Petaling Street and Temple Shooting

Just 2 days apart after Pudu Wet market shooting, I joined Robin again yesterday for some shutter therapy session at Petaling Street. Not my favourite place but I'll never know what surprise I can get if I didn't go. This time around, I was swapping lenses in between my very own Olympus 12mm and 45mm and also the brand new 25mm f1.8 and also the 9mm fish eye.

I guess I am safe to say that I am poisoned by the 9mm f8 fish eye lens since I am pretty much a wide junkie. I cant stop playing around with the lens once I mount it in my camera and just keep point and shoot around. If you saw any photos not in focus, dont worry it is not the lens problem. It is the noob user which is me who failed to focus even using focus peaking. Need train hard for my eye.

* So wide that my finger also in.. *

Moving on we went to temple for some shooting. As expected by Robin, it was crowded by people who praying. I swap to 25mm f1.8 when shoot in this temple. The classic 50mm focal length is awesome!

And later on I realize I need something closer and wider, I quickly change my lens again in between 45mm and 12mm.

Done the temple, we went out again somewhere nearby for a little bit extra photos.

Overall it was a fun outing with those guys. Deep in my heart, 9mm bocy cap lens is a must already for me to get before I fly to Sabah on March while I still need play around more on 25mm before I can confirm it was a perfect lens to slot in between my 12mm and 45mm. Who know I might change my mind and goes to 75mm straight? :P If you're wondering, I believe Olympus already has a set of complete prime lens for market - 12mm f2, 17mm f1.8, 25mm f1.8, 45mm f1.8, 60mm f2.8 and 75mm f1.8 while Panasonic had 14mm f2.5, 20mm f1.7, 25mm f1.4 and coming soon 42.5mm f1.2. So many choices yet so little cash in my wallet..

International Stores Debut in Avenue K for the New Year

The newly-refurbished Avenue K is pulling in the crowds with more of its tenants opening their doors, welcoming renewal and rebirth with another year in the Chinese zodiac, celebrating the Horse. It is the new AK first Chinese New Year! Be ready to be thrilled to see international shopping varieties as well as local Chinese cultural traditions come to life and soak up the festive spirit while ushering in the New Year.

AK has continued to march forward in securing the most sought-after names in retail, offering trend-setting as well as a host of classic brands. It now claims choice tenants who boast largest outlets and several new arrivals in the Malaysian market, including Korea’s popular lingerie store, Yescode, and ELLE lingerie, the first outlet store in Malaysia. Swedish mega brand H&M opened its flagship store positioned over 3 levels, theSkintopic, The Mod House as well as Original Classic in AK, are the largest of their outlets in the country, while Japanese fashion and household brand, Muji (opening March 2014) and Australia’s Cotton On are largest in Southeast Asia and Asia respectively. With brands like Headline Seoul, Nichii, Dressing Paula, Kitschen and G2000 among others, AK promises to provide the fashion savvy, a myriad of new outfits and looks for the New Year. Those traveling during this festive period can also get equipped in style at luggage specialists, Leather Avenue and Cosas United.

A diversity of F&B outlets featuring cuisine from the East and West have also piqued the curiosity of foodies. Tsukemen & Izakaya Ieyasu, award winning Bankara Ramen, Marutamen Ramen, Grappa, Sushi Zanmai, Swensen’s, Witches and Brew with its gluten-free breads and Snow Factory, introducing all-natural desserts from Taiwan, are following in the success of recently launched Taste Enclave Food Atrium (a selection of 15 delectable stalls and 4 mini restaurants) having drawn crowds of repeat customers by their taste buds. Also opening soon is Library Coffee bar and Johnny Rockets with an all-American menu of specialty burgers, shakes and fries. Coffee lovers will be spoilt for choice as they can have a sip at Starbucks, Espressolab, Urbean, Delifrance and even The Loaf. Located on level 3, Ayer's Rock Butcher and Grill, Fat Boys and Black Bull with its trendy bowling alleys will be among mouth-watering options diners have to satisfy their appetites for top dishes and more.

Soon on Level 4, world-renowned EMS entertainment will bring larger-than-life themed amusements for the whole family, beginning with Dinosaurs Live, a 3D interactive experience especially designed to engage the young. In addition, for convenience and peace of mind while they get their shopping done, parents working in the area are delighted that they are now able to drop their children off at London-based Primrose Hill Nursery for their development and wellbeing.

Shoppers are being WOWed through the month of January and February with spectacular themed performances including traditional fan dances, Chinese instrumental bands, appearances by One FM radio DJs, interactive games, fun quizzes and singing performances by special guests. A regal figure of a golden horse, as well as eight pagodas have been erected on the Ground Floor Atrium represented by different vendors; the number chosen for its auspicious symbol of prosperity. That’s not all – the legendary “God of Fortune”, whose outfit is open to a tenant design contest and voted on by visitors, will also be featured to bring an abundance of prosperity and wealth to all present.

Over the Chinese New Year period, there will also be an orange counting contest, lucky draws and Avenue K cash vouchers, including a RM3,880 grand prize, RM2,880 and RM1,880 for 2nd and 3rd prize respectively, which will be given away to shoppers who participate in the festivities. While the main activities start from 6 January to 14 February 2014, one of the highlights of the celebrations features a must-see Lion Dance performance at the main entrance on 4 February, with costumes specially designed in fuchsia pink, reflecting AK’s logo. Just for your information, the AK logo is stylized in distinct fuchsia pink. Coincidently, Pantone, the global authority on colour, has just declared Radiant Orchid, which is a harmony of fuchsia, purple and pink derived from orchids, as the hue for 2014 and it is supposed to encourage expanded creativity and originality, the very fundamentals of AK.

What are you waiting for? Just head to Avenue K now and be ready to have wonderful experience in this Chinese New Year season! For more info, visit http://www.facebook.com/#!/AvenueKMY.

Chinese New Year shooting at Pudu Wet Market

It is day 2 CNY! Well I am still in KL and have yet go to any relative house for visiting. Hence, I grab the opportunity to went Pudu wet market this morning for some shooting session with Robin. You know he been reviewing Olympus OM-D E-M10 and 3 more new announced lenses right? That's one of the reason I am joining his shooting this morning :P

* 25mm side by side with my 45mm *

* New pancake kits and 9mm fish eye *

I admit I been abandoning my Olympus 14-54mm f2.8-3.5 II ever since I got the Olympus 45mm. Feeling guilty, I brought the lens along for this morning and use it in the market. And I know, I had make a mistake. I couldn't bear the focusing speed and it quite focus hunting even on my E-M1. Plus, the limited of focus point available when my camera switch to phase detection only when mount to four third lens a little bit turn off for me. I did not regret owning the lens. It is still awesome lens that I always use it for food review when I still using my Olympus E-P3. My only regret was my lack of patient after being pampered so much with WORLD FASTEST AUTO FOCUS camera and lenses.

Very quickly, I switch back to my 45mm. Damn the moment I grab my 45mm out together I knew it I couldn't resist or bear the temptation to use that lens. Probably I should really fully convert myself into a prime lens shooter only. Olympus 25mm f1.8 is nicely fit in between my 45mm and 12mm collection now. Ahhh temption! Damn you Olympus.

Since it is still in CNY mood, not much stall opened actually. Not to mention the street is super quiet and not much subject to aim for. Barely feeling satisfy with my shot earlier, I tried to change lens again and tried something difference. A lens that I swear I will never own it but now I am willing to sold my soul to it. Oh wait not really my soul maybe few hundred bucks will do. Guess what lens I am using?

Yup it is fish eye lens. But which? Fish eye adapter? Samyang? or some other mount with adapter? Keep guessing but no prize k?

Overall it was pretty stress free shooting today. Not much people on the street that push you around when you're shooting yet not much subject you could aim for to satisfy your photo hunger. For the third lens I am using today, it was this.

YES BODY CAP LENS! I believe pics speak thousand words (ok maybe my pics speak 10 words only LOL) and I am satisfy with the 9mm fish eye lens eventhough it stuck with f8 and manual focus. But heck, it was a fun and awesome lens to bring for walk around or casual usage!

Perfect lens for selfie anyone? :P