Final Destination

Last week, there were several aptly scenarios for a 'Final Destination' headline, what with the Wimbledon Championships also, going on a stones throw away at SW19. Over the warm and sunny weekend, I found time away from sipping Pimms No.1 on my tiny balcony watching the river activities before me, to clear my second bathroom. You see, this 6' x 7' box conveniently called a bathroom, with no window had been my perfect 'darkroom' for many years, from 1999 to around 2006. Since I have practically 'gave up the Ghost' on using film, I decided to re-visit the shelf where one normally stacks half-emptied shampoos and conditioners, and bubble-bath (yes, I do have my fetish..) bottles, to clear out the 'other' inhabitants there : Agfa chemicals.

I primarily used Agfa Rodinol, Sistan and Agefix on Fujifilm Neopan 400s when I was that way inclined. It seems they are all pass their shelf lifes by now. How sad. I still have several boxes of Ilford 12 x 16 paper and some fantastic artpaper from Eastern Europe to which I have forgotten the name of for now. My Axomat enlarger and baseboard (again, Eastern European) still occupies space in my wardrobe, amidst the other rubbish I have gathered over the years.

(PS>Anyone wants a brilliant Meopta Axomat enlarger with a Nikkor lens, please email me!)

I do not actually miss hand-processing film and printing. The setting up and prep were a real pain. Also, the amount of fresh water used in the washing process was insane and unjustifiable in my mind. I used to fill up the bath tub with cold icy water and used that as a dunking bath for the prints straight from the fixer tray which sits on a large MDF board over the bath tub. And then there's the clearing up and washing afterwards. Of course, not breathing the chemical fumes also add years to one's lifespan, they say.

Now where's the Pimms...?

Michael Jackson, Thank you!

The Man in the Mirror, The Boy in his dreams

Picture Courtesy Sony Records

June 25, 2009 is the day Michael Jackson, 50, died. He has influenced modern music with his style of songs, dance moves, theatrical performances, and music videos. Dubbed the King of Pop, he brought us the Moonwalk and Crotch-grabbing dance moves, white gloves and hat, Billie Jean, Ben, Earth Song, Thriller, Bad, plastic surgery, Neverland, and a whole lot more. Surely his music will always be with us.

The Hottest thing since a toasted panini..

THE NEW OLYMPUS E-P1 Micro-4/3rd digital camera..!

Now I seldom discuss about equipment, but last September 2008, I blogged about the Panasonic Lumix G1, which was the first digital camera body housing a 4/3rds sensor with a totally new design, devoid of an SLR mirror and prism, thus, allowing for a narrower, smaller and hence lighter system with interchangeable lenses. The new Olympus E-P1 looks very 'retro' - reminding me of the 80's Pen series, and Trip bodies, and I AM excited! This looks even smaller than the G1 especially with the 17mm f2.8 'pancake' lens. See this link.

For serious amateur and professional photographers, what this means is that you can now have dSLR quality enlargements in compact point 'n' shoot bodies, plus the added bonus of interchangeable lenses. Also, because of its compact dimensions, you are more likely to be carrying it as opposed to leaving it at home. Now, perhaps I will sell my Canon 5D system after all..