One year ago, I stepped into MJC's photog club as a complete noob with no idea of what aperture or shutter speed was and with only the suckiest excuse of a handphone camera. anyways, my first encounter with photog was like a typical maths lecture with question marks popping out faster than equations. as i sat in LT5 with the confidence of a turkey during thanksgiving season at the mumbo jumbo that was coming out of the speaker's mouth, i started wondering what my friend in college pubs was doing.

anyways, that was a year ago and i totally never regretted joining photog. it's become a great love of mine alongside with literature and rock music. looking through the viewfinder gave me a totally new perspective on how i see things and how i wanna show people what i see through that perspective. A teacher once commented that after any event, nothing remains of it, "just photographs" but i beg to differ. It's precisely because of that, that photography became more than the mere clicking of the shutter button. It captures that precise moment and prevents it from fading away from our memorites.

my first take on shooting a school event would be somewhat like diving into the deep end of the pool with only a pair of pajama pants for a makeshift float. the myriad of buttons looked like what the pilot would see in his cockpit and to add to that, it was that telephoto "monster" lens that i was carrying like i was lifting weights. thankfully pres was there so i could just run to her if i needed help with what was going on with the DSLR. oh and she did help to lighten the load when my arm started collapsing after shooting many many times. but like every other noob there was definitely a lot of mistakes that got pointed out. anyways, it proved that photography's something that cant be mastered simply by reciting the definition of aperture ten thousand times; it had to be taken into practice. it also cast away any impression that photog was a slack CCA (on that note i joined 'cos i was interested in photography and not 'cos i wanted extra stoning time kays! LOL). not after watching the computer lag when i was trying to upload a new batch of photos, or doing a balancing act with the camera bag AND my school stuff on the bus, cutting row after row of mugshots, or walking home with an aching shoulder after shooting a soccer match. it takes passion and dedication.

anyways, now that i've so-called "expired" from photog, just wanna say thanks X10000 to the senpais who bothered to sort through those eye sore shots and tell us specifically what could be done to better ourselves and nurture us into the photographers we are today. for inspiring us with their efforts and showing us that three hours after school on a wednesday afternoon could actually be fun. you've really opened my eyes and of course the teachers for reminding us to hang in there and encouring us to be more enthu about photog.

"if you leave MJ and join some other photog club, you must tell them that their club rocks, but MJC's photog club rocks more." i thought it was just a moment of vanity and self-praise at first, but i totally get it now. the photographers of MJC rock da house and it's only gonna get better

and with that, i shall make my exit

Owari.
[M.A.G.E.]


[EDIT] whoops, it seems i forgot to add a link to the Meridians who have made their mark on dA. here you go:

Eunice AKA Number one senpai wai wai: [link]
Kingston AKA Ultra Cool Yandao: [link]
Jin Kai: [link]
Quentin AKA President 07/08: [link]
Kar Mun: [link]
Jun Sen: [link]

Don't forget to check them out yo!