole day.
After 2 hours of scary and anxious ride in our 4x4 thru the darkness, with rainwater coming down like waterfalls on one side and dark bottomless ravine on the other side we reach Nyalam at 1am, cold, tired and sleepy.
Day 6, Aug 13
A long journey today, as we have to make up for lost time. Today journey will take us thru Tingri passing 2 highest passes of 5,050m and 5220m before reaching Xigatse for the night.
By the time we stop at nearby town for lunch after Lalung La pass at 5,050m; half the people were having high altitude sickness.
And some of them didn¡¯t even get down from their 4x4 when we reached the next pass at Gyatso La at 5220m, as it was getting dark and cold. Driver stop to buy a canister of oxygen.
Day 7, Aug 14
Morning visit Pancen Lama Monastery. After lunch we continue to Gyantse visiting Kumbum stupa and Phalkor monastery and stayed the night at Nakartse.
Day 8. Aug 15
Left at 5am for Lhasa via Yamadrok lake. Road conditions were terrible; some parts are totally cut off, forcing us to go off road, crossing river and muddy riverbank. Then our 4x4 was stuck in the mud.
Weather was too cloudy cutting off most of the sunlight and colours, finally reached Lhasa at 4pm in clear blue sky.
Day 9, Aug 16
Visit Drepung Monastery & Norbulinka. But found out we were too late for the main event of ¡®sunning the Buddha¡¯ which is on the first day (12 aug) of Shoton festival.
Day 10, Aug 17
Morning visit Jokhang Temple, which is just opposite our guesthouse (Mandala) right in the center of Barkhor bazaar. Afternoon we went to Sera Monastery. There was a grand debate going on with many lamas inside the main hall but have to pay RMB30 to take photos inside.After dinner went to Potala for night photography but it started to rain so heavy I had to take a trishaw back to the guesthouse.
Day 11, Aug 18
Finally got our tickets to visit Potala Palace but was told we had only 1 hour inside and photography is not allowed. We were herd thru the passage at time just having a glimpse of the inside as the guards probe us to move on.
Tonight went back to Potala for night photography again but it was really not nice.
Day 12, Aug 19
Left Lhasa for Tsetang at 8.30am after waiting for the bus driver since 7am. Our guide said he went to the wrong hotel, and the driver said he was not told where. Our guide really sucks; we couldn¡¯t understand his Tibetan mandarin or his English. Most of the time he is in a dazed. I think he need ¡®hong jin tian¡¯ more than us.
In Tsetang, we visit Samye monastery and finally the old palace of Yumulakhar castle. The area is like desert with huge sand hills.
Day 13, Aug 20
Left for Lhasa airport early in the morning with a glorious sunrise but was not able to stop to shoot. But that doesn¡¯t stop us from finishing our memory cards and batteries shooting as we speed to the airport.
Flying over the Himalayas we saw a couple of peaks above a sea of clouds.
Day 14, Aug 21
After breakfast we left for Kathmandu airport, flying via Dakka with 8 hours transit and finally reached KL at 4am. Luckily all our bags arrived in KLIA.
All pictures taken with a Nikon D40X.
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