The mostly photos blog

Union of Jiaqi & Wei Ling (Boxing day ROM!)

2012-01-04T08:33:00.003+08:00

A small and intimate ROM on the boxing day (26th Dec) of 2011 graced by relatives and close friends :)

This is probably the most well organized event I have attended in 2011. Everyone was assigned a designated seat and lunch order were taken a week before. I went with the fish and I must say it is pretty good and I especially love the desserts! Lots of love were put into the decorations as evident in the number of self made items!

Like to thanks Jiaqi & Wei Ling for the opportunity and may they be blessed with a blissful union :D

Union of James & Yanxin (20112011!)

2012-01-04T07:57:00.004+08:00

ROM of two of my dear friends on 20th Nov 2011 (20112011) at HortPark

Union of Anthony & Janice (11.11.11)

2011-11-27T11:20:00.002+08:00

I first met Anthony in a Chinese new year gathering last year and Janice in a Christmas gathering in the same year where I played the 'official photographer'. Early this year, they shared their extraordinary plan for their big day on 11th November 2011 which is not the usual run of the mil wedding, and they wanted me to be their main photographer. This is definitely more challenging than what I have documented before as it involved shooting under the moonlight in the outdoor, away from comfortable air-conditioned ballroom, and I am very delighted and honored to be involved in their big day especially when they have spend so much time and effort in making this day so unique! Like to thanks Anthony & Janice for the opportunity and may they be blessed with a blissful marriage :D

Arrived at Anthony and Janice's new place

Leaving Anthony and Janice's new place for photo shoot at the next location.
We enjoyed great weather with clear blue sky in the morning!

The couple wasted no time in sharing some quiet moment at the bus stop while waiting for the sisters and brothers to arrive

The bride dash into Anthony's parents' house in her heels! After the brothers suggested second round of gatecrash against the ladies :P

Union of Patrick & Conny

2011-11-27T00:32:00.003+08:00

Patrick & Conny are photographers from Express-Oh photography and I was one of the brother cum official photographer for their big day.

Patrick is one of the key person who got me into portrait and event photography when I was still having fun photographing landscape and still life. I have been following the couple in a number of wedding shoot as an apprentice photographer and Ryan and I finally had the privilege of documenting their wedding as the official photographers on the 5th Nov 2011. Here are some of the photos I took.

The boy who refused to open the car door even after given an angbao

Very unique bridal shoe

An intimate moment shared between the couple when they are about to leave grandma's place

The couple made unique invitation cards for every of their guests. This is the wedding invitation card I received, it is a postcard with venue and contact information on the back and their photo on the front. The photo in this card was taken by Ryan in one of their diving trip in Tioman.

Camera on cake!

Its an actual edible wedding cake!

Union of Wee Kiong & Melissa

2011-10-09T11:35:00.002+08:00

Melissa my close friend and Wee Kiong who is my secondary school mate finally tied the knot on 2nd Oct 2011 and I was present as a guest photographer.

I started the day at Wee Kiong's place which is just 3 blocks away from my house (BEST RITE?) and now the couple will be my neighbors till their new place is ready!

There's an added sense of joy documenting this day especially when ive known the couple for over few years. Like to thanks Melissa & Wee Kiong for the opportunity and may they be blessed with a blissful marriage :)

Niece's 2nd birthday

2011-09-02T12:44:00.001+08:00

Had a simple birthday celebration for our niece on 27th Aug 2011

The 'birthday noodle'. Part of a Chinese traditional birthday dish.

过大礼 (GDL) of Tingxi & Geraldine

2011-07-31T00:43:00.003+08:00

Tingxi is a buddy whom ive known for over 10 years and he is finally getting married this year. I'll be part of the 'brothers' during their actual day, lets hope we all survive the gatecrashing :P

I also documented their proposal at ONE°15 about half a year ago http://cksnews.blogspot.com/2011/01/surprise-proposal-at-marina-tingxi.html

Tingxi's place

On the way to Geraldine's place

Arrived at Geraldine's place

Geraldine's place

Our yummy lunch

Private little moment with the big mouse

Mingyang & Huimin casual couple portrait

2011-07-19T12:09:00.010+08:00

A casual couple photoshoot on 9th July 2011 for Mingyang and Huimin his beautiful wife to be.

Mingyang and I work in the same lab and they approached me for an opportunity to do a casual photoshoot for them. I had a fun day exploring the places they visit regularly and they are such a lovely couple to hang out with!

Like to thanks the couple for gaming enough to meet up 730AM in the morning and all the yummy treats!

East coast park

Somewhere near Changi airport

Victor's kitchen
This dimsum restaurant is one of the couple's favorite. They come here regularly and hence it holds many memories for them.

In the cinema

SOTA

In the library

Union of Marcus & XiaoRui

2011-06-19T13:46:00.004+08:00

Played backup photographer to http://www.facebook.com/expressohphoto
on 12 June 2011. Had a blast shooting with Patrick and Ryan!

I was assigned to photograph the groom and my day started in the couple's place at 5AM. Here are some of my take during the actual day of Marcus & XiaoRui. This is also my first wedding AD shoot in 2011.. quite a good refresher :)

Learned alot through this session & I wish ive taken some photos in different way. Thanks to Express-Oh for this wonderful opportunity!

The angbao that will rule them all!

6AM at the bride's place

To the couple's place

To the hotel

More tea ceremony in the hotel

Netherland 2011

2011-06-18T23:09:00.008+08:00

Amstel botel
Our floating hotel in Amsterdam

The view from our room

Random canal in Amsterdam

Big shoe! if the wooden shoe is not big enough already

Pedestrians, trams & cyclists converge in close proximity
Gotto look in all directions before crossing

Lots of bicycles in Amsterdam

This is one of the 'bicycle park' near the central station

In a wooden shoe factory in Volendam

The river outside the wooden shoe factory

Our ride to Marken island

Cheese farm in Zaanse Schans

Windmills in Zaanse Schans

Anne Frank house

A Jewish wartime diarist Anne Frank and her family were hiding from Nazis during WW2. She left a dairy that documented their ordeal and it is available as "The Diary of a Young Girl". Unfortunately, they were betrayed and most of them died in concentration camp.

Very popular attraction with very long queue but no photography inside.

Our boat for the Amsterdam canal cruise

Canal cruise with HardRock Cafe collectible bear - Amsterdam edition

Argentinian steak!

There are lots Argentinian steak house in Amsterdam.. dont know why.. and they are really good!

One of the large breakfast+lunch we had
For 12EUR, the continental breakfast includes an egg, cheeses, cold cuts, lots of breads, coffee and a large bowl of yogurt

France 2011

2011-06-18T22:54:00.007+08:00

6AM in the Eurostar on the way to Paris

Saint-Louis Marais hotel (~100EUR/nite)

Our hotel in Paris for 5 days

HardRock cafe collectible bear Paris edition sitting by our hotel window

Gargoyles of Notre Dame de Paris & Eiffel tower

Notre Dame de Paris
The only place of worship in our trip that allows photography from within

Cold morning in Paris

Basilique du Sacre-Coeur

The magnificent big white church that sits at the highest point in Montmartre. This place also caused my compass to go crazy!

Moulin Rouge!

Along Seine, the major river that cuts through Paris

Louvre museum

The always naked Aphrodite

Past supper (pun intended)

On the way to Versailles Palace

11AM, we were kindof late really

Versailles Palace

Hall of Mirrors, the place the Versailles treaty was signed

"You and your camera made us miss some highlights!"

Tower Effiel

Waiting for the lift to get up

At the top of Effiel

Arc de Triomphe

Random streets in Paris

Gare du Nord train station
To catch the Eurostar train back to London from Paris

French breakfast, cant start our day without it!

A set (~7EUR) includes a croissant, half a baguette with cheese, a cup of orange juice and coffee

French's lemon tart

Roasted chicken for lunch

Nutella with creme crepes

Escargot

Upside down apple pie

Beef tartare (Raw minced beef)

Crème brulée

Crepes again!

We love our crepes!

London 2011 - Royal wedding holiday

2011-06-18T21:07:00.009+08:00

Uncle David hosted us with great generosity. This is the lovely room we stayed in his mew apartment in South Kensington.

The balcony attached to our room in uncle David's

This herbs that goes into some of our dinner.. it is growing very well in the balcony

One of the many street parties during the royal wedding day. This one is just outside uncle David's place

At Hype park during the royal wedding

William and Kate departed Buckingham palace in a helicopter while the Brits cheered on

Sending postcard back to Singapore

One of the subway entrance in Kensington

Sightseening with Phoebe at Nottinghill

Somewhere Eton college

Windsor castle

Tower of London

The yeoman wader giving an introductory tour of Tower of London

Tower bridge

Random street along river Thame

Harrods at night

St Paul's cathedral

On the viewing platform in St Paul's

Performer in Covent Garden

Westminster abbey
The church where the Royal wedding (Will & Kate) was held

Parliament house

Natural history museum

The big dino skeleton as centerpiece

Mama mia!

Love is in the telephone booth

King's cross station.. the place where Harrypotter and friends ran through the wall known as "Platform 9 3/4"

Emerging from Platform 9 3/4

Western Europe is big on going green
These are the bicycles for rental in a bicycle 'station' in London

Our host uncle David cooked up some of the most yummy dishes!
These are some of the dishes uncle David cooked for us

Homemade Portuguese tarts

The English mustard taste very much like wasabi.. its commonly eaten with steak and other red meat there and I love it!

600g steak!

Coush coush a kindof African rice

Lamb for the Coush coush

Bread and butter pudding

Union of Fritz and Marie

2011-01-08T14:51:00.011+08:00

Played backup photographer to Patrick & Conny of http://www.expressohphotography.com/ on Dec 18 2010.

Here are some of my take during the actual day of Fritz and Marie.
There are still alot to learn about event photography.

Nevertheless.. Thanks to Patrick for the opportunity and guidance!

Wedding @ Church Of Saint Mary Of The Angels

Dinner at Conrad

Surprise proposal at the marina (of Tingxi & Gerri)

2011-01-07T23:57:00.023+08:00

Tingxi gathered a group of us at ONE°15 (Sentosa Cove) to help him with a surprise marriage proposal to Geraldine.. Geraldine was brought to Sentosa cove by another group thinking it was just a year end BBQ.. but she was lured to the yacht instead for a surprise.. check out the photos as the story unfolds..

We arrived on a gloomy afternoon on new year's eve

Tingxi, the man of the day on-board the yacht

Preparing the decos

The decos to welcome Gerri

Some couple portraits before arrival of Gerri

"Shhh.. im on the phone with Gerri"

Richard welcomed Gerri on-board

Shock and puzzled, she kept asking where Tingxi was

We got her to watch a short video montage prepared by Tingxi

After the montage, she was led up onto the fly-deck (the top level)

And she said "Yes" :)

Then the party started!

The captain wannabe (me)

Baby Jay at 1st month

2010-11-29T21:52:00.008+08:00

I was invited to baby Jay's first month celebration and so i arrived abit earlier to take some photos of the cute baby with his mama & papa.

Japan 2010 - Dōtonbori

2010-10-29T13:33:00.002+08:00

Dōtonbori - Famous shopping/dining & entertainment district in Osaka

Okonomiyaki are normally served on hot pans for indoor dining

THE Glico Man

Inside Glico shop

Kuidaore Ningyo (that robotic clown) standing outside "Little Osaka"

He is quite a ladies' man (or rather ladies's man-bot)

The shop even provide photo service for portrait to be taken with him!

Takoyaki & okonomiyaki are everywhere!

UFO catcher machine on the street of Dōtonbori

Japan 2010 - Osaka aquarium & Universal studio

2010-10-25T22:26:00.010+08:00

Osaka aquarium

On the super long escalator that brings people from 1st to 8th floor

Touch pool

Ninja house in Tempozen market

Misc stuff in Tempozen market

The Jump shop outside Universal studio Osaka

Jump shop sells everything "One piece (anime)" and other stuff

Universal studio Osaka

Its Halloween!

Japan 2010 - Arrival to Osaka & Osaka castle

2010-10-24T12:48:00.003+08:00

In Kyoto station waiting for train to Osaka

On the 1-hour train ride to Osaka

While walking on the street of Osaka.. we saw 'Osaka castle' on the manhole cover

Hotel Monterey Osaka, our hotel in Osaka, just a minute walk from Osaka station

View from our hotel ally, Umeda building can be seen

Complementary cookies and flowers from hotel

The lift has this pointer thingy that would moves with the lift

The rotating door of the hotel that we like to go through everyday

On our way to Osaka castle

Osaka castle

On the top of Osaka castle

In a park near Osaka castle

Japan 2010 - Nara

2010-10-24T11:47:00.009+08:00

It started as a gloomy day..

Pagoda at Kōfuku-ji

Feed for the deers

Nara's deer.. the messenger of God

Tōdai-ji, the largest wooden building in the world

The world's largest bronze statue of the Buddha Vairocana which is housed in Tōdai-ji

Shinto monk on a bridge in Nara

Heijō Palace, the imperial palace of Japan during the Nara period

The emperor's view from within Heijō Palace

Loading up on goodies at the shop outside Heijō Palace. The 'deer man' is the mascot of the Nara 1300th anniversary commemorative event.

Nara's version of domo

What are these?? Deer's dropping??

Japan 2010 - Arashiyama

2010-10-24T10:51:00.014+08:00

Spend one whole day around Arashiyama

Tenryu-ji

Portrait of Daruma.. didnt want to look straight into his eyes..

Bamboo forest

Abstract view of bamboo forest as seen through gf's camera

On the romantic train ride

Rested at a famous teahouse for Sakuramochi

Monkey park

Views from monkey park

Portrait along Katsura river

Back to Kyoto station

Japan 2010 - Arrival to Kyoto, Yasaka Jinji, Gion, Fushimi Inari, Kiyomizu-dera & Ginkaku-ji

2010-10-23T18:24:00.019+08:00

Gf and I went to Japan on 17 Oct 2010 for our 10 days holiday

On our way to the boarding gate in Changi Airport

Osaka Kansai airport

On the train ride from Kansai airport to Kyoto station

View from within the train, as seen by gf

Arrived at Kyoto

Our room in New Miyako hotel, it is only a minute walk away from Kyoto station

Views from within our room

Gion, the famonus entertainment and dining district

Yasaka jinja

View of slow flowing river on Tatsumi bridge at Gion

Fushimi Inari

Tea house on the mountain among Fushimi Inari

On the citybus to Ginkaku-ji

Ginkaku-ji

Women running along Philospher path

2 people and 1 tanuki.. no idea where this was taken

Kiyomizu-dera, always lots of people on the viewing platform

Stylo & Milo

2010-09-15T00:49:00.008+08:00

Played zoo keeper to sis's guinea pigs while her family went on holiday.

This is their cage with the makeshift bed (Hammock)

Meet Stylo

and Milo

Stylo hiding in a corner.. refusing the shower & spa

Stylo getting a good backrub in the tub

Patrick & Conny goes retro

2010-08-21T13:49:00.006+08:00

Photography adventure with Patrick and Conny

Photographer: Chen KS
Conny's Makeup: Fransiska
Lighting & directing: Patrick

This is the first time im exposed to outdoor strobe setup. Thanks to Patrick for the valuable insights :)

Union of Hanpin & Shier

2010-08-21T13:17:00.007+08:00

Played backup photographer to another friend's wedding on 2nd June 2001

Union of Ray & Jill

2010-08-21T12:52:00.012+08:00

My first wedding shoot! and I played backup photographer.

It started in the morning (630AM) of 2nd May 2010 at the bride's place

Double Helix Bridge

2010-05-22T23:23:00.008+08:00

My twisted take on the already twisted & beautiful bridge

On the bridge with Singapore flyer in sight.

Shot with aperture at f22 for genuine sunburst