Category Archives: Olympus OM-D

Thaipusam 2013 – Part 1

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I arrived at Batu Caves at about 5am and was greeted by a pair of spinning LED kavadis under the moonlight. Traditionally, a wingman pulls the hooks attached to the bare back of the kavadi bearer. Now, we have two guys behind pushing a mini electricity generator on a trolley. Lol.

Instead of firing a flash, I used a slow exposure so the kavadis drew neon trails on the camera’s sensor, creating a beautiful light show.

The Thaipusam ritual of carrying of a kavadi is considered penance for one’s sins or the cleansing of one’s soul. Some bearers pierced their tongues or cheeks with a small spear or skewers as a gesture of unwavering devotion.

The annual Thaipuam Festival at Batu Caves Temple in Malaysia attract over a million devotees, visitors and tourists. It is one of the largest such celebrations outside the of state Tamil Nadu (India) where it began.

Olympus OM-D, ISO 200, f4, 1.6 sec.

Thaipusam 2013 - Part 1

The Silver Chariot

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The Silver Chariot

The annual festival of Thaipusam saw thousands of Hindu devotees take to the streets of Kuala Lumpur last night. The 15-km procession of the golden statue of deity Lord Muruga on a silver chariot started around midnight and ended at Batu Caves just before noon.

Photography Tip: To add some glow to the chariot, overexpose it slightly and apply either some greasy  fingerprints on the lens filter or use a software haze or fog filter.

Olympus OM-D, ISO 500, f3.5, 1/30 sec.

This Full HD video I shot takes you from the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple in Chinatown to L.A. (Leboh Ampang).

Don’t Go Ruining Waterfalls

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Looking down at the mossy ground I was walking on at the Sungai Liam waterfalls, I see nature’s wondrous art. Leaves turned from green to yellow to amber to white. More than beauty, it is Mother’s Nature way of recycling. The leaves rot and decompose into the top soil from which the shedding tree grew from.

Sadly, at many of our popular waterfalls, visitors have discarded stuff that will never bio-degrade. They dump styrofoam food containers and plastic bags at the very spot they picnic at. As a result, there is garbage in every rock crevice. The streams have rubbish floating into every nook and cranny.

I was at the launch of the Sustainable Waterfall Adoption Program in Ulu Yam. It is a noble initiative to clean up, sustain & protect selected waterfalls. Funded by Alstom as a community service project and supported by the Selangor Association Of Waterfalls (Pertubuhan Pencinta Air Terjun Selangor), the program is hoping to raise public awareness on the need to conserve our natural treasures.

Olympus OM-D, ISO 200, f5, 1/125 sec.

Waterfalls