Category: Photography

[797] Of Overfloor, Malay College

Post author By Hafiz Noor Shams
Post date Friday, May 26 2006
3 Comments on [797] Of Overfloor, Malay College

Like what I’ve said yesterday, I didn’t get too much time to roam with my old trusty camera at the Malay College. But here’s another one that I managed.

Mohd Hafiz Noor Shams. Some rights reserved

This building is called the Overfloor. Most Malaysians – well, even those that attended the Malay College I suppose – strongly relate the structure with the School (tag). And a few other ideals too. But, this is supposed to be an entry with a light subject. So, I won’t touch on that.Concerning the photo, this is the first time I’ve ever posted a black and white. I feel the raw picture isn’t as good as I had expected it to be. So, I turned it into black and white instead. I’m not quite satisfied with the final product but I do like it better than the raw version.

The photo underwent two stages. I first lightened up the facade. Nextm I stripped the photo of its colors.

This is the “lightened up” version with its colors intact:

This is the raw version:

Finally, haha, go Leman!

This is the first time I see my house grabbing the first overall spot since I first set my foot in the School. And in sports! Eat dust Mohd Shah! With Vengeance. Capital V!But it seems that Leman has problem with discipline. Notice that Sulaiman’s Sahsiah points is the lowest among the Houses. LOL!

Photography Travels

[796] Of clock tower at the Malay College

Post author By Hafiz Noor Shams
Post date Thursday, May 25 2006
6 Comments on [796] Of clock tower at the Malay College

Just got back from Kuala Kangsar and boy, lots have changed.

I was in Kuala Kangsar, Perak for the past two days. This is my first visit to the town in roughly five years. And the state of Perak for that matter. Despite that, unfortunately, I didn’t get much chance to walk around and take some shots. I did manage a few however; nothing spectacular though. This is one of those snaps:

It’s a clock tower at the Malay College. I pretty much regretted for being unable to dedicate more time to photography. I failed to take a complete shot of the Big Schools – especially the Overfloor – for Wikipedia’s article.Anyway, Japanese monarch, Emperor Akihito is coming to the Malay College this June. And, heh, the Malay College now has two inter-ASEAN rivals. The Vajiravudh College of Thailand has always been a traditional rival since 1960s. Now, we have Raffles Institution of Singapore. Well, not a real rival yet. I was informed that the two schools started to exchange visits only last year. So, this will be a second meeting.

Heh. And they are going to live in the Pavilion. Those Singaporeans are in for big culture shock. LOL!

Economics Photography Sports

[785] Of economics 101: substitute goods

Post author By Hafiz Noor Shams
Post date Wednesday, May 10 2006
3 Comments on [785] Of economics 101: substitute goods

Should I get a Pringles?

Or locally produced Agromas instead?

One thing for sure, both are unhealthy.

Mohd Hafiz Noor Shams. Some rights reserved

p/s – Laffer curve. Though the idea is nothing new, there’s an interesting coincidence (via):

Economist Arthur Laffer made a very interesting supposition: If tax rates are high enough, then cutting taxes might actually generate more revenue for the government, or at least pay for themselves. (In one of life’s great coincidences, he first sketched a graph of this idea on Dick Cheney’s cocktail napkin.)

I know it was sketched on a napkin. But I didn’t know it was Cheney’s napkin.

Mohd Hafiz Noor Shams. Some rights reserved

pp/s – Blind sacked. From Ajax-USA:

A surprise? Not exactly. Ajax officially confirmed today what everybody already knew: the club have decided to replace head-coach Danny Blind, as well as his assistants Ruud Krol and Gerard van der Lem. The reasons: Ajax never competed for the Dutch championship this season and the first team players have not made the desired progress, neither as individuals nor as a collective. Chairman John Jaakke and technical director Martin van Geel commented on the club’s decision at a press conference at the Amsterdam ArenA. They expect that the new Ajax-1 boss can be presented in less than three weeks’ time.

Henk ten Cate, Rijkaard’s man at Barcelona, might be the next person for the Ajax job. Also, from Ajax-USA

“Certain Dutch journalists have actually called my mother to ask her about my future! I find that scandalous. I understand that journalists are supposed to their job, but come on: don’t they have certain values? Leave my mother out of it!”
– Henk ten Cate, who is generally expected to coach Ajax-1 next season, on RTV Noord-Holland.

Photography Politics & government

[782] Of a flower on May Day

Post author By Hafiz Noor Shams
Post date Monday, May 1 2006
No Comments on [782] Of a flower on May Day

There is too much red today and I feel compelled to add two different colors to an already bloody reddish day. And for the past few weeks, I’ve been adding too many photos about architecture. So, I hope that this is breath of fresh air for you because this ain’t another red rose or red brick.

Earlier in January, I said that an old building’s facade in Kuala Lumpur is my best shot yet so far this year . Well, it was my best shot until I managed this macro shot of a flower (tag). I don’t know about you but I’ll say, this is a goddamned pretty picture. The shot was taken a little over two weeks ago near Jalan Parlimen where Tugu Negara stands.

I have one problem though – I don’t know the name of the flower. Somebody at Wikipedia suggested that the flower might be yellow toreador (Celosia sristata). A search on Google reveals that it isn’t so. The leaves look too different.

If there is any kind soul who knows the name of the flower, please do tell me!

Mohd Hafiz Noor Shams. Some rights reserved

p/s – have you heard of NYSE Hostage? The ad first came up in the New York Times last friday.

NEW YORK (Reuters) – A mysterious advertisement in Friday’s New York Times accusing the New York Stock Exchange of bowing to terrorist threats has again spotlighted the struggle of controversial animal-testing company Life Sciences Research Inc. to get a listing on the Big Board.

Seems like a new war between animal right activists and the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries.

Mohd Hafiz Noor Shams. Some rights reserved

pp/s – w00t for the Singaporean opposition:

PAP Not Doing Enough To Forge Close Relations With M’sia – SDA

By Jackson Sawatan

SINGAPORE, April 30 (Bernama) — The opposition Singapore Democratic Alliance (SDA) has criticised the People’s Action Party (PAP) over the state of relations between the republic and its neighbour Malaysia.

The economic union sounds good but I still prefer an ASEAN-wide version. But an economic union with Singapore might be the first step in that direction.

So, let’s break some Singaporean anti-democratic law (tag). I endorse this particular Singapore Democratic Alliance’s policy. Singaporeans, vote for the opposition!

Yeah, I’m shouting without really knowing what’s going on down south. Still, having PAP in Singapore (and BN in Malaysia) up at the top for too long is bad for both Singaporeans and Malaysians’ health!

Mohd Hafiz Noor Shams. Some rights reserved

ppp/s – our own Rajan seems to have taken interest in Singaporean election. Also, Workers’ Party’s rally. Huge. (via)

Mohd Hafiz Noor Shams. Some rights reserved

p4/s – about the flower, two persons at Wikipedia, one at the science reference desk and the other at WikiProject Tree of Life suggest that it might be indeed Celosia cristata. However, the two suggest two different common name; one as earlier, yellow toreador and another cockscomb.

Photography Sports

[777] Of to our glorious dead

Post author By Hafiz Noor Shams
Post date Monday, April 24 2006
4 Comments on [777] Of to our glorious dead

Last Saturday, I paid Tugu Negara a visit; it’s my first visit in more than five years. Tugu Negara is the Malaysian national monument and it’s here in Kuala Lumpur (tag). And of course, I brought along my trusty camera.

I took considerable number of shots and there are two shots that I want to share in this post.

Mohd Hafiz Noor Shams. Some rights reserved

Another shot from the other end, at higher elevation:

Mohd Hafiz Noor Shams. Some rights reserved

I love how the shadow falls on the white marble. However, these pictures don’t turn out as good as I had hoped for. I suppose, this is one of those things that you need to be there to truly appreciate the atmosphere. Or that I suck at photography.

There are plaques at the ceiling. Lots of them but people are oblivious of it; most don’t even know that they are walking under it. Still, that’s comprehensible because a giant bronze sculpture stands about 20 or 30 meters away. But it’s sad to see that people are more attracted to size than details.

I don’t know what the purpose of the plaques but it’s no brainer that those plaques represent the Commonwealth forces. I’ll venture to say that those plaques represent all the Commonwealth forces that had served in this part of the world. A good numbers of them are ANZAC.

According to Wikipedia, today is ANZAC Day. Considering how much ANZAC had contributed to peace in Malaya and Malaysia, I feel it’s only right for me to wish all those that celebrate the day appropriately. So, Happy ANZAC Day, if that is how it’s wished as.

As for Malaysia, Hari Pahlawan falls on July 31. I look forward to visit the monument again on that day.

Mohd Hafiz Noor Shams. Some rights reserved

p/s – this is old but Ajax 4 – 2 Feyenoord; aggregate 7 – 2 in Ajax’s favor. Take that! Next stop, Groningen and then off to the Champions League!

Also, there are six Ajacieden (plural of Ajacied?) in the Dutch national team and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar has been called up. Watch out Nistelrooy. Give way to the new king Hunter.