Petronas Twin Towers revisited on January 29, 2013

There isn’t anything new about the subject but if looked through different angle and perspective you will produce fresh pictures with uncommonly different composition.

The Petronas Twin Towers with its reflection on the glass window of a neighbouring building.

A buggy with scarlet red body paint helps “splash” a hot colour into an otherwise monotonous earth and cool colour in the scene.

Petronas Twin Towers in a frame

Surrounded by the neighbourng skyscrapers

Its closest neighbour, Maxis Tower

“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication” – Leonardo da Vinci

Comments and criticisms are welcomed

Heritage Building of Kuala Lumpur – City Theatre

Panggung Bandaraya (Malay for City Theatre)

Panggung Bandaraya DBKL (Malay for DBKL City Theatre) is a historical theatre hall located located across the Merdeka Square in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia at the junction of Jalan Tun Perak and Jalan Raja. It was built in 1896 and was completely finished in 1904.

The theatre formerly occupied the historical building of the Old City Hall of Kuala Lumpur. The theatre and old City Hall building was designed by a colonial-government architect, A.B. Hubback, who was also responsible for designing the Kuala Lumpur Railway Station, the Jamek Mosque and other colonial structures throughout the Klang Valley.

It was built for production stages such as plays and musicals. Panggung Bandaraya is gazetted as a heritage building under the Antiquities Act and its Mughal architectural-styled façade has been preserved. A major fire in 1992 destroyed the entire interior of the theatre but City Hall’s designers and builders restored it soon after. The refurbishment that was undertaken has incorporated significant modifications to the furnishing and the sound system, which was updated.

The side view of the City Theatre (Panggung Bandaraya) while in the foreground is the Old High Court Building. Both feature rich Mughal architectural style thanks to A.B. Hubback who designed both of the elegant buildings

The City Theatre in the frame

The City Theatre entrance

Its facade which bears rich Mughal architectural style

My best 12 images of 2010

It has become customary for me in the new year to present my 12 best photos taken in the previous year.

I just feel like sharing them with you dear reader the 12 photos which I consider better than the rest of my other images that I made in 2010.  It is also kinda like my own personal reference.  It’s just my personal judgment based on my own evaluation. I tried not to judge them solely based on my personal preference but also more on technical aspect.

You may ask why 12? I do not have a specific answer to that question but I believe 12 is the optimal number. More than that it would be too many and less than that perhaps it is not adequate.  After all 12 is a dozen in imperial system. There must be something special with the number 12. Don’t you think so?

Here goes, my 12 best photos for 2010 (in no particular order)

Pix #1 | Moorish architecture against modern skyscrapers

I shot this in the early morning and thankfully the weather was very fine and clear resulting in favourable lighting for photography. I wanted to show the contrast between the more than 100 years old moorish/mogul architecture of Kuala Lumpur Railway Station against the prominent modern skyscrapers of Kuala Lumpur namely Maybank Tower, Kuala Lumpur Tower and Petronas Twin Towers at the background.

Pix #2 | Strolling in a maze of tea crops

I found this scene interesting. A father is walking with his son in a maze of vast tea plantation at Cameron Valley Bharat Tea Plantation in Cameron Highlands. The inclusion of human element also provides a sense of scale to comparatively show how vast the tea plantation is.

Pix #3 | The Asy-Syariff Mosque

I came across this beautiful mosque in Meru, Klang in the early morning. Besides its architecture I loved its sriking yellow coat of paint which contrasts beautifully with the deep blue sky of the early morning. The polarizer filter was fitted to the lens though to make the blue sky more pronounced.

Pix #4 | A mother's unconditional love

A silvered leaf monkey with her infant on Malawati Hill. Something peculiar to silvered leaf monkey is it is orange-colored at birth but develops its darker adult coat around three months. Malawati Hill in Kuala Selangor is their natural habitat albeit threatened by development now. In this picture they are sitting on the fence of the Malawati Hill Lighthouse.

Pix #5 | Gaily decorated fishing boats of Sabak Beach

Fishing boats at Sabak Beach, Kelantan are famous for its gaily decorated and very colourful hull. They have become subject for numerous photographers, local or foreign.

Pix #6 | A yellow fishing boat in Kuala Besut

I love this scene for its tranquility – deep blue sky in the early morning, contrasty tones and vibrant colours of the boats at the foreground and background.

 

Pix #7 | The Hadhari Mosque, Jerteh

I love the architecture of this mosque. It has elements of classical middle-east architecture and its maroon domes are very prominent. It looks more beautiful when its front side was illuminated by warm low-angled light of the early morning.  The blue sky at the background results from fine weather in the early morning as well as the magic of polarizer filter

Pix #8 | Grilled chicken hawker

I stumbled on this scene in Bandar Baru Kuala Lipis when I stopped by one the way back to Kuala Lumpur from my hometown Jerteh. There was a night market there which took place next to the new two-storey food court complex.  I climbed to the first floor and shot from above.  I loved the atmosphere in this picture with smoke and low-angled light in the late evening.

Pix #9 | A row of lotus blossoms

This row of lotus blossoms was shot at Bagan Lalang Beach. Near the beach there was a big pond full of lotus but I love this most.  Please check out this page if you would like to see more shots of lotus at this pond.

Pix #10 | Shopping spree

This scene was captured at SOGO Shopping Complex during Ramadhan when muslims were busy shopping for the preparation for Eid Festival. I opted for motion blur to capture the frantic movement of the crowd on shopping spree.

Pix #11 | A family of anglers

This family is enjoying their common pastime, fishing, at an abandoned pier in Kuala Besut at dusk. The golden colour of the twilight sky made an interesting silhouette shot and I didn’t want to miss it.

Pix #12 | The Jamek Mosque against the skyscrapers

This was taken at the end of last year. While walking around with my camera I noticed the light was beautiful on that day with blue sky and contrasty low-angled light. I was trying to capture this scene before but the result was disappointing due to cloudy weather and overcast sky. This time I was more fortunate. I just wanted to juxtapose the Jamek Mosque located at the confluence of the Gombak River and Klang River against its neighbouring highrise. This historic confluence is where Kuala Lumpur started to flourish as a city and it was where most of the immigrants first landed when they came here to look for opportunities in tin mining more than 100 years ago.

If you prefer to enjoy the slideshow of these 12 photos please click here.

I welcome any comments, criticism or brickbats with open arms.

Menara TM

Today I spent the whole morning shooting the majestic Menara TM. The uniqueness about Menara TM is you can get totally different picture when shooting from different angle. This is due to its special asymmetrical design unlike other common office buildings.

However its architect Hijjas Kasturi Associates are well known to be the architect behind many prominent landmarks that have crafted the skyline of Kuala Lumpur. Other prominent skyscrapers that were designed by Hijjas Kasturi Associates are Menara Maybank which once was the tallest building in Kuala Lumpur, the hourglass-inspired Bangunan Tabung Haji, Menara Tun Sambanthan and Menara MPPJ just to name a few.

Menara TM is the building of Telekom Malaysia’s (TM) headquarters. It is 310m high and was shaped to represent a sprouting bamboo shoot or rebung in Malay. It has 55 floors interrupted by a series of hanging gardens rising upward in a spiralling motion, a form reminiscent of “a plant growing tall, anxious to reach the light, with solid roots to anchor it but with the beauty of an unfurling leaf”.

This is intelligent architecture designed to fit into the surrounding environment with aesthetically appreciable design and expedients promoting energy conservation: examples include the tower’s orientation, the design of the windows, the energy efficiency system and the Hiross Flexible Space System for climate control using the space under the floor to circulate air and create customised microclimates in different areas. A large theatre for up to 2500 people and a recreational centre for Telekom Malaysia staff complete the structure, which totals more than 487,000 m2.

I greatly enjoyed shooting this beautiful and majestic edifice. Fortunately the lighting was favourable and it helped accentuate the forms and curves that this building is known for.

I am pleased to share the resulting photos here for your viewing pleasure.

01. Menara TM

02. Menara TM

03. Menara TM

04. Menara TM

05. Menara TM

06. Menara TM

07. Menara TM

Please feel free to check out my pbase gallery for more and larger pictures of Menara TM.

Istana Ampang Tinggi

Istana Ampang Tinggi (Ampang Tinggi Palace) is now seated in its permanent location in the Negeri Sembilan State Museum compound. This palace is surprisingly small unlike the opulent palace of our modern kings. Perhaps houses belonging to commoners at that time were even much smaller. This palace was made of timber with attap roof. Something special about this building is it was constructed without using even a piece of nail! All the timber parts were jointed together using the technique similar to dovetail technique. Its architecture is of course based on the Minangkabau architecture.

The plaque in front of the palace provides its brief description and its history until it ended up in the museum compound as part of the Negeri Sembilan’s priceless state heritage.

I quote the literature on the plaque here verbatim:

This timber palace contains an unusual number of finely carved panels and a pair of heavy sliding doors which cannot now be found anywhere else in Peninsular Malaysia.

The palace was built by the fifth Yang Dipertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan named Yam Tuan Ulin who ruled from 1861 to 1869 on a ridge overlooking a wide expanse of ricefields and when it was completed the Yam Tuan gave it to his daughter Tunku Chindai when she married Tengku Muda Chik the son of the fourth Yam Tuan, Yam Tuan Radin. The palace stood about six miles from Sri Menanti. Tengku Muda Chik added some more carved panels and he and his wife lived there. The palace was later given to their daughter Tunku Hajjah who married Yam Tuan Muhammed. the seventh Yam Tuan, as his second wife. When Tunku Halijah died in 1921 it was occupied from time to time by other members of the family. But from about 1930 it ceased to be in regular use and gradually fell into disrepair.

In 1953 the eighth Yam Tuan, Tunku Abdul Rahman, gave permission for the old building which by then had no roof to be dismantled and transported to Seremban. This could be done because no nail had been used when the palace was first constructed. The central portion of the building was re-erected on a site close to the State Secretariat and was converted to a mini museum containing weapons and other historic artifacts made or used in Negeri Sembilan. The building has since been moved to a new site about three miles from the town centre of Seremban.

Last but not least here are several pictures of this awesome palace for your viewing pleasure.

The front view of the Istana Ampang Tinggi

Side elevation of the timber palace

The palace's windows

The palace's windows

The interior of the palace - its right wing

The interior of the palace - its left wing where the subjects sought audience with the king

The bedroom

Cool and Refreshing Waterfall at FRIM Kepong

During last Deepavali holiday I took my family to FRIM Kepong to let my kids learn to enjoy the beauty of nature and to treasure the precious and pristine virgin forest at FRIM Kepong. While they were having a whale of a time soaking themselves in the cool and refreshing waterfall – of course under my wife’s supervision – I sneaked out to take some pictures, talk about killing 2 birds with one stone

If you feel like seeing bigger pictures please feel free to go to my pbase gallery.

Waterfall at FRIM Kepong

Waterfall at FRIM Kepong

Waterfall at FRIM Kepong

Waterfall at FRIM Kepong

Waterfall at FRIM Kepong

Petronas Twin Towers revisited

It has been more than 3 years since I last shot the majestic Petronas Twin Towers.  Although the Twin Towers have been shot to death they still attract many photographers who try to capture them from any unique angle or at any specific time when the lighting is different and unique from others.  It is not an easy job capturing something that has become subject to various other photographers.

I decided to photograph the Twin Towers last Saturday.  I drove there very early in the morning just after “sahur” and subuh prayer.  It was still dark before 7.00 am and at 7.00am I had my first shot taking advantage of the dramatic deep blue sky at the crack of dawn.  Thank God the weather was fine which resulted in very beautiful lighting without being covered by thick cloud.  The nice lighting excited me and I spared no time to take advantage of it before it went away.

It is also a good opportunity to add to my collection of photographs to the image bank at which I park my photos for sale.  You can browse my photos for sale at acclaimimages.com here.

Enjoy the pictures!

The Asy-Syakirin Mosque and the Petronas Twin Towers in the background at dawn

The Asy-Syakirin Mosque with the moon

The Twin Towers framed by foliage which is plentiful around Kuala Lumpur City Centre compound

Someone was admiring the majestic Twin Towers

The Petronas Twin Towers and The Menara Maxis

The Twin Towers with its surrounding buildings including Suria KLCC Shopping Complex at its base

The Twin Towers Touching the Moon

The reflection obtained from the nearby pool

And the parting shot is back to where it started - The Asy-Syakirin Mosque

Some interesting facts about Petronas Twin Towers:

• Combined the towers have 1,000,000m2 of floor space;
• At the 41st and 42nd level a skybridge connects the two towers 170m/558f above the ground.
  This bridge is 58.4m/192f long, weighs 750 tons and is open for the public since the end of 2000.
  The entrance is free (closed on Monday!), but only a limited amount of timed tickets (800) is given out each day. Chances are you will have to wait in line quite a while, before you get such a free ticket;
  and you’re only allowed on the bridge for a mere 10 minutes. Worth it?
  Maybe, but instead a visit to the observatory of Menara Kuala Lumpur is much more interesting,
  though there is an entrance fee there (of RM15);
• The towers have 32.000 windows;
• The building costs were US $ 1,2 billion;
• The towers were designed to symbolise strength and grace using geometric principles typified in Islamic architecture;
• Without pinnacle the buildings are ‘only’ 378m/1,240f tall;
• The towers are part of the 100-acre KLCC Development. Other components of the development include the Suria KLCC, a six-story, 93,000 square feet shopping centre (with 270 specialty shops, cinema’s and a food arcade), Menara Maxis, Menara Esso, the 20-hectare KLCC Park, a 6,000 capacity Surau, the District Cooling Centres to provide air conditioning and infrastructure works within the vicinity. The whole complex was built on a former horse-racing track;
• The towers’ complex includes an art gallery, an 840-seat concert hall, and an underground parking lot;
• The main occupant of the buildings is Petronas, the national oil-company;
• Though completed in 1998, the buildings were officially opened on August 28th, 1999;
• Each tower contains 80,000 m3 of concrete in strengths up to Grade 80, almost 11,000 tonnes of reinforcement, and 7,500 tonnes of structural steel beams and trusses.
• When standing in front of the building and looking towards the entrance, like seen on the picture above on the left (kl015), tower 2 is the building on the left, and tower 1 is the building on the right.

Ramadhan Bazaar in Kelana Jaya

Comes Ramadhan Malaysians are spoilt for choice when it comes to food no matter they are muslim or non-muslim.  In Ramadhan there are plenty of temporary stalls selling food at the place gazetted by the local council for the whole month of Ramadhan.  Malaysians will flock the market normally after coming back from work and it spares them the hassle of cooking their meal for breaking of fast especially for both working parents.

One of the very popular Ramadhan Bazaars in Klang Valley area is Kelana Jaya Ramadhan Bazaar which is about 15km from the Kuala Lumpur city centre.

Just see for youself how colourful and busy the market is.

Dates Stall

Dates and fasting are inseparable anywhere in the world

Drinks

Variety of drinks for you to choose from

Chicken wings

Piping hot char kuay teow

Assam Pedas from Melaka

Murtabak seller

The crowd

The crowd

Sunset at Teluk Kemang Beach on 30 August

Teluk Kemang Beach, Port Dickson on 30.8.2008

Holidaymakers at Teluk Kemang Beach, Port Dickson

Teluk Kemang Beach, Port Dickson

Kids having fun at the beach

A father entertaining his kids

Kids playing at the beach

Having fun at the beach

Sunset at Teluk Kemang Beach

Sunset at Teluk Kemang Beach

More pictures at my pbase gallery.

The Petronas Twin Towers through my lens

The Petronas Twin Towers have become the latest Kuala Lumpur’s prominent landmark since its completion in 1998.  The Twin Towers act like a magnet to the new property development in the city.  Everybody is scrambling to construct their new office and new apartment in the neighbourhood of the Twin Towers or at least within the area where the Twin Towers are clearly visible. Many articles have been written on the Petronas Twin Towers and they are easily available on the Net.  You might want to read those articles below which I find interesting:

• The Petronas Twin Towers by Wikipedia
• A comprehensive article on The Petronas Twin Towers complete with interesting pictures by Malaysian Internet Resources (MIR)
• The Official Website
• Design and Construction of The Petronas Twin Towers
• The website of Cesar Pelli & Associates Architects – the architect of the Petronas Twin Towers
• 360-Panorama Petronas Twin Towers
  

I am pleased to share with you a small collection of my photographs of the Petronas Twin Towers for your viewing pleasure.  I hope you enjoy viewing them.

The Petronas Twin Towers with the foreground signage that in English reads Welcome to Kuala Lumpur

The Petronas Twin Towers at night

The Petronas Twin Towers seen from Titiwangsa Lake Garden

The Asy-Syakirin Mosque is located in the Kuala Lumpur City Centre - the area in which The Petronas Twin Towers are also located

The Petronas Twin Towers framed by elevated highway - the existence of the twin towers had necessitated the construction of elevated highway and more road to cater to increasing traffic

The Asy-Syakirin Mosque

The Petronas Twin Towers and the road sign

Reflection of The Petronas Twin Towers in one of the ponds around the Kuala Lumpur City Centre park

One of the Towers is visible through the translucent roof of the Suria KLCC shopping mall which is annexed to the Petronas Twin Towers

Menara Maxis is located next to The Petronas Twin Towers within the Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC)