A brief history - how it all started
But anyway, to answer your question, let's take the time machine to travel back to 2004. Back then, to own a digital camera, you have to be significantly... wealthy. And a few friends I hang around with owns a digital camera. At that time, all I have in my head was how amazing it is that such small thing has the ability to stop and capture a moment in time. And this may sound unbelievable coming from me, what fueled my spark of interest was... jealousy. Weird, but I went home that day, demanding a camera from my parents. Because as a child, honestly, I have this mindset that parents can make anything happen, like they're magic or something. I was honestly disappointed when I heard "I'm sorry but we can't afford it. Besides, what are you gonna use it for anyway?". Like a child, I sulked about it for a while. I forgot about it eventually, for a few months.
A few months after that, I found my parents' camera hidden in the corner of a drawer. It's this classic canon camera that uses film. It's not digital. So you have no preview whatsoever. So I sneaked it to school the next day, and start snapping away. I remember very vividly I started with taking pictures of recess, my friends - juniors and seniors alike - running around the field playing basketball or riding a scooter and etc. And I went home that day begging my dad to develop the film at the photo shop. I was satisfied with what came out. I keep doing just that in the next few years, capturing the fun, whenever I had the opportunity. Or whenever I've saved enough money to buy film.
Fast forward to 2009, I joined the "photography and adventure club" at school. And I still took pictures with my film camera. The film camera stayed with me for quite a long time. Until I got frustrated that my photos are starting to not turn out nicely and it was seen as... not so nice. and then I've got my first... well not really, second digital phone. You know, the one with camera. Yeah.And start taking better... average photos?
I really wish I could show you but I'm too embarrassed of my older photos HAHAHAHA. But anyway, you can still see some on this blog, because 2009 is also coincidentally the year I started blogging. maybe, I think. But I lost majority of the old photos I printed through a natural disaster.
By 2010, I've learnt how to effectively persuade people and at the same time, I manage to borrow DSLR from people. And I learnt that DSLR gives good quality pictures. I started learning on my own the "how-to" of photography, I'll explain that in a later paragraph. But at that time, I also figured out that my parents are not magic. Which means, we probably couldn't afford it. So I waited, I start being patient, and continued borrowing people's camera. People mostly don't mind when I do that, at least there's more of themselves in their pictures, and I take great pictures (what an obnoxious statement).
However, I managed to ask from my mom to buy me a camera if I get great results for my 'o' levels. And kept her promise she did when I got very colourful results. She got me a tiny compact camera at the beginning of 2012, but I was happy.
I used that camera for about a year, my best companion. At times it frustrates me, especially in low lighting situation. But it's also the same device that helped me find my best partners in crime (although there are plenty of other reasons and factors that helped us become the best of friends), we call ourselves the trio, we have an interesting "venn diagram" friendship. And I am starting to stray away from my actual subject.
But my dearest compact camera has been super amazing, it strengthens my love for nature photography. Because moving subjects (like humans) cause the photos to be bad. I'm sorry. HAHA
And moving towards the end of 2012, I received a sponsorship from the local ministry of education and the U.S embassy to attend the South East Asian Youth Leadership Program (SEAYLP) at the United States of America! It's exciting and all that, and I managed to stay as far away from shopping as possible and managed to save up my allowance to buy my very own DSLR - a canon 650D.
And of course, I manage to take better quality photos with that baby. I never neglect my mom's gift though, I use it every now and then to make my life easier - rather than carrying bulky gears. But my 650D and I have been on great adventure.
My love for photography explained - A World Of My Own
Simply because of the challenge it sets for myself. Many people have the misconception that photographing is a lazy job. Or maybe it's something you can do as long as you have a good, nice and super expensive camera. No guys, it's not as easy as you may think. But I'm not complaining. The challenge is the thing that makes me happy.
Because honestly, after each adventure or each event, carrying all those gears will take a toll on your body. Your back, your arms, your legs, EVERYTHING hurts. But at the end of the day, when you take a look back at your pictures... all those pain doesn't really matter.
But more than that, I'm a shy person. I'm awkward.. and I am very much used to being invisible. And photography is the only thing that allows me to take risks while ignoring my comfort zone. I could finally be me. I could be the me that I want to be, no expectations, moving at my own pace and guided by my own vision. It's the only state that I am allowed to have a world of my own. And it's also basically the only thing I don't suck at.
Taking risks: Standing on unstable spots (photo creds: Syaak)
Stepping outside the comfort zone: my friends discovered a new frog species. (photo cred: Syaak)
Usually I would be embarrassed doing this in front of other people.
Because of photography as well, I have learnt to be attentive and very appreciative of my surrounding. And hence, the world of my own. You'll get what I mean in the next photo set. I am always alert of the changes, even the tiniest (well, sort of), I will notice it. People told me that they literally see my eyes sparkle when I notice something. And I usually smile like a loon moments later. And thank you Syaak for managing to capture the next few pictures on candid, I appreciate that.
I spotted a dragon fly gliding like a boss around some branches.
My heart starts pumping so hard and my adrenaline starts rushing
I start smiling a little, my eyes never stop following it's every move
I think I saw the perfect angle to capture the photo at this moment
And I got my shot.
(I'll upload that in a later post)
It really is just so hard to describe in words. But from the photo set, the best way I could summarise it, is that doing this just literally fill my heart with great and positive emotions.
And oh, I also happen to suck at explaining things without visual. so... yeah. (see, that bad habit again)
How? - A story of how my brain and reflexes work
1. Be quick, you see an opportunity.. take it!
2. Take risks. You might look weird in that pose but.. just do it. Don't be shy. (sometimes, it can be my weakness too - being shy)
3. Be motivated, always.
4. Take risks (again) - learn to discover your own angle... and styles.
5. Experiment, A LOT
6. Use your technology, there's google.
7. Be genuine, don't lie. It'll make your work a work of art, a very authentic work of art.
8. Get inspired, be inspired.
9. Do it because you love it, do it for passion, do it because you know you will never ever get bored of it.
10. Do it because with every breath you take or with every thoughts you think... you feel like picking up the camera and go shoot something.
11. Do it to connect and to get your message across.
That's the end of my super long post, I should start considering writing a book. And if you have any other questions you'd like me to answer, leave a message!
