Punggol Marina

Driving

I drove to Punggol Marina today. I went there after I sent Su to school. My feet were hurting but I was adamant to do something about. Hence my code for the year "do something about it". Have not been successful the past few weeks to continue my "take photo in the morning routing".

Punggol Marina

Spent about an hour there. Wondered if I took some keepers home with me. The light was  flat and, admittedly, there are only so much you can "look see". The sun was not up yet, well it out but not up so even though the day was clear, the light was flat. I thought that it was a wasted trip. Anyway took some pictures, almost 4GB of them and there were keepers. Uploaded some into my flickr account.

Lens

I know I had promised Su that I would not buy a new lens but I did. I bought the Contax 28mm 2.8 for $465. I think I need to sell something. 

Will be reading today. Have my cup of coffee in front of me and my books. Will be reading Frankestine. Thats a thick book.

Slim.

Masai

Went to Masai last weekend. Stayed over from Friday midnight to Sunday morning. We went to Desaru from there via Pasir Gudang, managed to catch a soccer game at Pasir Gudang Stadium, ate a lot and had lots of fun drives in Dad's new Toyota Hilux. I managed to cause a slight indentation on my sister's car as I was reversing the Hilux. What a bummer. Had the best durians there and also lost of food.

There were several first in all that happened of course. It was our first away game, it was our first driving a Malaysian plated car, and it was our first drive into Pasir Gudang. It was our first more than 1 night stay at Dad's.

Adam made a toy.

Adam made a toy., a photo by Nor Salman on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
He joined a toy making class held in school.

This is the toy that he made with his grandmother. It is supposed to be a flapping bird but I think it is unfinished. Good job though.

Slim

Pasir Ris Park

Went to Pasir Ris Park yesterday. Went there with Su, Adam, Irsyad and Wan. It was a good walk for me except that my leg started to give way on the walk back. Irsyad was taught how plants and animals adapt to a different environment. Don't know whether he will remember what was taught. Adam was more interested though. Love the way, he took pictures using his iPhone. Also loved the way he recounts what he saw during the field trip.

Both he and Su want to set up an aquarium. Again. I hope this works.

Car in the workshop, engine overheating. Hope it will be a simple matter.

Slim

Me and Spong Bob

Me and Spong Bob, a photo by Nor Salman on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
Did not go shooting today. Have to read.

Carl Zeiss 45/2 G mount and Nex 5

I really have to read. Its this new module which focusses on Shakespeare on film. How adaptations are made and why. Focusing on technique and style. Includes lighting, costumes, camera angles/staging, sound, editing and so forth.

Will commence soon.

Slim

Men at Work

Men at Work, a photo by Nor Salman on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
At Changi Boardwalk.

Taken using KM 7D and SMC Takumar 28/3.5

It was 11.30 am. I was just getting ready to study when my newly bought SMC Tak called out to me. I could not resist but I did not know where to go.

I took out my KM, fixed the Tak on it and drove to Changi. I wanted to take some pictures of the Aloha Chalets but there were occupants in it. Out of the blue, I parked the car and decided to walk.

I went onto the board walk and reached the Kelong Walk. It was here that I saw a group of men resting in the shady hut. As I approached thinking that it must have been one of the worst mistakes in going there, one by one the men went into the water.

I walked quicker and begin to snapped away. Some even posed for me. As far as I can infer, there were Malaysians, Singaporeans, Indonesians and a Bangladeshi, all trying to put up Kelong poles.

I saw a sign that says NEA was erecting those poles and that the whole area was supposed to be closed off. Well, nobody reads signs anyways.

I snapped about a 100 more shots, but I could only see a few keepers. More pictures in my Flickr account.

Anyway, the moments I witnessed showed how much fun a person can have in their work. There was laughter and togetherness while the men was working. At least, I now have an inkling as to how those kelongs were built.

Slim.

Adam studying.

Adam studying., a photo by Nor Salman on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
KM 7D with SMC Takumar 55/1.8

This boy continues to amaze me. He is growing up so well. I took this while he is completing some assignments that I set for him. His maths test is coming soon and he way too over confident in doing his.

Wished he would slow down. Heck, I wished everything would slow down.

Slim

I am doing them.

For the past week, I have not gone shooting as much as I like. Probably due to my painful sole. But today, I did and I am very happy. Now, however, I need to study. I got class later.

Ultraman

Ultraman, a photo by Nor Salman on Flickr.

This is Ultraman.

Beautiful, no matter what or where.

Beautiful, no matter what or where., a photo by Nor Salman on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
Was looking at post cards when I noticed this Japanese lady strayed from her group and went to a shop selling modern Islamic clothes. She lingered for quite a while and that when I snapped a couple of pictures. I did not stay to find out if she did buy any.

I am really enjoying taking pictures again. I just went to East Coast today and took some pictures. Spent about an hour and came back home sweaty. Met a Malay fisherman reparing his net while still in his boat. Turned out that he knew my late uncle and my father as they stayed in Siglap together. Started fishing on his own in 1974 and still do. Referred to himself as Ultraman as he used to be wearing masks to keep out the sun and that is how he is known to the rest of the fishermen. Wow, I feel like I am recording a slice of people's life. Amazing, that is how I am feeling now.

Slim

Friendlies

Friendlies, a photo by Nor Salman on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
Prior to going for this morning shoot, I search the web as to how to do street photography. I cam across this site www.dannyst.com/ and it said to go over the fear of asking people's permission to take their pictures.
This couple was the first that I asked and because of them, i overcome my fear of talking to strangers! They were having breakfast, and I went to them, signalled with my hands that I wanted to take their pictures and they said yes. Not only do they said yes, they posed for me! Ha ha ha! This made me so happy! The pictures still turned out crappy by hey! It was a happy crappy picture!

Super TAK 35mm f3.5 @5.6

Green

Green, a photo by Nor Salman on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
Took this to see how the lens work. And it works great. Super Tak 35/3.5

I have been waiting for this lens for a long time. And when it came I was so surprised. Its so small! Its aperture ring is so thin that I could hardly grasps it with my forefinger and thumb.

I can't wait to try out the lens. I went to Changi Carpark number 7 and just before I hit the 40th frame, the camera black out. The batteries dead. I must remind myself to bring spares.

I love the size of this lens! I so am loving it that I just ordered the 28mm 3.5. That one is a bit expensive as it comes with the original hood.

Pic wise, I really can't say. I must say that when its focussed, it fantatstic. I still have yet to get the hand of manual focus,

The picture is heavily cropped. But this is the last time I am going to crop using photoshop. Iphoto is much easier. Anyways, as you can see, its very sharp. The reviews which I read says that this is much sharper than the 35/2. There was no sharpening done on the picture by the way.

Looking forward to tomorrow's morning photoshoot.

Slim

Inner Sleeve of Adele 21 Album.

Inner Sleeve of Adele 21 Album., a photo by Nor Salman on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
Sounds fantastic.

Su bought this yesterday. It cost almost $40. About the same price one can get in Ebay. I was motivated to listen to it that I moved my Marantz amp from my bedroom to the living room. Very sweet sounding. Mostly vocal biased and thats whats so cool about it. I mean you do want to hear Adele and not Rihanna right?

Slim

Lights

Lights, a photo by Nor Salman on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
Somebody forgot to bring the decorations down!

Went to Little India this morning. Went there for breakfast and also to help a friend to check the prices for a Leica camera. So happens that there none for sale there. So I proceeded for breakfast.

Not the best prata that I ate though but I did managed to take several pictures. While sitting down and having my breakfast!

O.k its past noon now and my plan was to shower and vist a friend in the hospital I beter get a move on because Adam will be back soon.

Hopefully I can cheer him up by bringing shopping for groceries later.

Slim

Almost done!

Almost done!, a photo by Nor Salman on Flickr.

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My life, my world.

We went to Punggol Riverside park yesterday. Adam tried out his newly repaired bicycle and Su tried out her newly bought bicycle. I guess they did enjoy themselves. I on the other hand spent the time looking for photo opportunities. Took some and well, you could say that it was a refreshing evening.

Slim

Boat

Boat, a photo by Nor Salman on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
I took this while at Upper Pierce.

This is another one that I took yesterday. Felt a sudden rush of excitement as the boat raced to the bank which was not more than 20 meters away from me.

Once there, i realised why there was such a haste. There is this idiotic man fishing in the reservoir. Stupid man! I mean, its a reservoir! Its where our drinking water comes from!

My left shoulder is hurting. I don't think I will be out today. It hurts evertime I move, My wife and son bought me a heat pack from the "pasar malam" the other day. I think I will try it to see if it works.

Slim

White flowers

White flowers, a photo by Nor Salman on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
I look up and there they were.

Went to Upper Pierce Reservoir today. Took some shots. Took over a hundred, could not make myself like more than 5. This is one of them.

Reached home at 10.30pm yesterday. Brought wifey out for supper at Mas Ayu. I like the food. I don't know if she did. I had mee goreng and she had Mee Hong Kong. I know its not encouraged to have late night meals but I have not had dinner and I think its better than eating chocolates in bed.

I hope that what she had would give her the sustenance for what she has in store today.

Had an interesting lesson yesterday. About incest! No no, incest is one of the themes in the play that I am reading. Tis a pity she is a whore...A disturbing play.

Slim

My latest

My latest, a photo by Nor Salman on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
Taken by Sony A-mount 30mm macro.

I just got this lens. It come together with a vivitar 105m but I have not the time to check out that lens, yet.

I like this one over my celtic 35mm 2.8 (I traded that in) because of the material that it is made off. Its heavier and the front element is so much impressive looking.

My dad came over the other day. He said he wanted to bring Adam to see Sarah. So he took Adam straight from school and brought both of them for dinner. As a result, Adam came back home around 6 and we did not go to Woodlands for his weekly religious classes. But since its assessment time, Wan gave the ok.

What else happened today? Er, oh. I need to settle Dad's insurance claimed over a minor kiss and run incident he had with a lorry last January. That means, I have to make some phone calls.

Hope I can get this done before Adam comes home today, and this should be in about 20 minutes.

Slim

Droplets on vines.

Droplets on vines., a photo by Nor Salman on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
Looking up.

I need to blog more. Or maybe, I need to take more pictures. I want to blog at least once a day.

I find that this is easier ever since I linked my flickr account to my blog. I just need to click on a button and presto!

So, today is Monday. What have I done since I woke up? Considering that I woke up at 1.15 am, I think I done quite a bit of driving. Oh, the driving have not stopped yet, my friend.

At 1.30 am I was in town picking my sis-in-law from work. Her bike broke down. Reached home at 2.30am. Felt asleep and then work up again at 5.00am. Drove my wife to Woodlands to pick my sis-in-law, then drove both of them to town. Reached home about 8.15am. Thought I would be exhausted but I could shut my eyes.

Showered, and now am getting ready to go to JB to top up petrol. Puji made me a cup of coffee, so that, hopefully should last me until lunch. Adam should be back home by then. He is having his assessments today. Goooo Adam!

Slim

Small mushroom

Small mushroom, a photo by Nor Salman on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
Took this by putting the camera on the ground.

Went to Sembawang Park this morning. Went there with Su's blessing Only managed to spent 1 and a half hours shooting. Out of the 179 pics manage to pick only 5 or 7...

Its ok! Thats what photography is about.
Now waiting for my mother-in-law, wifey, Adam and the rest to come back from swimming.

Am very happy with how the day is turning out.

Slim