Posts Tagged ‘Scott Robert Lim’

Kinzan River Photo Shoot: Kitakyushu, Japan

April 21, 2011

This week, Shouten, Winnie, and I went out for another photo session.  This shoot took place at Kinzan River. Every spring is the Cosmos Festival highlighted by the blooming of various kinds of flowers, especially tulips. On either side, the river is flanked by gorgeous flower beds and cherry blossom trees. We were too late for the cherry blossoms but just in time for the flowers.

Winnie really enjoyed this shoot because she loves flowers!

Winnie looking beautiful in her spring dress

I'm not a "flower" kind of person but even I can appreciate their beauty!

This one is shot with a long lens and the next one with a wide-angle lens. Which one do you like?

Shouten wanted to learn more about flash photography.  He specifically wanted to know how I got the nice starburst effect on some of my shots.  For those shots, I use a Lastolite triflash bracket.  You are able to mount 3 flashes.  Using 3 flashes will allow you to “overpower” the sun.  Having 3 flashes also gives you a faster recycling time between shots as the flashes don’t have to be on full power.  On the next 3 images, my aperture setting is the same but look at how the mood changes when I adjust the shutter speed.

F22, 1/200 A dramatic look with a sharp sun starburst

F22, 1/60 With a slower shutter speed, you bring in more of the scene. The starburst is not as sharp but still pretty good. I also had the model face more in the direction of the flash. I also love the little starburst reflections on the water!

F22, 1/50 Now the sun is starting to wash out. But still a nice warm, pleasing shot of Winnie.

F18, 1/50 Sometimes, I introduce texture to compensate for the harsh lighting. The texture also gives a nice fine art look which I was going for in this image.

I also use a reflector to bring light back into the face when in open shade.  The reflector I love to use is the Lastolite Trigrip.  I am using the reflector in the next 3 images.

Learning lighting is essential when doing photography and I’m thankful for my mentor, Scott Robert Lim, who has taught me a lot about lighting and photography.  Check out his site and be inspired!

Thanks again to Shouten and Winnie for an awesome photo shoot.  Looking forward to our shoot in May!

***Update:  I forgot to include one more photo.  See below:

 

Can you "feel" the warm spring sun on her face?

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Posted in Lifestyle, Photo Shoot | 2 Comments »

Scott Robert Lim Workshop – New York City (Part II)

November 3, 2010

Sometime after the workshop in New York City, I went to a service at a church that Anne and I used to attend when we lived in the States.  I had to use the men’s room and as I entered, something struck me by its very absence.  The huge bathroom mirror was entirely gone!  I don’t know if it was damaged or if it was being replaced but it felt strange looking at a bare wall.

At the workshop, Scott invited three of his former students to share with us.   All three challenged us to look at things in a whole new way that, if not practiced, will seem strange by its absence (similar to the mirror).  Junshien Lau challenged us to dream big and to work towards our dream.  Marie Lyssa Dormeus challenged us to consider our dream as not a destination but as one to be lived out moment by moment.  And finally, Tauran Woo challenged us to be proactive, to think thoughtfully on how to compose our images.  Dream, journey, composition…all three, in my opinion, have an essential element: thoughtful and careful reflection.  These require some serious “soul-searching” if we are to excel in both photography and life.  A missing mirror is not a big deal but a missing “self” is a big deal when we don’t find the time to examine our lives.  Socrates once said, “The unexamined life is not worth living.”

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What My Mentor Doesn’t Know…

November 2, 2010

Pssst!  Pssst!  Can you keep a secret?  I recently went to a photographer’s workshop in China.  It was led by award-winning photographers, Scott Robert Lim and Cm Leung.  Well, I have a confession to make:  I really didn’t go there for any of the training nor any of the life-changing inspirational talks.  You wanna know why I really went?  Look below…

Now you know.  Remember, this is a secret between you and me.  Don’t go telling Scott.  I don’t want to hurt his feelings!  Ohhh, I can’t wait to try Parisian food in the next workshop…..

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Posted in Uncategorized, workshops | 1 Comment »

Success: What it Means to Me

October 7, 2010

While I was in the States, I received an email from Weddings & Portrait Photographers International (WPPI) informing me that I had received two accolades of excellence and a third place in the 2010 WPPI 1st Half International Photography Competition.  I was quite elated and so encouraged by this news.  I have so much more to learn in my photographic journey but, as I stated earlier, I will celebrate the small successes along the way.

I want to thank my mentor and friend, Scott Robert Lim, who has done so much for me this past year.  Talking about Scott and his teaching requires a whole separate post but I want to acknowledge him and his community of photographers for blessing me in my journey.  There are more good times still ahead, my friends!

I couldn’t show a high resolution file of the winning images because I didn’t have access to them while I was in the States.  But I am now able to show you those images here in this post.  I have also included the press release that came with the announcement.  And I haven’t received it yet but I saw that I will also receive some award ribbons in the mail :)

The last thing I would like to share is this whole idea of success.  It’s easy to think about it when it involves your career, your vocation.  In my case, I want to be a success in my photography and a success in my teaching.  But I have been convicted recently that all this doesn’t mean anything if, in the process, I am a failure with my family.  I strive and toil for those things that are secondary to my family so it would be a colossal failure if my family gets the leftovers.  I am thankful and indebted to them for supporting me with my dream of photography.  I really like what John Maxwell has to say about this and I hope you will take the time to reflect on his words:

“Success meant having those closest to me love and respect me the most.  Success would be impossible if I achieved outwardly but failed to take my family with me on the journey.  The applause of others would never replace the appreciation of my family.  Respect from others meant little if I did not have the respect of my loved ones.  I would make caring for and communicating with my family one of my life’s priorities.”


Placed third in the WPPI 8 x 10 Competition (Individual Category)

Received Accolade of Excellence for the 2010 WPPI 8 x 10 competition

And thank you to the models and my friends, Akira Fukuda and Kanae Tanaka.  You guys rocked it!  Thanks for being a part of it.

Stay tuned: images from the New York City workshop and further reflection…

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Posted in Awards, Inspiration | 3 Comments »

Scott Robert Lim: New York City Workshop (Part I)

September 28, 2010

Rome, Italy (late August, 2000)

Anne was still in bed when I set off to explore Rome in the early morning.  My walk took me to an unassuming small church.  It was not magnificent like St. Peter’s but its impact on me was no less astounding.  The church was all mine as I studied the paintings in the sanctuary (one of them the smaller work of Michelangelo).  I sat in one of the pews enjoying the solitude and the scene before me: the early morning light coming in to radiate not just the beautiful, stained glass windows but also illuminating the cross above the sanctuary.  And then, as if on cue,  the organ pipes above me began playing music that lifted my soul to the heights.  It was a time of refreshment for my soul.

I thought perhaps that this heavenly music was pre-programmed into the organ to play every morning at that exact time.  But as I slowly made my way to the back where the organ sat, I was in for a pleasant shock.  At the organ was an elderly Asian nun.  She looked to be in her 80′s and no taller than 5 feet.  From those frail, little hands came the most moving music I have heard in a long time.  The towering, metal pipes were a stark contrast to her small, fragile frame.  But it was clear who was in command.  The inner passion inside this humble nun was released as she played one majestic piece after another.

“The key to life: give to the world with all your giftedness, passion and compassion.” -Scott Robert Lim

So why am I sharing this?  Because I believe it is a good illustration of what I learn at a Scott Robert Lim workshop.  Scott mentors in a way that cultivates passion and vision.  Our equipment, like the cold metallic pipes of an organ, can seem intimidating as we struggle to create images.  Scott strives to help us master techniques of posing and lighting, to take it to the next level.  But more than that, he helps us find and release our inner passion.  Without this inner passion, we cannot, like the nun, create one majestic piece after another.  It is this inner passion to excel that, when others view our work, they are, in a phrase, brought to the heights.

The New York City workshop was an exciting week as Scott inspired us to pursue passion.

Part II coming up: The Missing Mirror

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China 2009 – Scott Robert Next Level Workshop 2009

November 12, 2009

Well, I have finally gotten around to posting the second part of my China trip.  After an excellent time in Hong Kong, our group flew to Beijing and had a once-in-a-lifetime shooting session on the Great Wall.  It was cold but experiencing firsthand one of the great wonders of the world was quite exhilarating!  Our original plan was to shoot for a couple hours but we easily went over that time.  What made this trip to the Great Wall special was that our group had this portion of the Wall all to ourselves.  There were no tourists or gimmicky shops.  Heck, there weren’t even any locals.  We had private access to a portion of the Wall that is unrestored.  How awesome is that?!?

I was amazed at this feat of engineering.  The Great Wall just seems to go on forever, its walls disappearing into the horizon.  The Wall was built by the vision of its engineers along with the right tools.  And I think this sums up what it’s like to attend one of Scott’s workshops.  He gives you a vision and the tools needed to prosper in the photography business.  Just as the Wall seems to go on and on, Scott mentors and challenges us to see the potential and limitless possibilities before us as we build a career in photography.  I am looking forward to some more mentoring in 2010!

And I must be out of my mind for not saying this earlier.  Big, big, big props go to Jeremy Chan and his wife Zabrina Deng for organizing everything.  They worked so hard to give us a wonderful experience.  Thanks, Jeremy and Zabrina!  We are so thankful for you!  Check out their work on flickr.  I also want to thank the models (Yu-Cheng and Mei-Qian).  They braved the cold weather and worked hard to give us fantastic images.

Here’s Anwar helping me with my set up.  I learned a lot from him.

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Enjoying a nice, relaxing dinner.

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Tauran took this shot of me.  Thanks for the profile pic, T!  I appreciated Tauran sharing his insights.

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And Chantal was very generous.  She gave me plenty of advice/coaching on setting up my images.

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Chantal wondering if we will ever get to our destination.  It was a long trip from Badaling to central Beijing.

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Paramilitary officers on duty inside the Forbidden City.

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The walls just outside the Forbidden City.

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Local Beijing resident.  I was happy to capture this image.  I realize that China is changing with the times but this image seems, to me, to symbolize China.

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Posted in Fashion, Landscape, portraits | 2 Comments »

Hong Kong Portraits – Scott Robert Next Level Workshop.

November 4, 2009

My blog is long overdue for a post and what better way to break out of that slump by sharing with you images from a recent workshop I went to a couple weeks ago.  I attended the Scott Robert Next Level Workshop and IT…WAS…INCREDIBLE!  Okay, sorry for the superlatives but Scott Robert Lim is an amazing photographer, mentor and friend.  Scott not only helps you improve your craft but his style of teaching is holistic so you learn so much more than just the technical aspects of photography.  He really will take you to the next level.  What made the workshop unforgettable were the new friends made and the location…China!!  It was an unforgettable experience learning and shooting in a totally different culture.  And let me just say that, training and friendships aside, I could go back to China just for the food alone!!  Special thanks to the Hong Kong models (Juju Chan, Angelica Hung, Carmen Chan and Amisa Meow) and Hong Kong  photographers Kelvin Lau and Mina Yuen.  This post is the first of a 2-part series.  The images below are from our time in Hong Kong.  Let me know what you think.  Beijing images coming soon…

This image was my first lesson in off-camera lighting.  The vision for this image was created and inspired by Scott Robert Lim.

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This image was also created and inspired by Scott Robert Lim.  It was a photoshoot on a double decker bus of all places!

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The master at work.

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This vintage Hong Kong diner was great!  So many shooting possibilities but the owner was a bit of a grump.  LOL!

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The background for our last shooting session.  To my Japanese friends, notice the Yoshinoya; it’s taking over the world!  Ha ha ha!

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This image was actually a test shot but I kinda like its moodiness and how it turned out.  What do you think?

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And the best shot of the night goes to my roommate: The amazing and situational vegetarian….drumroll please…Anwar Torres!!!

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Posted in Fashion, Inspiration, portraits, workshops | 2 Comments »

China Workshop Teaser Image

October 18, 2009

Hey guys,
I’ll be sharing more shortly but here’s a teaser pic from the Scott Robert Lim workshop that I attended from October 12-18th. Enjoy!

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Posted in Fashion | 1 Comment »

Texture Tomfoolery

July 4, 2009

Okay, it’s not exactly tomfoolery but I have been experimenting with some textures I purchased from Scott Robert Lim.  I warn you, though.  You’re gonna need a small towel because you will be drooling after looking through his images.  I’m attending his China Next Level Workshop in October.  Wanna come with me?  Click here if you are interested.

These sweet ladies are former students of mine.  Some of you will remember my photo session with them last fall.  Here are some more from that shoot.  I don’t want to give it all away so there will be another post with these awesome models.  And this summer I will have another photo session with them.  It’ll be off the hook!  Good times!

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Posted in Fashion | 3 Comments »

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