Pen Lovers 1st Anniversary Luncheon

Wow… what a day!!

We had a successful celebration of the Pen Lovers 1st Anniversary Luncheon on 29 October 2011 at Pizza & Satay Restaurant at USJ, Subang. The turnout was awesome!! All together, we have 40 Pen Lovers turnout for this event. 

Looking at the group photo, Man! We have broken our record high with 40 Pen Lovers there. 

All these started from a simple man’s vision, i.e, in love of Olympus Pen Camera. And now, it has been developed into a great Facebook Group called PEN LOVERS, which started from a humble beginning from one person and now, it has increased to 325 members as of to-date and the numbers are continuously growing. Thanks to our founder Koon Yik Chin who has this vision and made all these possible. He has successfully pooled many Pen Camera users together. 

PEN LOVERS FOUNDER - KOON YIK CHIN

Time flies…. The Pen Lovers are one year old now….. 

I salute Yeow for his initiative to lead on this project to organize the 1st Anniversary of Pen Lovers. Only people who had high enthusiasm would be generously volunteered to take on the extra responsibilities without any hesitation to organize the 1st Anniversary. I still remember his worries on the poor response from members. He was so grumpy like nanny about not enough people to meet the minimum pax of 30 for booking of a restaurant. One week before the date, the numbers were still not enough … I think he has a few nightmares because of this .. ka ka ka… 

Yeow Chin Liang - Important Soul in Pen Lovers

Worse still, many committed but yet to pay, he started to worry about people FFK or “Fong Fei Kei”, it’s literately saying “Flying Aeroplane”. In Cantonese, it means people didn’t keep their promise although agree to attend but failed to turnout eventually. 

Luckily, he has many friends’ support to release some of his worries. 

Yeow’s buddies in Pen Lovers have extended helping hand to him. People like, Gerald, Simon, Thian Jin, Robin, Mun Keat and Koon Yik have been given helping hands in many ways. Pen Lovers is like a big family, the core team worked with good team spirit and with willingness helping one another to get things done. For sure, you won’t be alone. Look how happy they are …. 

The event started with a sharing session on Photo Editing Technique on HDR photos, conducted by our beloved Thian Jin, he was voluntary to conduct a short course on HDR for members who wish to learn. This is one of the benefit of joining Pen Lovers because we have the opportunity to learn from other fellow members. 

Koon Yik wanted to let many of his vintage lenses and accessories for members to test. He always proud of his collections. I knew he had spent a fortune of getting all those items. Thanks to him, he was kind enough to let us play with his toys. BTW, Koon Yik was joking with us saying “PEN Lovers bring lots of equipment... even one idiot bring luggage bag, damn gila guy lor …. hehehe”.

LOL!!

The idiot guy he referring is himself because he was literally using a big traveling luggage beg with rollers to host all his camera, lenses and accessories …..

(Where can you get such a leader? You tell me lah!!) 

We acknowledged the help from Olympus to loan us one unit of 12mm lens, the newly launched Olympus EPM1 and 3 units of converter lenses (wide, macro and fisheye) for members to try on. As for the most talk about Olympus 45mm f1.8 lens, Yeow was generous enough to let his own precious baby (lens) to let other members to molest …. I guessed that is why he was famous of poisoning people …. Wakakaka. 

Beside those loan units, Olympus sponsored 11 T-Shirts and 9 fiber micro cloth as lucky draw prizes. Other team members also contributed their own gifts for lucky draw … the prizes were so many until we need to have 2 times lucky draw to finish it. Oh yah, we should thank two members who couldn’t make it but they have contributed gifts for lucky draw, they are our Pen Lovers’ buddies, Ronnie and Zeejay. 

It was indeed a wonderful event; I believe everyone have enjoyed themselves. I have taken some photo to share with you … hopefully, one day; you too, can also join Pen Lovers group in Facebook.  (Please click here to link to Pen Lovers)

With happy faces and satisfied feelings, many Pen Lovers are looking forward more PEN LOVERS EVENT … I wonder what’s next …hee hee hee …. and who can organize it ?

Hey, Hello...!!? Why is everyone runaway (except Yeow standing there wondering what’s going on ….) 

................................. ?

Yeow, I think they all want you to be our chief organizer for the next 2nd Pen Lovers Anniversary ….
Good job, Bro!! We support you…….



The End :)

My New Olympus 45mm F1.8 Lens

Poison – can kill.

But Poison in term of photography enthusiast is not to kill but worse than that ….

It means "buy buy buy" !!

“What am I talking about?”

Yes, this is the common jargon that we used to tease our fellow buddies when one is being influenced by another person thinking to buy some new camera gears such as lenses, accessories etc. 

When one said something in the FB that he is interested in something, the rest of us will response by encourage him to “buy, buy, buy” the thing!! So, ended up the person will buy the thing finally.

The best way for not being “poison” is to practice “See no evil, think no evil” ……. If you don’t see it, the desire won’t be awakening. 

However…. Can you really stand it?! I think chopping off finger also doesn’t work. 

With the recent launch of Olympus 45mm f1.8 prime lens, many of us have been poisoned by those who bought it earlier. Special thank to people like Yeow, Robin, KY and also some Pen buddies …. With their persistence, intentionally or unintentionally, they kept telling us how good the 45mm lens is. They post many beautiful photos using 45mm lens in FB or their blogs, it makes you crazy about it. They are “so kind” to let you try and play with it … Once you accepted their offer … THAT IT!! NO TURNING BACK! YOU HAVE BEEN POISONED!!

Below is one of the photo I took using Yeow’s Olympus 45mm f1.8 lens, photo taken on Yeow himself, look at the result …. Beautiful isn’t it? (Tricia see this photo, immediate wanted to “BAU” him… wakakakakaka … LOL)

Capture using EPL2 with 45mm f1.8 Lens (in low light condition without flash)

I keep my desire deep-deep into my heart, try not to spend any money .... but Today! OH!~

Today, I ended up in Mid-Valley Shopping Mall visiting Olympus Product Road Show. I decided to drop-by at one of the Olympus shop in Mid-Valley to check out the 45mm f1.8 Lens … In fact, the shopkeeper didn't even push hard on the product, I already being “sold” mentally by my Pen buddies.

Capture Using EPL2 with 45mm f1.8 Lens

The 45 mm lens is made for portrait shooting. It is perfect for portrait shooting. However, for Macro shot, it is not suitable, this is due to the nearest distance from the object to the camera is 1.64ft. Then I recalled that the lens diameter is suitable for the macro converter lens … so I asked the shopkeeper for trying, after I had hooked up the macro converter, wow!! The result was fantastic, I think I can get as near very near from the subject.

Without hesitation, I bought both the 45mm Lens with the Macro Converter Lens.

I tried to take a few photos using the 45mm Lens with Marco Converter at my Pentax CCTV Lens and I truly love the result. It's awesome as blurring effect had made the lens like floating on the air ...

I really love the blur background, my CCTV Lens like floating

My journey of buying did not end there, I was having a good time checking and admiring display of camera in Olympus Booth. There are many skin designs on Pen Cameras at Roadshow Booth. Some camera skins are so beautiful and cool. I have taken photos to share with you …. It is really fun to look at those cool designs.

At the end of the day, My beloved Pen have changed a new cloth, it looks wild, sexy and extraordinary.

My EPL2 with new skin

Now, I think I need GREAT COURAGE to take my camera out as this is too sexy for a Man to carry around ..... Hahahaha.

The End.

Shutter therapy at Scott Kelby International Photowalk

Have you heard about Scott Kelby Worldwide Photowalk? Recently, a friend sent me a FB event invitation to join a photowalk activity at central Kuala Lumpur. After going through their website link, I realized the photowalk is famous not only locally but internationally too. The Scott Kelby Worldwide Photowalk is well known. It attracted many photo enthusiasts from all over the world to join their website. It encourages member to be leader leading photowalk group. The event will then be published online. Team members are welcome to participate photowalk nearby their cities.

Thank to Raja Indra Putra who had started a Photowalk activity in Kuala Lumpur on October 2, 2011. Out of curiousness and also "some push" from my "K-poh" Pen Lovers buddies, I decided to join them.

It was a perfect sunny Sunday morning. Approximately 50 participants gathered at Central Market. It was a big group, majority were using Big Big DSLR especially the N and the C .... but as a Pen User, our camera size are much tiny ... Luckily, we knew the true power of what our PEN Camera can do, at least non of us are having inferiority complex while standing side by side with those "giant camera" man. Hahahaha ..... (Honestly, I sympathized them for carrying such a heavy camera gears walking around Kuala Lumpur).

Look at all these people, they are so eager to rush for Shooooooooooting.... Wakakaka! By the way, few of my Pen Buddies were standing at the right hand side, some with the V peace sign, they are the PEN BUDDIES that in love in Olympus Pen cameras, we called ourselves as PEN LOVERS. 

Raja Indra Putra was given a briefing before we start. He is dedicated and responsible person. He photostated many road maps. I think he worry us will get lost in the concrete jungle  ... hahahaha ... Nevertheless, this is not an easy job for him especially we are so mischief . We appreciate his efforts ... to stand our "monkey business". LOL!

The best time for street shooting is at the morning, you are not only getting some warmed sunlight and lesser people on the street but you can also captured many hardworking people busy setting up their store ... You will feel the heart beat of a city life ..... It's wonderful feeling.

A friend told me that he doesn't feel comfortable shooting people at the street. He worries people would be ticked off with his action and scolded him. So far, my experience told me this type of incident is very rare especially when you take photo in Kuala Lumpur. People at the street are generally polite and friendly. They are used to tourists taking photo in the city. As long as you are carry with smiling face while you're shooting, they would response positively. Just be polite to them, when they notice you, give them a generous smile. Sometime, if you want to capture their responds, you can ask permission first or do some small talk with them. Let enjoy each other company ..... it is one of the fun thing we do while we are in street photography.

The Scott Kelby International Photowalk has a photo competition after the event, participants are encourage to submit their best photo for selection. Well, I have submitted the above photo  .... this is actually a signboard on a Bus and it happen that my friend was walking by ... I took the opportunity to snap the photo ... just a split second ... luckily I was fast enough to capture this moment. I kind of like this one. Unfortunately, not being selected ...... Wahahahaha ..... cry !!!~ 

If you wish to view what photo has been submistted ... you may check out this link. 

The whole journey took approximately 3 hours .. It covers Petaling Street, nearby, there is a Indian and Chinese Temple .... We also walk to the St John Institution, one of the oldest school in Kuala Lumpur which established since 1904. 

Well, before we end our session, all our Pen Buddies decided to do our "Signature" Jump Shot to signify the End of our PHOTOWALK SESSION.

The Jump Shot is so funny ... and all of them are DAMN CUTE LAH ~!

Wakakakakaka .. hahaha ..... non-stop :)

(That's why I said it is a De-Stress Shutter Therapy) 

If you want to view more photo, please visit my flickr side .... click here

The End.