Yukata Shoot + Update: Japan Trip

Yukata Shoot ft. Ariel Lee

This shoot was from back in May 2014, two months back, a day after Music Matters Live 2014. 

It was organized by dear KellyKonomi and I was given the opportunity to shoot too. 

During the shoot, I was pretty worn out after the day before's activities hence I didn't function well and mostly helped out another photographer instead of shooting. However, the other photographers left earlier but props like this soap bubbles was only taken out at the later part of the day. So I was really lucky to get this shot but a single photo isn't enough to form a photo-set. ): 

Tried to edit it to give off a soft and "romantic" feel ha ha - the bokeh is not photoshop-ed in by the way. *disclaimer* loll 

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So, besides posting up this single photo, I should probably tell this to my readers (if I have any hahaha) that…

I'M GOING TO JAPAN!!!
Soon.

Have booked my tickets and I'm leaving on the 26th September, all the way till 15th October. 15 days in Tokyo! I'm so super excited!!

On courtesy of my good friend who's currently studying in Japan, I'm heading over to leech off her apartment hence I'm given the opportunity to stay there for a longer period and explore the lands that I've been constantly dreaming of. (my dreams never actually allowed me to even REACH japan - misfortunate events one after another …)

For those who are interested to know, I got my flight tickets through Expedia.com and I am heading there by Delta Airline.

It cost me $835.40 for two way, direct flight - no transits! Not one of the cheaper options but my parents would much prefer me to take a direct flight, just to be safe. (its not that much more expensive either, just an extra $200 or so?)

After booking my tickets, I'm flat out broke. Also, I'm trying to save bits and pieces of my allowance hence staying home on weekends, cooking my lunches and rolling around - going out never fails to make me spend!!

I made use of all the extra time at home to research about Tokyo as though I've been there a few times, it was many years ago and I followed a tour along with my parents. No idea how the train lines work so I spent lots of of time worrying about it! Also, watching and reading blogs and vlogs about Tokyo everyday! Will list some of the better channels/blogs in my next update (then i'd have something to post about lol).

Well, I really hope this trip works out well and hopefully, I'd be able to meet more friends and gain some nice opportunities!

TRIPPY ASS PHOTOS - Music Matters Live 2014

Didn't expect myself to turn-up for Music Matters Live @ Clarke Quay, Singapore since I'm not much involved in this particular scene but I wanted to meet up with a couple of friends so I went.... and even got to shoot for a bit! Thank god I brought my camera out. Unfortunately, I wasn't "well-equipped" but hooray! This is my first time shooting gigs. 

As much I would like to pretend that I know music very well.... I don't. However, I do like my Japanese rock music but my music preferences does not stop at that. I listen to everything! No matter indie or mainstream, I love finding new songs to listen to! (Confession: I'm pretty bad at remembering song names so... I often forget what I listened to. lol)

Ever since my internship started, I've been heavily reliant on Spotify to fulfill my musical needs and the songs I listen most to nowadays are leaning towards Electronic (since they keep me awake better!). I'm pretty sure I have tons of bands to check out this following week. 

Gentle Bones - Joel Tan. [I love this "split" in colors hence it became the photo to start of the set!] 

In the the span of less than 3 hours, I caught 4 bands all at different locations and THEY WERE ALL SUPERB!! 

The Stonewolf Band

They performed at the main stage hence, with my 50mm lens, it was kinda far and it was hard to beat the crowd, hence they were used to "frame" instead. haha! 

The Stonewolf Band wouldn't be from the usual genre I listen to but I liked them! Out of the songs I heard them perform, "Calling My People" would be my favorite! 

Loved the vocals and I was so tempted to approach the lead singer for a photo when I saw him strolling around afterwards but.... welllllll......... I guess I'd stick to listening to them, without that photo. ]:  

 Tired Lion

The vocal range of Tired Lion's lead singer reminds me subtly of Cyndi Lauper... Oh dammmmm I love it. Singing and playing the guitar is such a feat! Especially when I can't even do one of them by their own.. 

I love love love female lead singers, feminine vocals coupled with that "grunge-y" rock music.... My kinda jam! Totes bringing out the indie whilst dressed so "hipster-y", erm... Hair, checked! Doc Marts, checked! Vintage looking clothes, checked! 

Listen to this: Are You Listening to This.... Listener?  (pun?)

Gentle Bones

This is the artiste that all my friends that I was with, were raving about and I must say that Gentle Bones was not a disappointment! Delivering great tracks and charming all the girls with the vocals.... damm, he's gonna go far!  (Gentle Bones = the lead singer but he played along with a band - just found this out. haha!)

Though I'm not familiar with the "underground" music scene but I actually know one song, "Until We Die" ! Not bad right ;) - jk it's not really "underground" anymore since it was played on the radio. haha! Local artistes are getting soooooo good!!  

JPNSGRLS

Last band that I caught was this un-japanese band called "Japanese Girls". They're actually caucasians from Canada and ... THEY WERE SO DAMM HILARIOUS! 

Their lead singer was such a charmer with his jokes and antics and I couldn't stop laughing throughout the live! I mean... look at these: 

Delivering songs like Smalls and Mushrooms really got the crowd hyped up! There were so many artists from other bands staying to catch their performance too!

My course mates got to interview them afterwards and they were sooooooo tall, I felt like a midget. All of them are towering in the 180s and the bassist may just be above 2 meters tall!

I managed to get a photo with the lead singer and ...  here are they!

My hair was covered in his sweat afterwards! Haha. Hope they'd be able to fulfill their "japanese" ambitions, you go "girl"!

That's the end of my trip to Music Matters Live! Hope y'all enjoyed my first set of "gigs" photos because I surely enjoyed myself!! Was super beat from all my activities throughout the Saturday and I still had to attend a shoot the next day - which i didn't really shoot because I was so so so tired. Ended up helping them with the miscellaneous work instead. lollol productive much! :[ still have a couple of shots so I'd post them up soon enough! :))

Thank you my dear course mates for letting me tag along and for the awesome company! Love y'all!

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PS.  I know I promised a post on Blueprint + Audi Fashion Festival + Disclosure... but I didn't manage to bring my camera so I only have some snaps from my phone.... so I'd have this post up and see what I can do with those lousy shots from my phone.... yea?  Still, Thank you for checking out le blog!

Pink Is The Kawaii-est Colour

Here's some photos from a casual shoot I did with my friend Andrea (craycray) last month. The shoot was pretty disastrous and the bad lighting was a killer, for me at least.

I am really bad at shooting with Indoor lighting, flash and..... ok I'm just not skilled enough to shoot without natural lighting working on my side. Hopefully, I'd gain that enlightenment and get a skill-upgrade soon. *ding* - I'm working on it.

I should probably talk about how I met this kawaii (sometimes only) friend of mine, I followed her on her instagram first. You'd hardly get to meet a Singaporean girl with pink hair,  studying fashion design, very into Harajuku Fashion and being the creep I am, I actually managed to meet her in real life soon afterwards.

We first met each other when we were touring Japanese kids on a school exchange around Singapore's attractions. It was a poor paying part-time jobs but it was such a joy to meet local friends with the same interests whilst communicating with Japanese teens at the same time! I got to practice my horrendous Japanese. "Ano ... ano.... Sumimasen?" (erm erm ... excuse me?)

So she's the first person I met during the touring and I only said "Hi" at the end of the day and our conversation started like this:

Me: "Hello! I follow you on Instagram!"

-awkward silence-

Ok. I'm pretty sure there was an awkward silence but I forgot what was her reply to my creepiness afterwards so.... let's leave that up to your imagination. *laughs*

I continued establishing contact with her and met her a few more times for touring and *sound effect* TADAA she's one of my homies now (at least I consider her a homie - maybe its a one sided thing *sheds tear* ).

From awhile back on my Instagram

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I hope y'all enjoyed this set of photos! (oh and I met more people from Instagram soon afterwards - Sorry I'm creepy)

I am heading to Audi Fashion Festival this weekend along with Blueprint and then Disclosure at night so I'm SUPER EXCITED! I'd do my best to do up posts about them so please continue reading my little blog! <3

FASHION STEPS OUT 2014

On 5th April 2014, Singapore's Orchard Road had their longest fashion runway featuring the last Spring/Summer 2014 collection of Aimer, Ashley Isham, David Koma, DEPRESSION, i.t, Manish Arora, MAX&Co., Robinsons and The Reckless Shop. 

Went there with one of my seniors from my school's photography club,  Henry  who is also interested in fashion photography- much better than me too (sigh). He's also one of the photographers for Poshism - Singapore's version of lookbook which used to be more popular (now kinda dead lol). So please check out his page to see his works yeaaaap. 

Photos are not arranged to chronological order/ by brands. From the quality of my photos, its really hard to identify which belongs to which brand... but I kinda tried. Will definitely keep in mind to take note of the brands in the future - its my second time attending such an event so... I'd do better!

Time for the photos! 

Aimer 

Where everyone had that "Victoria Secret Moment".

Enjoyed myself checking their bodies out and I feel pretty inferior as compared to them who are blessed with good looks and physique. But I'm no actually complaining as I myself don't do anything to "stay-in-shape" so blame it on my laziness la. On a "happier" note, not all of them are flawless - I noticed a saggy ass. 

Ashley Isham

Actually don't have decent photos of his beautiful gowns. Argh. 

depression

Check out that armmmmm - the reason why I took photos. *cough* So damm glad I did, love that caucasian model's expression. 

reckless ericka 

i.t. 

I like this brand. Checked their clothes out even before this event and I would love to get some clothes from there if not for my financial capability- poor. 

Robinsons

Actually have no idea why they were included but well...  I definitely can't comment as I don't even know my brands well. (having difficulty identifying my photos. lol halp) 

PS. the model on the right is IRINA TAN another pretty girl that I admire - love reading her blog too 

This model had the best expressions that day, she changed her stance and expression every second during her 5 seconds pause from walking. (I took like 6 photos just from that moment) 

David Koma

To be honest, I never heard of this brand before ( I may be living under a rock with Patrick) but I'm loving the looks of it! It super nice to look at but I highly doubt the chances of pulling the look off. ]:

I really like the slightly hunched model as she's so noticeable and SHE'S A GINGER. holy. and so pretty but they're actually all super pretty so... what the hell am I talking about. 

The lighting was HELL. We picked a really bad spot which was right in front of a spotlight and our photos turned out really shitty. These were the only few decent enough for viewing. 

Bad lighting, massive crowd and noob photography skills will be the death of me. 

Most of my photos turned out blur or just plain ugly and almost made me break out in tears. jk not really but I felt that I wasted my effort -  its not like my effort is worth much either hahaha. 

In addition, my genius-ness led me to taking these photos in JPEG which means I couldn't really reduce the grainy-ness in place in all of these photos. SIGH PIE BOO HOO 

Lastly, here's my favorite shot of the day - set the b&w version of it as my phone wallpaper. hur hur 

Will definitely look for more fashion opportunities as this set of photos are definitely not I'm gonna stop at - especially when they aren't very good. sigh. Well, this event was public which is the reason why I'm able to shoot but having to fight with a massive crowd wasn't enjoyable. 

How do I help myself? 

Again, dear friends... if you're willing to sacrifice some time to become a tribute... lemme take photos of you.  please. 

oh if you have any opportunities ..... please please please rope me in too. thank youuuu