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16 Aug 2009 – 2009 has been a really eventful and rewarding year for me photographically. I started the year from where I left off in 2008 – doing test shoots for models, the odd paid portrait shoot and numerous paid and pro-bono wedding gigs. I also made massive investments in gear, lighting and education, with the hope of further honing my craft to a level where I have the confidence to execute my vision without worrying too much about the technicalities. And, of course, to also further enhance the revenue generating capabilities of my passion.

Speaking of revenue, one thing that surprised me this year was that I managed to sell a few canvas prints of some fine art street photographs I took in Shanghai. As a people photographer, I earn from photographing portraits, events and weddings, so this reaffirmed the fact that to be a good photographer, one must really stretch himself to go beyond his comfort zone and train his eye in other photographic disciplines.

Anyway, that aside, I think the biggest highlight for me this year was being invited by Lance Lee, a prominent local fashion and commercial photographer, to participate in a joint fashion photography exhibition with a few other local professional photographers. The T-Show was the brainchild of Luke Elijah, a prominent local stylist, featuring wardrobe from his boutique and shot on location at The Cathay. The experience of shooting for the exhibition can only be described as gruelling and I must admit, there were times I did feel that I was in way over my head. Nonetheless, the experience really thought me how to work under pressure, solve problems on the spot and take control of a shoot.

I’m proud to say that not only did I survive (want to see my scar? ), but I also managed to contribute 6 out of the 15 photos on exhibit. The exhibition is now headed to Hong Kong and the pool of photos has since grown to about 20. Really hope I get the chance to do something again like this next year!

The first group of colleagues – Jowena, Fendy and Hendrik – coming to see my exhibition.

Hendrik trying to look cool like the photo whereas Jowena is tickled by the topless twins!

My long suffering and ever patient wife and daughters finally seeing the fruits of my labour.

Click here for a link to all the photos I took for the exhibition.

We are seeking individuals with .NET skills. If you or anyone you know matches the below-mentioned skill sets, please feel free to apply/refer.

If you are interested, please send your CV and Resume to jobs@pagesofink.com.

Position : Solutions Developer
Years of experience : Fresh grads to 4 years related experience
Skill Sets :
• Strong foundation in technology and has deep understanding of .NET technology – C# or VB.NET and ASP .NET
• MS platform skills
• Full lifecycle experience architecting large scale, scaleable applications
• Experience developing, customizing and implementing software solutions
• Internet development (HTML, Active Server Pages, IIS, Commerce Server)
• Strong customer service and communication skills
• Must be willing to work long hours
• Demonstrated ability to build professional relationships
• Must be dynamic and able to articulate
• Professional positive attitude
• Preferred – MCSD Certification

Primary purpose of this role:
Solution development consultants focus on developing solution component architectures, such as .NET to support business processes. Core activities in this area include designing and implementing systems based on the Microsoft suite of products and architectures, such as ASP .NET, VB .NET, C#, Visual Studio .NET, SQL Server, Commerce Server, etc.

Having mastered Daytona many years ago (beginner circuit, automatic gear), I have been raring to try on something more challenging and adrenaline pumping. Opportunity came last Friday when my company organized a half-day teambuilding event to Kart World in Jurong for, the name says it all, Go Karting!

For the unitiated, Go Karting is a serious motorsport that has been around for over 3 decades in Singapore. Although smaller compared to its F1 cousin, it is by no means slower, capable of reaching top speeds of 50 km/h. When you are just centimetres away from the tarmac, this feels blazingly fast.

Above, you can see how I’m equipped for the occasion, with the mandatory red shirt and undersized helmet. My kart didn’t look too bad either. It took awhile for me to get used to the speed and how to negotiate corners, evident by how far behind I was during the race (See above photo). But, once I had the hang of it, I was right up there with the pros. Only a silly skid on the final turn of the final lap denied me 2nd place in my round.

“Those who have come into Formula One without experiencing cars devoid of electronic aids will find it tough. To control 800 horsepower relying just on arm muscles and foot sensitivity can turn out to be a dangerous exercise.” Michael Schumacher

So, until they include electronic aids in Go Karts, I guess I’ll just have to put up with that minor annoyance. All in all, it was a kick-ass experience which I’d gladly do again!