Top 20 Photos of 2013 - #13

#13

The Chin Swee Caves temple complex at Genting Highlands. 6,000ft above sea level. Chilly. As I was taking the children through the narrow passageways that make up the caves, I spotted the colourful temple pagoda through this small window in the rock. It provided the perfect composition.

Top 20 Photos of 2013 - #14

#14

I took up a behind-the-stage stand point for photo #14. Shot in Taman Gelora, Kuantan during a zumba party, instructor Jun Loh leads the masses in a dance routine. In post-photo processing I cropped out unnecessary noise to make the instructor the central focus. I also experimented popping the bright yellow colour of her shirt. Unfortunately, similar colours on other people's clothes and some of the grass and trees also stood out, which prevented the photo from finishing higher up in the Top 20 list. However, I do like the photo a lot. The bright yellow top stands out excellently well against the monochrome background.

Top 20 Photos of 2013 - #15

#15

At #15 is this charming view of the beach named Teluk Chempedak, Kuantan's most famous coastal location. I wanted to capture something other than the usual sand, sea and sky scene, which looks so picture perfect in travel magazines and online articles. In contrast to the usual blues and browns found at beaches, this scene displays the greens of nature which are so abundant at Teluk Chempedak. The new red footbridge transports people from the first beach to the second, and as it can be a strenuous walk for some, there is shelter on the way to stop for a few moments and admire the sea, as the people in this photo are so doing.

Top 20 Photos of 2013 - #16

#16

The KL Tower with quite a different foreground. I snapped this photo whilst visiting the National Mosque (Masjid Negara) in Kuala Lumpur. I had planned to go inside and admire the interior of the mosque but unfortunately the queue was lengthy and moving slow and time was not so free. So instead I walked around the grounds and took some photos of the exterior and surroundings. (One of these shots became my favourite of the whole year, but more on that later!) Whilst standing in the upper courtyard, I caught a glimpse of the KL Tower behind the hedges and trees. Back home I cropped the photo to bring more of a focus onto the man-made and the natural - the tower and the trees. While Malaysia continues to grow and become more advanced, I sincerely hope that it retains nature and allows the greenery to flourish.

Top 20 Photos of 2013 - #17

#17

Taken through a hotel window, this is a night scene of the town of Kuantan. The night lights make it appear that the streets are on fire, or that some pile of lava has flowed down from an eruption close by. All this imaginary commotion goes on beneath a full moon. The space between the moon and the land emphasizes both and provides a nice contrast. Technically, I had to first focus on the land and then alter the composition by moving the camera up to include the moon. For me, this is a very pleasing outcome!