Thursday, December 31, 2009 (Back)

"Reality"

Siem Reap, Cambodia

Aperture: f/2

Shutter Speed: 1/1000s

Sorry I was away in Siem Reap! We visited this orphanage and this is what it looked outside of the house in which the kids stay in.

A really pitiful sight. More to come on the orpahange!

- Jian

Back home in Miami

Miami, FL

Let's play I-Spy. Look for:
a stuffed turtle
a duck that tells the time
my E6 bridge project
a purple platypus
a windup toy of my favourite Beauty and the Beast character (the windup part is a hint)
a carnival mask from Venice
a Beijing mascot
my (straw) cowboy hat
my BEAT book (Darell!)
prom pictures
and a music box.

SS: 1/15
Aperture: f/3.5

-Jing


"Home-cooked deliciousness"
St. Johns (hostel), Cambridge, UK

Aperture: f/2.8
Exposure Time: 1/5

It's good to be back 'home',
('home' being a friend's place)
...to taste familiar foods again,
as we welcome the new year.

~Tian

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Marcel Duchamp's Bicycle Wheel
MoMA, NY

She was explaining it to her tour group. Duchamp's argument: that art does not necessarily have to be created by the artist. Art is whatever the artist decides it is. Even a bicycle wheel on a stool.

SS: 1/50
Aperture: f/4.1

-Jing

strange strangers.

-june.

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

A View

Manhattan, NY

We got a tour of the 7 World Trade Centre today. 360 degree views of the city from the 48th floor. I cannot express to you how cool this was, or what a kick I got out of it.

SS: 1/500
Aperture: f/5.0

Also. Because I am really fickle, I am putting up another picture. This one is not as good of a photograph (in my opinion), but is up purely for the wow factor of it being a pretty legit New York cityscape. It was taken from the same floor.



(for the second picture)
SS:1/500
Aperture: f/5.0

The person who owns the building really likes art, so local artists are allowed to come up to this floor to paint/draw whenever they want. Their artwork is all over the place. Man. What a view. Imagine going up at night!

-Jing

-june.

Monday, December 28, 2009

Central Park
Manhattan, NY

My family. Watching the ice skaters. Lots of fancy tricks going on. I just try to stay on my feet. It was such a cold day.

ALSO. I just uploaded the best picture I've taken in a while. Check the December 14th post.

SS: 1/500
Aperture: f/5.0

-Jing

"Kopi"

Chawan, Kuala Lumpur

*Taken with camera phone

Anyway, I can't do any work at home so I go to Bangsar Village a lot.

This is a cup of Malaysian Coffee or 'Kopi'. The beans are generally roasted in butter and hence you can always see an oily layer on the top. There is condense milk in it too.

It is quite tasty though I have a thing against pretentious 'Kopi' shops like Chawan which are modernised 'Kopi' shops.

It tasted good but I am biased.

- Jian

-june.

Sunday, December 27, 2009

Nail Parlour
Vancouver, Canada

Uncle George got his first mani/pedi with us. What an experience! He was a really good sport about the whole thing. :) We were joking that next year we would get sessions for my dad and his brother for Christmas, so they could get their nails done together...

Shutter: 1/50
Aperture: f/5.6

-Jing

-june.

Saturday, 26 December, 2009

"Patience"

Orchard Road, Singapore

Aperture: f1.7

Shutter Speed: 1/400s

Haven't been taking pictures. But since we are on the topic of Christmas shopping I thought I'd put this up.

Singaporeans sure know how to be patient when it comes to shopping!

- Jian

Boxing Day Madness

Vancouver, Canada

Holt Renfew. Lots of people. The line outside Coach is crazy every year. Goes around the block. Far too hectic for me.

The only thing I got today? A 2010 Moleskin planner. Replacement for my old one. I'm getting my shit together this year. And I'm going to sketch more. I have a pretty decent list of new years resolutions - do you guys? How was 2009? I'm excited for New Years posts!

EVERYONE. POST.

SS: 1/80
Aperture: f/6.3

-Jing

Friday, 25 December, 2009

My family

Vancouver, Canada

Plus, I watched Love Actually today. For the second time in basically a month. I am feeling very warm and fuzzy right now. :)

SS: 1/60
Aperture: f/3.5

-Jing

-june.

"Celebration"

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Aperture: f/1.7

Shutter Speed: 1/40s

MERRY CHRISTMASSSSSS!!!

- Jian

Thursday, 24 December, 2009 (Gift)

Gift Unwrapping!
Vancouver, Canada

They were watching the kids unwrap all their gifts. :) We were sitting by the fire.
It was warm and everyone was happy. I love Christmas.

SS: 1/15
f/5.5

-Jing

"From me to you"

Aperture: f/1.7

Shutter Speed: 1/20

My grandmother was giving advice to my cousin's wife whilst holding her hand. I quite like this picture!! A poignant moment.

- Jian

Wednesday, December 23, 2009 (-)

"Faith"

Bangkok, Thailand

Aperture:f/1.7

Shutter Speed:1/125

Sorry for the absence!!!!! Anyway I went to Bangkok for 2 days to witness a Buddha statue casting ceremony. It was interesting to say the least and I took lots of pictures! Nothing much, if any, of Bangkok itself. It is like any other Asian city - messy.

- Jian

Pebbles

Whistler, BC, Canada

I'm back!! With a new camera, too. My parents got me one for my birthday, but left the charger back home in Malaysia... I've been waiting 3 months to use it. I'm still trying to figure it out. I miss having a viewfinder. And I do hate how long it takes to load pictures right after I snap them. But the filters are really cool.

Shutter: 1/20
Aperture: f/4.4

-Jing

-june.

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Carpet

Whistler, BC, Canada

I really like the texture of the carpet here.

Shutter: 1/40
Aperture: f/3.7

-Jing

-june.

Monday, 21 December, 2009

Slopes

Whistler, BC, Vancouver

Taken with the pinhole function of my camera. It was actually a super sunny day.

SS: 1/1000
Aperture: f/11.0

-Jing

aww, guys, where have you all gone?

-june.

Sunday, 20 December, 2009

Splitz Burgers

Whistler, BC, Canada

My cousin devouring one. This place is amazing. We come here every year.

I always get my burger with:
a fried egg
cheese
mushrooms
sauteed onions
lettuce
tomatoes
sprouts (my brother always gives me crap for this one)
ketchup
splitz sauce

SS: 1/15
Aperture: f/3.5

-Jing

Saturday, 19 December, 2009

Watching trains

Whistler, BC

I took a whole series of pictures of the train but I couldn't seem to get the aperture right for any of them. :( I need to get the blurry background right! Ughhhh. Any tips, guys?

Shutter: 1/60
Aperture: f/4.6

-Jing

-june.

"All That Jazz"

The Esplanade, Singapore

Aperture: f/2.5

Shutter Speed: 1/10s

So this is my last night here in Singapore and I went down to the Esplanade in Singapore. There is a whole concert hall and outdoor performing area. The National University of Singapore Jazz Band held a concert. Good jazz and ambiance. Amazing venue with a full house.

- Jian

Friday, 18 December, 2009

Whistler Village

Whistler, BC

Pinhole function. Need to get better at using this too... I start getting distracted by the effects and my pictures just aren't as good!

1/800
f/11.0

-Jing

"The Art of Raising"

Botanical Gardens, Singapore

Aperture: f/1.7

Shutter Speed: 1/4000s

I love this sculpture. The Botanical Gardens is such a beautiful place.

- Jian

Thursday, 17 December, 2009

Papa

Vancouver, Canada

He loves this shirt. He also loves any hat that will: a) keep his ears and head warm, and b) embarrass my sister a lot. He accused us of hiding his hat this year.

Shutter: 1/13
Aperture: f/5.0

-Jing

"Score"

Ion Mall, Singapore

Aperture: f/5

Shutter Speed: 1/13s

Ah it's been a long time since this blog has been updated! My camera got serviced in time for my trip to Singapore.

Anyway I managed to score a free cup of Nespresso today!=)

- Jian

Wednesday, 16 December, 2009

The girls

Vancouver, Canada

SS: 1/30
Aperture: f/4.0

-Jing

Tuesday, 15 December, 2009

Kristin's Profiteroles

Vancouver, Canada

These things...are pretty much sinful.

SS: 1/50
Aperture: f/4.0

-Jing

Monday, 14 December, 2009

Frost

Vancouver, Canada

With the macro setting on my camera.

SS: 1/100
Aperture: f/5.0

-Jing

Saturday, 12 December, 2009

-june.

"Rajus"

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Aperture: f/9

Shutter Speed: 1/13s

Rajus is an Indian restaurant that serves breakfast and lunch. Not sure about dinner because we always eat there in the morning.

Really good food. The whole family loves it!

- Jian

Friday, 11 December, 2009

-june.

"Kiddo"

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Aperture: f/5.6

Shutter Speed: 1/40s

Isn't his ponytail cute?

- Jian

Thursday, December 10, 2009 (Fast)

-june.

Wednesday, December 9, 2009 (-)

"Progress of the Soul"

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Aperture: f/1.7

Shutter Speed: 1/2000s

Now and then a Lotus will sprout from beneath the murky soil in one of the pots in my garden at home. Beautiful. Anyhow some background info on the Lotus and Buddhism which I am going to just 'copy paste':

"The lotus (Sanskrit and Tibetan padma) is one of the Eight Auspicious Symbols and one of the most poignant representations of Buddhist teaching.

The roots of a lotus are in the mud, the stem grows up through the water, and the heavily scented flower lies pristinely above the water, basking in the sunlight. This pattern of growth signifies the progress of the soul from the primeval mud of materialism, through the waters of experience, and into the bright sunshine of enlightenment."

(http://www.religionfacts.com/buddhism/symbols/lotus.htm)

- Jian

-june.

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

-june.

Monday, 7 December, 2009

"Emptiness"

Conrad Hotel, Bali

Aperture: f/14

Shutter Speed: 1/250s

Ever get that sinking feeling when a holiday ends or everyone around you disappears?

- Jian

Sunday, 6 December, 2009

"Balancing Act"

Kuta, Bali

Aperture: f/2.8

Shutter Speed: 1/800s

Ok enough wedding stuff. The problem with staying in such a nice hotel, my mother said, is that you just don't see any reason to leave! Anyway, I thought I had to get a glimpse of Kuta even though it is more lively at night. It was mainly shops with cheap stuff but I wanted to capture the other side of Balinese life...the non-touristy side.

I wish I could have captured more of the ground but I only realised the composition was slightly off.

Nevertheless, serving good food and making it as hygienic as possible is a balancing act itself=)

- Jian

Saturday, 5 December, 2009

"Hustle and Bustle"

Conrad Hotel, Bali

Aperture: f/2

Shutter Speed: 1/2000s

These are the bridesmaids. Their purple dresses really made them stand out from the crowd.

I quite like this picture because it shows that weddings aren't always a cup of tea, especially for the bride's support crew. I think we were all heading up for a group picture.

- Jian

Friday, 4 December, 2009

"Celebration"

Conrad Hotel, Bali

Aperture: f/1.7

Shutter Speed: 1/20s

Sorry folks I've been away in Bali to attend a wedding! However, these pictures are date specific so it can be uploaded=)

Anyway, my cousin just got married in this amazing hotel in Bali. It was good fun mingling with the cousins and basically the family.

More to come!

- Jian

-june.

Winter

Swarthmore, PA

I am wondering how adaptable I really am.

Shutter: 1/40
Aperture: f/2.8

-Jing