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POSTs For 1Blunder Category

February 13, 2014

Brandon Hoe of ClearSketch

This post is tremendously long overdue but here it goes. I’ve had the privileged opportunity of meeting up with a talented and creative Brandon Hoe from ClearSketch last December 2013. ClearSketch is an agency specialising in creative technical marketing, providing content creation/marketing, video marketing and marketing automation services.

Being the founder and executive producer of a fast growing organisation, Brandon Hoe is truly a hands-on and inspiring man with depth, experience and profound knowledge in the field of photography and videography. He’s completely self-taught. If there’s one trait I could identify very well with him, that would be his insatiable appetite for perfection. Similarly, as a perfectionist myself, I’ve always been fussy with details.

Brandon Hoe of ClearSketch

As a creative person myself, I’m indeed proud to meet another successful fellow Malaysian who has made it abroad in the creative arts industry. He definitely came across to me as a creative practitioner who places great emphasis on a good concept and story which precedes technical prowess or gear. The former clearly is far more important as one’s work has to be strongly driven by a message or cause.

Brandon Hoe, born of Chinese-Portuguese parentage is a Malaysian currently residing and working in the US after having completed college there. He is a friend of Raymon of whom I photographed too as part of my ongoing Project Exodus quite some time back. It’s been awhile since I’ve had any candidates for the project, so it came as a welcome surprise to have Brandon join in the ranks of my personal project of a documented growing list of brain drain from Malaysia.

Brandon Hoe of ClearSketch Brandon Hoe of ClearSketch

Brandon was down in Malaysia to visit family and friends over the year-end holidays and we caught up at my SOHO studio for an interesting chat about the industry and work. He does some really amazing motion picture works for his company.

The 3 photographs above were made at my studio’s court yard using 3 Canon 580EXII Speed Lite. Key light was a beauty dished boomed into place on a C-Stand, while two other strobes were bare head lights providing some fill and sculpturing of my gritty background.

As a visual storyteller through both still and motion pictures, Brandon has really good eyes for a great picture with unique and insightful directing experience. I wish I could be as quick a learner and versatile as him. Do check out his profile and works, plus his amazing team of creatives back in the US.

Meanwhile, do give me a buzz if any of you interested fellow Malaysians abroad are reading this who are game on being one of my photo subjects for Project Exodus.

Posted in 1Blunder, Exodus, Portraits, Strobist · Tagged 1blunder, brandon hoe, exodus, photography, portraits, strobist, studio · Leave a Reply ·
December 10, 2012

Loyar Barang Photoshoot at MCCHR

Just about over three weeks ago (yes, it’s been long overdue), I returned to the Pusat Rakyat Loyar Burok, or also formally known as the Malaysian Centre for Constitutionalism and Human Rights (MCCHR), in Bangsar to complete the second and final phase of photoshoot for the NGO. The first visit saw me photo-rummaging through their product line to build a database of images for their soon-to-be-launched Loyar Barang website.

It was then also that I’ve had the privilege to meet one of the man behind this monumental and society-rocking movement for a better Malaysia; the human rights activist Edmund Bon. All these images that are captured will be used to equip Loyar Burok (LB) and its income-generating “sister” establishment, Loyar Barang, for a more visually intriguing and pleasing  PR front. Simply put, it’s merely a branding exercise aimed at portraying the raw, gritty, edgy and passionate energy fueling the DIY LB community at large.

Behind-the-scenes: Loyar Butik Apparel & Merchandise photo shoot at Pusat Rakyat Loyar Burok

Loyar Barang is an online boutique store featuring a wide range of merchandises on sale. Apparently, it aims to be the first self-sustaining NGO to raise funds through online sale, relying on little or no external support. Noble cause and creative means for sustainability achievement but not exactly a new idea. But then again, action speaks louder than words. So I just have to give it to them for taking the leap. Similarly, I guess everyone has to start somewhere, somehow. So I started off my first “fashion” photoshoot of models wearing Loyar Burok’s merchandises.

I was more than delighted to be a part of effecting change, however small that may be (especially when it promises so much FUN doing it!). So I jumped at the chance to help craft the mood and image of non-professional models wearing Loyar Barang’s range of T-shirts.

Behind-the-scenes: Loyar Butik Apparel & Merchandise photo shoot at Pusat Rakyat Loyar Burok

The models were purely commoners and your average Malaysians plucked from the streets of KL. But don’t be fooled. These bunch of outspoken, learned and most importantly, “awakened” young adults took to their modelling roles all too well.

Loyar Butik Apparel & Merchandise Photo ShootLoyar Butik Apparel & Merchandise Photo ShootLoyar Butik Apparel & Merchandise Photo ShootLoyar Butik Apparel & Merchandise Photo ShootLoyar Butik Apparel & Merchandise Photo Shoot

I started off with the most visible and interesting backdrop found at the Pusat Rakyat, an aged blackboard teeming with nonchalant smudged markings of half-erased content, suggestive of countless sessions of brewing wisdom and tactical plots in the making.

Behind-the-scenes: Loyar Butik Apparel & Merchandise photo shoot at Pusat Rakyat Loyar Burok

I splashed it with colour to inject some tone to an otherwise drab background. A second 1/2 CTO speed light was boomed on a C-stand as my key light. A third speed light was occasionally used in some shots to provide back light edge separation.

Loyar Butik Apparel & Merchandise Photo ShootLoyar Butik Apparel & Merchandise Photo ShootLoyar Butik Apparel & Merchandise Photo ShootLoyar Butik Apparel & Merchandise Photo ShootLoyar Butik Apparel & Merchandise Photo Shoot

It didn’t take me much to coax out the required expressions from these co-operative models, which proved to be a far cry from begging obedience or milking an ounce of submission from children. But then again, ain’t an apple to apple comparison. I guess at the end of the day, it was just a group of selfless grown-ups helping out while hanging out having fun at the same time. No different from beers and pizza at the backyard picnic scene.

Loyar Butik Apparel & Merchandise Photo ShootLoyar Butik Apparel & Merchandise Photo ShootLoyar Butik Apparel & Merchandise Photo ShootLoyar Butik Apparel & Merchandise Photo Shoot

After completing the session above using the blackboard backdrop (about an hour), I shifted to the spiral stair well. I’ve always flirted with the thought of doing something interesting here, like nuking the windows with just the right amount of light simulating nearby street or building lights contaminating the scene. Or even, an assortment of colours to mimic flashing neon-lights on a busy street teeming with night life. Time wasn’t a luxury, so I had to make it very simple here.

Loyar Butik Apparel & Merchandise Photo ShootLoyar Butik Apparel & Merchandise Photo Shoot

A bare head CTB speed light was firing through the window to the left. While a voice-activated-light stand (VAL) helped boomed a 1/2 CTO shoot-thru umbrella from above the scene, right over the model’s face. I could have done better by introducing a third red-gelled speed light firing from outside the window to camera right, and a fourth full CTO firing from the floor below, giving me a faint but conspicuous warm tungsten light rising from downstairs. Nice to have, but time ain’t that friendly to me then.

Loyar Butik Apparel & Merchandise Photo ShootLoyar Butik Apparel & Merchandise Photo Shoot

After just 20 minutes at the stair well, I packed up and moved skywards, to the roof top. And that’s when the real fun began.

Loyar Butik Apparel & Merchandise Photo ShootLoyar Butik Apparel & Merchandise Photo Shoot

As usual, I could have done more but in the interest of time, I wasn’t allowed to explore much. The roof-top wasn’t really a spacious or safe area for me to have many equipment around. So I was working with just one light most of the time (boomed over by a VAL).

Behind-the-scenes: Loyar Butik Apparel & Merchandise photo shoot at Pusat Rakyat Loyar Burok roof topBehind-the-scenes: Loyar Butik Apparel & Merchandise photo shoot at Pusat Rakyat Loyar Burok roof top

There were altogether about more than 10 of us up there. There weren’t much room to maneuver around and we had to be especially careful with where we placed our feet.

Loyar Butik Apparel & Merchandise Photo ShootLoyar Butik Apparel & Merchandise Photo Shoot

Lastly, just before we wrapped up, we chose the entrance to the roof top as our final location to grab a couple more shots.

Loyar Butik Apparel & Merchandise Photo ShootLoyar Butik Apparel & Merchandise Photo ShootLoyar Butik Apparel & Merchandise Photo ShootLoyar Butik Apparel & Merchandise Photo ShootLoyar Butik Apparel & Merchandise Photo ShootLoyar Butik Apparel & Merchandise Photo Shoot

We completed the shoot at about 7pm, rounding off an approximately 2.5 hours of shooting time. That’s of course, not taking into account the time-consuming tearing down and packing up. Just like cooking, I’ve always loved the process, but never the washing up. Similarly, it ain’t fun when you have to be your own assistant while keeping a sound mind (despite the fatigue) ensuring you have all your gear accounted for in the end.

However, most of the time in such shoots, the adrenaline from all the fun during the process that kicks in helps to delay the resulting fatigue thereafter. The drain only sets in much later. But by then, it’s much compensated for by the realisation of having had a good shoot.

The knowing and thrill of having bagged the shot is absolutely indescribable. It’s definitely a potent consolation for all the efforts. I can’t wait to pursue another similar nature project.

Posted in 1Blunder, Portraits, Strobist · Tagged 1blunder, human rights, loyar barang, loyar burok, mcchr, people power, photography, portraits, projects, roof top, strobist · Leave a Reply ·
October 26, 2012

Empowering change at the MCCHR with Edmund Bon

I was at the Malaysian Centre for Constitutionalism and Human Rights (MCCHR), in Bangsar, also known as the Rakyat Centre (Pusat Rakyat) for a simple product photo shoot. The MCCHR is home of the Loyarburokkers. I was here quite some time back to listen to a photo journalism talk by Danny Lim.

I was present to help photograph some merchandise which were for sale. These pictures taken would be used to depict the wide variety of items available for purchase (online or offline) such as badges, stickers, wrist bands and T-shirts.

Melvin Tong photographing at the MCCHRMelvin Tong photographing at the MCCHR

I wasn’t quite prepared for the job at hand, and wasn’t too sure what to expect, hence I did not have the tripod with me. Adding to that, the fact that I was in a rush for another appointment, I went with the simplest setup of minimal equipment. We could get away with it as all the pictures would be edged out and displayed against a white background.

After I completed photographing the merchandise, I setup for a quick shot of Edmund Bon. I used a 1/2 CTO speed light bounced onto an umbrella as my key light on a C-stand. A bare head speed light was used as a background separator light behind the subject, while a third and last speed light, in red gel scraped across the graffiti-ridden wall behind.

Melvin Tong photographing Edmund Bon at the MCCHRMelvin Tong photographing Edmund Bon at the MCCHR

Here are the shots from the above setup.

Edmund Bon Tai Soon at MCCHREdmund Bon Tai Soon at MCCHR

Edmund Bon is a human rights advocate, lawyer and former Chairperson of the Bar Council’s Constitutional Law Committee. He is actively involved in several legal and civil society projects, including PerlembagaanKu / MyConstitution and Loyarburok. Edmund Bon wears many hats in his quest to champion human rights.

There were about more than 10 different T-shirt designs, and Edmund couldn’t resist from eventually modelling in one of his iconic pet projects, UndiMsia!

Melvin Tong photographing Edmund Bon at the MCCHREdmund Bon Tai Soon at MCCHREdmund Bon Tai Soon at MCCHREdmund Bon Tai Soon at MCCHR

Posted in 1Blunder, Portraits, Strobist · Tagged 1blunder, edmund bon, human rights, loyar burok, mcchr, photography, portraits, strobist · Leave a Reply ·
July 14, 2011

Raymon David living the life

My nineth candidate for Project Exodus, and my first from America; Raymon David. Raymon is working as an Analytics Program Manager in HP, US. He contacted me from a post I wrote back when I shot Sumi. He’s currently back for a short holiday and will be leaving this Saturday back to the US. You can see how tight a schedule it has been for me, for all these Exodus candidates.

As with all my previous shots, I have not the privilege of planning ahead with regards to location. I’ve never met Raymon before. All I knew was, he sounded nice and amiable. I braved the evening rush hour to go over to his parents’ home in PJ just after work. By the time I got there, it was already dusk.

I opted for a roadside shot of him sitting on a very old vintage luggage belonging to his parents. As the fast fading light was creeping out on me in an especially humid evening, a horde of mosquitoes added to my misery.

I have him seated, looking comfortably waiting to depart just outside his home. Took this shot at 1/40 sec, f/5.6 @ ISO 100, with one shoot-thru umbrella to camera left.

Raymon David

We then moved into the garden compound and I took a shot of him, with the house as the background; a place where he’s spent time away from for the past 20 years. Took this shot at 1/30 sec, f/2.8 @ ISO 100, with one shoot-thru umbrella to camera left moved in real close. The umbrella has to be very close to simulate a large light source yielding a soft wrap around light.

Raymon David

Throughout the shooting session, I kept Raymon occupied by simply…chatting. He’s a well accomplished guy who has travelled and seen the world. He’s happily married with 3 children. When asked will he ever consider coming back to Malaysia, he simply said no, citing a much better quality of life in the US as his reason for staying put. The social and economical benefits his family enjoys there are just too much for him to leave behind. I understood all too well.

Some may argue, “There’s no place like home”, while others claim racism and second-class citizen treatment in a foreign land amongst other reasons to succumb to the temptation of returning to Malaysia. Truth be told, I personally rather get treated like scums in the eyes of “some” hooligans but flourish in a land of merits, than putting up with “mostly” psycho idiots and systems that devoid of common sense; systems that constantly rape your heart, soul and mind.

Before we bid our goodbyes, Raymon was kind enough to help bring back some Project Exodus flyers to be distributed. It may not be that significant a move in contributing to the awareness of this project, but hopefully, it will catch the attention of some Malaysians there.

All it takes is just one zealous Malaysian to catch the bug at any distribution point (e.g. news stands, coffee house, community hall, restaurant, theatre etc), before he/she further drives this initiative through his/her network. Of course digital methods work better. I’m just widening my net.

9 down. 46 more to go. Hope I can complete all 55 portraits before next year’s Independence Day.

Posted in 1Blunder, Exodus, Portraits, Strobist · Tagged 1blunder, brain drain, exodus, malaysians abroad, portraits, projects, strobist · Leave a Reply ·
June 28, 2011

Dancing away in objection with Tony Yap

My eighth candidate for Project Exodus; Tony Yap, an accomplished dancer, director, choreographer and visual artist. Born in Malaysia, Tony Yap has been away for 35 years, living and working in Australia. His critically acclaimed works in dancing has taken him to many countries and have seen him collaborated with dancers from around the world.

Tony has received numerous nominations and awards including his solo work The Decay of the Angel which won him a Green Room Award for Best Male Dancer. He’s currently back in Malaysia to prepare for Melaka Art Festival 2011, scheduled to take place in November this year. The very same Melaka Art Festival which concluded in November 2010 was a successful hit.

Tony Yap who runs the Tony Yap Company, formerly known as Mixed Company, was at the office of E-Plus Entertainment Productions, the event company charged with managing and organising the Melaka Art Festival 2011.

A tall lanky guy who looks rather muscular, his physique spoke of him as a dancer indeed. He was very friendly and always smiling, whose eyes would lit up whenever he talks about his works and dancing. I looked around the small office for a suitable place to shoot.

A bright red wall on the far side of the office next to the entrance caught my attention. I needed something simple. As I was in a rush, I decided to just use the background. I also thought the fiery red tone would best portray Tony as an energetic dancer. Coupled with a serious and pensive look which I told him to put on, the resulting image was something I’m more than happy with.

Tony Yap

Tony Yap

The setup shot below showed an improvised Manfrotto light stand used as a boom by my “voice-activated light stand” assistant. I had it placed above Tony’s head, slightly forward and away from his face to ensure his face catches the soft wrap-around feathered light, instead of bearing the full brunt of the light. This setup also gives the “snooted” look where only his upper torso and face are lit by this key light, while his lower torso goes dark (hence the vignette effect; partly also due to the background separation light too).

Lighting setup for Tony Yap

I also arranged for a second strobe on a light stand right behind/beneath him, zoomed at 105mm to hit the wall, thus separating him from the background. I shot with a 24-70 L IS, at ISO 100, 1/200 sec, f/8, using the 7D’s on-camera flash as on-axis fill, which also doubles up as a trigger for both the umbrella-ed key and background strobes.

Posted in 1Blunder, Arts, Exodus, Portraits, Strobist · Tagged 1blunder, artists, arts, brain drain, dancer, exodus, malaysians abroad, photography, portraits, projects, strobist, tony yap · Leave a Reply ·
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