About me

I have been doing photography since 1985 and have more than 10 years experience in shooting digital having switched early in 1999.

I have had many of my pictures featured in international bird reference books and monthly travel publications.

I also conduct a number of photography talks every year at public events and speaks regularly on the subject of nature photography. I have been a regular guest speaker at the annual Borneo Bird Fair in Sandakan, Sabah for the past 2 years and was also a keynote speaker in a recent series of public talks and slideshows in conjunction with the UNEP (United Nations Environmental Program) Annual International World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) in Sarawak.

My works on people portraits and travel / street photography have also been exhibited internationally in various museums. Recent exhibits have been at the Vancouver Museum and Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, British Columbia in Canada, the Asian Civilizations Museum in Singapore and the Museum Of Natural History, Potsdam in Germany

I am a member of NPS (Nikon Professional Services) Malaysia and I have also been a speaker for Sony Malaysia for their Alpha Mount DSLR camera systems.

I now operate AvianNatureScapes guided nature tours which specializes in guided instructional bird & wildlife photo safaris. I know what the expectations are for bird photographers and by today’s ever rising standards, mere record pictures are no longer adequate and photographers the world over are seeking to produce images which are artistically appealing.

Choo Tse Chien

 

Trishaw Peddler taking a rest on the sidewalk of Georgetown, Penang

Guided Instructional Photo Safaris by Choo Tse Chien

A highly interesting photographic walkabout of historic Georgetown focusing on People at Work

Learn the Basics

On the spot coaching in correct Exposure, Shutter Speed, Aperture, ISO on how a picture is taken.

Get out and Get Local!

See traditional local wet markets and lesser seen trades of Georgetown and learn on how to approach subjects to get the picture you want! You will learn a lot more than you might expect from just a normal walkabout town.

Work The Subject and The Angles

See how to engage your subjects and get unique perspectives on your photographs that are always absent in casual hit & run grab shots

Learn how to maximize on what you already have...

....rather than buying more expensive cameras with the hope that it will improve your pictures.


High tech DSLRs or compact Point & Shoots, we will show you how to get the best out from your gear without spending more.

See what the things you will miss in a normal tourist itinerary.

See and venture into local wet markets, coffee shops and back lanes, peep into lesser known interesting aspects of historic Georgetown and come away with pictures of people and places that few have seen!

Joss Stick Maker

Pulling a tall Teh Tarik

Poh Piah Skin Maker

Prawn Seller at a local wet market

Frying Eu Char Koay

This photographic walkabout will enable you to see the lesser known aspects of Georgetown - the everyday living and working folk of the city about on their daily chores & professions. This is not the typical Heritage Walk that show you the usual famous parts of Georgetown, this walkabout aims to offer something totally different that will be both refreshing and enlightening at the same time.


It will be an Instructional Photographic walk at the same time - i.e I will be recommending camera exposure settings & shooting modes for exposures in situ and working the subject with you from different perspectives and angles. You will be coached on both the technical and artistic aspects of the picture taking process.


You will not only learn about the correct technical exposure settings of the camera but also on how to properly engage a subject so that photography is not only allowed but welcomed - something most people are either too shy or hesitant at doing.

Cobbler at work

Camera Requirements :


You do not need a high end D-SLR with a range of lenses to join in this photographic walkabout. A D-SLR allows more creative picture taking and control over the shooting conditions but smaller cameras such as the new mirrorless D-SLRs such as the Panasonic & Olympus micro Four Thirds system cameras and the Sony mirrorless NEX cameras all will work just as well, if not better!


You can even join in if you only have just a simple compact Point & Shoot camera as long as the camera has some semi-automatic settings on it such as Aperture & Shutter Priority.


A tripod will not be necessary on this walkabout.

Old man enjoying breakfast

Durian Seller

Next upcoming scheduled Instructional Photographic Walkabouts :


  1. -Saturday, 27th August 2011 (0800hrs-about 1200hrs)

  2. -Saturday, 3rd September 2011 (0800hrs-about 1200hrs)


(if the above dates do not suit your schedule, I can also run this on a weekday of your choosing provided there is a minimum of 3 people in the group)


Participation Fee

  1. -Only MYR 100.00 per person based on a maximum group size of 6 adults.

  2. -Only MYR 70.00 per child under the age of 16


The Instructional Photographic Walkabouts will proceed with a minimum of only 3 confirmed places. Groups will not exceed 6 adults.


As this involves a fair bit of walking through the streets of Georgetown, this walkabout is subject to conducive weather. If it happens to rain on the actual morning, this tour will be cancelled with full refunds made.

Customer Feedback from this tour :

"Chien is a great guy, very knowledgeable not only in all matters of photography but also about Penang food, customs, unusual places and shops etc. and he was very generous in sharing this knowledge with our little group. I had such a fabulous time, learned heaps way beyond my expectations, met some nice people, took a lot of (average but improving) photos and will come back for more. Thanks." - Inge, Penang


“Thank you Chien for sharing your experience and talent with us :) Last Sat photographic walkabout in Penang road areas was just fantastic for me. You made me willing to improve my photo skills and made me loving even more my 2nd home of Penang. Wish you all the bast and keep in touch :) - Pierre (Paris, 2nd home in Penang :)


Book now and sign on this “People At Work“ Instructional Photographic Walkabout. Please contact me at tsechien@me.com or by calling +60124748354 (if in Malaysia, just dial 0124748354)

All images and content Copyright © Choo Tse Chien. All Rights Reserved