A plant that reminds me of coffee bean

Sometimes, you might have the experience of seeing one thing but was reminded about something else. Maybe because of the shape, colour, etc. If you ever watch the movie 'I Love You Philip Morris', the part that when young Jim Carrey was looking at the cloud and thinking of xxx, might rings a bell for you? (If you have yet watch the movie, go find out what xxx is as I don't want to be a movie spoiler here).
Anyway, this post is not about movie, nor gay stuff.
It's about photography, just like most of my posts are.
Particularly, it's about my recent shots and video of a plant which reminded me of coffee beans (see photo below). Ya I know it didn't seem like coffee beans at all, but that is how I felt about it anyway...
Sometimes, you just got to agree that senses, like arts, are very subjective matters:)
In relation with coffee bean, it also reminded me of some photo style that you might find in cafe or restaurant where the colour is somehow fading, nearly monotonic, yet presents it's subject well with simplicity... it is this simplicity that makes it blends well with the atmosphere instead of being too overwhelm like pieces you will find in exhibition hall.

So in the post-processing, it is this colour fading style that I am after.
I first created the photo version in CS3, used only moderate contrast, desaturated the colour, and adjusted the hue a little to introduce some reddish touch in it to make the whole theme like a 'tea' colour scheme.
Then, I apply the same thing when colour grading (or colour correction in a layman's term) my video.

Here is the outcome, enjoy!



My wife love the music very much, we both agree that the paces of the video and music are matching so well that as if they're performing tango dance.

A Horse Farm

There are many horse farms in Hokkaido. On 22 May, I visited one of them, near Chitose (exact location still unknown because I am not the one who is driving this time, so didn't pay much attention in that) a horse farm.

This horse farm mainly breed race horse, according to my friend who invited me to the trip, their horses are of very good quality race horses.

Beside some still photos, I managed to make some footage with the 5D markII. But were very busy and eventful for the last few months, thus it took it so long for me to pose them (while the still photos still awaiting post-processing).

Touring Melaka Town Center

If you are visiting Melaka, Malaysia, this guide might give you an idea where/what to visit and eat.
I especially created this video guide series for visitors who are interested in the cultural and historical aspects of Melaka. In addition, with the thinking in mind that you can do it just by walk.
Thus it only covers area right at the center of the town.

There are all together 4 parts in a series...


Part 1.


Part 2. This video bring you to the recommended accommodation. It is a traditional-Chinese-house-turned hotel. Thus let you experience the living environment of the 1st Chinese generation in Malaysia.


Part 3.


Part 4 - Finale. This video concludes all the recommended tour paths, and suggests 4 popular eating places among Chinese visitors.

If you like the recommended tour, and would like to give it a try (in the real world), please feel free to download, print and bring this map with you.
Disclaims:
All materials are for non commercial uses only.
Cubics with photo in the video are not the real built up structures, I placed it there to show you what you will be seeing at the corresponding locations.
The recommended places are based on my very own interest and experience. Try on your own risk!

2010 Spring Flora

This year I have entered into a very busy phase of my PhD life.
I've resolved to cover as many spring flowers shot I can since last year, but didn't aspect that my schedule was so tight over the last spring that I couldn't cope up with the fast changing season here in Hokkaido. Some flower species blooms for only 2 weeks or so, really left me no chance to photography especially when I have to rush for my research tasks.
Even to post them in blogspot took me some months after having photographed some of it (2% ??)...

Anyway, here is how it began for the last spring... after a long snow white winter, below 1st three shot was the first species that I saw while on my way to US Consulate of Sapporo.


This was tulip near Yurigahara garden, I wish to shoot more, but what I have during my visit to that garden is all that I have on tulip.

This perhaps a dandelion？
I wish to photography dandelion since I missed it last year, and yet I still couldn't have any chances to shoot it during the last spring... so, perhaps next year...

I love bamboo very much, but we couldn't have it here in Hokkaido due to cold weather.
This was something closest (in term of colour and the shape)...
Perhaps I could enjoy photographing the real bamboo when visit Kyoto, a trip I really looking forward :)

USA bottle coke

When I am going to united states for the very 1st time (about 2 weeks ago), a friend who has did his degree there told me he miss united states.
What you miss most? I asked
Coca-cola! his answered
Ok, I'll try it! my replied
And later he reminded me it got to be a bottle one...
So I bought one, then recalled that someone appreciate coke more back at home...
As a result, this coke was brought all the way back to Hokkaido from the states...

Michael Kenna's exhibition

Attending Michael Kenna's exhibition at Sapporo.
He is very well known for shooting landscape, especially his Hokkaido snowscapes are really stunning.
A little disappointed with the exhibition though because I was expecting some huge printouts hanging on the wall that visitor can slowly taking their time to appreciate each of the single details of his photos, but what they have there is only photos about A4 paper size. What a waste for medium size camera's shots.
Anyway, entrance is quite cheap, about 500yen.

HDR attempt

This is my attempt in producing high dynamic range (HDR) photo.
The 1st pic below is normally exposed picture, follow by under-exposed and over-exposed pictures (by 2 stops). In the under-exposed one, the details can be seen in the sky while other areas are dark.
In the over-exposed one the sky is blown out while 'shadow' areas may be seen. Combining the 3 pictures (= 3 exposure range) above is what we call HDR photo.
Thus in the HDR picture, you can find details in the bright area (the sky), shadow area and mid tone area- all in one pic!
See below for the result of HDR:

My bride

Starbucks, Sapporo.

Starbucks cafe is very popular here at Sapporo. There are two at Sapporo station alone, and you can still find more branches nearby just within walking distance.
In the menu you'll find more or less pretty much the same thing as in Malaysia, and it cost about 400 yen (= RM 13.60) a cup.
Anyway, you should not do the conversion or it'll seem like more expensive here... try to look at it this way: You can get a normal lunch set at around 400 yen here and the Starbucks coffee cost about the same, while at Malaysia, you get a normal lunch set at around RM4, but you need to spend around RM10 for a cup of Starbucks coffee... so which is cheaper relatively??


At Japan, don't be surprised when you see guitar walking on the street.

Ya I said more or less the same in the menu... I literary mean it; the 'more' here referred to some seasonal stuffs... it's spring here, so they come out with cherry blossom drink and cake...

See, how lovely the pinky-cherry-blossom cake...
Ahem, alright alright I know it's for girls, but just wanna try once... and guess how it taste?
Like cherry blossom!

If you look at the outside (below), you can still see snow... the photo is taken in 27 Feb, so it is still in winter at Hokkaido...
Perhaps the look of my love is she was embracing the relaxing atmosphere and the aromatic coffee...

"Wanna have a sip?"
Guess that was what she gonna ask :)

Japanese Doll Festival (Hinamatsuri)

3rd March is a day call Hinamatsuri (雛祭り), Doll Festival or Girl's day. See wiki for more infor.
As a celebration, Japanese have the costume of displaying dolls which they 'believe' it will capture the bad spirits within, then as they send the dolls into sea on a boat, it will take all the bad fortunes/spirits away.

I learned about this during a cultural program where they displayed some of these dolls:






During the day, they also teach participants how to make paper craft.
My wife is quite actively learning:

All the black & white photos at the beginning of this post are dance performance as part of the event during the day.