But the world moves on

2008-04-18T10:09:00.000-07:00

China Obsucra

I had the leisure of being able to attend a Chinese New Years event hosted by the military stationed in the city. I love the over dramatization and the soldiers 'happy faces' as the chef waves the giant cooking utensil around.

The frame really needs someone in it. The chairs and ladder must be feeling lonely.

The street cleaners pile ice over the drains. The ice is so dirty that it is black.

Friendly kids from the country side who acted as a tour guide for a little bit. The trip there made it a very memorable Chinese New Years eve day. Its funny cos the boy in the back is wearing a jacket that says FOB in giant letters on the back.

At the railway station. He looked anxious.

In the countryside. She was really friendly too but couldn't really establish dialogue cos I fail badly at the local dialect.

Chinese apartment balcony level. There was some sort of prostitution going on in the background whilst these two children were conversing.

A HuTong in Beijing nestled behind some gigantic shopping centres. The mops looked like they were floating in mid-air and the afternoon light was beautiful. Maybe it'd work better in colour.

Washing laundry in the countryside. The water that day would've been absolutely freezing.

Badass looking mofo participating in the CNY parades.

An inscription for new found love or lost love. I wonder.

A game of Chinese Chess being played by some keen enthusiasts in the HuTongs.

At the country side just below the vast mountain ranges of XiLin.

I wonder what was on his mind. We shared an empty block of land, him on one side and me on the other. I watched him for a good while and not once did he pay any attention to what was going on around him.

The 3 people across the road were just watching this cleaner work. Odd moment.

Construction worker in the Beijing subway network.

He looked stressed out and very deep in thought. Hes walking onto the bridge behind me. I didn't look back as he walked by.

2008-04-18T09:14:00.000-07:00

I first read of Henri-Cartier Bresson the week he died in the back story of Time Magazine. It talked of his life and the contributions he made to photojournalism. The article also introduced to me the idea of the 'decisive moment' in photography, which has an overwhelming influence on the way I look at, and take photos today.

Above is the photo that was published along with the article. It struck me as a very intriguing and powerful image. At the time I had little concept of what a good photo consisted of, but nevertheless, with the dark blocks in the 'sky' and the fat man in the dark suit lingering ominously over the children in the foreground, I found the photo highly captivating.

Later, I found the documentation of the human condition and the everyday most inspiring. Thus the reason for hauling around over a kilos worth of camera on almost every opportunity I get.

To find those fleeting and non-contrived moments in life, and to capture them so beautifully is truly an amazing art. More than that, the record it leaves behind for humanity and the issues it can bring to surface in a society is both powerful and relevant.

Heres a handpicked selection of Bresson's amazing and pioneering work.

2008-04-18T08:50:00.000-07:00

Ah Tenjho Tenge, what a fucking badass manga.

And heres a wallpaper I made for it when it was just released a couple of years back.
3Ds Max imported render on the right and Photoshop. Makes me wanna get back into wallpapering all over again.

2008-04-18T08:39:00.000-07:00

Thom Browne S/S08

2008-04-13T03:31:00.001-07:00

Uber was too tricky to fiddle around with and blogspot seems just as effective in delivering what I want but without all the visual gimmicks and whistles.

Just wanna upload some photos and indulge myself in some blogging from time to time.

Anyways heres a photo I took in Sydney last year. The NAB sponsored some kinda sculpture exhibition along Bondi beach.

I like how the kid's shorts and tops match and the overall movement in the frame.

Last Saturday we went to Dulwich and had a wander around. I bought a 1940s physician bag from this antique seller. She's had the store for 25 years and it is quite an amazing place to walk into. She didn't want us taking photos in her store but after some persuasion, she was willing to be photographed. The 500mm is hard to use in such confined spaces and I'm still coming to grips with the shallow DOF.

A statue for sale across the road from GG's cafe.

JJ Holmes at the WBHF 'reunion' lunch at the Exeter a week or two ago. His fro's coming along well.

The ex-team leader taking a quick break from work to join us.

Yesterday after coming home, my neighbours cat was wandering around the driveway. I never liked her much but she really wanted some attention today.

The weddings were going off on Saturday afternoon. These two classy gentlemen didn't mind posing for a photo. The driver even offered to straighten up the wheel of his limo. The Pepsi can in his friend's hand put me off at first but I think it adds a nice comical feature to the shot.