Weddings….. always a pleasure to attend such a joyous event. The last time i attended one was ages ago. (Sorry to some friends ) Work commitments have taken up such a big part of my time before I started this blog.

So, when Han and Linda invited me to be among the groomsmen, no hesitation. Invitation accepted !! All i had to do was to get involved in a little dance and be part of the logistic crew. Easy

In this part of the world, weddings are a mish mash of the east and the west. There’s the solemnization at the churches and altars, offering tea the traditional way to the elders, grand dinners, the giving and receiving of favours like the red packets, wedding rings, wedding vows, getting “tortured” by the bridesmaids who put us all through a series of tests before they decide that the groom is sincere enough to pick up the bride, moving speeches by the family, tears of joy, alcohol and then more alcohol……. all these in a crazy 1 day.

Somewhere in between, I ended up carrying a roasted pig. Now, mind you, it was a very “big” task. The pig had to be delivered whole to the brides family as it is a sign of the bride’s virginity and that the grooms family are happy with her. A broken ear or tail could mean otherwise !!!! *Stressed…….

But really, i guess no one knows what it really signifies (I had to google), no one was really concerned with the pig except her mum.

“Jason, chop it up quick, we have to return part of it to the groom”. I am no surgeon, i tried and i failed, i could have twisted my wrists. Uncle, who thought i was looking too fidgety, put on an apron, moved me aside and went chopping away. Impressive……

Alright, I did not take many pictures. Han and Linda had already hired a professional camera and video crew. With my 35mm, i would just be in their way. So i waited and took them only when they are not around.

7am : All dressed up and ready to go pick up the bride. Thats our uniform by the way, ready for any herculean tasks the bridesmaids hurl at us.

Then, its all fast forward, to tea ceromony, to………..no time for pictures !!

Snuck my way up the the wedding suite at W Hotel Sentosa, before the dance rehearsal. I have two left feet and a body that does not respond immediately to time signals, sort of like frankenstein. Am just glad that I was a reserve. Taking pictures was just an excuse……*wink

A full rendition of the dance scene in “Dirty Dancing“. Cloyingly sweet….

Everything went smooth and sweet.

To Han : it was the first time i see you cry, I saw another side of you which i do not know, warm and fuzzy. *shrudders, makes my hair stand*

To Linda : Beautiful, Patient, Cool and ever supportive of her man.

Now, what do i get for my nice words ?

Congratulations !!

Damn.

Noogebeat and Junkenstein. Why is it that they are able to come up with such cool stage monikers ? And all i have to offer is Ah Jhune ?

Lets put it this way.

“Hi, I am Noogebeat and she is Junkenstein” Whoa. Impressive.

“Whats your name again ? Ah zoooohun ?” Are you from the mountains or something ?

Then you realized why when you see these guys perform on stage. Such talents and most importantly, they enjoyed every single minute of it. Too cool. Fits their names perfectly.

It was a difficult night for me. I only have a 35mm lens. So i was a little grouchy when the guys from esplanade waterfront said, no going up to the stage. Ok i accept that. Then came, “You have to crouch when you are in front of the audience so as not to block their view” Ok, i accept that again. And “Sir, you are not allowed to use flash”……..

Duh….that’s it, how am i going to take pictures with all these conditions and limitations ? Was afraid that I am going to disappoint……

Fidget….Scratch Scratch…..walk left, walk right…..Fidget again.

Pictures did not turn out as bad as i thought it would be….but lots of cropping !!!

My favourite shot of the evening. Talent, Hardwork, Sweat.

Last Pic from Anaki Records

Now what should i call myself ? Flubbergrapher ? Six Fingers?

…….Ah Jhune it is !!!

Whoa. I manage to lay my hands on the new Leica M Typ 240. The excitement caused my hands to tremble little but at the same time I was wondering how different it is from my beloved M9. I am no professional reviewer of cameras, what i write here will be based on my experience alone comparing the 2 cameras and its mainly emotional, yes…..and a lot of it has to come from sky high expectations when the thing cost USD6500-USD7000 dollars……

I will leave the technicalities about the different sensors, the in depth review, the ohhhssss and criticisms to him, him and him.

Should I post the events separately ? Nah, I will sound like a grumpy old man on a broken record about the Typ 240……that is, on repeat mode again and again and again. Great, lets put them all together, pardon the out of focus pictures !!! I have grown rusty having been away from the camera for sometime !! Do bear with the long post !

Ka-Chic Vs Ka-Toop

The first thing I noticed about the camera was the sound the shutter makes. Oh my God ? My M9 had a “Ka-Chic”, the crispy note not unlike that of an old antique camera. This thing………this new thing has a “Ka-toop” ? Is it broken ? It sounds like its constipated ? I love my “Ka-Chic” !!! Where’s did it go ? The feeling was not so nice, i felt lousy as i headed to Beijing Club in Hong Kong.

ISO 2500 Vs ISO 6400

Someone’s getting married and so they decided to celebrate by drinking themselves silly. Beijing Club is in the Lan Kwai Fong area and is one of the hottest club in Hong Kong today……..and with “hottest”, it admits members only. Ahh…..low light, close range… The M9 has a ridiculously nonsense ISO of 1600, the new M Typ 240 has 6400 !! ……With the 35mm Summilux, does it mean that i can bump up the ISO and skip the flash ?

Snap, Snap, Snap – 6400 – Very grainy

Snap, Snap – 2500 – Very grainy

Snap – 1000 – Grainy

Snap – 400 – Ah….just nice but its so slow, that i missed all the action…..*Grumble……and more “Ka-Toop” …..Zzzzz

Things are a little different when the flash came on. I have decide to risk my life snapping away with the blinding flash in close quarters in a club filled with about 200-300 people, lest the bouncers grab me by the neck and chased me out. The images ended up better than i thought and somehow it seems better than that of my M9 (with flash on too). Yeh. Whats the word ? Ah…the “Pop-up” feel of the images has more oomph

Focus Peaking

And oh yes, the lines….. Whats the magic of a rangefinder ? or What is it that we love about old cameras ? These lines makes me feel like i am using a Sony Ex or something. I now have to think alot more and while trying to find the lines, i forgot about my composition sometimes. A matter of getting used to ? Not to mention that these lines are sometimes ridiculously hard to spot if the contrast within the frame is not great. In low light, its practically non-existent. And in an event like this, no time for lines !!!!

Another thing, the Leica 90mms are not easy to use. The images are so small that focusing is not easy and most of the time, we need a tripod with it. Now with the focus lines, will the 90mm be easier to use now because of these lines and the focus zoom ? I must say it did help improve my 90mm images by a mile. But wait…I still need the tripod. Want to use it for street photography ? Forget it…..

I need my meats and my fishes. So I do not understand this “My Garden” dish complete with “Soil”(Cocoa powder actually).

Kondo-San. Very happy to meet the man who brought me around the Tsukiji market in Tokyo again. It has been like what ? 1 year? 2 years ? He will be heading a new restaurant this coming May 13. Good I need my sushi fix.

Unedited – Photo as its taken.

Unedited – Photo as its taken.

Savour 2013 is a 4 day event featuring the best of the best culinary experiences in Singapore. You will get to see celebrity chefs all in one place which is a good thing because we cannot afford to eat at them different restaurants every week ! Gourment markets bringing their top quality european and american foods. Wagyu ? Checked. Oysters ? Checked. Cheeses and Wine? Checked.  Weather looks good, how will the Typ 240 perform in the bright sun?

Sensors 

Much have been discussed about the sensors…..I had my doubts about the new sensor of the Typ 240 but frankly, I am fine with both after looking at the pictures. They still have the same Leica “feel”, the same “pop-up”. Any difference ? yes, if I were to nit and pick. But well, i could not decide which one i like better.

Celebrity Chef Emmanuel Stroobant will agree too…he looks happy.

Picture as it is. Setting Aperture to 1.4. Auto Iso and snap away. Stop dreaming Urbanarchiver, ISO6400 is just that…… Even if its the ISO25600 on the canon it does not work. Strange that the more you pay for it, the higher the expectations, no matter if that expectation is realistic or not. :0

Ahh….Much netter with the flash.

The Toyota Supra with the Veilside 4509 Kit. Looks fierce. I like !!!

I do not understand this.

I do not understand this either. A mobile disco with its loud speakers ? And smoke effect that comes along with it ? Ditto….Nada…..

Strange but True

We too,  need to practice our photography skills……

Don’t understand either.

Slammed and Flushed !

Tokyo Auto Salon comes to Singapore this year. Was expecting more JDM cars, more booths featuring high performance add ons but instead all we get are more girls, more “homemade” photographers and even more girls. Kind of disappointed.

White balance

Why do i have a Canon DSLR feeling now ? At this indoor show, I was shooting in auto white balance. I think my M9 was more consistent in producing the same white balance for the same image over and over again. The Typ 240, i have this odd one out every 4-5 shots. Maybe its just me. Still need to learn more about the camera.

Video Mode

A very nice addition i must say. I can see myself exploring the full use of the M lenses with this function in the coming future. But without image stabilization, without panning zooms, I wonder if it will just be limited to taking videos of people during interviews ?

All right, all right. Sarcasm aside, I had great fun with the Typ 240 and i am looking very much forward to using the camera in video mode. The major differences to me are the new sensor and the higher ISO. But really, to upgrade to this from a M9 ? I say, get it if you are new to the Leica rangefinders.

And if you are an existing M9 user, there is no clear reason as to why you will want the new M. The expectations after waiting 4 years for this was not matched for its price, unless you count the video mode as being one. Men are creatures of habit, I know i am one, its hard for me to accept new things if the old ain’t broken or that I have grown use to working round its limitations. Strangely but surely, the Typ 240 is eating its way into my heart. I cannot explain it.

But who cares what I feel !! If you already own a Leica and its full range of M lenses, you will probably get it. The power of branding

Ka-Toop !!!

Update 5th May 2013 : I know why its eating into my heart….. Post-Processing. There are so many little surprises every time I do something to a dull picture. Whether is adjusting the contrast or the exposure. Something which the M9 could not give me. Niceeeeeeeee…………..