Photography

The ability to fix eternity in an instant.

I have been busy working on the IT law paper the past few days and so the last few posts are the results of archive raiding. Thumbing through the archives reminded me of what Martin Munkacsi once said, 'that a good photo is to see in a fraction of a second that which the ordinary person passes without notice.' How true, how true. I wonder when I will be able to proudly say that a photo of mine has lived up to that billing.

Lux

In Absentia Lucis Tenebrae Vincunt

Year 4 Soccer Team

Memories... to last us through the winter break.

Evidently, a photo not taken by me. I wonder if we will still meet up for soccer once we leave law school? I think the only person missing is our ang mor fallen talent. Those of you who want the photo can just download it from my flickr site. There are a few more soccer photos here

Control

A man's grip on the wheel is like his grip on life.

Collected my roll of film today and was shocked to discover that it turned out all wrong. I am almost 100% certain that they didn't read 'c41 process' on the cartridge. I spent the last hour scanning and re-hue-ing the photos. If only I had my very own darkrom so that I can control the process from the moment the shutter fires till the final print. I wish...

Bergen Morning Mist

For me there's no difference between dream and reality.
I never know if what I'm doing is done when I'm dreaming or when I'm awake.
~Emmanuel Radnitzky

Lake Voss

Dreams have no titles.
~Man Ray

Risskov Strand

天边的海水 复杂的眼泪

n135

Cool Blue Yellow Nano.

Bought a brand new squash racket this afternoon and I just can't wait to use it tomorrow. Buying a squash racket brings back memories of training with the team and Saturday afternoons at the Cricket Club. In that sense, I'm as excited as a teenager, once again.

Fire

Behold, Prometheus' gift; the power to create and destroy.

The torch bearing parades in North Korea reminded me of the Nazi torch rallies where books were burnt and extreme nationalism raged. Appeasement lead to World War 2; so much for "peace in our time" eh Neville. Likewise, if we let North Korea of with just a 'stern warning' the security of the world will be further compromised. The civilized world lives under the tyranny of those who do not fear the law. On a micro level, my brother was a victim of road rage today. A hooligan stalked his car and came out of his vehicle to confront my brother at the traffic lights. He pounded on the window and challenged my brother to a fight whilst hurling abuses and gesturing obscenely. Doing the sensible thing, my brother called the police but the hooligan sped off before the police could arrive. After filing the reports, we were told that the police would look into the matter but that there was not very much they can do as there was no physical damage to the car or any physical assault. My brother was clearly shaken by the whole affair. Isn't that enough damage done? Intimidation with the intent to harm. Those who have nothing to lose clearly have no fear of the law. And now the hooligan is most likely to get off with just a 'stern warning'.

Yellow

When we walked in fields of gold.

Taken from the passenger seat of Stephane's car, on the way back from Skagen, drive-by style.
I miss blue skies and fresh air.
Is that too much to ask for?

Balance

To the edge, where the spirit is divided from the soul.

Life is all about a balance and equilibrium. In this morning's sermon, the priest shared with us an interesting story about money and happiness. There was a fisherman who had just came back from sea. He had sold his catch and was sitting on the beach, smoking his pipe, relaxing. The perfect picture of contentment. A businessman walked by and started making small talk with the fisherman.
Businessman: "Why are you sitting on the beach relaxing when there is still plenty of time to make another trip out to sea?"
Fisherman: "And what would I do then?"
Businessman: "you can sell the extra catch for more money and if you keep this up you might actually save enough money to get another boat".
Fisherman: "And what would I do then?".
Businessman: "You can increasae your catch with another boat and earn even more money. And if you save enough, you can eventually buy another boat and expand your fishing fleet till you are as rich as me."
Fisherman: "And what would I do then?"
Businessman: "Then you can retire and enjoy life"
Fisherman: "And what do you think i'm doing now?"

I think this is a pertinent point for most Singaporeans, especially those who are caught up in the Singapore Dream just like me. I am only doing Law because I thought it would give me a good financial headstart. When I was deciding my career path just after the 'A' levels, the notion of happiness or living life to the fullest was probably the last thing on my mind or maybe even non-existent. Or perhaps it was, perhaps then I equated making lots of money to being happy. Now that I'm back from exchange, now that I'm graduating soon, I start to wonder. Is this the life for me? I keep telling myself that I should just bite the bullet, make my money and then quit to do something that I enjoy. But why don't I just quit now? And take up a course in Ancient History? Literature? Art History? Photography? Economics? Why do I have to bite the bullet just to end up back where I started? The short answer is still Money. Who is going to finance my pursuits? Therefore, life is really about a balance. Balancing between Wants and Means. Balancing between the chasing the Dream and Happiness. And that every use of a balance which fails to meet equilibrium is a measure of costs; opportunity cost.

Final Judgment

A heart as light as a feather.

In evidence tutorial yesterday, the tutor mentioned something about the presumption of innocence being the feather that tilted the scales in favour of the accused (or something to that effect). The quote is not really on point but the mention of the feather w/3 judgment reminded me of this classical Egyptian depiction of the Final Judgment. Click on the photo for a more detailed explanation. In short, in order to be deemed fit for the 'afterlife' one's heart is weighed against the feather of justice and if the heart is heavier than the feather, the person is deprived of the 'afterlife'. Some say that this scene shows how difficult it is to keep a pure heart, some says that it shows that one should be conscious of one's deeds in lieu of the final judgment. I think it shows that when you are being judged, the odds are already against you. I also think that this papyrus will hang very nicely in the future reception of Jeremy & Friends LLC.

Topsy Turvy

Sun soft spotlight illuminates from above;
leaving shadows all around.

I love how the setting sun penetrates the canopoy of the forest at Mosgaard, leaving pockets of light all over the forest floor. I love the freshness of the air and the woody musky smell that lingers around. Fresh air and greens. What more can a man ask for? Increasingly, I find myself seeking mental refuge in the memories of my long walks through the woods. Everything was perfect then. Its so hard to find happiness back home. I search and I try. But like striking the lottery, hardwork and effort is never a guarantee of success. Everything back home comes with a price. Nothing is gratis. 6 days of happiness is reduced to nothing by one night of upset. Such lottery odds are clearly not in my favour. But being Singaporean I persist in my lottery efforts, just to 买一个希望.

PUSH

Seven of Six; Push four Colour.

Inspired by Red roofs on the Blue seas, I decided to infuse some colour into my blog. Perhaps this is too literal an approach. The framing could have been better and the colours more radiant but I've never been a big fan of colour anyway.

Ice Cream

The only model who would model for me free of charge.

Picked up the 2 rolls that I sent for developing last week before heading off to school. Yes, school on a Saturday. Bloody IT Law is becoming more of a raw deal with each passing day, a bit like the haze situation which is getting from bad to worse. I don't need a PSI reading to tell me that the air is bad, I have a window.

Les Bouchons

The Makan Club hard at work.

I must say that Les Bouchons really did live up to the Bouchon billing, especially after just having eaten at good Bouchons in Lyon not so long ago. Full marks for ambience, I say. The only thing lacking was the grumpy French papa/waiter who would mumble sarcasms as he takes your order. The food was not fine french but hearty french. The portions were generous and the prices very reasonable.

Pigasus

To the stars on the wings of a pig.

American pop culture may not be my cup of tea but I am a sucker for modern American literature. Throughout his life Steinbeck signed his letters with his personal "pigasus" logo, symbolising himself "a lumbering soul but trying to fly". Its so hard to attain perfection or to reach for the heavens. We try our best but most of the time only half-heartedly, justifying our pathetic endeavours with half truths and excuses; an exercise perpetuated by hope.
Perhaps one day I will be able to reach the stars on my piggy wings.

tête-à-tête

Quite literally, head to head.

I've been wanting to take a photo like this for ages. Matt loves to swing Liz on his shoulders and carry her around like a little baby. Having said that, she is indeed the baby of the family even though she's will be 42 human years old in a couple of days.
The IP assignment is not going anywhere at all. Wish I could say it was but it isn't. It is hard to focus when the mind wants to be anywhere but in your head.