Canon Photomarathon Malaysia 2009

10th October 2009 (Saturday) is Canon's 3rd consecutive year for organizing Canon Photomarathon Asia, which are held across selected countries located in Asia including Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand & India. This year Canon Photomarathon 2009 (Malaysia) was held in Sunway Lagoon starting from 7AM to 8PM.

I first heard of it from Master Valho, a good friend & professional photographer who gives me advices on photography & poison me with DSLRs. Since I just got into photography 3 months ago after I acquired my high-end digital compact camera "Panasonic Lumix LX3", code name: Lumi-chan, I decided to participant in this mass photography event.

So on the day, I woke up at 6AM in the early morning to get all my photography equipments ready. Meet up with Master Valho at 7:30AM & heading to Sunway Lagoon together. Once we arrived at 8AM, we proceed to register ourselves at the "Canon User" & "Non-Canon User" registration counters, then head to the gathering venue.

After waiting for time to pass, at 9:20AM the speech finally started, then followed by mission briefing.
Rules are simple:
[*] Do not hit anyone with your camera or tripod.
[*] Do not take any unauthorized photo of bikini girls or any unethical shot.
[*] Strictly no post-editing is allow on photo.
[*] Only JPEG format is allowed.
[*] Submitted photo must be taken by today.

We are then given 6 hours from 9AM~3PM to capture 3 specific themes assigned by the organizer on the spot.

1st Theme: Splash.
2nd Theme: Red.
3rd Theme: Shooting In Progress.

As the themes being revealed one by one, my brain already started to visualize on all the elements."Splash" - I first thought of this image. Obviously when it comes to "Red", it gotta be Ferrari, so I visualize a Canon DSLR resting on top of a red Ferrari, but I'm inside a water theme park & there's definitely no way to find a Ferrari here. As I explore further into the theme park, I spotted a row of red color ATV parked along side, but it already surrounded by photographers. The 3rd theme: "Shooting In Progress", I was thinking of lying down flat like a sniper aiming his scope on the hanging bridge, but I didn't get the chance at all, you'll find out why later in the following writing. And so I proceed my mission to capture the first theme "Splash" at the waterhill slide. Along the way to my destination, I actually managed to captured all 3 themes even before I reach the waterhill slide, but it's not my optimal selection.

Finally reached the waterhill slide & it was already crowded with photographers, while patiently waiting for my turn, I attach my tele-lens for a closer shot. Just before I able to capture a satisfying "Splash" shot, photographers were being chase away by the security as that zone which we were standing was under construction. Without being able to complete my photoshoot, I walked out & stand near to a pool to remove my tele-lens, while doing so, I let go of my hand freely which I use to hold my Lumi-chan, thinking that the wrist strap was still attached (usually I have both neck-strap & wrist-strap attached as a failsafe, but since I was taking the waterhill slide shot, unaware that my camera was actually unattached to my wrist), the next moment, I notice she dropped straight into the pool in front of me..................................................... Immediate I reach my hand into the pool to save her, but it was too late, as Lumi-chan was not meant to be weatherproof, she completely soaked through the lens. Worst of all, the camera was still powered on when it drop into the water, the chance of short-circuit is very high.............

This is the "Last Photo" (ID# P1080351) taken on my Lumi-chan just before she was drown, look at the subject (the guy doing a facepalm), it's a bad sign, a premonition...... After trying to dry up my camera, I call Valho & said I already GAME OVER even before the time is up, by drowning my camera.............

As I couldn't continue to shoot without my camera, I'm forced to end early. So I head to the photo download station to select from the photo I had taken before the mishap & uploaded my contest entry. After completion, Valho & I leave Sunway Lagoon heading to Times Square for my appointment with Animax regarding Animax Youth Council.
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[ Here are the photographs taken by the Winners ]

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Well, look like after taken 8351 shots with my 3-months-old Lumi-chan (LX3), fate had decided it's time for me to head on to the World of DSLR. I'd been laying my eyes for the upcoming Canon EOS 7D, maybe this call for an upgrade.
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CONCLUSION: It was a great & exciting photography experience, but not for my poor Lumi-chan.

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Have You Seriously Damaged Your Camera Before?

I dropped it into volcano and it didn't survive. (YES)

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I throw it around and surprised that it still works. (NO)

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