Photography

Grace Tan In Casual Portraits, Life, Portraits

Some Family Portraits (of the other kind)

It’s very normal that certain members of the family get neglected when it comes to taking photos. It’s not easy when your family members don’t want to cooperate even when you offer a treat to them. I’d like to introduce a few extended members of my family but unfortunately, I don’t have many nice photos of them.

This is Tanya (or Tania). She greets me everyday when I go to work, or when I get back from work. She’s young, excitable and sometimes likes to jump on me and land her paws on my outfit, especially when it’s white. When I scream her name, “Tanya, stop it!” she does it again, looking rather proud at her scuff marks on my dress. Other times, she chews my slippers or shoes, and then gets a prompt beating from Alex. He lost the straps to his Crocs that way. Tanya belongs to my in-law’s and is supposed to be a guard dog, but so far, she has failed at her duties. Guests who come by are promptly greeted with a grin and a tail wag.

This is Chino. The photo was taken by my friend Eugene some time back. Chino used to live with me, but now he’s freeloading at my sister’s house (while my home is being renovated). Chino likes to run and attack if he thinks you’re fun to play with. Hands and feet are for biting, he says. Oh, and my claws are hurting you? Sorry but I can’t help myself.

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Grace Tan In For Photographers, Musings, News

LiveWire Media: Charge Up Conference 2011

It’s here again! Charge Up 2011, organized by LiveWire Media is back to inspire, charge up and equip people interested in all forms of media. If you have never heard of LiveWire Media before, do click on the link above to find out more. Their vision:

The LiveWire! media network exists
to link up talents and resources,
to raise up a spirit of excellence,
to lift up positive values.

Charge Up Conference delegates, 2010

I have been involved in every single Charge Up conference since 2006. It’s part of my commitment to give back to society. The conference is open for all to attend, even if you are not a Christian. You can be a student in your teens, a young adult who has no experience in media whatsoever, or a person in your 50s wanting to learn a new skill. All we require is an open heart to learn. Speakers are there on voluntary basis, and that is why the rates for the conference is so affordable! RM500 for a 4 day conference, including meals! (RM450 if you sign up before 17 Feb, and more discounts if you are a student or register in groups!)

Date: 17-20 March 2011
Location of conference: DUMC Dream Centre, 2, Jalan 13/1, Seksyen 13, Petaling Jaya
Registration info

You can choose one of the various streams offered at the conference.
Advanced Sound
Basic Photography
Intermediate Photography
Video Production
Video Post-Production
Basic Design
Motion Graphics – After Effects
Motion Graphics – Flash
2-Day Media for Shepherds Track

Ok this is where I do some shameless advertising. I am in charge of organizing the photography stream this year, and I can say that it will be an exciting time of learning… this year, our photography speaker line up consists of Louis Pang, Ke Wynn, Chun Chung, Andrew Chow, Arden Khoo, Aaron Lam, Goh Choon Ean, Mark Leo and myself!

My two presentations are titled “Shooting with a Mission” and also “Creating Multimedia Presentations that Inspire”. The topics are not about wedding photography specifically, but about using your photography skills with a mission. Are you using your gifts and skills for a purpose? How can you think beyond still images and create presentations that are meaningful and with a message? What are the tools that you need?

Whether you are in the Basic or Intermediate Photography stream, you will be given a project to complete within those 4 days. For the Intermediate Photography stream delegates, you will have the opportunity to create multimedia presentations for non-profit organizations… such as the sample below. This video was created during last year’s Charge Up conference.

[flv:http://www.stories.my/wp-content/uploads/2010/slideshows/crisishome.flv http://www.stories.my/wp-content/uploads/2010/slideshows/crisishome.jpg 700 394]

Alex will also have a speaking session, but his is for the Shepherd’s Track, a stream designed to equip pastors, ministry and mission leaders to walk the creative paths that God is laying down for their church, ministry, or organization.

Hope to see you there!

Grace Tan In For Photographers, Musings

My Love for Photography

I was still studying in university when I saw my first stock photography book. I was just so amazed at the photos in the book. The images seemed to jump out at me. I couldn’t quite put my finger on it, but it was then that the seeds of love for photography were planted. In university, I studied Film and Television, but my interest in photography prompted me to take one class in Black and White photography, and I thoroughly enjoyed it! The only thing I hated was standing in that pitch black darkroom sweating to get the roll of film into the film reel. I often felt claustrophobic and just wanted to get out of the space. But I enjoyed printing my photos using the enlarger and then seeing the image develop in that room.

After I left uni, a friend of mine introduced me to Lomography, a niche type of photography. I loved my little lomo camera and experimented with all sorts of lomo cameras. But the best was the Lomo LCA, which was a cute little camera that I brought with me everywhere I went. I photographed all sorts of things, from my cat, to the plant sitting on my office table, beautiful landscapes while I was traveling… snippets of life. Lomography helped me see life from the perspective of a little camera.

I never owned any SLR of my own, but when I was about 21, my sister bought me my first digital camera, a prosumer Olympus camera. With that camera, I photographed my travels, friends, and even disaster areas in Kedah affected by the tsunami. My first DSLR was the Canon 300D, which was purchased second hand.

And so it has progressed. That little seed grew into a tiny plant and now it’s become a tree.

I’d like to share with you some of my early images taken using my lomo camera. These photos are not touched up in Photoshop in any way. Most of them were taken using slide film and cross processed in a photographic lab. Have a great weekend!

Grace Tan In Portraits, Pre-Wedding & Engagement Portraits

Pre-Wedding: Eddie & Ming Ee

Photographer: Grace, assisted by Alex
Wedding Gown / Cheongsam / Shoes: Pretty in White
Make up and hair: Mel Chew

When a gentleman opens the car door for you (a rare breed nowadays!) and buys flowers for you on your first date, you have confidence that he knows how to treat a woman well. That was Ming Ee’s experience as she went on her first date with Eddie. Their first encounter was at the college where she was studying. He was a counselor then, and she was helping out at the college during her semester break. Soon, Eddie left for another organization, but it was the days when ICQ and Friendster ruled the world. And so they kept in touch. One thing led to another, and then they became an item.

Three years later, Eddie left for the UK and Ming Ee went to Singapore. Two years of long distance relationship soon made them realize that they wanted to spend their years together, not apart. It was during their holiday in Barcelona that Eddie decided to pop the question…

And the rest, they say, is history.

Or rather, shall I rephrase, the beginning of history. Eddie and Ming Ee tied the knot recently and I had the privilege of shooting their pre-wedding photos.

Grace Tan In Portraits, Pre-Wedding & Engagement Portraits

Portraits: Kelvin & Corvy

Photographer: Grace
Make Up & Hair: Charlie from Michelle Touche team
Location: KL Hilton & Lake Gardens

What do you get from you combine a hot mom, a cool dad and a really cute kid?

Amazing images!

Corvy has a presence that is just so magnetic; when she is in a room, you can’t help but look at her. She carries herself well, has amazing poise, grace and exudes charm. I am sure that was what attracted Kelvin to Corvy in the first place. Kelvin is a man with style as well. Corvy’s charm and Kelvin’s calm demeanour and soothing voice make them such an alluring couple. Meeting after meeting at the KL Hilton for drinks and long chats soon turned to romance.

This December, they will be having an intimate reception to celebrate their love. I love it that even after a pregnancy and childbirth, Kelvin and Corvy makes the time to shoot some portraits! And here are the photos from the shoot…