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PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY

What is portrait photography? Portrait photography is the art of capturing a person’s expression, personality, mood, and presence. While the face is usually the main focus, a portrait can also include body posture, environment, and lighting to tell a story about the subject. Good portrait photography reveals something deeper — character, emotion, or a moment worth remembering. How to capture great portraits Here are practical guidelines you can apply immediately: 1. Focus on the eyes The eyes are often the emotional anchor of a portrait. Make sure they are sharp and well-lit — they naturally draw viewers in. 2. Use soft, flattering light Natural light from a window, shade outdoors, or soft indoor lighting can prevent harsh shadows. Soft light creates a gentle, pleasant atmosphere, especially for children. 3. Get the right background A clean or softly blurred background keeps attention on the subject. Avoid clutter or elements that compete for the viewer’s gaze. 4. Capture emotion and a...

CAFE CULTURE- A LIFESTYLE

My cafe culture began in September 2003 when my friend Awang Goneng and I went to Paris for a short holiday trip. He brought me to Latin Quarters and we ended up in Les Deux Magots. That was where I learned to sip my espresso and watch beautiful people walking the streets of Paris. As they say, the rest is history in the making. I am not qualified to articulate the cafe culture but I wish to share a few photos I took during my travels and living an ordinary life in Malaysia as a series of five photos per week. These photos were taken from all over the world(so to speak) over a period of more than twenty years. Here is the first one in the series.. In this posting, I am sharing photos taken in Paris, Kuala Lumpur, Kota Bharu, London and Utrecht in the Netherlands. What is cafe culture to me? Here is a short repertoire: Cafe culture as a lifestyle represents a way of living centered around social, creative, and contemplative activities in the relaxed and inviting environment of cafes. It...

APPLE STORE-TRX, KL

Capturing the Essence of the Apple Store, TRX Kuala Lumpur When I visited the Apple Store in TRX Kuala Lumpur, I was struck by its architectural clarity — clean lines, open spaces, and the play of reflections that seem to merge people, glass, and light into one continuous visual experience. To capture its unique features, I chose to photograph the store from a distance, framing both floors within a single composition. This perspective allowed me to reveal the store’s transparent design — a hallmark of Apple’s architectural philosophy that celebrates openness and interaction. The large illuminated Apple logo became the focal point, glowing like a beacon in the center, while the human activity inside — customers exploring, learning, and engaging — brought the image to life. The two-level view shows the seamless flow between the spaces: the upper floor where people sit and learn, and the lower floor where others explore and connect. By using black and white, I aimed to emphasize the geome...

Kuala Lumpur After Dark: A Social Documentary of the Night

Night transforms Kuala Lumpur into a different city. The heat softens, shadows lengthen, and the streets begin to tell stories that daylight often misses. The above photograph captures one such moment—an ordinary alley illuminated by lanterns, neon lights, and the quiet movements of people sharing the same space, yet living different narratives. At first glance, the scene feels festive. Rows of glowing lanterns hang overhead, casting a warm, almost nostalgic light. They hint at culture, celebration, and tradition. But beneath this visual charm lies a layered social reality. People walk past one another without interaction—some absorbed in their phones, others strolling casually, a few pausing briefly before moving on. Together, they form a rhythm of urban night life that is calm, routine, and unglamorous. This is not the nightlife often marketed to tourists—no loud music, no spectacle, no performance. Instead, it is everyday nightlife. Workers ending their shifts. Visitors exploring un...

The Beauty of Tulips — Keukenhof, 9 May 2017

  Standing before a field of tulips in Keukenhof is like stepping into a living painting—one that breathes, sways, and radiates colour with every shift of light. Your photograph captures that magic perfectly. The tulips rise in layers, a harmonious chaos of pinks, reds, whites, corals, and deep purples, each bloom carrying its own personality yet contributing to a unified symphony of colour. At the centre of the frame, a single magenta tulip stands proudly—slightly taller, slightly bolder, as if aware of its moment in front of your Fujifilm X100T. This flower becomes the visual anchor, drawing the eye before letting it wander gently across the surrounding sea of petals. Every tulip seems to glow softly from within, its translucent petals catching the cool Dutch light in the way only tulips in early May can. Keukenhof itself has a way of slowing time. In this image, you can almost feel the crisp spring air, the scent of damp earth, and the quiet rustle of leaves as visitors walk pas...

NATION WIDE PHOTOWALK FOR MALAYSIA DAY 16/9/2025

  Today, I took part and walked solo around Bandar Baru Bangi. The assignment was to walk in your place from 8am to 9.02am. It is entitled 626262 WALK. 

COMPARISON BETWEEN MY IPHONE 14 ProMax VS FUJIFILM XT20

No camera is suitable for every occasion. Here is a simple comparison. Both have their own strengths and weaknesses, and I love both. When I go photowalking with friends, I use more smartphones than the Fujifilm XT20. FUJIFILM XT20 iPhone 14 Pro Max (Smartphone) vs Fujifilm X-T20 (Mirrorless) – Image Quality Breakdown IPHONE 14 PRO MAX 1. Sensor & Processing iPhone 14 Pro Max Uses a 48 MP quad-pixel sensor that down-samples to 12 MP by default; ProRAW unlocks full 48 MP output   . Features Apple’s “Photonic Engine” that enhances detail, color, and low-light performance via computational photography  . Produces excellent detail, color accuracy, and dynamic range—especially in daylight; however, images sometimes show over-sharpening on foliage/glossy textures  . DXOMARK cites strengths like vivid color, wide dynamic range, sharp detail, and low noise; potential drawbacks include clipping highlights and noise indoors  . Fujifilm X-T20 Features a...