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Monday, June 23, 2008

Photo Shoots

It's the photoshoot season! Every time this year I'll be so busy preparing for shoots and also getting my eyesight worsened by doing alot, ALOT of touch-ups and DIs. For those who still doesn't know what is DIs, it actually stands for Digital Imaging - which means altering the model's figure (make some parts bigger and make most parts smaller! Haha..), changing of colour, super-impose something or anything to enhance the feel of the pictures.

I must admit, I didn't learn how to do DI professionally. I just happened to pick it up from Joyce, whom use to do some touch-ups for models for PC. Then because I had no contacts for freelance DI artist and also I was thinking of helping my company save moola so I offered to do it since 2006. I just try my best to do and also pick up new skill since. I have enjoyed doing DI and bear with the consequences like getting my whole right arm cramped up til my shoulder from clicking the mouse and my myopia going from -3.00 to -4.00 on my right eye and also whole body ache. The only time I regretted for being a kind soul is when my manager takes me forgranted.

It really didn't get to her head how much I am saving for the company. I know.... alot of people will critised me for doing this. Like I asked for it. I could have sub it out to other people... etc.. etc.. But I really enjoying it right now... but all I ask for is some extra time for me to finish it up. Not like today shoot, tomorrow ask me if the pictures will be ready. Very irritating lor I tell you!

Anyway! Enough of her! Here's some behind the scene pictures of us fooling around and working hard as well. And for the 1st time I went to Old Changi hospital for loaction shoot! I almost got freaked out!

Shoot 1 - Happening lights!
We love the props so much that Dulcy and I took turns to shoot each other with Simon gege's EOS 1. So heavy lor his camera! I think got 4 or 5 kg!

Dulcy as Cheeky BatGirl!
It ain't heavy, it's me Bat!
Hahaha... lightning hits her ass!

Simon gege and Julia
Can tell that Simon really loved our fringed wig.
Look at him... I think he is trying to achieve the "大老爷" look with his
mistress next to him. Hahaha....

The girls!
What a lovely couple!
High-fashion version!
Hahaha....
Separated at Birth!!!!
After this pic I think I have a long lost sister between me and Essly!
Don't you think we looked so alike!!!
Dulcy's turn!

The 881 setup.
How happening!

I like the lights!


Shoot 2 - Old Changi Hospital

When I told Simon my collection is a lil ghastly kind of feel, he actually went to Old Changi hospital to recee and asked if I am interested to shoot there! I was like.... freaked out for a moment. But after seeing the photos.... I thought the feel was really quite good so no choice have to shoot there! If not there is like no where else!

Lucky we only have to shoot for half a day. We reached there at around 1.30pm and the sky was like getting dark. It looked like it was going to rain. There were a little sunlight.... Thank God. When we approached the slope going up the back of the defunct hospital, Julia suddenly told us that she had been here before..... AT NIGHT!!!

All of us immediately applauded her courage for going to the hospital at night especially me as I am the 胆小鬼 among all of them. As I stood outside the old, dilapidated building, I began to scare myself. There were burned joss sticks on the ground where the 2 big pieces of boulder (to block access of vehicles) were. The building looked old, dirty and covered with ugly graffiti. I walked in, going thru a few rooms at the back where we'll be shooting the few shots. The state of distressed are so natural and it's kinda nice in a way. I like the broken windows, the stained walls and also the decrepit furnitures left to rot there.
There was this room that had a toad in it! I was totally freaked out by then. Toads and frogs are the worse creatures ever!!! Grossss!!! I was hoping I don't have to go into that room and thank goodness, the wires were long enough for me to stay in the other room holding the lap top. PHEW! But I happened to peek at the toad trying to climb into a candle-holder and it's like so wierd! Funny but gross at the same time! Hahaha...

I'm so glad that Julia was really into the mood and she is like the most professional model ever besides Anastasia. She wasn't afraid of the creepy place nor the dirt or like having to change in make-shift places. She gave us super good shots. By 4pm. We were done for the day and ready to exit the place. Super fast. Fastest outdoor shoot ever! I'm so glad because it started to rain and I was cursing the sky and I was like so frightened that I might see something that I don't wish to see. Hahaha...


Simon's ready to shoot.
Julia seems to be like treading carefully to the place where she supposed to stand.
Angie sneak a pic too.
She gave us very nice goth makeup and hair!
Phin's the assistant of the day!


The Old skool doors.

Ugly grafitti marked the walls.
What a waste.

Dulcy, in one of the rooms.

This looks like it could be a dispensary last time with the little window there.


My right foot got bitten by mozzie even though I sprayed alot of repellent!

Simon's hard at work.
A sneak peek at my collection.

Oh! Courtesy Lion!
So 80s!
My artistic shot! Hahaha...

Algae-stained walls and ceilings.


Me, picking photos and hiding from the toad as well.

Dulcy showing how big the place is.
I was quite worried that when I load the pics, there will be something popping out from the windows at the back!
See how 胆小 I am!


ps. There were a strange happening when we were shooting the 2nd or 3rd set. One of the image of her close-up shot suddenly appeared in green in the laptop as I was going thru the pics when Simon shoots. As usual, i freaked out and asked him to change the pic's colour intensity immediately! I didn't touch the keyboard so there shouldn't be a reason why the colour will change by itself! And of all colour why GREEN?!!? So scary man!

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Taipei

Taipei - My 4th city in 3 months. Was not as excited about going there this time round because I was really stressed out with the presentation that I was going to give to the executives and shop supervisors there. The biggest problem I have is My mandarin. My chinese sucks big time and it had gotten worse over the years! Shucks. I am really glad my ah lao is super well-versed in our mother tongue. Thank god for that! So he helped me alot for the presentation but I think he can't help me with is my nervousness. Hahaha....
Whenever there is a presentation, no matter how much I had prepared and how many times I had done it, my mind will go blank at that instant and then *poof!* everything just disappeared! So I started talking rubbish. Even I couldn't understand myself! Don't think the promoters will know what I was trying to convey! Chams!!!! Hahaha... I think my boss still shakes his head whenever I try to explain our brand philosophy in mandarin.
Sorry Boo.... I have failed you....... Hahahaha....
So besides the presentation on last tuesday. Most of the time were spent travelling from 1 mall to the other. If not will be the lavish dinners we had every night. No pictures of the delicious taiwanese food we had cos I thought it was quite rude to start snapping pics when we are sitting with the important people at dinner. No Shihlin trip for us also. Really didn't felt like going to any night market this time round. I think most of the time we were too full and tired also.
But I would very much loved to go back to Taipei also. It will be great if I can go to 1 of the major concert party thingie like they also hold for NYEs or something!
One of the famous Taiwanese 小吃 - 蛋仔面!
The soup has a clear meaty sweet taste with bit of crunchy garlic in it.
Very delicious.

Visiting one of the outlets and it was raining!

My collections in the window!

View of our hotel from the lobby lounge where we had our breakfast.

I LOVE MISTER DONUT!
Yay! Taiwan also have!

My afternoon snack! Hot Red milk tea + mini donuts.
Guess what they call these 6 minis?
六小福! So cute hor!

Angie and Wenn enjoying their donuts!

Vivienne! Our Taiwanese MD?
Very very nice lady!

Mitsukoshi or 新光三越 at Taipei 101.

Nice oriental mouseys!
Our usual dinner set up.


My collection was featured in the Taiwan newspaper!

Whole paper on lingerie!

My 1st time trying this!
鱿鱼羹!

See how fine the mi fen is!

Big generous pieces of squid!

Other small side dishes Vivienne ordered for us!

I love the way they display the donuts at Mister Donut!
Everything look so good!


Presenting.....

One of my favourite food from Taiwan!
It's called 包心粉圆冰
And this particular one I'm having is 综合豆花 flavour.


There is a method to eat this iced version

1. Pour the desired amount of 粉圆 over the ice.
2. Do not stir as it will affect the taste of the 粉圆.
3. Eat the 粉圆 as soon as possible and Taste the Q-ness!
(Although the staff strongly recommend the hot version but I ate the iced version as it was really hot that day!)
The bowl on the left contains soybean curd at the bottom with 2 scoops of ice on top,the "mix nuts" mini platter is on the top right corner and the 包心粉圆("pearls" with fillings)is on the bottom right corner.

A closer look at the 粉圆.
You've got to try this dessert when you go Taiwan.
And you must go to this shop at 西门町and must only eat this shop
one - 罗东夜市的包心粉圆冰!
I first had it 2 years ago at the other famous night market at 隢河!
It's so yummy!


All ready to enjoy my 粉圆s!
What a satisfying feeling!!!

See what I am lugging home!

My favourite!!! Pon de Rings x 10!!!

Love the colours!

Sunday, June 15, 2008

Welcome Baby Chelsea!

My best friend, Kristy, had a baby last Friday! Baby Chelsea was delivered by 12.18pm at Mount Alvernia hospital. I was extremely excited and happy for Mama Kristy and Papa Edwin! I was on stand-by on thursday when Kristy told me she is checking into the hospital to await Chelsea's arrival and when I saw edwin's sms, I got so excited for her! Hahahaha!

So I went to Mt. Alvernia that evening to visit them with Boo!

Radiant Mama Kristy and her beautiful Lil' girl!

Auntie Elaine wants a pic too!
Look at Baby Chelsea, don't you think she looks like a dolly?!

Trying to take more pics of Chelsea!

Eh... She started to open her eyes while I snap snap snap!

Then she seems like she's gonna open the other eye too!
Will I get lucky!?!?

Yes!!!
Baby Chelsea opened both her eyes now~!
whoohooo I'm lucky!

Ain't she Lovely?!?!

Such a Cutie!
She is really a 可爱 little 宝贝!
I'm so happie for Mama Kristy and Papa Edwin!!!!