Work Life Balance

X'mas Tree Bokeh, Nikon FE2, 50mm f/1.4, Ilford XP2


I have been unable to catch up w things, notably since I've been on my internship. The photo of an x'mas tree when its coming to CNY kinda represents what I feel.

So far, one month is almost over, and I really enjoy doing the writing. Its not really been what I would term 'slack,' with yesterday having to cover two events, the DBS and EZ-Link collaboration (which I found exciting, I even have a cool new ez-link card to show) and a financial briefing.

However, I haven't had the pleasure of writing a really big article, which I hope to accomplish before leaving in June.

TLR and bears

I enjoyed myself immensely today, shooting with Shawn's seagull.

We went to the Kranji War Memorial, which is a short walk from Kranji MRT. Although the skies and its light drizzle was not on our side, the rain fortunately stopped before we reached the memorial's gates.

The TLR was very interesting, albeit being very frustrating to use. One's hands had to be steady and straight. Mind had to get used to the mirror-view (moving right becomes left in the viewfinder). Had to pop up the magnifier, and meter, and cock the shutter, and wind... It sounds like a pain in the ass, which it is. And the click at the end. Not really a click even. Very strange and muffled compared to the satisfying 'CLACK' of my FE2. However, still a great experience - which will be confirmed when I develop the film.

However... it is extremely unconducive for action shots, or even those with people moving at a slow pace. If you are anal that is, and I am quite (:

Certainly, you will not be able to get shots such as these:





Cubs climbing up a tree for safety, and their mother frightened, huddled, and ready to protect her babies at the base of the tree.

This mother was the exact same one that chased me and my own mother (who I can't help but recall, pushed me towards the bear while trying to save her skin) but she was really helpless in this photo as there were about 20 people crowding her in. I cannot imagine how scary it was for her, being such a young mother.

Saving Stupidity

I find this amusing.

Recession-wary Americans embraced the virtues of thrift over Christmas, with stores reporting a clear rise in the popularity of piggy banks.

'We have been selling coin banks really well,' said Laura Kellner at Kikkerland Design Inc in New York City, whose stylish chrome pig is priced at US$31. - Business Times

Spending US$31 on a piggy bank = saving? If I (or any rational person) were to start saving, I wouldn't spend so much, especially on a piggy bank! Especially when there are bank accounts, or just tins lying around at home to be used. What nonsense.

Buddhist Tooth Relic Temple

Leica CL / Nokton 40mm f1.4 / Velvia 100F

Round and round...

Japan

Japan's yen stayed strong during last year's economic fallout, but now,

Barclays' latest forecast is for Japan's fourth-quarter real GDP to decline 3.2 per cent from the previous quarter, which would translate into an annualised fall of 12.1 per cent, Mr Morita said. That would be the biggest contraction in GDP since a 13.1 per cent annualised drop in January-March of 1974, when Japan was reeling from the early 1970s oil shock. - Business Times

Will the yen drop now that Japan's economy might be heading for deflation?

And now that so many Japanese are losing or have lost their jobs, I wonder if the economy will be better by the time I graduate... Enough that I can go teach there!

Macau

Nikon FE2 / 50mm f1.4 / Ilford XP2

My favourite shot from Macau. Its exactly how I envisioned it, and the shades of black-and-white are beautiful (: