Carlos Nizam Photography

Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, Thailand.

admin — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 08:39:40 +0000

So recently, I decided to pretty much run away from reality as I was feeling pretty dry in my well of inspiration. I bought my tickets last minute and hopped on the earliest train to Ratchaburi, Thailand. I was hoping with all hopes that Damnoen Saduak, the famous water village in Ratchaburi would with every touch fix me.

When I arrived, I was still quite dazed. I could hear the voice inside me telling me what my mission was, but all the sights and elements surrounding me at that point in time was pretty much overwhelming, so I decided to just rest at the hostel and recuperate from the travel fatigue.

I started off slow (and steady).

I played with my camera and lenses, just clicking at random things, and the voice in me was still pretty faint.

After a couple of days, my ears finally started working. I reconnected with the voice in me and I could feel this magical kind of feeling that guided me to know where to look and to snap.

I did realize that that feeling came upon me when I recognize and acknowledge the beauty of the spirit behind Damnoen Saduak. And no, I am not talking about things that the Winchester brothers (from Supernatural) deals with. I was just really impressed that the community in Damnoen Saduak has preserved this tradition of water as a daily transportation. Water wasn’t only a medium for them to clean or wash but they built a village on it and rely on it for their trade. I personally felt that Damnoen Saduak, as a whole community was living a godly life. They ingenuity in building the water village was a sign of gratitude to the beauty of their natural surroundings and a tribute to the greater being. (Of course that being said, there are some cases of irresponsible use of the environment. But that I would probably leave it to the experts.)

Well, in other words, when I grasps the spirit of the village and gave thanks to the beauty of it all, I found myself again. I felt gratitude and thanks-giving from the villagers and I found them in me all over again. What a relief to know that I wasn’t broken (just bent).

Thank you Damnoen Saduak. I can now learn to love again.

I always encourage them to practice in a way that will help them go back to their own tradition and get re-rooted.
– Thich Nhat Hanh, Living Buddha,

My 12 Best Shots.

admin — Sat, 22 Dec 2012 17:29:20 +0000

There has been many events and obstacles that I’ve gone through this year. I will always keep the lesson I have learnt in my mind, as I am learning to become more aware towards the arts, humanity and life. There will be more things and projects to come for the upcoming year, and I pray that I will be my best in all that I venture into and for you guys as well. Love, Carlos Nizam.

The Piano is Exploding, I Think (Sigur Ros Live In Kuala Lumpur)

admin — Mon, 26 Nov 2012 15:25:50 +0000

To those who are avid fans (or who have googled about Sigur Ros online), you would recognize that the title above was a comment by Jonsi Birgisson during Sigur Ros’s appearance at the 2008 Bonnaroo Music Festival in Manchester, Tennessee. And I couldn’t agree more with what Jonsi said. Over the weekend, we had the music highlight of the year with Urbanscape 2012 at Padang Astaka Petaling Jaya, Malaysia and we had the great opportunity of having Sigur Ros blow our minds off with their great performance. I am an avid fan. I find their music soothing to my soul and I take their form of art as a muse to what I do. Bliss during the weekend. Nothing could top this music festival weekend. Though I had an eargasmic wonderful time listening to some of my favorite artist, my legs had some battle royale fun with the mud. No pain, no gain, some would say.

Quote : The music comes from a very special place deep inside the mountains of iceland
Sigur Ros – Takk (2005)

Rockaway 2012

admin — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 15:31:11 +0000

How can anyone resist the opportunity to shoot his or her favorite performer that inspires him or her? I definitely would not be able to say no to such an offer and that was exactly what happened recently. I got a call from Akta Angkasa to shoot their performance during the Rockaway Festival 2012. I believe that even Akta Angkasa could detect my enthusiasm and excitement through their cellphone while telling me the details of the shoot. Yes. I was star-struck and how could a rock fan not when it comes to Akta Angkasa. They are one of the bands that take risks in making music and nothing more can be said about their stellar performance. You have to witness it for yourself. The music festival was held at the Sepang International Circuit and it was an ear-orgasm day for all rock fans out there. Besides Akta Angkasa, there were also performances by Soulfly, Unearth, MxPx All Star and Set Your Goals.

Sighs. I wish it was Rockaway Festival, everyday.

P/s : Packing up my gear for Urbanscape 2013. See you guys there.

The Lazy, Crazy, Hazy Days of Summer.

admin — Sun, 16 Sep 2012 14:12:09 +0000

What do you get when you fall in love? A lot of crazy days where a haze of passion just clouds your mind and all you really want to do is to have time slow down or just stop so that you can laze around in fields of green with the one you’ve fallen in love with. Of course, the feat of trying to actually stop time has yet to be discovered unless somebody out there is keeping it a secret (which most would applaud him or her for, for such a discovery could be more of a disservice to mankind). So to really make the best out of what we have, we “stop time” by taking snapshots of that moment so that we can always either linger on a little longer in that moment or travel back in time to that emotion. For Hideto, that was what he wanted to present the apple of his eye, Shoko with. A memory immortalized to remind them of the time that they had wanted to stop and linger in more just because they were in the company of love for each other. It was an outdoor photo shoot just when summer decided to appear with warm bright days. The sun shone down on us bright and strong but I noticed the face of Hideto, who was beaming with pride and enjoying every moment spent with the one his heart calls for and nothing is more romantic than seeing a man love and care for his woman in a way where even his facial expressions fail to hide his emotions. To the lovely couple, Hideto and Shoko, it was a great opportunity to capture pure moments of just natural love and caring between the both of you. These shots are a legacy for you and us on lessons of love and thank you for sharing such a moment with us.

You’ll wish that summer could always be here
- Nat King Cole -

Both of Us

admin — Sat, 08 Sep 2012 15:08:33 +0000

A while back in Japan I got to meet a wonderful couple who met and fell in love in Japan and is currently settled down in Tokyo. They met while they were still in university and from then on their devotion for each other grew and you can tell that it is still going on strong with them stealing kisses in front of the lenses, that gleam of pride in their eyes for each other or just the way they would clasp their hands together and give it a supportive squeeze. Regardless of the apparent differences in their upbringing and culture, they fit naturally like a glove and complete each other with no awkwardness at all and such a relationship inspires me and gives me hope about our world that slowly the gaps and differences between nations, races and genders are closing in and no longer becoming a issue. Or that we see past our physical appearance and appreciate with great love the essence of a human being. Thank you Alexandra and Byeongwoo for the beautiful lesson on life.

Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.
― Lao Tzu

Triumphant

admin — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 14:05:00 +0000

During my recent trip to Japan in summer, I decided to do the unthinkable. I convinced my partner to join me and a group of college students (who are 8 to 9 years younger) to climb Japan’s mighty Mount Fuji. The decision was rushed and I had only 2 days to prepare and pack the right kind of gear. I was excited but at the same time nervous. Excited because I will be climbing up this great muse that has inspired many artists to create many breath-taking artworks. Nervous because I have heard all sorts of horror stories or urban legends of some tragic expeditions. So in those two days, I rushed to purchase the necessities for us to succeed this expedition. It’s not like climbing Mount Everest, so I had to just pack a torchlight, rain gear, warm clothing, ample of food and water, some bandages and wet wipes. However, aside from the food and water, the rest of the stuff that I bought didn’t really sustain the backbreaking climb that was waiting for me. We started climbing from around 8:30pm from the 5th station and took the Yoshida trail. The hike from the 5th to the 6th station was easy and the night view from the top was gorgeous! The route started getting more dangerous from the 7th station with huge rocks snaking in and out. There was a good period of time where I had to really cling onto the rocks and slowly inch my across and up the slope and all these was done in the dead of the night. By the time we reached the 8th station, my poor partner was already going through a mild asthma attack and I was raining big sweat drops while the rest of the group of really young college students did not even break sweat!!! Yes, I did feel really old that time and I must say I am grateful for my young friends who were really patient with my partner and me. Without them, I highly doubt that I could have reached the 8th station. So, my partner and I decided to tell them to go ahead without us as we’ll stay overnight at the hut on the 8th station. No, I didn’t manage to conquer Mount Fuji this summer but I still gave myself a light pat in the back for being able to lug myself up to the 3100m height and I am very very proud of my partner, who has been very encouraging during the whole expedition even though she is by nature not into mountains (and volcanoes) and was having a mild asthmatic attack due to the high altitude sickness. Even though we didn’t get to the summit for the sunrise ritual, I got to enjoy sunrise at the 8th station with my partner. It has been a rough expedition and it didn’t turn out the way I though it would be. The hike down was easy though. It was a gravel trail that is opened from 5:00am. The views that we saw on our way down was beautiful and different from what we experienced at night. Of course, that’s probably because the hike up was concentrated on not falling to death. Anyway, would I ever try to conquer Mount Fuji again? Probably not. Once is just enough. Twice would be pushing it but the first and one and only experience was eye-opening and worthwhile.

There are many paths leading to the top of Mount Fuji but there is only one summit.
-Morihei Ueshiba-

Calling All Angels (Pecha Kucha)

admin — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 15:46:31 +0000

I’m calling all you art angels out there! On June 20th (Wednesday), at The Bee (click here for direction) , from 8pm, there will be another Pecha Kucha session for all art advocates out there. This time we will have Wani Ardy (click here for her blog) sharing her poems and I have been given the honor to showcase pictures that I have shot in the past during the reading.
Now, for those who are hearing of Pecha Kucha (click here for the website) for the first time, Pecha Kucha is a platform for artists to share their passion in 6 minutes and 40 seconds. The idea was first developed in Japan by an architecture firm called Klein Dytham Architecture and at this very moment, more than 500 cities across the globe carries out Pecha Kucha events to help instill the love of arts among the community. So I am calling all you angels out there to not miss out this great opportunity. Come and support your fellow artists!

Art is not a thing; it is a way.
~ Elbert Hubbard

L-O-V-E

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 09:45:31 +0000

There is so much to celebrate about life; the people that we love, who were and are there for us through the ups and downs, the great food that nourishes our soul, those breath-taking places that affirms the existence of a greater “Architect” and the many challenges in life that so often tear you apart while making you stronger. In the mood of celebrating all these great elements that have moulded me to what I am today (and I am expecting more heavy duty moulding coming my way), Carlos Nizam Photography is having an online photo contest. The details are as follows:

Theme : Travel

Period : 18 May 2012 – 18 June 2012

How to join:

1. First, you would have to “Like” Carlos Nizam Photography‘s Facebook page.

2. Pick your best travel photo to share.

3. Send it to Carlos Nizam Photography’s official e-mail at carlosnizamphoto@gmail.com and don’t forget to include the following in the caption field :

Name: _______
Facebook Name : _________
Title: ______
Place taken: _______

4. Once we have received your picture, stay tune cause we will be uploading it onto our “Travel Contest” album on our Facebook fan page.
5. When you see your picture uploaded, share it among your friends and have them “Like” your post. Oh and in order for your family and friends to “Like” your post, they will first have to “Like” Carlos Nizam Photography‘s Facebook page.
6. We shall be uploading the photos onto our contest album once every two (2) days at 6 p.m.
7. Maximum photos for each participant is two (2) photos.

The top 2 posted picture that gets the most “Like”s by 18 June 2012 will get a Fuuvi Pick toy camera (link here)!

So do join me in this month of great celebrations by sharing your travel photos on Carlos Nizam Photography!

Wild Sounds.

admin — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 06:10:00 +0000

The different tastes and the different things that we take pleasure from are what makes the world go round. Between me and my significant other, we are like Yin and Yang especially when it comes to our taste in music. She has a knack for pop songs and well-accepted titles like Lady Gaga’s catchy rhythms (and not that I have anything against it) but I get my ear-gasms from a different kind of music. Let’s call it a difference in perspective. Anyway today I would love to share my love for a certain kind of music with you. It just so happens that one of my favorite bands are playing tonight (27 April 2012, Friday) at Central Market (also known as Pasar Seni) from 8pm until midnight. And no, you shouldn’t miss the opportunity to see 4 very very talented musicians (Zul, Ned, Mamel and Fie) display their mind-blowing art form tonight. Hopefully, many will be enlightened by tonight’s performance. I know I will.

Akta Angkasa

The video teaser. Click on the image below to watch the video.

One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain.
~ Bob Marley