In what can only be described as a pretty long absence from my relatively new start in the blogosphere, I am finally back to at least brush the cobwebs off this website. So what happened? Well, let’s just say in a nutshell, the day-job caught up with me.

One stint included me being away for work from Malaysia for 18 out of 22 days in a row. There’s a fair bit of glamor to business travel, but I have to admit, during those 3 weeks, I was poof-ed beyond belief. I nearly felt I could hit someone on the head if they said the phrase ‘Wah, so nice’ to me in response to my 18 days away. The grass is indeed always greener.

And then there’s the fact that I’ve been going through a photographic slump. It’s very much the weight of expectation that shrouded the new camera. Some from the peer, mostly from myself. It got so bad, I didn’t want to shoot just because I feared I couldn’t do the camera justice. Sometimes, it would get the better of me in that even after a shoot, I refused to look at the shots because it just didn’t quite click. It’s as though I was staring at an extinguished flame, somehow hoping it’ll rekindle by some miracle.

Yes, it was a low period. I did some shoots in between, but the inspiration only came like little droplets from a drying sieve.

But last weekend, in what was a culmination of two amazing close friends, two incredible talents in their own right, and me being fortunate enough to be a part of the equation, I was part of a fashion shoot. In some ways, as one of them keenly told me, it’s what I’ve needed for a while, which is to take the wheel again. So happens that Lady Luck was on my side when I did this time.

The shoot, in short, was inspiring and reinvigorating. There was just so much positive energy emanating from it. Frankly, if all shoots were like this, I’d consider taking up photography full time quite seriously.

So onwards to the shoot. My dear friend Cassey is one who’s simply passionate about fashion. So much so, she’s pursuing it now with the vigor and energy which I haven’t been able to muster in quite a while even for my own passion; photography.

It started off as a simple idea of shooting her creations; a lineup which I’d personally describe as very casual and wearable, yet with a bit of character and uniqueness about them, that you won’t find in any ordinary boutique.

The outcome? Well… I’ll let the images speak for themselves. My only wish is that I did her work justice. So without further ado, I present to you the tops by Cassey Gan. And she can take the credit for not only designing them (with the exception of the jumpsuit), but also amazingly modeled herself.

Top designed by Cassey Gan || Modeling by Cassey Gan

Top designed by Cassey Gan || Modeling by Cassey Gan

Top designed by Cassey Gan || Modeling by Cassey Gan

Top designed by Cassey Gan || Modeling by Cassey Gan

Top designed by Cassey Gan || Modeling by Cassey Gan || Shot courtesy of Huey Yee

Top designed by Cassey Gan || Modeling by Cassey Gan

Modeling by Cassey Gan

Top designed by Cassey Gan || Modeling by Cassey Gan

Thanks so much Cassey and Huey Yee for reminding me of what joy there is to find in a passion that seemed lost to the many everyday pressures of the contemporary corporate world, and everything else in between.

Till our next collaboration! =) *big hugs*

Rummaging through my archives again yielded one of my favorite planned shoots to date, simply because there was no pressure, and by jove, did these two know how to naturally work it for the camera. They make any budding photographer’s life a breeze and I do look forward to being able to maybe do a shoot for either of them again in the near future.

For the record, James and Kerri aren’t actually a couple, other than both being personal friends of mine. To date, they are arguably still the two most photogenic people I personally know. To everyone else I know, please don’t take any offence as I probably just haven’t photographed you yet to decide… =)

Being able to go back through my archives and finding shots like this does make me wonder what the fuss is about all the latest and greatest camera gear. I myself got lost and bought myself a brand spanking new camera that will likely financially choke me for a while to come, but I digress. My point being, I was able to take shots like this with much simpler gear than I have today. Why can’t I do so anymore, and to my dear readers, why can’t you? =)

I have fond memories of this shoot, and the people involved in it. And it puts a smile when I am reminded of the mishaps too, including one shot where I have my face completely white-d out with the light of a full powered flash unassumingly triggered by a dear friend. I vaguely remember having a darn good laugh, not to mention temporary blindness and seeing stars for a bit. All in the spirit of good photographic fun.

Note to self: Always remember to have fun…

To James and Kerri, I thank you sincerely for reminding me of another high in my photographic journey.