Shooting remnant of a temple at Sungai Sembilang, Selangor

Temple remnant at Sungai Sembilang, Selangor

Few weeks ago I with few of my fren went to look for sunset shooting spot. As usual we will normally seek new places by scouting the seaside area for any interesting spot for sunset. This tedious brute forcing alike method sometime allow us to find good new places such as this one (sometime zero result also.. :) ).

The more popular spot at Sungai Sembilang is actually its angler/fisherman jetty.  We were targeting a different structure by the seaside near to this jetty but unable to look for the correct entrance from the road. Trekking by the seaside would be too far so we just shoot another location in between which is this temple remnant location.

It seem that the temple has fall viction to waves erosion as its location is too near to the shoreline. Apart from this tree you can also compose your shot from the mangrove tree around the area.

This location is located between Kapar and Jeram. To reach this location, go north from Kapar. After passing Tambak Jawa area, look for Al-Naim Mosque to your left or for the Sungai Sembilang signboard. From this mosque you can safely take any left junction (eg Jalan Kolam Pancing) and go towards the direction of an apartment called Pantai Indah Seaview Resort which is the highest structure there. Ask for permission to park within the vinicity of the resort area and then walk to the seaside. You'll see the jetty area. The remnant location is situated about 100m from the jetty by the seaside. The jetty is famous with angler during weekend. Since the location is quite secluded makesure you took some safety precaution (go in group, torch light, etc).

To our luck, the sun setting gloriously that day, alhamdulillah

Composing picture behind the unique tree roots

Framing the sun

This is my 50th post on this blog.. personal achievement for me.. :)

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Redang Island, Terengganu

Learning to capture long exposure seascape photography

Few months ago had the opportunity to visit Redang for a workshop organized by my faculty. During our stay, we stay at Redang Holiday Beach Villa. To be honest, if it is for leisure or family then it would be a good place, but for workshop environment .. the place is not suitable at all..  no suitable conference/meeting room.. no suitable equipment... nothing at all..  but we adjust a long the way and manage to proceed with our objective successfully..

The beach that we were facing is towards the east so only sunrise can be observe from our place. Sunrise only appear on our first morning and then it hide the next day. :D

Here are some of the picture taken during my visit there

The view from one of the chalet hut. simply beautiful

For some, this construction barge spoiled the sandy beach view .. For me.. its a subject :D

Redang Island is definitely a beautiful island with unlimited possibility for seascape. I hope i would able to repeat this location with more flexibility (not for workshop/working) and hopefully the weather would be more nicer then  .. since our visit is exactly before just before the monsoon season it keep raining especially during sunrise/sunset (even half of the resort along the beach is already close down for monsoon break)

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Fishing village, Pantai Kundur (Pantai Puteri), Malacca

Fisherman boat & vessel along the Pantai Kundur shoreline

Located along the shore of Pantai Kundur is a tranquil & peacefull fishing village, approximately 17 km from Malacca Town. You can observed how belacan is make here. Not far from Pantai Kundur is the petroleum refining industry facility owned by Petronas. The petronas jetty is prominently part of the sea landscape in Pantai Kundur. People of Malacca still remember how penny compensation was given to those who had to relocate in Tangga Batu to make way for that development (RM5/sq feet?). There were rumours that the larger budget meant for them were embezzled before reaching the intended receipient.

I fondly remember Pantai Kundur as my scout camping and training place during primary school. I remember camped there twice while i'm in Darjah 4 & 6 (think so) learning tying ropes, basic cooking, and singing scout song and even song from neighbouring countries (because there are participants from neighbouring countries). Today's parents overprotective of their children and teens . Even PLKN scared the hell out of them.. But saying so, i also not so sure whether i will accord my son/daughter the same privilege... let see.. we'll cross that bridge when we come to it..

Dead tree by the shoreline

Pantai Puteri is a new name given to enhance the 'commercial value' of this beautiful beach. Good place such as this serene and tranquil beach doesnt need new name with no historical/local value. Might as well you rename all places such as Tanjung Keling.. Pantai Klebang.. Pantai Pengkalan Balak.. or even Melaka! (Last time i heard the ADUN is still ADUN Kundur.. not ADUN Puteri) ..

Sorry for being a bit emotional or even sarcastic but our leader need to learn how to preserve our heritage.. not replace it with fake identity.. we lost too many of it already..

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The Secret Passage, Ujong Pasir (Malacca Part 6c)

During my third visit to Anjung Pasir (1st with Jasni, 2nd with Qamar & 3rd with Rajesh), we went looking around the area scouting for alternative site. I rarely repeat the same location too many times as i believe there are so many other places to explore. Or as Mr Rajesh put it, the first shot is always the best shot. For seascape i might repeat during different tide height as different tide height bring different view/composition and new feel to the same place.

Rajesh spotted this site and i agree with him that this place would be a very nice photography subject. Since i already shot at the abandoned jetty twice, i decided to shoot at this new location while Mr Rajesh shoot at the jetty place. He came later to this place also before the sunset light went off totally.  Would love to repeat this location when the tide is lower.

This would be the last entry on Ujong Pasir, meanwhile, today i'ved started my own personal blog at http://www.emranmt.blogspot.com/ I just need a place to put my opinion/perspective on certain thing and i dont think its good to mix that with the landscape photoblog i had in here. Feel free to visit it. Cya there!

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Ujung Pasir Revisit : Malacca Part 6b

New Year Eve - found a couple of bottle dumped along the shoreline and decided to make a composition of them

This part is a continuity from previous part which i describe about an abandoned jetty found in Portuguese Settlement in Ujong Pasir. Since then I've been receiving inquiry on how to reach the jetty by fellow photographer which i happily respond.

Apart from the jetty, the area next to it is also picture worthy. During low tide you'll be able to reach a lonely tree area about 50m from the shoreline. During high tide these area would be submerged under the water but it is still a great landscape to shoot. Just need to find a good angle and composition, then shoot!

The picture below even manage to hit Flickr Explore front page briefly. Flickr Explore is only a feature by flickr to select the 500 most interesting picture on a daily basis from all uploads around the world. Few of it would make it to the front page during that day. This is my second explore front page i get (the first one is in 2009 for the earth hour picture - here it is)

The final afterglow of 2010

The final light of 2011

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Dangerously abandoned, An Old Jetty in Portuegese Settlement, Ujong Pasir (Malacca Part 6a)

Its been a while since the last time i update this blog.. which is why i choose the title dangerously abandoned... when you leave it too long you might loose the drive or passion to update it.. hopefully it wont happen here.. :D ... got a lot of things to do in December and had to prioritize... now i'm queuing up few post for the next several days :D

For this post & few more i'll continue to cover several location in Malacca ... i had written five series on various location of Malacca previously [Part I - Limbongan, Bandar Hilir,Part II - Selat Mosque, Pulau Melaka,Part III - Al Azim Mosque, Solok, Bukit Peringgit,Part IV - Bachang, Batu Berendam,Part V - Pantai Pengkalan Balak, Masjid Tanah]



This is an amazing new found for photography heaven. Last Nov when I'm scouting around along the seashore of Malacca (yeah, thats the way i hunt for seaside location nowadays), i stumbled upon this old Jetty in Ujong Pasir. And then with Jasni (his result here)& Sofian Boe (his hdr result) we shoot this location during sunset. Since then i already repeated this place twice upon request by fellow photographer friend (2nd with Qamar and 3rd with ragstatic (i idolized this man's artpiece)from singapore) - his result here. Even though its already three time i've been here there are a lot of different subject, different composition and angle that you can try along this short seashore. I'll cut the blog entry to three part for this location :D

Here is the Jetty picture (both images (the top and the one below is explored by Flickr :D)

From the 2nd visit with Qamar

To reach this place, you just need to follow the direction to Ujong Pasir or St John Hill(just next to Bandar Hilir, southern part - if you shoot Selat Mosque before then its only few km apart, you can even see selat mosque from this area) and then follow the direction to Portuguese Settlement, you'll reach this area.

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Seaside photography hunting at Jeram, Kuala Selangor

An angler jetty by the seaside during high tide (30sec exposure)

Selangor is blessed with diversified landscape from jungle(eg Hutan Lipur Kanching) ,mountain (eg nuang), rocky hill (eg Bukit Tabur), paddy field (eg Sekinchan) and even coastal landscape along the seaside (eg Jeram, Kelanang). Jeram is located between Kapar and Kuala Selangor. Jeram is more famous for its seafood such as fresh grilled fish (ikan bakar), squid, and so on.

As with most seaside area, you can always find photography subject. These two picture is taken at Jeram beach along the seaside inner road.

To reach Jeram, the easiest is from Kapar. After around 15-20km you will see Jeram mosque beside a traffic light (there is only 2-3 traffic light along the way after Kapar so you couldn't miss it), take left, after few hundred metre before the jetty area there is a junction to the left, take left, then you'll see aroma ikan bakar on your right, along the way is Jeram beach.

These picture were taken during high tide. Both taken after the sun fully set. I intend to return to this place later during low tide. Credit to few photographer who has been here earlier than me such as Zilzal,Acid,Shazral, Arabischenab (especially zilzal who pointed the exact location of this subject).

An interesting rock formation which form a leading line to the sea (30sec exposure)

Basic google map showing the direction to Jeram beach from Kapar or from Kuala Selangor

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Sunset & sunrise around Malacca - Pengkalan Balak, Masjid Tanah - (Part V)

An angler waiting patiently for his catch during sunset at Pantai Pengkalan Balak

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Sunset/sunrise around Malacca
Part I - Limbongan, Bandar Hilir
Part II - Selat Mosque, Pulau Melaka
Part III - Al Azim Mosque, Solok, Bukit Peringgit
Part IV - Bachang, Batu Berendam
Part V - Pantai Pengkalan Balak, Masjid Tanah

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Within the previous weeklong hari raya , this day is the best sunset of all. Its the last day spent in Malacca. So before heading home i went to shoot sunset at Pantai Pengkalan Balak, near Tanjung Bidara at Masjid Tanah, Melaka. Firdaus Mahadi , (my great photography fren, whom i idolize his work, visit his website at FirdausMahadi.com or his callidesign) recommended this place. His main selling point is the several human made 'anjung batu' (rock structure.. wonder what is the exact translation, tell me pls ) along the Pengkalan Balak coastal.

Lucky for me, apart from the good sunset of the day, i also lucky to be able to potret several human subject which include some angler and also another photographer who busy shooting his beloved wife during sunset.

This was also the first time my wife follow me to shoot sunset. I discouraged her initially as it would be a long session from 6:30 until 7:30 but she still want to follow. While i'm shooting sunset she attended to our son who request to play along the beach. We went for a seafood stall afterward before heading home and back to KL.

The colourful and amazing sunset

An HDR picture of the 'anjung batu' at Pengkalan Balak. Even though i'm not a big fan of HDR, i did use HDR technique in several occasion such as this one when the dynamic range is simply too big. Most of the time i prefer a light tone blending.

The lovely couple, a beautiful wife & a passionate photographer. A perfect silhouette subject for me :D .

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Sunset & sunrise around Malacca - Selat Mosque, Pulau Melaka - (Part II)

Sunset @ Selat Mosque, Malacca

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Sunset/sunrise around Malacca
Part I - Limbongan, Bandar Hilir
Part II - Selat Mosque, Pulau Melaka
Part III - Al Azim Mosque, Solok, Bukit Peringgit
Part IV - Bachang, Batu Berendam
Part V - Pantai Pengkalan Balak, Masjid Tanah

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Selat Mosque is among the modern icon of Malacca now. It somehow had become among the subject that most visiting photographer would like to capture especially during sunset. Even though Malacca is my hometown, I'm yet to photograph this beautiful mosque during sunset until last Eidul Fitri.

To capture the mosque during sunset, you need to be there a bit early as the traffic around Bandar Hilir is quite unpredictable. Just go to Bandar Hilir and follow the signboard to Masjid Selat (or Selat Mosque). This mosque is located within Pulau Melaka, an island built from reclaimed sea land connected by a bridge.

Small group of people watching sunset from Pulau Melaka within the Selat Mosque compound

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Sunset & sunrise around Malacca - Limbongan - (Part I)

An afterglow with nearer composition to the ship, not really feel secure here as you are far from the public eye so need to be alert with your surrounding for your safety.



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Sunset/sunrise around Malacca
Part I - Limbongan, Bandar Hilir
Part II - Selat Mosque, Pulau Melaka
Part III - Al Azim Mosque, Solok, Bukit Peringgit
Part IV - Bachang, Batu Berendam
Part V - Pantai Pengkalan Balak, Masjid Tanah

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Its ironic since i have'nt publish anything yet from around Malacca since its my hometown. Normally whenever i went back to my hometown, i prefer to relax and laze around at home. Only on a few occasion i went birding behind my home and another occasion shooting sunset at Muar. Other than that i just spend my time at home or went around to shopping mall with my family. During the last Eidul Fitri however since the sunset during that week seem to be very good i went for sunset shooting almost everyday. After shooting landscape for awhile, you can almost accurately (i would say 80%) predict whether it will be a good sunset or not by looking at the sky condition 2-3 hours before sunset. So during my journey from Kuala Lumpur toward my hometown it seem promising for a beautiful sunset.

Therefore immediately after arriving at home i went straight to Malacca Town. I initially decide to go to Selat Mosque but as somehow bandar hilir is quite jammed, i detour to another nearer location by the seaside at Taman Laksamana, which turn out to be a good spot also. This area is not actually a port, its more like a place for ship repair (maybe). This area maybe is an extension of another area at Limbongan at neighbouring area. The Limbongan location name itself imply it is an area for ship repair (limbungan = shipyard). Another possibility is that the ship is actually carrying construction material for the development in that reclaimed area. Need someone to clarify this. Whatever it is, this place can be a good alternative to the nearby Selat Melaka Mosque.  I'm planning to return to this place for startrail. Just need a partner for safety. Join me? :D

The sun already setting by the time i arrived at the 'port'



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Khai Nui Island (Phuket Part III)

Rocky structure at one part of the Khai Nui island

Khai Nui island is the final  island we visit in the island hopping package.. An interesting pristine small island with white sandy beaches... with the colourful fishes follow until the edge of the sea... scrambling to get a bite of our bread ..

Crystal clear water along white sandy beaches

You need to pay the rent for each seat... didnt remember the price though..

My family feeding the fish with bread.. my son became scared abit after awhile.. hehe

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Island Hopping to Phi Phi Island (Phuket Part II)

Long Tailed Boats @ Phi Phi Island

On our 3rd day, we went for island hopping package. The island hopping package include boat, hotel transfer, elephant riding and food. One thing that you should not ask around while waiting at the Chalong Jetty is the pricing as everyone would pay a different price for the same package. That depend on where you bought your package from and what season. Some bought from hotel which is the most pricier,travel agent,taxi driver, and independent travel booth scattered around the city. The season also determine the average pricing as during high season the price would be normally higher and during low season you should pay lower price.

The fisherman loading something from his truck to his boat, Chalong Bay Jetty

Maya Beach, Phi Phi Island, East of Phuket

The island hopping package is a must for anyone travelling to Phuket as it is the main attraction there. During the island hopping you'll be at some of the best beaches in Thailand and perhaps top 30 beaches in the world.

This is where Leornado Dicaprio filmed killing a shark for the movie

The first visit is the Maya Bay at Phi Phi Island. This is where the movie The Beach filmed featuring Leonardo DiCaprio. The surround was indeed beautiful but taking picture for landscape photographer would need different approach as the beach stretch is full of tourist and speedboat. We then proceed to the Phi Phi Island main jetty and have a lunch there. Here the Long tailed fisherman boat is far more colourful than the one in Phuket Island and can be a very good photography subject.

A row of long tailed Boats @ Phi Phi Island

Long Tailed boat , Phi Phi Island (IR)

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Phuket Island, Thailand (Phuket Part I)

Wat Chalong, Phuket

In 2009 me,my wife,my sister in law and my son went for a family holiday in Phuket. We brought my sister in law together as my wife family is currently residing in the US (short posting) and she is the only one still in Malaysia apart from my wife. We managed to get a very very cheap ticket from AirAsia . I didn't remember the detail but the total ticket price for three of us is less than RM200 including airport tax,food & fuel surcharge. Only my sister in law ticket is a bit pricier as we bought her ticket later.

During this trip also i bring my first IR camera. A goldie IR version. Was so impressed with the result. But the camera didnt survive long. My sister in law accidentally make it swim at Khai Nui Island. 

Patong beach fisherman going to the sea (IR)

Phuket is an island by itself. It is connected to the mainland by a bridge at the north side. In 2004 this island was also hit by the tsunami that originate from the earthquake at Acheh, Indonesia. We stay at Patong Seaview Beach resort at Patong Beach which is where the focal point of Phuket tsunami tragedy. Staying there is convenient as it is among the main tourist spot in Phuket.

Fisherman village at Patong Beach , this village is a bit hidden at the end of Patong Beach

While the island is small, you will need to rely on taxi to bring you to the attraction within the island. Most taxi has packages for you to choose. You can even bought island hopping packages from them. Another alternative is to rent motorcycle and tour the island by yourself (which is easy as the island is small enough, IMHO very similar to Langkawi Island)

Low tide at Chalong Bay (While waiting for food i went to capture this)

Among few attraction within this island itself is the Wat Chalong (Chalong Temple).. Chalong wat is considered as the important Buddhist temple in this Island. It is also the biggest and most ornate of Phuket's 29 Buddhist temple. Nearby to Chalong Wat is Chalong Bay which has some of the popular (but pricey) seafood restaurant by the beach.

Fisherman boat at Chalong Bay, Phuket

Few of us went to central Phuket Town. Nothing much there unless you looking for cheaper shopping location than tourist place such as Patong beach. It is just a mid size town. Among the location that we go while we were there include Surin Circle and Dalmiyah Mosque. There is a muslim restaurant beside the mosque  which is very delightful for us (as we have'nt eat any chicken/meat for the past 3 days when we visit the mosque :D). There is a sizeable muslim community at the mosque (they speak malay also in Kelantan dialek). From there we we introduced to Awang who later bring us to several muslim food restaurant within the island and also to the Phuket Royal Marina .

The Dalmiyah Mosque dome, Phuket Town

Surin Circle

Phuket Royal Marina

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Human interest around Surabaya - Kembara Jawa Timur Part VI

Sunset at New Kenjeran beach

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Kembara Jawa Timur Part I - Mount Bromo from Mount Penanjakan
Kembara Jawa Timur Part II - Mount Bromo & Ranupani Village
Kembara Jawa Timur Part III - Bromo from Gardu Pandang & Madakaripura Waterfall
Kembara Jawa Timur Part IV - Kawah Ijen - A mountain of surreal pain and beauty
Kembara Jawa Timur Part V - From Kalianyar Village to Papuma beach
Kembara Jawa Timur Part VI - Human interest around Surabaya

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This shall be the last entry that conclude my Kembara Jawa Timur series. As been told earlier, this series cover my recent photography trip to Jawa Timur which cover Bromo-Kawah Ijen-Surabaya. Surabaya is not actually part of our main itenary but it is more like a resting stop before boarding flight back to Kuala Lumpur.

In Surabaya, we cover certain area such as Kya Kya Kembang Jepun and the nearby Sunan Ampel Mosque,  Masjid Cheng Ho and also Kenjeran. The only place that i might want to repeat is Kenjeran as it is a traditional fishing village with the backdrop of Pulau Madura bridge with nearby pasar. I believe the human interest there would be fascinating to be captured and we could spend a full day there. Sunan Ampel Mosque definitely should be dropped from any photographer itenary as they didnt allow any picture to be taken there.

During our visit in Surabaya, we were accompanied by Ms Farida, a friend of Mas Kaboel, our guide. She is a very intelligent girl with a good knowledge of his city history and attraction. The most memorable part is when she explain the origin of Surabaya name (Sura = Shark , Baya = Crocodile) as it is believe in local myth that these two creatures once dwell and fought each other to gain the title of the strongest animal in the area.

An interesting observation is how cycling is part of daily lives here. I manage to capture a series of cyclist around surabaya.

ps: while it has been a while since this trip ended, few picture that is relevant for this entry has yet been processed/published in my flickr (eg Cheng Ho mosque picture,ambang kya-kya,kenjeran). Whenever i manage to publish few more related picture this entry would be updated with it.

With these picture series i conclude my Bromo-Kawah Ijen-Surabaya trip series. Would really recommend both Bromo and Kawah Ijen as your destination. Bromo is an accessible tourist destination and Kawah Ijen is a bit hard to reach but not impossible. Both place is fantastic for any photographer that interested in landscape and also human interest. And of course i definitely recommend our humble guide, Mas Kaboel / Aruna Asa.

I'm planning to go back to Mt Bromo to scale Mt Semeru this October with few hiking friends, may God bless our journey. Ameen.

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Other blog entry by fellow photographer in this trip
Dr Jamal - http://www.tembeling.com/blog/?p=1262
Shahreen - http://shahre2n.blogspot.com/2010/09/expat-2010bahagian-7episod-terakhir.html

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