Majestic Sunrise: The Perks of Getting Up Early

Posted on May 17, 2012 by Jan Shim

I’m an early riser. It happens when people you live with get up for work and school. Like any other morning, I walk into the busy kitchen to see the kids having their breakfast and my domestic helper preparing breakfast for the rest of us. Today, unlike most recent mornings, the scene outside the kitchen window stopped me in my track. I ran into the studio, grabbed the 5D Mark II + EF 100-400mm, headed out to the kitchen balcony just in time to capture the sun rising above the silhouetted landscape. The last similar sunrise I captured ended up as an auction piece for a Haiti & Chile Earthquake Fundraiser (see second photo).

click on image to see larger version of this magnificent sunrise

A theme appropriately selected by Liesbeth for the auction, this sunrise piece represents the new
dawn for the earthquake victims of Haiti and Chile as generous donations pour in from all over
the world to help rebuild their lives.

@JanShim Your house definitely has d best feng shui for taking all these amazing looking photo eg sunrise, sunset, hornbill, helicopter etc
—
Mr.Baker's Bakeshop (@MrBakerBakeshop) May 17, 2012

@JanShim wow how beautiful sunrise ....
—
(@akaruisora0123) May 17, 2012

Published: Ulu Temburong Photos in Travel+Leisure Magazine May 2012

Posted on May 9, 2012 by Jan Shim

Once in a while, an opportunity comes along to have a number of nature or landscape photos picked by the editorial team of an esteemed international travel magazine. My latest addition to the published portfolio is Travel+Leisure Southeast Asia May 2012 edition where four of my Ulu Temburong photos are featured in the article: Brunei’s Backyard. Having given up trying to locate a copy of this magazine at Singapore Changi Airport and Brunei newsstands, I decided it’s so much easier just purchasing a copy online! You’ll have to guess which ones are mine and which are provided by Brunei Tourism.

“Emerging into an ocean estuary with mountains in the distance,
I think: I would fly to Brunei just to take this boat ride”

Aerial Photography: An Eye Over The Temburong Rainforest

Click on image to read this article (1MB JPEG) © Travel+Leisure Southeast Asia Edition

“Vegetation hugs the river, giant ferns letting in patches of smoky light.
It feels almost cinematic.“

An Asian Geographic Honourable Mention: Rare Photo of a Pygmy Squirrel at Ulu Temburong

Taman Rekreasi Hutan Luagan Lalak Panorama

Posted on April 12, 2012 by Jan Shim

So this morning, right after breakfast, I had the urge to just go somewhere for a shoot outdoors. I quickly packed my 5D Mark II, EF 100-400mm, EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro including the PowerShot G11. I almost don’t leave home without the G11 nowadays. I say almost because there are days when I left it home by accident, you know, that thing to do with age and memory. Although the EF 100-400mm telephoto lens came in handy for the woodpecker photo I posted a moment earlier, this panoramic view of the Luagan Lalak clearing was captured with the G11 with two separate shots stitched to get this beautiful scenery. I say beautiful because all the right elements are there: nice blue sky, green vegetation, puffy yet dramatic cloud presence none over-exposed, water, reflection all combined to give a scene of tranquility. Hope you enjoy this piece!

click on photo to unfold panoramic view of Taman Rekreasi Hutan Luagan Lalak