Crimson flowers in winter

Published on Author Yean Wei Ong
Coral tree flowers in Bateman, August 2024, Perth

While walking in Bateman a few days ago, I spotted a park with pleasant rows of red-flowered coral trees, and decided that I must revisit it in the next few days. This afternoon, probably a couple of hours before sunset, I made it back. The light was not as golden as I had hoped it… Continue reading Crimson flowers in winter

May 2024 action

Published on Author Yean Wei Ong
First Tae Kwon Do flying side kick break, May 2024, Perth

On a cool autumn afternoon earlier this month, First Tae Kwon Do Western Australia’s black belt members and invited senior belt members trained together, and potential black belt candidates undertook a practice grading examination. The two hours of intensive training started with warm-up exercises, proceeded through basic technique drills, and culminated in board breaking tests,… Continue reading May 2024 action

March 2024 action

Published on Author Yean Wei Ong
First Tae Kwon Do Cockburn Branch instructors and black belts, March 2024, Perth

First Tae Kwon Do Western Australia held its autumn grading recently under the head of the school—Master Vernon Low, from Adelaide. I was again shooting with my Nikon D700 and Nikkor AF-S 70–200 mm f/2.8 lens, giving me a reasonable amount of telephoto reach and typically excellent background blur in the out-of-focus areas. Students at… Continue reading March 2024 action

October to December 2023 action

Published on Author Yean Wei Ong
First Tae Kwon Do flying side kick, December 2023, Perth

The last quarter of training in 2023 has been a busy one for First Tae Kwon Do Western Australia’s members. Several senior belts at the highest coloured belt rank (1st Kup; brown belt with black tip) underwent preliminary testing for black belt status in October. As normal, most candidates did not make it through. From… Continue reading October to December 2023 action

July to September 2023 action

Published on Author Yean Wei Ong
First Tae Kwon Do pattern, September 2023, Perth

After many years of shooting almost exclusively with an 85 mm prime lens, I picked up my 70–200 mm telephoto zoom lens again, so visual perspective may look different in these photographs. (I will include some technical observations at the end of this post.) First Tae Kwon Do students have continued training through the winter,… Continue reading July to September 2023 action

Master Low in July 2017

Published on Author Yean Wei Ong

Master Vernon Low visited Perth recently and provided personal instruction to senior-ranked First Tae Kwon Do members preparing for their black belt gradings. Master Low spent considerable time examining each member’s kicking techniques, then teaching and adjusting them to strike with more precision, power, and balance. On this occasion, I was shooting with my 70–200… Continue reading Master Low in July 2017

July 2017 action

Published on Author Yean Wei Ong

Selected First Tae Kwon Do Western Australian senior students underwent an intensive training session recently as they continued to prepare for their black belt grading examinations. It was a cold day, but all managed to demonstrate the determination and skills they have been developing over several years of martial art training. I was shooting with… Continue reading July 2017 action

February 2017 action

Published on Author Yean Wei Ong

First Tae Kwon Do held a special grading examination in Perth recently, with one candidate undergoing the test for 1st Dan black belt. Following a rigorous programme of breaking, sparring, patterns, and self-defence techniques, she was promoted by Master Vernon Low. For the photographs above, I shot with my Nikon D700 and Nikkor 70–200 mm f/2.8… Continue reading February 2017 action

Canon EF 70-200 mm f/2.8 IS II on special

Published on Author Yean Wei Ong

In today’s issue of The West Australian, Camera Electronic has advertised the Canon EF 70–200 mm f/2.8 IS II lens for $2,544, as well as the Canon EOS 700D and the Nikon D7200 at special prices (and both with kit zoom lenses). If you’ve been waiting for a good price on this Canon lens, this is the cheapest… Continue reading Canon EF 70-200 mm f/2.8 IS II on special

June 2015 action

Published on Author Yean Wei Ong

Here are some Rhee Tae Kwon-Do action photographs from earlier this month, shot at two different training venues in Perth with a Nikon 70–200 mm f/2.8 zoom lens. Being able to reach out to 200 mm at a moment’s notice is a significant change from the Nikon 85 mm f/1.4 prime lens I’ve shot at… Continue reading June 2015 action