RANDOM | After Show

Just a quick post to end the year 2007, which have been an interesting year, be it good or bad, still an interesting year.

Just like performing a big show, the curtain's drop for the year 2007, and there's a new "journey" to look into for the next year, i.e. 2008.


Having a break after performing a national performance.

Another photo taken from the EOS 300X last few years.

BRUNEI | WEDDING | Behind The Scene

Sunday is quite synonymous with functions, particularly weddings in Brunei.

Outside, people are waiting for the arrival of guests.


Whilst inside, there are people getting ready, preparing for the big event.

On the other note, it is interesting how nowadays, one can get so much information just by watching television, especially from those cable TVs. The type of info processed in one's mind depends on what they choose to watch, if you wanna gain knowledge, then knowledge you will get, and if one tend to choose otherwise, then, you will get what you seek for.

Of which, leads to some interesting myth, of our local "folklore".

Let's not go far, some case studies can be found during the wedding ceremony itself.

One of the reknown myths or kepercayaan during a wedding function, is for the bride/groom to throw/put their soiled undergarments on top of the roof, to prevent from raining!

Before we go into a conclusion, here are some interesting or intriguing facts/scenarios:

1. Is there any scientific explanation for this? Does the soiled undergarment not add up to the increase of CO2 i.e. the effect of global warming or anything watsoever, that it will counteract with the weather situation, hence preventing it from drizzling?
2. Does the thrown undergarment gonna be picked up later after the function? OR will it be just left as it is for the whole wide world to see? Perhaps, it can get famous if someone finds it thru Google Earth!
   
3. What if this person never wears any undergarment? What shall he/she throw out? Their pants? skirts? shirts? socks? shoes?
4. Imagine if due to some unforseen reason, the undergarment or the item slips, and drops to the ground, or worst to someone's head! It ain't gonna be funny, or it will! (eh what's that on your head? Nice Tudong eh! Eh atu karing sutungnya! Adeh mahal jua underwearnya atu!!)
   
5. There are in fact more stuffs that's on top of my head but I just don't wanna put it down, except this one, baik tah cakap melayu saja, memandangkan perkara ani selalu terjadi kebanyakkannya arah perkahwinan masyakarat Melayu, yang semestinya berugama Islam, jadinya, adakan dalam ugama yang menyatakan kitani mesti membuang seluar "inside" atas atap supaya inda ujan? Banar plang nya orang tua-tua catu, but kadangnya, ada perkara ani mesti jua kitani luruskan, pasal, kalau perkara yang salah, selalu kitani buat dan bila orang kan meluruskan, jangkal dan salah rasanya, sama jua sebaliknya.
6. Jadi, my point is, kalau sesuatu perkara atu ada dalam Islam, then ikutkan tia, mun nada, baik tah tinggalkan, bukannya apa, karang ditakuti kitani "percaya" kan Seluar dalam atu tia pulang ( nah tersabut tia perkataan dalam atu), sebab inda jua kitani kan mau terpesong daripada akidah kan, apa tah salahnya, berdoa plang supaya inda ujan, atau memohon supaya dipermudahkan kelancaran sesuatu perkara/acara atu, kan sanang.

Just imagine, if such act is really true, then the weatherperson will have some hard time, or easier time, as long as they throw away their undergarment to which ever place, then that place will receive no rain! Brilliant ain't it! Aduiii!

Ok my frens, might bring up more local folklore/ myths that need to be talked about, we will try to check if it is really a myth (so that it can be busted) or if it is really a fact.

Bah just remember, apa-apa ani atas kekuasaanNya jua.

Selamat berhari minggu, your last Sunday for this year. ;)

REVIEW | CANON EOS 300X + 28-90mm

Was sorting out some camera stuffs at home, and remembered that, I still have not finish the roll of film in my Canon SLR EOS 300X!

I remember the last time I used the camera was during Brunei's National Day Parade 2-3 years ago!!

So I just snap anything, and quickly developed the film in one of the camera lab at the capital.



The above photo was taken with the Canon EOS 300X; 28-90mm, scanned digitally by the photo lab, and I just convert it to Black & White.

A sample coloured photo taken with this camera can be found here.

I was quite amazed that, even after the 2-3 years, the film was still good & usable!

The camera itself is very light, easy to operate, FULL-FRAME (as opposed to some DSLR with 1.6 ~ 1.3 crop factor).

Convenient for traveling due to:

1. With the advancement of Digital Camera, the 35mm film negative can be bought cheaply almost any place in the world.
2. Need not panic if no power supply to recharge your batteries, as EOS 300X is using 2xCR2 batteries, which also can be bought it most camera shop everywhere.
3. No need to worry about inadequate disk space problem.

You can find many good reviews for the camera, just search for it online.

Despite its goodness, I'm thinking of selling this camera if there's anyone interested, might do a special post about it some day.

REVIEW | Leica R8 + Summicron 50mm f/2

This is just a quick simple review of how this machine performs at low light/ night time.

An earlier photo sample from this machine can be found here



The above photo is the actual photo from the Leica R8, where the film negative was developed then scanned digitally directly from the photo-lab, so from my side, there is no additional post-processing or 'watsoever', and it is a full-frame, real 50mm view.

This was taken some time ago during a night discussions.

As you can see from the photo, it is easier to focus as it is using a full manual focus system plus the large clear split-image view i.e. "parallax error system" , it performs brilliantly under a low-light situation, where some dSLR with AF find it difficult to focus perfectly.

As you might already know, the Leica R8 is a film SLR (thou you can buy the add-on digital back, so it can be used as a digital SLR, but with a hefty sum of about $9K!), anyway, the film used in this photo was the one with the ISO400, (can't find any higher one).

In short, this is a very nice camera if you are want to do a photography in a "relaxing" in-your-own-sweet-time photography, as it is a full manual camera, hence everything need to set accordingly before you can actually capture those moment.

Note: Not recommended for Wedding, unless if the subject has so much time in hand.

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