When I was (muuuuuch) younger, I used to buy the past issues of National Geographic and linger over the marvelous pictures they had in each edition. This was way before I ever thought about being a photographer, it was just the pull of the pictures that had me ooh-ing and ahh-ing over each copy repeatedly.

Back then, I didn’t even know who it was who shot some of my favourite images in the NG. It was only when I started to dabble in photography in 2005 that I started to find out more about the photographers behind some of my favourite images. One of them was Joe McNally.

So imagine my excitement when Louis Pang announced over Wedshooter.TV that they were organising an edition of Joe McNally’s Hot Shoe Diaries workshop in Kuala Lumpur. I was thinking to myself, “ARE YOU FO REAAAAALLL???”. Within a couple of days, I signed up for it.

Frankly speaking, nearer to the date, I had second thoughts – what could I absorb in a day, could I really afford this, I need the money for something else, I’ve got a mountain of editing to catch up with, I don’t have a day to spare for the workshop, I’ve got some crazy deadlines to meet, yadda yadda yadda.

Am glad to say that after much thought, stuck to the plan and attended the one-day lighting workshop.

It was quite a thrill to watch Joe in action and also to hear him speak about different lighting options, etc. And I know this sounds kinda like a teeny bopper, but I was starstruck. Like whoaaaa 0.o This was McNally – he who has not only been shooting for National Geographic for yonks, but for LIFE as well as multitude other magazines and corporations, he who is not only highly awarded but highly respected in his field.

Dayum! I was attending the workshop of a living legend!

McNally’s a great speaker (after a gazillion workshops I reckon it comes naturally to him), articulate and willing to share his knowledge. And I’ll let you in on a not so secret secret. He is absolutely down-to-earth! Like sincerely! Even though you could sorta tell he was jet-lagged, he just answered everyone’s questions and taught with gusto throughout the session. Together with his assistant, Drew Gurian (gaffer tapes rule!) as well as Louis Pang and the rest of the Wedshooter.TV team, the one-day workshop proved to be a great learning experience.

Do hope that more workshops by internationally acclaimed photographers are organised in Malaysia! Kudos to Louis, Jasmine and the Wedshooter.TV team for organising this. And thanks again Joe for being such a great teacher :D From one your ‘vertically challenged’ students :p

Was teamed up together with Naqib, David and Khairul (nice meeting y’all at the workshop :D) during the shooting session in the afternoon and thanks to their suggestions (and also McNally’s session in the morning. d-uh!), managed to get 2 shots which I’m not shy of posting here. Yes, I know they’re nothing to shout about, but these 2 shots are TOTALLY outta my comfort zone, and I’m kinda happy about nudging that zone :)

And y’know something, this may sound sacrilegious, but I think I might be starting to like external lighting. Gasp. The horror :p

Though Joe McNally’s one-day workshops are sold out already, I’ve heard that there’s still a few seats left for his lighting seminar this coming Saturday. Check out Wedshooter.TV here for more info :)

Despite not having recovered fully from my flu, I thought to myself, dammit I need to workout! All work and no workouts at all makes me uber cranky so by hook or by crook I had to fit in at least 3 days of workouts into the week.

And I did! So yayyy! *skips with joy* :D :D

January 25 (Mon)
WOD 011810
“Helen”
Three rounds for time of:
Run 400m
21 Kettlebell Swings @ 24kg/16kg
12 Pull Ups
Results: 18:45 -_______________-” (CTB)
I think this is by far the longest time ever I took to do Helen. Can’t recall the exact time for my previous attempt, but I think it was less than 15 mins. Keep on reminding myself that its only normal for the body to take some time to recover and regain back the strength and (so-called) speed. Patience.

WOD 012510
Deadlift 5-5-5
*Lower each rep with control and reset for every rep, don’t bounce the weights off the ground. Rest exactly 3 minutes between sets.
Results: 70, 75, 80
Results:
then:-
In 20 minutes, complete as many rounds as possible of:
5 Press @ 20kg/30kg
5 Pull Ups
5 Push Press @ 20kg/30kg
5 Pull Ups
5 Push Jerk @ 20kg/30kg
5 Pull Ups
Results: 6 rounds
The presses were fine but the CTB pull ups whacked me silly. Towards 4th round I had to break it down to 2s and 3s. Enjoyed this workout totally :D

50 knees-to-elbows for time:
Results: 6:29
Switched between rings and bar throughout. I think from the 20th KTE onwards, I was breaking it down to 2s and 3s. FML.

January 27 (Wed)
Diane 21-15-9
Deadlift
HSPU
Results: 7:50 (55kg, pussy HSPU)
Lowered the weights for deadlifts cos I didn’t wanna overdo it. Will increase again slowly once I am 100% better. For now, pussy weights will do :p

Tabata HSPU & Sit Ups
Results: 73 / 113
Phwoar! Mentaaaallll!

January 29 (Fri)
WOD012910
Front Squat 5-5-5
Results: 37.5 – 42.5 – 50kg
then:-

For time of:
30 Kettlebell Swings @ 24kg(M)/16kg(W)
15 Weighted Pull Ups @ 20kg
24 Kettlebell Swings @ 24kg/16kg
12 Weighted Pull Ups @ 20kg
18 Kettlebell Swings @ 24kg/16kg
9 Weighted Pull Ups @ 20kg
Results: 12:58 (8kg)
Fun fun workout :) Managed to do CTB for the first round but after that it was chin to bar :p

J.T 21 – 15 – 9
HSPU
Ring Dips
Push Ups
Results: 10:15 (RD + R)
*heart* JT :D Ok fine so my time was longer. That’s cos I did a wod prior :p Excuses, excuses.

Overhead Walking Lunges (10kg)
Results: 1:37
Bessssss!