Lancer Evolution 9

I am not really a fan of Japanese cars but the CATS CAR-nival at Singapore Expo gave no choice but to give this tin cans a shot. One of the standouts that has been calling the interest of the public is the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 9. Under the searing heat, this piece of machinery has shown off what it got.

Starting off with the rubber-burning greeting is always a common sight.

This beast is pretty nimble

Excuse me for the glare

I’m sure the passengers has a lot helluva fun!

Emphasis on power.

Cute butt.

Let’s burn

At least this baby really maxed out my CF. And this is how you break rules.

[North Korean] Standoff 2006

It was a lazy Thursday noon, the sun is bright and the sky is blue. People are just busy with their daily chores. Cooking, shuttling kids from school, birds are cooling off from a nearby floodway.

Suddenly, there was a thunderous scream, it’s a jet scream, definitely it’s not the RSAF’s F-5 that usually wakes me up in the morning. The sound is more vicious and menacing, I felt like it passes over my head and tore the heavens apart then silence prevailed for a moment. A few seconds maybe ten, comes another one and I grew suspicious and it can’t be ignored anymore so I grabbed my camera put on the 70-300mm for the job. And my suspicion was right.

Not one, not two, not three…but most likely sixteen to twenty of this F/A-18 Super Hornets came cruising right over my head while I’m waiting for a phone call. I know Singapore has a booming economy but it’s not crazy enough to buy twenty Super Hornets with tailhooks on it. Tailhook that’s another thing, land-borne fighter planes doesn’t need tailhooks so these birds, very likely, took off from a carrier battle group floating across the Straits. Fill me in maybe Paya Lebar Air Base installed arrestor cables in their runways but that sounds ridiculous. Hmmm so these planes came from an aircraft carrier nearby which is on its way to South China Sea and eventually to Sea of Japan to stop the Korean Madman. Whatever it is, these planes are sending a message that doesn’t show any good news. Let’s piece together the theoritical puzzle, Sembawang Air Base is the logistics headquarters of the U.S. Navy’s Pacific Command and these planes came for R & R (rearm and resupply) for another long haul. The Sembawang Air Base is U.S. Navy Pacom’s “catering service provider”. Weapons, ammos, food and medical supplies are ready upon request.

In response to North Korea’s threat (Taepodong 2 is too hard to ignore). A US carrier battle group(“big stick”), probably with carrier USS Enterprise, steamed from the Persian Gulf and as of this writing is probably right around the corner. And these fighters are here for not-so-good reasons. They will be sent over to answer the threat which is truly a clear and present danger.

Cargo planes such as the RSAF’s C-130 probably performs supply-drop missions over the carrier battle group’s rally point. Initially, this scares the crap out of me but after getting more than 200 shots, it’s a little bit comforting. It’s called strength in numbers.

EXIF data of these pics available upon request.

Singapore CosPlay Festival 2006

I know there’s a Cosplay in the Philippines too but this is the first time that I have ever been to such event with a camera. Cosplay is simply costumed role playing that started in Japan and the craze [weirdness] spawned throughout Asia and the rest of the world. My instant favorite was from Initial D.

Of course any Initial D fans will instantly recognize who drives this car.

Unfortunately he’s a no show. But I’m ok with the ride. There are others who will really steal the scene.

And will cause others to be bloody envy.

Of course order has to be maintained everywhere.

Joo Chiat Place or Old Manila?

The first time I arrived in Singapore, Joo Chiat is the first place I explored, forget those stereotypical HDB blocks, Orchard and Bugis. Of course, I got my eyes rolling when I first stepped out of the open from my room in Hotel 81 and asked “What is this place supposed to be?”. A year have passed since then, and once again I revisited the place, things hasn’t changed much so I walked further and turned to Joo Chiat Place eastwards. I was awestruck and I thought I walked into some sort of invisible teleport and time space warp packed in one.

Where are the chickens and the tricycle? 1974? Wait the second! This is Joo Chiat Place, I thought I was in some province in the Philippines. And the house next to it is where this auntie lives.

Remember when  our uncles used to rule this street with shotguns and slingshots? Wrong! But I used to bike around here back 1985, right? Wrong! This is still  Joo Chiat Place about to reach the outskirts of the upscale Siglap

This is not Ayala Alabang. Finally reaching the portion of the upscale Siglap. And the teleport closes, a gentle breeze came to my ears and whispered “My son, everything is fine, please come home”.  Motherland, forgive me for I was a prodigal son.

Dragonheads

Singapore Dragonboat Festival. My interest in the subject is very little. I don’t why I am there in the first place instead of dozing off and recharging my energy. That could have been more meaninful.

Three heads are better than one.

Six is even better.

Make no mistake, this head is there to keep things in order. And it’s not a dragonhead.

Take a break, Have a Nightshot

My main genre is cars(that is where I made my first extra moolah with my camera) but that doesn’t mean I can’t shoot anything else.  So I stroll along Kallang River and made some long exposures.

Long exposures are always beautiful, if you want instant gratification. These kind of shots does not require exceptional talent. Even a mundane structure can look stunning at night with nice lightings.

Night shots could bring magic to what is dull in the daytime. Some newbies like me may ask “what are my settings?” I can give it to them, but will my settings work in  the subject they want to capture? I’m not sure. But one thing is always for sure, if you understand the subject you’re trying to shoot, then there’s no limit to ‘f’ or ‘F!” stops and shutter speed combinations you want to choose and to what your mind percieves. There will be no rules and no boundaries just have fun shooting. Photography is 90% composition and 10% technical so if you only like the idea of slinging a nice camera around your neck and fancy with huge white L lenses then the passion will not stick around a little longer.

Colleen Francisca is the Miss Singapore World 2006

Well, it’s obvious and she deserves it. While other candidates talk about their online and offline shopping which are pasttimes not shared by many especially by nations that does not have direct access to electricity, water and food. So presenting once again, Ms. Colleen Francisca.

And with yours truly. Shot courtesy by Fafa Jorge’s Canon 20D on 17-85mm, 580EX Flash fired.

Steam

First there was a steam, the symbol of industrial revolution, industrialization, industrial nation.

After the steam, came the more advance form of utilizing energy called combustion until the automobile came to life.

And the ‘need’ became ‘want’ and there was no contentment. But somehow it has to be controlled.

Life has to have its own checks and balances.

Convertibles

I am a convertible fanatic specifically soft-tops, I hate hard-top convertible because it reflects protectionism and fear-of-loss, it’s like pretending to be strong but weak all through out.

almost elusive

but there will be no escape

this shot is technically correct, but has a square sex appeal

It’s always better to listen to yourself first then shoot.

The Best Things in Life are (care) Free!

Yes baby, and that's what convertibles are all about. Carefree. And Volkswagen will definitely not the last carmaker to find out. After more than one hundred years of automobile industry's existence here's the true epitome of carefree.

 

The new 2006 VW Beetle Cabriolet, I should call this one "Pearly".

 

…and she got a nice butt too.  

This babe is longing for a home…make it happen.