One of those confusing days

nate checks out his new kindy classroom and as usual, he just sits there and absorbs life

I had a very confusing day, 2 days, whatever day it is now. ...

blogged about it on Nate's page here http://bit.ly/fdClhL

Guangzhou commuter

Searching through my pictures from the Asian Games, i'm reminded about how huge Guangzhou seemed to me when I was there.

You see, I live in Singapore where train stops are 3 minutes apart.

The one thing I noticed was that it took like 15minutes between each train station. So much so that if there was a seat available, you would bother to take a seat.

Back home, it's pointless sitting because you need to get up real soon anyways.

Small but random things you notice.

Nate's conversation with Greg

So this is an insight to what a conversation with a 4x-year old and a 4-year old was like.

My friend Greg and Nate over a Cheng Teng (chinese dessert in a local hawker center)

Greg: So Nate, how old are you?

Nate: I'm 4-years old.

Greg: So when's your birthday Nate?

Nate: It's OVER.

Maye whistles and looks away. I can't remember what happened after that but I think Nate got away with that one good and Greg lost for words.

Nate talks back

This morning I gave Nate a small spanking because he was very rude.

I do not tolerate children being rude.

I believe there is a time and place to stand up for yourself but when they cross the line and start to become rude, I will scold and I will discipline.

So Nate got disciplined today.

He was remorseful and guilty and apologized.

Later this evening however, he started throwing tantrums and arguing with me.

He's 4. He has no right to argue and later went on to switch off the television while I was watching it because he insisted on moving on to his Hi5 program.

I gave him a real scolding and caned him. He started to cry.

Then I was so angry and started to cry too, I had to walk away.

When I was back, he was with his grandmother, and he I guess he felt protected so he told me " I don't want you."

I was too tired to react and even though I know he prolly doesn't mean it, it was not one of those days where I could just brush it off.

It was a long day and a day of several disappointing news.

But as a dear girlfriend told me, "There's always tomorrow and even if it's not better, you still HAVE tomorrow."

Thank you Audra.

Your words put a lot of stuff in perspective for me.

I'm just so tired.

For Sale

Hi all

I'm selling off my BRAND NEW IN BOX UNOPENED, Canon Powershot G12.

Let me know if you are interested.

Price: SGD $720

Email me at apmayewong@gmail.com if you are interested.

For Sale

Hi,

I'm selling this Manduka eKO Yoga Mat and the Mat Sak. (colors as seen above)

It was only used twice before I got really busy with travel and work so I figure it be better off with someone else for the moment until I have the time, I will get another one for myself. I'm also in the middle of moving house, so just trying to de-clutter.

It's still in excellent/brand new condition.

It's super comfy and best part is, it's made of biodegradable tree rubber which is kind to the environment.

Price: SGD$100 for the whole set.

Leave me a note in my comments page if you are interested.

Valentino

I'm no fashion expert _ Give me my cargo pants / jeans and t-shirts anytime.

I shot the "Valentino, Retrospective: Past/Present/Future" exhibition today.

And I must admit that the pretty dresses did take my breadth away.

I guess when you appreciate design and art, you just appreciate it in whatever form it takes.

This exhibition opens tomorrow, December 22, 2010 and goes on til Feb 2011 at Resorts World Sentosa.

Go check it out because it showcases "genius".

Things to sell!

Hi all,

As you know, i'm gonna be moving out of my parents (finally) really soon and I have been packing.

There are things that I want to sell, and will sporadically update my blog.

But in the mean time, I have a couple of things to let go off, all in very new condition or brand new.

See description for more information.

In the mean time, happy holidays and xmas and new year preparations!

xoxo

Maye-E

p.s. I love December rainy weather!

FINALLY

we have too many bikes at home..and a half - well, foldable one as well

More than a year ago, I dropped off my full-sus giant anthem 1 mountain bike at the Rebound Center for a customized paint job.

I knew it would have taken about 3 months worth of work but I was then in Laos for the SEA Games and then continued on to Bangkok for more than a month and just kept traveling.

It worked out in the end because Sulaiman, who was the artist in resident, I call him artist because that's what he essentially is _ could then take his time on my bike.

It was a lot of work. He had to paint the butterflies ONE at at time and let each layer of paint settle and dry.

And it looks like 2 tones of pink but it's just one with different amounts of black mixed into it.

I appreciate all that effort put in.

He's not just a talented man but a very gracious and soft-spoken person who is very patient.

I guess those are requirements for someone in this line of work where you are working with your client and his ideas and concepts.

So I already had the design in mind and it was almost like going to the hairdresser's where you have what you want in mind and you're leaving it all in the hands of the other person.

I'm glad we understood each other completely and the end result is better than what I had envisioned.

I had chosen butterflies because it was fitting for trails and hot pink against black so that it would still maintain that "fierce" vibe.

Baby pink would not have passed the bill.

So slightly more than a year later, yesterday, I was reunited with the bike and its finally time to hit the trails and off-roads again.

Necessary?

Not at all but sometimes it's nice to put in some effort in things that don't just pay the bills if you know what I mean.

Snow

Saw some photographs posted by a friend in Shanghai.

It looks lovely, the snow.

I've never experienced that.

Hail stones yes. Snow, No.

Nate's Attempt

As I spend the day making pictures on the street, Nate attempts his own at home.

Here is a drawing he made as I stepped into the house.

Carefully, he crossed each line, intersected them _ all very deliberately.

When he was done, I remarked that it looked like a rat.

A couple of hours later, it's starting to look like a mosquito of some sort.

I like his art. Very Quentin Blake.

Blizzard

A child reaches out to touch foam used to simulate snow at a shopping mall on Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2010 in Singapore where malls are taking advantage of the festive season to draw in customers through visual merchandising, advertising and year end sales. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)

I shot a christmas feature at Tanglin Mall today and while editing my photos, I thought that it was so ironic that in the Midwest US, people were suffering from the blizzard and here, we just want to simulate some sort of snow.

Hmmm...

Anyway if you want to test the waterproofing on your camera or your child, its daily at 1930hrs Tanglin Mall.

You should be braver than me. I was meeting a friend later and didn't really wanna get soggy and sticky.

I love Elephants

New York Times Lens Blog picked up a picture I file for the Associated Press

2-week old baby elephant and me (both wide smiles)

Nandong and I

2 years ago, I was told that Nandong, our 25-year old elephant at the Singapore Night Safari was pregnant.

I had plans to hang out over night with a friend that works in the Zoo to hopefully capture the birthing process.

But alas I was in Guangzhou when she popped a 151-kilogram male on November 23, 2010 at 0808hrs.

I went to visit the two week old yesterday and he was so cute.

He has yet to be named.

Nandong, and her baby were friendly and not to mention huge!

There is something really amazing about nature. Her skin was rough and she was huge and yet she was gentle.

It was also fun to see when her mother instincts would come about every time we went close to her baby.

She wouldn't get aggressive but she would hover keeping a close watch.

And it was even more fun to see when she used her trunk to help her baby move along or stand still whenever he looked like he was about to fall.

I've never met an elephant before up close - well, not a 2-week old at least.

Quiet news days can be wonderful because I get to look for my own features and meet elephants along the way?!

SHOUT OUT! here's your chance to win R-Straps

It's really easy and I urge you to try this out.

If you can't wait to get yours and don't want to wait and test your luck, you can get them directly at

Cathay Photo which has a branch at Peninsula Plaza and Marina Square.

GOOD LUCK, from the bottom of my straps (:

This contest will end at 2359hrs (GMT +8) on 20 December 2010

So looking back at my camera systems:

Ok guys and gals firstly, i'm no model (that's why i'm on the other side of the camera) and this is as real as it gets... Here's a picture of me with my RS-w1 and my Canon EOS 1D Mark IV with the 28mm on it. Just my everyday work out and I had just come back from a zoo coverage, where I also got to meet a 2-week old baby elephant. (:

So here's the thing. I've been trying out the R-straps for the past month.

More specifically, the RS-W1 (for women) and the RS DR-1 Double Strap.

I used them during the Qantas breaking news where the planes had made emergency landings and we were running around like mad chickens trying to get pictures of the plane, the passengers, the pilots etc.

My Straps came at the right time. The double strap gave me handsfree ability to move around quickly and be able to take notes and scramble around without worrying about my gear slipping off my shoulders.

My next assignment was at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou, where i've just come home after a 3 week hard work out.

The straps proved strong enough to carry my Canon EOS 1D Mark IV with either the 16-35mm, the 70-200mm f2.8 and the 300mm f2.8.

When I use my long lenses, I attach the strap to my lens collar.

And it's great because if i need the camera body, all I have to do is remove it from the long lens, and I don't have to worry about sticking the long lens in a bag or pouch. It just hangs off the R-strap but you should remember to cap the lens mount to protect the elements.

At the games, I found that I was using the single RS-w1 a little more than the double strap because i couldn't hang the 400mm f2.8 on the strap. I had it on the monopod most times. So the single strap was to carry another body and a shorter lens.

At the end of the day, it really depends on your personal preference and usage. Everyone has their own system.

At least I have the R-straps now to facilitate my systems. So it's best to find out which works for you.

It's otherwise really great with form and function married into the straps.

Here's something funny a colleague of mine in Guangzhou said: RS-W1 is prolly one of the first FEMALE specific camera equipment diliberately made.

Another funny thing we were joking about was that if they made the RS-DR double strap specific for women, we could think up of bras and corsets all built in!!!!! Maybe lady ga ga would consider photography.

I have a colleague and dear friend who bought the RS-5 strap and loves it. He now wants to buy the RS-DR because in Indonesia, they ride motorbikes and cover heaps of breaking news. I'm gonna be sending it up to him soon.

Do let me know what you think of yours of if you are a new BlackRapid strap owner too!!!

Exciting!

You can find BlackRapid straps here in Singapore at Cathay Photo

Here are my other blog write-ups about my experiences with the BlackRapid straps:

http://maye-e.blogspot.com/2010/11/accidental-tourist.html

http://maye-e.blogspot.com/2010/11/when-2-is-better-than-1.html

http://maye-e.blogspot.com/2010/11/strappy-issues-rs-w-1.html

NO one needs an excuse with Book Depository

Oh. I. Am. In. So. Much. Trouble.

I can't stop shopping from www.bookdepository.com

The Books are WAAAY cheaper here after conversion from USDollars and Shipping is FREE worldwide. YES FREE.

You can get all the titles you want (i'm sure there are like 1 or 2 which you can't find) But you basically get EVERYTHING.

I've been shopping there monthly for all my photo books and other fiction stuff.

Be warned, I have warned you.. Make sure you have bookshelf space.

I am an addict.

Champion material

Today, I met a sporting legend.

The first track and field hero that i've ever known in my life, Carl Lewis.

He jumped a record 8.87-meters in the Long Jump event.

They stuck a sticker of the sand pit and real distance which Carl had jumped on the floor of the Nike store at Wisma Atria and boy was it far! I can't imagine how he did it.

There was one consistent thing which he said when asked how he won so many medals and how he would always perform so well under pressure--

He said that the main thing that one needs to do is not focus on the medal.

Focus on the process and the results will take care of itself.

I've heard this phrase so many times and it is so true.

We used to be brainwashed with this by our sports psychologist back during our sailing days and he would always highlight how we needed to think about the process and not the results.

It's so reassuring to hear these words again. And I bet it applies in the different aspects of our lives. And yes. He is ALL THAT.

Nike AW77 - More than a Hoodie

For Sure.

Today, I went to Nike @ Wisma Atria to cover Olympic Legend Carl Lewis's visit to the city-state.

After all the formalities, he went around the shop and did some shopping.

Through his little tour, I learnt about the Nike AW77 hoodies. click HERE

If you are a fan of hoodies, you will fall in love with what Nike has to offer.

They now have Hoodies in all the different color combinations you can think of.

On top of that, you can customize your own hoodie, with the different patches and decals.

I LOOOOOVE my hoodie.

It's grossly Pink, and it has some really cool patches picked out with the help of my Nike friends.

Oh. And you should totally check out the hood, with the big 77 sign on the left.

Told you I needed some retail therapy.

Anyway, if you feel the urge to get a hoodie, go get your own customized. Limited edition. Makes it a lot more satisfying.

Now if only I had this in Guangzhou a month ago.

Blur

I went for an assignment today, first after the Asian Games last week.

And for the life of me, I couldn't remember how to file pictures normally.

I was so used to the Asian Games set up we had, I nearly left my caption details as CHINA, country taken China, Photo reference numbers Asian Games as opposed to Singapore and the best part is, I nearly sent the pictures off a now defunct IFTP address.

eek.

BlackBerry Berry Nice

So i'm new to this Blackberry thingamajig but I think its awesome for email and work and communication.

Still have my iphone but do look for me cause I don't know your BB Pins so we can be in touch.

Don't mind me if i'm taking a bit of time to get used to this new system.

My BB Pin is 22BFD60F

Hello Mast

I found an old picture of me and Mast Irham, Indonesia based EPA photographer at Padang earthquake coverage.

Those were some crazy times in the mudslide. I remember the helicopter landing and we jumping out of the bird, shielding our lenses because mud and stones were flying everywhere from the rotor wash.

This one's for you buddy.

And a road ID coming up for you too.

Like more than a year late. ooops sorry (:

Parting Shot

This is the best picture we've taken and it's got a funny story.

Carlos, Adam and I had our remotes in the ceiling and decided that we had to take some nice pictures of ourselves on the court.

So we did all these stupid poses and the audience practically thought that we had gone mad.

Here's the thing.

My card was full so I didn't get any pictures.

Carlos's Pocket Wizard was switched Off - so he didn't get any pictures.

Saeed who's sitting up at this point and missing the picture didn't even have a camera up there.

So Thank God for Pretty's pictures.

Can you tell we were tired?

Saturday Nov. 27, 2010, Guangzhou, China

remote angle: Myanmar's Zaw Zaw Aung, left and South Korea's Lee Gyu Nam, right, compete during the men's sepak takraw double final match at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou, China, Saturday, Nov. 27, 2010. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)

When I thought walking on the catwalk at weightlifting and Diving was bad, BOY I THOUGHT WRONG.

Sepak Takraw was dodgy. The catwalk in the roof was old, flimsy, shakey and we walked on wire mesh. Not Fun.

So much so that we were never on one segment more than a photographer at a time and we walked on the edges.

I swear, there were moments when you thought that you were about to fall right through.. So we had one hand grabbing the remotes, the body, the magic arms and to your wits; the other hand, clinging on to dear life to the railings or whatever they were.

I had 10ft-adam behind me and Carlos B in front of me and we decided that we had to space out.

Even the boys were walking up there cautiously.

But you know, all this was done to clamp our remotes right above the Sepak Takraw court which makes for fantastic remote pictures from the top.

The mens teams would face up and do these flying kicks that make such great action it was worth the risk.

So, I leave you with two different angles. Just like I leave the games.

Bitter sweet memories. Some hits and misses.

The front real view and the overall angle from the top.

From the direct angle, i'm tired and ready to be home.

My body is broken and my muscles are aching. Not to mention slightly mentally drained.

But from the broader perspective, I'm glad I was given the opportunity to be part of a wonderful AP team, to shoot the sports that I have never done so in my life, to prove to myself that I can like the boys can, and to outshoot myself and my competitors sometimes. Also to miss out on some nice moments and to learn how to improve and anticipate the future.

Photography is a lifelong learning and humbling experience. You learn so much and yet there is so much you still don't know.

Be it a breaking news story or a major sporting event.

Its really the momentum of dialectics that comes with the job.

So roll with it, suck it in and enjoy every moment because you grow.

Thank you to the AP team, Canon and Black Rapid Strap for their support. I am a big big fan.

Pictures shot on : Canon EOS-1D Mark IV, Canon EF 300mm F 2.8 and 70-200mm USM IS lens

Friday Nov. 26, 2010 Guangzhou, China

China's basketball team throw their captain Wang Zhizhi into the air as they celebrate after winning the men's gold medal basketball match at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou, China, Friday, Nov. 26, 2010. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)

The widey on my remote camera

When I shoot an assignment that involves finals I sometimes find myself torn.

You spend all that time shooting action pictures, pretty pictures when you know that at the end of the day, all that's really gonna matter is the jubo shot.

The what shot?

The Jubo.

The Jubilation picture, the celebration, the moment when the athlete has realised that he or she has won and jumps in the air and starts acting crazy, mouth wide open and everything else is in the air.

Sometimes, that doesn't even happen.

Can you imagine what the jubo shot for Chess would be like?

So it brings me back to my point.

All that hard work and in the end, just one picture of the trophy getting lifted is all that matters.

But these are all part of the job.

What can you do about it really?

So we put in our best efforts anyway and this match I was covering was the men's basketball finals between China and South Korea.

I felt even worse. ALL the chinese press was around and honestly, who's gonna use my pictures?

But still you got to be alert.

So action aside, I manage to catch a split second where the Chinese team who won, lifted up their team captain and tossed him in the air. And in the next moment, every other person started running onto the court and my view was blocked.

I had all of 3 frames.

And I wasn't even sure if I had nailed it.

I guess I've been really blessed to capture that 3 frames.

So the final reactions do matter and just reinforces how sometimes things that we don't necessarily enjoy work out in the end.

Which was used on the front cover of the China Daily Asian Games Supplement.

I had been feeling a little jealous seeing all the covers from Reuters and AFP for the whole games and was glad to be able to score one on the last day for our AP team.

Yes.. for the team who's been amazing. I love them very much.

Also thanks to a little bird who came whispering into my ear about making sure I sent out a vertical because China Daily uses vertical pictures for their covers.

It was also the first time I was trying out the new remotes. More on that in another post but it worked really well with my Mark IV and gave me a second view, my widey in this case.

Pictures shot on : Canon EOS-1D Mark IV, Canon EF 70-200mm F 2.8 Lens and 16-35mm F2.8 Lens

Thursday Nov. 25, 2010, Guangzhou, China

Vikas Krishan of India, left, fights with Hu Qing of China, right, during the men's 60-kilogram boxing finals at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou, China, Thursday, Nov. 25, 2010. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)

Rey Saludar of Philippines, left, watches as Chang Yong of China, right, falls out of the ring during the men's 52-kilogram boxing finals at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou, China, Thursday, Nov. 25, 2010. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)

The Canon 24-70mm f2.8 lens has always been my friend... I mean Fiend.

It's such a heavy lens, back focuses and I only ever use it for political coverage when you need that grip and grin shot.

At this recent Asian Games however, we have found a new use for it and it shall now be known as the Boxing lens.

Funny as it seems but this really useless piece of weight is the perfect focal length to shoot boxing ring-side.

Reuters and I found ourselves using that and only that with our Canon Mark IV bodies and it was awesome.

It justified me carrying it all the way to China for a sporting event (I really was going to leave it behind) - just for this one important purpose. Boxing.

Needless to say, boxing leaves you sore in the back and neck as you lean over the ring mat and point your cameras upwards. Not having much time to breathe in between the 3 bouts of 3 minutes for 6-8 matches straight, squeezing in a medal ceremony along the way.

A rush job but a real big rush of adrenalin covering this event.

Pain but gain.

I'm still paining by the way.

Pictures shot on : Canon EOS-1D Mark IV, Canon EF 24-70mm F 2.8 Lens

Nibble on this

Ok I have seen cauliflowered ears but these are some son of a mother cauliflower ears.

Wrestlers. Ruggers.

Eeek. Not very appetizing ain't it?

Wednesday Nov. 24, 2010 Guangzhou, China

Risa Asada of Japan competes during the women's 1-meter springboard diving finals at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou, China, Wednesday, Nov. 24, 2010. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)

Diving is always a charm to shoot.

I love watching how gracefully these athletes fall into the water.

I remember my first time shooting Diving was at the Laos S.E.A. Games and my was I a little shell shocked.

You always watch it on Tele and everything's in slow motion.

But in actuality, everything moves really quick. You're safer with a slightly shorter lens unless you wait for them to pop into your frame on a longer zoom.

There are no hard and fast rules and it's really what you want to achieve in the end.

This time round, I was tasked to shoot the final of the 1-meter springboard diving events for men and women.

1-meter?!?!?!?!? What am I gonna shoot? it's really quick and the action's shit.

I remember telling myself that.

But as we have no choice and are trained professionals (yeah trained to whip stuff out from where the sun does not shine) - where we're expected to make art out of shit situations (just like plumbers) you just really grit your teeth, pray hard and make the best out of the situation.

It was good to see mates like Adam Pretty there, whom I spent time with, shooting from the roof of the diving competition venue.

I tried the first round of finals (the women's) from the ground level, but it's really difficult because most times, these women face inward, or they don't do many twists, in fact they just do 3-3.5 tucks which means i have less of a chance to see their faces.

Adam hanging off the edge of the catwalk

Mojtaba Vali Pour of Irian competes in the men's 1-meter springboard diving finals at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou, China, Wednesday, Nov. 24, 2010. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)

Going up the catwalk (a narrow ladder like walkway structure in the roof, where lighting is hung from, is another ordeal.

Actually, I back to differ.

This venue had great catwalk safety structures. We also had safety harnesses strapped to our bodies and cameras.

Shooting from top down made a whole lot of difference. It gave me variety in my shots and most importantly, clean background and funny expressions from the boys as well.

It was however, very very still up there, hardly any oxygen or ventilation and me and pretty were falling asleep most of the time.

Falling asleep up there felt funky. I had vertigo. You felt like you were going to fall off, in that semi-conscious state.

So anyway, the thing is, there really are no rules. Quick action, quick shutter, quick action, slow shutter, quick action, no shutter... it's up to you really. Make the best out of your situation out there.

And there's no point getting angry really at organizers etc. If you be a little bit patient and smile, things will normally work out for you.

Being a photographer doesn't make you God. And no one really has to give you way.

Be patient and most times, things will work out right.

I cannot highlight this any further but working with great company around you makes the time tick a little quicker.

Having a laugh or two, whether it was making fun of the medal hostesses and their wrong underwear or male athletes having bodies like women, will just help the whole process and long days seem to go by quicker.

Enjoy the snaps.

Pictures shot on : Canon EOS-1D Mark IV, Canon EF 300mm F 2.8 and 70-200mm USM IS lens