With the girlfriends

Here's my first mobile upload via Blogger app.
Yes! Finally a free Blogger app on iPhone.

Photography: Pink Elephant Labs
Editing: iPhone Apps, Phonto & Photoshake

Water Baby

The one thing that makes me upbeat and chirpy:

The smile of my loved ones.

Senyumlah kerana senyum itu sunnah dan penawar.

Tok Adam ada kebun

Family outings are fun.

It has always been you...

Family matters most.

Beautiful December

It was really windy when we arrived at Changi Boardwalk and Shaura was very cranky as it was her nap time. But the shoot has to go on. We chose a nice spot at the bridge. Filzah and Raudha was very patient with us. At one point, I almost gave up chasing Shaura. She was running to and fro, almost knocking some of the visitors at the park. Boy, I was glad when it was over!

We took lesser pictures this time as compared to last year's maternity shoot at Botanic Gardens - it's not about the quantity but the quality that matters in the end :)

To Filzah and Raudha, thank you for accommodating this rather last minute request and being there for my family photoshoot for the second time. You're simply the best!

Credits

Photographer: Filzah Abdul Rahim

Assisted By: Raudha Ismail
Photos Edited By: Siti Zalinah

Camera: Nikon D60

Lens: 18-105 and 55-200

Love is...

Imagine being away from your newborn for work and school - only to meet her at night when she's asleep. I wouldn't say it's a smooth sailing journey but it's worth every effort.

I'm glad I've made it this far despite the ups and downs, the stress level that I thought I couldn't cope and the thoughts to just give up and quit.

Thank you everyone, friends and family members, for your support and encouraging words.

It means a lot to me.

So what's graduation without a proper photoshoot, right?

Below are the sneak-peek shots taken after the graduation ceremony last week.

To Nana (the wonderful photographer & my senior back in TK) - thank you for your warm service and understanding throughout the entire photoshoot. Knowing Shaura was asleep and cranky when we had to force her to be awake, you extended the time without charging us more. We simply can't wait for the entire album to be up for us to select the final photos!

For those who're interested to know more about the photography services by Nana, you can visit  http://pinkelephantlabs.com/. You can also find Pink Elephant Labs on Facebook.

For now, here are my priceless keepsakes :)

Red Indian

Party time!

Photo Tips & Tricks #1: Editing your photos (The fastest way)

I love spending time on Facebook. With real-time live feeds, I think it's the best social site by far. Twitter is fun to just rant and do some "people-watching" through the conversations and RTs (retweets) but you can do many more with Facebook such as uploading your photos, putting up notes, play games...the list just goes on and on. 

The best part about Facebook is that you can re-connect with your long lost friends. Well, I get to catch up with my ex-boss from the Prisons recently. We share a common interest in photography so it doesn't take us long to just talk and share tips on the subject. Thing is, many fail to realize that it's not the gadget i.e. the camera or lens that's important. It's the editing skills, no matter how blurry and dark the photos can be that you can salvage, that's important.

How to turn your normal photo...

into this?

I'm going to share my best kept secret in editing my photos. I only took minutes to change the above look - NOT with the professional help of Photoshop which can cost you thousands of dollars but a free software by Google called Picasa.

What did I do? 

(1) Simply increase the contrast

(2) And add a soft focus effect

Yes! That's it!

Picasa is so user-friendly, it doesn't take long for you to fall in love with its various tunings and effects. Experience the magic of the software and go to http://picasa.google.com to start downloading. Again, it's FREE, people!

Just like Ikea's tagline "You don't have to be rich, to be clever", you don't need expensive professional help. All you need is just you and your creativity :)

Have fun experimenting!

The shoes that fit

Z: I'm going to buy you shoes for your birthday.
F: There's an old saying - if you buy shoes for your loved ones, they'll run away.
Z: Oh, that's because the shoes don't fit.
F: What makes you think it'll fit mine?
Z: 'Cos it feels right.

Own Imprint

Since I'm so into photography, it's time to imprint my name on my pictures.



Here's the first picture with my name on it. But it looks weird ley.
But don't most peeps remember weird, eccentric things? Yes? No?

Rinduku, Rindumu

Swan duplicated! Told you Raudha, it can be done!
Can't wait to receive the pixs from Filzah.

Pre-Baby Photoshoot

Time is running out, the baby's gonna see the world anytime soon and I've made a (selfish) decision to just go ahead with the photoshoot despite my condition - knowing that I will live with regret for not "trying my luck". Forgive me baby, your mum's very naughty but she thinks of you every day and she wants to have the fondest memory of you inside her tummy, captured and frozen. Your dad wasn't keen on the idea, you know. But he made an effort to gel his hair and wear proper shoes (yikes!).

The photoshoot was simple yet fun. Good company. Gorgeous pixs. Beautiful place. All thanks to these lovely ladies, Filzah (the photographer) and Raudha (the art director) for helping me out with the impromptu photoshoot :)




Can't thank you enough, babes.
It means so much to me :)

What telah happened?

I've been wanting to take pre-baby pixs for the longest time but I never had the time. Now that I have all the time in the world (at home, rotting, waiting for baby to come out), I can barely last 10 mins of walking, what more vigorous activities.

How like that? :(

:)

We're excited to take pre-baby pixs together.
Recommendation from Lis...her bf, the photog.

Am thinking the venue for the photoshoot.
Any suggestions?

Sometimes I wonder why people tell lies...

People lie when they think it's more interesting, but they fail to see that the truth is more interesting.



Well, it's sad that some choose not to see it that way... When in actual fact, only the truth will set us free.

It's nearly 3am and I still can't sleep :(

Capturing moments through my lens.
Pictures taken at Arab Street. Enjoy!



Here...birdie, birdie...!



It's a sign... There's no more Istana. No more Sultan.



Law of gravity: What goes up, will come down...



Lizards for sale



Gate to Istana: I see globalisation ~ See! There's even a bank!

Feeling experimental

I used to experiment a lot with pictures and photoshop when I was in poly. Maybe it's about time to rekindle my passion in design.

And nope, I'm not an Arts student.

Took a diploma in Media and Communication and now a BA...I know it's too late to ask myself this but honestly, did I actually choose the right course in the first place? :S

Thing is...I've always been interested in design yet I tend to end up with the opposite of what I really, really like.

Oh well, I'm graduating soon anyway.
Stay positive, Zalinah!
It's good to have many skills ;)

I just need to keep on practicing.
And most importantly, I have to keep on believing.

Here's something I did in 2004...