Beginner Photography Class B05 by Willy Foo(:

Some time back in early July, I was frantically looking for people to take the class with me. Luckily, Juan told me Ling was interested and I sms-ed her on the day lesson starts and VIOLA! Both of us were on our way to class that very evening (:

4 lessons for $240 ($180 for students!) and it’s money well-spent! 😀 For me at least. While the first two lessons are very theory-heavy (and I almost fell asleep cause too tired from work), the last 2 lessons are much more interactive. I guess it’s also because everyone has “warmed up” to each other(:

smile!(:

Personal favorite out of the 4 classes will definitely be the outdoor shoot! We get to try out the theories that we have learnt in the first 2 classes. And of course, feedback from the laoshi (Willy Foo) was given. We had to show him our pictures if not we won’t get out cert! Fierce right? 😛 But, that’s the best way to learn. If you don’t try, you won’t know! Besides, the teacher don’t bite and the class is small enough for him to give enough attention to everyone(:

waiting to do panning shots!

Of course, going outdoors means you will attract attention. Imagine a group of 20 people holding on to huge-ass cameras standing by the roadside. Bound to catch people’s attention! I think if the class gets any bigger, we might just get on the news! OR! Attract the police’s attention. It’s also funny to see how people will try to stick their head or stop to look up and see what we are shooting. Especially outside Orchard Central! A bunch of tourists actually took out their PNS and started shooting too (even though they have no idea what they are supposed to be shooting). Haha.

And I like the outdoor shoots so much that I am wondering if I can tag along for future classes’ outdoor shoots! A good way to practise all the techniques and I can also help the new students! *looks at Willy Foo* Can, uncle? 😛

personal favorite (:

I have officially completed all 4 lessons and made some new friends along the way *waves to everyone* Probably going to spend a bomb on a new DSLR soon! Bye bye, Lumix! The past 6 years have been great! But my flings with D200 and D700 is just too nice! I’ll pass you on to my sister de! I think she SHOULD know how to use you 😛 And of course! Enthusiast Photography Course E02 at end September! Can’t wait to see everyone again! (:

certificate with flowers from convocation(:

SO! If you are interested in photography or keen to find out more, join the FB group – Photoschool to receive news about upcoming classes or trips OR you can sign up for September’s Intensive Weekend Photogrpahy Course for Beginners, there are still spaces available! And I am thinking of getting my brother to go (especially since he is interested in photography and I will have gotten a DSLR by then).

If you think the things taught in the Beginners Class may be too basic, go for the Enthusiast Class (which I am going in Sept!) – Sign up at  Enthusiast Photography Class E02! 3 more spaces only! Come come and be my classmates(:

LASTLY! If you just want to shoot, you can join the Singapore Photography Group in FB(: They have outings/talks every month! Photo competition every month too! Good way to learn and “improve” the way you look at things  (i.e. you won’t keep shooting in the same pattern).

Oh and thanks, Ling! For taking the course with me (:

perspective and framing!

P/S: I graduated TWICE this week! (:

Photography makes me happy (:

Convocation 2009(:

After 3 years, I’ve finally GRADUATED!

(:

It feels like it was only last year that I was sobbing my eyes out before A’levels and worrying that I will flunk my A’levels.  Where my late grandfather (senile as he was) had to comfort me and sayang me when I broke down in front of him. Of course, feels like last year where Dad was still sending me to NYJC with me sulking and cursing whenever there’s a jam. Rushing my PW about Plastic Surgery, working furiously on Maths Tutorial (MY LOVE!) and meeting Nandwani every other day to submit my “compulsory” Econs essay.

But yups! Here we are, A’levels was 4 years ago! AND! University life has officially ended.

Here are some memories from my 3 years in NTU –

mad, me and hanwei. first year, first semester!

marketing group(:

hall days (which lasted 1 month)!

senior camp! Endis(:

year 2, sem 2(: mugging Wealth Planning Project at Pacific Cafe.

at SMB3 (?) before we decided on the topic for FYP.

we are your future bankers!

mugging FAIL!

doodling during portfolio class with zhanzhan!

Yups! A big thank you to everyone ! Who helped me along when I met some tough time, we tahan-ed my anal-ness about PowerPoint presentations! (: For making boring finance lessons interesting and for making interesting lessons, even more interesting! (: Thank you 😀

And of course, to my family and darling secondary school friends for always being there and coming for convocation! (:  Lesley too!

the deyi people(:

Lesley Cai!

family(:

More pictures at Facebook!

YUPS! The world awaits! Now to find a job that I love. That is not what I have now. But that’s another post for another day!

me and my gerbera! 😀

公公， 我毕业了！(:

the students(:

3 months since I started work and it wasn’t easy at all for reasons I would rather not say here. Well, at least not in a not-password-protected post.

ANYWAYS! Because they made something for me on their last day, I decided to write a blog post for you guys! (: My blog is not super super famous but at least when you google for claudswu + <your name>, you might find yourself in the search results! YAY! 😛

the dried flowers and notes!

They are the ones who helped me (in a way or another) to make office life a bit less painful. I can be totally crappy and random with them(:

In order of their last day here!

Guanzhong

Affectionately known as 仲叔.

at timbre(:

The first guy to “leave” us. But actually, I think he secretly cannot bear to part with us that’s why he is back every Saturday to help us 😛 But yes, the guy we like to push food to. Hahha. He was the one who pei me for my first om-campus interview too! He had run down to meet the McDelivery guy while juggling the interviewees!

Our handyman as well!

Thank you, 仲叔! Don’t call me Huishan嫂 or I will poke you! 😛 Good luck with your studies and do remember to visit us!

I’m sure Grace misses you alot!

Shumin

at timbre as well (:

Hello, Shumin! Thank you for your bookmark! And for making a C instead of a H! (:

I think I got to know you better when we were all stuck downstairs doing temperature taking for TIP Briefing session where I cannot stop singing 下一个天亮. Hahaha. Ohwells!

Thank you for attempting to sit with me! Even though it was just for 10 minutes! HAHAHA. Now I have no one to poke anymore!

Anyways! Good luck in NTU, pretty girl!(:

Lesley CAI!!

in the office, one rainy day (:

YAY! Lesley! My gossip partner, my MSN buddy, my Twitter colleague and my complain partner! MAN! After today, I won’t have anyone to bitch to on MSN le! How?? The office is going to be REAL quiet when you are gone. Hahaha.

Yes! My idea of a proper lunch is kaya toast 😛

YOU take care! Continue going after your Korean drama and guys! (: We’ll really really miss you here! Me especially!

Keep in touch on FB, Twitter and MSN okay? (: If not, I will quit Barn Buddy! Then you will have nobody to steal from le *evil cackles*

Good luck for the rest of the 2years in NBS! And we shall K soon! You, me, Joy and Jialing!

JIAYOU JIAYOU JIAYOU! 😀

Thank you for your gift(: AND! Delicious puff!

chewy junior! (:

(:

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my fling with a dslr.

this is the first time i am “let loose” on my own with a borrowed DSLR. i did played with ah boy’s DSLR before but he was around.

so…yes. i spent an entire day with a DSLR in toll. the feeling was kind of stressful cause it’s expensive, i think i am under-utilising it and i am scared of damaging it.

but in the end, i think i am a little attached to it *clings to D200*

i am definitely underutilising it. but hey! at least i know how to play with the aperture, the shutter speed and the ISO (: started off with the auto mode before fiddling with the manual mode. heh.

now to find a way to download the pictures into my com.

prosumer tmr or tuesday(i hope)! borrowing from sivan(:

NDP CR2 2009

I was lucky enough to be invited for the Combined Rehearsal 2 by NDPeeps, 24seven and Claudia (: Heh. This is what I wore to the rehersal (conveniently forgetting that the dresscode is smart casual) –

all set and ready to go!

It was not on purpose ok? I was late (as usual) so I just threw on whatever red top I could find and put on whatever shorts that was hanging below my mirror. But hey, at least I look NDP-ish, yes? (:

ANYWAYS! The sun and sky was absolutely gorgeous that day, thanks to the morning rain!

pretty pretty(:

And while waiting to enter the floating platform, we could hear the usual National Day songs! That got me pretty revved up! I was humming the songs and singing to myself. Of course, as typical bloggers, we cam-whored quite a bit. It didn’t help that we were encouraged to do so! Hahaha. Shall not post the pictures here but *tada* a group shot of everyone *runs to scroll through the Flickr album of NDPeeps* –

cam-whoring(:

And here’s our photographer (who might be joining us on subsequent photo outing. WELCOME!) –

kenneth!

After a short briefing session (which I didn’t pay attention to :X), we were finally seated!

mr happy snickering.

While we waited for the parade to start, there were ads playing. I know it’s only right that the sponsors get some air time and recognition but frankly, I find the ads irritating and it would be so much more better if they were blasting National Day songs. Not just the usual ones! Those kind that we sing during National Day in primary school!

MOVING ON! I quite like how they used the screen to communicate with the audience to do the Kallang Wave and to wave to the camera! It used to be done by the hosts but I think I liked this method better! So that when the hosts are officially introduced, the OHM factor will be there(:

Waited and waited. Finally, it started! WHEE! Not going to go into much details but here are some of the things that tickled me. As it’s just the 2nd combined rehearsal, the real hosts were not that so instead, they had volunteers who read from scripts!

from left - vernetta lopez, michelle chong, gurmit, mark lee and suhaimi. LOLS!

A few items came on and off and the mood at the floating platform was still pretty low. UNTIL!

the red lions!!

woohoo! the RED LIONS! When they showed the Red Lions getting ready to jump, Victor and I was like, “Real meh? Or was it a past year video?”  THEN! the little red dots appear and a general chorus of “IT’S REAL!” came from the audience and BOOM! The mood was instantly lifted ! WOWEE!

<continued after a week’s break>

And then came the civil defence segment! Plenty of “vehicles” like fire truck and tanks. QQ and I spotted some ice-cream van look-alike and couldn’t think of what the function is. Perhaps, the soldiers might need ice-cream during emergencies? You know, to replenish the sugar level. HAHA. Ok, not funny. But perhaps, a commentator could explain to us what kind of vehicles are being shown now and what are their functions. Because just by showing, I won’t know anything about it! It will just be another vehicle to me!

standing in for the actual actor.

favorite shot of the day (:

the usua; parade.

The parade was pretty okay. It was…erm. normal marching? As usual, seeing all the uniform groups coming out made me miss the days of being a Girl Guide. The dread I feel when we have to wear our uniform, the fear that our scarf will be lopsided, standing in front of the school reciting our Guide Honors and the likes. Yeah *sigh* the good old days!

ANYWAYS! I was pretty excited to see the Guides ! However, they are seperated from Scouts by Girls + Boys Brigade and Red Cross! WHY? No big deal, I know. But quite weird. Especially since Guides and Scouts are like one family. Another thing is that when they were reading out the groups marching by the audience, they repeated the NPCC and Scouts twice. Didn’t mention Guides, GB, BB and Red Cross. An oversight by the commentator perhaps.

As the sky got dark, I couldn’t take pictures anymore 😦

But the rest of the show was very entertaining! Different from the rest of the year. This year’s show is full of songs and dances! Even if the dance sucked (which they don’t), you will be too busy singing at the top of your lungs to notice them(: I loved Chapter 5 and 6 (Or was it 6 and 7?). The remixes of the pop songs throughout the eras and the remixes of all the NDP songs(: Nice nice!

And yes! This song, “..it’s the little things that we share. the love and joy that’s in the air. the children laughter everywhere. and all our favorite things..” is still stuck in my head!

All in all, this year’s show is a definite must-watch! (: SO! STAY HOME ON NATIONAL DAY!

P/S: I sure hope they put the remixes up for downloading!

pretty(: done without a tripod! heh.