Filed under: Musings
I miss this terribly. Sitting at Starbucks by a full window with the sun coming through. A green field beside me. Hot Venti-sized Peppermint Mocha and buttery apple turnover at hand while typing lazily, thoughts to myself, on my blog. Satisfied sigh.
I think I need more moments like this. Where I’m satisfied and happy. Where I’m not thinking about work but about what I want to do with my life. And then to do it. Dig in. With gusto and with my hands all dirty.
2011, I’m ready for you. 
Filed under: Friends
So I’ve been missing for 3 whole months now. Here’s why.
September was a madhouse month. The renovation of Sanctum, my workplace, with its scraping, painting, dusting, moving, shifting, sticking, nailing, twisting, bending, were just some of the routine moves – like some twisted yoga class. From the break of morn to the dead of the night, I was at the shop, constantly trying to bring out the best from the derelict canvas I had.
Not without it’s hiccups and some surprising lack of support, I felt totally burned out by the end of the month. Aesthetically, I had quite a firm idea that was kinda unconventional. I wanted to work with the texture of the walls and unusual shades, so I went for a cave-grey look in the workshop space, and a surprising mint green in the retail area. A few have questioned the choice, and made me waver, but I think I needed to continue that vision. Now that the shop is 70% of what it should be like, and though reactions have been mixed, I can only say that I did the best I could with what I have been given. And typing this out now, I realise I’m happy with that.
From October to recent days, it has been another whirlwind that led up to Hannah & Han Thon’s wedding on 14th November. I have to admit that this was my most challenging weddings to date but as a result, I gained a lot of experience from it.
An outdoor wedding at Fort Canning Green, the gathering of 130 was awash in flashy pinks and spring greens against a backdrop of ivory and grass green. All fatigue was forgotten when the bride and groom made their spectacular entrance down the stairs and the crowd left their seats to gather and clap at one edge of the tentage. And the peonies! Coral sunset petals generously open, with bright yellow centres and pollen heads dancing merrily. A perfect centrepiece bloom for the perfect wedding.
Thank you to all who have helped me orchestrate this, and shame on those who made things difficult for the couple! Folks, it’s not easy to whip up an extra chair just because you decided to bring someone extra, and for goodness sake, please use the internet or your invite for getting to the location instead of calling the bride or groom for directions on the day itself. They’re not exactly sitting around with nothing to do ya know?!
Congrats once again to Hannah & Han Thon! May your union be generous with love, and may growth be upon you every step of the way. Let no one tell you how to do the things you do, especially if they are not the sort to have walked in your shoes before. Much blessings and happiness!
The perfect coral bloom for the perfect union.
Filed under: Musings
There’s a pattern I see around me.
All too often, someone will start a conversation and the other will just go, “huh?” The first person then goes ahead and repeats himself and then it goes forward. Given the scenario takes place in a noisy market or a busy roadside, I can understand why the initial starter got lost. But when this takes place in a quiet cafe or a spa, I wonder why the listener responds with a, “huh?” Especially when they have obviously heard it, by responding to the first while he is repeating himself.
Is it all too much a reflex on our part?
Filed under: Musings
So this Japanese gentleman comes up to our shoppe doorstep and starts taking pictures of Dora with his vintage Rollei. An exiting customer provides the chance for Dora to escape from the unwanted paparazzi and she slinks in. Aforesaid silver-haired gentleman asks us for permission to enter the shoppe to carry on his mission and we gladly let him, charmed by his quiet determination. Kakak the natural model perched by the stairs, the obvious target for many a public photogrpaher when she was outside but he paid her no heed. Instead, he spends 5 mins pursuing his elusive subject, before she returned outside and he went at it for another good 15 minutes. Shortly after he finished, he opened the door to thank us as well as to let us know that if he got good shots, he will pass us a copy.
I haven’t met a photographer in a long time. A real one who asks permission before taking pictures when he might be in a private space. A real one who pursues his subject, intent on getting his perfect shot even if he needs half an hour. A real one who sees and brings out the beauty of the subject, because he connects with it, not because he’s just trying to capture something interesting for his portfolio.
Accessible technology has given many the ability to be aspiring photographers. And I don’t begrudge them that. But the culture of the photographer and their integrity may be eroding away, as I see teenagers busily snapping at everything and anything that can possibly be deemed as beautiful.
Skill is quickly replaced by chance, as the technologically-enable amateurs sweep the area in their hunt for something that will make people go, “Wow that’s a nice shot.” You don’t call a rampaging machine-gun-toting soldier a sniper do you? Or give him a markman badge. What happened to the story? And what about the connection of the photographer to his subject and a picture’s ability to evoke something more emotional than visual?
They sometimes forget that to be a photographer, you just have to enjoy all aspects of the craft and produce pictures which you can call your own. Not start a production line of snapshots, hoping to filter them down and get a few shots that can showcase their so-called talent.
The gentleman returned today as promised, Rollei in hand and eagerly taking some more shots of lazy Dora asleep on my shoes. He gifted us with 8 square shots of the cats. They are truly amazing stuff, showing a finesse in composition and foreground-background interaction. But at the end of the day, what also made him a true photographer, is the fact that he is sharing these images because he thought it would be as meaningful to us as it was to him.
Thank you.
Filed under: Musings
…have to breathe. My head is spinning and my heart feels like a forgotten, wrongly-typed out script, thrown at the bin. And missing it. ARGH. I need to gain a foothold again.
Filed under: Musings
I loved the way the light moved in your eyes, and how your smile stopped my heart. But why did untrue words fall from your lips, rendering me senseless and apart?
Filed under: Musings
When the last breath leaves and all is still, do you think one’s sheer desire alone can wish something back to life?
How is it that so many things can go wrong, when all I wanted was to make things better?
A friend has disengaged due to the person’s perception of the facts. Although harsh words were flung at me, I remain truely sorry for the loss, over a judgement call I felt ambiguous but the other felt obvious.
Sigh.
The poet acts.
There is something she must do.
The changelings bake for an unwelcome friend; Dead thing.
Why does someone have to die?
But by the grace of lips, she tears away and escapes!
She chooses life.
And I am washed over
by the strains of the hours.
Filed under: Miscellanous
I’m trying not to move,
it’s just your ghost passing through.
I said I’m trying not to move
it’s just your ghost passing through,
it’s just your ghost passing through,
And now I’m quite sure…
There’s a light in your platoon.
I’ve never seen a light move like yours.
Can do to me,
so now I’m wishing for my best impression of my best Angie Dickinson,
but, now, I’ve got to worry
Cause, boy you still look pretty to me,
but, I’ve got a place to go.
I’ve got a ticket to your late show.
And now I’m worrying
cause even still you sure are pretty
when your putting the damage,
yes, when you’re putting the damage,
you’re just so pretty.
When your putting the damage on…
- Putting the Damage On from Boys of Pele, Tori Amos
