Tag: street photography

Raise The Black Monopod

I was taken aback by the sheer number of monopods fighting with joss sticks for space at this temple procession. The new crowdscape of raised cameras is an inevitable sign of the times, I suppose. For the uninitiated, a monopod is a one-legged telescopic camera stand, as opposed to the three-legged tripod.

Many of the dSLR video shooters were using monopods to get a higher P.O.V. or simply to get above the crowd. The trend will become even more prevalent as more new cameras come with remote control and monitoring via smart phones.

The street parade was part of the annual Taoist Chingay festival at the old Chinese Temple in Jalan Trus, JB. Title inspired by “Raise the Red Lantern” by Zhang Yimou.

Olympus OM-D, ISO 320, f6.7, 1/1000 sec.

#chingay #jb #johor #taoism #procession #streetphotography #jossticks #monopods

The Earth Laughs In Flowers ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

In the old and strange area behind Loke Yew that is Jalan Jubilee (named after King George V’s Silver Jubilee in 1935, presumably ), I saw a quaint cottage with its roof acting as a flower trough. Looked so lovely.

Panasonic Lumix GM-1, ISO 320, f16, 1/100 sec.

#flowers #roof #house #streetphotography

The Mamak Stall – Celebrating A Malaysian Institution

The roadside mamak stall is such a unique Malaysian institution. A convenience many take for granted until they migrated elsewhere. It can pop up under a tree and it is a great place to find food and drinks in a seeming remote neighbourhood. I was in a strange place behind Jalan Loke Yew with my friend Thiru Nash.

The red leafed iced tea in a scratchy plastic glass. Famous teh tarik or hot pulled tea is another favourite. The characteristic tray with soy sauce and pepper shakers, with another holding toothpicks. It prompts you to order ‘telur setengah masak’ (half boiled eggs) or maybe a roti.

Missing here are the ready packed nasi lemak and bee hoon. I wished there were fallen and dried leaves on the table to add character but the umbrella attached to each table does its job.
There is also another container with spoons and signature cheap forks with crooked or bent prongs. And free tissue papers or serviettes which we will never get at a Chinese coffee shop. And finally, there are other loafers and lepakians too.

I switched to Apeture Priority to include the other loafers at the back. At f22, the focus went from the ice cubes in my iced tea, to all the way to the back. There are technical things to think about at a mamak too.

Panasonic Lumix GM-1, ISO 2000, f22, 1/60 sec.

#roadside #mamak #stall #tea #streetphotography

Wanton Act

You can’t please everybody. Someone asked me what the noodles and kelondong drink looked like. Good thing I turned around and ‘stole’ or ‘curi’ a shot from the neighbouring table before we ordered.
I asked permission from the strangers though. The proximity of tables in this crowded restaurant means, we being first timers, could hear and cue in on what everyone were ordering. Restaurant 168 is non-halal.

Panasonic Lumix GM-1, ISO 320, f4, 1/200 sec.

#restaurant168 #pudu #wantonmee #wonton #noodles #foodphotography #chinesefood