planting futures, growing organically
27
Dec 12
Summer in Sweden
The summer of 2012 has been wet and cold across the Europe, with no exception of the Scandinavia, including the fairytale land of Sweden.
An assignment took me there in August for the first time, to the seaside town of Kalmar.
After the shoot completed, I stayed behind for a few days with Umar and Lars, a lovely couple who are both enjoying the life of retirees, exploring the neighbouring area, and took full advantage of a short sunny spell that everyone had been longing for.
It is apparent that the Swedes have insatiable affections for the outdoors, leisurely and competitively.
A casual stroll along the waterfront, you hardly hear any engine sound, only thin tyres running agilely on tarmac, carry people from A to B in the breeze. Almost every hospitable shade was occupied by book lovers in the most civilised way one can imagine.
It isn’t difficult to understand such a relaxed and comfortable lifestyle, given what the surrounding offers, and far too easily to fall in love with, at every turn wherever you headed.
The rural life is live and well, fields of gold and ripe smell run for miles. All can be indulged on the neighbouring island Öland.
Don’t forget to stay for the sunset if you get out there, it is simply magical.
Click Swedish Summer to view the entire series.
22
Dec 12
Seasons Greetings
Greetings: we survived the doomsday, let’s onward with 2013!
Happy Holidays!
20
Dec 12
My work selected in the AOP exhibition
I am thrilled to find that my work has been selected for the current AOP exhibition – Elements.
Curator Rachel Rogers comments: “From a great selection of images we’ve chosen work by 26 different members which form an exhibition covering the elements from ALL seasons.”
AOP will also oversee the limited edition print sale of the image.
To see the rest of the exhibition, please visit AOP website, some amazing work in the mix, from Wendy Carrig, Michael Clement, Time Platt and more!
13
Dec 11
50 characters killed my Tuesday
The December wind joyfully whistles outside my window. It is December 13th, 2011.
The double glazing which effortlessly keeps the bass within became useless to keep out the nature’s cold laughter.
My objective today was simple, to polish and perfect the winter email campaign to kick off 2012. Since majority of the coding, sizing, wording and positioning has already been done over the past few days, I was left with a single task at hand. A concise and catchy subject line in the hope that more people will open the email.
Little did I know, mixing words is an artful skill that many do not possess, me included.
Reluctantly, I turned to one source that everyone turns to when in doubt in this modernising, increasingly-villana-becoming society, yet knowing if an answer comes too easily, it won’t be what you’re after. And I was right.
Top 5 ranked Google results said little that I don’t already know. I gathered that if my business aims at retail consumers, life wouldn’t be so difficult, then again, not so interesting either.
I then did everything one would normally do in this situation to fire up a sleepy brain. I twitted, I facebooked, I read blogs. Naturally, I was distracted by the well written words of Wayne Ford and his selection of wonderful photographic projects around the world, I was lost, very happily, for a good while. The urgency sobered me up, I tried a different approach to stimulate my mind. This time, by feeding the stomach. Cheese on toast, apple, clementine, water, tea and hobnobs, in that particular order.
While the blood gushing down my artery to help with digestion, I felt myself drifting farther away from the 50 characters.
It was then a message from an old friend 5000 miles away sat me right up in the chair. A heart felt letter describing his newly embarked life as a project manager in Hong Kong, the long working hours, total loss of fashion sense and daily discoveries of both living and dead things in the dusty hair from working on the hill side.
The bulb moment hit me all of sudden, a short and catchy subject line appeared right under my nose.
Yes, 50 characters killed a day, but it didn’t go wasted.
14
Nov 11
Grandmaster’s life long collection arrives in London
Following a captivating documentary presented by Fiona Bruce on BBC 1 a few weeks’ back, the much anticipated exhibition is finally here in London.
Forget about all the hyped up names you hear on a daily basis, if you love art, don’t look further.
This is my favourite piece from the grandmaster, triumphs over The Mona Lisa by miles.
20
Oct 11
Normal service will resume shortly
Apologies for the lack of posting of the late.
Life has taken me on an unexpected turn, but everything are gradually returning to the better.
19
Jul 11
In the middle of nowhere, France
I am not a great role model for obeying rules and follow instructions, but some times it comes with perks that makes it worthwhile.
Hopping from chateau to chateau in France was fun, mostly due to the amazing sceneries along the route. A random turn off brought me to this spectacular bridge, with the final ray of light gently kissing the yellow stones.
Needless to say, I failed to reach the last chateau …
12
Jul 11
Navy Girl
Shooting on location has always been fun, creative yet challenging, especially when things that out of your control decide to play against you.
But when your subject is intelligent, strong and female who happens to serve in the navy reserve, those factors somehow push you go further to man up just to keep up.
For once, the met office forecast accurately predicted the weather right after we set it up. With the drizzle coming down, the race against wind, rain and tide highly tightened our nerve systems.
The shoot lasted no more than 15 minutes, before heavy rain sent us packing, literally.
Given the opportunity, I would love to return to the same location and do it again.
