New Blog!
As a follow up from the previous posts on how I would really like a more spacious blog, I'm happy to announce that the spanking new blog is ready for the world :) There're some tweaks to be done, of course, but it should work fine for now. http://kenteophoto.com/
Enjoy!
As a follow up from the previous posts on how I would really like a more spacious blog, I'm happy to announce that the spanking new blog is ready for the world :) There're some tweaks to be done, of course, but it should work fine for now. http://kenteophoto.com/
Enjoy!
Should I use a new blog?
I've recently experimented with switching themes outside of the default ones that blogger has to offer. I quite like the one with a black background I switched to recently. But I found that on some browsers and PCs, the layout goes totally cranky.
While there are tons of themes around, most of them tend to be very unfriendly with photography centered site; meaning that only small photos can be posted, others the whole layout will go crazy. I would really like to stick to using blogger, so if anyone has any ideas how to work this out, I would really appreciate it if you drop me a note. I would hate to see all that I've blogged go to scratch, should I need to start a new blog so that I can have better control of the layouts and templates. :(
I've recently experimented with switching themes outside of the default ones that blogger has to offer. I quite like the one with a black background I switched to recently. But I found that on some browsers and PCs, the layout goes totally cranky.
While there are tons of themes around, most of them tend to be very unfriendly with photography centered site; meaning that only small photos can be posted, others the whole layout will go crazy. I would really like to stick to using blogger, so if anyone has any ideas how to work this out, I would really appreciate it if you drop me a note. I would hate to see all that I've blogged go to scratch, should I need to start a new blog so that I can have better control of the layouts and templates. :(
Colourdots in AGWPJA
Great news :) Colourdots had recently been admitted to the AGWPJA - Artistic Guild of Wedding Photojournalist Association. Basically, AGWPJA is a group of very talented photographers from all over the world. The group exists to promote fine art wedding photojournalism, and I'm really excited to be part of such amazing talent from all over the world.
I started out my wedding photography career as a strict photojournalist. I believe in capturing the moments in a manner that is most unobtrusive and natural - to capture the wedding as it is.
Over the years, in my endless pursuit of greater photography, I began refine my own philosophy of what wedding photography means to me. While I had loved and respected the sincere photojournalistic approach in the creation of my images, I began to wonder if it is indeed wrong to influence the outcome of the images that I create. In the past, everytime I create an image, it would be with the objective of best capturing the mood, atmosphere, feelings and relationships of a particular moment. Increasingly, I began to have imageries occuring in my head. Of how a scene is not just what the eyes see, but what the heart feels. And to realise this vision, I cannot insist on being a strict photojournalist.
Incidentally, the AGWPJA was formed out of WPJA (which I'm still a member of), with similar ideologies. I put off application for a while, in the meantime trying to figure out whether or not my own vision is indeed aligned with AGWPJA's.
Now, my photography is a mixture of photojournalism, when it comes to the important moments. Sometimes, I would listen to the imageries in my mind and setup a scene when the opportunity allows, and use technology to 'enhance' reality to realise my artistic vision.
Great news :) Colourdots had recently been admitted to the AGWPJA - Artistic Guild of Wedding Photojournalist Association. Basically, AGWPJA is a group of very talented photographers from all over the world. The group exists to promote fine art wedding photojournalism, and I'm really excited to be part of such amazing talent from all over the world.
I started out my wedding photography career as a strict photojournalist. I believe in capturing the moments in a manner that is most unobtrusive and natural - to capture the wedding as it is.
Over the years, in my endless pursuit of greater photography, I began refine my own philosophy of what wedding photography means to me. While I had loved and respected the sincere photojournalistic approach in the creation of my images, I began to wonder if it is indeed wrong to influence the outcome of the images that I create. In the past, everytime I create an image, it would be with the objective of best capturing the mood, atmosphere, feelings and relationships of a particular moment. Increasingly, I began to have imageries occuring in my head. Of how a scene is not just what the eyes see, but what the heart feels. And to realise this vision, I cannot insist on being a strict photojournalist.
Incidentally, the AGWPJA was formed out of WPJA (which I'm still a member of), with similar ideologies. I put off application for a while, in the meantime trying to figure out whether or not my own vision is indeed aligned with AGWPJA's.
Now, my photography is a mixture of photojournalism, when it comes to the important moments. Sometimes, I would listen to the imageries in my mind and setup a scene when the opportunity allows, and use technology to 'enhance' reality to realise my artistic vision.
Portraits
I started out in wedding photography with the intention of specializing on wedding day photography only. My dream is to be able to put into realisation my vision of the day's celebration, mood, emotions, relationships and love into my photography. And since the very beginning, this specialization had allowed me to move quickly to realize my dream.
Most of the Colourdots brides and grooms are happy with their wedding photography to be just from the wedding day itself. However, more and more couples are beginning to request for me to do portraits, as they want some of these to remember by as well. As Liz (as in Liz and Andy, not Liz and Ken) so eloquently put, wedding day photography is about exactly what I'm doing. While pre-wedding photography is to be able to immortalize a dream for the bride. The day of their beauty in their once-in-a-lifetime fairytale. Thanks to Liz, I've also re-perceived on the need for me to work towards fulfilling the fairytale dream as well.
So to kick off this new embarkation, as well as to provide some reference points for brides-to-be who had been curious about how my portraits look like, I've decided to share some recent portraits done.
Ok, I was definitely messing around with the first one :D Hey, it's the Parliament House chamber, I thought it'll be fun! So did Aisah and Derek. A nice shot of the past in the present for the future.
I started out in wedding photography with the intention of specializing on wedding day photography only. My dream is to be able to put into realisation my vision of the day's celebration, mood, emotions, relationships and love into my photography. And since the very beginning, this specialization had allowed me to move quickly to realize my dream.
Most of the Colourdots brides and grooms are happy with their wedding photography to be just from the wedding day itself. However, more and more couples are beginning to request for me to do portraits, as they want some of these to remember by as well. As Liz (as in Liz and Andy, not Liz and Ken) so eloquently put, wedding day photography is about exactly what I'm doing. While pre-wedding photography is to be able to immortalize a dream for the bride. The day of their beauty in their once-in-a-lifetime fairytale. Thanks to Liz, I've also re-perceived on the need for me to work towards fulfilling the fairytale dream as well.
So to kick off this new embarkation, as well as to provide some reference points for brides-to-be who had been curious about how my portraits look like, I've decided to share some recent portraits done.
Ok, I was definitely messing around with the first one :D Hey, it's the Parliament House chamber, I thought it'll be fun! So did Aisah and Derek. A nice shot of the past in the present for the future.
Fun Wedding
You know you're at a fun wedding when you see a wedding cake like that. I couldn't talk Aisah and Derek into modeling after the figurines on the cake. My only disappointment from the wedding. Other than that, I had a ball of a time!
We had an awesome time at Senso. It was a close and intimate celebration. Fun at the same time. Look at the loverbirds go! What chemistry! We all thought they must have rehearsed.
There're just too many lovely photos to share, so I'd just end off with two more.
The courtyard, restaurant and bar added different moods to the celebration. The chill out session at the end of the party at the bar was absolutely crazy. But no photos to share here, coz some might be just a touch too personal ;)
The service was excellent, kudos to Senso. I might do a special write up for Senso one of these days, after I'm done with this set of albums.
Thanks guys, for allowing me to be a part of such a special day of your lives. It truly means a lot to me.
You know you're at a fun wedding when you see a wedding cake like that. I couldn't talk Aisah and Derek into modeling after the figurines on the cake. My only disappointment from the wedding. Other than that, I had a ball of a time!
We had an awesome time at Senso. It was a close and intimate celebration. Fun at the same time. Look at the loverbirds go! What chemistry! We all thought they must have rehearsed.
There're just too many lovely photos to share, so I'd just end off with two more.
The courtyard, restaurant and bar added different moods to the celebration. The chill out session at the end of the party at the bar was absolutely crazy. But no photos to share here, coz some might be just a touch too personal ;)
The service was excellent, kudos to Senso. I might do a special write up for Senso one of these days, after I'm done with this set of albums.
Thanks guys, for allowing me to be a part of such a special day of your lives. It truly means a lot to me.
New Friends
Just delivered the album to Aaron and Sharon at Shaw Towers, my usual haunt. It's amazing how time flies. I still remember what it was like first meeting both of them at the cafe. I was a stranger to them back then, and last night we were having dinner as friends.
It's a privilege to be able to let into the lives of other people, especially so, into an event as intimate and significant as a wedding. It holds so much precious memories of the past, and hopes for the future. Inevitably, I always feel like I had known the couple for a long time, by the time the album was delivered.
Long time no post. Yet again. It's really late at night after the shoot of Derek and Aisah's wedding. I usually don't do this (as in, making an entry ad-hoc), but I can't wait to share this beautiful pic:
