Communicating Climate Change- You've got the power!

Climate change communication is a collective work of creation- about intricacies of conveying the message to the public. Imaginative and reasoning between the cold, impersonal world of climate change deniers and the much more ignorant group of people. Photography as tools of exploration, ticket to inner sanctums, instruments for change. Images are the proof that photography matters in bridging the gap of awareness, now, more than ever.

Communicating the urgency of climate change is particularly challenging, scientific facts and figures can be overwhelmed, but sometimes the lack of visual medium is rather prominent. To instill the beauty and fragility of nature, i hope with the communication medium of photography can illustrate the environmental challenges faced by wildlife and ecosystems due to climate change impacts. I'm intend to record the changes through events, awareness campaigns, action groups.

You've got the power!

Capturing the essence of light is perhaps the greatest challenge in the very place of event/campaign action and tame intersected. My wimpy skill of photography to tell a story although this may be open to multiple interpretation of viewers. Images, to not only be the eyes but also a voice to connect people, deriving the flow of energy across a scene as creative analogy for key role enablers- message of movement.

In a world seemingly dulled by a daily overdose of images; i call upon Photographers with conscience, climate change can't wait, we need you, the world needs you, cut through these avalanche of images, standout and express the imperiled beauty of the world- divulge climate change- You've got the power!

CLIMATE PICNIC Sembang-Sembang! 

An unusual- Early Sunday morning of 21st Sept 2014, nearly hundred of people attended "Climate Picnic". This gathering is in solidarity with People's Climate March, to pressure Malaysia's leaders to take action on climate change now. This picnic highlights the importance of opposing climate change for the sake of clean air, water and healthy communities. Full story here.

To change everything, we need everyone.

Tim visualizing his love for planet in words. 

Plenty of colored pencils and recycle "art paper" to express your love for the planet and against climate change.

Vegan foods!

Adrian, the founder of 350.org Malaysia (PowerShiftMsia) sharing his thoughts of change.

Jeffrey Lim (an advocate of Cycling KL Bike Map Project) sharing zero-carbon bicycle as the main transport and solution during the picnic.

Ms. Choy Kim Lee was sharing her experience of participated in youth-led training workshop in New York City recently. It baffles her that youth are now given the information and access to decision making process, and the importance of Joining #PowerShiftMsia!!!

To change everything, we need everyone.

His favorite animals are dragon and tiger, in that specific order. He has a 3 legged dragon and a 7 legged dragon. He also love outdoors and the environment. He will ask his dragons to steal and eat those bad people's shoe if they destroy the planet.

So, EVERYONE!!! Don't let the dragon eat your shoe.

Photographers with conscience, climate change can't wait, we need you, the world needs you; to express the imperiled beauty of the world, divulge climate change- You've got the power! 

Use your photography skills to make the world a better place.

JW. 

Lombok

Lombok is an island due east of Bali, geographically almost the same size of Bali; Lombok is a quiet alternate to cheaper- not as cheap and tranquil as in the past but better and cheaper than Bali, but don't get me wrong, i still love the Ubud side of Bali nonetheless. After-all, Bali was my second solo backpacking trip, it's a sentiment that's so primal and essential for my crafts.

Climate
Lombok has two seasons, wet and dry. Wet season generally runs from November to February, with heavy monsoon rainfall, humid and hot. Dry season from March to October, fine weather with clear and hot temperatures around 28°C. Breeze through the month of August to September. Best travel month from May to September. (and of course, due to global warming, this is probably inaccurate)

Average Costs
Accommodation
   1. Dorm (Backpacker)- IDR60k- 110k
   2. Budget Hotel- IDR110k- 225k
   3. Three Stars Hotel- IDR200k- 350k

Food
   1. Local Market- IDR10k- 25k (local eateries store)
   2. Local Restaurant- IDR30k- 55k (Fried Rice, Noodles)
   3. Beach-side Restaurant- IDR55k- 80k (Taliwang Chicken, Curry Dish, Fish)
   4. Seafood Platters for Two (Lobster, Prawn, Fish, Squid, Oyster)- IDR400k

Transport
   1. Taxi from Airport to Senaru- IDR300k (included in hiking trip package)
   2. Taxi from Senaru to Senggigi- IDR350k- 400k (included in hiking trip package)
   3. Taxi from Senggigi to Airport- IDR250k-300k
   (There are shutter buses as well)

Activities (Charge updated as of 6th April 2015)
   1. Mount Rinjani Trekking via Senaru
       - Rim Hike 2D1N- $ 175USD
       - Lake Hike 2D1N- $ 200 USD
       - Summit Hike 3D2N- $ 200USD
       (Green Rinjani offers most reasonable rates, also support tree planting!)
   2. Snorkeling- Gili Islands (Trawangan, Meno, Air)- IDR650k -900k
   3. Diving-

++Shot on Nikon D700 + Nikkor 105mm f2.0 occasionally Nikkor 20mm f2.8 & GoPro++ 

SENARU- GATEWAY TO MT. RINJANI

Touched down Lombok Airport, we were picked up by trekking agency, 2 hours ride from Airport to Senaru. Checked in Pondok Senaru Cottages arranged by trekking agency (Green Rinjani). So, you just need to source out your trekking trip, they will arrange everything for you (well almost). A basic lodge but the best view and strategic location (600m above sea level), it sits right in front of Sendang Gile waterfall entrance. Settle down our belongings and head for waterfall, an easy 20 min walk down a graded trail from Senaru Village.

Pondok Senaru Cottages Restaurant with an amazing view.

Breathtaking!

Clean and super cold!

Pool at Sendang Gile isn't deep- but good enough for a soak amongst the stunning surrounding.

Night falls around 6pm local time, we had a quick dinner across Pondok Senaru for some nice and simple local food (Fried rice, Noodle). 

Ready for the rim hike.

Nominated as UNESCO World Geopark.

TREKKING MT. RINJANI

Mount Rinjani, a spectacular attraction in the heart of Lombok, a second tallest volcano in Indonesia, stands at 3,726-meter. An active volcano, last eruption in October 2004. Tourism in Lombok flourished from the growing trekkers and hikers, despite the dangerously active volcano, people are allowed to climb all the way up to the crater. On top of the volcano is a 6-km wide caldera, contains hotsprings and partially filled by water coming from crater lake, "Segara Anak". 

This is not a trek or hike for everyone, trails are steep and slippery, it takes 5.5 hours to rim, 1 hour rest. Before the climb, make sure to have just enough clothes for hike, and windbreaker for an overnight stay at rim (10-12°C). 

Hike through savanna and forest area.

Lunch break at POS 2, after 2 hours.

It's amazing that how these portals manage to carry stove and gas along the hike and make a feast!

1 hour rest, my thighs started to cramp due to the weight of camera equipment :(  

Path begins to rise, elevated steep and slippery.

Hike through the sandy path.

Tree planting :)

It get colder nearing the rim.

Hike from POS2 to POS3, 2.5 hours.

It gets tougher with sands and rocks trek, thigh muscle at its max capacity.

Beautiful surrounding during the hike. 

It took us 5.5 hours to our basecamp.

Drift like clouds, across beautiful lands, an unfathomable journey of endless awesomeness!

6-km wide caldera.

Crater rim, Breathtaking!

All pay off despite the difficult trek!

Dinner over sunset above clouds.

Endless scroll of awesomeness!

Temperature drop abruptly after night falls, it was freezing! Windbreaker and long john is highly recommended, without proper wears, we spent our night hiding in the tent. 

A night of thousand stars.

Awe in nature's best combination of beauty and danger, desolate yet so beautiful, a demanding trek of muscle and strength, makes it worthwhile. Trekking down Mount Rinjani took us another 4 hours, putting fitness level onto another round of test. 

Break of dawn, mountain top bask in sun.

SENARU TO SENGGIGI (GILI'S)

Got back to the Pondok Senaru to collect our luggage, carry onto our next adventure, Senggigi, another 2 hours private car ride to Sengigi, included in our trekking package. Reached Puri Bunga Beach Cottages, sourcing for a next day snorkeling trip to Gili's. A hotel worth recommend, room is well equipped, large, with a open air bathroom; we had a room at the top, it was a bit of effort getting to the room especially after a hike, but we had great view.

Trying out some of the local cuisine at Senggigi Town.

Arching from northwest corner of Lombok, Gili Islands are three islands where the sand are powdery white and water in sparkling turquoise. 1.5 hours boat-ride from Senggigi Beach to Gili's island (Trawangan, Meno and Air). 

Snorkeling!

IDR900k for an 8 hours Snorkeling with private boat, we are free to stay as long as we want at any of the 3 islands, pretty luxury for the service! The Gili Islands were only discovered 30 years ago by seafaring Bugis people from Sulawesi, and was later developed into a hippy party islands. 

Last night at Lombok, stroll along the town of Senggigi.

And yes, we did splurge a little bit on the last night, seafood platters, red snapper and salmon!

The Taman Restaurant.

LEAVING LOMBOK

We spent 5D4N in Lombok, an endless scroll of amazing adventures from mountain top to sea bed. A place more than just a mirror of Bali as acclaimed by many, this is special. Witnessing unbelievable view from rim top, a fantastic feat of accomplishment. A sad note was the amount of trash not only at campsite, on the trails as well, I'm glad we'd opted for Green Rinjani, they didn't leave a single trace of trash behind, and we managed to plant 2 trees along the trek.

Breakfast at Puri Bunga.

The Hangover.

JW.

Holdfast Gear- Money Maker (Water Buffalo Burgundy)

I don't usually, promote for gears, and here's a first, probably the last. I'd been looking for a two/dual camera harness for months: Blackrapid, Crumpler, CustomSLR, "Cotton Carrier" you name it. It's a serious investment, so i never rush in, i want to make sure to get something high quality that might possibly last for a long long time. I came across this pair of suspenders over the internet, it gave me sleepless nights thinking about it; it looks timeless, it defines style.

Had this on for several pre-wedding, this leather bunker braced on DSLR with battery grip + a 150mm lens, an analogue medium format. It holds any of the two cameras that fall on sides, weight evenly on shoulders and back; it remains a good reach at both sides, it falls at the right place, just nice.

Holdfast Gear- Money Maker (Water Buffalo Burgundy)

I'd finally found the camera strap that end my cycle of looking ups and downs for straps, the fact that this is a leather handmade in USA, buckle and brass in a timeless design. This is an actual leather of water buffalo, it arrived waxed, i wear it as soon as it breaks in, it becomes softer over time, here's something that develop its own unique feel and get better with in age. 

Quick release pin D-Ring + Holdfast clip

 

It offers good old vintage leather fashion, and it basically outclassed most of the straps in term of functionality, comfort and reliability. It screams, this is how you made a camera straps!!!

I never worry about it being wobble frantically, it rested right at the back of my arms, i can either push it back with both of my arms or hold it on the sides. Lean, squat, bend, creep forward, it didn't give me so much trouble, unless you're carrying on a really long lens, gravity will always fight against you. 

Squatter for lower point of view, my camera barely near the ground. 

and you can't deny it, it feels like James Bond. 

I'm a fan. This is a premium stuff that will last you a long time, it grows on leather personality overtime, comfy overtime. Good stuff. 

JW. 

Night Macro

Night time is the right time!

The why of night
At night, life in the undergrowth emerges into a different set of variety compares to the day; a glimpse into others that remain hidden during daytime. While in fact, most insects are nocturnal, this is to prevent too much exposure to sun, also, there are lesser predators during the night.

Most of all, it is so much cooler and chill at night! And the rewarding supper after night macro :)

Night Macro Rig
Being at night, of course, night macro is done using flash, and something to shine a light with. Torchlight or headlamp, i'm using both. A headlamp to find my way around through the jungle, this also make it easier for me to look for insects/herps on branches. A torchlight is used as a focusing light, great stuff for composing with light on macro objects.

My night macro rig constructed from a mount of Nikon R1 on attachment ring: Nikon D700 + 68mm Extension Tubes + Tamron SP90 + DIY Diffuser. See my night macro rig over here. Shooting on full flash, thus, adding torchlight or focusing light will have no effect on images as full flash and exposure fast enough to remain as the only light source.

Headlamp and Torchlight i'm using

If you're interested in macro photography and worry about how to start, check our some of the workshops from my mentor- Kurt (Orionmystery)- Macro Workshop 

Here are some of the images from Night Macro.

++

Antlion (Myrmeleontidae)

a subadult of Orange-necked Keelback (Macropisthodon flaviceps)

Brahminy Blind Snake (Ramphotyphlops braminus)

Brown Wolf Snake (Lycodon effraenis)

Dragon Headed Katydid (Eumegalodon)

Emerging Dragon (Odonata)

female Zodariid spider with ant prey

Flower Mantis Nymph (Theopropus elegans)

Robber Fly (Asilidae) with Spider Wasp Prey (Pompilidae)

Systella rafflesii Westwood, 1841 (Dead Leaf Grasshopper)

Mole Cricket (Gryllotalpidae)

Pink headed Reed Snake (Calamaria schlegeli)

Night time Wonders. 

JW.

Minimalist Travel Photography

Travel light, travel right, travel with one backpack. Travel photography is inspiration and exciting, but easy to get carried away for what to prepare for the trip. Of course it’ll be fantastic to take all your kit abroad, but why? Try to streamline as much as possible, having less stuff to schlep around and less things to go astray in worst case. Roll your clothes for more space! With 2 important attributes of packing correctly:

1. Weight for carryon- Airlines have different rules for carryon, which most a 10kg
2. Size for carryon- Check for Airlines rules, I did it with Deuter Futura 38 AC (35L or lower will fit)

My backpack+ another day bag for camera gears (either Lowepro Flipside 200 or Think Tank Streewalker)

I will put my clothes at the bottom, socks, undergarments on side pocket, toiletries on top pocket

then i slot in my day bag into the middle. 

Slot in like this, easy for airport inspection, you just have to pull out the middle kernel. This combination, fit right for carryon, size and weight. 

When I travel, I do it to experiencing the raw culture of the country, more than just taking pictures of things. You need to experience and understand only then you’ll be able to capture the essence of the culture (them), a deeper perspective. I usually take it slowly, one of the reasons I usually travel alone. Photography is an artistic pursuit, but I will prioritize on my movement. I am a travel minimalist, I usually take one body, one lens (sometime 2), if I have enough space, I bring along a film camera. Shooting with one lens, it saves you the hassle of plugging in and out your camera, it forces you into meticulous observer mode, it turns you into approachable of things, then you’ll find juxtapositions or contrasts.

I worry less about which lens to bring, which body to take, I am not on assignment, and this is travelling for godsake! Nikon D700 with 50mm f1.2, I worry less about missing rare photographic shots, I should bring this, I should bring that, blah! So how do I pack lightly? Here are some guidelines, not rules.

1. Plan your trip with research (Weather, Festival/ Event, Travel photo- to know what to expect)
2. A day bag to hold your camera gears (i use either Think Tank Streetwalker or Lowepro Flipside 200)
3. Cut down on camera accessories, take what you need! 
4. Reduce selection of clothes, unless you’re going for fashion show. Are you?

I paid a hefty “price” to fine tune these travel minimalist for years. I’d been over trips bringing the whole drybox, then down to one film body with 50 f1.2. I bring everything and subconsciously I thought I must be able to capture everything! Little did I know, I didn’t enjoy my trip at all, it was a disaster. 

My favorite combination, D700 50 f1.2 and a bonus 20 f2.8, sometimes, a Nikon FE.

REASON?

1. No more gear acquisition syndrome, OCD.
2. Master a single focal length, your eye is your lens.
3. It helps you on the creative side, with discipline! 

You are unencumbered and free to enjoy the atmosphere, people and culture without feeling like packhorse, worry less about security. You can free your mind from having to think about what perspective and lens to take a scene, but you find the essence in details. With one lens, and sufficient experiences, your eye naturally looks for composition that fit before even looking through the viewfinder. Over a span of 4 years, I did this in several occasions, Beijing, Tianjin, Melbourne, Tasmania, Bali, S. Korea, Yogyakarta, Krabi, Ho Chi Minh, Siem Reap, Hong Kong, and Yuanyang.

HOW I DID IT? Here a list of what I bring (exclude winter vacation):

• Camera Gears- in day bag (Lowepro or Think Tank)

-          Nikon D700

-          Nikon FE with 2 extra film rolls (if enough space)

-          Nikkor 50mm f1.2

-          Nikkor 20mm f2.8

-          LEE Filters (0.6, 0.9, Big Stopper)

-          2 extra batteries (Battery charger in big backpack)

-          3 extra 16gb CF card 

-          Cable release

• Clothes & misc.- in big backpack (Deuter) 

-          1 pair of shorts

-          1 pair of jeans+ belt (wearing onboard)

-          1 long sleeve shirt (wearing onboard)

-          1 pair of boots (wearing onboard)

-          5 tee shirts

-          1 pair of flip flop

-          4 pairs of socks

-          4 pairs of undergarments

-       Tripod (I'm using Benro C0680T)- travel angel!

-       Universal adapter & phone charger

-       Toiletries & medicine 

For winter vacation, I will check in my backpack (with winter clothes), carryon camera bag.

Lowepro Flipside 200 fits in Nikon D700, Nikkor 50mm, Nikkor 20mm, 3 Lee filters, 2 extra baterries, 2 16gb CF card, cable release

If you wish to fall into my trap, you should know what you’re dealing with. Life and photography, a compromise but it needs to be hard decision. Zoom lens like 18-200 it covers 90% of the shots but do you found joy in this depressing bokeh? Bokeh is my prime, I adhere with discipline, so I keep my 50mm on most of the time, but what happen if I shooting landscape, I’ll just do panorama stitches, and sometime Brenizer method. Keep it simple, find the balance, focus on what you can control. There is no right and wrong, minimalist or what not, this is an article on my packing flow, there are thousand of sites on different recommendations, find the one that suits your needs. I want to be light and free, this is imperative to me, not for everyone. 

What's your balance of travel? 

Live, Travel, Adventure, Bless, and don't be sorry. 

Enjoy the road of life, Happy Travelling 2014! 

JW.