BBC Photography Portal

I didn’t know that BBC had a special section for photography until I accidentally found it through Google. Yes again Google wields its power. Anyway BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) dedicates a special section for photography which it calls BBC Photography Portal. It provides lots of pictures by mostly professional photographers and photojournalists in its gallery. Besides it has its pick of the month and its current theme is Genius of Photography. This is a great opportunity to gaze at some legendary works by those photography genius which are not easy to find.

You can also learn a lesson or three in its tips section aptly entitled How To Take Good Photos by a renowned travel photographer Tom Ang. It covers various genre of photography by providing good tips for beginners as well as advanced amateurs. On top of that there is also a gallery of buildings in where else – Britain.

By and large it is an interesting and enlightening photography portal that I would love to recommend it to you, dear readers. It is worth visiting.

Masterpieces of Almarhum Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin Shah

I believe not many fellow Malaysians know that one of the pioneers in Malaysian photography was the then Sultan of Terengganu, His Majesty Duli Yang Maha Mulia Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin Shah (1907 – 1979). His Majesty was the 15^th Sultan of Terengganu and the fourth Yang Di-Pertuan Agong (the Supreme Ruler) of Malaysia. His Majesty was also the grandfather of the present Sultan of Terengganu who happens to be the current Malaysia’s The Yang Dipertuan Agong, Al-Wathiqu Billah Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin Ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Mahmud Al-Muktafi Billah Shah.

His Majesty’s legacy – a large collection of photographs mostly in negative and a couple of prints which were printed by His Majesty himself were collected and selectively chosen for printing by a collector/custodian, Raja Mohd Zainul Ihsan Shah (Raja Ihsan). Raja Ihsan did extensive research on His Majesty’s photographic works. He self-imposed strict controls on each stage of the process from selection of photographs to be printed, choice of paper and right up to the final stage, printing. The printing was done with deliberate care and expertise, with pre-requisite that it truly reflects the printing philosophy of His Majesty himself. Little wonder Raja Ihsan took about 10 years to come up with the exhibition of His Majesty’s works whose online version is available permanently in a website sponsored by MIR Communications Sdn Bhd.

Looking at His Majesty’s photographic works I feel as if I had time-travelled back to Terengganu, my homestate, at the moment the photographs were taken. Each photo stimulates my mind and stirs my curiosity prompting me to know and see more of the scene captured. But I later realize that the scene has been long gone. It was taken more than 50 years ago. That I believe the power of a strong photograph. The one that can leave lasting impression in the viewers’ mind or as William Cheung, the ex-editor of Practical Photography Magazine puts it the type of photographs that jump out and hold you by your neck!

I wish I could see more of Terengganu images as very few photographs have been taken of Terengganu or of even Kuala Terengganu at that period of time. According to the collector/custodian Raja Ihsan in the preface of the website the period that the exhibition covers is between 1948 and 1958 which happens to be the important time in our country’s history culminating in the achievement of independence from the British colonial rule in 1957. This serves to show the power of His Majesty’s photographs which act not only as art pieces that stir your emotion and stimulate imagination but also become highly treasured documentation of the past.

I would like to congratulate YM Raja Mohd Zainul Ihsan Shah for the job well done. He has successfully salvaged and collected the priceless masterpieces and placed them where they should belong for the new as well as future generation to learn and appreciate their heritage.

Please feel free to view His Majesty’s masterpieces HERE and enjoy your time-travel

Note to YM Raja Ihsan
Dear YM Raja Ihsan,
If you happen to read this blog of mine, I would appreciate it very much if you could contact me by replying to this blog with your latest email address or you can email me directly at mzabdullahATgmailDOTcom. I tried to email you but the message bounced back as the email address provided in mir website doesn’t seem to be valid anymore.
Thanks.

My all-time best 24 pictures

Bazuki first suggested this when I first met him after his photo talk at UPM way back in 2004 if my memory serves me perfectly. At that time Bazuki was not as glamourous and widely-known as now. Photography then was still the hobby of the esoteric and digital photography especially in DSLR department was still at its infancy. In fact DSLR was beyond most people’s wallet.

Bazuki suggested that we always maintain our all-time best 12 photos. “The collection should not necessarily be 12 but somewhere around that number” he said. And it could act as a motivator and even a challenge to us to keep producing better photos than those already in our collection of the best 12. It made perfect sense to me and I thought why didn’t I give it a try and see how it worked.

It works for me and believe me, it is fun. At least I can show anybody that, these are my 24 all-time best photos (best to my eyes and based solely on my judgment – they are all my own pictures anyway).

It was actually not easy to start. I had hard time to choose which photos were good ones which people could at least consider it presentable among a few hundreds in my collection at that time. I started with my best 12 as recommended but subsequently expanded to 24 photos as of now.

I am pleased to present my all-time best 24 photos in no particular order as below and hope you enjoy viewing it. Feedbacks are welcome.

Pic #1 | Stack of Colours

Pic #2 | My Little Son

Pic #3 | Tranquil Morning

Pic #4 | The Putra Mosque By The Lake

Pic #5 | The Putra Mosque In The Frame

Pic #6 | Polka Dot Steps

Pic #7 | The Federal Territory Mosque

Pic #8 | Lady Enjoying Nature

Pic #9 | Welcome To Kuala Lumpur

Pic #10 | Kuala Besut In The Morning

Pic #11 | The Petronas Twin Towers In The Frame

Pic #12 | The Dayabumi Complex

Pic #13 | ShoppingFor Headscarves

Pic #14 | Red, Yellow & Blue

Pic #15 | Bukit Belacan

Pic #16 | Bride Mannequin

Pic #17 | An Angler Family

Pic #18 | Air Asia Stewardess

Pic #19 | A Lone Water Lily

Pic #20 | Masjid Abidin

Pic #21 | Jalur Gemilang In Water Drops

Pic #22 | Fully Symmetrical

Pic #23 | Fish Silhouette

Pic #24 | The Putra Mosque At Sunset

Masjid Abidin – Part II

A few more pictures of the Abidin Mosque a.k.a Masjid Abidin a.k.a Masjid Puteh.

Click here for Masjid Abidin Part I

I welcome any comments and criticism. Please feel free to visit more of my mosque and architectural photos at my pbase photo portfolio. Most of my images are for sale and you can buy any of the photos directly from the stock photo agency – acclaimimages.com