I had my first dip into pickleball yesterday, and surprisingly, it is just like a slo-mo version of tennis. Being an ex-tennis player (the last time I played was more than a decade ago), I find pickleball to be a tamer, slower, less tiring version of the game.
Thankfully, my muscle memory seems intact..I played tennis almost every day from Form 4 all the way through my varsity years, and for a few years after I started working, before falling into the black hole of road cycling where I left racquet game totally.
So yeah, pickleball seems fun. I just need to find the right racquet to suit my play style. I also need to play more games before deciding whether it is worth investing in a proper pro ones. The one I got dirt cheap from Decathlon doesn’t seem to cut it. They’re tin-like feeling, hard to control the ball where I want them to be and from my research, what I need is an elongated shape, short handle (i’m a one handed backhand player), carbon? and 14-16mm of thickness for a better plough through feeling.
Tag: blog
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pickelball
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street photography
It’s been a while since I last do street photography. for those uninitiated, they will think that it’s nothing than a snapshot on the street. but to those who understands, it’s documenting life, preserving it. i actually started photography decades ago doing street photography with my film camera. and life take it turns and i only do that randomly or when i feel like it. i think since I’m back in Kuala Lumpur i should start doing that again, or maybe find a group to walk together and snap something. i think i might just do that.
I also recently created a gallery just to host my street photographs, and will be adding more in the future (it’s an ongoing and increasingly growing gallery).
And if only I have that Ricoh GR IV *wink* .
A 28mm lens, a small discreet unobtrusive camera, a good pair of walking shoes, the hustle and bustle of Kuala Lumpur, and creative juice overload. I’ll bankrupt myself if i still shoot on film.
First, I’m going to buy that monthly Rapid season pass, and KL here i come!
HYDE PARK, LONDON — High-contrast tones capture a quiet moment as a child looks out across the lake during an overcast evening in the capital. -
on format
Interesting photographs are always the ones depicting things we are not used to seeing every day. By that, I mean anything that departs from mimicking our normal eye vision. We see at a roughly 43mm equivalent with approximately a 3:2 aspect ratio. We don’t see the world in a square, and that is precisely why I like to shoot and view photographs in a 1:1 format..it breaks away from our usual daily perspective.
This is also why photographs shot at eye level are often less interesting; simply bringing your camera lower will create a much more compelling view of the same subject.Just like a different lens brings us a different vision and framing, a different ratio means a different way of working too. For me, 3:2 is suitable for journalistic documentary, as you need to capture the story better, and that is what is acceptable at most news agencies. Meanwhile, 4:3 is best for portraits, and 1:1 is just artsy to my eyes. If I’m bored or stuck, a change of lens or aspect ratio can spark a new way of shooting. Try it yourself.
View Solidarity
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ebay
Once in a while I’ll open up my eBay and search for stuff. It’s either some old vintage lenses, cameras, or old books..adding things into my watchlist, messaging sellers, and drooling over some things. I think if I had all the money in the world and got everything I wanted on sight, it will be the day that little joy of hoping for something is finally gone.
p/s: and why the hell is OM Zuiko 21mm f2 costs nearly RM15,000 !!? T_T -
x100s
There’s a saying that the best camera is the one you have in your hand. I think, apart from my cheap, slow phone, this little Fujifilm X100S is the one I bring the most. I bought it when it was first released in 2013 while I was living in Dubai. To this day, it still works and simply refuses to die. Apart from its batteries—which are getting weaker, swollen, and punctured—the camera is still fine mechanically and digitally. It just won’t quit!
Is it still acceptable in 2026? For me and my use cases, it’s a resounding yes. Most, if not all of the photographs in this site is taken with the camera.
Although it has its quirks (all cameras do), once you get the right lighting, the file will look film-like in post. I read that this sensor is different from newer generations, and mine was made in Japan, unlike recent models which are made in Thailand.
Overall, I’d give it another couple of years, or use it until it dies completely, before buying the latest and greatest of its brethren.
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on books 2
New additions to my library. I got Magnum China from the store, and 3 more just arrived via mail, as I couldn’t find them anywhere else in stores. Good price and such a bargain for new old books. Perfect for my coffee table reading material, and as they’re mostly photographs, I’d say they’re going to be a visual feast, and perhaps some inspiration. At least my weeks ahead are covered!
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on books
I read a lot, and I have plenty of photography books, from Cecil Beaton to Lindbergh. I’m currently reading the Magnum Manifesto, and it’s interesting to learn about their conception, struggles, and ethos from the early foundation years up until the modern day. It’s an elitist group of photographers, each with distinctly discerning creative eyes, which makes browsing the archives even more satiating. At least, it’s better than doom-scrolling social media feeds (cue visual fatigue)!
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simplify things
“The enemy of art is the absence of limitations,” — Orson Welles.
This quote is one of my favourites in the pursuit of creation. It reminds me to always strip down my gear to the basics: one lens and a camera. And if I may add, a good pair of walking shoes. -
updates
I need to take the train more frequently. I’ve been exploring KL solo with my camera lately. something that i haven’t done for quite a while. to quote Rei Kawakubo: “my energy comes from freedom and a rebellious spirit”. And at least my photography portfolio is growing.
I also went to the Leica store and chatted with a nice gentleman there who was super helpful and welcoming. I was seeking advice on whether to get the M240 or the M10. There are a plenty of pre-owned units in Malaysia and the prices aren’t as exorbitant as when they first released years ago.
But money doesn’t grow on trees, nor will a camera falls from the sky into my lap. But hey, who knows?
YOLO!
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just create
When I was living in the UK, I had the pleasure of meeting a brilliant sculptor who told me something important: every artist wants their work to be acknowledged. The good thing is that there are approximately 8 billion people on Earth. Not everyone will like your work, as tastes differ, but there will be someone out there who appreciates it. Even if no one else does, at least you like what you have created.
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