KandidLight Photography

BLOG LOCATION MOVED

2010-01-22T12:52:00.000-08:00

We just moved our blog to our domain for better integration and customization. Please visit our proud new blog at

http://www.kandidlight.com/blog/

Thanks,

Cambodia - Angkor temples

2009-12-29T05:25:00.000-08:00

These are some photos of the Angkor temples, one of the Unesco World Heritage sites, from our family vacation trip. These are the best I could get from a tour guided trip with many todlers and elders :-). All are taken at same usual spots that millions of visitors have stood and clicked

the Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom

Below is the Bayon temple which is recently made well-known to the world probably because of the movie Lare Croft: The Tomb Raider. The temple itself is almost ruined but the way the trees embrace the structures is incredible ...

with the Secret Smiles

I did still not forgetting to get some "model" shots when there are chances :-)

We ended up the day on the top of the Bakheng temple whose stairs are really steep to climb but we did enjoy the sunset from the view. We got there when the sun almost set indeed

What a wonderful wonder! You must be there to appreciate it.

Cambodian wedding couple

2009-12-28T04:51:00.000-08:00

I had some photographs of a Cambodian couple when visiting the Angkor temples with my family during Christmas time. Their colorful customs caught my eyes so much that I could not resist to lift my camera, sneaked through their camera man's shoulder and took some shots for myself. Later I've read more about their wedding tradition and learned that this custom is just one of three or four different traditional ones that a couple would use during their wedding which would last at least three to seven days. Would love to share these photos here.

Here is the scene with their camera man and the Angkor Wat in the background

Cambodia - Life on surface of Bien Ho Tonle Sap

2009-12-27T23:04:00.000-08:00

Not included in the tour program but it seems so interesting so we managed to sneak a bit of time to make a visit a small part of the big Tonle Sap Lake where a small Vietnamese community resides there. The lake is indeed so big that we could not see the other side of it. In Vietnam we call it "ocean lake" or "biển hồ" in Vietnamese. According to the tour guide, people who live there don't belong to any country, Cambodia nor Vietnam, since they're floating here and there all the time and no government cares about.

Well, not too much of words, some of the photos would show how tough lives there.

Tuan-Tien family pictures

2009-12-27T17:51:00.000-08:00

Tuan is one of my best old school friends way back in Vietnam. I had a chance to photograph his family including his lovely wife and the two prospective model daughters. The setting is actually right at my inlaw house in Thu Duc, a Saigon suburban town. Not much special in the photos but just a bit of fun shooting in VN :-)

Thanks Tuan and his family for spending the morning with us for the shoot. What a lovely family!

Ellen Dinh - The BIG Day

2009-12-19T23:59:00.000-08:00

Ellen and Dinh's BIG BIG day has come and gone with so many great moments that I'm sure their family, friends and themselves will never forget. For us, it was also a great experience and we are glad the day were captured nicely on photographs.

From details ...

to candid ...

big picture ...

and outdoor fun ...

It was a fun-filled and full of action event but the wedding topped off at the very end where Dinh, Ellen and their dear guest friends were at their best ...

Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Nguyen!!! Thanks for the opportunity and we're glad we all did it together wonderfully!

visit their personal site of complete wedding coverage here ....

San Francisco - Embarcadero at night

2009-12-06T10:38:00.000-08:00

Again, tagging along with some photographers friends, all Cisco fellows actually, on a Friday night trip to San Francisco for some night shots around the Embarcadero area.

Upon arriving at the area, we just missed our last exit before entering Bay bridge so ended up getting onto Treasure Island to make the U turn. So why not take the opportunity to get a popular shot of SF from the across Treasure Island lookout. That is where I figured out I have both tripod and monopod but without the head plate to attach my camera to the stands :-). Hence, this is the first shot hand held (but I like it though)

Had to use the trashcan for tripod to get a picture like this (sorry you have to view it in larger view to figure out what it is :-)

We went back up the Bay bridge and to the Embarcadero where we have the chance to shot the bridge we just drove on few minutes earlier. Borrow the tripod from friends for a few shot but many time, I place my camera on whatever structure around or just had to push IOS up very high (6400 for instance)

the blue moon

It was late around 11:00pm and very cold as well. I just love this shot of the couple whose love definitely kept them warm for the night.

Walked on a bit around, had a chance to capture some shots of the city when business are closed but a whole new nightlife world is about to start.

It was great to be with friends and seeing the city at night even just a small corner. I definitely look for other times to come back to explore more on its nightlife.

Thanks for visiting again :-)

Tina-Paul 20th Anniversary

2009-11-29T23:21:00.000-08:00

When our family came over for the Thanksgiving dinner, Tina asked if we could do their 20th anniversary pictures. Such an honor for us to indeed take them. Now, check out with a weather-cooperative day and properly inspired mood, what an upper-forty couple may look like! Be prepared for dating kind of photos, not just anniversary at all.

We started off from our home studio where I brought in the new antique looked couch and chair just the day before.

With casual dress, everyone in the family with their own interest:

Moved on hitting the road for some country side looking scenes along Morgan Hills, we ended up with some meadows and a park. And here, when the boys referred to leave them on their own, Tina and Paul got the chance to turn back the clock 20+ years to their dating time

We wrapped up at our younger brother's house where they had the supprised party with the cake for the happy couple :-)

Such a nice and romantic event that we love to be part of! Thank you, Tina and Paul!

Thanks for visiting our blog. Be sure to check out their personal site for this event or our portfolio for more photos of the day.

Thu tím lá vàng

2009-11-16T23:35:00.000-08:00

Just an afternoon enjoying the Fall weather and colors with family while scouting for location to shoot someday

Ellen Dinh - Bridal

2009-11-09T07:13:00.000-08:00

Continuing on our adventure with Ellen and Dinh towards their big day in December (their earlier dating/engagement shoot pictures are here), we had a bridal shoot for them yesterday. How fun it was and how nice they are bearing with us on a cold afternoon in the park. Can't wait to put some quickly on this blog ...
The complete set for this shoot on our portfolio is here

Thanks Ellen & Dinh. You two are such a nice, easy and fun-filled couple that we love to work with

Again, the complete set for this shoot on our portfolio is here

Hip hop meets Couture - Music & fashion Show

2009-11-06T07:03:00.000-08:00

Had a blast at the Hip hop meets Couture - Music & fashion Show in San Francisco City Hall last Friday. I attended with a press pass on behalf of Bay Photo Group via the invitation of the fashion designer Debbie Nghiem. Here are some of the pictures, the complete set to cover the event could be reached via the link at the end of this post

Designers

the wrap-up

Link to complete coverage:

http://kandidlight.zenfolio.com/events/hiphopmeetscouture

Amy Bridal

2009-11-02T06:13:00.000-08:00

Amy is nice enough to allow us to take her on a bridal shoot to complete our portfolio on her, from dating, engagement, wedding, to bridal. (Will post back on other pictures later). Such a wonderful couple she and her husband Alvin is! Thank you guys for being our first and best clients and now our BFFs :-) !

Thanks to the novice but highly talented MUA Kim D. and my wife for organizing the event.

Just a glimpse of what their near future home may look like

More images from this shoot on our portfolio - Amy Bridal

Birthday Make-over

2009-11-01T21:24:00.000-08:00

My lovely wife got a surprise make-over from Thi's Cosmetics appointed by her two sisters. After that, we all went to Stanford Universiry nearby for a fun family photo shoot. Here are some before and after photos

After:

Thi Cosmetic: Best Halloween Costume Idea Contest winner

2009-11-01T10:44:00.000-08:00

Just happened to be at Thi Cosmetics's studio for my wife birthday make-over. They were completing a make-up for the winner of their Halloween best costume idea contest while I had my camera handy :-).

And the contest winner is ... Alisa K.

Check out blogs of both Thi's and Alisa K. for the event.

Mini and Taylor of Thi's Cosmetics and Alisa ...

Viet - KimKhanh Bridal shoot

2009-10-20T22:25:00.000-07:00

Take advantage of the Fall colors, we had a shoot for Viet and Kim-Khanh in the area of Eastern Sierra near South Lake Tahoe.

Look at the pictures, you would not believe they are in their 7th year of marriage.

Here Kim is joyfully checking out the flower girls

Other photos from the afternoon

September sunrise in San Francisco

2009-09-29T20:55:00.000-07:00

I tagged along with some friends to come to San Francisco at 5:00 am in the morning, intended to shoot the moon set over the Golden Gate bridge. However, we could not get to a position where the moon and the brigdge become closed friend. Frustratedly, we headed over the Marine Headline to get some shots of the bridge at sunrise.

The bridge at 5:30AM

from Marine Headland

Sunrise

And capture a fellow photographer

Promised to come back another time for moon rise/set over the bridge shots

Jenny Warren - A romantic afternoon in downtown San Jose

2009-09-20T10:02:00.000-07:00

Pegion point 2009

2009-09-17T19:43:00.000-07:00

Tagged along with some friends to Pigeon Point Lighthouse near Half Moon Bay, CA

The weather was bad, all cloudy and grey. These are all that I could get out from the morning

Ellen Dinh - Cannery Row, Monterey

2009-08-03T22:54:00.000-07:00

We had a dating theme shoot for Ellen and Dinh in the Cannery Row in Monterey, CA. We started right around noon during Summertime. Ellen and Dinh did such a great job and we had great fun. We even had a nice lunch together at the Fish Hopper restaurant right there.

Thank you two, Ellen and Dinh, for the opportunity to spend time together on a nice day.

Now ... looking forward to capture your special moments on your real big day in December! Congrats!

Family photos in Paris

2009-07-16T14:45:00.000-07:00

We're back in Paris after almost 10 years, this time, with 2 kids. Our cousin family again hosted us and brought us to everywhere around the city and beyond, to Amsterdam. Here are some memorable moments and pictures

more to come...

Amy & Alvin - Wedding

2009-06-28T23:05:00.000-07:00