It was a simple, cosy and relaxing wedding engagement dinner. Allyson was as bubbly and friendly as he had imagined prior to the meeting. For a bride who donned glasses throughout the whole event while looking fabulous, she was a rare sight. Together with Scott, a suave gentleman, they make a perfect couple.

Upon the insistence of the bride, the camera man also enjoyed the sumptuous buffet with great delight. He shared the same table with the Junie, her hubby and many HCJC alumnus he didn’t know (including a lovely 93.3 FM DJ to whom he sat next to).

As usual, some of his favorites.

Click here for slideshow.

Slideshow.

Just like last year, from 7am to 10pm, it was certainly a day well spent. For the four of them, taking the photography challenges while traveling between Suntec City, Chinatown, Vivocity and Esplanade area proved to be both a great physical and mental workout. No prizes were won, but that was almost already assumed.

Based on the results, there is certainly a change in the overall judging standard this time around. Unlike last year where there were much wow factors, there were instead more of wtf’s this time. He is not surprised that people are complaining, but he accepts that everyone has the freedom of what, where, who and how to shoot. Sweet dreams are made of this, who am I to disagree?

Change is coming, sooner or later. He took this picture that morning while leaving his home. He submitted it for the first theme despite fully aware of it violating the rules.

Incomprehensible Dreams. Don’t ask.

Special thanks go to the models - Hui Ying,  Daphne and Shan - for their great patience and endless support. Here are the final exam outputs.

• 11th Oct 2008 - Full day of photography for models of her final make-up exam (checked √)
• 18th Oct 2008 - Canon PhotoMarathon Singapore (checked √)
• 2nd Nov 2008 - Karen’s Wedding in Johor Bahru, Malaysia (checked √)
• 15th Nov 2008 - Allie’s Dinner Party in Four Seasons Hotel, Singapore (checked √)
• 7th Dec 2008 - Kenneth’s Wedding in Melaka, Malaysia
• 22th Dec 2008 - Guo Loong’s Wedding in Perak, Malaysia
• 3rd Jan 2009 - Shuang Shoei’s Wedding in Johor Bahru, Malaysia

Jalan-jalan Singapura.

The performance was mesmerizing with a mixture of multiracial, traditional and modern dances and spectacular lighting. Instead of the usual 50mm 1.8, he experimented with his 55-250mm IS on ISO 800 this time.

The bubbly dancer to whom she performed makeup on. That mole was self added.

The Singa has been creatively adapted with a lion-dance. Even a cook sneaked out of kitchen to watch.

Sang Nila Utama and the gayish peacock he met.

Yellow.

“Check out my headdress!”

[Ad: For a great selection of places to stay with discount prices visit Singapore Hotels for more information]

How much more can we take? How long more to be awakened?

He wonders, he wonders how, he wonders how he wonders…

Happy National Day.

Although slightly long overdue, the brand new Flickr slideshow feature is still very much welcomed. Embedding Flickr set to external sites has just become slightly more user-friendly, and the full screen feature is very much expected but appreciated.

The possible earliest source of way to embed Flickr slideshow could be traced to Paul Stamatiou who investigated the API and showed how it could be done. Based on this idea, many sites like this and this offer auto generation of the HTML codes when the user inputs the name of the user and set. But the size of the slideshow was fixed at 500 pixels by 500 pixels.  When there are too many photos, thumbnails at the bottom carousel were scaled down too much to be useful for previewing when it goes beyond 2 rows. The new slideshow addresses many of these issues.

Currently, the new slideshow customization page can be accessed through these steps:

1. Go to any Flickr set
2. Click SlideShow on top right
3. Click Share on top right for a popup (of course, one can simply Grab the HTML at this step)
4. Click Customize this HTML

The faster way would be to postfix “show/?embed=1″ to the set’s hyperlink, e.g. http://www.flickr.com/photos/teoszelee/sets/72157605322795697/show/?embed=1.

There is nothing much really to customize in the page, except for the size of the slideshow (four preset sizes are provided). But a little digging into the HTML code generated can reveal some extra customizations. For example, setting name=”allowFullScreen” to false disable full screen mode, although the button is still visible (but this only works for IE, hmm…).

Some of the major differences are:

1. The old version autoplays the slideshow once the page is loaded. The new one begins in paused mode with an overlay of text - “<owner’s name>’s <set name> Slideshow on Flickr”. A play button is situated below the text to trigger the start of the slideshow.
2. The duration between slide changes can be set with a slider between 1 to 10 seconds in the old version. The new one reduces this to Slow, Medium and Fast radio button in Options popup.
3. Clicking on picture during the slideshow in the older version shrinks the picture and reveals the information and title.
   For the new version, there is no information shown for small and medium slideshow. Clicking on the image advances the slideshow to the next one.
   But for the large and supersize ones, clicking on any picture will show overlaying text information without image shrinking. Information can also toggled from the Info On/Off button at the top center of the image(only for large and supersize).
   Previous and next image button is also placed differently depending on the size chosen.
4. The carousel containing the thumbnails at the bottom panel of the embedded flash is now consistent with the default slideshow page in Flickr as well as the Organizr. It’s certainly more useful. Even the bigger thumbnail on mouse over is more slick with fade-in fade-out animation.

All in all, it is a big improvement.  But some suggestions won’t hurt:

1. Allow user to specify the default text on page load, or perhaps simply just show the name of the set.
2. The size for slideshow is currently set to 4:3 aspect ratio in the 4 preset sizes. For most DSLR users who shoot in 3:2 (landscape orientation), it creates unnecessary black bars on top and bottom. (No doubt, users can input the width and height of their desired aspect ratio to overcome this with some simple calculation).
3. One-click button from Flickr set to grab and customize the embedding HTML in blog.
4. Allow the slideshow to appear in Google Reader like the Flickr video.

Of all the inspiring TED talks he has been listening these few weeks while doing next to nothing in the office, this is his favourite. Any attempt to explain why it is so fascinating would not do any justice to the talk itself.

More images here.

Earlier this year, he submitted some pictures taken in Hort Park for a photography competition organized by the park itself.

Last month, he received a phone call from the organizer to ask for permission to display his pictures in the gallery for visitors. He gladly accepted. Sadly, he was also informed that none of his submissions were shortlisted for the winning candidates. Anyway, he was still delighted to find more than one of his submissions being exhibited when he visited Hort Park last weekend.

A surprise came in the most unexpected form when they were browsing the bigger posters with frame just outside the gallery.

As he was telling Thang the butterfly poster looks “pretty similar” to the scene they both encountered last time, Thang noticed the name at the bottom of the description.

It’s his name. He has forgotten that he actually took and submitted the picture.

To be honest, they didn’t do much homework before reaching Cholon. The taxi dropped them at Binh Tay Market as requested, both the central market and a landmark of Cholon. They wrongly assumed that Binh Tay Market would be similar to the Ben Thanh Market (hey, they shared the same initials), with lots of cheap food and pretty goods to bargain for and a street full of hawkers to eat till they drop.

Instead it was more like a market for the locals to get their daily stuff like these.

As noon approached, they started to hunt for lunch, but with the blazing hot sun, they couldn’t traveled far. There were few visible hawkers nearby, but let’s just say, tourists were not their target customers.

Com= Rice, Ga= Chicken. Therefore Com Ga = Rice Chicken Chicken Rice.

She rejected the chicken rice shop. Ironically, they soon found themselves feasting on fried chicken in a nearby KFC. After the finger-lickin’ air-conditioned lunch, they braved the hot sun again for temples visit.

Love the color.

He already tried hard to get the horizon right, still…

While waiting for the ladies to shop, the world drifted, slowly but surely.

Bird’s nest extraction, Vietnam style.

The stars in Hoi An are not found in the sky, and they are mostly red.

Hot and sleepy afternoon. No business.

Everyone was resting.

Even the ladies.

But not her.

With some elderly around, they figured it’s not a wise move to stay in Pham Ngu Lao area, which is cheaper but much further away from the central of the city. Therefore, they eventually settled down in a rather affordable hotel in Mac Thi Buoi Street.

The traffic is still as busy, but the motorcyclists are now wearing helmet as demanded by the law. As well as retracing some familiar locations in Ho Chi Minh and Hoi An, they also explored a few new places like Cholon and Hue.

Time to let the pictures tell the stories.

He wondered how many of those colorful feather duster he could buy for the price of a iRobot Roomba.

Hawkers beside Ben Thanh Market on their way to setup their stalls.

It was only less than half a year since the compulsory helmet laws in Vietnam fully came into effect. Some were not hesitant to declare their fashion statements.

In Singapore and Malaysia, it’s normal to see 2 people on 4 wheels. In Vietnam, it’s not uncommon to see 4 people on 2 wheels. Well, maybe we should ubah gaya hidup!

It was hot. A coconut would do the job. He squatted down and took this shot. Suddenly, he wasn’t thirsty anymore. Next time, maybe.

Just by staring at this picture, he felt depressed.

On the way. By the way. Anyway.

The last trip to Melaka was his first photo shooting trip with the 400D just bought. Returning after more than half a year, he felt more comfortable this time. The kit lens had been replaced by his 28-105mm USM and 50mm 1.8. Moreover, he also brought the Holga along!

His 400D favorites.

The following are from Holga with Fujichrome Provia 100F cross-processed.

Remaining photos are here and here.

Greeted by loud banners and posters everywhere, they felt fortunate to be able to participate in this event. Casting a vote seemed such a simple, almost insignificant act from one’s perspective. Little had they known the magnitude of things to come.

Earlier, weather forecast had predicted a heavy downpour in the afternoon. He only noticed a drizzle in the evening after dinner. But no one had seen expected to see a tsunami coming.

It was a Hari Ini Dalam Sejarah! The rakyat has spoken.

There is a way to be good again after all.

Could have done better. But then they say, don’t think just shoot.

Well, some of the better ones:

在森林和原野是多么的逍遥
亲爱的朋友呀 你在想什么？

He wonders, if the Chinese is the only race these days who celebrate its most important annual event with most of the food, clothing, music, decorations, rituals, gifts and greetings centralized on the single theme of getting rich?

Huat ah!

He feels awkward, almost embarrassed.

He had high expectations, and he wasn’t disappointed. He left the cinema with a thousand thoughts. Of love, of parents, of friends, of war. Of redemption, of traditions, of nation, of ambitions.

The similar feeling when he woke up from nightmare occasionally, only more intense.

There is a way to be good again.

For you a thousand times over.

Silently, he whispers these words to her - his homeland.

She: Bla bla bla, bla bla bla.

He: Bla bla bla… That’s all.

She: That’s why!

To quote something he learned from a colleague (and attempt to sound intelligent at the same time), tempus fugit.

Let’s start. He spent the first 8 years studying stuff that would soon be proven obsolete. In between he met his first girlfriend that would soon be proven his last. Then, he got a job that would soon be proven to be… just a job. He later bought a house which would soon proven to be smaller compared to his peers, but cheaper as the property prices shot up like crazy. Finally, he got married to the same girl that would soon proven to be something that doesn’t need any proof.

It’s not terribly exciting, but it’s not much different from most of the people he knows anyway. In retrospect, any fools could have seen all these must have already been orchestrated carefully in the grander scheme of things at the very moment they arrived.

The next 10 years? Let’s just say they have already booked their new one-way tickets.

Similar to any other places in Vietnam, two-wheeled vehicles dominate the streets.

Threesome. How sweet.

From south to north, their daily breakfast consisted mainly of baguettes like these.

She has to agree that map-reading isn’t her forte.

A sleepy cyclo driver.

Cha Ca (grilled fish), the one and only dish from Cha Ca La Vong at the 14, Cha Ca Street.

The famous (and no doubt expensive) Restaurant Bobby Chinn. Initially, they had planned to have a grand feast here on their last day in Vietnam.

However, convinced by another couple of fellow travelers from Singapore, they eventually indulged themselves in authentic Vietnamese buffet at Sen Ha Thanh, which was fantastic, and cheaper.

The rest of the photos.

The Red Dao women shaved their eyebrows and foreheads as a sign of beauty.

The distinctive headgear of the Red Dao women.

On the other hand, the Black Hmong women have quite a different taste of fashion.

Must have been quite a burden to the earlobes

Many of the Black Hmong women carry their baby on their back to work, whether the child is awake,

or asleep,

or, in whatever state.

Of course, the Sapa experience would not be complete without the trekking, terraced fields and buffaloes (and not to mention their dung).

The cutest baby they had seen throughout the Vietnam trip.

And as usual, more photos.

When he (and later his brother) wanted to gain entry to a certain primary school, the doctor readily and voluntarily helped his parents to write a letter to the headmaster, with no obligations.

When the doctor pursued a full time career in politics, he believed that the man was trying to do something for the rakyat.

And he did.

He still believe the doctor is a good man who has made a mistake, and he has certainly always taken the bull by the horn.

Unlike the remaining of the rotten eggs in the basket.

Hoi An is an exceptionally well-preserved example of a South-East Asian trading port dating from the 15th to the 19th century. It was declared World Heritage by the UNESCO in 1999.

First encounter - a herd of cow dominating the street.

It was a scorching hot afternoon when they arrived.

The clothes should have dried up already.

The Japanese Covered Bridge was built in the middle of the 16th century by Japanese merchants. The construction of the bridge was supposed to pierce the heart of an enormous monster whose head was in India, tail in Japan and body in Vietnam. =)

The magic hours. Fishing kid. Perfect backdrop. And he had finally got his catch of the day.

More photos.

After few hours of bus ride, they were ready for the boat ride.

Living by the river, he wonders how different their lives are.

First encounter with the snake wines. Like every other bizarre and exotic stuff, these are supposed to make men stronger. Later they found more of these all over Vietnam.

A cute little girl from Korea accompanying her grandparents.

Vinh Long Market, not too different from the pasar back in Malaysia.

As she headed home after finished shopping, so are they.

More photos.

From bicycles to motor scooters and motorcycles, the Viets must have traveled more on two wheels than their two feet.

Maybe it’s time to replace the ubiquitous conical hat. The compulsory helmet laws in Vietnam fully come into effect on 15 December 2007.

First meal in Vietnam - beef noodle from Pho 24

Making a living.

Reminded him of the goreng pisang back home.

More photos.

First time shooting important event for a friend. First time using flash. First time taking so many group photos (most of whom he didn’t know).

The usual candid scenes with 50mm were easy before the ceremony and lunch. Kit lens + flash + Program Mode ain’t so interesting afterwards. He still has a long way to go on handling the flash, composing people for group photos, selecting the background, time management, accessories management etc. It wasn’t as fun as the “housewarming” ones because he held an important responsibility. On the other hand, being the camera man, he obtained the license to shoot anyone he wishes, and the subjects almost never evade him or look at him sideways. He enjoyed the luxury.

Below are his favorites.

More photos here.

After her school’s Family Day held in SAFRA in the morning, followed by hours of reluctant shopping in Vivocity, he finally crawled back. Without further delay, he edited, exported and uploaded the morning’s photos. Judging by the results, it was more like the Children’s Day. Context salah… blame the photographer if you want.

Assignment 2 of the weekend is in less than 12 hours from now. He has barely skimmed through the Speedlite 550EX’s manual. His relationship with his friend tomorrow would not be unlike a fresh-out-of-med-school doctor with his first patient who is going to undergo an operation for the first time.

“I checked it very thoroughly,” said the computer, “and that quite definitely is the answer. I think the problem, to be quite honest with you, is that you’ve never actually known what the question is.”

“But it was the Great Question! The Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe and Everything!” howled Loonquawl.

“Yes,” said Deep Thought with the air of one, who suffers fools gladly, “but what actually is it?”

“The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” by Douglas Adams

“…So take the photographs, and still frames in your mind
Hang it on a shelf in good health and good time
Tattoos of memories and dead skin on trial
For what it’s worth it was worth all the while

It’s something unpredictable, but in the end it’s right.
I hope you had the time of your life…”

- Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life) by Green Day

Not that he is too keen on publicizing for this Japanese clothing retail chain but the UNIQLOCK is certainly an eye-catching advertisement campaign that worth mentioning. In fact it didn’t make much sense to him initally. He thought it was unique lock, the numbers some secret codes. Maybe they should rename it to UNI<insert any punctuation here>QLOCK.

Still he can forgive all that for the lovely long-haired Japanese babes and their kawaii movements and gestures that seem to have been acquired from other planet. The creative, colourful and clean presentation of the clock, clothings and chicks is very eye-pleasing, to say the least.

He got the basics - 2 stopwatches, 5 alarm clocks, world time of 48 cities and dozens of useless stuff that he wouldn’t bother to use were easily configurable. But he couldn’t get the damn Auto EL backlight to work. What the hell is DST? How to mute the irritating beep?

Like any other netizens of the 21st century, he googled. No luck on the official website. He found the Casio’s ftp where all the manuals are stored. Easy, except that they are not named according to the model number. Weird. A forum thread actually suggested to download all the (1000+) files and check one by one afterwards. Very funny. Shortly he spotted another thread that traced to yet another resource which “lists all the Japanese release G-shocks from 1983-2007″ in spreadsheet and text file. There was a corresponding module number for each model number. The dots were connected. The module number 3031 for his G-9000MC-8JF led him to the correct manual qw3031.pdf. It was like breaking the Da Vinci’s code for beginners.

Operation Guide 3031. Three and a half monochrome pages, with diagrams and tables. He found what he wanted.

Besides being the photo marathon with the most number of participants to date, he guessed it was also a mass parade of photo gears (he could see L everywhere) of the grandest scale yet. If anything, the guy with enough of equipment to dislocate his right shoulder and the other 3-4 kids below 10 playing with 1Ds like Lego bricks truly deserved some special awards.

So, after wasted some money and sleeping time, the new cyber abode is ready. Not much to show really, but he owns it! Just like his 3-room HDB flat.

Lao-tzu said, “ 千里之行，始于足下”. This blogger renews his blogging journey with his niece’s little foot that has yet to learn how to walk. The destination is unknown, the purpose undecided and the luggage unprepared.

“Hello world,” the little foot is waving.