Comments on: Apa nama….. apa nama….. critics? – kepala tengkorak Hang!

By: maheswaran

maheswaran — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 11:09:02 +0000

Dear Brother, I believe, based on my own experience, that there is a huge difference between ameteurs n proffesionals (in what ever industry).. of course the ameteurs might progress to be a professional one day.. Just to share some experiences, 1. My fren’s wedding. they hired so called indian photographers to shoot for their wedding. the photo is nice. at the same time, their fren also requested to shoot during the event as they hv never covered an indian wedding. (for free because they r using it as case study)And the photo’s was superb. more like the one capture by you bro.. So for my own wedding, i wanted her to shoot for the event but she was unavailable n recommended her sifu,a part-timer… mau horng studio (can google for it) as well as an indian photographer as it was 1st indian wedding for our fren mau horng… both of them did good job, of course mau horng’s work is more like the one shhot by you. BUt during both event, wedding n dinner, some of my cousins, obstruct them with their curiosity to shoot with their handphone n digital camera….. though both photographers n 1 vidoegrapher did not show any dislikes on their face or attitudes, me n my wife was really piss off at our ccousin’s over enthusiasm.. nevertheless, the outcome was good… i just felt, without those obstruction, they might hv shoot more memoreable scenes n ceremonies…finally.. i think those on learning phase, should hv a sense to learn n practice without obstructing… tq

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By: Just Me

Just Me — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 07:50:07 +0000

Hey, hey…how’s it going? It seems so much has been said already that anything i add is just going to be more of the same. That being said, I just couldn’t resist taking my few shots at…. ha, ha, no prizes for guessing at who?

Anyway, dear Kev, here goes. Firstly, I’d like to say that I had a little bit of difficulty reading your post because of all the fancy language in it. Luckily, just as I was starting to doubt my ability to speak the English language, I realised that it was not so much my but actually your understanding of the words that made it confusing. You really shouldn’t use words you don’t fully understand, honey! Either which way, enough about that…we are not here to discuss your use, or maybe abuse, of the English language but to discuss the absolute nonsense that your flamboyant use of language failed to mask. My friend’s father once said, “When a person opens his mouth to speak, we can see all the rubbish that’s going on in his/her head”. How true…

I am going to say right now, at the begining, that I am a huge fan of Papparazzi and their work. I am also a huge fan of both principals at Papparazzi as people. They are kind and honest and accomodating and incredibly fun to be around. These qualities carry forward into their work and that’s what allows them to produce the magic that they do. They really, truly are professionals in every sense of the word. Whether or not they are members of reuters/ NG/ magnum or whatever, does little to prove otherwise. Show me a millionaire who has a string of letters behind his name to prove education and I’ll show you two who have none. Paper qualifications are great to have but are not usually reflective of ability or of God given talent.

“…photojournalism is about reacting to your surrounding not making the surrounding react to you.” This, I lifted from your post. For once, it seems I agree with you, sir! You are absolutely right. Just one thing… photojournalism at weddings, although very much necessary with regards to both pre- and post-ceremony and definitely very much Papparazzi style,is slightly different. You see, there are actual events that need to be immortalised and the people writing the cheques are not going to be thrilled if they are told that those shots were not captured because there was someone in the way and the photographer just didn’t think it was polite to ask them to move. Just to be clear, I am referring to events like the tying of the ‘thali’, exchanging of rings, first kiss, rice blessing, throwing of the bouquet…you get the idea.

The pictures are really the only thing that a couple gets to take with them through the rest of their lives together. The flowers will die, the food…well, you know what happens to the food and the clothes they will probably never wear again.People pay a lot of money to and put a lot of effort into finding the photographer that’s right for them. The intention is that they can share the memories of their most special day with family and kids and grandkids in the future. If there are missing pieces in the story that they are trying to share, what’s the point? So intruders, they may be, but intruders who are more wanted on that matrimonial stage, by the bride and groom, than (dare i say it?) anyone else. The priest is a possible exception.

I really don’t think Papparazzi had any intention of looking down on amateurs or anyone else. They were just trying to do their job and do it well. It seems to me that if you are really “smart enough to know when to allow you so called pros to take the shots”, then this wouldn’t even have been a point of contention and this whole area of Silan’s blog wouldn’t even exist. Imagine that!!

“I have shots of my 7 year old cousin taking the wedding…” This is also from your post and i’m going to take this to mean that he was taking pictures. Kev, I don’t know if you are married yet or not, but in the event that you are not and assuming i’m right about your meaning in the above statement, I am offering the services of my 6 and 7 year old sons to shoot your wedding. We wont even charge because they are difinitely not accredited by any organisation. Also, if you feel you want to out-do your friend who had the 5 photographers, I can organise as many of my boys’ friends as you like. It’ll be soooo cute!! Maybe you’ll even get some half decent pictures.

Ok…phew… I feel better now that I’ve said all that i wanted to say. I’m not really a chess player but I feel the need, at this, point, to say… “CHECK”. Do I hear a “MATE”? If not, I’ll assume I’ve got your queen…

Regards
ME

P.S. How, pray tell, does shooting non-Indian weddings become the judge of professionalism or ability or anything else? Just curious…

By: The Sifu

The Sifu — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 22:29:28 +0000

In my job, managing a major Newspaper, I have had the opportunity to partake in the selection of editorial material including photographs, daily prior to print. Mind you, a picture does paint a thousand words, but a good photo clinches it. To see beyond the realms of the norm is the depth of a professional photographer. This quality is possessed by but a handful and to have one as a good friend,I am truly blessed. In this age of computer assisted touch ups and air brushing, a natural quality photo is a welcome sight to behold indeed. I have had the pleasure of reviewing your photos and have found them to be works of art. I particularly love the way you capture the real essence of the subject and the occasion, people’s unspoken expression. Beauty is certainly in the eyes of the beholder. So bro keep up the good job and fly higher. Click away!!

By: Rose

Rose — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 17:37:21 +0000

Hahaha…. Padan muka dia… Kurang asam betul! Obviously he doesn’t have the the brains…. ooops.. I mean, knowledge on photography. I, too, have passion on photography and I know it does not take a minute or two to learn to take good photographs. It takes a whole lot of practice to make it ‘live’ and perfect.

What the heck with 5 photographers?!? It was not a wedding in a stadium, perhaps it was in outer space! Memang dia kena tembak kepala sendiri untuk membetulkan skru yang tertanggal di dalam otak dia…

anyway, well done on your reply Guna> ;D

By: Shamala Ernest

Shamala Ernest — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 13:41:41 +0000

I agree with Jana……and i believe ignorance is bliss……don’t give energy to such negetivity when it is meaningless…..u know for a fact that a lot of people out there appreciate your work of art and the results are proven. So don’t waste your energy or provide justification to anyone who is not worthy of it…..you are a gifted person with a great talent…….So Mr.RG Silan……. just do your best as usual and allow couples (or clients) to cherish the most important moments in their life being captured by someone who has been there and done that like yourself…..be cool and take care.

By: Jananee Sivanason

Jananee Sivanason — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 09:48:02 +0000

Guna,
Pictures paints a thousand words. In your case, your single snap says it all.
There is no need for a blog to diss amateurs as that will only make you look bad.
In fact, you need not justify anything.
It’s not like you have not delivered even in the messiest weddings or the grandest parade. People will say many things because at that moment of time, thats what mattered to them.

Speaking in the liberal way as I always do, you are an excellent photographer (Sree too). And you’re definitely a pro. But a pro does not need to prove to everyone he is pro. So let it be, Guna. Dont hinder what others have to say…
On the other hand, I think shooting in a crowded space with many blockages with minimal space for your creative shot is the best challenge a photographer should sought to seek! The more the challenge the better photographer you are if you can still deliver!! So dont complain about them PnS photographers…let them be too..
Like I said at the start…your pictures have spoken. Eventhough its under all that circumstances.

PS: Guna and Sree shot my wedding photos and I can confidently say that no one could’ve shot it better. It was the best wedding photos I’ve seen! One of their best works.
So thanks to them!

By: Mals

Mals — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 09:32:54 +0000

I am ROTFL looking at how the “critic” has compared wedding photography to the warzone.

5 Pro Photographers……come on dude…5?? How big was the event.
The Papparazi team of 2 takes amazing pics for a crowd of 1000 people….so it deffinitely makes me wonder for the need of 5 pro photographers…

btw , Guna I guess you have put your message very clearly across……and ending it with the pantun, was superb…….and dark machi’s pantun….lol…PRICELESS

By: rujjcoomarh

rujjcoomarh — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 09:30:00 +0000

Bro Guna, nicely replied. But I still dont understand why they needed 5 photogs? Perhaps as you said, the wedding was at a stadium, ay?

By: Sheila

Sheila — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 09:04:36 +0000

Guna… good come back & totally agree with you on who is behind the camera. Someone need to have an eye for the perfect shot & how to capture it let it be amateur or pro!

I have not personally had the privilege to have you as my photographer but I have seen your work which is really awesome – you are not just a professional phtographer but an artist who captures the best scene of any event; keep it up Guna…