Every picture tells a story

[tengk]

An audience of one, possibly reliving her own memories of days gone by.

The few supporting audience are well rewarded by the visual spectacle and artistry. A hidden treasure realised by only a few. Thankfully I get see it.

A happy moment, the splendor and beauty of the opera, free for all but appreciated by few. Sad but true.

Is there light at the end of the tunnel or is this the only light they will see. I do not wish to see it dimmed.

In the face of modernisation and changing tastes, i hope they will not be forgotten?

continue...

 

[tengk]

Will all that remains be memories of a glorious past?

I hope to see the return to their former glory, with sponsors (know of anyone keen to sponsor?) and hopefully publicity to gain support from a new and younger audience. So what constitutes support? Verbal support and claps are not enough. Food for thought.

In spite of the fact that I am not able to totally comprehend what’s said or sung on stage, I am glad I did not miss out on the visual spectacle of the opera performance!

I am especially grateful to all the members of the opera troupe for letting me into their world. I wish them all the best.
I am also happy that macaroni and wolfton took time off to come along for some of the shoots . I look forward to some other photo outing with them.
I look forward to your stories. Thank you very much.

 

[wolfton]

This troupe remains the "most shootable" troupe in Singapore in my opinion.

Nice photos :thumbsup:

 

[orangedial]

I like this thread!

The latest opera series is very engaging. I think the same troupe had recently performed in my neighbourhood and I spent a few moments watching their shows. Although totally unable to comprehend the content, I find the shows were performed with great artistry and passion. Every facial expression and body stance was captivating. I don't know what is motivating them, the actors and actresses just performed beautifully despite the obvious lack of audience. I was moved by their display of the highest sense of professionalism.

To adhere to your ground rule, I hope to share a few photos of my very amateur shots of the Chinese opera performance:

#1.

#2.

#3.

#4.

#5.

 

[macaroni]

Hey teng you're too kind. It was my honour and pleasure to be able to shoot alongside wolfton and u, and looking at your enthusiasm in capturing the series as a whole unlike me who is always fleeting on and off. I salute your dedication to the opera troupe.

 

[tengk]

As the curtain came down on this performance, i am hopeful that the traditional opera will continue to see many more curtain rises.

Wolfton, it is indeed the "most shootable" troupe that i have come across. Beautiful people, settings make beautiful pictures. We only click the shutter.

Orangedial, thanks for the encouragement and for sharing your images here. I am stymied by my own ground rules with regards to posting too. But it is all in the spirit of sharing.

Macaroni, thanks again for your kind words, the feeling is mutual. However my dedication is towards my own project, just like you. But I do have a better understanding and appreciation of the efforts of the members of the opera troupe. I will continue to root for them. :cheers:

Even though i met them on a few occasions, i always feel like an intruder into their world. I appreciate and am grateful that they allow me to photograph them at work in the backstage. Imagine going to work and having people point a camera in your face while you are at it. But i take photos of those whom i made eye contact or asked permission.

And the best part is, i begin to appreciate the Teochew opera and actually enjoy watching the performances. :bsmilie:

I look forward to your stories. Thank you.

 

[wolfton]

I think just as much as they have impacted your life, you have also made a difference to theirs. Such is the beauty of photography. She was beaming and proudly showing off this picture taken by you to her friends while you were away.

 

[tengk]

A point and shoot can be a joy to use.

I love my DPs for its size and fantastic resolution. Into a small waist pouch and i am good to go.

Yesterday was a good day for a morning walk at our Bt Timah nature reserve. It also felt like a good day to take photo. So off we went.(we includes wife too)

These are my encounters and my thoughts. Captured In between running after my wife as she continued walking while i paused for a shot.

Amid a whirl of activity, stay focused on the task before you. Our brain is not that good at multi tasking.

Falling leave. Very hard to catch a photo of a falling leave, so i DIYed.

It is sometimes good to try a path less trodden. Of course i don't mean taking unneccessary risk.

I saw parents out for walk with their daughter. It reminded me of our family walks when my daughter was younger.
Oceans may separate family and friends, it is the ties that bind that keep us together.

All's well that ends well.
Let enthusiasm and optimism rule your day!

Wolfton, Thanks for dropping by with your image. I saw someone use it a as fan too. Useful in more ways than we know!
You are too much! Risking life and limb bringing us photos of your recent "unusual encounters" with people on the streets. I hope you can run fast!

For those of you who may be interested in the Chinese opera, check out the movie "Farewell my concubine"

Thank you very much, i look forward to your stories.

 

[tengk]

An interesting sequence of events.

Yesterday I visited the Leica exhibition showcasing some of their collection at the ACM. After the exhibition i went up to check out the Buddhist exhibit.
The mandala displayed at the top of stair represents paths leading to the summit of the Hindu and Buddhist home of the gods, Mount Meru. For now most of us will choose the right path. ie. stairway to the right.

Stairway to heaven

There were kids at the foyer engaged in some art activity. My attention was piqued, having been inspired by all the B&W images and a couple of shots of kids in the Leica collection. So i waited and set my camera to B&W.

I waited for this group getting ready for a group picture.

Then i noticed something going on in the background. Sticking to photographer's mantra of take first ask questions later, i shot.

Then it happened! I fumbled a bit hence image a bit blur. (1/25 sec) , well, better blur than no shot!

Here's "i am fast! Click me if you can."

Finally the shot i intended. Obviously you know which shot made my day.
Expect the unexpected and be pleasantly surprised.

Thank you very much, i look forward to your stories.

 

[tengk]

Up close and personal.

I was at the recent firewalking festival honouring the Hindu goddess Draupati.
Religious events always present many facets of our human emotion, i always wonder what transpires between the devotees and their gods.

Waiting to enter the temple.

A photo, a nod and he smiled.
Patiently waiting in line.

The long queue of devotees coming from all walks of life.

Once you are given the blessing to perform the firewalk, a coin is tied to your wrist.
Receiving blessing for the firewalk.

3 devotees praying.

 

[tengk]

This gentleman collected some ashes and carefully placed it in a resealable plastic bag which i helped him open, he seem pleased with taking home the ashes. I later asked someone and was told that it symbolises that in the end we are as one (with each other or with their god, i am not sure)

Ashes to ashes.

This gentleman had a heart to heart talk with his god. The queue that he unwittingly held up waited respectfully for him to finish. I hope he realised what he came for.

Heart to heart talk with his god.

Fire pit helper.

Milk to soothe the "sole".

I met this Indian gentleman Kannan who is a descendent from a line of Brahmin priests. His son took over the rein and is a Brahmin priest in India. Learnt something about the significance of the festival, the social system in India. I also managed to pick up some Indian vegetarian cooking tips from him. I got him to pose for a photo. He is shy of the publicity so on goes the batman mask!

Besides the devotees participating in the ritual, the festival also brought out the Hindu , the tourist and the photographer.

 

[tengk]

Oh, there were other curious visitors as well.

I had an interesting day. In spite of being a Singaporean, this is the first time I made it a point to check out the religious event of the other races. I suppose photography as a hobby makes you do things you otherwise would have procrastinated.
For a moment I caught a glimpse of people when they were up close and personal with their gods.
Besides god, expressing gratitude towards people who care about you is also good for the soul.

Thank you very much, i look forward to your stories.

 

[Daoyin]

Please keep it up.

 

[tengk]

In search of aliens.

It all started after i witnessed a failed alien abduction of my brother in law!

He came to visit from Canada and i brought him to the Gardens by the Bay to escape the heat.
Then it happened! I had to make a split second decision either to attempt to rescue him or photograph the encounter.
I chose the latter (i'll do my soul searching after the event). At least i will have the proof and that should make his sacrifice meaningful. Food for thought here.

The failed attempted abduction, fortunately or unfortuanately for us!

I decided to do my part from that day forth and keep a lookout for alien presence among us.

To date i have encountered some but any attempt on my part to communicate with them failed.

Somewhere in Bras Basah.

I noticed a portal opening for the movement of aliens between Earth and their world.

Somewhere in the River Safari.

Hidden and watching over us. Somewhere in the Gardens by the Bay, maybe there is a Mother Gaia afterall.

I also begin to wonder if these two iconic characters are one of them.
Also in the Gardens by the Bay. It appears that many can be found here.

Thank you Daoyin for your words of encouragement. I will contribute for as long as i have a story to tell. Now you know to what lengths I’ll go to get my story.

Hats off to those who have come this far with this story. If you have similar encounters feel free to share it. You are not alone! I will continue to keep an eye out for them.

"The truth is out there"

Thank you very much. I look forward to your stories.

 

[tengk]

The rising star.

With all the excitement going around the rising star a7r, it is easy to forget that we already have gems lying around us. For me it is my dp1m. It is still my constant companion when i go out shooting.

But i always wanted a full frame camera for its higher dynamic range, better skin tone(according to dxo), weather proofing. Strangely, i actually like the shutter sound, almost like the Hasselblad. Sadly no tethered.

Here's to the rising star for bringing down to earth the price of high resolution, full frame to the masses. As to why i need such a high res camera, i have absolutely no idea! Maybe because it is about slightly more than half the price of the D800E.

Here's "rising star".

Last Sunday, I was taking this picture when i was approached by a security guard telling me that i needed permission from the concierge to shoot the building, i told him i was taking a picture of a tree not the building. He looked at me puzzled or maybe with sympathy and probably thought it was best to let me be.

Here's the link to the full size image,
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5511/11070000965_716a74b887_o.jpg, zoom in, check out the texture on the plastic perspex. Straight off the camera's b&w setting, unprocesed. iso 200, f11, 1/640. This is still my first choice camera.

I only have one problem with it, it does not seem to have an internal battery that saves the date and time. I keep forgetting to reset date hence always start in the year of 2012!

I look forward to your stories. Thank you very much.

 

[Daoyin]

Might I suggest "Flight of Fantasy" as the title.

 

[tengk]

The rising star has risen.

In the company of other stars, will now have to prove herself.

Meanwhile let us enjoy this "Flight of Fantasy" as so aptly suggested by Daoyin, who knows what changes it might herald.
It is indeed a wonderful time for a pixel peeper like myself. Of course that is if i get pass the manual focusing bit as well as the metering of light too.

Here's "Among the stars"

I totally forgot about the effects of depth of field on a full frame camera! Many of my other shots were out of focus. I will need a bit of time to fine tune my manual focus! and manual metering! In the meantime please put up with the very shallow depth of field.

Now i know why the rangefinder guys are having so much fun, i did enjoy trying to manually focus every shot, like in the old days.

Shot with my Nikkor f1.4 D on a metabone mount. ISO 100, 1/250 , the aperture was not in properties, can't remember.Could be large given the shallow dof.

For those into specs. 4912 X 7360, 350dpi, bit depth 24, sRGB. 5.89MB, out of camera,jpg, AWB, unprocessed.

I noticed many smudgy backgrounds and less than desirable bokeh from adapted lenses, hopefully pairing with original FE lens will give us a better picture. I am actually waiting for the weather sealed 24-70mm, f4.

Why the a7r and not a7 for me, i prefer a full magnesium alloy finish to a plastic front. Think heavy lenses dangling from it. I would have preferred 24MP instead. In the mean time i'll fantasies about making larger than my usual A4/A3 prints!

Here's "i am out of my depth", call me shallow if you want, i like my pictures sharp whenever possible.

For the benefit of those who may want to check out what the a7r is about, i have the above image in full res for you to look at. Shallow depth of field and all. But i do like the smoothness of the picture (the advantage of a gapless sensor in the a7r?). Look out for the in focus petals and dried petal.

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5475/11082389944_c96f36a054_o.jpg

Daoyin, Thanks for the suggestion!

I look forward to your stories. Thank you very much.

 

[tengk]

A ferry ride from Shimbara port to Kumamoto port brought out the local birds in droves!

On the third day of our driving holiday in Kyushu, we left our onsen hotel Unzen Yumei for a meandering drive down the mountain side for the ferry ride at Shimbara port to the Kuamamoto port. Here are some of my encounters which makes for an interesting ferry ride, apart from the cold wind in your face/hair sensation.

For a 100Yen, passengers can purchase a packet of crackers and throw it into the air to feed the birds. Thanks to people paying for the privilege of feeding the birds, i get to shoot the birds.

Birds of the feather flock together.

Come to papa.

The ferry is capable of speed of 30 knots, the albatrosses are able to keep up with the ferry!

Pursuit!

Finally, after having their fill, it is time to return to shore.

Homeward bound.

I over saturated the colours of the fist and last picture because i like the cartoony feel of it.

 

[tengk]

Nagasaki.

On the first night of our trip, we were suppose to visit Mt Inasa for a night view of Nagasaki city, someone deemed it as one of the 3 best night views of a Japanese city. The other two are in Hakodate and Hokkiado. They call it the 10 million dollar view, i suppose that was from the days when property prices were very cheap. !0 million dollar views are now very common and are very much taken for granted. Unfortunately we were there on the last day of closure of ropeway for maintenace. So we missed it.

This is the best i could do from a 6 inch gap between the window panels from the 10th flr of my hotel room.

"Nagasaki night"

For those pixel peepers interested in the high res a7r. Here's the high res image Nikkor, 50mm f1.4D. jpg, with tweaking of levels, slight adjustment to curves. Here's the link.

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2837/11477012235_e67812ca4c_o.jpg

I did lug along my Nikkor 80-200mm, ED f2.8 for trying out the with a7r for landscape.

Here's "Nagasaki morning" at 200mm FOV from the above same spot from the window.

And for the pixel peepers of the above image aka "Abandoned building" . Too bad no sun. Similarly, jpg with above tweakings. More details for a pixel peeper like me to scrutinise.

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3813/11491799964_dee6c26db4_o.jpg

So we went down for our hotel breakfast and guess what! Yup, the best breakfast view before me and i left the camera behind.

But there is always the handphone!

Breakfast with a view.

Nagasaki morning one with sunlight and one without. As to why i did not rush back to the room for my camera? Well, i did not want to spoil the moment, besides a glass panel was in the way and it gives me an excuse to come back.

The hotel, for those of you interested is the Best Western Premier Hotel, Nagasaki.

to be continued...

 

[Daoyin]

Please keep it coming. Thanks for sharing.