Coming in at 8th place of the ‘Framing the Subject’ category, was an image from Krist + Diana’s solemnization. As much as it seems like an image that was carefully framed and shot, the moment between K + D was totally candid and unposed. They had snuck away during dinner for some quiet time together, whilst chatting and standing in front of a mirror in the reception area, Krist leaned in to give Diana a peck on her cheeks. *Click.

It was one of those moments that just transpired at the right place, at the right time. An image I personally really like and am delighted that others have thought of it worthy to be awarded.

Congrats are also in order for a bunch of my fellow WPNer’s, who also placed tops in the contest.

Emotions: AG|WPJA Q2 2010 Award
True emotion needs no declaration.

Food and Drink: WPJA Q2 2010 Award.
It doesn’t matter how you say your ‘I ♥ you’, as long as you do.

Woot! Woot! The image that was recently awarded at [AG]WPJA has garnered a Third place in the 2009 Brides magazine & WPJA contest in the Kids category. It’s trippy to note that I am the only Singaporean who placed anywhere in this contest. And I’m not letting it get to my head, because I know how good all the other photographers are. So…I’m not sure what else to say except, “Wow. Awesome. Sweet”.

Find out about the story behind the image here.

Check out the details on the contest at WPJA and Brides Magazine.

It’s been a a little busy this season with wedding shoots, commercial jobs, the editing that comes after and attending some workshops. And it was a pleasant surprise a couple of weeks back to learn that [AG]WPJA saw fit to award a place for a moment I captured earlier in the year.

Ann+Sebastian’s lovely wedding was held on Valentine’s Day at the Botanic Gardens this year. The solemnization at the garden’s Band Stand was followed by a fantastic course lunch at Halia Restaurant, which I was so humbled to have had a place set for me together with the couple’s guests. If I do recall correctly, I had chosen the beef main – yums. It was towards the end of lunch, when I noticed Ann had gathered her flower girls and some of the guests’ daughters for a stroll in the gardens. By this time, the couple’s contracted slot for photography service had ended, but for some reason that afternoon I decided to stay on a little bit longer.

So I trailed the entourage back into the gardens, where they were heading towards the bandstand. The girls were in a world of their own, looking at flowers and basically running circles around the bride playing with Ann’s bridal train. Unbeknownst to the older girls, the youngest flower girl had been having some difficulty with her long dress – she had been stepping on the hem and had to pause several times as she drew breath to catch up with the rest of the girls. It was when they hit the flight of stairs – skipped, hopped and jumped to the top, did they totally forget about our little flower girl here. As I saw this happening, I stood back and observed her lifting her dress up as she tried her best to catch up to her posse…*click*

This was a one-off moment that I cannot imagine would ever happen again nor could I ever capture again unless contrived. Which is just it. Moments like this happen only once, not staged, scripted, rehearsed, nor re-shot after an ‘N.G’ take. And that is what I love, to observe a moment in time, clicking open the shutter and feeling the warmth of knowing that I caught a genuine moment.

PS: She did catch up to the rest of the girls at the top of the stairs.

Ok well, I was surprised to receive an award mention over at [AG]WPJA for an image I actually just posted on the blog, of Hai li and Yung Hern’s wedding. The shot was taken of the couple during a surprise dance routine of the lindy hop. None of the guests nor us (Eadwine of Plush Photography and Yang from Substance Films) knew about it until the couple got jiggy with it on the dance floor. I really wish I had captured it from the other side of the dance floor with Yung’s face. But as things happen the way it normally does (blink and you’d miss it), I was on this side of the dance floor. And maybe the humour is in that, as the kids watch on blowing bubbles.

In anycase, Live long and Prosper \v/.

Now, if I can just quote the Brain – “…same thing we do everyday Pinky. Try to take over the world!”

Apart from counting chocolate and caffiene as my vices, a sin I guiltyly indulge in is – vanity. A vanity for knowing I capture intimate moments, a vanity for loving beautiful images and a vanity to be recognised amongst others for the effort I put into my work. And not all vanity is bad. Because it makes me strive to work harder, strive to improve my craft and strive to be a better person.

So it is nice to know some of my efforts pay off, when I watch people smile when they view the images I deliver. And it is nice to know that peers amongst me recognise that – in the form of a small mention in an image competition.

Wecomp08: 25th Place – Ceremony Category 

There are several wedding photography competitions around, but the impetus for participating in Wedcomp08 is from knowing that a sizable amount benefits a cause to Thirst Relief - whose mission -

…is to overcome death and disease resulting from the consumption of contaminated water by providing safe, clean drinking water to those in need around the world.

And why is clean drinking water important? That cannot be more poignant if you caught Flow on Okto the other night. Something us Singaporeans in a land of natural water scarcity should be more aware of. And to put the money where their mouths are, judges from Wedcomp08 didn’t receive any monetary compensation for their time – who included Cliff Mautner and Jennifer Bebb. 

Perhaps my image wasn’t placed in the top 10, but I hope some of my sins or some form of karma has been cleared. Cliched perhaps to say so, but at least I know where my entry fees went to.

The award mentioned image was taken from Liyann and Jimmy’s wedding, of which I shot with Eadwine of Plush Photography. Who has a top 10 placed image in the Getting Ready category.