Street art of Guapulo

Guapulo village, quito, ecuador

It’s time to plan a road trip!

When signs like this appear, I have to listen to it.

Road trip time!, its time to plan!

 

You Can Find Inspiration in Everything

Found at a Cycling Shop – Somewhere in Robertson Quay, Singapore

……  and If you can’t .. look again!

At a Yo Yo competition

Yo Yo competition in a Singapore Mall

Everything in Singapore seems to be so serious, even my childhood toy, the Yo-Yo has become such a professional sports. These toys are no longer that $1 toy you buy from the local Ma-Ma (Mum Pop Shops) but seriously expensive toys worth $100 or more, I saw a few sg$250 ones on the shelves!

Can’t just kids play for for fun these days?

You can see from your own life experience

You can see from your own life experiences how the environment can affect you. When you’re among peaceful, generous, happy people, you’re inclined to feel happy and peaceful yourself. When you’re among angry, aggressive people, you tend to become like them. The human mind is like a mirror. Therefore, it is very important to be conscious of your surroundings and how they affect your mind. –Lama Thubten Yeshe

In memory of A.K. Kimoto, photographer

“I don’t care about being recognized, and I don’t care if I go through life with no fame to show for my efforts. What bothers me is if people don’t take my latest work seriously. Not for my sake, but for the sake of the people who allowed me to photograph their lives. When was the last time you saw a 4 year old sucking down heroin? Is it not a tragedy? If I can’t do anything to bring attention to their plight, and if nobody cares, then what am I doing with my time and in fact, my life? It was never about awards or anything like that. I thought it was about being out in the world, witnessing things that others don’t see, and sharing these stories with a larger audience. I always said that I do what I do because I only have 2 hands.”

A.K. Kimoto, a Japanese photographer born in the U.S. in 1977, passed away unexpectedly in the last week in March while preparing to visit FotoFreo Photo Festival in Australia.

It really strikes me how intimate this amazing photographer is with his subjects. Beautiful haunting images on opium addiction in Badakshan, Afghanistan.

Mr Kimoto, although I don’t know you, but i feel your images and your words, it touches my soul and my core, inspiring me to use my eyes and my hands. Perhaps do something about these tools. Thank you for your words and images, especially during this period of my life! Rest in Peace.

Please visit The tribute exhibition to AK Kimoto  “I do what I do because I only have 2 hands” on May 8, 2010

More details : http://www4.atword.jp/reminders/2010/03/24/paying-a-tribute-to-the-memory-of-ak-kimoto-i-was-there/

Pablo’s pipe

Pablo’s pipe

Pablo’s workshop from Singapore International Photography Festival

Pablo Bartholomew is one of the few photographers I truly secretly admire but not dare to approach him to tell him that. Humble and cheeky at the same times, insightful and very engaging. He produces such beautiful lingering images that really strikes me, poignant to the core. I love his images on the Nagas, really spur me to visit the place, after all, I had been dreaming about Nagaland for years. Just needed a few kicks to visit the land of the long cloudy serpent.

Quite an intensive workshop, lack of sleep might have made him a little ‘blurry’ maybe its because of the no smoking rule in the workshop room

Website of his works from his teens

www.pablobartholomew.com/

Sea of Dead Trees

Sea of Dead Trees

and so I leave you with a litte ditty by Lewis Carroll,

a favorite of mine and it does link me to this image.

The Book and the Blue Tank

The blue tank and Me

Found this old photo, taken during the Singapore Biennale Arts Festival 2008

Attempted to create a side portrait of me reading a book in the blue tank, alas the floating book had its own mind. If you do look carefully that book is sorta on my forehead.

Supper at Orchard Towers, Singapore

Supper at Orchard Towers, Singapore

If you happen to be feeling a little peckish along Orchard Road at 3am in the wee mornings.

Orchard Towers has one of the best supper places for good authentic Thai Food and erm.. ‘Thai Gers’. These ‘ladies’ are seen often cruising around for clients.

This area is well-known to all ‘Ang Mohs’ (caucasians) and tokways (chinese business men) who go for these exotic ladies.