Sunset

Lying underneath the stormy skies,
I know the sun must set to rise

Skies Clearing

I love seeing skies clear up after the rain. It's like the sky telling me.

"Everything's gonna be okay in the end" 

Taken today after an afternoon of rain

Slither of Hope

Was making my way to the temple today in the evening. The sky looks dark and overcast but along the way I see a streak of pink in the sky. And as I continued to drive, the pink gets brighter and brighter and boom, there was this big patch of pink in the sky. The sky looks gorgeous really. 

I don't know. I'm just suddenly thinking of hope. There's a slither of hope that can appear out of nowhere. Just like this patch of pink clouds that appear out of the dark and overcast sky. 

Necessity

"We seem to seek comfort in making our lives difficult and complicated.

We make ouselves believe that unhappiness is a necessity in our daily life.

When at the end of the day, you'll realise that no unhappiness is ever necessary."

Lost Souls

"We are lost souls wandering, finding the answers to the mountain of questions we have about our existence in this beautiful place we call life"

Photo taken at Arnastapi, Iceland.

Another Day

Another day in paradise

There was a beautiful sunset today. And well, it's been quite long since I see one. It's been raining almost everyday here, but thankfully the skies were clear most of the days for this week, and they cleared up in the late afternoons most of the time. Which means that great sunsets can make their way in the evening. I love taking photos of sunsets. They are a beautiful reminder of impermanence. They are a beautiful reminder for me to always smile for tomorrow as a day come to a close.

Anyway I'm going to start a new project this year. Since I took a photo everyday for last year, this time round I'm going to write one hundred stories, from photos that I took throughout the year! This project is called "Seratus Stories" which literally means one hundred stories. The problem is, I'm not sure if I should start a new blog (most probably tumblr) for this project, or should I just write it here and tag it inside so that I can find it easily. Both has a plus and minus point I suppose.

My tumblr is practically dead. Although I do occasionally surf through tumblr. I rarely do it now though. Managing a blog is already kinda difficult, now I have to manage two!

Alright this is my first story out of hundred. Stay tuned for more :)

Answers

There are some questions, I'll never want to answer

And some questions, I'll never want to know the answer to.

292

 Asemka

Well today is the 292nd day of the year and guess what, I just came up with a new resolution for this year to accomplish! Somehow I'm feeling excited to end this year hah.

Anyway I went to Jakarta yesterday with my sister to accompany her to the Asemka market. We were there to stock up some of the items for her bookstore. I went to Asemka a year ago too, it's an awesome place to do street photography cause there's too much things going on there! Very good for street-photog material. Above are some of the shots taken yesterday.

After Asemka we went to MKG to do some shopping. I went a bit overboard with the Japanese and Korean ingredients-haul but hey, I can't get all these stuff in my hometown so might as well get them while I was there yeah. We went to catch a movie too, it was "Left Behind" and we were truly disappointed after the movie. I recommend you not to watch it.

It's 12 more days to the end of this month and whew, time just seems to fly rather quickly really. But well, like I always believe, the year will just zoom past your eyes during the last three months of the year. At least this is what I've been experiencing for the past 10 years of my life hah. I don't know, I've went through a lot, and I'm kind of excited to see what this remaining days of the year have in offer.

Alright just a short update for you. Talk to you soon.

Embrace

Photo

Well as you can see from my previous post, I've been shortlisted (or my photo I mean) for the IFDPC (International Friendship Day Photography Competition) finals! So basically I submitted my photos, let people vote, top 30 photos will pass through the voting round and will be shortlisted for the judges to judge on and choose. And.... The verdict says....

I won the merit prize under the activity category! :D


I feel really happy after hearing my name from the announcer! Well actually I have no intention of winning. I just submitted my photos in hope for people to vote and who knows what the outcome is. Having my photo displayed there is enough to make me happy! Now that I took the merit prize as well, I feel doubly happy haha. It's pretty awesome. It's my first "large scale" photography competition so getting a merit prize is awesome enough I guess! :)

Anyway congratulations to Jasmine as well! Cause she won merit prize under activity too! :D Her shot is really awesome too! Not forgetting, to all winners and contestants of the photography competition as well! In one way or another, we all have contributed to the event and we all should be proud of it yes! :)

Well I've always told myself. Expect nothing, just do your best. In one way or another, something greater will be returned to you. Even though this "something" comes from within you. To me, like joy. After I've heard the result that I won the merit prize, I feel happy. And in the bus, after pondering about more things, I feel even happier. In a way... Like I'm given better and bigger prizes from the competition - Joy, memories, stories.

Let me show you the photo which I submitted, which is also the Editor's favourite.

-Sunset Joy-

For we cherish our hard work and friendship, through the planting of 1133 fir trees in Inner Mongolia, China. With the sunset, joining in the celebration.

This photo was taken by me after we finished digging our holes for the trees. I can remember still, the sky was kinda cloudy and I was thinking "Oh man no nice sunset to celebrate our end of diggings". Then at the end of the day, the sky just turned yellow and quite clear. Everyone decided to get up to the railway track (yup that's a railway track by the way) and I decided to help them snap a shot. And here it is.

You know, when I saw this photo being displayed under the "Editor's choice" panel, I just felt this unexplainable sense of joy and pride. Well not only because my photo has been chosen, but I'm even prouder with the fact that I was there to take this photo, and also to actually know the story and memories behind this photo. A photo is not a photo when there's no story behind it. Well that's what I believe.

I came up with this today:

"It's not the prize, it's not the fame. Not the pride and not the competition that matter. What truly matters is the story and memories behind that the photo holds"

When I saw this photo just now, a wave of memories just rushed through in my head. It was as if the whole scene, in Duolun, just appeared in front of my eyes. Even tough in front of me is this black board with tiny photos on them. I guess this is how much this photo means to me. In a sense, I love this photo because it captures, it freezes, it stops the moment, that moment, we had after we finished digging.

It replays the memories I have about the trip. It restarts the feeling I was feeling during that particular moment of time. It just takes me to a place where I was once at, without moving a single step.

This is the reason why I love photography.

Photographs are boats which I used to sail the sea of memories that time forbids me to travel back. I'm pretty grateful that I have the love and passion for photography. Thankful enough to own a camera to capture these moments which are never retrievable back. It lets me travel back through time, without physically moving. But mentally walking.

Photos in one way or another evoke feelings on me. To me, my definition of a great photograph is something that evokes emotions. Be it sadness, happiness, anger or etc. It touches your heart, not only your eyes and your mind. Well it can keep you thinking, But not all photographs have the ability to touch your heart. 

Here's another photo which was displayed.

-Game of yo-yo in Duolun-

It’s a cold autumn evening. And some kids are playing yo-yo at Duolun in Inner Mongolia, China. Life’s simplest pleasure which is seemingly lost in today’s world. Sometimes I envy these kids, who are able to enjoy such simplest and at the same time, joyous pleasure

This was also taken in Duolun, while I was walking around. If I'm not wrong it was the 2nd day of digging when we went back earlier due to bad weather (which somehow somewhat it was fine and clear in Duolun -.-). These kids were just playing their games of yo-yo and I decided to take a picture of them. They look so happy and blissful. It's just a yo-yo, while kids here, nowadays, indulge themselves in iPhones, iPods, PSP and this and that. 

To me this photograph teaches me something - to not take life for granted. I seriously feel envious of these kids. They are able to enjoy such simple pleasures, while I'm here, looking for those simple pleasures. So I guess, we ought to take some good breaks in life. It's not about being the best, having the best, going for the best. Somehow at the end of the day, simplicity brings us back to where we're supposed to be.

Ah, what a long post huh. Anyway I just want to use this opportunity to thank everyone who has voted for my photo, and to SPP for holding this competition. To all the organisers of the IFD and to all students involved in it. To my awesome GT members for being my models in the first photo, and also for giving me those wonderful memories we all spent in Duolun for that lovely 10 days.

To my dearest girlfriend, A230, for being there with my eyes to capture those moments (muacks). To those kids from Duolun who were playing their yo-yos haha! To Green Desert project by Asian Journeys and SP, for allowing me to step into Inner Mongolia. Without this, I will never be able to take these two shots.

Most ultimately, to Duolun itself. That beautiful town where I shot both of my photos at. Thank you for the wonderful memories you have given me, which I always keep in my heart. For letting me take these two scenes, which teach me lots of new things. 

Thank you.