★Mr. Fotocology™★ - My world is black and white. On good days, you get sepia.

 
 
 
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Unparallel Parallels.^™





Something tells me I am gonna remember this set of photos for a really long time!
It just totally cracks me up!
The really different affections and expressions we have for this art installation outside the SAM.
I guess a picture says a thousand words!
In this case, 6 really funny pictures!
Have a great weekend!

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
   
 
 
    
 
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One More Candle.^™





Most of the pictures from ma birthday this year.
Another candle, another year older and of course, none the wiser as usual!
My last year in my twenties. I plan to make the most of it.
I have some plans in mind, and of course, I do want to come into the big three 0 next year as a better and more dignified man.

FC thought my birthday was 4 July and promptly sent me a birthday text at the strike of 12!
He was so proud of it until I told him it was 2nd July!
He was so annoyed because he thought 4th of July because my favourite number was 4!
Kinda sweet that he remembers my fav number is 4.
I told him, on the day of my birthday, you text me to help you translate some chinese sms text!
It was all pretty hilarious actually.

Anyway, here goes.
Welcome 29 in 2009!
All the best to me and Fotocology.

 

       
        
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When no one is looking.^™





How many times when you are out and you wish no one is looking or scrutinizing what you do?
Times when you kinda feel like digging your nose, adjust that displaced undergarment that is causing you some minor discomfort?
The idea that you can just do something without being conscious of someone watching you.
How ironic because I do that too. I like to watch people, wonder what their stories are.
You know, the whole, sizing strangers up, second guessing their occupations, how they lead their lives etc.

But there is a thin line doing that and passing judgements.
I have learnt how not to make presumptuous opinions of people, or pass judgements on people I do not know.
Dunno, maybe because of my line of work and interest.
In order to photograph someone well, you have to know their story, and then attempt to tell that story of theirs' via the pictures you take.
And that requires some sense of objectivity and it's like starting on a blank canvas to be painted.
You cannot afford to pass a judgement on your subject even before you click the camera.
A parallel would be like, an accused is innocent until proven guilty.

I think to myself, it is impossible for people to stop watching. It is also impossible for me to stop watching.
Everyone looks and everyone is still looking.
Then there is a whole other flip side to the coin. What if they are not watching? They might actually be looking - the searching kind of looking.
What if they look because they are searching for somebody?
Then would you wish that people are looking at you then?

I actually don't know why I had such a neurotic thought about this today.
But penning it down gives me a clearer perspective I suppose.
In a day I will officially be encountering some kind of change, be it mental, physical, emotional, psychological even.
Nonetheless still a change.

Good time to spend it with some close family and friends.

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Come home when it's cold.^™






Probably a really apt coincidence that Kit Chan's mandaring song, Come Home When's It's Cold
Happended to be on the play mode of my iTunes when I was finishing up the photos for Julian.
It's been almost a while since I last heard this song. The lyrics were just so simply and beautifully written.
It speaks of how you should be ready to come home when the weather turns cold and not wander out there by yourself.
The "weather" metaphorically refers, I think, to the general weathering that one may face in the course of life.

Which got me thinking, how much can you love somebody and how far will you go for him/her.
More importantly, how far are you willing to let him/her go out there without you.
Will one be happy to just know at the end of the day, he/she comes home to you and sleeps by your side?
Or is there this precedented golden rule that both should do everything together and
Letting one or the other venture on his/her own will only open to more risks, temptations and secrets?

Yes, I concurr that the journey out there alone is tough and that it is always better to have someone walking at your side.
But like all natural instincts of an able human, I think personal space, development and privacy is mandatory.
I probably would have thought otherwise if this was me 5 years ago.
People change I think. And  I feel, love, while involves two parties, should however, learn to be independent.
Knowing that you are fully capable of loving that somebody even though he or she is far away or not beside you.

Just really some random thoughts off the top of my head.
I will be lying if I say these musings have nothing to do with what or how I am feeling about my general emotional state of affairs.
But that's okay. I realize I over analyse, I over think and I underwhelm.
Let's just say, I will not pretend to be who I am not, when R is here.
Likewise, I will should be able to enjoy R's company, just the way R is supposed to be.

It's getting chilly in the wee hours. Time to head home and get underneath the covers.

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Eski-ology.^™






Ok, so Eski-ology was just a silly name that I came up with because I don't really have a title in mind for this.
But we were really excited to try out our new elinchrom studio equipment today,
And Julian was saying we should use a prop or something to play with while we snap some pics.
So I suggested this coat that I have that is a little furry, because I thought it will add a little bit of dramatics to the whole thing.

The pictorials turned out quite nice, and more importantly we were pleased with the ease of us getting fully comfortable with our equipment set-up.
After all, that was the main purpose of the whole shoot.
I also touched on quite a fair bit of light play, angles, proportions and subject orientation with Julian.
It was all in all a pretty productive and fun afternoon.

Gotta thank Jules for taking this photo of me, he was the one who suggested the one eye thingy.
I thought that was pretty cool!
Of course I photographed a cool set for him in return, but will get down to them when I am free.
I love some of the symmetry shots we were experimenting, especially the ones I took of him.
Hopefully they will turn out even better after some touch up.

What we both found joy in was that we kinda have a mobile studio ready already.
That the studio hardware will go a long way in expanding our range of services and skills.
I am excited about the whole thing and Kenrick is going to do his research on buying us cheaper battery packs from Pakistan.

My Saturday is gonna end with a midnight show at Lido.
Transformers, even though I am not like a fanatic, I thought I will just tag along with some buds for the thrill of it.
Ryan is watching Transformers tonight as well, 10:50 pm his time.
We talked about him buying his airline ticket, so I guess in flash,
We will no longer just be voices on one end of the country to another.

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Fotocology Lights Up!^™






So we finally invested and bought our way into the foray of studio.
Cost us quite a bomb but we were smothered by our enthusiasm in getting the equipment today.
Lugged it home and thanks to Julian who was the designated driver today!
Really grateful! I did not drive because it probably doesnt make sense to have two cars in city during peak hours.

Our first trial "set" ended up eventually at my place.
We just decided to set the softboxes and lights up just to test if they were all working fine.
It ended up being lots of great fun, and at the same time, we made mental notes of most things we needed to.
I guess my fur cushions on the couch finally can be put to good use! Kinda adds a luxe factor to the whole set up!
I also thought the fire extinguisher kinda adds a certain disposition to the onset. Kinda makes me laugh really!

Am glad we settled for elinchrom because from what I observe, the quality is assured and it seems quite hardy.
Now that we have acquired our basic studio needs, plans are underway to acquire the 2400 watts battery packs
As well as a few other equipments, muslin backdrops and stands that we have been eyeing. 
It is our aim to be fully operational as a studio (both stationary and mobile) by 2012.

I am so grateful to have people like Julian and Kenrick by my side, who constantly believe in me.
What you guys have done, and plan to do, really touch me.
You both have got my back covered.
I really cannot ask for more and I can only thank you from the bottom of my heart.

 
 
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A Boardwalk Sunset.^™







The Henderson Wave was where I ravel in the little magic of a boardwalk sunset.
It was charming in a way, because I rarely do something like this.
The last two times I was on a treetop walk, was when I was studying in Australia and we were on a road trip,
And once when i was in New Zealand.

The sunset was rather captivating, and I had full intention to capture the structural aesthetic of the "wave".
However, they did not seem as attractive as what I saw.
The beauty of the wood on the boardwalk as well as the people that were passing by.
They all seemed to tell some kind of story and I found that more interesting.
Besides, the "waves" shelter were occupied with many, there to watch the setting of the sun.
So I pretty much planted myself flat on the floor, with my back against the wood snapping some photos.
I think some passerbys might have thought I was crazy.

What made it extra special was that Julian and I actually had a very long day before we walked up to the wave.
We were at various locations like the museum, fort canning etc before we made it to Hort Park.
So the 2.4km up to Henderson Wave and 2.4km back down wasn't really all smooth sailing.
We were tired, but we trudged on. Besides, the weather was socrching and humid.
I wished we have weather like Perth's.

The climax came when we were near the wave, I saw Carpark 1 before relazing we could have drove up.
I cursed and swear like a photographer ah beng gone wild!
But I ended up taking it all in good stride. It was a great walk anyway!
Come sunset, my calves were aching, but that wasn't the only ache I felt.
Maybe because moments like these always gets you thinking.
I don't like being in that moment anymore lately, because it just leaves you trapped.
Literally, in a moment.
But yeah, that's me. Always a victim of my own neurosis.

Good night...sleepy world. Am glad Bianca is in my bed tonight.
Miss her for two whole weeks already.

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Jubilation Revolution.^™







Julian sure looks happy doing this!
I am glad I have him as my fellow shutterfreak mate.
Come to think of it, we do go way back. We were PTP mates. Yeah, even before BMT.
We kinda stuck it out for each other ever since.
The memories we chalked up from army days and even after, in flash, amounted to 11 years.
I never really told him, but I think he knows I regard him as one of my close pals all these years.

I admit I am guilty. For not being more in touch in the past with him and a few of my army mates.
And for not taking the initiative more actively than Julian to constantly make sure a few of us stay in touch.
For that I am grateful because I got to know him so much better over the years.
We don't talk about it, but I think he'd be quite blind or deaf to not know about me, being me.
I sense acceptance, and I sense he quietly awaits my coming out to him.
In my time, my terms, when i am ready to talk openly about it to him, I will.

Hope this picture does him justice and captures certain spontaneous qualities about him.
He has always been a trustworthy friend with an unassuming good nature.
Of course, he has his woes and personal problems to deal with and we always talk about them.
I wish nothing but the best for him and may good things come his way.
The very least, he has my friendship, for which I happen to cherish and keep close to my heart.

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Untitled musings.^™







That summer we held hands together.
Now, the world is your oyster and I wonder how life is treating you.
It's hard, returning to being a friend. 
It's like taking a back seat of the bus on an already bumpy ride.

Opposites attract they say. But, opposites will never meet.
Perhaps, opposites are better than parallels still.
Its painful to see each other like parallels, but can never touch.
I'd rather never to meet, than not being able to reach out and feel you.
We are, definitely opposites.

And now, I have found life after you again.
A feeling that makes the flutter of the eyelids each day, more purposeful.
Delusional is a possibility, but delusion is nonetheless still an imagery.
It beats the canvas of white, or black depending on how you see it.

I celebrate the fact that I no longer feel the need to celebrate this year.
The inner contentment seems to suffice as soul replenishment for every fibre of my being.
Keeping dear to my heart are the thoughts of something new and something uncertain.
Constantly pumping and beating to the rhythm I know so well, yet can't seem to dance along to.

Kinda ironic, for such a cheeky picture, I actually feel the need to pen a reflective blog entry.
Just outta blue and totally exclusive from any relation to the imagery.
This picture was taken and edited purely by my partner Julian. I have no hand in this one.
So proud of him. And thank you for the picture.
I look like a team of Dennis-es running out from backstage ready to perform a circus act of sorts!

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Taking Leaps & Talking Bounds.^™







So I went to the National Museum of Singapore today with Julian for our photo shoot research.
And we had a really fine day.
I knew one day i will end up taking a shot of myself doing something like this.
It was something I know I wanted to do - that is, to just keep jumping and leaping without a care in the world.
So thanks Julian for helping me nail this!
We had a great time choreographing a series of this shot, in front of this great muriel of sorts at the museum!
I won't forget how many times, we prances, jumped, danced, twirled and lept before we got what we desired.
All under the hot scorching noon of day sun!

I don't remember when was the last time I have been to the National Museum.
Not since its refurbishment of its facade I suppose?
There was a certain aura of calm and quiet that totally suited me.
The diligent central air conditioning also totally made me a fan of this place (pun intended).
Although we were officially on work matters, we eventually decided to have some fun when we passed by the muriel.
I mean why not? The day was great, the sun was blazing, the grass was dry and earthy, the sky was clear and blue.
It was one helluva fine day I would dare say.

So, the leap of faith huh.
Not that it daunts me, to jump into some things that I am not even sure of
Because I have been doing it all my life! Some leaps just pay off and some just land you in awful potpourri of shit.
While I understand we were taught that slow and steady and even baby steps usually is the way to go,
But times where hurdles present themselves, you just got to take that jump.
Leaps, covers distance and crosses obstacles.
It is ok to take them, just not with your eyes closed all the time.
And if you fall, probably learn to pick yourself up.
Having said that, responsibilities, commitments and obligations may bound us from taking those leaps.
It is important to weigh what in your heart and mind and which is more important to us.

Ryan is probably coming in July.
It is going to be a whirlwind weekend but I am gonna make the best of it.
I am ecstatic but I don't show it.
I just leap and prance and twirl. ^^