Amongst Haute Couture

Well, it's been a busy year for us thus far but I'm not complaining. Juggling deadlines is a neat way to kill time, considering the global scenario.

I've just recovered from a flu (so long, weekend) in time for another Videography session.Tonight marks the eve of the finale for GH Mumm F1 Celebration Party.

The cocktail parties offering renowned french champagne GH Mumm and featuring premium fashion labels Coach, Giuseppe Zanotti, Shanghai Tang and Chloe draw to a close. Despite shooting twice a week at Pavilion for the past 3 weeks, I'm still going to miss the runway style fashion shows where the female models tower above me flaunting their haute couture apparel.

I'm also going to long for Miss Jeannie Lee's melodious voice serenading us with her songs, most notably Rosemary Clooney's 'Mambo Italiano', The Carpenter's 'Close To You', Michael Buble's Sway and even a charming french rendition (which I have already forgotten the name). That's right, she took the time to memorise an entire french song in a week's time.

Dunhill was across, next to Rolex. Max Mara was down the road. I could've sauntered over to Gucci if I wanted to. Prada was closer to me than the stage was. We were in the middle of high fashion. The pretty faces, the nice dresses will still be there but after tonight, we won't be dropping by anytime soon. No thanks to Pavilion's astronomical parking fees.

I can't wait to watch the completed video after the Video Editing team has compiled the hours of footage we shot. I'll write a follow up post with the video soon :)

An Equine Experience

The stars arrive and debark. Their rumps are then marked with the product logo.

One of my earliest and most unpleasant experience with horses was during my mid 20s. I spent a few days in Cameron Highlands taking in the sights and engaging in my hobby, photography.

Out in a field, I spotted a pony grazing some distance from a larger horse which I assumed to be its mother. Thinking the pony to be a photogenic subject, I approached it and from the corner of my eye, I saw the larger horse approaching. I thought of the great shots I would get from the pair.

The horse closed the gap in seconds with only a trot and by the time I realised the error of my assumption, I already knew I could never outrun an over-protective mother. Thankfully, the horse did not pursue me further after I distanced myself from its foal. Disappointed at not snapping off a shot, I was stupid enough to do it again.

When our client Pernod Ricard told us that horses were involved in a project, I wasn't exactly jumping with joy. Accordingly, the horses were part of Chivas' new campaign launch titled 'Live with Chivalry'. Based on the theme of an ancient ethical code of honour, its riders would be 'knights' carrying banners which served as branding vehicles.

I was amazed at the power the horses displayed by just shifting their weight. It also made me wonder how they kept track of what happened behind them... it's a long way to the back, there might be a Videographer caught unawares!

4 horses would march down a busy street lined with pubs. Under the supervision of police outriders, the horses cantered and we walked, briskly, as the slender promoters handed out leaflets to passersby.

It helps to walk surely and with no sudden movements amongst animals. We don't want to startle them. A slight nudge from an adult horse would surely send me flying a few feet. Having a video light attached to my camera had already made them nervous.


Horses... don't get in their blind spot!

One horse in particular got my attention. Lovely Boy, as he was known, was agitated by the slightest of things and moved unpredictably. It was challenging enough that I had to look out for shots of opportunity and busy street traffic, I also had to make sure 'Lovely' Boy wasn't about to trample all over me!


It's pretty hard to get all horses lined-up, thanks to 'Lovely Boy' at right.

It was a fun project. We accomplished giving out all the leaflets. I got great shots of the girls interacting with passersby. Lovely Boy prevented me from framing all the horses in formation simply by staying out. Despite this, I still managed to get shots of the majestic horses ferrying their knights against the busy night scene.