Advice

Advices, it comes from everywhere, but how many of us actually listen to it???




I guess one problem about living in a society such as this is that now because people are becoming smarter and smarter, we're beginning to think that what we are doing is right and that there is no wrong to our actions....

And I guess it makes us stubborn too in someways because of our knowledge that we forget wisdom in living...

But then again.... I guess it's all about being young and foolish plus stupid at the same time?? That as we begin to grow older we begin to see life differently, then to look back and to think "wahseh I so stupid wan ah then??"

hoho... but sometimes there are shortcuts to gaining wisdom rather than waiting till you grow old... it's about listening to the advice of one another, when someone tells you something, don't throw it all out instantly, but keep 50% of it and think about it, who knows?? What they say might be true, and if you take it in, you could slowly change to become a better person...

Of course there is always another bunch to say that they are stupid and they do not understand you, and they should accept you as who you are... blah blah and so forth.... to me that's just being stubborn I guess...... sure we can have some disagreements in life, but not to a point where we go bitter~~

Been receiving quite a number of advices upon my life these few days by friends, and I guess it's also something to help me to change to be better... will it be easy?? Of course not =)

But it's all about trying to become a better person and to improve more and more each day~~~~ whew~~ but I am thankful for those who dared to speak into my life, to help me to learn from my mistakes and to learn to grow in wisdom before I grow old and regret later.....

Speaking of improving... just went to hang my clothes and I snapped two cloth hangers.... I must be getting stronger =)

Rudeness

Not really the topic I would like to touch on... but then again times have already changed...


Times have changed, people have changed, generations have changed, mindsets have changed... one major change, the increase in rudeness =)

Why write about this??? Well.... for the pass few days I had one of the kids from the children church that kept on messaging me on facebook, and she'd always ask if I was Francyne, no I am not... but still don't understand why can't she look at the name for herself, even if can't read the picture by itself makes a nice thing to show that I'm not a female...

But it happened again, and again, yet again, once more again~ till one fine day.... ah sigh.... here's how it went~~
Hmmm.... I really can question a lot by looking at this conversation... censored out the name and face for safe-keeping... but in a way yeah we could really see that the kids in the next generation has already changed~~

But then again... isn't a familiar word to hear it saying from your elders why kids now don't show respect??? And then we would mainly reply in our hearts "Cheh"

But when we start growing older, we tend to be like our elders and wonder why the kids now don't seem to show any respect towards us, the way they call us, the way their eyes look at us, etc... makes you just wanna reach out your loving arms towards them and STRANGLE them!!!

Kids have changed huh?? Not as innocent as we'd remember ourselves to be like when we were at their age....

Kind of similar too when I was teaching a class on Sunday and when we came to the area of respecting others, which also a thought came to me... how are we ourselves even treating other people, how are we even treating our parents? elders? authorities? etc. would respect be something earned or gained?? Or something to be received freely??

Well unless you have a gun in your pocket, not much people would respect you I guess... but then again as a person we do have the responsibility to respect and show love to one another, even though it would be a moment of lowering yourself down to the ground like a worm, but rather than earning respect, giving respect should be more important to one another~ =)

Either way, Respect others, and you'll slowly see the respect coming back to you~ be an example to others that you respect them if you want them too to respect you back~

Even if you don't receive and respect back in return, but rather getting a fist to your face... just continue showing love and respect~ knowing that your father in heaven is looking down =)

Might seem stupid and lame... don't know~ I guess now in this corrupted world... being the one to stand out and to be an example of showing love is what we need now to change this corrupted world...

We just need to show a little more love and respect =)

It's Time to Rest

I think it's time to relax....


well... term is coming to an end.. and for the past 3 years of studying here, this is the first time I've felt pressured and different, like gonna break down or snap or something when doing assignments.. and not to mention weekend work too, which has leveled up now since I've been told the word:

"As a Bible College student you're required to be involved in every single ministry"

Ouch...

well though I may think myself to be stronger than the average human in terms of psychologically, and that I could push myself harder and find the strength to fight through the hard times... but in the end, I'm still human I guess...

I felt like things were going normal, life felt normal to me... but wasn't unto an old student came back and looked at me...

the moment he looked at me, he said that something was different about me, and said that last year he could see that I was more hyperactive, always the joyful, jolly go lucky kinda person with a smile on my face, but now he just senses something to be different about me, there's no more joy, no more big crazy smile... and now it's more or less just like a more sad, expressionless kinda look in my face now...

I was pulled back a moment though.. because I though that things were normal for me as they always was.... But he started telling me of the stress people go through both as a student and in the ministry, and most of the time we'd go through dry seasons, and sometimes even burnouts, that we start to lose the joy and passion that actually was what that got us started in the first place...

I guess that's the wonder of having other people around you, to see the things you can't even see yourself... now thinking back, I think I really have begun to lose the fire, and I guess I really am going through a season of burning out, that the ministry is beginning to feel like a job more than serving, its becoming a duty more than a passion... it's getting dry...

I think I should follow he's advice, to really find some time to relax, to rest, and at the same time to find some time to get myself recharged back spiritually before I burn out.... and he adviced me to do it as soon as possible... never safe to keep on going like I am now...

Well... next week's my holidays... maybe I really should request some time to go on a lonely holiday, need to get back to what got me started, and to get my spiritual self recharged up...

That means gotta request vacation from boss.... hmmmm.....

Things are changing in my life... time to twist it back -_-"
but yes I have been working hard lately =)

thinking clearly... this is the first time someone has ever approached me to talk about something like this, could it be.... but I think God just spoke to me through one of his servants~ =)
uwarrrgh... rest rest rest~~

and at the same time, plan also a single solo trip~~ wonder where might be nice?? =)

Prayer Meeting

Just a few shots taken during the prayer meeting in our college....



Every once awhile we would be having a prayer meeting in our college held by the MPB, which is good to bring up the different needs and stuff that helps one realize the needs of other countries and to pray for them...

Was asked to capture a couple of shots of the prayer meeting... but lost out some time because it was a last minute thing when they asked me to take pictures so had to run back to room to get the camera....

either way, there's are the few pictures captured~~





=]

Memories

Memories... how do you keep them??? =)


This might be a long long long post, so do read it when you have the time~ =)

You know... ever since I've begun taking pictures I've been asked a very important question, and I think it's one of those questions that we all need to ask ourselves too as we begin to get serious in photography...

"What does photography mean to you??"

It's a simple question, but carries forth a very powerful message, especially if you know how to read it and understand it~~ =)

photography isn't mainly about taking a camera and pressing the button capturing random shots (unless you like it), but always ask yourself what was it that got you started, you can say you have a passion in taking pictures ever since you were a kid, but what was the thing that actually ticked you into starting it??

I've read a guy's profile saying that he begun taking pictures and loved it ever since he was a kid, but he only shoots sexy girls pictures... erm... ahem... so it could mean that he begun such "passion" ever since he was a kid... but I don't know... anyway it's not about him, but it's about you... what does it mean to you??
I don't know... but ever since upgrading my camera from a 300D to a 50D... it really has opened up new doors for me...

took me awhile, but I did come out with an answer for that question a long long time ago, but only today had the mood to share this with you all =)

My answer for what photography means to me... it would be:

"To create memories"

you know those very common moments after you've taken a picture, then maybe weeks later, or months, maybe even years, when you look back at that certain picture, it makes you smile, it brings back memories, both good and bad, makes people laugh about it, makes us cry about it, gives us a smile on our faces, and then begins a conversation "eh did you remember........."

Memories are a beautiful thing, they are often forgotten because of our busy schedule we often have, but sometimes taking time off things like these, to go through your old albums, it does bring back memories in your life~ =)
by looking back at these pictures I'm reminded again of my dog...
that stupid, lazy and useless dog~ but I loved it =)
it's already been about... maybe already a year since she passed away?? It's kinda sad... I'm reminded again of the memories seeing her at the vet, though in pain but it still wags the tail when it looks at me... it could put a tear in my eye, yet it also reminds me of the memories of it when it ran around randomly in the house and crash into the glass door because it can't break in time~ of when it sleep talks and barks at random things, of the bell ringing when she walks around the house, and even how faithful it always waits at the front door wagging her tail when we come back home...

I miss her =)
I'm reminded of the memories of old friends in BCM... the people who could brighten up your day, and could make the hard times in life seem fun~ and how we express such candid moments especially in sports...
Of how you just felt that everything else in the world went went when you press that button at the right time to capture that amazing moment~ XD
The memories of the ball hitting the "AHEM" and inflicting such major pain which ended up with moments of laughter
moments where I got lucky of pressing the shutter button at just the right time to create a shot that makes us all go "fooisheh!!!"
Moments where as noob as we play football but yet we look so professionally cool in pictures ~ XD
I'm reminded of the holidays we had, going all the way to Penang and eating non-stop till I felt like I was going to die half way... the ice-ball was also a nice one where the only way to eat it was to suck it =)

Looking back at the pictures and videos from that trip... one can only laugh so hard at it~ =)
And remembering the Melaka trip we had when we ate the sausages from hell... where such a little piece made me scream like mad in the car because of how spicy it was... and I had an instant diarrhea after that -_-"

*Shiver*
memories of the first visit to Ngau Cheh Shui where I've found all the weird shops there along with this huge spiderman
Along with memories that make me laugh about the stupilidity of others who can't spell =P
Memories of how desperate I was then in wanting to get that shot to even jump near the road to do such a thing.... whew!!
To even stand between the dangerous corner turning where the cars usually go crazy around just to try out my first light trail shots...

and from that I've learned to do even shots like these...
Memories of how beautiful a sunset can be in putrajaya, surprising even in Malaysia =)
Memories of how an accidental failed shot could become something new to learn about... of how many times I've failed a shot but that turned into something to learn about~~
A wonderful memory of how turtles could actually smile when they see themselves in the mirror.... O.o

Speaking of mirrors....
Also reminded of the super painful experience when I've almost gone blind when I could barely use my right eye for anything else ever since I got that cornea abbrevation or however you spell it.... painful, but also that was when I begun having a deeper passion for the blind since I could understand that pain first hand... whew o.o
Memories with a good friend in sharing the passion together, capturing that picture that seemed meaning less but yet looking back, it's a wonderful picture =)
Going with Chi to Masjid Jamek getting lost...
going all the way to Klang to visit friend but ended up being a full 2 hour journey to travel by KTM... darn -_-"
Visiting Aquaria not once...
Not twice...
but three times... O.o

Of course at the third time the fish died d... guess the workers got hungry =)
Memories of how my photography started turning to a whole new direction when I began trying out in portrait shots~
First was Wendy~
Which now is a super famous model d -_-"
Then came the cute kitty cat Nicole~
The uber awesome Celine~ XD
Then came the pro model Kirsten
The colorful Shirley
Then came a rather odd turnaround when Christopher came...
Then begun the first male model for me... odd but... you can't deny it's equally fun XD
Then it dropped to much smaller items like Ezra the baby~ =]
And you say that babies can't pose??

*Pooi!*
Let's not forget my love for taking cosplaying people~~ XD
I guess around then was where I got myself involved in more different forms of photography, like events and stuff =)

WHEW....... really long post, haha but I can't deny I'm enjoying myself right now!! XD

But yeah... other than talking about what happened and what I have accomplished, I guess that's all not really imporant unless you focus on the small details, on things that really mattered to you, things that made a milestone in my life~

How about the memories that became so personal in your life, that you could never forget?? =)
How about the memories of a blessed present from a friend that made your eyes pop and your mouth smile?? =)
How about the moment when you would rejoice seeing a friend to his baptism in Christ??
The moment where you captured a picture that you thought it was the most awesome thing in the world then?? =)
The moment where church members make you laugh
moments where church members come together to pray for one another in unity, in making us feel like a whole family, in making me feel that...

"this is what church is all about"

and makes you really love it
moments where you second family comes together for a camp, where everyone gets blessed, where everyone laughes and cries, where you just thank God for what really happened~

Then how about those moments that are SO close to your heart?? =)
Moments where your elder sisters gets married to someone else and where such beautiful new moments are created in life
Moments where you get so envied of your sister that you too go and get married at the age of 22...HAHA it's a joke it's a joke!!!!

Just an assignment where we have to practice how to conduct a wedding!!!! XD
moments where your second sister leaves to overseas to study~
where we say good bye but knowing we'll see each other again soon...
moments where it's your mom's birthday yet you realize how beautiful she is to you~ (this isn't what you think)
Moments where you can't really understand how your dad works in life but you can only thank God for him and what he does for you~
Moments where a new member of the family is born and added to the family tree...
Moments where... well... we are one, big happy family =)
Let's not forget the dog =)
You know... life holds such beautiful moments, such wonderful memories, you might forget them, you might miss them out, but a picture keeps it there, a picture holds far more than a colored paper, it's a memory...

of a loved one... of a close one... of an unforgettable moment... of a sweet moment...

you'll be amazed on what things can come back to you when you just look at a picture, of how a picture can make you smile, or even cry... of how a picture brings back memories long forgotten... of how a picture can make your emotions feel like a rollercoaster... or just smile and shake your head in expressing such weird happiness...

That's what I think photography is to me... to create memories for one another... whether it be for me, or for someone else... I'll do whatever I can to bring in that memory... =]

Life has been a great journey, life has been great, life has been awesome, every new day is a day worth remembering, both the good and bad, and though you might not capture every second of it on camera, but be sure that those moments that were captured, they would be remembered forever when you look back at it~~ =)
So... don't throw your picture away, if it stands out, if it's important, keep it... because years later when you look back on it, you'll be remembered~ you'll be reminded, you'll.... you'll thank God =)

Of course there was this guy who asked weird questions like what if you have no more memory... urrrgh.... -_-"

Go print the picture out, go delete those pictures you don't like, go buy a new external hardisk... it's not that bad -_-"

One more thing I would like to tell you all~ you know in life now we have alot of self-appointed pro photographers that would go around talking bad about your picture, saying that oh you didn't take it right, the colors aren't right, the picture is too dark, you need to take it in a better angle, etc.... arrrgh ignore them lar -_-"

Usually they would say this to put you down, to make themselves feel like they're very good... but then again, sometimes their advice is good, some are worth listening to, but mainly not always la...

Don't let what they say stop you, to put you down and to not take pictures anymore, don't give up, just keep taking, it doesn't matter if your picture is ugly, if it's not so attractive as a professional photographer's picture... just as long as that picture is nice to you, if it's a personal favorite, the whole world may hate it, but it's a picture that speaks to you, it's your picture, it's your memory, no one else can relate to it except you...

You know some of the best pictures I've taken aren't those that needed hours of preparation, but rather the shots that I randomly take without knowing... because those are the pictures that speak to me... those are my memories~ =)

Don't give up... go, create your own memories now, of your life, of your family, of your friends, of anything else =)

That is my version of Photography to me... ~~

Now I ask you... what is photography to you?? =)