Melvin Foong Photography

 

Slow Shutter

I have recently read an article on Improve Photography on how sometimes a very long shutter speed does not equal to blur picture due to movements.

When I was doing my club shoots, I often do not go faster than 1/3s of shutter speed. Partially it was due to hardware limitation, and secondly is because I love the effect of a long exposure — Long exposure gives a creamy light effect when used under the correct condition.

I had a very ancient hardware. Something that I do not mind dropping, and spilled with alcohol. It was a rugged camera that does it job. In exchange with that, ISO noise is abundance, which is why I often stay below ISO400.

Elmo

ISO400, f/3.2,1/3s,SpeedLight at 1/32

Filed under  //   Club Photography   Night Photography   Portraiture  
Posted December 21, 2011
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Laser and strobe lights

I have grown to like shooting in the club so much that I have gotten used to laser beams and strobe lights.

Lisa Kensington

Lisa’s set was great that night. Blow the roof off, as some might say. Then again, if on every club nights the DJ would blow off the roof, then the roof maintenance must be pretty high.

Filed under  //   Club Photography   Lisa Kensington   Night Photography   Portraiture  
Posted December 21, 2011
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Photographing personalities

One of my big endeavor and perk is to be able to shoot big stars when I am photographing the club scenes.

I got to work together with famous people like Steve Aoki, Hed Kandi, Bloody Beetroots, just to name a few.

While it is easier to just wait at the right moment to take a shot, I prefer working together with these artist to create the kind of feel and look that I want. Depending on the kind of music/performance that they are doing.

Most people do not get is the little thing about the artist. Like for Steve Aoki, I managed to get a snapshot of his headphones, which is DIM MAK branded.

Dim Mak Headphones

One of the more significant pictures that I took was of DJ Lisa Kensington. She was rumored to be an ex Playboy Supermodel and we could see why not.

DJ Lisa Kensington

It was on that rare occasion where you have another person with a compact camera or a mobile phone taking a picture as soon as you hit the shutter button. I called these as “borrowed flash” where the image is perfectly exposed and brings the artistry into play.

DJ Steve Aoki

These are just the few example of the great people that I have manage to photograph. Given the chance, I would love to work with them again, perhaps on a more personal level.

Who knows.

Filed under  //   DIM MAK   DJ Lisa Kensington   DJ Steve Aoki   Portraiture   personalities  
Posted August 5, 2011
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Life experience

I was browsing my archives and I stumbled across this photo. It was a group photo of a few DJs from different ‘clans’ at the end of the night after a ‘battle’.

I was on stage, lighting was minimal when I took this picture.

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Nothing special about this picture, but the story behind reminds me of the arrogance behind it.

There was two photographers on stage that night. The first photographer took a shot, rather high shutter speed, perhaps a very strong strobe as well. Second photographer took this, slow shutter speed, a hint of strobe.

First photographer thought it was unusually slow, handshake and all. He then peek at the preview on the LCD screen of the second photographer.

“Very nice, what settings did you use?”

“Of course it’s nice. See who is holding the camera. Talk experience, you are not there yet.'

With an arrogant attitude, the second photographer walked away.

That second photographer, is me.

Filed under  //   Experience   Life experience   Portraiture   photography  
Posted June 24, 2011
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Splashing good time

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It was a hot sunny day. Families are out to the local water theme park for a splashing good time. It wasn’t a point and shoot moment, but rather tedious stalking and camping set up.

Filed under  //   Candids   Canon photomarathon   Photography Contest   Portraiture   Sunway Lagoon   theme park  
Posted June 17, 2011
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