Steven Leong’s Blog

10th May 2010 : It seems that today is destined to be one of those days again… picked up the papers (The Star, the largest national English daily in Malaysia) today, flipped through it and found a golf-pullout; curious since that was what I have been shooting recently.

I didn’t get far before I nearly fell down when I jumped up from my chair… there it was, my photo staring me in the face. Haha… another one of those happy moments, I guess…

Suddenly reminded of my recent assignments, I went through the May 2010 issue of the Malaysian Golf Digest… this time, I was laughing like a madman. 4 photos from 2 articles this time…. hahaha….

I guess a photographer can never get bored seeing his work actually published and is seen by many hundreds, if not thousands of people.

For links to more photos from the golf tournaments so far as well as my other work, please check My Facebook Page out.

Time for a celebration? You bet~!

Another rather happy day for me… yes, I don’t normally read the In-Tech pull-out of The Star newspaper, the largest English daily newspaper in Malaysia but it was one of those days that I did not have any assignments in the morning nor the previous night, so I got up really early and started flipping through the newspaper page by page and to my suprise, my face and name was on The Star~!

Featured along side Mr. Ng Kok Leong, the photo editor of The Star, a 25-yr veteran photographer, it was a real honored to be mentioned in the same breath as Mr. Ng and of course, to be standing on the same stage with him.

As Mr. Ng said, “It is nice always nice to be recognized for your work.”; I was beginning to think that I am destined have my work unrecognized and unnoticed, receiving this recognition will be a real driving force for me to achieve more and work even harder.

Now… its time to process more photos.

Story Featured on The Star

Today (20 October 2009) wasn’t any other day for me. I was selected by Canon Malaysia as one of the first nine to be initiated into the Canon EOS Hall of Fame.

Canon’s EOS Hall of Fame is a new exclusive and elite circle for established photographers who are masters of their craft and who have been users of Canon equipment. The photographers initiated into this circle are active in the media and are drawn from different facets of photography.

I am deeply honored that Canon, a household name for photography equipment and the leading equipment provider to professional photographers have chosen me to be part of the first nine.

It was both humbling as well as exciting to be sharing the stage today together with such names as Allan Chai, renowned commercial photographer; Ng Kok Leong, veteran photographer and photo editor of the largest English newspaper in Malaysia, The Star; Yau Choon Hiam, veteran photojournalist with the leading Chinese daily, Nanyang Siang Pau; Zung, from The Photoz, one of the leading wedding photographers in Malaysia… as well as many others.

Sometimes, in one’s career, you reach a milestone and today, I have reached one of my own and would strive to be better so that I may reach another soon.

Note : Photos courtesy of Norman Hiu

Story Featured on The Star

p.s. please excuse the pose… not too good at posing on stage

20 October 2009 – KL Hilton, Kuala Lumpur… this was no ordinary day at least for photographers, professionals and amateurs alike. Canon Inc. the largest supplier of photographic equipment have arranged for a concurrent worldwide launch of its new flagship model.

Everything was hush-hush and kept quiet until the actual launch itself.

Canon Malaysia, opted to do it in KL Hilton, one of the most prestigious hotels in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. And they wanted the launch to be big, carry a huge impact as well as conducted with utmost respect for their latest flagship as it seen by the attendance of Mr. Melvyn Ho, a Vice-President from Canon’s regional office as well as the full event attendance as well of Mr. Liew Sip Choon, Canon Malaysia’s President & CEO.

The launch marked the launch of the Canon EOS Hall of Fame as well to applaud local photographers. An inaugural nine was initiated into the Canon EOS Hall of Fame and these nine were chosen for their dedication, dedication and experience.

(Ahem…. I am proud to be one of the nine inaugural initiations to the Canon EOS Hall of Fame… more on that in THIS POST )

After all the festivities and customary speeches, at 12pm sharp, the EOS 1D Mark IV was unveiled with a beautiful model walking down the catwalk with it followed by the recently announced EOS 7D and EOS 5D Mark II.

Photos : Courtesy of Norman Hiu

Main KL09 5th ASEAN Paragames Page

It was a simple and as usual, hot and wet afternoon in Kuala Lumpur. A couple of days ago, I had approached the Malaysian Paralympic Council to see if I can take a couple of shots for my portfolio at any paralympic type event. To my surprise, MPM have agreed to meet me immediately.

On that afternoon, armed with my usual meeting attire (yes, long-sleeved shirt, slacks, nice shoe, etc). The address was cryptic, some DBKL (Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur OR Kuala Lumpur City Hall for those who do not understand Malay) sports complex.

I was half-expecting a decent looking or even good looking modern office building (like most government departments) for the events department for the Malaysian Paralympic Council but instead I was greeted with an ageing, paint-peeling huge DBKL sports complex at Desa Selatan (I think).

The events department office for the MPM was nothing grand, a simple drab-looking wooden door with a small KL09 poster on the door led into the office.

Behind the door, the department stored various equipment, from banners to buntings to the occasional wheel-chair, table and chair. The office itself is up the stairs with simple (yes, not new) low cubicles with old tables and chairs in them, everyone seemed quite surprised to see me.

After all, it is not a usual sight to see a well-dressed Chinese professional photographer walking into such the place.

Yes, they needed help… and probably lots of it.

They had no funds to get proper photography for all their activities and the biggest event to date is about to come, KL’09 5th ASEAN Para Games with 11 sporting events across 11 venues and 11 participating countries; 1,200 athletes and NO photographer.

I guess I met them at just the right time and when I told them I would cover the entire event for them for free; all they could say was “thank you”.

Alas, one thing led to another… and now, the crunch time approaches.

I really hope my team of 10 photographers will not disappoint them, this is no small event; it is bad to disappoint anyone BUT it is a sin to disappoint the needy.

Main KL09 5th ASEAN Paragames Page