Film

Will be away on business trip for another 9 days. So please check again on 10 Sep or later.

We are always so take it for granted that digital is so easy to shot, so convenient that we forgot the pain and joy of using film. A lot has been debated about film vs digital, there is no place for further discussion, but when we talk about using film it feels like having something so unique, so special that it deserves a special occasion which does not involve fast action, no instant feedback, it must be some subject I am so familiar that even without reviewing the picture at the back of the camera (for readers who were born in the 80's - film camera does not have a LCD screen at the back of the camera for instant review)  I know the outcome already.

A quiet afternoon, sipping coffee, when the sun hit the chair, I knew I had a picture. I took out a very old camera with a very old len (camera 20 years old, len 50 years old), took my time to evaluate the light, set the exposure, and pressed the button. When the image suddenly disappeared in the view finder, it emerged into my memory, I knew I have the picture.  Indeed, after developing and scanning, this is exactly as I visioned.

This is from the earlier days when I re-ignited my passion for photography, I was shooting around with a rangefinder camera and a standard len. I immediately realised the picture when I saw this. The maid went away to meet her friend, left behind colourful bottles. Since the chair is in heavy shades, I opened the aperture by at least 1 stop. The result is a picture with good enough shadow details, but the highlight of the leaves above is still intact. I doubt whether a digital camera, no matter any brand could achieve the subtleties, the dynamic range and the shades of colour of these two pictures. The picture was just like what I saw. If digital picture can recall a memory, then analogue pictures can recall the feeling like just being there again.

Colour Colour Colour

Here I have problem to find something to post as regularly as before because a lot has been said on the conversion aspect of the environment to an image. I also feel that as I take more and more pictures, I am getting more and more abstract, my pictures are getting less and less congested. The picture shooting is more and more challenging but at the same time more and more rewarding. (yes, a lot of self-talk)

This exit sign is there forever, has anyone notice this sign outside the male washroom hanging on the top of the ceiling at Funan Centre?  I took this because of the contrast of the color, the simplicity of the shapes. the picture is cleanly presented outside a toilet. Okay, may be I am the one who get more from the picture than the readers, that is why I am putting this down as a reminder of the actual picture taking process.

Another simply night shot, but when I reduce the exposure, the picture only captured the color red with a vague figure, this gives the picture a lot of mystery, it is interesting because the viewer would like to get more from the picture, however, they are all overshadowed by the strong red bright color sign. 

Another picture which is so simple, yet a lot of us missed it. I deliberately changed the white balance to cloudy, therefore the camera increased the warmth of the picture, the extra warmth actually turns the light into a almost red color, since this is not our usual perception of such light, it is stimulating to our senses.

This is yet another color red. Please look at the color of the wooden table, can you notice that it is actually the true color. The flowers were so red, it is almost surreal, yet the table is so real and created a contrast in our senses - real or surreal?

I leave the most interesting creation to the last. In marina square, the picture was taken upside down because of the reflection. If the reflection if on the top, it will give us a very uncomfortable feeling, however, after i turn it upside down, the mind will search for where and how it was taken, thus it is interesting.

Is new better than old

Despite having taking photographs for so many years, I always find that taking a good picture is not purely technique. Technique is important because with sufficient technique, it can help to see the picture out of the real world. However, many times, it is more than just technique. It also requires the right lighting. My friend from China told me that in order to capture the picture that he has in mind, he sometimes has wait for a few hours or even days, pressing the shutter release is a matter of seconds.

All is said, it is also very easy to take good pictures when the time, place, light are all in favor. How many times we took much better pictures while we are traveling. Many said that because we are stimulated to take better picture! I believe this is mostly correct because when we are traveling, we no longer feel that there is nothing to shoot because we expect there is something for us to take back, so we are more alert, more aware and more looking around.

However, despite all is said, how can we not take good picture when we encounter such a scene:

Feels like last century. The picture was taken in Holland, 30+ years ago, it was taken with positive film, i.e. slides, to my biggest surprise, I scanned the pictures last year and some are still vivid.

A cold but warm picture. We stood on a frozen lake, therefore not much building nearby, I asked the other trainee to take the picture after I showed him where to stand and how far. using the tree line to draw the eyes to the subject. I like this picture very much.

When the mood is good, no matter where, you can take nice pictures. This is a open air theatre, but during winter, there is no body. I use the chair as pattern which highlight the person who is the only different subject which broke the boredom.

I have been traveling quite a bit in the last 2 weeks due to training in my new job. Anyway, the training is almost done, I shall be able to post some more. 

No, I have not deserted this blog, I promise.