I received a call today from the URA, inviting me to the IMM building this Saturday to receive a consolation prize for my entry to the URA "My Endearing Home" photography competition. This is an encouragement for me even if it's not in the top 3. Given the lack of human interest in my photo, it wasn't unexpected. Being in the Top 18 is a good start! (20 photos out of 400+ were shortlisted to be eligible for 18 prizes, so at least I am not one of the 2 who missed out) Although I don't like the ring of 'consolation', I heard the prize's an Ikea voucher so Meatballs should be on the menu on Saturday.

The myth of an invisible hand?

While preparing for my class, I came across this article in Newsweek about Joseph Stiglitz, Nobel laureate and a fierce critic of the Obama administration's economic stimulus plan. The article wrote about how Stiglitz  won his Nobel price in 2001 by showing how asymmetric information in a transaction can make markets go haywire, giving unfair advantage to one party, which in essence was what the sub-prime crisis was about.  While studying at MIT, Stiglitz says, he realised that if Adam Smith's "invisible hand" always guided behavior correctly, the kind of unemployment and poverty he had seen growing up in one of America's grittiest industrial cities, Gary, Indiana, would not not exist. His proposed solution - is that we develop a balance between market driven economies and government oversight. A little like Singapore maybe? Something for us Economic and non Economic graduates to think about.

Nafa Certificate in Photography.

I am glad I enrolled in Nafa's Certificate in Photography course. I am really learning a lot from the bi-weekly lessons, even if I  am exhausted by the time bus 64 gets me home every Monday and Thursday. Apart from photo composition and film processing, we also hone our craft in the digital darkroom of Photoshop. Only now, after 3 weeks of lessons, have I come to appreciate how powerful and useful the layer mask function is.

People Leaving.

The workplace has just become colder. After Jacob, my breakfast and Friday soccer buddies, J.J , Alvin and Uncle Tan have left for NIE. To add to the exodus, YC just popped by to say goodbye. She's going to NUS together with Cheryl and Eunice. There goes lunch too. I am all on my own now. No help for it. Just buckle down for the lonely ride.

I have been in a 'buying' mood recently, although I haven't actually bought anything yet. Today as I was browsing through Kino with the gf; bookshops are one of our favorite haunts, I was tempted to get myself a moleskine notebook. I have always been intrigued by the novelty of owning one of these "legendary" notebooks endorsed by such luminaries as Van Gogh, Bruce Chatwin and Ernest Hemingway. Maybe I will, soon. I was also considering getting us matching Man Utd jerseys but that was shot down by the gf :(

Vintage.

While everyone else is drooling over the digital update, I came across this beauty the other day at Peninsula and just had to have it. At $120, I think it's a steal.

Philips Poems

Coming back from a disappointing lesson in which the kids seem to have forgotten everything I taught them last week, to distract myself, I logged in to Poems and tallied up my transactions from last December until today. This is not an invitation to ask me for a treat, most my profits I have ploughed into photography, but in 8 months, I have made a profit(rounded to the nearest dollar) of $3178, out of a total investment outlay of $7900. That's more than 40%. Not too bad.

Red Devils

Just back from a trip to KL to see my favorite Red Devils play!

Somedays I feel like this.

Shot in the back of my head.

That's the title of a track off Moby's new album Wait for Me, marking time for me this July. Jaime doesn't like him(perhaps she will change her mind when she clicks on the link to the MV, directed by David Lynch), but for me, Moby's music has often been ethereal and intimate, perfect for moments of introspect.

It feels like we have moved into another season now, as the humid sunny days give way to gloomy hazy weather. Without the sun shining down, I am finding it hard to complete my photography assignment for next week. Black and white photography is based predominantly on shadows, silhouttes, contrast and texture. With the haze obscuring the sun now, everything outside appears muted and flat.

Autobots Roll Out!

I finally managed to transform the Optimus Prime my girlfriend bought me. Now comes the hard part - Transforming it back to robot mode.

Congratulation Weiquan!

My little brother graduated today!!!

Jesus is proud of you my dear brother.

2 in the top 8 but none in the top 3

Even though I had two photos in the top 8 for the photo marathon I took part in with Chee Leong today, alas none made the top 3. The theme was "Freedom." It's a bittersweet feeling. That both of my submitted photos made it to the consideration for the prizes is a sign that I have improved since my first camera, however that none of them stood out enough to win shows that perhaps I need to marry creativity with technical prowess. The 3 prize winners comprised relatively "abstract" photos, while my photos, you can see them below, were more, how shall I say it, "standard-fare"?.

It's gonna be a list but here goes.

Today was a really good day. To be more exact, after work today was really good. First off, I had two scrumptious chicken wings from old Chang Kee at Kovan, then from Poh Kim at PS, I located the whole series of Likeable or Not on DVD! It was cheaper than I expected. $29.90! :D *Happiness* The story can finally continue after I was left in limbo by the breakdown of mysoju, just after Danfeng and Baihu finally start dating. After that I met Jaime and we had our favorite yummy super rich chocolate cake from the Mad Jacks at Parklane. Then we went to my favorite Sultana book store where I got 2 good books for $10. After sending Jaime off to the bus-stop. It was time for me to go for my photography lesson at NAFA. On the way there I bumped into Liz and we started talking. It has really been such a long time! We promised to meet up for coffee soon and then it was time for my lesson. Thursdays' lessons are Black and White film and Mondays' Digital. Today's lesson was extremely interesting. Apart from the lecturer introducing himself and sharing with us his experiences as a professional photographer, for the lesson proper, we learned about the basic design elements for black and white photography, where we reviewed some photos taken by the last batch of students. It was certainly very educational. We also went on a tour of the darkroom where we were given a list of materials to buy for next week- chemicals, photo paper etc; as well as the assignment - to shoot a reel of black and white film using the design elements.

Exciting!