Thursday, May 31, 2007

Old & New Favorites - Panorama

Laughing Buddhas

Well, I posted this panoramic photograph on our local photographic forum i.e. Clubsnap forum, on 12 Jan 2006. Since I just started on my new photography blog, I also wanted to share it with every blog reader.

I got the chance to borrow a classic HORIZONT panoramic camera from a friend of mine and took on a roll of Fujifilm Superia 200. One main problem with this camera is light leakage and I was lucky to get this shot without light leakage. Phew! All the photographs I took, were at the mercy of the camera's mechanical fault. You never know what kind of light leakages you will get or how worse it can get.

In fact I took 2 shots of these 2 Laughing Buddha in Waterloo Street. Taking panoramic picture does change the way I see things. As I came across the Laughing Buddha there were lots of people praying and worshipping They touched the Buddha statue for good fortune and good health. The last time I was there on 31st Dec 2005, the old Buddha was still in that spot. Now, it was shifted aside and replaced it with a new varnished Buddha statue. Everyone go for the new one and neglect the old one. Personally I find it pretty humorous and ironic on the other. For your information, the tarnished state of the Buddha statue was due to the countless touchings by prilgrims. The new one symbolizes a good new start in the coming new year. So does favoritism play a part here?

Today is Vesak Day. I wish every reader healthy and happy always.

Wednesday, May 30, 2007

My New Photography Blog

Since the day I started blogging, I've had many ideas on what to write and post and to share with every fellow photographers and friends. It came across my mind on creating another blog site, focussing on generic photography based on genres like landscape, street photography, still life, portraiture photography, studio photography etc etc.

Basically it's all about my personal photographic work and some experiences to share and to inspire others, too. Of cuz planning and preparing are essential. Finally I got everything set up. So expect more blogs from me soon.

Saturday, May 26, 2007

Moving Out

Moving Out

I took this photograph last year at Change Alley, obviously as the sign board stated, in the event Eye The City 2006. This is the picture that got selected for the upcoming publication and photography exhbition to be held at The National Library, some time in early August. Date to be confirmed.

In case any of you do not know about Eye The City, it's a project event that encourages the documentation of social changes, recorded through photographs on the last day of the year to form the collective memories of Singapore from the eye of ordinary individuals. It was my second year participation.

Let me tell you a little about Change Alley.

Change Alley is located in the downtown core of Singapore's Central Business District. The original narrow spot stretched from Raffles Place to Collyer Quay. Unlike its namesake in London where stockbrokers congregated, Change Alley was world famous for its money-changers and inexpensive shopping.

For its history, you can log on here.

Change Alley was officially closed down on 31st December 2006, Sunday. I was fortunate enough to take many photographs on that day and I chose this shot for submission. Preivously I was strolling along the corridor of the shops area and I saw a few shops were still packing up. I talked to one of the shop owners, who has had operated business there for more than three decades. It was really hard on them to depart the place they loved so much. Most of the shops were shifted to nearby shopping arcades to resume their businesses, while others were closed for good. The owner kept pestering me to buy his last stocks at super-low cheap prices. Well I ought to as I mentioned to him about Eye The City and he was kinda freaked out, at the thoughts of documenting the last 24 hours of 2006.

So eventually he refused to be photographed. We shook hands and I went off. As I came down to the end of the overhead bridge, to the ground level, I bummed into an Indian businessman who, like the others, came back to retrieve his own stuff. He smiled and approached to me. "Are you taking photos of this place?" he asked. "Yes I am." I replied. "Take as many photos as you can. This place is closed for good. Today is the last day." he said. Before I could ask for his permission to take a few photographs of him, he turned and walked off. To each his own.

Shortly after, a man with a trolley full of stuff, appeared at the entrance/exit of the bridge. Upon seeing this photographic opportunity, I raised my camera and took the shot. Of cuz, the first was never a good one. Fortunately the man made a couple of trips and finally I got what I wanted.