Engagement & Wedding in August

I have been asked to cover a friend's engagement party and a colleague's registry wedding. To say the least, I'm actually honoured to be given these opportunities. I have been guided by a fellow photography enthusiast who is now doing photography professionally covering weddings, events and portraits. You know who you are. I have certainly grown in experience and knowledge of capturing light. Further to that, an encouraging comment coming from him personally few days ago is certainly an attainment after perusing thru my whoALSE Photographics site.

However, I would not just stop improving here. The day one feels s/he has achieved the best one could is the day stagnation creeps in. A well-known Kiwi photographer, Anthony McKee, quoted to me what his mentor taught him, "The study of light takes a lifetime". Surprisingly, this quote was changed from the original "The study of light takes a decade" that had been instilled in him 10 years before.

As such, I will strive harder to improve areas that require more attentions. Conversely, I think I'll rather be noted as an event's memory documentor and/or "time travel service provider" allowing one to go back in time by perusing at their captured images.

Now, here are some shots:

Paper, Compass, Fireworks......

What an Opening Ceremony of the XXIX Olympiad to remember! Zhang Yi-mou certainly made a huge impression with the direction of the Opening Ceremony by having "Paper scroll" as the main title along with Compass, plenty of Fireworks, Chinese Opera (with puppets too) and colourful Traditional Costumes. Footprints were left on the Paper by those athletes who attended the march pass. That's certainly a nice yet meaningful gesture.

It has topped Athen and Sydney while London will definitely have a problem beating that performances that were full of histories, past achievements/inventions and cultures.

Michael Phelps has just blown away his World Record in 400m Individual Medley (IM) by almost 1.5secs. In Athens, he did 4.08. In Beijing, he swam 4.03. This is just remarkable. Now one down, 7 to go for him......

In 400m Free, Park of South Korea and Zhang of China came in first and second respectively ahead of Larsen of USA. Park burst through the group from the 3rd hundred and kept the amazing speed to the end. Certainly, it's worthwhile to mention that 2 Asians filled the top 2 positions in the event. It's a rare ocassion especially in physical sports.

What a start to the swimming events.........! How I wish the finals are in the evening