Riki Lee Photo Story

MotoGP 2011 Pre-season Test at Sepang Circuit

There is a big change in MotoGP 2011 line up. Many riders has make advance to new team such as Valentino Rossi to Ducati (previously Yamaha), Stoner to Repsol Honda (previously Ducati), Toni Elias return to MotoGP class as a Moto2 champion, Ben Spies move from Yamaha Tech 3 to Yamaha Factory team...

All these changes guaranteed an excited and unpredictable new season, especially how good are these riders adapt to their new machine. Hence the pre-season test in Sepang is the most anticipating event, not just an ordinary testing. Will Valentino Rossi who suffer injury in late 2010 come back strong with Ducati in this testing?

The 3 days testing began from 1st to 3rd Feb 2011. All riders are working hard to find the best settings and experiment various combinations. The competition is not done at the finish line instead time factor is everyone biggest challenge. Most of them ride more than 50 laps in a day from 8am till 6pm. Afterwards most mechanics still work late to find the answer for tomorrow. Clearly most team achieve their best lap time in the final day with lot of improvements.

Here is the best lap time sorted by rider.

Marco Simoncelli brought a shocker in final day by 0:02:0.757 on San Carlo Honda Gresini (Honda). The best conclusion for satellite teams, even ahead of the Repsol Honda factory team. He is also the only satellite rider make it to Top 10 fastest lap time. The Top 10 fastest chart is dominate by Honda bikes. And Top 15 lap time is very encourage because all are faster than Lorenzo's pole position in 2010 at Sepang (0:02:1.537).

Most riders improve their best time day by day. Everyone scored their best in day 3 except Dani Pedrosa who made his best on day 2 testing (0:02:0.770). This result also the 2nd place of Top 10 fastest lap time. All three new comers Karel Abraham, Cal Crutchlow and Toni Elias has improved more than 1.5 second since day 1. Same aggressive progression from 'The Doctor' Valentino Rossi which is gaining his physical fitness and lap time simultaneous.

The 2nd pre-season testing will be in Sepang as well from 22nd till 24th Feb 2011. Entry to Grand Stand is free for all.

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Thaipusam Festival at Batu Caves

Let's start the year 2011 photography with Thaipusam celebration. This
year I choose to take photos from the elevator highway in front of
Baru Caves. The reason is simple - because I'm late. I arrived about
7.30am on site and most of the devotees already make their way to the
cave temple. On the elevator highway there is still amber room to take
photo and not disturbing the event. I try to do more wide angle shots,
that is what I need to practice and experiment. I always want to show
the formation of devotees with their kavadees. By using wide angle
might cover other unwanted elements into the photo, such as crowd,
lamp post or even another photographer. That's is the practice and
experiment I'm seeking for. I discover that picture taken from low and
overhead angle do have better dynamic viewpoint. But this is depend on
how good you can compose the angle without looking through the DSLR
viewfinder. Of course the new generation DSLR has the live-view option
which just as convenience as digital camera. Too bad mine is not, yet.
After few snaps I am getting closer to the devotees, I'm in their
crowd finally. Sometimes I even follow with their dance pace and enjoy
the celebrations. It is fun although not many good pictures have been
taken. May be next year I can work out a assignment to cover the
devotee from beginning till finish. Definitely it will have more
meaningful story to be told then.

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Malaysian MotoGP 2010 - taking pictures at team pit

Due to my mistake I didn't get accreditation for track pass photography. It is so frustrated since I have prepared and bought a teleconverter for capturing up close action shots. A lesson in life and I have to catch up good time management as a photojournalist.

Later I was offer a opportunity to cover Team AirAsia-SIC MotoGP team. The team which Malaysian young rider Muhammad Zulfahmi is belong to. It is a premium paddock pass, means I have access to the paddock area only. But the story doesn't end here, the team is allow me to take photo in the garage! Golden opportunity. Suddenly I am upgraded to be team photographer :)

I saw how they build the bike from scratch. They hook everything up to the chassis. I'm not really a fans of engine but roughly I can see are engine, radiator, gas tank, exhaust and the cover set. Then another electronic technician will do some wires and calibration check before warm the bike in front of paddock. It is like watching American Chopper series in live. They are two technician assigned to take care each bike. At the end of the day, they will disassemble the bike again and keep it for tomorrow work. The garage is so small but everything is arrange in perfect location and optimize storage space. The whole garage can be pack down into 8 trunk box which is about a human size each. Yes, together with the bike and parts.

Unfortunately Fahmi had a crash on qualification round. He is alright and return back to garage but the bike was damaged. The qualification time was remain 30 minutes but the technician still rush to replace and fix the damage parts. Although the time is impossible short but the dedication and determination are what I adored. This is racing and time is the most matter. I learned.

The atmosphere in paddock area is so special. It is just like a sportsman village during Olympic. The live and work together, same time competing for championship. When there is a break, riders and technician from different team will always say hi to their neighbour pit. The backyard of paddock always the best place to catch rider and grid girls in person. But this year I found there was not as crowded as previous year, which many fans (especially in yellow shirts) gather around Yamaha paddock.

By time 5pm, almost all racing activity has stopped. I do a pitlane walk from end to end. Another busy time I saw the bikes were disassemble or been working for best tuning. 125 and Moto2 garage is open and MotoGP teams are closed. You know there are people working in the garage but this is how they keep their best secret. I checked my camera again, not many pictures were recorded today but I feel happy and knowledgeable before left the circuit.

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Guiness Jonah Jones Rugby 7s 2010 @ Bukit Kiara

The event was hosted at Bukit Kiara Sports Complex on 26^th September 2010.

Weather is hot and rain shower in afternoon.

Website: www.rscweb.my/

From: Sat Sep 25, 2010 To: Sun Sep 26, 2010

Time: 8am

Address: The Royal Selangor Club Bukit Kiara, Jalan Bukit Kiara Off Jalan Damansara (E23, Lebuhraya Sprint), 60000, Kuala Lumpur

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Mayday DNA Concert Malaysia 2010

Freshly pressed from Mayday DNA concert happening few hours ago at
Bukit Jalil Putra Indoor Stadium. Waving blue illuminated stick,
Mayday supporters look like some united Avatar Navi clan. It was
amazing that they brought almost all of their concert props from
Taiwan here. The Transformer robot, ball thing, screen thing. It's
worth every effort that my friend made to travel all the way from
Singapore to watch this concert. Mayday rocks! There are more
pictures, but it's 4am now..l'll get some sleep first before I upload
more. Stay Real, stay tune for more.

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Street Shooting with Sony Alpha

Last Saturday Sony Malaysia hosted a photo essay workshop at Grand Continental Hotel Kuala Lumpur. About 150 Sony Alpha users were participated the event and made it the biggest ever gathering of Malaysian Alpha users, just after the Alpha Convention in 2008. The coach is former Reuters photographer En. Zainal. He has given photo shooting contest theme – Uniquely KL.

Each group is form by 3 alpha users randomly. My group are Farhan, my brother and myself. We did a walk from Bukit Bintang, Jalan Alor, Jalan Raja Chulan, Masjid India and Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman. I have been waited for long time do to some street shooting, but not for contest. Behind all the skyscrapers and busy streets is where urban story telling. Since I am the eldest and I ‘act’ like big brother. Most of the time I guide them shooting rather than press my camera shutter. Farhan has very strong composition, I’m out. My brother got his idea in seeing things. After an exhausted walk till Jalan Alor, we found that our collections has too little human interaction photos. Then we rush down to Masjid India for the final assignment. Surprisingly the sellers in Masjid India are very friendly and allow their portrait to be taken. Good experience compare to Petaling Street.

Back to hotel we get our best 6 photos printed. Actually quite a hard time to decide 6 photos because we have quite some unique shots to share. I peek other participants’ photos and notice some of them can do stuff like National Geography. No kidding. En Zainal announced 3^rd and 2^nd prize with praises to the winning teams. Then for first prize he quote it was quite special although the photos might not be the best. By judging overall this group produce photos that match the Uniquely KL theme best. First prize goes to Group 6. I was stunned! Not sixteen, sixty but SIX! Gosh! I realize joy of photography is not just about how hard or good you compose a picture, but have you enjoy taking photo with feelings? It is a team winning and we photograph the way we see the world, realistic and natural. Each person got a RM300 voucher and flash stand sponsor by Studio Zaloon. Not to forget door gift was given to all participants as well – a nice terry cloth to wipe our beloved Sony Alpha DSLR.

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MCFA-TICA 4ring International Cat Show

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Mayday DNA Concert Promo @ Sg Wang Kuala Lumpur

Mayday the greatest Taiwanese rock band hits KL last weekend. Just fresh from their sold-out Singapore live concert, they drop by to promote their DNA concert happening in June 5. RM88’s ticket is sold out. Wuuhoo! Riki and friends bought the RM268 seats!!! I have to admit that I didn’t buy any tickets! I have my reasons, well, I’m planning to watch them live in Taiwan instead. YAY! It gave me another reason to fly to Taiwan (attending Jay Chou or Fahrenheit concert is also another pending reason).

Ok, back to Mayday, I heard from one of their radio interview, they liked last night gig a lot because the stage is just by the street with heavy traffic! Cool?! I liked it too, if the security is not so uptight. The gig suppose to start at 7pm but it didn’t but the rain started instead. Around 8pm-ish, the rain stopped and they rock the stage!! I was standing at the road divider/ green lane/ green mile from opposite side, it has it’s perks, less crowded, no security guards, Ashin paid a lot of attention to us, can use telelens zoom in except for occasion blocks from taller vehicles (eg: bus).

They sang 5 satisfying songs. Two of it I like very much. Some girl won all expenses paid trip to their upcoming HK concert in a lucky draw. They shook hands and took group picture with fans. I prefer this way though, wish next time Eason can do the same. Take group pics with your fans ya!

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F1 Malaysian Grand Prix Concert @ Sepang Circuit

This is a post-race concert and consider it is an added value, because
just top up Rm100 for hill stand ticket and the concert is yours. For
Grand Stand audience they get it free! Last year we have Jamiroquai
and this year even bigger - Wyclef Jean + Fatboy Slim! I could says it
is one of the best concert I ever attend in Malaysia. It was held at
the small hill outside Sepang Circuit. The audio system is kicking
great bass, cold breeze and open area, so relax and freedom. I know
who is Wyclef Jean from radio but have not seen him in live
performance. It is mind blowing performance he gave to us. He can
rock, rap, reggae, play band, make fun, talk peace, sing gospel... 2
hours for him is just too little. By 10pm another master DJ come alive
with his hard bass beat. My Rockafeller Skank hero Fat Boy Slim aka
Norman Cook. I wish the next day is holiday so I can stay till late
night. Now I know what to do for next year F1 race.

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Malaysian F1 Grand Prix 2010 @ Sepang - Part 1

This is my first time shooting F1 cars closely. At Sepang Circuit turn
15, the car speed is still comparable with others like motoGP and
SuperGT. The F1 car size is longer and lower thus from low angle it
looks pretty flat. I went up to 2nd floor to get a better view point.
The car engine sound is really blow my ear to deaf, even my earphone
volume with race commentary already max. A proper ear plug is
recommended. At the end of race I found I am not capture much photos.
Most of my time was use to familiarize with this fastest motorsports
on earth. After the race there is a complimentary concert featuring
Wycle Jean and DJ Fat Boy Slim. I will post up more photos in next.