Merry Christmas!

Christmas Tree
Originally uploaded by Lye Hock.

Portrait workshop

Nadia 06
Originally uploaded by Lye Hock.

Attended a portrait workshop organized by Zamrud (nickname in Shutter Asia). Learnt some of the basic studio lighting techniques and the various type of lighting in portraiture. Some tips on photoshopping was included but we ran out of time to get more tips from Zamrud.

This shot of Nadia the model for the day was done using "glamour" lighting. Basic skin smoothening applied on the final image.

Villa Illias

DSC_8298
Originally uploaded by Lye Hock.

This was the night scene looking out from our room balcony at the Villa Illias in Santorini Island. On the right is a cruise ship anchored for the night.

Santorini Island

Blue dome
Originally uploaded by Lye Hock.

Post guided tour, we flew to Santorini island, one of the many that dot the coastlines of Greece. This part of the vacation was probably the best. Santorini is so picturesque that it feels like almost heavenly.

These blue domed churches are all over the island. We were told that in the past each time a fisherman goes out to sea, he would pray for a safe voyage and to be able to come home. In return, he would build a church as a gesture of gratitude. So over the years so many of such churches were built.

Greek women

Greek delights
Originally uploaded by Lye Hock.

The women in Greece are gorgeous! Mediterranean climate gives them a warm and healthy colour and their skin flawless. Dark eyes probably from Persian and Turkish influence...

King Leonidas

King Leonidas
Originally uploaded by Lye Hock.

A statue of King Leonidas of the Spartas. This is the actual site in Thermopylae where 300 Spartans fought to the last with almost 1 million Persian soldiers. If you've seen the movie "300", you'd know the story.

Greek salad

Greek salad
Originally uploaded by Lye Hock.

Signature salad in Greek cuisine. Other than the salty feta cheese and olives, the rest of the salad comprise of the usual stuff you put in a salads.

Archaelogical ruins in Greece

Temple of Apollo
Originally uploaded by Lye Hock.

The tour started from Athens-Corinth-Mycenae-Epidaurus-Nauplia-Deiphi-Meteora-Thermopylae-Athens. Some of the interesting ruins and artifacts which date back to the BC era can be viewed here.

Greece tour

Orthodox priest
Originally uploaded by Lye Hock.

Early this month we went on a tour of Greece under Globus. As we were in Athens before the start of the tour, we had the chance to wander around the city on our own.

I had before the trip got the Nikon D700 and despite its heft, it had to be brought along to test its capabilty. Wanting to sniper some street scenes, I got the Nikkor 70-300VR to accompany the camera. You can check out some of the street shots here, mostly in Syntagma Square and the nearby Plaka area.

Nikon D700 !

The Portrait
Originally uploaded by -stockie-.

Bit the bullet and went full frame last weekend...hello available light photography and goodbye flash!

For starters, the viewfinder is great and low noise in high iso means I'll be getting more shots than before even in not so good light. Will be using the existing 35, 50 & 85 lenses for the time being until I get the 1st of the "holy trinity" i.e. the Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8.

ISO 6400 on Nikon D700

DSC_0159a
Originally uploaded by dpnikon.

This is what ISO6400 looks like on a Nikon D700. Absolutely amazing. Digital noise is hardly noticeable. D3 sensor on a smaller body at 2/3 the price....

A Nite of Broadway

AD2008-01
Originally uploaded by Lye Hock.

That was the theme of my company's annual dinner held earlier this month. As usual, the colors and energy seen in the event was awesome!

More pictures in my Flickr gallery here.

AF-S DX NIKKOR 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR

New lens
Originally uploaded by Lye Hock.

Got this mid-range walkabout lens recently. Seems to be much sharper at all focal lengths as compared to the Nikkor 18-200 VR. It doesn't do any zoom creep either. A definite plus point. Pity it's a DX lens though.

Borneo Coffee

Black coffee
Originally uploaded by Lye Hock.

New coffee joint in Taiping. Pretty relaxing place. Wi-fi enabled. Cheaper than Starbucks or Coffee Bean...

Wantan Noodles

Noodles
Originally uploaded by Lye Hock.

Pretty difficult to get good wantan noodles in Taiping these days. My favourite was the stall in Tai Chien coffeeshop but the guy passed on few years ago and no one is continuing on the trade. The stall in Tong Ah coffeeshop is still there but lately the taste is just so-so. Wantan noodles up north Ipoh included, has that springy chewy texture which is really great. Would be nice to find a stall here in the Klang Valley which serves that kind of wantan noodles.

Retirement

Sad to go...
Originally uploaded by Lye Hock.

Such a negative word to me. As if one has ceased to be relevant anymore in the working world. At 55 for most of us there's still so much left to contribute. But when companies can hire people half your age at a fraction of the cost and seemingly do the same work, the choice appears obvious. To my colleague Swee Peng, I know you'll find fulfilment in the next phase of your life. Take a break, bro...

Kimchi

Kimchi
Originally uploaded by Lye Hock.

Peter's birthday was celebrated last weekend in Desa Sri Hartamas at a Korean reastaurant called Bon. Quite a nice clean place with good ambience. Lots of pickled & fermented veg to go with the meat. Korean wine was something else though. Smoke from the BBQed meat was cleverly diverted out through many ventilation outlets. Thoroughly enjoyed the meal and emerged from the place without having like coming out from a smokehouse.....

Steamboat

Steamboat
Originally uploaded by Lye Hock.

The aunties from Taiping & Penang dropped by the place over the Wesak weekend last month.

Photoshopping...

Ily 03
Originally uploaded by Lye Hock.

Read somewhere that said....time & photoshop heal all wounds. Was doing a spot of portraiture at the current watering hole in Samantha's Pub & Bistro. Most shots of the girls need some heavy "healing" procedures. Must be the strain of late nights and the smoky joint getting into the way of healthier skin.

Decided to also put up a dedicated site via blogspot for the various shots taken in Samantha's.

Fashion at The Curve

Nichii 03
Originally uploaded by Lye Hock.

And not to be outdone by 1U, the neighbouring Curve shopping mall also had a fashion weekend although on a smaller scale.

Fashion on 1

Promod 03
Originally uploaded by Lye Hock.

The annual fashion show at 1 Utama mall was held over two weekends in April/May 2008. Shot this with the humble Nikon D80 and the Nikkor 85mm f/1.8 to get sharper results. The Nikkor 18-200mmVR just didn't cut it in terms of sharpness although more versatile with its zoom range. There must have been a record number of photographers this year.

Aishah got married

Aishah 08
Originally uploaded by Lye Hock.

Colleague Aishah got hitched last Saturday. Congrats to the both of you!

Benkay Nikko Hotel

Teppanyaki beef
Originally uploaded by Lye Hock.

Had a great Japanese dinner at Benkay in Nikko Hotel some weeks back with our neighbours Tony, Jenny, Desmond & May. Dessert back at Jenny's place with coffee Nescafe Blend 43, we're told quite famous in Australia but not found here. Good coffee....

Nikon D200

Nikon D200 + Tamron 17-50mm
Originally uploaded by Lye Hock.

The Triumph show was the swan song for my D200. Sold it together with the MB-D200 recently. The Tamron lens was disposed of earlier to a Shutter Asia member. Will be using the Nikon D80 fofr the time being while I ponder whether the D300 is worth the while with its superior high ISO performance.

Triumph fashion show

T-01
Originally uploaded by Lye Hock.

A lingerie product showcase teaming up with local designers so that the innerwear only makes a peek-a-boo appearance........Bumped into KK Chan at the show who used the same Nikon 18-200mmVR lens.

Cheng Beng weekend

Golden eyes
Originally uploaded by Lye Hock.

A stone sculpture near my grandma's grave in the Taiping hokkien cemetery. We were back for the Cheng Beng prayers 2 weeks ago.

Birthday Banquet

SP8
Originally uploaded by Lye Hock.

Attended our company chairman's birthday bash over the weekend at the Sunway Convention Centre.

It was also the country's 12th General Election on that day and most of us were getting text updates on the mobile. Big changes ahead from the messages coming through. And it was only in the early morning that we realise that there is hope after all for change to happen.....

More pictures of the event in my Flickr gallery.

Vegetarian dish

Loh hon chye
Originally uploaded by Lye Hock.

A favourite vegetarian dish served only on the 1st day of CNY at the Taiping house.

Joss sticks

Joss sticks
Originally uploaded by Lye Hock.

Midnight prayers with big joss sticks and firecrackers to welcome the God of Prosperity during Chinese New Year.

Happy Chinese New Year!

Lion face
Originally uploaded by Lye Hock.

Happy New Year of the Rat to all !

Hopefully the traffic will be merciful this year for the trip back to Taiping.......

Samantha's

Beer crew
Originally uploaded by Lye Hock.

Had been hanging out with the HH gang since end last year at this watering joint. It's true after all. A big camera is a babe magnet.....not the guy holding it!

Prancing lion

Prancing lion
Originally uploaded by Lye Hock.

Had a mini TT session among the regular photo buffs and shot this lion dance routine at the CineLeisure area in The Curve. Part of the run-up to the Chinese New Year celebrations early next month.

American War

US Air Force
Originally uploaded by Lye Hock.

The Vietnamese called it the American War. At the Military History Museum in Hanoi, enemy planes shot down or captured were proudly displayed. Enemies in this instant were first the French who were defeated at Dien Bien Phu in 1954 and then the Americans in 1975. Total American planes shot down were more than 33,000. Amazing...

Halong Bay

Hazy horizon
Originally uploaded by Lye Hock.

We took a 1 day tour to Halong Bay which cost us USD20 pax. Travel time is a long 3.5 hour ride (one-way) in a small bus. Designated a World Heritage site by UNESCO, the bay tour is really popular. You can in fact sleep overnight in one of the boats that ply the route. As it was winter, temperature was a chilly 15-18C daytime.

Hanoi Vietnam

Cool bikers
Originally uploaded by Lye Hock.

Last week we took a short vacation in Hanoi. First time in Vietnam, we wanted to see what it has to offer and experience their culture. Hanoi is a city of 4 million people but at times there seems to be more motorcycles than people. And traffic is really heavy & disorganised. Blaring their horns is a norm. From my observation I think if you can drive in Hanoi, you can drive anywhere in the world!

More photos in my Flickr gallery.