I love this pic….I took it while trying to figure out how to shoot the model. I ran out of ideas, so in my idleness…i just took this shot inadvertantly.
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Hi…I’m taking a break from writing the Goat Village, mainly due to…lack of ideas. Anyways, I had another photo shoot over the weekend. No surprises as to who the model is…my trusted engineer cum part time model, Shasha :)
This was probably the first time I shot outdoor using off camera flash. I had only one flash mounted on a stand with umbrella and I had an assistant to hold the white reflector. Couple things I learned from this experience:
1. I’m very shy to shoot outdoors with “big” flash and pretty model
2. Flash photography, in this case, and IMHO, added another dimension to the photos, which I really really like
3. My rechargeable battery is almost end of life. Time to get a new one.
All in all, I think it was another pleasant experience and I have A LOT to learn on lighting. But, I hope this effort is good enough.
Model: Shasha
Makeup: Safwin
Photographer: Azmir Z.
About 20 minutes walk from Kampung Pebias, through a narrow cleared pathway flanked by overgrown lalang, was another kampong called Kampung Sinani. Kampung Sinani was the biggest kampung among all the kampungs with a staggering number of goats.
It was the hypermarket of goats. Anything you ever wanted that derives from goats can be found here. They even had goat meat that tasted like chicken!!! Apart from goat products, Kampung Sinani was the place where you go to get non-goat goods. Because of its goat surplus, Kampung Sinani was able to leverage its position with merchants from other locales, bringing in common goods such as rice, flour, and many more.
Also, it was in this village that the Goat Carnival was held. People, and goats, from all over the neighboring villages congregate here, once a year, to have a little fun. They had goat pageant, goat race, goat fights, goat barbeques and many other goat fun activities. It was fun for the villagers, as well as the goats. There was never a doubt that Kampung Sinani was an important cog in the whole socio economic machinery for all the villages.
And shouldering this burden was their village elder, Tok Loki, a larger than life figure (he’s really fat) with all the things that you don’t want in a leader; senile, incompetent, and smelly. 30 years ago, Loki took the reins of the village by undemocratic means. He wasn’t elected, nor was he in contention for the top post. He was chosen by his predecessor, his own father.
Though daft as a goat, Loki understood how the whole village system works. He knew the right people, he knew which buttons to push, and above all, he knew how to use them. He kept with him the dark secrets of each of his men, and for as long as they behaved, nothing untoward will happen to them or their goats.
By using these key figures, Loki created an illusion of his stature as a brilliant leader and a visionary lest it be known by the people of Kampung Sinani that he was actually a fraud who overstayed his leadership. The village prospered, sure, but the years of wheeling and dealings was about to take its toll. This summer was going to be different.
(to be continued)
Meanwhile, near the grazing area where the goats…graze, two young villagers, Anir and Jan, sat under a tree, resting and hiding themselves from the scorching sun. Both of them are best of friends and were raised to be goat loving, just like everyone else. They grew up practically together, since Anir’s father was the goat herders of Jan’s father’s goats.
People around the village call them “The Goat Brothers”. They were always together no matter where, except when going to the bathroom, else they were almost inseparable. Even though they came from different backgrounds - Anir poor, Jan rich - they never cared for the monetary disparity between them. This caused great consternation to certain quarters in the village, especially other goat owners, but specifically Jan’s father, Pak Jon a.k.a, The Goat King.
You see, in this little community of villages, there exists a social caste system based on wealth. The goat owners were not only…goat owners, they were also landlords, owning pieces of land here and there, where the goat herders lived on. In return, the goat herders paid rent from whatever they got from herding. Because of this, everything remained status quo for generations. It was a vicious cycle to keep the herders from surpassing the goat owners economically.
The owner’s inherent resentment towards herders stemmed from the fact that village chiefs usually came from herders. The position of village head was reserved for those who possessed financial wealth and a modicum of intelligence – which is to say that was more than any goat owners had, a comeuppance for them being complacent in their social status. These traits were necessary for the leader because it not only helps them to manage their own village, but also in dealing with other village chiefs on communal and goat matters. The qualities of the commander in chief were never questioned; in fact, the selection had always been a democratic one, where the heads were almost always elected.
And it was precisely due to this, that the Goat King was so uncomfortable with his son’s friendship with Anir. Anir, for all his youthful exuberance and young age, was already exhibiting the qualities of future village chief.
“Jan, have you noticed the goat’s behavior this season?” asked Anir who was leaning against the tree trunk.
“What do you mean?” Jan asked puzzlingly.
“They are uneasy…more restless than usual. They’re pacing as if they don’t know where to go.” “What do you think it is?”
“I don’t know. It could be the summer heat, I guess. It does feel awfully dry these days.” said Anir attempting to fathom the situation at hand. “Naaahhh…I think they’re just being goats. C’mon now, lets get some shut eye.” Jan said dismissingly. And while Jan snored away under the shade, Anir was left wondering about what lay ahead. He knew, and felt, that something was amiss, but he just couldn’t put his finger on it.
(to be continued…)
It was the summer of ’77. There was something unusual about this summer season. Throughout, there were signs of an impending climate change, a shift towards goat hell. It began with goat stench. The goats farted and fouled more times than the village elder could muster after a hearty meal of durian petai. Some even died of asphyxiation as if the goats themselves ate the durian petai…some might have, had not the elder warned them of the incoming methane onslaught through his sagging cheeks.
Next, came the barren goats…not reproductively, but lactatively. No female goats, sane or otherwise, were producing milk. As a result, goat babies were falling faster than the tropical trees in the jungle of
Everyone was testy, including the goats.
The air was arid and the river anorexic. Many villagers and goats were dehydrated by the prolonged summer season. The heat was merciless, but the fact that the bond between man and goat was deteriorating was more important than self preservation.
“We must protect the goats!!!” bayed Tok Elder, the village chief.
Something must be done.
(to be continued)
Not too far from the city of
Rearing goats, as a herder must know, is not easy. It takes a lot of patience from the herder’s part, and depending on the herder, sometimes the goat’s patience is tested too!!! To a certain extent, you can teach a goat a new trick. For example, you can teach the goat to behave by taking it away from grazing time. Soon, the goat will find out that if it behaves properly, it will not ever get hungry or thirsty for that matter.
For years, the relationship between the villagers and goats had been peaceful and loving. The villagers herded them, fed them, and some even bathed them. And of course, finally they ate them, which were all well and good, and the goats never complained or revolted, goat forbid!!!
But things were about to change.
(to be continued)
I took this awhile back…just didn’t have the drive to load it up on the blog. Since Ramadan, I find myself having a bit of time after sahur. So, why not spend a little bit of time doing some editing.
I learned a few things on this shoot.
1. VERY DIFFICULT to shoot babies…they can’t stop moving, crying, etc.
2. NOT EASY to shoot babies…. 
More importantly, understanding lighting ratio. I guess this is the most difficult part…and I know I need the practice. But overall, I thought I did a decent job considering the amount of time that I had to shoot.
Oh…posing is difficult too….Well, here are some of the pics….edited of course.
Lately, I asked myself, why the hell did I get this ridiculously expensive camera? It’s not that I use it very often. The pictures I take are all of my family…and they are all taken in the house!!! You don’t need a D3 for that!!! That’s overkill.
I used to be able to get wedding jobs every other weekend, but now, thing have slowed down, particularly since I decided to be more serious in the business. I left Smokescreen Photography, which I set up, because I wanted to reinvent myself. I wanted to make the business legit so that I could quit my work and do the thing that I love doing.
Without a solid repertoire to go with the new name (Velvet Studios), it seems difficult for me to establish myself amongst the players in the industry. It’s not like I was well known prior, but at least the word got out that I am, after all, a decent photographer. I wouldn’t want to claim that I’m the best or that I’m known for being good at a certain photographic style, because I know there are better photographers out there. So, I guess, I had to start from scratch.
Building a brand is never easy. Because of the heavy investment on equipments, I couldn’t afford to advertise anywhere. And I think this is the root problem. While I do occasionally get calls from customers, some thought I was still with SSP, they often shy away once I mention my pricing. It’s not that it’s astronomically expensive, considering the equipment I use and the quality that I can produce. Add to that the current economic situation, the customer erosion continues.
*Sigh*
But I still love photography and I absolutely adore my camera. Business or no business, the camera helps me express myself creatively, albeit limitedly around the house. And to be able to use one of the many capabilities, just by a flick of a finger, is why I won’t be giving up on photography…or the camera anytime soon. 
This is a picture of my daughter, Zahra. It seems that she’s “air guitaring”. Taken in low light, no flash. Pic not edited.
I went to work today dreading the ride on the commuter train. I just don’t like the fact that the odds of the train being on time is like my boss arriving late - which is never!!! On top of that, because of the train design, some have 2 sliding doors, some 1, it is impossible to cultivate people to line up before boarding. There is no one spot that you could stand where the train would stop and the door opens up. So, what happens then is people will just rush to the door, not even bothering those who would like to disembark. I just hate that.
Anyway, work today did not help with the mood at all - not that it ever did - but today was especially. I’m always left wondering why people are so caught up with dateline considering the fact that certain things, beyond our control, have to be done sequentially and the resulting impact of the delay is minute and far from a show stopper. Really? Come on!!!
I’ve always believed that, while keeping to time is important, ensuring that something is done right the first time takes precedence, provided that the delay is off by a little. What’s is the point of chasing a date, then having the system to crash or having to raise a change request, which cost money by the way, when we can ensure that everything will work given the proper space to take the necessary precautionary measures.
Besides, I also believe in “manusia merancang, Allah menentukan” which literally translates to “men (or women, just to be politically correct) plans, but Allah decides”. If God wants something to happen, it will happen. Else, relax laaa….
Tomorrow’s election result will go down in Malaysian history as the most….wait a minute….who the hell am I to say anything about the Permatang Pauh by election. I’m not a political scientist, nor am I a registered voter or an informed citizen. I guess I never really cared, but don’t get me wrong…I try my best to keep up with the Hollywood-esque political scene through both mainstream media and the not so mainstream media.
I used to think that politics do not affect me like Rhona Mitra would in those cold lonely nights (if I ever had one…), but as of late, with my new found awareness, trying to support and raise a family, I realized that in some odd way, politics have crept into my otherwise oblivious existence. The high inflation rate, fuel price, constant gaffes by the government, the alleged corruptions, deceits, and the list goes on and on…I mean…at some point you do wonder, “Hey wait a minute. This is not good governance and it’s affecting my livelihood.”
For example, I used to be able to travel with a full tank for 1 week. After the increase, it was just 5 days. My ringgit these days can only buy 1 lollipop whereas just a few years back, I could probably have bought 2. This definitely affects the quality of life for me and my family. I’m sure everyone else feels the same that it’s starting to sound like a broken record.
So, what can I do? At this point of time, probably nothing that can change the whole political landscape. But, the ppl in Permatang Pauh can and I hope they will vote not out of loyalty, but for the candidate that can sincerely have the potential to do the right thing.
I do wonder however, if BN wins, will they take this as another wake up call and change their ways? Or will they just resort to status quo and find better ways of undetected corruption? If PR win, will they ring the changes that they’ve promised ever since their galvanizing ‘victory’ in March 08? Or will they just be as inept as the incumbent? Will I be able to drive longer distances with my petrol? And more importantly, will I get to buy 2 lollipops for a buck? Better yet, can I get 3 instead?
Whatever it is, regardless who wins, the by election will be nothing short of historical. I’m not too sure how the results would affect me as a parent, a husband, and a citizen. But, for once in my life, I am eagerly waiting to hear who will be the victor. But if there’s nothing to be gained from this election, at the very least, I’d like to get the rights to the whole political drama that leads to it!!!