Snaps: Artisan Roast, TTDI

“This place is filled with hipsters.”

“All coffee places are for hipsters.”

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For the two months I was working with a colleague, he could said Artisan Roast at least 50 times, and cheesecake (from Artisan is the best), maybe 20 times. I finally did manage to give Artisan Roast a visit, when a friend wanted to try the coffee there. I don’t do coffee, but I take tea but I didn’t feel like drinking it then. Had a Smoovie, RM10 which was a banana milkshake. Terrible awful, tasted horrible. Don’t order. Cheesecake, RM10 on the other hand was really that lovely, so it did justify my colleague’s need to have it ingrained that I must try them.

Cheesecake & Iced Latte | RM10 each

Artisan could have been a really nice place to chill and have a nice chat over a cup of coffee and lovely desserts/food they have there, except the seats there were pretty much hard wooden benches. Not the most comfy option, when you’re planning to chat for a while. Also, space were pretty tight in the shop. I get that cramped feeling while I was there. So, do come here for the coffee and food, well, pretty much just for that then. Oh, maybe for this one cute barista too.

“Can I get a picture of you, making coffee?” | :)

I was sitting in front of the counter and it’s was a pretty interesting to people watch. All sorts of people come and go; friends, men, ladies and even families. They came for coffee, some for the desserts and some had them packed.

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All pictures were shot with Olympus EPL5 using Leica 25mm at f2.8, 1/40 sec with ISO 400 to 1600.

Photo Set: Nature, Genting Highlands

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Short post on the trip to Genting Highlands; here.

R.AGE Photo Walk 2013, Petaling Street

I’ve never been a fan of photowalk for a few reasons; I tried it once and I didn’t quite like the idea of walking on the streets to shoot and get pictures. That didn’t seem to appeal or even work for me. The first time I went for a photowalk was one organized by The Star R.AGE as well, way back in August 2011. I did a short blog post on it and posted the pictures from that walk as well. (Click here to read it.)

I remember vividly, how I felt about walking the streets (it was at Pudu area then) and just shooting. For that walk, I was using my trusty Canon S90, whilst everyone else was armoured with their DSLRs. I have never felt so out of place and inadequate then. It’s easy to get intimidated and feel inferior. Sure, others gave encouraging words like, “It’s not the camera, it’s the photographer. It’s how he/she frames/compose/capture the picture.” I’m not saying that concept isn’t wrong, in fact I believe in that idea. 

But really, at the end of the day, having a better camera with a good lens makes all the difference. Which is why for this walk, I asked A if I could borrow his GX1. He passed me the kit lens, along with the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 45mm f/1.8 Lens. (I don’t usually go technical, because I know nuts about these lens, but I thought it’s about time I familiarise myself with them.)

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This time the walk was in Petaling Street, and there was three photographers leading/guiding us for the walk. They are Jason Lioh, Robin Wong and Luke Chua. (Jason wrote featured a story on Luke before, you can read that here.)

Clockwise; Jason Lioh , Luke Chua and Robin Wong

I won’t ramble on, so I'll just post the pictures from my walk.

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For the rest of the pictures that I have edited, please visit my flickr. I have actually edited a couple more than what I posted here, so you can check it out on flickr. If you have any comments on the pictures, I would really appreciate it. :) As it turns out, my second photowalk isn’t as awful as my first, although I still wasn’t used to the whole idea of heading to street and just shooting, initially. Took me some time to warm up, and familiarise myself with the whole idea.

I would definitely be up for a next photowalk, although I hope by then I would have my own micro four thirds, to play with because after shooting with the GX1 and the awesome 45mm, I am so smitten and in love with the lens and the micro four thirds camera. I’ve already been planning to get the EPL-5, and there really isn’t any reason not to get the camera now. Except I’m still holding back. :/ I don’t know, but I just feel like it isn’t the right time. Plus, apparently they are rumours saying that EP-5 may be coming out so I should wait? GAH. I wish I knew.

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PS – My photo was published in the R.AGE section of last Friday’s The Star newspaper. :D Can you spot me in the picture, at the bottom right?

If you can’t. I’m the one carrying a hot pink bag. Haha.

This is actually what I wore to the walk. Hot pink ftw. ;) Pic credit to Jason Lioh.

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Hope you enjoyed reading this post, and till next time! xx

february 2013 | project 52

For January 2013 pictures (#1 to #4), click here.

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[#5] Red Filter.

[#6] Smile

[#7] Hurt

[#7] Dream

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I’ve been able to shoot weekly and have them posted up on Facebook every week, so I’m really proud of this achievement. It’s my first creative project spanning throughout the year, after all. I do hope, I’ll get more inspirations as the weeks come by. February flew by, and before I know it, March will to. I hope life has been good to you, and if it hasn’t have faith, it’ll come around soon. Love, Carmen.

because, it doesn't matter.

So, I am sitting down and I’m just thinking. Have you ever sat in front of the computer, so many thoughts running through your mind, so quickly like flashes? And just as you were about to grasp them, they would vanish into thin air, replaced with new thoughts. It’s overwhelming, that I can tell you. Most times, it will get so frustrating but sometimes you have to stop fighting it and give in to them...

More wishful thinking, I wish I could read minds. I wish I would know what is what, even if it’s only for a day. I really wish so. Among these wishes, I wondered. I wonder why unicorns don’t exist. I wonder why you did what you did. I wonder why I love candies but hate chocolate.

Then, there are the questions that beg to be asked. But then, do I really want to know the answers? Wouldn’t it be better to leave things as it and give it the benefit of doubt? I ask too much, think too much so it’s time I stop doing what I used to do. Not until I’m sure it’s really okay to do so.

Photo: Here comes September.

Before I know it, August flies by and September is here again. The last week of August have been pretty sucky for me; there are issues that came up and I needed to go through them. But it’s September now, a new month and it’ll be the start of new beginnings for my personal and my work life. Frankly, for work I know what to expect so I won’t say I’m thoroughly excited, but more like I'm feeling bittersweet about it.

Starting work means I’m another step closer to graduating and if there is any goal I have at the moment, it would be to graduate as soon as possible. With work, I don’t know if I can post as often as I wished but I will commit my time to still blog. :) Probably more pictures, less words? Anyway, here are some random self-portraits I did which were over-exposed on purpose (in case you’re wondering).

Walk in the Park: Sunset Sun

It has actually been a while since I last went to the park to shoot. I did try to shoot a few times, but I ended up with pictures that I feel were just not good enough to be published. Perhaps, the place is just lacking the inspiration, with me shooting there for some time already. It just becomes flat and dry. Well, I’ll keep shooting, but perhaps this would be the last of this Walk in the Park series.

(For previous pictures from the Walk in the Park series, click here.)

Photo: These things I do.

| words unspoken |

There are so many things I want to let you know, but I just can't bring myself to say it. If I do, things will never be the same again.

Photo: Monochrome, just.

| imperfect |

“When you photograph people in colour, you photograph their clothes. But when you photograph people in Black and white, you photograph their souls.” – Ted Grant

 

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You can view the rest of the pictures from this series here. I titled the album imperfect because these shots were actually not my first choices. Only when I went through them again, I realised they were quite good, but not pretty enough in colour to be posted. But when in black and white, I just fell in love. :)

Photo: Je t'aime

| embracing |

Like how men will never understand women, I’ll never understand what love is. But then again, love is to be felt not understood.

Photo: Love 101

| insecurities |

You can’t love another completely without ever loving yourself first. You can’t feel happy together, if you’re unhappy being alone.

Photo: Scarlet Red

| your touch |

I miss you so much, you have no idea. Well, that’s the problem; you don't know.

Photo: Hope in Faith

 

Note: I am going through my preparation for my final two papers, hence I’ll be taking a short break from blogging! Will be back from June 13 onwards!

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| downside up |

When life gets you down, you can lose everything but you cannot lose hope. And faith, that things will be alright.

Photo: Ghost of my past

| move on, move along |

I wish I could look at you one day and not feel the sadness of what we once were.

Photo: A window.

| the reality of things |

There are lots of things that we don’t understand, no matter how many years we put on, no matter how much experience we accumulate. – Haruki Murakami

Photo: What you don’t know.

| everyday, i think of you |

But you don’t know how much you mean to me. Maybe, you’ll never even know.

Photo: In the dark.

| Tonight; alone in the room. |

In the dark, thinking that all those fairy tales are full of shit, one more f*cking love song, I’d be sick.

Photo: Why do we get hurt?

| why do we get hurt? |

Because, we let people into our lives. We let them far too in, they know far too much. We trusted them, but in the end, all they do is break our hearts.