images of a physical reality

Really, the one thing I realised is that being in publishing, holidays means more work. I’ve neglected this blog for so long that I feel like I’m sinning a lil’. Recent events have not helped that I’m overloaded with work. Well, maybe that’s pushing it a lil’ but it still feels like more than what I should be doing. The word exploitation comes to mind but I guess I have to be thankful that I got it better than others that I could mention.

Confusion is the next thing that comes to mind as the more I try to arrange the many loose pieces floating around in my life, it seems like another piece is always missing. Nothing fits and I somehow feel that it has a lot to do with me losing the pieces in the first place. Only, I can’t seem to figure out where I left them. The turmoil doesn’t make it any easier and juggling so many aspects of my life has never been harder. The only positive that I can say is that I’m still in the black in spite of paying off all my debts this month. I’m amazed that I managed to do so. Must be God blessing me for all my hard work.

Big plans have emerged that hopefully will mark another milestone in my life. My plans are rather risky in a sense but if I surpass myself, I’m sure that I stand to reap the rewards. Of course, it would seem like I’m defecting to many people but then again, I doubt many would blame me for it. And, more people would stand to benefit than lose from this venture and I’m a utilitarian at heart.

I’ve just sold off all my camera gear except for my film equipment. I’m pretty sad to see my trusty performer of 3 months leave my camp but I guess it’s time for me to move on to greener pastures. Thank you for producing great pictures to me for all these times. In a sense, I rented the camera for 3 months before passing it on to its true owner. I still need another five thousand to get most of the equipment I need. I’m still wondering when and where am I gonna get all that money. For someone who doesn’t earn much, having cash in hand is quite a feat in its own right.

The matters of the heart shall be left unsaid.

Just came back from Kuantan after spending 3 days there driving all around Pahang looking for their very very hard to locate waterfalls. I never realised that Malaysia had so much natural beauty all around the country and to visit them is such an eye-opener. Makes me want to buy a nice 4WD and go off-road just to visit these places. Was there following another photographer who’s on an assignment for the state of Pahang to photograph their waterfalls and jungles for a guidebook. I never realised that the government paid out RM20,000 for such a project. Makes me place high hopes on the industry yet again. If only I had more contacts who gave out such jobs hmm…..

The sad thing about all this is that the state government doesn’t really put much money into maintaining these locations which is so strange to me. The state government has erected useless buildings in these places but have scrimped on road maintainence that makes these locations accessible to the general public in the first place. At one of our destinations, I had to endure one of the worst types of terrain which my poor Hyundai Getz barely managed to face a dead end where the road has been swept away by a river making the waterfall totally inaccessible unless we hiked by foot and it was too far in to hike on foot in the first place.

Since it’s the holidays, I have made it my mission to take as many pictures as I can this week. Thus, I’ll be photographing the streets of KL in hopes of capturing a very rare image of an empty KL. However, today’s efforts were wasted as there was still many people shopping around in the KL area. Shall try again tomorrow night. Also, I’m doing a shoot on a flyover tomorrow morning with another photographer and a model friend of mine. It’s a conceptual piece and I can’t wait to see the result. I’m quite sure no one has tried using that place before so we shall be the first to do so there.

I’m also photographing another friend to show a totally unusual side of her. I plan to put some gothic makeup on her, simple tank top and show anger and desparation. The best part is, she’s one real sweet girl where no one would believe such a look comes from her. Another guy friend of mine will also be my model tomorrow and I’m following a similar concept. Being a nice looking boy, I shall photograph him in an unusual stance and wardrobe together with an actual human’s skull. I’m thinking Macbeth but that might be too obvious. Look out for some pictures pretty soon!