Self Portrait, Jeti P. Ketam, Klang, Malaysia, 2009

Gas 2, K.Lumpur, Malaysia, 2009

After my last post 'Gas', it has somehow stirred my two photographer friends, David and CW to post their own interpretations on the same title. You can view it here and here. This is so fun. May be at the end of it all, we could come out with enough photos to have an exhibition :)

Gas, K. Lumpur, Malaysia, 2009

Insomnia

4 cups

x coffee

= insomnia

On Photography by Susan Sontag

"Today everything exist to end in a photograph."

Susan Sontag

On Photography

By a stroke of luck I stumbled upon this exceptional little book; Susan Sontag On Photography while browsing through Kinokuniya in KLCC. The cover attracted me. And when I started reading, I knew I couldn't go home without it. And for a soft cover small little book it cost me rm46.65. But it's worth it. To be honest before this I have no idea who Susan Sontag is. Then the thought came to me that how much do a typical photographer's read. Not reviews about the latest lenses or cameras. Real books. And not just books not just about photography. Philosophy, sociology, psychology, theology, etc. The last 'wordy' photography related book I read was The Mind's Eye by HCB. That was another inspiring little book. I read it in one afternoon straight in Borders. Haha.. Thanks Borders. It was many years ago and I was broke at that time. It was another photography book I couldn't let go after I started reading it. Personally I believe you can't be a good photographer if you don't read. No wonder now days we find so many junks especially on the Internet. Susan was right to note that people are just using their cameras to cover up their anxiety. And they just can't stop trying to record every damn thing they see. Now we have a whole new disorder called 'shutterholic'. People that has this impulsive urge to click the shutter just because they could. I used to be like that when I got my first digital camera. Man, did I annoyed people around me. By God's grace I overcame my shutterholism. Thank God. Now even though I shoot less, I feel I'm giving photography back its dignity. If you'll excuse me, I better go back to my reading. Good night.

What's So Special About Not Being Special?

Leica M4.2 with 40mm f1.4

I love my Voigtlander 40mm f1.4 Nokton Classic SC on my Leica M4.2. Many had asked me why not the 35mm or 50mm focal length. Why 40mm? It wasn't easy to explain to them. To me it just feels right. Mike Johnston wrote a very good article for Luminous Landscape about his preference for the 40mm. He just put my thoughts into words. Click here to read the article.

Porters, P. Ketam Jetty, Klang, Malaysia, 2009