Timely

I guess it's the heaven's calling for me to stop work when my work computer decided to stop working yesterday just when I'm about to continue some post production. That means the first thing when I resume work next week will be to try fix it up and continue with more post production.

With the work computer down, it also means I am able to spend a little more time today helping out in cleaning up the house and spending more time with family.

I've also tried to spring clean my laptop's hard drive a little and found that there are lots of pictures taken during family events and some random shots which were pretty much forgotten. It's a pity that we didn't print them out as I am pretty lazy to pick them out and send them for print. At the same time, I saw my dad trying very hard to use his pretty old camera phone to take some pics of Ray and failing to get good shots. I've always been wanting to get my dad (and myself) a good compact camera and what I saw today just tell me that today is the day. So an hour before renuion dinner, I rushed out to get a compact cam, a Panasonic LX3. There, I decided to just get a Canon Sylphy photo printer too so that it's easy for anyone at home to print the images (though not of the highest quality) before we procrastinate further. It costs quite a bit but I'm sure it's worthwhile.

It feels good to put some balance into life and I really would like to continue to upkeep this for the rest of the time. Maybe that's my new year resolution this year.

With the clock hitting 12 midnight now, I'll like to wish everyone here a great year and most importantly, good health! Also, thanks alot for reading thru this post too. :)

Warmest Regards
Yong How
www.1950photography.com

Unoffical Photographers

Referring to my good friend and fellow wedding photographer, Malek's blog post.

I guess with the advancement with digital imaging and the cameras being much more affordable these days, I'm starting to feel that it's getting tougher to do our job properly during wedding coverages with much more people crowding around trying to capture the same scene as me. This can really hinder my job as I may not be able to move as freely to get creative angles. Worst still is when another photographer comes in front of me when I'm about to nail a shot. To add on, some of them are still persistant even after they've been told to give way.

Although we had mentioned about this matter in our contract, we understand that it is not easy to enforce it on the day itself. Also on my part, I would still try to compromise by getting out the way when I'm done with the scene, it is still not great to know that I have to do that for the rest of the day. Just hope that fellow photographers can understand and give us, the offical photographers some space to do our job well. You can save your camera batteries and memory for shots at corners where I might not be around at that point of time. :)

Regards
Yong How
www.1950photography.com

Love and Life

Just received this email this morning with the above mentioned subject. I strongly agree with it's contents. I have come across couples who quarrelled due to reasons like guy not buying flowers for the lady or the celebration wasn't spectacular enough for their anniversary. Makes me wonder how some people see love sometimes. Nothing against ladies on this though.

Anyway, here are the contents of the email to share. Hopefully it can be useful for couples reading this. Do feel free to agree/disagree or post your opinions here.

This story tells us something about..... LOVE & LIFE.

My husband is an engineer by profession,
I love him for his steady nature and..
I love the warm feeling when I lean against his broad shoulders.

Two years of courtship and now, five years into marriage,
I would have to admit, that I am getting tired of it. The reasons of
me loving him before, has now transformed into the cause of all
my restlessness.

I am a sentimental woman and extremely sensitive when it
comes to a relationship and my feelings. I yearn for the romantic
moments, like a little girl yearning for candy.

My husband is my complete opposite; his lack of sensitivity,
and the inability of bringing romantic moments into our marriage
has disheartened me about LOVE.

One day, I finally decided to tell him my decision, that I wanted a
divorce.

"Why?" he asked, shocked.

"I am tired. There is no reason for everything in the world!"
I answered.

He kept silent the whole night, seemingly in deep thought.
My feeling of disappointment only increased.

Here was a man who was not able to even express his predicament,
so what else could I expect from him?

And finally he asked me: "What can I do to change your mind?"

Somebody said it right... It's hard to change a person's personality,
and I guess, I have started losing faith in him.

Looking deep into his eyes I slowly answered: "Here is the question....
If you can answer and convince my heart, I will change my mind."

Let's say; I want a flower located on the face of a mountain cliff,
and we both are sure that picking the flower will cause your death.
Will you do it for me?"

He said: "I will give you your answer tomorrow...."
My hopes just sank by listening to his response.

I woke up the next morning to find him gone, and saw a piece of
paper with his scratchy handwriting underneath a milk glass,
on the dining table near the front door , that goes....

"My dear,
I would not pick that flower for you, but....
please allow me to explain the reasons further....."

This first line was already breaking my heart. I continued reading.

"When you use the computer you always mess up the Software
programs, and you cry in front of the screen. I have to save my
fingers so that I can help to restore the programs. You always leave
the house keys behind, thus I have to save my legs to rush home to
open the door for you.

You love traveling but always lose your way in a new city. I have to save
my eyes to show you the way.

You always have the cramps whenever your "good friend" approaches
every month. I have to save my palms so that I can calm the cramps in
your tummy.

You like to stay indoors, and I worry that you will be infected by
infantile autism. I have to save my mouth to tell you jokes and
stories to cure your boredom.

You always stare! at the computer, and that will do nothing good for
your eyes. I have to save my eyes so that when we grow old, I can
help to clip your nails and help to remove those annoying white hairs.
So I can also hold your hand while strolling down the beach, as you
enjoy the sunshine and the beautiful sand...and tell you the colour
of flowers, just like the colour of the glow on your young face...

Thus, my dear, unless I am sure that there is someone who loves
you more than I do... I could not pick that flower yet, and die ... "

My tears fell on the letter, and blurred the ink of his handwriting...
and as I continue on reading... "Now, that you have finished reading
my answer, and if you are satisfied, please open the front door for I am
standing outside bringing your favorite bread and fresh milk..."

I rushed to pull open the door, and saw his anxious face, clutching
tightly with his hands, the milk bottle and loaf of bread....!

Now I am very sure that no one will ever love me as much as
he does, and I have decided to leave the flower alone...

That's LIFE, and LOVE.
When one is surrounded by love,
the feeling of excitement fades away, and one tends
to ignore the true love that lies in between the peace and
dullness.

Love shows up in all forms;
even in very small and cheeky forms.
It has never been a model.
It could be the dullest and most boring form ...

Flowers, and romantic moments are only used and appear
on the surface of the relationship.
Under all this, the pillar of true love stands...
AND THAT'S LIFE

The happiest people in the world...
are not those who have no problems,
but those who learn to live with things that are
less than perfect.