鸡场街的倒影
上个星期难得有空，便和Dylan到闻名的鸡场街（也叫文化街）街拍。我们已经在鸡场街街拍摄了几次，而这次又到鸡场街是给自己的挑战。一直寻找着完美，几乎忘了那不完美的存在、那不一样的感觉。
常常欣赏网上和朋友们的鸡场街照片，觉得都是很复古，很优美的马六甲老街。我和朋友们一起也拍摄过的几条街，豆腐街、打铁街、青云亭街、马车街、海山街等等，也一样追求完美的照片：大热天的蓝天白云、复古混合殖民式的建筑物、还有那满街好奇的游客。
这次和Dylan出来街拍，我们希望能随性而不追求这完美的照片。不必在乎角度、曝光，只要感觉对了就按下快门。
拿了妹妹的Panasonic傻瓜相机，我们便出发了！轻轻松松的走向那鸡场街,寻找不起眼的事物、不一样的感觉：
moody evening of Jonker Street
Looking back of old photos sometimes gives us some clue of our development in photography. And early this week, I flashed back the old albums in juesatta and realised that the style of my photography has changed throughout the years. Something I’ve gained and that something is also missing.
I wanted to looking for something that missing…
Two days ago Dylan and I decided to do street photography again. Besides favoring the nostalgic street, we chose Jonker Street again where we did street photography a few times, so that we could know how far we could go when shooting at the same location.
That afternoon when we arrived, I told Dylan, “Let’s forget about what we’ve learnt of photography: composition, exposure, and quality. Put those lesson 101 aside and shoot only what we feel like shooting.”
And Dylan said to me, “Right! Rules are made to be broken.”
Like a wise person once said: if you intend to break a rule you should always learn it first to make sure you’re breaking of it is all the more effective! Then we’d decided to give a go.
Without relying on the decent performance DSLR camera I have, I grabbed my sister’s Panasonic compact camera and we were off searching for the ‘feel’ of street.
Thanks to Dylan for the company and we had so much fun learning together. May all beings be happy.
Outcome of the shooting session:
Wesak Day is considered to be very important for Buddhists around the world. On Wesak Day, Buddhists all over the world celebrate events of significance to Buddhists of all traditions: The birth, enlightenment and the passing away of Gautama Buddha. Celebrations and grand processions are also held here in most parts of Malaysia.
Seck Kia Eenh's colorful float of Wesak Day 2010 parade in Melaka
After our class at Seng Cheong Society of Heeren Street last Thursday we heard lots of voice from outside the building. It was Wesak Day on the next day so people were gathered and line the street to witness the grand procession of Wesak. Dylan and I knew that it was too late to leave the place as the street was already closed temporarily for the procession. Feeling excited and thrilled however, we took out our camera and joined in the crowds.
It wasn’t long waited when the Wesak parade arrived on Heeren Street where we were. The parade was spledid and grand as there were 15 colourful floats and a total of more than 40 Buddhist associations, schools, societies and clubs taking part. Each of these floats was nicely decoratingwith flowers and lights into patterns, and Buddhas were placed on the floats. The participants really put in a lot of effort in designing the floats.
Thousands of people witnessed the grand parade and showed respect to the Buddha. Hundreds of Buddhist devotees also walked the route with candles or flowers in their hands while various groups were chanting along the way or singing Buddhist songs. There were also reverends on the floats sprinkling blessing water to the crowds in the hope that people live a peaceful and happy life. In addition, marching bands from various schools in Melaka, lion and dragon dancers, Sri Lankan dancers were doing performances during the march which cheered up the public.
The whole parade was cheerful and lively yet the atmosphere was calm and peaceful. Routing through 5.5km of Melaka town’s busiest streets, Heeren Street was probably the last street the parade travelled before reaching the finishing line at the Seck Kia Eenh temple. We were lucky to be at Heeren Street and witness this grand event. Wishing everyone a happy belated Wesak Day and may all beings be happy.
Sharing some photos I took:
Days ago, Dylan Low (the last photo in this post) and I went for a shooting at Kampung Jawa and Kampung Hulu in Melaka. It was drizzling when we arrived, however we didn’t give up on our plan. Fortunately the weather turned out alright after some time of shooting.
Decades ago, Kampung Jawa and Kampung Hulu were considered few of the hottest spots in Melaka. Long before Mahkota Parade and Jusco were built, most Malaccan would do their shopping for things like shoes, clothing, dried seafood, groceries, or even a cheap haircut there. Besides, delicious multiracial food like rojak, wantan noodle, fishball noodle, cendol, etc. could be found there.
One of the reasons Dylan and I chose to go there was, we would see craftsmen like goldsmith, blacksmith, carpenter, sculptor, cobbler, tailor, etc. These craftsmen at Kampung Jawa and Kampung Hulu were really good and skilful in their profession, and sad to say that they were mostly senior citizens. Younger generation would not treasure these traditional handicrafts nowadays.
These are some of the shots I took:
Hi! I am CJ, blogger of Juesatta and photographer of CJ Photography.
I love and enjoy photography, thus make me a lifestyle wedding photojournalist and portrait photographer based in Melaka, a lovely town full of history and characters in Malaysia.
Wedding is the sweetest thing of one’s life because it celebrates love, therefore I have always been passionate for capturing beautiful, natural and romantic wedding day images of moments for couples to be cherished a lifetime.
Drop me an email cj@cjfen.com and will be great to hear from you!
