Alvin Leong and Patrick Low appointed Leica Celebrated Photographers.
“You can always tell a Leica. By the way it takes pictures - and by the pictures it takes.". This is a quote lifted of Leica's website, and few would disagree. Such is the quality of the images a Leica produces that it would most certainly evoke any one or more from a myriad of emotions of which the photographer intends.
With Quality and excellence as their main selection criteria, Leica has made 2 choices that are consistent with these very 2 factors. In Patrick Low, Leica has appointed a photographer who has well over 20 years of photography experience and has excelled in almost all the genres of photography that he’s made a career of by way of having won multiple awards, both local and international. Alvin Leong meanwhile is distinguished photographer that has been accepted into several esteemed international photography associations, and is also the first photographer to have successfully started a photography academy in collaboration with a recognized local institution of higher learning, Open University Malaysia.
Being Leica Celebrated Photographers, both Alvin and Patrick have been fully sponsored with Leica cameras and lenses of their choice. They will be ambassadors through the stunning pictures they will produce, as well as through the sharing of their photographic experiences at Leica backed events. For photography enthusiasts and followers of Alvin and Patrick who have for years been used to seeing stunning and captivating images produced by these 2 individuals, brace yourselves – it’s about to get even better.
About Leica Camera AGLeica: that means best German Engineering and a special culture of the picture. Our eyes have the greatest influence over how we perceive and understand our world. Leica has a long history of focusing on perception and has developed innovative instruments that afford a unique seeing experience. The result is a renowned series of cameras and lenses, not to mention projectors, and a superb range of sport optics including high-aperture and laser rangefinder binoculars, and spotting scopes. These products expand the natural limits of perception when the distance is too great or the light too weak and open up new dimensions for human vision and insight. The optical performance in unmistakeable--Leica quality is in a class by itself - both in analog and digital capture modes. Intuitive controls, combined with upgradeable, top-quality systems, provide the best picture results and offer unparalleled creative freedom. In this way, Leica helps transform vision into personal creative fulfilment, in many cases nurturing a fervent passion for expression that spans the decades. For more info on Leica, log onto http://us.leica-camera.com/home/
About Patrick Low
The founder of Exes Studio, a studio renowned for it’s artistic wedding photography, Patrick began his career in the commercial photography industry. Having spent well over 20 years in photography, the sheer volume of experience gained makes Patrick not merely an accomplished photographer, but an inspiration to many budding photographers.
He is huge fan of artistic / conceptual images and believes that mood and composition are primary to achieving his very own design and direction in his work. As he puts it, “I don’t just shoot a photo, I try to feel it and I let my imagination run free. I do not restrain myself by fulfilling what the general public or peers expect of me. Nor do I conform to the conventional. I believe these are the virtues that set me apart from the rest.” A simple and approachable person, Patrick is at the same time ambitious and doesn’t believe in resting on his laurels. His continuous strife for perfection in photography has seen his efforts being justly awarded with numerous awards by the WPJA,USA (Wedding Photojournalist Association). Among them are 6th place (Best Emotion Shot), 7th place (Best Ceremony Shot), 8th place (Best Silhouette Shot) and 9th place (Best Creative Portraits Shot) competitions & etc. A 1st place award seemed to elude him for some time, but with his undeniable ability, passion and drive, he was finally awarded 1st prize in the Good Light Competition. With these achievements, few, if any at all, were surprised that at some stage, Patrick was to gain the distinction of having been ranked as one of the top 10 photographers in WPJA.
A Certified Master Photographer by The Master Phographers Association (MPA, UK), member of Wedding Photojournalist Association (WPJA, USA), member of Wedding & Portrait Photographers International (WPPI, USA) & member of Artistic Guild of Wedding Photojournalist Association (AGWPJA, USA).
For more info on Patrick Low, please log onto http://exes-studio.blogspot.com
About Alvin Leong
What started out as a passion for photography became more than a serious hobby for Alvin Leong 10 years ago, Alvin first approached landscape and nature photography with great penchant and enthusiasm. However, when he found himself spending more weekends capturing wedding shots than lying in wait for the perfect sunlit sky, he knew he had found his calling. Alvin firmly believes in approaching wedding photography in the fashion of an unobtrusive, but keen observer.
Often fading into the background, he sets out to capture not so much the event itself, but the emotions of the day. "It is about preserving each poignant or joyful moment. A wedding album should read like a book.It tells a story, each page a wonderful drama unfolding," he enthuses.
"No one really wants to look at ten pages of posed portraiture. It gets a bit boring!"
By moving away from traditional portraiture of creating and arranging photographic opportunities, to Alvin there are no second chances in snapping up a great shot.
"A photographer has to anticipate the moment coming and place him or herself at the right spot to capture the perfect shot. It is never about random positioning and blind luck!"
A Certified Professional Photographer with the Australian Institute of Professional Photography (AIPP), a member of the World Institute of Photographic Masters (WIPM) and a Certified Master Photographer (MPA) by The Master Phographers Association, UK, Alvin is constantly on the lookout for new techniques and inspiration from a myriad of sources. "Photography is a living art. It is a continuous learning journey with the goal to capture pictures more beautiful than before."
With his relaxed manner and easy ways, Alvin stresses the importance of sitting down with every couple to discuss in detail their needs and to put any anxieties about the wedding shoot to rest. "They need to be comfortable with it, be it with their budget or the shots they want taken. It's part of what makes a couple look good for the shoot!"
In his keenness to share the art of photography, Alvin has given talks on photography and techniques at various institutions of higher education and has provided practical training for students pursuing photography courses.
Alvin has also set up the First Photography School in Malaysia, Alvin Leong Academy of Photography working in collaboration with Open University Malaysia, School of Lifelong Learning which offers Certificate in Photography and Diploma in Photography programme throughout Malaysia.
The studio, Alvin Leong Photography, is located in the leafy suburb of Tabuan Jaya. Just 15 minutes away from the city Kuching, the studio is within easy access from all around. A single-storey bungalow along Jalan Wan Alwi, opposite RHB Bank, it also houses a gallery of his works and a collection of beautiful wedding gowns, imported from overseas. For more info on Alvin Leong, log onto http://www.alvinleong.com
