Anyway, here are some events that I shot recently.

Hope Family Olympics @ Botanical Gardens

This was a unit combined event held on 8 Nov 2008 at the Eco Lake in Botanical Gardens. There were various games that pitted couples against couples as well as even more competitive ones that involved the children. The turnout was really great and coupled with great weather, made shooting this event a blast. There were even medals up for grabs!

Gallery

Baby Sarah’s One Month Old Celebration

It seemed like just yesterday that Sarah was born but here she already celebrating her first month. She was sleeping almost throughout the party though so I ended up taking quite a few photos of Ashley and Zaccheus too.

Gallery

Here’s one of Ashley with her cousin Zaccheus. I need to learn the magic word to get her to smile like this. She always looks so serious when I ask her to pose!

Anyway, the initial enthusiasm was soon met by a lot of self-doubt given that this was my first time shooting a wedding. Now, I’ve attended plenty of weddings, heck even went through one myself, but my preconceived notion till now of wedding photographers were those annoying people that interrupt you in the middle of your dinner to pose for photos. Or, who walk around with Tupperware on top of their cameras. Nonetheless, I never cease to be amazed when I look at wedding portfolios like this and this. Somehow, somewhere, in between interrupting people’s dinners, these fine local photographers manage to capture photos that are so magical they transcend merely being a record of history into a timeless piece of art.

I had big shoes to fill.

And thank God everything worked out in the end. “We have faith in you!” reassured Pris, F&G’s wedding coordinator, a few days before the wedding. Thanks for believing in me and I hope these photos go some way towards repaying that faith!

Click here for the full gallery

And, some selections here:

The beautiful bride

The rings

The happy bridesmaids

Fiesta at the entrace

YAM SENG!

Also, check out Merv’s excellent gallery here.

Click on this link for the full gallery.

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!

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

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

When I look back at 2007, I feel really blessed and happy to have become such good friends with all the IslandHopies. This is what doing life is all about!

Happy New Year everyone and welcome to 2008! May God shower his blessings upon you this year and bring you joy and fruitfulness in all areas of your life – health, family, job, relationships, ministry, etc.

P.S. Anyone who can guess the manga that inspired the latest IslandHope Diaries “comic” gets a free lunch/dinner from me!

I love church weddings. Every one I attend somehow or another brings back memories of my own. The flurry of activities taking place in the morning (decorating the church, folding church bulletins, rehearsals, sound checks, catering, etc), the nervous groom frantically memorising his vows, the restless immediate families who arrived much earlier (or sould I say on time!) compared to 90% of the guests. Ah, nothing like the surge of stress induced adrenaline and heightened sense of anticipation built up over many months of preparation to make one look forward to that brief but special moment where the couple exchange rings and seal their union with a kiss!

For this wedding, I was asked to help out as an emcee, an honour I gladly accepted. I mean, can’t expect MC to do it right? (Ok, bad pun! *hyuks*) My sidekick who did the Mandarin translation was Angie from WAM group and it was a privilege being able to work alongside this veteran emcee of a dozen or so weddings!

Emcees For Hire! Good, cheap (i.e. free) and full of style.

Photo courtesy of Jo

The rest of the Hope Islanders were also out in full force with Pris and Ming doing P&W and Gab leading the team of ushers including Changky and Miriam. Merv, Reina and Jo were armed to the teeth with their DSLRs and made quick work of all photo ops and Kodak moments that arose. In addition, there was also a hilarious multimedia presentation put together by Merv and Reina that entertained the crowd.

Pris: Woo, my one is coming up. Better chope some ideas from this hilarious presentation…

Photo courtesy of Jo

All in all, it was a really memorable wedding and I’m truly happy to see another dear brother and sister in church tie the knot. I have faith that God will really bless this union as both MC and Sarah have never ceased to be a blessing to those around them. Now that they’ve also got a place of their own and with MC recently taking over the reins of IslandHope, I’m sure they will bless His kingdom even more!

One for the IslandHope memories! (Click on the image for a larger original)

Here’s a picture of Ashley and me unwinding after the ceremony. I was quite surprised but this girl has rythm, being able to beat the drums to a very consistent beat and all!

Photo courtesy of Reina

Yesterday, Zhiyi and I had a blast of a time playing with Ming’s new Nintendo Wii set. Together with other visitors like Livi, Geena, Merv and Sherry, we competed with each other in various Wii Sports games like tennis, bowling, boxing and fishing. Just like my first Nintendo set (NES Famicom from the late 80s if anyone remembers), Nintendo has yet again revolutionised the console gaming market with their hallmark motion sensing controls that use an ingenious blend of technology and interactivity. Simply put, being able to swing your arms around and see that translate to your Mii’s (Nintendo-speak for in-game character) movements truly puts the fun in fun.

How not to play with a Wii – letting immersive gaming go to far!

You can hold a Wii controller like a tennis racket – single or double handed. Need to tell the nutcase on the left that Karate Kid hasn’t been released for the Wii.

At the end of the whole gaming session, I heard the unthinkable – Wifey remarking if we should get one too! Whoa, need to blog this down (thinking of Christmas).

Ashley, Zhiyi, Mylene and I were the first to arrive at Steve’s new place all armed with our swimming gear. The last time Ashley went for a swim was probably months ago, and she had been dying to go ever since. Steve wasn’t kidding when he said his place had a HUGE pool.

Ashley: Why are we waiting, why are we waiting…

The crowd started to trickle into Steve’s place around 7+ and while the food – pasta, pizza, veggies, etc – was ready, we sat around chit chatting and waiting for Changky to arrive with Merv’s guitar in order to start praise and worship. Reina was very nervous as we kept hinting many times that if Merv’s guitar didn’t arrive in time, she would have to play solo (her first time!). Thankfully, Changky arrived just as we were about to go ahead and Merv and Reina led us with 2 lighthearted praise songs. Finally, we gave thanks for the food and tucked in!

Chris working up an appetite singing some love worship songs.

Apart from eating, we also had a good time catching up with one another, singing karaoke and playing boardgames. Pity everyone was so engrossed with the karaoke and boardgames that nobody took photos! Steve had this really interesting karaoke microphone that stores songs directly inside. No more clunky LDs or CDs to juggle! What was even more amazing was seeing all IslandHope Idol Wannabes scoring 90 points and above for each song (points awarded by the machine). I always knew the CG had a lot of hidden talent. Well, too bad, it is hidden no more!

Joseph also took the chance to practice using his new Canon DSLR. I must say his photos are getting better and better! Here are some of his photos that I’m helping to share out. You can click on the photos for a larger version.

Gab below a spotlight smiling away as usual. What can I say, he deserves to be in the spotlight!

Merv looking very attentive after a few whites.

MC and Changky having a good conversation with Aloysius at the dinner table.

Finally, here are the group photos! Sorry, Chris, Merv and Pris, you guys are not inside coz you all left early. I’d try to Photoshop you in but it’ll not do justice to the great photos. Translation: I’m too lazy! Hyuks!

Version 1

Version 2