Australia & PNG Ship Tour Video.... done.

So why did I go to Papua New Guinea back anyway?... Well, long story short... our centre is getting ready to bring in a medical ship next year that will provide medical aid to the people of Papua New Guinea. So working in the media department, we were given the task to create a video that would give people an overall picture of what we are trying to accomplish and how people can be involved. So I went to PNG to photograph and gather video footage, came back and edited, my genius friend nick did the motion graphics, and our brilliant friends did the soundtrack ... it was a 4 month journey getting this all done (and trust me- it wasn't the easiest) ... but yet... it was all worth it and very rewarding seeing the finished product. And we know that this tool is going to be multiplied for more purposes that one ...

twenty seven and counting...

Its pretty big to say... but... i may have had the best birthday celebration this year ... well, it goes pretty high up on the list... me and my friend sam had the same birthday week so our friends planned a camping trip for a couple of days out at Bagal Beach... it really is who your surrounded by when you blow out the candles that makes it so special and memorable... and i have been so blesssed with some good mates to bring in the new year... happy 27 to me...

a Kelowna destination wedding ...

I made a trip last summer up to Kelowna, Canada for a couple of my best friends' Stephen and Amanda's wedding. Yes, my crazy partner-in-crime-for-years Stephen got married! ... It was a sweet honour being a part of their wedding party and though the visit was too short, it was heaps fun and weddings are a great excuse for reunions. i reckon they should just call it a 'wedunion' or a 'unidding'.... okay maybe not...
check out more photos of the wedding here

"Excuse me... Are you the professional wedding photographer?"

There's a first time for everything... and so, why not photograph a wedding for the first time?... and thats exactly what I did for some friends in california this summer... I've never seen myself as a wedding photographer for many reasons, but mainly because of all the pressure and i dont know how i would handle the first excruciating experiences of possibly screw ups and being placed as an amateur wedding photographer ... but eh, you got to start somewhere. and its quite humbling confessing you don't know what the heck you are doing. but i gave it a go and i am actually quite pleased with the outcome for my first wedding! ... although i'll be steering away from the "professional wedding photographer" title as a profession, i'm more than open to learning and gaining more experience... until next wedding...

PNG: A few out of the thousand...

once upon a time... long long ago... wayyy back in may of 2009... i went on a 6 week media outreach to papua new guinea that opened my eyes to the beauty and needs of our neighboring nation ... i can't really put my experience i had in words. thats why photographs are good ... Here are only a few out of the thousands of photos that i still need to sort through. stay tuned... i'm TRYING to make a book .... maybe it will be done by 2012... :)

preserve my existence

nearly 6 months later of no blog entries... apologies. i promise i haven't fallen off the face of the earth. i guess somewhere in the middle of going to papua new guinea for 6 weeks in may, working on a ministry video project that consumed my life for approximately 4 months, going to america and canada for the wedding fest in july, saying goodbye to best friends here month after month and trying to keep sane with my everyday thoughts and responsiblities... i figured it was due time for a blog entry and preserve my existence on here. i am finally starting to feel like im catching up on life again...though i may have to back track a little bit, as some significant things in my life have happened that i would love to share with you all... so hang on- i'm beginning to show my face to the world again...

a voice in the dark videos

"The most confronting part, is now that you've heard, now that you know... You've got some kind of responsibility... TO DO something." - Words from Mike Murray to provoke action after you've heard about the injustices that are going on today... In the craze of everything, i finally uploaded these videos that stephen, nick and myself worked on the end of last year... it was a project we fully embraced because it was no question, our hearts, to use media & music to be a voice in the dark...

A Voice in the Dark (video #1)° from stephen on Vimeo.

A Voice in the Dark (Video 2) from stephen on Vimeo.

A Voice in the Dark Report Back from stephen on Vimeo.
And in a nutshell... THIS is what happened on tour...

meet Cyrus Jamal

After four years with my canon rebel 300D ... it was time to say farewell. i've acknowledged how good & faithful its been to me over the years here. But really... it was due time. Good things come to those who wait... and with that said, let me introduce you to something good.... and that is my new Canon 50D... also known as Cyrus. (like that? though some friends insist to call it Cyrus Jamal). There are too many features on Cyrus to wrap my mind around as of right now, but as i go, i'll learn. This is by no means to gloat about material things in my possession, but to see this as more of a testimony of God's faithfulness when it comes to... yes... even these material things that can be used as tools to serve Him... I must acknowledge my most amazing generous parents and a few supporters that really helped me out and I really... I am so so very grateful.... so with all that said... you stay tuned for photos brought to you by Cyrus...