Parseltongue

Hello world,

Here is another post about snakes. This one reminds me of a specific scene in a widely popularised movie, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. Yes, I did just go there.

(Taken with a Lomo LC-A+, Berlin) 

Till later world. 

Monkey Business

Hello world,

I love monkeys. Be it orang-utans, chimpanzees, howler monkeys or any other kind, I think they are amazing. We are freakishly alike. Due to this resemblance I feel towards them, I always find it strange, awekward, uncofrotable to see monkeys in cages or chained. Zoos fascinate me. The animals, what you can learn about them there. At the same time though, there is that uneasy feeling.

Here is a photo of a lovely little primate in a cage, eating an ice cream...

(Both taken in Thailand using a Nikon D300) 

As 'cute and adorable' as it may seem to people that the monkey is eating 'human food', it really is not a suitable diet for it. Ha! It's not exactly healthy for humans either (states the person who is a big fan).

Have a great weekend,
Till later world.

Lazy Day

It is Sunday today. A day of rest, anticipation of what the coming week will bring and of course a day of doing all those things you should have done before. For those organized few, may you have a terrific Sunday. Be lazy, be merry, and be “happy like a hippo”*!

 (This is a photo taken in the Berlin Zoo using Lomo LC-A+)

Till later world. 

*Please note that this quote is taken from a movie I recently watched with my family, “Along came Poly”. 

Happy Mistakes

Happy mistakes in analogue photography are a thing of beauty. The effects from mistakes can be quite remarkable. Of course some may ruin the photo, but usually if you just look at it from a different perspective, leave the ordinary behind, you will find something special.

(Photo taken in the Berlin Zoo using Lomo LC-A+)

The mistake in this photo came about from a wrongly wound film in the camera. As a result it can be viewed either horizontally or vertically, giving odd views on the reality. Vertically, the elephant is standing on top of a wall with rodents, looking fierce and powerful. Horizontally, the photo depicts a rodent habitat, with an elephant magically suspended on a vertical wall, sideways. In photos like these, you really can interpret them in whatever way you wish you. Let your imagination run wild!

P.S. Don’t forget the random pigeon on the right =) 

Till later world. 

My love for Lomography

My love for lomography and the vibrant photos that come out from using different films first begun at Christmas 2010 when my sister got me the Lomography Fisheye (watermelon edition). A year and a bit down the line I have acquired many more cameras, developing my skills and creativity. 

Starting out with my fabulous fisheye, I took pictures of just about everything. Of course, some of them (if not most at the beginning) did not come out as well as I would have hoped but then there were those few that made my weeks. I think that’s what I love most about taking analogue pictures, that not all are perfect, but when you do get a good picture, it blows your head off. 

(Two things I love :P taken with the fisheye camera) 

Lomo LC-A+. Ah the colours! This camera is capable of making any old, boring scene rich with colours and effects. The feel of the pictures, mood and atmosphere is always alive, no matter what film and setting are used. This black (well depending on what edition you got) beauty can take pictures at night, morning, sun or no sun due to its built in sensor (it opens the shutter automatically for however long it needs to be opened). All you need to do is set the ISO of the film and snap away! 

(Monkeys at the Berlin Zoo taken with Lomo LC-A+)

My Fujifilm Instax Mini camera brings be photos here and now wherever I am. The photos are a brilliant credit card size that I can take with me on my trips, day to day or simply hang above my bed. Great for taking portraits of people.

What I really love about shooting with my Lubitel 166+ is that I have to do everything myself to get the photo I want. I need to set the aperture, the shutter speed and the focus. I then get to use the skills on my digital camera, having learned what ISO, shutter speed and so on are all about. 

My beloved Diana F+ (CMYK edition) was lost during a very special night out in Hong Kong. May it rest in peace. (Or hopefully someone has found it and is using it to spread the love for LOMO :)) 

(Colourful chairs of India taken with the Diana F+)

Overall my experience with film cameras has been exciting and rewarding. Exciting in that you never fully know what the photos will come out like and rewarding when the photos come out exceptional. I have recently been rummaging through my parents’ cupboard and found the remarkable Nikon F70 which I now plan to explore.

Those of you out there reading my blog, do share your photo stories, digital or analogue =) 

And this is the girl who got me into all of this =)

(This photo was taken in Bangkok, on our way to the Bangkok Lomography store. The street had Lomography stickers up until the store, leading the way to the photographer’s little paradise.)

Till later world.