Blue Sun

Olympus Pen E-P1 at 42mm

Saw this through my car windscreen's tinted glass one day while the sun is setting. Found it interesting so I took a shot of it. Just a little contrast adjustment before posting it up. It's really such a joy and inspiration to have a capable camera small enough to carry with you everywhere you go for recording stuff you see. During film days, I was born in an average family with not much pocket money to spare on films and such indulgence is unthinkable! Thank God for the digital technology when we can experiment all we want and practise our visualization. And thank God for the internet where we can easily share our images. An image unshared is like an image never taken!

Quote used By Olympus

I am privileged to have my quote used by Olympus for their newest local newspaper advertisements nationwide. Just to clarify, I am no spokesman or celebrated photographer of Olympus. I am just a common Olympus user like any others. And I definitely do not receive any monetary benefits or free cameras from Olympus. I bought all my Olympus cameras with my own money and write all about Olympus with sincere truthfulness based on my actual experiences using the cameras.

Olympus is a brand often overshadowed by the big names like Nikon and Canon. Let us not forget Olympus has a legendary history in designing and making cameras! For example, a 1973 Olympus OM-1 is so much better-designed than the Nikon FM 2. And who started the half-frames? Olympus! Check out the legendary Olympus Pen FT. These are just some of the amazing histories.

I am a fan of mechanical perfection. Leica, Rolex, you name it. I love cameras which are designed with photographers' fussiness in mind. For example, Nikon's user features often exceed a professional photographer's requirements. Olympus cameras are designed to optimize image quality to it's best straight out of cameras to minimize photographers' post-editing work. Olympus believes that a photographer should spend time shooting without too much fuss over camera settings and post-processing. Olympus believes in photography as a ART form, and that cameras should reduce our technical burden. If you like a camera with lots of settings to play with (in that you probably are a true geek), try Nikon. Different people enjoy photography in different ways. As for me, I'd rather spend time shooting than editing.

Olympus? Just a personal choice. Try it!

My Son and I

Spotted! Good Friend's New Purchase!

What a small world! Just like the Disney's song that goes..."It's a small small world..." Haha...
I was in Mid Valley on 5 Oct Monday and with thousands of people hanging out in Kuala Lumpur's largest shopping mall, there I spotted CW, my friend buying the supposedly one and only piece in Kuala Lumpur at the moment: Canon 45mm Tilt and Shift lens! It seems that this lens is out of stock everywhere, even in Singapore. Why? Ask Canon!

And so, I whipped out my E-P1 and start documenting this "big buyer's purchase". (ask YL Camera Supplies and you know who he is)

I just couldn't resist mentioning this piece of speciality lens which is often used for architecture shots to correct perspectives. You can also create Miniature Effects with this lens, making everything seems like miniature toys and figures. Fun!

Well, for those of you like me, who's not so loaded with cash... haha.. stick to your photoshop perspective controls or just get a lensbaby like me. For now, I shall stick to my lensbaby and my view camera while ogling at his lens. For the geeks and the equipment enthusiasts, click here to see some sample shots he has done. He's the best person to ask in terms of what equipment to buy.

Quote:
"If you want to change your photographs, you need to change cameras. Changing cameras means that your photographs will change. A really good camera has something I suppose you might describe as its own distinctive aura."
-- Nobuyoshi Araki

"But only if you have spare cash!" 
-- David Chua

Colored Roller Shutters

GAS, a collection of shots up till today

Following up on the team's unofficial project "GAS" started by Currypuff and joined in by CW and myself, the above is my collection up till today. This has been really fun! Louis, you should join in! What's next man... currypuff?

Kitchen Monster Found!

With regards to my earlier fears here.
Sometimes I fear myself. Do you?

Let Me Out! Let Me Out!

Our minds are often caged by our past, our insecurities, our fears, our worries. Creativity is bound by it's neighbour-the rational mind, often too rational! Our senses are numbed by our greed to satisfy all "natural needs" which are taught to us by the world. Money, money, money! We've lost the innocence of the pure enjoyment of arts, of self-expression. Too often, we express with fears, fears of rejection(fears of not winning awards?). We express what we think others want to see and hear. Are we still being ourselves???

Abandoned Building Turned Rubbish Dump

A common sight in Malaysia.

Remembering The Less Fortunate

Where you can help, click here and click here.

The Plight of Today's Photography Pricing

Do we have to go so cheap???

I Saw A Monster in My Kitchen This Morning

read the fine print

There is this "My Cause Photography Contest" by CIMB lately that I come across and as I am already in the middle of my own project which is pretty much in relation to what they are after, I started considering of submitting my works for this contest, NOT UNTIL I READ THE FINE PRINT! I must say I am pretty much disappointed with this commercialized world where people do charity for a reason, for a commercial purpose! READ "4.Ownership"



BEWARE! Fellow photographers who are thinking of submitting your works. Know what's the possible consequences. Your works may be re-used and re-used for as long as they want it, for whatever commercial reasons which not necessarily bring out the true meaning in your images (meaning of your images may be twisted easily just by adding a caption)! They don't promise you that they'll keep to the true integrity of your images. You don't own your works anymore! Copyrights goes to them entirely, forever! They can even modify your works! They shall make full use of your images and squeeze every cent out of it possible!

Basically what they mean is: ANY LIABILITY YOU BEAR! ALL ASSETS THEY OWN! They are using money for a GAIN! They are BANKERS!

I don't know about you, but if I want to give anything to any persons, I wouldn't want to expect anything in return. Where's the Christmas spirit of TRUE GIVING nowadays???

Again, the world truly is UPSIDE-DOWN!

Gas, P.Jaya., Malaysia, 2009

Just for fun. This is in response to Mr. Currypuff's latest post (click here).

Yes, I know that the world is already gloomy enough, we should all go and "GAS" ourselves... ...(I also put up some joyful shot here to cheer you up)... ... but a few of us were just discussing the topic on "Theme Shooting", and some of us already have some imaginations in our head... ... so let's just DO IT!

I was walking past these gas tanks yesterday and the prankster in me just took over, thinking of getting this shot to counter-post Mr. Currypuff just for the fun of it. Hahaha... this is fun! Not a bad theme ah... "GAS". Maybe some of us can shoot some "FART" next to cheer the world.

Hey, everyone out there, if you have a GAS shot you think is interesting or provoking enough, email me and I'll post it up or give us the link. Credit will certainly goes to you.

Photography is to be enjoyed. JUST FOR FUN!