World Lupus Day - May 10th 2008

[Freaky]

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ShutterAsia is embarking on a charity initiative for Persatuan SLE Malaysia.

For more information on Lupus visit: http://www.lupusmalaysia.org/

Please keep May 10th, 2008 FREE and support Persatuan SLE Malaysia.

ALL PROCEEDS OF THIS EVENT
AND THE PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST GOES TO
PERSATUAN SLE MALAYSIA
None of the organisers or ShutterAsia will handle any money

[Freaky]

Win Great Prizes and do your bit for Charity in:


ANYTHING BUTTERFLY
Photography Contest

First Prize:
Nikon D60 DSLR Camera with kit valued at RM 2,588

Second Prize:
Nikon D40x DSLR Camera with kit valued at RM 2,388

Third Prize:
Coolpix P5100 camera valued at RM 1,048

Five Merit Prizes:
Nikon CF Sprint IV binoculars valued at RM 198 each

Fifteen Consolation Prizes

Download your entry form here:
World Lupus Day Entry Form (http://www.shutterasia.com/files/WLD_EntryForm.pdf)


TO ENTER:
Complete the entry form and send it with your donation (cheque/money order) to Persatuan SLE Malaysia's office,

or

Bank in your donation to: Persatuan SLE Malaysia, CIMB Account No: 1266-0000638-054
and fax the completed entry form and bank-in slip to fax no: 03-7957 0407.
You may also e-mail them to pslemhq@gmail.com if you prefer.

TERMS & CONDITIONS:
1. This contest is open to all Malaysian Citizen or Malaysian Residents.
2. To participate, please complete the entry form and send to: Persatuan SLE Malaysia, 3rd Floor, Bangunan Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah, No. 16, Jalan Utara, 46200 Petaling Jaya, Selangor. Entry forms must reach on or before 12.00 noon, 30th April 2008 with a minimum donation of RM10.00. Cheques should be made payable to “Persatuan SLE Malaysia”. Tax exemption receipts will be given for all donations.
3. A contest number will be assigned to each participant.
4. Participants must shoot their photographs from 1st–7th May 2008 with the theme “ANYTHING BUTTERFLY”.
5. All photographs must be e-mailed to lupus@shutterasia.com by no later than 5.00 pm, 8th May 2008, stating the participant’s contest number. EXIF's (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exif) of photographs must be intact or otherwise be disqualified. Only minor editing such as correct white balance, exposure and colours is allowed. However borders, tags, copyright logos or any other symbols or text may not be added to the photograph. Digital super imposition, composite photographs, trick photographs, or and any form of digital imaging or image manipulations will not be accepted.
6. Images must shot using a digital camera with a minimum resolution of 5 megapixels in jpeg format.
7. Winning photographs will be exhibited in 1 Utama First Floor Oval from May 10th - 18th 2008. Winning photographs will also be displayed at www.shutterasia.com (http://www.shutterasia.com).
8. Prizes for the ANYTHING BUTTERFLY Photography Contest will be presented during the exhibition on May 10th, 2008. Winners will be informed via e-mail and will be required to attend the prize giving ceremony.
9. Copyright and reproduction: Although the copyright of each photograph submitted remains that of the photographer, by entering and submitting a photograph to this contest, you grant a non-exclusive right to the organizers and Persatuan SLE Malaysia to exhibit or reproduce any photographs in whatever way deemed fit for the exhibition and for any publicity and promotional purposes without prior notice, consent or payment of fee whatsoever to the contestants.
10. Judges’ decisions are final and no correspondence will be entertained.
11. Contestant may submit multiple entries, but each entry must be accompanied by a minimum RM10 donation to Persatuan SLE Malaysia.
12. By participating in this contest, contestants agree to bound by these rules and regulations as well as the decisions made by the Organizers and the panel of judges. Entries Failing to comply to the terms and conditions will be disqualified.

BY REQUEST ENTRY FORMS AND DONATIONS WILL BE STILL ACCEPTED UNTIL MONDAY MAY 5th, 2008.

Remember to submit your photo's before 5pm May 8th, 2008.

[Freaky]

I'd like to thanks the sponsors of this project for making this event possible:

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Nikon (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd sponsoring Prizes for Photo Contest and Door Gifts
1 Utama Shopping Centre sponsoring floor space for the event
Epson Trading (M) Sdn Bhd sponsoring Exhibition Prints and Door Gifts
Akitiara Corporation Sdn Bhd sponsoring the printing of Posters and Flyer Entry forms
GrandPix sponsoring the printing of buntings and backdrop
Pumpkin Designs sponsoring the graphic design work
kimkomm sponsoring public relations services
eventsXpert sponsoring the sound system
Tung Colour Separation Sdn Bhd sponsoring the film for printing
Frank n Francois Communications sponsoring tables and chairs for the event

[Freaky]

We need volunteers to make this event happening... Please put your name down if you can help out.

Need: 1 Volunteer to compile entry forms and email contestants
Time: Now till April 30th

Need: 5 Exhibition Setup Crew
Time: May 9th evening and May 10th Morning

Need: 5 Exhibition Removal Crew
Time: May 10th Evening

Need: 2 people to take down exhibition
Time: May 18th Evening

If you can help, PM me... please only if you commit to the time and dates... Otherwise it's more work to re-look for someone if you pull out last minute.

Thanks

*Thread now open for discussion*

[Freaky]

World Lupus Day Poster

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If anyone wants a poster or flyers to distribute or post at your office, let me know. I'll pass some to you.

[Guy594]

I'm very happy to see that they support and help the patient's and research for Lupus :)

[Freaky]

For those without cheque books, we have asked Persatuan SLE Malaysia if it was ok to bank in the donation for the entry to the contest direct to their account. They have agreed. Please go to 1st post for their account details.

[Freaky]

There has been some confusion about the theme Anything Butterfly. What do we mean by Anything Butterfly?

This theme is open to interpretation. Anything butter can mean:

Live butterfly's
Butterfly hair clips
Butterfly tattoo
A person in a butterfly costume
Butterfly underwear (as mentioned by Juan:P)


So it's up to you to interpret the theme and what you would like to shoot and submit. As long as there is something to do with butterfly's in the picture, then it's ANYTHING BUTTERFLY! :P

[Freaky]

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Yap Kien Lee's story...

“Eh? Why is my leg swollen?” That’s what Yap Kien Lee thought as he was on vacation with his family after his SPM exams at the end of 2001. “Never mind... I’m on vacation and I don’t want to worry my parents. Anyway, it’s only a swollen leg.” The swollen leg was the least of Kien Lee’s worries. He had finished his exams and was looking forward to furthering his studies overseas. It’s now time to relax with his family.

Upon returning home from vacation, Kien Lee went to see a doctor about his swollen leg, which had progressively gotten worse. The doctor immediately admitted him to the hospital. Over the next two weeks, Kien Lee had test after test, including blood tests and biopsies to determine the cause of the swelling. By that time, the swelling had spread to other parts of his body including his face.

After two weeks, the doctors found out the problem.

Kien Lee had Lupus.

And it was destroying his kidneys.

In that instant, Kien Lee’s life fell apart. He felt his whole life slipping away. He wanted to scream. Sorrow and despair over came him as he sank into the depths of his soul in sadness and pain. He just didn’t understand. What was this disease? Why does he have it?

The doctors started him on medication and dialysis to help his body cope with a weakened kidney. Sometimes the side-effects of the medication and treatment was just as bad as the actual disease. But he knows that he has to choose the lesser of two evils.

That was a tough period in Kien Lee’s life. He felt alone. Isolated. Scared. He had no inspiration to carry on and felt like dying. But as the medication and treatment started having effect on the disease, his disposition improved.

Kien Lee continues to struggle, like many other male Lupus suffers, with the fact that most Lupus patients are women. This is a woman’s disease... why do I have it? Men like Kien Lee struggle to understand, comprehend and accept the facts of the disease. On hearing that there are other male Lupus Patients in Persatuan SLE Malaysia, it gave him hope. A sense of renewed excitement and optimism came to him.

Before Kien Lee was diagnosed with Lupus, he had a very comfortable with life. He was still very young and had a long life ahead of him. He had plenty of time to do everything he wants to. Although he admits that he was not very courageous to try new and different things. Now, Kien Lee takes life in his own hands. He knows the urgency of life. The fear that tomorrow may not come, forces him to do all the things he wants to do. It makes him spend quality time with his family. He has a new found courage to just do things, because he knows, he may not be able to do so tomorrow.

Regardless of his condition Kien Lee feels his future is still bright. He is an insurance agent and works hard. Now at the age of 24, he wants to earn as much money as possible. He doesn’t talk much about his condition, unless people ask. But usually the same response comes from those who do ask.”What’s Lupus?”

He feels people initially do treat him differently, when they find out he has Lupus. It doesn’t bother him too much, because usually their opinions of him change, once they see that he can do whatever the others can.

Though most young men his age will be thinking about girls, Kien Lee seems less concerned about those matters. At the moment anyway, he says. A filial son, his family comes first. He wants to spend time with his family. I guess a sense of fear and a deep responsibility this young man has, stops him from pursuing any relationship. He knows how hard it is to have a disease such as Lupus, and knows how hard it is for his family also. He doesn’t want to subject anyone else to that kind of pain.

“Maybe when the doctor says I can stop taking my medicine...”

Although he has searched the internet immensely to read up on his condition and how it affects him, Kien Lee still lacks information and needs support from others. With knowledge, comes understanding. With a better understanding about the disease, it allows Kien Lee to manage his condition better. By managing his disease better, he can have a more fulfilling and longer life.

Asked if there was one thing he could wish for, what would it be?

“Be healthy forever... and to have more time with my family.

[juan]

There has been some confusion about the theme Anything Butterfly. What do we mean by Anything Butterfly?

This theme is open to interpretation. Anything butter can mean:

Live butterfly's
Butterfly hair clips
Butterfly tattoo
A person in a butterfly costume
Butterfly underwear (as mentioned by Juan:P)


So it's up to you to interpret the theme and what you would like to shoot and submit. As long as there is something to do with butterfly's in the picture, then it's ANYTHING BUTTERFLY! :P

butterfly underwear need to request from freaky, b'coz only freaky have it :tongue_roll:

[klguy]

TERMS & CONDITIONS:

6. Images must shot using a digital camera with a minimum resolution of 5 megapixels in jpeg format.


Ahem....need clarification here on the above.

Does rule #6 state that we must shoot in jpeg. No chance of shooting in raw and converting to jpeg?


Or are you trying to say that we can shoot either in raw or jpeg but final submited image must not be less than 5 megapixels?

Don't wanna shoot in raw and then be dis-qualified later.

[Freaky]

You can shoot raw, but final picture submit to us must be in jpg.. otherwise we could be up all night converting files... but pls make sure your exif is still there... or we will disqualify you.

[ShaolinTiger]

As long as it's JPEG it's fine preferably between 1.5-2.5mb would be ideal.

[Freaky]

Lucy's story...

http://www.shutterasia.com/forum/showthread.php?t=12322

[mytocos]

what about the "steel butterfly" that swings and shut the door?

[Freaky]

what about the "steel butterfly" that swings and shut the door?

up to your interpretation of the theme... that's why art is art:)

[mytocos]

5. All photographs must be e-mailed to lupus@shutterasia.com by no later than 5.00 pm, 8th May 2008, stating the participant’s contest number. EXIF's of photographs must be intact or otherwise be disqualified. Only minor editing such as correct white balance, exposure and colours is allowed. However borders, tags, copyright logos or any other symbols or text may not be added to the photograph. Digital super imposition, composite photographs, trick photographs, or and any form of digital imaging or image manipulations will not be accepted.

composite photographs, trick photographs = meaning which type of photo?

Since Nikon is the main sponsor, wonder if a picture taken with Canon could win the 1st prize...

[chongwk]

hi
want to ask on T&C #11
So if I planning to submit 3 entries, I need to bank in RM30 before 30th April?
How if l want to submit more later, or now I must decide how many entries to submit because the entry deadline is 30th April?

[ShaolinTiger]

composite photographs, trick photographs = meaning which type of photo?

Since Nikon is the main sponsor, wonder if a picture taken with Canon could win the 1st prize...

I suggest you stop asking so many questions and go take some pics :)

But yes, the judges are not partial - the best pictures will be chosen whichever camera is used.

[Freaky]

hi
want to ask on T&C #11
So if I planning to submit 3 entries, I need to bank in RM30 before 30th April?
How if l want to submit more later, or now I must decide how many entries to submit because the entry deadline is 30th April?

Correct... If you wanna submit more than one, donate more. We will be assigning Contestant Numbers for each donation. That way when we judge, we will look at your Contestant Number and not your name, to remove any bias of judges knowing the contestant

[Freaky]

composite photographs, trick photographs = meaning which type of photo?

Since Nikon is the main sponsor, wonder if a picture taken with Canon could win the 1st prize...


I think if you dun know what they are, then you dun know how to do, so it's not a problem:D

[mytocos]

I suggest you stop asking so many questions and go take some pics :)

But yes, the judges are not partial - the best pictures will be chosen whichever camera is used.

Bro S.Tiger, I can not go take picture now because the T&C said photo must be taken between 1st - 7th May. even if I take picture now also can not be submitted, unless i want to be disqualified, right? besides, I am asking questions because I am interested and serious in this event. what's wrong with asking genuine question? I think I deserve an apology if you dun mind...

I think if you dun know what they are, then you dun know how to do, so it's not a problem:D

what a humorous guy, i like your style.. haha!:partyon:

[Freaky]

Noorazita and Farah's story...

- Noorazita Eusope, 45, mother of a SLE patient, Farahnahjwa bt Abdul Rahman
Dental Technician at the Dental Clinic in Tasek Gelugor, Butterworth, Penang
- Farahnajwa bt Abd Rahman, 10, studying in Standard 4 at a school in Tasek Gelugor. Diagnosed with SLE at the age of seven.

“When my eldest daughter, Farahnajmin, passed away from Lupus in February 2005, I thought that would be the last time I would have to “pijak” (step) into a hospital … but it was not to be so,” said Noorazita Eusope, mother of two little girls with the auto-immune disorder in which the patient’s antibodies attack the body’s own tissues.

A few months after Farahnajmin passed away at the age of nine, her second daughter, Farahnajwa, seven, was diagnosed with Lupus. Farahnajwa is now 10 years old and Lupus has attacked a major organ – her kidneys. Noorazita has another daughter, Farisya, five, who is a healthy little girl.

When her eldest daughter developed skin rashes at the age of six, Noorazita thought it was measles and sent her to recuperate in their “kampung” in Seberang Perai under the care of her grandmother, Noorazita’s mother. Noorazita was working in Kuala Lumpur then while her husband’s recycling business was also located there.

“I didn’t have the heart to ward her in a hospital. Farahnajmin had been in and out hospital since the age of four with constant swelling of her lymph nodes and I couldn’t bear to see her being cut up again,” Noorazita said sadly, remembering her little girl in pain.

After being on “ubat kampong” (traditional medicine) for some time, Farahnajmin’s legs became swollen and she finally had to be warded in hospital where she was diagnosed with Lupus. The terrible fact about Lupus is that it can attack almost any organ system of the body (thus the word Systemic Lupus Erythematosus) – the skin, joints, kidneys, lungs, heart, blood, even the brain – and what finally caused little Farahnajmin’s demise was that Lupus did attack her brain after about four years of suffering from the disease.

When her second daughter was diagnosed with Lupus, life again became a constant toil for Noorazita – working in the day and spending the night in the hospital to take care of seven-year old Farahnajwa who also started with skin rashes like her sister, and later developed joint pains. In November last year, Lupus attacked Farahnajwa’s kidneys and she is currently undergoing a series of intravenous chemotherapy at Hospital Seberang Perai using cyclophosphamide, an immunosuppressant drug which, her doctors hope, will stop her antibodies from attacking her kidneys.

While her mother was talking, Farahnajwa was happily eating a chocolate muffin oblivious to the danger Lupus posed to her kidneys. She seemed to be a cheerful little girl. She is coping well? She seems to be, Noorazita says, she has been in the top 10 in her class since Standard One and has many friends. However, only a mother knows the mood swings the little girl goes through – perhaps a side-effect of her medications; perhaps because of the fears and anxieties that a little girl who had seen her elder sister dying goes through.

Farahnajwa had finished her muffin and smiled cheekily when asked what she wants to be when she grows up: “Do business!” she answered without any hesitation. What business? “Spa!”, again without hesitation. Her mother said that Farahnajwa’s favourite TV programme is TV3’s Spa Q. Everyday at 6.00pm, she watches the programme and thinks about her future spa business.

Farahnajwa did not seem to be fearful of Lupus and said that she’s ok living with it. However, her mother revealed that the little girl had to undergo psychiatric treatment twice in her young life due to depression. So life has not really been easy for Farahnajwa.

Getting bored with the conversation, Farahnajwa played with her younger sister, Farisya. Looking fondly at her, her mother proudly announced that Farahnajwa had actually started her own trading business when she was in Standard One and today has about RM800 in her bank account from her business. Whenever she goes for her follow-up in Kuala Lumpur to see the only Paediatric Rheumatologist in the country, Dr. Tang Siew Ping, Farah takes the chance to buy colourful pencils, cute rubbers, and groovy key chains at wholesale prices and sells them to her classmates when she gets back.

So if there was one thing they could wish for what would Noorazita and Farahnajwa want?

Noorazita said that she wants her little girl will be healthy again.

And Farahnajwa?

“I want to study business!” Farahnajwa answered emphatically.

[yyee]

Hi, im interested to participate but before tat wish to confirm with you the condition #6 which states that "images must shot using a digital camera....".

Does the term "digital camera" include DSLR or just a normal digital camera?

Thanks n nice day.

[ShaolinTiger]

Hi, im interested to participate but before tat wish to confirm with you the condition #6 which states that "images must shot using a digital camera....".

Does the term "digital camera" include DSLR or just a normal digital camera?

Thanks n nice day.

Any digital camera is fine - it includes normal (point and shoot) digital camera, camera phones capable of 5 megapixels (Nokia N95 and N82 for example) and Digital SLR cameras.

[yyee]

Yeah!!! Tat would be great!!! Going to bank in the money tonite and do some homework these few days!!

I can feel im getting closer to the D60. =P

[Freaky]

He's another way we are planning to raise fund...

http://www.shutterasia.com/forum/showthread.php?t=12463

get involved...:D

[yyee]

when can we expect to get our contestant no.?
thanks......

[Freaky]

when can we expect to get our contestant no.?
thanks......

They will log in all the entries and will be emailing everyone...

Just note to all asking... yes this is a common question...

PSLEM has limited volunteers, so they will do their best to reply your entries with your contestant number. If you still haven't received you number by May 6th, let me know and i will chase it up for you.

[JackJack]

Just got the contestant number :)

[Freaky]

BY REQUEST ENTRY FORMS AND DONATIONS WILL BE STILL ACCEPTED UNTIL MONDAY MAY 5th, 2008.

Remember to submit your photo's before 5pm May 8th, 2008.

[Freaky]

NIKON has kindly donated a
D40X
to be auctioned during the May 10th event...

If you want to buy a camera, come and join us at

First Floor Oval, 1 Utama

THE CAMERA WILL BE SOLD REGARDLESS OF PRICE AUCTIONED FOR!

[grayfoxzero]

Hello everyone. Newbie here. Am curious: are we allowed to crop our pics? I was thinking of leaving the original photo intact to keep the EXiF, is that alright? What about B&W?

[yyee]

Yeap!!!! Got the contestant no. last weekend alrdy!!!
Thanks a lot to all volunteers for being so informative n helpful!

[Freaky]

Hello everyone. Newbie here. Am curious: are we allowed to crop our pics? I was thinking of leaving the original photo intact to keep the EXiF, is that alright? What about B&W?

Regardless what u do... make sure the exif is intact. B&W ok.

[grayfoxzero]

Regardless what u do... make sure the exif is intact. B&W ok.

^^; Ehhehe... I'm not able to keep the exif intact in the cropped photos, hence i'm voicing my worries here.

[Freaky]

^^; Ehhehe... I'm not able to keep the exif intact in the cropped photos, hence i'm voicing my worries here.

my advice is dun crop. if we can't tell when the pic was taken, then we will have to disqualify it... sorry...

[Freaky]

There are a mountain of goods to be given away on May 10th...

Come and join us at 1st Floor Oval, 1 Utama Shopping Centre

Event is from 2pm - 4pm

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[Freaky]

still need helpers

http://www.shutterasia.com/forum/showpost.php?p=113969&postcount=17

anyone?

[yyee]

Oh my god!!! Just realized I forgot to set the date on my camera!!! Now my photos all shown taken on 4 May 2007!!!! Is there any other way to check the exact date taken???? Pls help!! Time is running. Guess if there is no other way all my photos will be DISQUALIFY!!!!! ='(

[Freaky]

new cam? :?

[juan]

Oh my god!!! Just realized I forgot to set the date on my camera!!! Now my photos all shown taken on 4 May 2007!!!! Is there any other way to check the exact date taken???? Pls help!! Time is running. Guess if there is no other way all my photos will be DISQUALIFY!!!!! ='(

To be fair to others participant, i think the organizer need to seriously look on tis matter. If one person still ok, how about another 3 or 4 telling u the same things, jus my 2 cents:)

[acidict]

my 2 cents .... its not that hard to double check everything and read through the terms and conditions before submitting. Its just like in exams, check ur answers before u hand in. Things like this ... it happens .... we just gotta learn to live with it. Why even make it harder for the organisers to even consider whether or not they should let this one through.

[ShaolinTiger]

Yeah sorry if the date in the EXIF is outside the stipulated contest date the picture will be discarded - whatever the reason is.

[yyee]

sigh.... got the cam from my friend. never expect he didnt set the date accordingly....

Yeah sorry if the date in the EXIF is outside the stipulated contest date the picture will be discarded - whatever the reason is.

Is it really no other way to trace back the exact date from the photos? If then I really have to let my way to other participants lol. :(

Yah, think of being fair to others too. Knew the T&Cs, tats why i purposely went to Butterfly Park last Sun. But who knows my dear friend is actually living one year back from us??? Wat to do?? Just take it as a lesson to me lo.

Anyway, I will still be there to support you all. Good luck to all contestant and all the best ya. :)

[Freaky]

The winners of the photographic contest has been chosen...

Please come to 1 Utama on Saturday May 10th to find out who won....

[Freaky]

I would personally like to thank all the sponsors, volunteers and supporters for making this event a success.

A special thanks to:
• Kim for all the PR work, helping out during the day and on Friday nite preparing the photo's for the exhibit
• Joyce for coming to my office and home on Fri to prepare the exhibits and helping out during the event
• Orionmystery for coming to my office on friday and during the event to help out
• JeffWong for helping out on Friday at my office
• Leslie for helping out on Friday nite and during the event
• ShaolinTiger for helping out Fri nite and during the event
• and all the others that helped out.

So far all in, we have raised around 8K for PSLEM (Entrance fees, personal donations, auctioning of Nikon D40x - sold for RM2100, and pledges for the hair shaving). We will know final figures after the end of the exhibitionin 1 Utama in the 18th when we tally the blind auction for the photo's.

We got some good coverage fro the media, plus the Health Minister Dato' Liow had promised government support and RM250,000 in funds to set up a Registry for Lupus Patients which was something the PSLEM has been fighting for a long time.

Lastly, thanks to all those who participated in the "Anything Butterfly" Contest and congratulations to all the winners. I will post up all winning pics later.

Picture coverage here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/shaolintiger/sets/72157605057804631/

Winning pictures here:

Winners of the Anything Butterfly Contest (http://www.shutterasia.com/forum/showthread.php?t=13062)