Dear all,

This week's update will be quite lengthy. Please take the time to read through thoroughly. Please reply after reading this email ASAP.

Several changes have been implemented to the Tong Xun Yuan organization. I've summarized those relevant to SYD as below:
1. The Friday Weekly paper will cease to exist. It will be replaced by "豆号"an insert in the Wednesday publication of lianhe zaobao.
2. There will be no more Wen Hua Ying. (Something else might come, but no finalized plans yet)
3. Yinxin will be held from 18th to 20th March 2009 (Wed to Fri of March hols). Please indicate if you are free to attend. We need all the manpower we can for this event.
4. Dress code in SPH – No slippers and revealing clothing (like FBT shorts). Preferably covered shoes, T-shirt and pants/jeans.
5. All activities to cease at 10pm (Sat) and 5pm (Sun). If you have to go SPH on Sunday, group leaders must be informed as we have to apply for permission. The security will not grant you entrance without prior notification.

Community Involvement Programme:

Every year, TXY members engage in a CIP activity, and we are obliged to help out. This year, we will need 2 photographers. Details are as follows:

Venue: Serangoon North
Date/Time: 6, 13, 20th Jan 2009 from 7-9pm. (Basically all Tues)
Activities: Teaching kids to make CNY decorations and card
Participants can claim CIP hours. Yes, you can photograph and have fun and still gain credit. A great deal!

Eye the City Challenge

This is a photographic activity organized by externals, but we find it very meaningful and hope everyone from SYD can join. We will be organizing a shoot as a group, although if you feel that you can shoot better alone, we are not forcing you to stick with us. We have yet to decide on the venue to shoot, and are open to suggestions.

Every participant will be shooting during the last 24 hours of 2008. The aim is to create a visual archive of the changes to Singapore over the years. Selected works will be published in a coffee-table book which everyone will receive. Registration is on 30th Dec. Students pay $12 and adults, $15. Please read the links below for specific info.

E- Brochure: http://eyeecity.multiply.com/photos/hi-res/43/1?xurl=http://eyeecity.multiply.com/photos/album/43/Eye_e_City_2008%231

Terms and conditions (IMPORTANT must read!):

Pg 1: http://eyeecity.multiply.com/photos/hi-res/45/1?xurl=http://eyeecity.multiply.com/photos/album/45%231

Pg 2: http://eyeecity.multiply.com/photos/hi-res/45/2?xurl=http://eyeecity.multiply.com/photos/album/45%232

Application form:

http://eyeecity.multiply.com/photos/album/47/Eye_e_City_2008_Application_Form

Those below 18 years old have to get their parents to sign the consent form.

It is advisable for everyone to do a little research on the upcoming changes to Singapore so as to find a suitable theme.

Volunteers needed for photo shoot

In conjunction, on the 31st Dec our guwen Ray has organized a photo outing for a group of 10 wheelchair-bound disabled individuals. In some sense they will be shooting their own Eye the City. He is looking to us for volunteers to help out. Details are as follows:

- Meet at Tiong Bharu MRT 9am (tentative)
- Will split into 3 groups visiting Vivo, Esplanade and Botanical Gardens separately
- Participants have compact cameras sponsored by Fujifilm, but if we want to shoot we'll have to bring our own equipment

The shoot will end at 12 noon, so we can continue with our challenge after that. The details are not finalized. I will update volunteers via SMS so if you are keen to help you must REPLY.

Here is what I need from you in your reply:
1. Are you free to attend Yinxin? Which days are you free?
2. Are you interested in covering the CIP event?
3. Do you intend to participate in Eye the City challenge? (if yes please register on the 30th yourself) If yes, do you want to shoot as a group or individual?
4. Do you intend to help out at Ray's photo shoot?

If there are any things that you don't understand, feel free to contact me. Weekly email updates will now be sent on Sundays, as I understand that some members have no internet access on weekdays.

That's all for now. Enjoy the last few days of holidays =)

Regards,
Wangwei

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It doesn't matter whether you are a photog or camper or gong wei, human or soft toy, your mere presence have contributed to the success of this event =)

On a more serious note, here is a breakdown of syd's performance IMHO:

Positive:
1) Workflow: Gone are the days of last minute slideshow with mp3 player sync. Despite the surge in the number of pictures due to more photogs present, we still managed to deliver on time and in style, with a few hours of sleep. But the challenge still lies with yinxin, as it is an event with no "the night before" work.

2) Group shot: I felt it was less chaotic. Ok the group was a lot smaller, but special thanks to wanhui com for the constant cues and ample time for us to prepare.

3) Quality of shots: Xinting and Joscelin, you are getting on fine. There are quality shots, and ur timing is there. Have confidence in yourself. Meanwhile, it is worth to view more quality pictures online before any event/assignment. It's also good to keep a visual diary of good pictures to look through for more inspirations. For the rest of us, have to work harder to find more interesting angles and details to pick on. I have confidence the juniors can take care of the record shots.

Things we can improve on:
1) Coordination: I personally felt that we lack the "shoot as a group" spirit, me being guilty for that too. We shoot more like individuals, going for angles of personal interest, end up finding ourselves in similar angles at times. We also tire out more easily if we run around often.

2) Stamina: No doubt shooting a multiday event is a tiring task, but with better coordination and task designation (like shooting in shifts) we ought to be able to last longer.

3) Peer review: On hindsight we could have done some peer reviewing of pictures to identify problems and learn as we shoot. Not necessary technical stuff, but stuff like angles of shoot, how to find and capture the right moments etc. Even as a senior, i find that i also have much to learn from everyone else too.

That's all for now. Have a good rest everyone, and merry xmas!

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Attendance wasn't great, but that's pretty much expected. Orchard Road is quite cliche unless you really search hard enough. We didn't. We ended up waiting for waves of crowds just to make this picture.

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Dear all,

There are 2 main points to take note for this week. A reply is required for this email.

1) Outing tomorrow - It's the hols and we are trying to organise our outings on weekdays instead of weekends, as some members felt that their weekdays are much more free. This may be a little rush, but here are the details anyway:

Venue: Orchard Road
Subject: Christmas Lights
Purpose: It's a free and easy outing, with the purpose of having fun. Mainly involves relatively long exposure night scene photography, so if you are not familiar with the techniques involved it would be a nice time to learn.
Time: 6.30pm (meet at Orchard MRT) Should end at 8pm for dinner.
Things to bring: Camera + lens (duh), Tripod, cable release (if you have), water bottle, umbrella. Dress comfortably as we will be walking most of the time.

Note: In case of wet weather, we will postpone the outing to Thursday. I will only inform those who are going via sms. So please REPLY whether you are going or not.

2) Internal camp - The internal camp will begin this coming Sunday. I have attached the camp schedule and packing list. Please read through. In addition, here are some stuff to take note:

Reporting Venue: SPH
Reporting Date & Time: 21/12/08 0800 (photog), 0900 (campers)

Ending Time: 24/12 12noon

Directions to Camp Christine: [If you need to go there on your own]
Details are found in this website: http://www.girlguides.org.sg/contact_us/GGS_Campsite
Basically, you have to take MRT to Chua Chu Kang MRT and then change to Bus 975 (Bus Stop is opposite the MRT station)
Then alight at the bus stop opposite the junction of Lim Chu Kang Lane 5 and Lim Chu Kang Road. After alighting at the bus stop, it's quite a long walk, a ulu path flanked by trees till you see lots of campsites.
Thus, it is not advisible to leave the campsite alone unless you know the directions very well, if not please take a cab in.

Important phone numbers (make sure your parents have them as well):

Camp I/C: Jun Zhan 93898719
Camp 2IC: Cheng Siang 81127682

TXY Pres: Cecelia 97282926
TXY VP: Pei Xuan 97924746

In case of emergency please contact camp IC or 2IC first. If they are uncontactable then contact Cecelia/Peixuan.

Attendance for internal camp from SYD is as follows: Junzhan, Ouyang, Darwis(??), Huiching, Renyuan, Edna, Sihui, Joscelin, Xinting, Wangwei. If there are any changes, or if you suddenly wish to attend, please REPLY. Dateline for application is 17th Dec.

Additional note: Our Guwen Ray (aka Jiazheng) will be with us at the site on the 22nd (Monday). Be adviced to bring along a tripod to shoot some rare nature scenes! (pre dawn/dusk)

Regards,
Wangwei

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The SYD annual chalet has come to an end. Really hope everyone had fun, and went home with something new, be it new skills, new knowledge, or new friendships.

I've uploaded some pictures here: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=45468&id=520054227

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Hi everyone,

It's finally holidays for everyone and we will be going for an outing this sat! Details are as follows:

Date: 6th December 2008
Venue: Marina Barrage
Time: 5pm (meet 5pm @ marina bay MRT - we aim to catch shutter bus at 5.10pm, so no rubber timers please!)
Time end: 7.00 - 7.30pm (if you have to leave early, just let us know)

This is a casual walkabout. The main aim for this outing is for group bonding and interaction, it doesn't matter much if your camera is spoilt/don't have a camera at present, so long as your interest in SYD/photography is still there. However, being SYD, our activities will still be centered on photography.

As you know, the barrage is quite a piece of architecture, so it will naturally be our main subject. Techniques you can learn and apply include composition skills, use of various GND/Polariser filters, as well as how to shoot a HDR picture. (processing we will leave it for the chalet). We may also introduce some outdoor strobing techniques at the grass-patches on the roof. Do bring along a tripod if you intend to shoot the twilight pictures.

Please reply to this email, EVEN IF YOU CAN'T ATTEND, so i know that you have at least read this email.

As a gentle reminder, members who are attending the internal camp on 21-24th dec will have to pay $15. I will be collecting the money during the gathering.

Hope to see you all this weekend!

Regards,
Wangwei

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