Last month has been quite an adventure for me, and shutter therapy sessions have taken some unexpected turns. Instead of just attacking the KL streets on lazy weekends, I went out of KL, spending a weekend earlier in the month in Penang and then just two weeks ago, in Fraser's Hill. I have successfully, to my surprise put aside all the usual, frequently favored prime lenses and went on zoom shooting spree. In Penang I armed myself with the M.Zuiko 12-40mm F2.8 PRO, a lens which has become the staple lens for many professional photographers and serious hobbyists that I know personally. Then in Fraser's Hill I shot exclusively with the M.Zuiko 75-300mm F4.8-6.7 II which I rarely used. More importantly, I have dared myself to take the challenge of using 35mm focal length street photography, acquiring an old, used Fuji X100 just for that task.
It has been an interesting, long month, and it felt great to be able to be this active in shooting again.
I think I deserve an over-priced cup of coffee.
Shot with M.Zuiko 14-42mm EZ pancake lens. Who says the kit lens can't do good photos? ok ok I admit I am getting addicted to coffee
I want to, believe me, to shoot as much as possible, to try out as many gear, and challenge myself to go further, pushing myself outside the boundaries. I have that desire to just shoot and shoot and I don't care if the images are not competition or exhibition gallery worthy. I just simply enjoy doing what I do and it has become an obsession.
I am not sure if I will be able to keep up with this momentum. The country, my beloved Malaysia, is falling apart. I am not joking. If you are in Malaysia you will be fully aware of all the current news which bore nothing optimistic. I do not know what kind of news you get outside of Malaysia, but it is perhaps not the safest time, especially on the streets. There will be a huge protest rally happening on 29th to 30th August, with expected turnout of hundreds of thousands of Malaysians, and things can get ugly. And it is a sad fact that I must stop talking about the political scenario of the country as well as anything related to the government here, else I will find myself in jail. You can guess it right, there is no freedom of speech in Malaysia. If you need to find out more Google will be your good friend.
Some of you may suggest that it would be an opportunity: shoot that protest, photo journalistic style. That idea did cross my mind but I must admit that I am no photojournalist and I do not pretend to be one. I am an engineer by training and safety has always been the priority in all my decision making.
I will still go out and shoot of course, nothing can stop me, but I will be more selective and careful of the places I go to. One of the best solution would be travelling outside of the city, but I cannot afford going on such trips too often.
Fraser's Hill Bird shooting with M.Zuiko 75-300mm II
Robin Wong's OM-D Camera Cheat Sheet
Penang Street Shooting with M.Zuiko 12-40mm F2.8 PRO
Quick Test of the M.Zuiko 14-150mm II
And my Fuji X100 adventures here, here and here.
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