Picture of the Day - Jungfraujoch
Thursday, September 28, 2006

After enjoying the Jazz Festival at Montreux, we went to Interlaken to see the Jungfraujoch. We were lucky to have a clear day during the ascent. We didn't climb up the Jungfrau, of course; we took a train, a train that stopped at the Jungfraujoch railway station. Yes, right at the door step of the mountain. There is an ice palace in the Jungfraujoch but it didn't interest me much since I had been to the Ice Hotel while I was in Kiruna, Sweden.

I want illustrate the scale of the mountain in this picture. Look at how small Man looks.

posted byWilliam at 2:08 PM 0 comments  

Starlight Cinema - American Dreamz
Wednesday, September 27, 2006

The evening was spent at the Padang watching American Dreamz under starlight with Junyi, Kaixin and Janice. Well, not much stars actually; the haze was bad.

We arrived at the Padang at 1900 and the show, which was scheduled to start at 2000, commenced 20 minutes late. From the second picture, you can see that the field wasn't very crowded at 1900 but it gradually filled up.

posted byWilliam at 11:17 PM 0 comments  

Photo Essay - Montreux Cruise
Saturday, September 23, 2006

posted byWilliam at 9:14 PM 0 comments  

Picture of the Day - Rhine Falls
Thursday, September 21, 2006

I took this picture on a walking trail from the Rhine Falls, that leads along the Rhine River, to the Town of Schaffhausen.

Rhine Falls is located in Schaffhausen, Switzerland. I think this town is more German than Swiss since it is surrounded at three sides by German territories and the US thought the same as me. During World War II, this neutral Swiss town was mistakenly bombed by the US.

We stayed in a hostel located in Schloss Laufen Castle. The view from the hostel is not super fantastic; but I will always remember the roaring waters that accompanied me through the cool night in the hostel dorm. Hmmm... I think I will show more pictures of the surroundings since this picture doesn't give justice to the largest water fall in Europe.

posted byWilliam at 11:40 PM 0 comments  

Tribute Entry
Monday, September 18, 2006

Here is a tribute to all my friends who have attained great academic and leadership acheivements recently. All news are extracted from USP eBulletin. Issue 38. Sep 2006.

1. Yingkit won the Impromptu Speech Competition in Taipei some time back this year. I got to know the news from this latest USP newsletter. A late congrats to you, pal.
2. Also, congrats to Danwei, who is awarded Joanna Wong Gold Medal Award for being the best graduating scholar. Of course, he is a super nice and intelligent guy. Click here to read about USP Commencement 2006.
3. Reuben, who displays all the traits of a brilliant psychologist although he is an undergraduate. Read about his recent happenings here.
4. Junyang, who is now a Physics PhD candidate in Penn State U. Nope, he's not nerdy at all; in fact, he's quite a happening guy. Hope to do pull-ups with you again!
5. Fumin, who is the newly elected President for the 6th University Scholars Club (USC) Management Committee. Will support you always!

posted byWilliam at 7:49 PM 0 comments  

Lucky 7
Sunday, September 17, 2006

I have been tagged by Shiqian to write 7 facts about myself in some categories, any categories. I thought it is a good time to reflect and consolidate what I know about myself.

7 random facts
1. I have a short attention span for novels. I have read less than 10 novels in my life.
2. I'm a self-help junkie (tagged on me by Grace).
3. I have had different interests and hobbies over the past 10 years. Secondary school days: neuro-linguistic programming; JC: bodybuilding, middle distance running; Army days: magic, middle distance running (gave up being a hard-core gym rat); Uni days: leadership, photography.
4. I have learnt almost all my interests and hobbies skills from books.
5. I never had good skills with ball games.
6. I never liked to play musical instruments. I memorized how to position my hands during the recorder test in primary school.
7. I used to be able to swim 1.5km and was a basic life-saver.

7 Likes
1. Helping people even when, sometimes, it is at the expense of my own interests. My mum said I was plain silly.
2. Spending the whole Saturday afternoon with coffee and books (not novels though!).
3. Doing clean-ups. Dishes, rooms, floors...
4. Culinary stuff.
5. The feeling of being breathless after running (kind of crazy...).
6. Portrait and travel photography.
7. Sleeping: I take naps whenever possible.

posted byWilliam at 6:11 PM 0 comments  

Picture of the Day - Graffiti Art
Wednesday, September 13, 2006

The East Side Gallery (ESG) is a famous landmark in Berlin, Germany. I think ESG is overrated and almost all the graffiti art pieces are defaced. A local told me about an amazing place where artists still hang out. This wonderful piece of art is found in this recommended underground graffiti gallery not far away from my hostel. It depicts the desire of the artist with regards to the 2006 World Cup finalists: Germany versus Brazil. I think the Brazilian player is Ronaldinho Gaucho. Not too sure about the German player. Can anyone identify him from the picture?

Thank you for the comments in my previous posts. They have helped me sort out my random rattles and trespassing thoughts.

posted byWilliam at 10:49 PM 0 comments  

Picture of the Day - Window
Tuesday, September 12, 2006

Burano has lots of photographic sights. One of Nikon Master Classes brings photographers to this island which has lots of colorful houses, white roofs and eventful small streets. I had time to walk around the backyards and discovered this sight. Very nice red flowers on a blue wall. I would love to return and spend more time shooting. The 1.5 hours spent in Burano was just too little.

posted byWilliam at 11:19 PM 1 comments  

The Issue of Attraction (cont.)

Like an anonymous reader mentions in the previous post, the "appearance" element of attraction that is important when we first meet someone will not be as important as the information we find out later. Of couse, I would admit that the first thing I think about - but the last thing I ask - about gals I would like to meet is how do they look? I don't want to appear carnal, shallow, or immature, but this is really the first thought that comes to mind. I'm still growing in this area, but I do understand that, though attraction is important, the features that initially attract me to a gal are the least important in qualifying her for spending my life with her.

As I reflect on very good persons in my life, they may not be overly attractive, but I still think fondly of them. It dawned on me that when I have known a person for a long time, I don't really see his/her appearance as much as I see the real person.

At the end of the day, I think all of us should be with someone who is a good person inwardly and AT LEAST not repels you outwardly. We should be attracted to the person we be with eventually.

We may trust a sincere person, but does he have the character to keep his word?

posted byWilliam at 8:01 PM 2 comments  

Badly Taken Pixs
Monday, September 11, 2006

My alarm was set at 0830 but the messiness of my shelves bugged me through the night. I woke up at 0730 to pack the room. I chanced upon a pretty dusty box at the top of my book shelf. Time has erased this box from my memory. Ironically, this box revive memories. It contains a collection of badly taken pictures from my JC to NUS-USP freshman orientation camp. I never displayed them since many were out-of-focus, underexposed, have unclear subjects, chopped head and limps... I immediately took out an empty album and filed them. I can't bear to see them grow mouldy in the dusty box.

There are some badly taken pictures that mean more than well-taken pictures. It's the memories, no matter how trivial and a bit out-of-focus, that matter in this box.

posted byWilliam at 9:11 AM 0 comments  

The Issue of Attraction
Sunday, September 10, 2006

I heard a story. A story about attraction.

She and her first love broke up ages before, and both got attached to other people. They haven't seen each other for years, yet she fondly remembered their relationship and attributed its failure to her own immaturity at the time.

She received a call from him. He has been trying to find her for a long time. Both were single again and had been years. They were married last year. She said, "He is not the perfect man by any means, but he loves me the way I've always wanted to be loved."

The depth of her words went to my core. Have we sacrificed the love she described due to what might have been superficial considerations? After all, ladies want someone finer, richer, stronger, taller, funnier... men want someone prettier, slimmer, more demure... Shall I go on? The fact of the matter, there will always be someone finer, richer, stronger, taller, funnier, prettier, slimmer, more demure... whatever. But the question is will they want you? Will they have the capacity to love you the way you want to be loved?

I think I have been emphasized and promoted traits that are good and necessary for stability and security. Character traits, I should say. Being dutiful, honest and having integrity are desirable qualities - but they aren't exciting. Maybe all women want these characteristics in a mate, but these are not what initially attract a woman to a man. We will never hear a group of women comment on a man who has just entered the room with "Check him out! He's so faithful, so full of integrity, so honest..." (To be continued..)

posted byWilliam at 11:08 PM 4 comments  

Picture of the Day - Sunset

I was at the hawker center near my flat yesterday. The BBQ seafood hawker was frying massive amount of chilli and the pungent fragrance choked many people. It brought back memories when I was preparing curry in Lund. My corridor mates were always choked by the pungent spices as I fried them over low heat. To make matter worse, there was very little ventilation to let in/out air since it was so cold outside.

Pure visual experiences yesterday at the Central National Library: I went to the Yim Chee Peng's photography exhibition with a theme on Singapore landscape (Level 10) and the World Press Photo 90 Exhibition (Level 7 & 8). The late afternoon was spent at Esplanade Library where I attended a talk organized by NUStudios on assembling a team of cast for short films.

Thanks for all the interests in my convocation portrait project. At this preliminary stage, keep a lookout for locations that you would like to have your portraits taken.

Above. A cloudless sunset at Santorini, Greece. Specifically, the village, Oia, was where I witnessed the sunset. It was crowded! It was as if the entire island's population was waiting for the sunset. The whole sky is a furnace. I can only imagine that with a few wisps of cloud, the sky would look as if it's on flame. A couple sworn their wedding declarations and it was so romantic!

posted byWilliam at 2:37 PM 0 comments  

Sports Day
Thursday, September 07, 2006

I was reluctant to play at sports day when I was allocated to play basketball (BBall) since I never had good ball sense; I'm just afraid of losing face. Surprisingly, I enjoyed myself at the sports day. I had no complains although I was allocated to play BBall when I signed up for Captain's ball. New friends made and new bonds formed at the court.

Yu3 Zhen4, if I don't remember the name wrongly, is an experienced player and he gave us lots of guidance on the court. In first 15-min half, I just ran up and down the court chasing the ball; so did most of the other players. There was no strategy. In the second half, Yu3 Zhen4 strategized a man-marking scheme and we managed to regain 6 points in a row during the first 5 min. Even though we lost to the staff team, I really enjoyed the feeling of panting badly and sweating profusely in the 100% humidity 30 degrees Celcius weather. I think the rest of the 44 fellow course-mates must have enjoyed themselves too. Many had the chance to know that-unknown-gal/guy who has been in the same course for three years. At least I had!

Ah, another interesting new friend is an Indian who speaks super fluent Chinese; he is Leonard, who is a full-time teaching assistant. I met him during my CM1101 TA duty today and he tried to speak to me in Chinese. I think I must be hearing things and I continued to speak to him in English in the lab. (If you know me, I WILL speak Chinese if the other person initiates a conversation in Chinese.) It's only in the staff club that I overheard him speaking Chinese then I know he spoke to me in Chinese. Gosh! He has been learning and speaking for over 30 years! No wonder, he is this good.

There was a lucky draw and as always, no exceptions for the past 23-years: I didn't win. The staff teams beat us in every game. They are good. Prof Sam Li, who is my supervisor, is quite fit. I saw him running up and down the soccer pitch while many took a slower pace. Prof Andy Hor announced at the end of the event that there will be re-matches; I'm looking forward to them.

Sports photography is not easy. I have heard tips on putting the camera on burst mode and seive out the junks at the end. I was wondering about the focusing of the scene. If the players are running about so rapidly, wouldn't it be difficult to accurately focus on the subject on burst mode? Afterall, this is my first attempt at sports photography. I shouldn't be too critical. Shall improve in the future.

I didn't take my wide-angle lens to school. I'm stuck with 50mm and 70-200mm which are far too narrow for group portraits. Darn, going to bring the 12-24mm to school next week. Just in case I need it sometimes.

Talking about portraits. I talked to Junie about convocation portraits since she had hers taken after she got her Bachelor. I'm trying to find out more about these portraits since I have plans to take pictures for my friends after Commencement. Gotta research on the contemporary styles, the locations (since I don't have access to a studio), lighting techniques, posing (the toughest of all)... Well, I have got 10 months to do it, should be enough time.

In any case, if you are keen to join in this outdoor convocation portrait project of mine, feel free to contact me. I will gladly work out your best album within my ability. Or if you want to spend $300+ on that album, do speak to a professional photographer. Mine is free, just be my model and pay for all the printings.

posted byWilliam at 11:34 PM 4 comments  

SEP Exhibition 2006
Monday, September 04, 2006

I went to the NUS SEP exhibition to have a look. Here are some pictures from the exhibition area. I thought some consolation prize winners of the photography competition could have gone up to better positions. Nope, I didn't enter the competition. The theme and requirement of the competition doesn't fit my style. Or maybe I should say I don't have any pictures that fit the requirements of the competition.

All pictures taken are with Nikkor 50mm f1.8 with aperture wide open. I'm beginning to love this little baby lens.

posted byWilliam at 10:19 PM 2 comments  

夜之蓝园

posted byWilliam at 2:12 AM 1 comments  

Picture of the Day: For Beer
Sunday, September 03, 2006

I totally enjoyed the performance put up by Anita and Esther yesterday. It's another valuable photographic learning experience for me too. The challenges were that the lighting was changing quite frequently and the spot-light was harsh on the performers' face.

While I organize and touch-up the photos from yesterday. Here's another picture I took during my Europe tour. Enjoy.

posted byWilliam at 11:45 PM 0 comments  

Picture of the Day - Silhouette Sunset @ Vienna
Saturday, September 02, 2006

I will be going for Anita's performance at YJC tomorrow. I'm quite excited and looking forward to hear, for the first time, Anita's twin sister powerful vocal. In the mean time, I have nothing much to update. Hopefully, I can get a video of their performance and post it here. Of course, not to forget pictures of the event.

posted byWilliam at 12:10 AM 0 comments