Brunei Darussalam National Day Run 2013

Some years back my daughter Jewel ran her first long distance event — a 6 km run starting from and finishing at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in the Brunei capital, an event she was neither trained nor had much preparation for other than the occasional school practice. Back then I wasn’t very much involved with her running as I am today in her athletic training and competition. Cut a long story short, she completed the event and was among the top 30-something students out of what appeared to be a large number of participants from all schools in the country.

Last Sunday, Jewel participated in her second run this time a kilometer shorter which was held right in our home town, Seria. The difference this time she has had eleven months of athletic coaching, having earned several medals in 400m, 200m and 4x100m events, she’s in way better shape than she ever was. The transformation from the weak, migraine-prone asthmatic little girl to the determined athlete she is today, is nothing short of amazing. She is 13, and finished 5th in the Under 17 category.

See more images on Facebook
July 25, 2011: Overcoming all odds to triumph: Jewel’s first 400m event.
Feb 23, 2009: Growing Up With Asthma and Allergies

Jewel stretching before her 5 km run.

All images: Canon PowerShot G11

Usain Bolt Leaves Behind a Legion of Highly Inspired Athletes

Conventional wisdom says  lighting never strikes the same place twice. At the London Olympics 2012 100m, 200m including 4 x 100m athletics events, USAIN BOLT not only left left his opponents in the dust, he also made history and broke the mould of such wisdom leaving behind a legion of highly inspired athletes around the world. One of such inspired athletes is none other than my daughter Jewel who in recent years developed a passion for competitive running who is also fortunately to train in the company of more seasoned runners in the district. As parents we support her weekly endeavours as long she continues to fulfil her educational and academic pursuits.

See reactions and comments on Facebook

As soon as my daughter went to bed I made this surprise photo montage of Usain Bolt’s finest moments as a source of inspiration and motivation for her training.

Huge congratulations to Usain Bolt for his personal and team Jamaica’s incredible achievements!
The following images © 2012 AFP, AP, Getty Images, Reuters, respectively.

Environmental Portraits: In Touch With Nature

It’s so easy to get caught up with the daily grind of office work and school work, term exams, projects and what not that we lose touch with the exhilarating beauty of nature right in our own backyards. We make it a point to alternate between badminton, swimming at the club, running at OGDC, PE at school and trekking at Sungai Liang — to keep the body and mind healthy.

Check out the number of Likes this photo has received on Facebook

I usually bring along my PowerShot G11 coz you just never know what photo opportunity presents itself. This morning, I was inspired to take this environmental portrait of the family — spur of the moment stuff brought on by the fresh morning air.

On a foot trail inside the Sungai Liang forest with cousin Daniel with my kids Jewel and Jamie.

Butterfly Sanctuary at the Palmetum Garden Sungai Liang | More Ray of Light Moments Captured at Wasai Kadir in Labi | Photographing Somboi-Somboi Pitcher Plants in the Sungai Liang Rainforest

In order to at least freeze a few of the termites, I shot this hand-held at 1/100 sec, f/2.8, ISO6400 with the EF100mm Hybrid IS given the lack of usable available light. Click on photo for more info.

Bokeh is the blur or the aesthetic quality of the blur, in out-of-focus areas of an image. If you're wondering how I got this shot, click on image to visit blog post for more info.

Capturing ethereal moments like this makes bringing along my Powershot G11 more than worthwhile.