Pudu Jail Demolition - 21.06.2010

"It stood for over a century and it took minutes to tear it down..." says SapphireBombay .

Our government decided not to keep Pudu Jail as one of the heritage site although it is more than 100 years old. The Pudu Jail wall, stretching about 300 meters, was demolished at 10pm last night.

I think it is such a waste to tear down the wall, knowing that it was once the world longest mural painting on the prison wall, painted by 3 prisoner during that time. At least I think they should preserve part of the wall because it has such a great history. As for the prison itself, I always thought it is a nice scene for a movie, it looks old and creepy, but now I would never have the chance to be filming in it anymore.

Last night, after I heard about the news, I decided to head over to Pudu Jail with my 550D to film part of the demolition, no tripod, no tracking, no steadicam this time... but just a camera and a lens, to capture what witnessed from my eyes. Leaving its memories and the last few pictures of the wall into a short video.

The lighting condition at the main entrance area was very poor, I got to set my camera ISO up to 3200, even 6400 with 2.8 f-stop. But when I moved to the side where they actually started the demolition, because of the spot lights, the ISO could decrease all the way down to 100, which is alot better. At there, you can see so many photographers and videographers making their chance to get the last coverage of the walls and broken pieces. Big cameras, small digicams, camera lights, external mic... lots of equipments, then I started to regret I should at least bring a monopod to get some steady shots.

After the shoot and supper with Gary, I reached home about 2am. Immediately I proceed with the editing and it's about 6am in the morning I uploaded it onto the web. And now I feel so grateful that this clip has been spreading so widely in the facebook and twitters, receiving lots of comments like I never had from all my previous videos.

THANK YOU very much! Not only for liking my works, but more importantly to spread this to the world, and to many many people who has or has not realized this action of government, who grew up walking by pass the wall, and who would remember the name... Pudu Jail (1895-2010).



Some of the video snapshots:












Shot entirely with 1 Canon 550D + 17-50mm f2.8 Tamron.
Edited and color graded in FCP.

Youtube link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9RC_ok-NxWw

D1 Production facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/D1-PRODUCTION/117380118293932

THAIPUSAM - the trailer

Thaipusam is a Hindu festival celebrated mostly by the Tamil community, and also known as the largest gathering of multi-races in Malaysia. It is a day to celebrate the birth of Lord Murugan, as well as the occasion when He was given a spear to defeat the demon.

I've been photographing this special event at Batu Caves temple for the past 2 years, and thanks to Canon 7D, this year I am able to capture the moving pictures!

With the help from my former colleague KahHooi, assistance from Gary and ChinHong, we have shot this mini-documentary about Thaipusam. Special thanks to Kesu and his family and friends for being so kind to us, allowing us to capture the entire procession through them.

It was quite a heavy shoot for me, really tired, because we started shooting a day before like about 5pm, and continuously non-stop shooting until the next day morning 9am. Imagine after many hours of standing and walking and running along with the procession, then about 5am in the morning, we had to climb the 272 steps up to the temple cave, carrying the cameras with steadicam, tripod and bags... and then walk down again! I admit my leg was shaking during the climb, and did feel dizzy sometimes, but I just kept telling myself that I could do this... and I have to do this... We did it, and we were all happy!

Now I have to use my possibly free times to edit this piece, and I hope it will turn out well to share with everybody. :)

I figured we didn't manage to get a group photo, so sorry... Here's the only photo taken from behind the scene, it's me shooting the time lapse at where the procession takes place.

*Photo from ChinHong

Anyway, hope you will like the trailer! :)

Thaipusam 2009

My most favorite picture taken from last year's Thaipusam.
This year, it's gonna be moving pictures. Stay tune! :)

A 7D Documentary - 20 Years Initiator 风雷二十

My first short documentary shot entirely with 7D.

"风雷二十" "20 Years Initiator" is an chinese cultural orchestra performance by 专艺民族乐团 Professional Cultural Center Orchestra, celebrating their good 20 years in Malaysia since 1989.

I spent 2 days to shoot this documentary, 1st day at their training center and the next day at the actual performing hall. It was a great experience staying close to these musician especially during their training period. believe me, it sounds alot better than listening from under the stage.

I know the audios are real bad in this piece... I was really sad about it, having so minimal control over the mic and the location has never been quieter for the interviews. Gotta save more money for a better mic now...

Filmed, edited and directed by me. My girlfriend as assistant and helped with on-spot file transferring. Thanks to the musician- Shan Fei & Xi Qin for their helps, and everyone else for the co-operation along the shoot.

Shot with a 7D, 1080 25p.
Edited and graded in Avid Xpress ProHD.
lens used:
EF-S 17-85mm
EF 50mm f1.4
EF 70-200 f4

Thanks for watching! :)

D HOME

Yeah, my house.

It's all began with Xiang helping her friends to look for a house in the condo I lived and there we came across with this agent. And that was about 2 months ago...

That time, the rental contract of the unit I lived-in previously is about to end in end of Sept, so it's either we continue to rent for another year, or we moved out. Ofcoz we've been planning to buy a house and doing some research from time to time. So when Xiang introduced the agent to her friend, we asked her to show us some available units as well.

Then she recommended us to this house. It is the largest among the 3 type of unit in this condo, and is selling out at a lower price. Why? Because this house was rent out to some irresponsible tenants that pissed of the owner. They didn't pay for their rentals, water bills and even electricity... and messed up the house so bad. Eventually the owner has no choice but to bare the overdue bills himself after rejected them out. Next, is to sell the house, cheaper.

And what coincidence, the owner is also from Kelantan. So samo-samo kelate, very easy to talk lah. Because we need to move in before Oct, he even agreed to give us the key before the bank loan is done, so that we can start the renovation straight away.


The revolution:

16.08.2009 - Research & planning. Below show the early stage of my 3D plan.


24.08.2009 - Renovation began. See how bad was the condition of the house.






29.08.2009 - done with the wiring and air-con cables. I added in around 20 electric outlets around the house.


31.08.2009 - Repaint. Why blue? Beach boy mah!




02.09.2009 - Shopping shopping shopping!! Don't know how many times I go Ikea every week... @@


05.09.2009 - Hook up the lights, change the locks, aluminum windows, doors...


07.09.2009 - Ikea delivery...


12.09.2009 - My parent came down to help with the assembly.




20.09.2009 - Xiang's mum helped with the "ceremony".




I moved in on 21.09.2009. It is a good day, my mum said. :)





















Blue eyes blue, home sweet home. "Come sit sit lah when you free!" :)


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外婆 。好好走

这是一月十八号我在机场等待上飞机的时候，写下的一篇文章。



写到这里，飞机到了。

我还记得，
临走前，我独自去和外婆道别。
我说：“再过一个星期我就会回来了。”
外婆也是没有说话，只是mmm... mmm...的几声，
她好像有好多话要和我讲，只是说不出声，我也听不懂。
突然那时候我看见外婆瘦弱的右手，
很用力很用力，战抖地试着抬起来，
似乎要和我挥手道别，
我赶紧地去握起外婆的手...

我说 “哦，再见nah, mah!”


就这样一次告别后，
我再也见不到外婆了。

一月二十七日， 早上九时十七分
表妹打来的一通电话- “外婆没有了...”

外婆安详地走了。
什么也没带走，
留下来的却是一份很珍贵的礼物 - 亲情。
在那一个月里面，
大家从共处，到对彼此的尊重，
从中共同发出的多少欢笑声...
我都会记住。


外婆火化当天，
当我望着外婆的棺木给推进火房的最后一刻，
我看见了外婆，灿烂可爱的笑容。
外婆走好，
一路顺着光，到开心的极乐世界去。
不要担心我们，外公和您所有的子孙都会好好的活着。

我们都很爱您，永远怀念您。


花了很长的时间，终于完成了这一册摄影纪录 Photo Album:
【外婆。好好走 Grandma's Funeral】 (点击这里 click here to view)










摄影纪录 Photo Album:
【外婆。好好走 Grandma's Funeral】 (点击这里 click here to view)


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