Category Archives: Life

Meet Mr Kadeer

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I was trying to photograph the giant flag at Dataran Merdeka (Independence Square) when I noticed a bearded man walking round and round the field. Started a conversation with the gentleman when he whizzed by again.

He turned out to be Mr Kadeer, a money changer, from nearby Masjid India. He told me he would exercise by walking at least 10 rounds, each time. After the chat, the nice man invited me for breakfast at his shop :-). Street photography need not be about stealing shots with long lenses or hiding. Engage your subjects. That’s what I love about street photography.

Photography Notes: The Olympus FL50R flash has the seldom-utilised FP mode. With it, you can sync flash at high speed shutter, allowing balanced fill-in under strong sunlight. I don’t normally like fill flash but Mr Kadeer was in a shadow area. The reason I don’t like to use it often is because it gives it that ‘television commercial look’ or ‘Bollywood feature film look’ where you know that powerful HMI lights and reflectors were deployed.

Olympus OM-D, ISO 200, f5.6, 1/4000 sec with FP flash.

Meet Mr Kadeer

ABC

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What is Ais Kacang or ABC (Air Batu Campur)? Translated as mixed ice, it was traditionally red beans, sweet corn, black grass jelly, colourful agar agar, attap chee and cendol buried in a mountain of ice shavings. The ice is topped-off with rose syrup, coconut palm sugar syrup and evaporated milk. New-fangled versions may have ice-cream, chocolate syrup, all kind of nuts and fruits. The sweet dessert is found all over South-East Asia and is known by different names.

I like the traditional version found at the PJ Old Town Market Food Court. Stall 46 or Weng Kee is one of three popular drink stalls there serving the ice dessert.

Photographing the traditional ABC is not as simple as ABC, though. You can’t see any of the ingredients when it is pristine. I ordered an extra tall one knowing it will collapse fast in the heat. The bright 4pm sun is low and superb as it rims the ice from the back, giving it a glow. The downside is the ice will melt very fast. You have like a minute or less to get your shot.

The lady boss even shouted at me to get the camera ready as she was putting the finishing touches. I like how hawkers are nowadays aware of the power of social media and are more cooperative than previously 🙂

Olympus OM-D, ISO 200, f1.4, 1/4000 sec.

ABC or Air Batu Campur

Doggone Not

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The Temuan indigenous people from the Bukit Lanjan Orang Asli Reserve were relocated into modern bungalows as their jungle homes made way for development of Damansara Perdana.  Consisting 147 bungalows, their little prime enclave of Desa Temuan is like a surreal world of its own. Originally kept as hunting dogs, some of their usually slim pets are now replaced by fatter, fluffier toy breeds.

Olympus OM-D, ISO 200, f7.1, 1/100 sec.

Doggone Not