Mr. & Mrs. Aurum

Ha! We’re married!

Lemme share a bit of our little story. I met Denada in 2009, when I was shooting for my photography book, In My Room. It was an awesome first meeting, because the moment I met her in person, she was wearing a bed sheet and nothing underneath . Such a great pleasure for being a photographer. The photo itself instantly became my favorite of the entire book.

It wasn't love at the first sight, but it was a lovely picture for sure

Several months later, we started dating and began to share so many moments together. Love was, and is, and I really hope that always be, in the air.

On the 13th July 2011, at almost midnight, in front of the sea of lights of New York, I proposed Dena at the top of Empire State Building (reminded me well of the movie Sleepless In Seattle. Or King Kong). As you might have known, it was a Yes. Such a perfect, perfect scene of our own movie.

Back in Jakarta, on the special date of 11.11.2011, I proposed Dena again. This time, officially. Eleven members of my family came to Dena’s house bringing the ‘seserahan’, consisted of eleven parcels. Laughter, tears of joy and so many memorable little things we shared that day.

Lord Of The Ring in action

Okay, fast forward to today, or to be precised, yesterday (15th Feb), we got married in Khayangan Estate, Uluwatu, Bali. We had the ceremony in the morning, attended by family only, besides our ten best-friends-forever as our best-men and bridesmaids. (To our journalist friends, sorry that we kept it very private. I’m sure that you will understand). The feeling, was simply indescribable. But my vow to my wife was simple and short, “Aku akan mencintaimu dengan sederhana.. tanpa agenda, tanpa syarat.” May God bless us on that.

The dinner party after that? Guys, it was THE best wedding party I’ve ever attended, and it was our own!! Great performances on stage (I married a singer with singer parent and singer friends, remember?),  great family members and friends (yup, nothing beats celebrating with people  we love) and great, great dancing and drinking (when my and my buddies’ shirts flew off on the dancing floor, I knew we had hell of a great party).

It was a night to remember. And a start of a new journey. Wish us luck, good people.

For more pictures, have a look here!

——-

PS. Some of our beloved guests said something about the party

The Best Wedding Party ever! Best Couple, Best Friends, Best Scene, Best Island. The most sincere party with only dearest families, friends & colleagues.. 8 thumbs up! – Ariya Sradha

The best party I’ve ever attended – Felly Hartanto

Seru banget party-nya…it was so much fun! We should do it again! *lho* hahaha. – Oka Yulianto

One of the best weddings I’ve ever attented to, congratz! – Rachma Devi

What a nice cray loving celebration last night. We’re sooooo happy for you! Oiya, should I mention gua & Thelly sampe berkaca2 pas bagian lo di depan kemaren, bwahahaha bagus kali! – Raden Antorio

The beautiful place, the nice people, the way you both dressed were very impressive. Jer, when I saw your mother it looks to me “she” was the bride in the way she dressed, beautiful! Dena, when your mother went to the stage, I thought she will give a long speech, (that’s what mothers doing most of the time, hahaha). How big the surprise when she start to sing, I would like to work every day with her in the kitchen, to hear her amazing voice! Now I know from whom you get your voice. I never heard you singing but it must be nice too! Even the guest on our table, the crazy photo (taken at the moment when we came in) and the performances was a nice surprise. You organized all very well. Chapeau! – Henk de Vries

Looking back a bit is necessary

Here I am again, two years after I wrote my last retrospection on this blog. Many things have happened since then, good and bad, and I have been fortunate enough to have more of the good ones.

So here are some of my (sometimes not-important) thoughts about many things in our creative industry and about myself:

1. 2011 has been the most exciting year in photography. Thanks to Instagram, which was chosen as the application of the year by Apple, more and more people are so into photography these days.

2. Number of professionals in commercial photography in Indonesia remain pretty much the same as many years ago. Many have come and go, and they usually stayed in the business not more than two years. Why? I guess the business side is not what many people expect to be a pro.

3. Photography in Indonesia has started to struggle its way to penetrate the fine-art markets. It is still a long way to go. C’mon people, it’s not only paintings that you can stare at.

4. I’ve seen that many architects and interior designers have been enjoying a great year, financially and creatively.

5. Fashion industry has remained exciting. It’s still full of arrogant people who take their pride more than it should be, but the some fresh blood have shown us that our fashion industry is getting serious, internationally.

6. I got involved more in the fine-art world this year and got to know a bit more about it. Wow, many real successful fine-art artists have made me feel like I was in the wrong field. Enjoy your big houses and fancy cars, lucky bastards.

7. I failed to discipline myself to finish my 3rd book, the Femalography part II. Instead, again, I have started another book, which excited me more. Not that I hadn’t tried to work on Femalography, but I just didn’t get what I wanted after each shooting. So I decided to take a little break, again. Hopefully, my next book will come out at the end of 2012.

8. Some people see me more as a celebrity than a photographer, thanks to some commercials that I was featured in. And some know me more than my work these days. That’s never been my intention, and it doesn’t make me happier either. Being more and more well known does give lots of benefits, but it also gives nothing less of limitations in my daily life. Anyway, I think staying focus in making good arts is still the most important (and exciting!) part.

9. I am truly sorry to all the people that I have hurt, no matter how small it was. I hope they would forgive me and I hope not to do the same mistakes in the future.

10. I have learnt to be more patient and being less perfectionist this year. I am still not sure if it’s the best attitude, but it seems that it works pretty well. Maybe I’m getting old? I can live with that.

11. I have finally finished my home – studio – office renovation and it’s been covered by several media since then. The new Studio Praja is more convenient now and I enjoy cooking so much in my new kitchen . Maybe you should hire me as your decorator the next time you renovate .

12. I tried the prototype of Canon 1Dx. The biggest, heaviest DSLR I’ve ever tried. I’m not sure what to do with its 14 frames-per-second shutter, but it impressed me much anyway.

13. I have enjoyed mirrorless camera more than ever. I fell in love with my Panasonic Lumix G3 right away. Light, fast and has great image quality. Not mentioning its widest range of quality lenses among its competitors.

14. I finally changed my 10 years Hensel lighting system, and welcomed the high-end Profoto. It was a right choice.

15. No matter how much I hate being involved in confrontation, there were two fights I had to face this year. One was with an advertising agency who was trying to treat me like shit, and the other one was with my lunatic, grumpy old-man neighbor. I guess, when you really have to fight, fight.

16. Love has shown me the way. I proposed my girlfriend in a wonderful evening at the top of Empire State Building last July, and I am truly honored to have your blessings for my wedding in 2012.

Enjoy 2012, good people!

Senjata perang sejak 1992. Apik tersimpa, bebas jamur, bebas debu.

‘Kamera saya berjamur, kemana dong benerinnya?’ Ketimbang kamera atau lensa jamuran, yang mana sama menyebalkan dengan jamur di kaki, mendingan dihindari.

Ada cara gampangnya. Sediakan lemari ukuran sedang, dari bahan apa saja. Tidak usah yang mahal. Multipleks juga boleh. Sambungkan lampu pijar 5 watt di dalamnya. Ingat, 5 watt, jangan lebih, kecuali lemari penyimpanan kamera kita besar. Lampu ini berguna untuk memanaskan isi lemari. Idealnya, 30 derajat celcius. Di suhu tersebut, jamur tidak bisa tumbuh, sehingga lensa aman sentosa bebas dari organisme perusak kelestarian alat-alat fotografi kesayangan kita. Suhu tersebut juga masih tidak terlalu panas untuk komponen-komponen elektronik ataupun sekat-sekat karet di kamera atau lensa, yang rentan dengan suhu panas. Hasilnya? Sejak 19 tahun berlalu, Nikon FM2 saya alhamdullilah sehat walafiat, selayaknya atlet Sea Games kita.

Debu sedikit demi sedikit akan terkumpul memang. Tetapi bila pintu lemari cukup rapat, biasanya baru perlu dibersihkan 3-6 bulan sekali, itupun biasanya di bagian dasar lemari doang.

Yang lebih penting adalah membersihkan kamera atau lensa sebelum di-lemari-kan dari bekas garam yang terdapat di tangan kita ataupun udara pantai dan laut. Garam-garam ini lumayan nyebelin, suka bikin karet body kamera kusam, dan keropos lama kelamaan. Membersihkannya paling bagus dengan cairan pembersih kamera yang bisa dibeli di banyak toko kamera.

Terakhir, biasakan untuk membersihkan sensor kamera dengan blower setiap kali sehabis dipakai (untuk tipe kamera yang lensanya bisa dilepas) agar debu tidak lama menempel dan jadi susah lepas.

Selamat menyimpan ria!

Laser for beauty wouldn't hurt

I’ve been shooting beauty since the very early days of my photography life. Why? Because it is a true wonderful thing about this career. Surrounded by gorgeous women, being able to tell them to do this and that, and also getting paid of doing so. Ain’t that called a great job that makes many people envious?

Erha Clinic is a big clinic chain in Indonesia. It’s just absolutely amazing to see how many women (and men) are willing to spend A LOT and do (almost) anything to make them look more beautiful, or at least stay beautiful, or wishing that they could be a bit beautiful. Erha Clinic started only as a small clinic some years ago, and has been going national with so many branches, having their own big buildings everywhere, making their own medicines in their own medical factory, and most of all, are willing to hire me to do their latest advertising campaign. Sixteen layouts altogether. Thanks Erha! *by the time I write this blog, only 2 LOs have been displayed, so I can’t show the rest, yet. Sorry.*

Red laser to make you look like Zhang Zhiyi

As you can see, the shot is very simple: whitish background, plain and shadowless lighting, light make-up, simple hair-do and simple poses. The model was shot on white background, with pretty much same angle on every frame, so I could mix-and-match the treatment tools, the model and the backgrounds for different layouts.

The key of success of this kind of photo shoots is actually the models. You’ve got to have gorgeous models, no matter what. Bruce Webber said, “You have a great model, 50% of the shooting is done.” I so agree to that.

Costroversy

Booooom! It’s a photo shoot with an explosion, thanks to Avolution.

It was a fine day in early-mid of 2011. Bates, one of HM Sampoerna’s advertising agencies, called me to come to their office to have a brief of new Avolution campaign. Avolution is a slim clove cigarette from Sampoerna, whose target audience is mainly young people in big cities. It always has a bold, innovative, edgy and out-of-the-box personality. Let’s say, a kind of brand that fits me so well .

Sampoerna has been my client for 10 years. And I have known Bates for many years. It’s an agency that I always like very much. So it was such a pleasure to meet up with the creative team again. When they showed me the layout, I was thrilled. Awesome, I thought. The idea of the new campaign was to show an edgy reborn of ‘you’ through an dramatic, explosive transformation. It was about a rebellious attitude, with a class. I instantly fell in love with the idea. It was a kind of layout that many photographers would have been dying to do. It was technically challenging, vibrant, full of excitement and had a real wow-effect.

The preparation was pretty short and simple though. My team contacted some model agencies and started casting them, while I concentrated more on the technical aspect of the shooting. After some discussions with some post production experts, I decided to combine photography with 3D rendering to create the shattered pieces in the picture, instead of using Photoshop digital imaging (thanks to 3d artist Alcy Muluk).

I shot the model with really slow shutter speed, 0.5 to 1 second, on a tripod. The lighting was a combination of flash and continuous light from the modelling light of the flash heads. The reason using continuous light was to record the movement during the long exposure. The result was a blurry effect around the models, reflected on the lit part of the models while they were jumping and moving. The sharp part was made with the flash.

The original shots of the movement

These are the shots for 3D modelling guidance postures

The key was the combination of right poses and timing. I had to experiment with many movements and pressed the shutter at the best moments to create nicely composed ‘freeze’ effect. The movement of the wardrobe was also very important, as it might create not very pleasant composition if I didn’t get it right. The whole shooting took about 4-5 hours, which was considered amazingly fast by the ad agency.

The next challenge was the 3D post production. It involved a lot of discussion about angles, materials (plastic, steel, carbon etc), directions of the explosions, lighting effects and so on. I always enjoyed working with great people with different skills.

After the 3D was done, last but not least, we still worked on Photoshop to add the background patterns, erase-and-add little fragments of the shattered-pieces effects and enhance the overall color and tonality.

Ladies and gentlemen, we present you, Avolution’s Crosstroversy and Liberaction!

Liberaction

Biro iklan jangan membuat masa depan fotografer kelabu

Saya sudah bekerja dengan puluhan, kalau bukan ratusan, biro iklan di Indonesia maupun di negara lain. Sebagian besar adalah biro-biro iklan yang dimotori oleh orang-orang hebat yang tiada henti menginspirasi isi otak saya dengan ide-ide brilian, kepekaan visual yang patut diacungi jempol, ataupun hasil pengolahan riset yang berbuah solusi mencengangkan untuk para klien. Sebagian besar dari orang-orang hebat biro iklan ini hingga sekarang menjadi klien setia, teman nongkrong, dan beberapa menjadi teman baik saya selama bertahun-tahun.

Tentu saja kisah kasih antara fotografer dengan biro iklan diwarnai banyak bumbu, yang rasanya manis-asin menyegarkan, maupun yang asam-kecut menyebalkan. Berikut ini beberapa pandangan, sikap atau perilaku yang masih suka tersisa di beberapa (INGAT, beberapa looh!)  biro iklan di Nusantara ini, yang saya pandang salah dan usang, namun masih terpelihara:

1. Menganggap fotografer itu supplier. Pada dasarnya, fotografer memang merupakan tim produksi dibawah supervisi biro iklan. Namun jangan lupa, fotografer itu dipakai karena keahliannya yang tentu saja (biasanya) tidak dimiliki oleh para pelaku biro iklan. Memperlakukan fotografer sebagai ‘partner/rekan’ akan lebih memberikan keuntungan kepada biro iklan, dan akan membuat hasil iklan mendapatkan sentuhan artistik yang seringkali tidak terpikir oleh tim kreatif periklanan.

2. Menganggap fotografer sebagai eksekutor. Memang, banyak fotografer yang kuliah fotografinya hanya menitikberatkan pada aspek teknis, dan mencetak para ‘tukang foto’ yang jago teknis, tanpa kemampuan olah-ide, atau komunikasi visual. Tapi itu dulu, zaman Orde Baru, zaman Pentium 2, zaman hape masih segede bata. Sekarang fotografer yang handal adalah yang mengerti konsep, bisa diajak diskusi ide dan treatment, akrab dengan pesan dan tujuan iklan. Tim kreatif usang (yang terbiasa memakai fotografer katro) bisa jadi merasa terganggu dengan kehandalan ini, bukannya merasa terbantu dan terdukung.

3. Memilih fotografer bukan karena handal, tetapi karena nyaman. Nyaman memang penting, selayaknya tempat tidur lembut yang enak. Tetapi kenyamanan jangan diletakkan diatas kepiawaian si fotografer, karena biasanya memang akan membuat suasana kerja yang menyenangkan, tetapi tanpa hasil visual yang bener-bener mumpuni. Sebaiknya kemampuan kerja tim fotografer menjadi patokan utama, walaupun bukan satu-satunya yang penting.

4. Mengkambinghitamkan fotografer. Tidak semua proyek berlangsung mulus. Ada beberapa yang hasilnya tidak ciamik, dan tentu saja banyak dikarenakan kinerja fotografer yang tidak bagus. Namun tidak jarang pula biro iklan menimpakan kesalahan atas ketidakberesan atau ketidakmampuan mereka kepada tim fotografer di depan sang klien, tanpa pernah diketahui si fotografer. Hal ini tidak susah dilakukan, mengingat biasanya fotografer tidak ikut dalam presentasi hasil karya dengan klien.

5. Mendahulukan fotografer yang mendukung mark-up, komisi atau korupsi. Urusan perut memang penting, apalagi banyak biro iklan tidak lagi bisa mendapat bagian alias profit dari media placement. Jadilah kong-kalikong dengan para supplier jadi tumpuan baru. Bila tidak bersedia membuat penawaran ganda, atau mark-up tersembunyi, tercoretlah si fotografer. Biro iklan seperti ini sudah sepantasnya masuk selokan, karena hanya membuat industri kreatif menjadi busuk dan bau.

6. Mendewakan Digital Imaging. Banyak tim kreatif yang lahir di era digital, dan sama sekali tidak mempunyai pengalaman akan betapa pentingnya fotografer yang mantap di belakang kamera, bukan hanya di depan komputer. Tentu saja peranan digital imaging sudah tidak terpisahkan dari fotografer, semua tahu itu. Tetapi digital imaging punya keterbatasan, yang tidak akan diketahui oleh tim kreatif yang tidak terbiasa bekerja dengan fotografer piawai. Lagipula, you’ll miss the real fun of a good photo session!

7. Pembayaran telat. Berbeda dengan 6 butir diatas, yang satu ini sudah mengakar di hampir semua biro iklan, selayaknya kebiasaan kita nyogok Polantas di jalanan. Bila ada biro iklan yang bisa bayar tepat waktu, itu keajaiban. Dalam hampir 12 tahun karir profesional saya, hanya pernah terjadi dua kali. Selebihnya, harus ditagih terus menerus dan membuat orang finance biro iklan terlihat seperti sosok ibu tiri yang menyebalkan dan orang admin fotografer terlihat seperti pengemis mengenaskan. Sebaiknya komitmen pada deadline alias tepat waktu bersama-sama dipegang. Jangan hanya tahu menuntut deadline pekerjaan, tetapi sebaliknya mengabaikan deadline pembayaran. Semua sama-sama butuh makan.

Adventure, anyone?

It was my second time shooting for Panasonic Lumix this year. Different to Panasonic Lumix GF2 print ads, this time I worked with Panasonic’s new advertising agency, Dentsu. The concept was to introduce three new exciting Lumix pocket cameras, which had different characteristics (some of you must have seen the print ads and billboards. Pretty awesome huh?).

Let’s talk about the first layout, Lumix FT3. This camera was designed for outdoor people who like to abuse their cameras (not completely true, but you get my point). This shot involved quite a lot of props. We needed to build the interior of a helicopter, using multiplex, styrofoam and many metal accessories. We then painted them in such ways to create the rustic look. The headphone was original though. I shot the model together with the props in my studio, using only one flash head covered with yellow gel to create a morning sunlight feel. The light was bounced with a silver reflector from the model’s back. The scenery background, and the picture in camera LCD were digitally added (Panasonic would have killed me if I have had proposed to shoot it in Borneo jungle. I would love to, though).

The second layout was equally as interesting too! This one was for Lumix TZ20 (I just called my client five minutes ago to make sure that I write the series right. Panasonic has a confusing series system, nobody can’t remember it). I shot the male model together with the parachute, hanging high in the sky (one metre high in my studio, to be exact). I also used one flash head only to recreate the sun. Without changing the light setup, I then shot the female model together with the towel. This time I added more reflectors to soften the shadow. The background was also from photo stock, digitally retouched and composed until we all were happy (quite a painful process I’m telling you. Too many heads are not always good. Trust me.)

Super zoom for chic hunters

The third layout was executed on location. This one was for Lumix FH2, the fashionable Lumix. We used a campus in the south of Jakarta, which is famous of its pretty students (not completely a true fact either. It was pretty deserted when we were shooting. I was glad though ). The female model was from Russia and the male was from Jakarta. This fact created a little problem. The lady was way taller than the man. We later had to make the male’s legs taller digitally. The building and the sky in the background was also added in post production.

This one is for the man hunter

I hope you enjoy the pictures as much as I enjoyed the shooting. Enjoy the cameras too! They’re great.