Photography; Justification and musing.

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What is a Photographer anyway? The word 'Photographer' in its elements, refers to a person who makes photographs. Essentially, everyone who's taken photos, are taking photos, or have taken photos at some point is a photographer. What difference would it make, then, whether the camera used were a cell-phone camera, point-and-shoot, film camera, or DSLR?

It would be entirely different if we were discussing professional photography, in which case the individual probably does need to have some capabilities to identify themselves as such and/or provide related services.

Personally speaking, owning a DSLR doesn't mean I want to assume the identity of a Photographer, but you can't help what people decide to label you. It's a lot more expensive than a standard point-and-shoot, but technical terms aside,  it has more functions and gives me significant control over certain settings when compared to my previous cameras. So, overpriced? Not really, I'd call it an investment.

Admittedly, this post was entirely based off feelings of self-justification for owning such a camera and having zilch knowledge on the technicalities of photography. On pain of being colloquial, my approach to photography hovers within the 'anyhow whack' boundaries, a better word for it would be 'experimental'. Euphemisms aside, I do recognize the general assumption that owning a DSLR represents a certain level of professionalism in photography, however, this, obviously is not always the case; Everyone's gotta start somewhere.

If i had a dollar for every time I typed 'photo' in this post, i'd have 12 bucks, which isn't that much. Strange, it felt like I'd typed it a lot more than it's appeared. 

SWAG.

Something these girls got.

Idol preferences are constantly in flux, and while I wouldn't say I've fallen completely out of love with SNSD, their japanese album was, quite frankly, a hot mess. I'd never paid much attention to 2NE1 cause half of my time spent on kpop was focused on staring intently at photos of TOP and threatening to saw off my face/fats from various areas of the body after watching videos of factory produced female k-pop idols with perfect figures.

The point is, I'm unabashedly fickle, so 2NE1, ILUSFM right now (SNS-who?).

Maybe it's because they've been promoting vigorously, or their weird sense of style, probably because of 2ne1 tv, but it's never really been about the music with them, for me, that is. Electro/techno/autotune isn't something i particularly enjoy, but while 2ne1's lyrics are usually hit or miss, their tunes are almost always incredibly addictive. It's all very club music, which doesn't necessarily make it bad, in fact, that just makes it perfect for the gymming playlist.

Just thought i'd throw in a couple of shots from their upcoming MV, Ugly. Hate You is another one of their recent works, while the lyrics scream Angry! Ex-Girlfriend! the tune, once again is annoyingly addictive.

A little holiday spirit.

I wish there were a legitimate reason for my prolonged absence, but there isn't, all that can be said is Life Happened.

Every time the holidays roll around it seems necessary to fall into stagnation physically and mentally. Though if I were to adopt a less negative approach, it wouldn't be stagnation as much as Sitting Around Rotating Between Reading, Watching Movies, Shopping, More Reading, Tumblring, and Singing Very Loudly When No One's At Home. Yep, summary of the past one and a half months. AND, i forgot to mention, pandering to this fuzzy terror's need for attention. 

Her antics are obviously very persuasive; lesson of the day: being cute gets your shit done for you.

So, as always, the food's been wonderful (ly cheap) and abundant, having too much time on your hands does open a timeslot (and several more stomachs) for tea.

I don't really know why tea-time has always held its quaintness (personally speaking anyway), despite no one actually serving tea in fancy little porcelain cups and teapots any more. God forbid that this is some subconscious form of anglocentrism that thrives off my (recent) penchant for english movies/television/books. Said penchant is largely fuelled by lovely actors Michael Fassbender and James Mcavoy, both of whom I recently discovered in X-men: First Class.  When i say discover, it also means Descend Into A Frenzy Of Uncovering Past And Future Works Of These Actors, Also Known As Obsessing. Okay no, maybe it's cause they're attractive (ahem -compelling-), maybe it's cause I've taken a stronger interests to the makings of a movie and what exists around it after taking screen studies.

Short! Badly dressed! Weird hair! w/e it's the weather /am justified/ 

Abrupt end of post!

edit: THANK YOU WHOEVER FOLLOWED ME EVEN WHEN I WAS WHAT WILL NOW BE KNOWN AS -THE MYSTERIOUS 2 MONTH DISAPPEARANCE-

I'll try to be more regular with these updates when i fall back into student life again. 

メイドカフェ/執事喫茶

Okay so the week before last i made a post about going off for some University Photography club (Fotoholics) camp, and i've yet to edit any photos because i've been saddled with a shit tonne of work. Also because i am lazy.

However i also happen to be a narcissist so here's a selca of my face because IMO, THIS ANGLE MAKES MY V-LINE SO.. UM, V. Prominent V-line ftw. Only if my jawline looked like that from all angles. /le sob.

No makeup! Actually, funny story, i kept leaving it back at the cabin or in the boot of the car so in the end i brought it for nothing. OTL.

Random photo with mah roomieeeeeeee.

ALSO, because i've been asked how i manage to look ~fresh-faced~ in my twitter handphone shots, I GIVE YOU THE FRESH FACED EQUATION:

INDIRECT SUNLIGHT + TAKE A LOT + PICK THE ONE THAT MAKES YOU LOOK THE PALEST.

Seriously, it sounds super guai lan (令人讨厌的家伙, annoying/irritating person), that's all. The myspace angle would help, but maybe tone it down a little so it looks less myspacey.

Actually the truth is, everything works like this:

GPOY.

Before i prance off gaily, thought i'd throw in a note:
Apparently i'm working sporadically at Anicafe Melbourne now, Yay me!

 

I don't actually have a uniform yet so this was just a temporary one.

We're open every first and third saturday of the month  from 11am - 4pm and the cafe's located at 247 Bourke Street Mall, Melbourne.

Feel free to drop by to say hi~ 


credits:
photos-JeromeChia

Korea trip photospam part4

In an extreme fit of fail, apparently i failed to post the last part of my Korea Trip photospam. Truly genius.

Nonetheless, HERE IT IS, and um, just try to imagine that i wasn't supposed to post this, like, 5 months ago.

Pretty christmas decor at Etude House in Myeongdong (omona, i remembered)

Mister Doughnut, also known as misdo

More Misdo. THE CUPS ARE SO CUTE.

Technically Misdo coffee didn't make me smile cause i don't even drink coffee.

Dance group performing in front of GoodMorningCity in Dongdaemun. If i remember correctly they were doing Kara's Jumping. It was pretty half-assed though.

More performances in front of Migliore. This was a group of rappers, can't really remember, too busy getting jostled by the crowd. The streets were literally packed like sardine cans.

Weird socks! Their faces are just unfortunate in the sucking on popsicle way, if you get what i mean. i'm crude, but i can't be that crude my parents are internet savvy.

Doota; one of the more pricey malls, but they do have a plus size section in the basement, as well as a vintage clothes (and chanel bags) store in the basement.

Badly taken picture of a mobile restaurant/ eatery truck.

Bibim Naengmyeon (i think?) i had for lunch one afternoon. IT WAS REALLY GOOD. But i love spicy food, so almost anything spicy is good.

Around Namsan Tower.

View from the second tier of Namsan Tower/Seoul Tower, my memory's a little foggy, so it could be a view from the top.um.

Yep, definitely from the top of Namsan Tower/Seoul Tower.

This is from the middle portion where we stopped for coffee (tea, in my case) and frozen yogurt.

Love tiles.

Piles upon piles upon piles of Love Locks on the fence around Namsan Tower/Seoul Tower. Supposedly symbolising everlasting ~luuuuuurve~ cause they throw away the key and the locks stay together forevurrrr until they're eventually taken down cause there're too many, at least. Yeah i wonder how much metal wastage that caused, though i don't think it's proportional to the people breaking up after professing their forevurrrr lurrrve; which would be decidedly exponential to the former. NOW I SOUND LIKE A BITTER UNLOVED INDIVIDUAL. Allow me to justify myself after the picspam.

HODDEOK. A type of sweet pancake filled with brown sugar. Tried it first on Seoraksan and I was sold, it tastes fantastic. Got this one for 1000W on the street in MyeongDong. EVERYONE SHOULD TRY IT. Gonna try making it sometime soon.

More food stalls at night on street corners. You literally eat and shop at the same time in the MyeongDong main streets. The cold weather probably amplified the taste of the food, so anything warm was delightful, but eating street food's actually a fun experience. /city guuuurl/

Unfortunate placement of a rice cake between rather thick, um, red lips on a random signage in Myeongdong. I don't get it either.

FOOOOD.

RED MANGO. I.E. THE BEST FROZEN YOGURT EVER. The waffles are glorious as well. SO FRESH AND CRISPY AMAGAWD. /foodcommentaryfail/ /i am so articulate/

A branch of Red Mango opened in Melbourne recently; Cacao Green on Swanston Street directly across QV mall and down the road from Melbourne Central. GLORIOUS FROZEN YOGURT. I DON'T EVEN CARE THAT THE WEATHER'S RIDICULOUSLY COLD RIGHT NOW.

Brunched at this Porridge restaurant for 2 days of the trip. The Sesame/Pumpkin/DaeJangGeum porridge, stood out the most. Their Haemul Pajeon was good too.

MORE FOOD.

RANDOM CHOI SIWON!

Main street in MyeongDong taken while we were in the airport bus limousine.

And that's the proper end of my Korea Trip photospam. I know this came really late and most of the photos are pretty crap, but i can console myself with the fact that i actually remembered to post this now rather than a year later or something.

I'd love to go back to Korea again more for the food than anything else, okay, no the cosmetics as well.
To conclude this post, i am now a very hungry person, but it is 1am, and i should not be tempted to head into the kitchen for some munchies.

P.S. OKAY IDK WHAT I DID, BUT I TRIED TO CHANGE THE TAGS FOR PART 3 AND IT SUDDENLY FLEW TO THE FIRST PAGE OF MY BLOG. ok w/e continuity FTW.

OH, and, um an explaination of my seemingly bitter-unloved-individual outburst riiiight below in smaller font:

Going back to justifying my stance on ~evurlasting lurrrve~ and trying not to sound like an unloved, deprived individual ; I don't claim to have much experience in these matters, scratch that, i don't. But it just seems insensible to be so emotionally invested in the indefinite, especially if it's to the extent that your happiness hinges on the need to have such an emotional connection with someone when you're perfectly capable of being happy by yourself. There isn't a guarantee for everything, but the waste of time and resources on something intangible is illogical. A silly pair of lockets will do for your relationship as much as paper glue does for sticking plastic together. Ultimately relationships are self-centered, an individual 'wants' another individual, and vice versa (maybe not in some cases), and expectations from both sides will inevitably differ vastly. An apt description would be a game of Minesweeper. Those who don't succeed start over repeatedly read: waste their time. And those who get through the game safely, marry, have children, then what? Is the level of fulfillment in your life dependent on what society claims it to be? Is starting a family really a main signifier of some sort of success in life or end of thereof?
Rhetorics aside, I'd be happy living out life without obligations. Note to 24 year old self: feel free to laugh if/when you look back and read this.