Photojournalism | 1Malaysia Patriotic Cycling Event in Putrajaya

© 2013  Wazari Wazir | 1Malaysia Patriotic Cycling Event in Putrajaya With Malaysia’s Prime Minister Najib Razak

Cycling event is nothing much to shout about, it happens all the time in this country, some are much more happening than the other like the recent Le Tour de Langkawi, they are an international events and Putrajaya have a lot of bicycle enthusiast.

Anyway this is not just another cycling event, this 1Malaysia (One Malaysia) Patriotic Cycling event is something to remember, it is a history. Malaysia’s Prime Minister Najib Razak also took part in this event and the other interesting fact to know is that he Najib has just announce the dissolution of the Parliament, paving the way for much anticipated general election, some would say, a mother of all general election in Malaysia.

A lot of media personnel especially photographers involved in this historic event, not just the Prime Minister’s, there are other minsters also join the cycling event including Deputy Prime Minister, Muhyiddin Yassin.

It can be tough to get a good shot but I’m not the only one from my department covering this event, there are my other colleagues  as well, covering from different position. The very first thing that I should get is an establishing shot, I mean I need to get a clear view of our Prime Minister and the background, it can be difficult with all the Marshall in front of him that blocking my view but luckily I still mange to get the shot with Prime Minister office in the background.

I wish the organiser provide us with a high platform, so we can get a better view of the crowd from top angle but that didn’t happen, we don’t have the platform, I’m not sure wether the organiser really wanted to highlight this event judging from the way they organised it but anyway, this is jut my personal view.

The photographers were provided with a four wheel drive, me and my other photographers friends follow the Prime Minister with Toyota Hilux, we are not “following” but leads in front of the peloton, but there is a problem, our vehicle moves too quickly, it is not very easy to get the shot with a bumpy ride, blocked by some motorcyclist and a lot more. Me and other photographers question ourselves whether we are on the right  vehicle and wondering the purposed we are there. Unlike the Le Tour de Langkawi, this is not a racing event.

Anyway I’ve to be satisfied with the shot that I got, and I know this kind of things will happen agin and again because I know they will never listen, some people will say, “you are a bunch of professional photographers, you should know better how to get the best shot,” yes we know that but then the organiser also should be professional enough to cater for the needs of photographers, to those of you my friends here especially photojournalist enthusiast, have you ever look at President Obama pictures? Most of them are clear from a lot of “distractions” do you know why? Because they were manage and  organised professionally for the press. Am I complaining here? You be the judge…