Pages of INK

As promised, here are the days best photos. Enjoy!

Jump!

Cast: Pris
Photographer: INK

Say a prayer

Cast: Pris
Photographer: INK

Beijing, here I come!

Cast: Chris
Photographer: INK

Netball with a football

Cast: Priscilla An, Adeline Frances & Priscilla Tan
Photographer: Merv

What’s a small Nikon to do next to that Canon?

Cast: Junming & Vanez
Photographer: Merv

Here come the jazz dancers

Cast: Elaine & Tamar
Photographer: Merv

The juggler

Cast: Junming
Photographer: Merv

Kung Fu Hustle!

Cast: Johnnie & Davyd
Photographer: INK

Ong Bak

Cast: Davyd & Johnnie
Photographer: INK

Angels are falling from the sky!

Cast: Ruth & Vanez
Photographer: INK

I wanna be free………

Cast: Vanez
Photographer: INK

The END!!!

Cast: Ruth, Davyd, Junming, Chang Shiung, Johnnie & Vanez
Photographer: INK

Note: If I got any of the names or credits wrong, please let me know!

Popularity: 10% [?]

As mentioned in a prior blog post, today was the finals of the Hope Premiere League which featured a very pulsating and close match that ended with Evolution FC defeating FC 2024 on penalties. Highlights of the match were the underdogs Evolution taking a 2-0 lead by half time, then getting 2 men sent off in the 2nd half before FC 2024 clawed their way back to 2-2 only to see one of their own get sent off. The match ended at that and somehow or another, Evolution’s goalkeeper managed to pull off some saves to see their way to the cup!

I hardly got to watch the match though, as I was one of the participants in the Game On Carnival, a side event comprising food, drink, game stalls and a flea market. The idea behind my booth was quite simple - take action photographs of people and sell CDs of photos with proceeds going to Hope Centre, a volunteer welfare organisation under the NCSS umbrella.

Here’s a photo of Ming’s brother, Junhan (did I spell it correctly), and wifey setting off from home with all the gear destined for Aloy’s new Mazda waiting below.

Believe it or not, all these took 2 days to prepare and pack.

Here’s the crew setting up at the grandstand at Yio Chu Kang stadium. Due to budget constraints, we didn’t get a tentage in the end, so stall owners had to improvise and set up shop along the terraces. Due to circumstances unforeseen, we ended up with a booth at the far end of the grandstand which ultimately wasn’t that great for business but we still had more than enough customers to keep us reasonably busy. And I guess this being our first time doing such an outdoor event, it might not have been a bad thing!

We initially set up on a patch of grass near the track for better visibility but light rain moved us back.

Also, a big thanks to Pris for helping with the ad board which is where I want to share a short testimony. On the way there, I was semi-panicking because we didn’t have much time to set up, and everyone already had their hands full, leaving no one available to decorate the stall or create the ad board. I was praying for someone, anyone, artistic to turn up and lend a hand. Lo and behold when I was eventually on the track setting up the lighting equipment, I turned around at one point and saw Pris scribbling on the board and making it pretty. Prayers answered!

It may be nice and simple but speaks volumes in how it came together!

Ok now the meaty stuff - what kind of photos was I planning to take?

Here is a shot of Junhan on the track taken with nothing but available light. Yucks! Look at how bland the sky is and the unflattering shadows cast across the face. This is why people avoid shooting in mid-day sun.

Before…

Now add one softbox to camera left for the key light and another speedlight to camera right for the rim light, both gelled with a full CTO (with the camera balanced for flourescent, this gives the sky a bluer hue) and upped to overpower the sun by 1-2 stops (should’ve written down the exact light ratio!), and you get something like this. More dramatic isn’t it!

After!

More cool photos of the actual action shots to follow soon!

The Crew:

• Wifey and Ashley - always willing to lend both moral and physical support! Your presence throughout the whole 6 hours was touching, as you originally wanted to leave after 3.
• Merv - my main photographer, who had to juggle both this and coordinating the other bunch of event photographers.
• Gab - set up the laptops and wireless network, post processed images, showed them to customers, took orders, burnt CDs, etc. Phew! He was literally the other half of the show.
• Aloy - provided transport to and fro even though asked very last minute. Thanks a million for the spacious and very comfortable car.
• Junhan - strong dude who put his muscles to good use by helping to carry a lot of the kit, set up and stabilize the lights.
• Ming - up and coming photographer who assisted with directing, taking a few of the shots when Merv disappeared, and also with the lighting. In fact, I think he got us some customers too!

Popularity: 8% [?]

Since my last Hope Premier League update, our team (TAG United) had won a couple of games consecutively to miraculously end the season in 4th place! This meant a semifinal date with the no. 1 and unbeaten team in the league, Esmond’s FC2024. This was the same team that thrashed us 8-3 7-2 in a pre-season friendly (thanks Tiger for the correction… so it wasn’t as bad as I remembered it!) and 4-1 in the season opener.

But first, a quick recap of the results:

• [6 Jul 2008] TAG United 5-1 Team Impossible
• [15 Jun 2008] TAG United 6-4 Eastdee United
• [18 May 2008] TAG United 4-0 Pikachu United

The semifinals involves match-ups between the 1st-4th placed teams and 2nd-3rd placed teams.

Our match with FC2024 today took place at Beatty Seconday School at Braddell. As always, we started the match with a word of prayer to the Lord for protection over us and our opponents as well as for the match to be an enjoyable one.

A word of prayer. (Click on the image for the original version)

Click on the image for the original version

The first half was a tense affair and against all odds, we managed to hold the game at 0-0 with both sides having scarce opportunities at goal. We were definitely playing at a higher standard this time round and I think the FC2024 players genuinely had a hard time in midfield.

The second half was just as tight, but the hallmark of champions are that they put away opportunities when they come along, evident by a lethal volley from a cross across our goal that effectively ended our hopes of making the finals. The match ended 1-0 in FC2024’s favour and many of our players were crestfallen, though proud to have put on a really good fight. My participation in the match? An action packed 10 minutes in the 2nd half before I ran out of steam.

Here’s to all the players and supporters that have stuck through us during the past challenging and rewarding 7 months!

All together now - TAG UNITED!!! (Click on the image for the original version)

Apart from the match, I also took this opportunity to test my Elinchrom Ranger RX Speed Battery Pack and A-Head for outdoor shoots. Many thanks to all the great IslandHopies who posed for photos as well as wifey and Ashley for supporting me during the match!

My biggest fans!

Ashley had lots of fun kicking the colourful football today.

Zhiyi was asking me after the game why she is promoting Carlsberg. I had to tell her that it was a Liverpool jersey.

The genius attempts to kill some brain cells.

Samba-man shows that he can spin a ball as well as his hips.

Aloy showing that you don’t need to be a soccer player to know how to juggle a ball.

You’ve been a baaaad ball…

Not used to standing at the corner… flag. Ha!

Look at how much I won!!! (And I wonder why we lost… hmmm… J/K!)

Sarah - always a picture or poise and grace.

And Merv, the total opposite.

Can’t we all just take turns?

That’s all folks! I’ll be setting up a booth at the carnival that is taking place alongside the finals to take similar pictures for players and supporters with the proceeds going to charity. Come and support me and see you at the finals!

Date: Sunday, 17 August 2008
Time: 3 - 9 pm
Venue: Yio Chu Kang Stadium

Popularity: 27% [?]

Nothing to do with a locally produced movie of almost the same name, this is actually the number on my soccer jersey for the Hope Premier League. I chose the number 88 because read in Chinese it sounds like pa-pa which is what Ashley always calls me. Neat eh?

Anyway, our current team - TAG United (The Adults Group United) - is currently 3rd from bottom of the 11 team league with a record of 2 defeats and 1 draw. A bit unfortunate coz we’ve played all the strong and young, I repeat YOUNG, teams so far. Not a bad achievement for oldies like me to last a 90 minute match but we’re getting there.

[Update 30 Mar 2008] Our 1st win! We beat Venture 14 FC (another group of adults from the 2nd Sunday service) 3-2. Did what Arsenal did in a match the night before by coming from 2 goals down to score the winning goal minutes from the end.

[Update 13 Apr 2008] Our 2nd win! A more comfortable victory against Northeast with a final scoreline of 5-1. Still waiting to score my second league goal… but at least we’re up to 6th position now.

[Update 20 Apr 2008] Lost to Anonymous FC with a score of 2-3. Remember how we did an Arsenal few weeks ago? This time we were on the receiving end as we conceded 2 goals 5 minutes from time. Sigh!

[Update 05 May 2008] Blew it again! Drew with NYP Benchwarmers 1-1, conceeding a goal from a free kick in virtually the last minute of the game. Siiiigh!

Complete league table

Popularity: 77% [?]

Yes, it actually consists of 3 words as pointed out by my bro many moons ago.

Anyway, I spent a really sweaty afternoon today down at Tanjung Pagar CC with Pris, Gab and Andrew playing Singapore’s other favourite sport (the first one being eating). After being trashed by a “supposedly” harmless looking girl at the game few weeks ago, it was time to restore some lost pride!

Action shots from a different perspective!

After the game, Pris, Gab and I went down to Amara foodcourt to put back all the weight we had lost during the game. Pris and Gab had the most appetizing Bi-Bip-Bap I’ve ever seen while I had a large authentic thin crust Hawaiian Pizza. I seem to be craving for pizzas lately, for some strange reason, and this is the 2nd one in a week after trying what was the best Al Funghi pizza I’ve ever tasted at an Italian restaurant at China Square Central on Thursday.

Looking at these pictures in the middle of the night (about the time I’m posting this entry) make me very hungry indeed…

Finally, if you’re into J-POP like me, check out this great link I found today. *drool*

Popularity: 9% [?]

Good Friday is here again and what a wonderful day it is to be celebrating this special Christian holiday with friends from church! True to tradition, we made it a point to fellowship with one another and this year was no different - our Night Hiking event at MacRitchie Reservoir. The highlight of this event was meeting the lovely folks from the other 2 care groups in our unit.

On the way there, God reminded me of what makes me unique:

Upon arriving, we were greeted to this beautiful view of MacRitchie Reservoir just after sundown (photos courtesy of Merv):

This is us hiking along a stretch of road. Reservoir to the left, golf course to the right. And lest you think we were pampered with nice tar roads to hike on, this shot was actually taken after we had hiked a few kilometres through some pretty dense forests and treacherous slopes (by Singapore standards).

I’m eagerly awaiting the latest field report from our resident CG journalist, Tigerming. Stay tuned for more photos and write-up on his blog!

Popularity: 16% [?]