Author Archives: TV Smith

Talking About Great Religions Under The Rain

Posted on by
Reply

When I saw this guy near a Ramadan market, I asked him if he is from Central Asia. With a broad smile, the young man said he is from the Middle of Asia. Turns out, he is from Afghanistan and is studying Geology at a university here in Kuala Lumpur.

We discovered we have a mutual interest in Comparative Religion. Under the rain, we discussed the similarities and differences between Islam and Christianity. How did this fascinating but complex topic even get started in a chance encounter between two perfect  strangers? Furthermore, the rain was getting heavier.

Behind him is the very old Chow Kit Sikh Temple or Gurdwara Tatt Khalsa Diwan. It is the largest Sikh temple in Southeast Asia. Sikhism is another monotheistic religion but it is not Abrahamic. It was founded during the 15th century by Guru Nanak in India. At one point in history, the Sikh army conquered parts of Afghanistan as it expanded the borders of the vast Sikh Empire.

Olympus OM-D, ISO 200, f4.5, 1/50 sec.

Talking About Great Religions Under The Rain

Indifference, Mild Curiosity And Little Sympathy

Posted on by
Reply

At the Kampung Baru Ramadan Bazaar, a pan-handler sits in the middle of the road as pedestrians walk around him. I shot from both front and back. In the end, I think the anonymity of this rear view yielded a much more powerful image.

I photographed from a ground level P.O.V. (point-of-view), hoping to capture both the indifference, mild curiosity and little sympathy. The view as the beggar saw it.

This picture was processed to simulate the look of an un-restored P Ramlee movie from the 1960s. My homage to the colour contamination, scratches, dirt, decay, edge softness and uneven projector lamp brightness; characteristics that now evoke a special feeling.

Olympus OM-D, ISO 200, f5.6, 1/80 sec.

Indifference, Mild Curiosity And Little Sympathy

Cake Shop Boys

Posted on by
Reply

In tiny Kuala Klawang town, two boys wait for their father to go for basketball practice. I was speaking to their father who operates the only cake shop in town. The Raleigh bicycle in front of the shop belonged to the boys’ late grandfather.

What started as a Hainanese chicken rice shop 60 years ago, is now turned into the only cake shop in town. Mr Tan specialises in wedding cakes that somehow became popular with the local Orang Asli (aboriginal) people.

I like the natural and coincidental ‘Color Splash’ effect that is akin to the small town movie, Pleasantville. Everything else in the scene was already near colourless when I photographed it. I only had to remove a dash of red from the car tail light at the top right edge and a little rust on the drain cover.

Olympus OM-D, ISO 200, f6.3, 1/125 sec.

Cake Shop Boys