Morality: Between Pancasila, Religious Doctrines and Other Values

It all began here and then I posted that article on my twitter and my editor began to ask me:

@trugiaz so what's your perspective on the matter? re: moral article.

And I said I couldn't write it in 140 words, nor do I wanted to make a series of lectures, so I suppose Notion is the place to go.

To start, I have no exact idea where the Indonesian's obsession of morality come from; it could come from the last 32 years during the Soeharto era, it could come from the East tradition (respect your elders, your country etc), it could come from religions or it could be learn from the society or cultures. Anyway, as the article mentioned there are increasing number of obsession on morality and unfortunately this uphold of the morality is still pretty much a double standard issue.

Why double standard? because the people who impose such laws, governance or rules are immune of this moral code they passed. They expect people to follow them but they didn't want to follow it by themselves. Take a look at the porn loving legislature, Arifinto. He keep porn in his tablet (that's right sir, I don't buy your so-called email link excuses), get caught watching it in a plenary session, forced to step down from his position and till this date he's still in the parliament (waiting for recess period he said) and no police officer to take him to jail, but a man who make porn for himself (not distributing it) is caught and get 3.5 years in jail time. For more information this Arifinto is a member of the PKS (Justice and Prosperous Party) which pushed the Pornographic Bill (and according to this it's illegal to posses, download and distribute pornographic material but not) to be legalized, then when this kind of incident happen they said that the action that he did (stepping down) is already more than enough.

and let's leave that double standard issue with the infamous saying:

What. The. F**k?

Let's head back and see the questions that my editor is asking:

Is there a standard for morality?

In my opinion yes, there's a standard. I believe that there are raw, unrefined values of morality that all the people in the world could agree regardless of their views or beliefs. As I understand it nowadays we have so many  moral values surrounding us, these come in the form of religious dogma or  logical consequences of our action however the principles behind it are the same. In Indonesia, this standards of morality or the raw, unrefined values of morality came in the form of Pancasila (the five principles) or to be precise it's the 5 principles and its 45 points and I'd say that the best ever values known to mankind. Why? because since its birth it balances between the liberal view and the socialism, it also acknowledged religious values yet at the same time not taking side of one religious dogma.

Can moral virtues be taught in classes?

Again I would say yes, moral virtues can be taught in classes, however it would need more than just classroom to taught about morals. The homes, the parents are the first and foremost place and people responsible for teaching this moral virtues. A classroom, would act as a place for the children to practice their moral understanding by interacting with society (IMHO classroom/school is just a smaller model of society) and at the same time teaching them about the more complex understanding of morality. Returning from my point above I believe the values of Pancasila need to be taken in seriousness by the ministry of education, not only as a main subject to be taught but also a guideline on how to shape the future Indonesians.

In my final words, I would say that we now live in a strange time and age, where Pancasila has been degraded and understood only as a statue of Garuda with a shield on its chest and its values are no longer considered as part of our identity but at the same time there's an increase of nationalism. I believe simply because that Pancasila as a moral guidelines doesn't offer anything like any religious doctrines, it doesn't offer 72 virgins like when you defend your religion nor it would punish you into the depths of hell if you don't follow it. Nationalism on the other hand although it is also a part of one's identity would not have anything to do with moral values.

It must be understood by anyone, not just the government that if we want to live in a country like Indonesia, we can't depend on morality which is based on one religious doctrines or even only the view of the majority. If we want to live in  Indonesia we need to follow that value of morality which respect and acknowledge the differences. Therefore my suggestions regarding this moral issues are simple; reinstate our belief in Pancasila, our standards of morality and apply its values in our everyday life.

Pick Your Stance

And live through it.

Candid

Anyway, there's this branch of photography called "street photography" essentially the street become your studio, you can capture everything you see in front of you if you're fast enough. You can capture candid expression, humorous irony or sometimes divine geometry precision in which all or some will involve people and their life. Judging from what I write above,  this street photography are bound to be voyeuristic in nature, however unlike pornography it is conducted for the sake of art.

Putting our dirty mind aside, there are a lot of reason why people didn't want to get photographed in this time and age, where releasing a portrait to the internet is the same as putting a potential meme, however we didn't want that, we just want to get that portrait of a stranger up in the internet as a source of discussion looking at the relationship between photographs and the classical arts.

Yes, what we do will irate a lot of people and sometimes it's also bugging me to become such douche to put up a camera and then get close to the subject and capture their unawareness,  but then again aren't all things and living creature in the public space are deemed to be public's?

Eskapisme: Sebuah Kultur Penduduk Jakarta

Saya ga habis pikir, penduduk sepadat itu ada di Jakarta. Mungkin lama-lama nanti orang Jakarta itu tidur berdiri semua.

Itu kata teman saya, urang Bandung seorang entrepreneur yang punya hotel di Cihampelas, dekat dengan para pool travel. Tentu saja usahanya sukses berat, itulah yang saya simpulkan karena saya waktu itu ngobrolnya di hotel dia yang cabang ke 2.

Tapi saya tidak mau menulis tentang teman saya itu, yang saya mau bicarakan adalah kenyataan di Jakarta dan budaya eskapisme para penduduknya.

Kabur Dari Jakarta

Kenapa kabur?

Bukankah Jakarta adalah tempat dimana saya bisa mendapatkan apa saja dengan mudah? makanan murah, tempat tinggal dengan beragam fasilitas, mall-mall yang menjulang tinggi, rumah sakit yang beragam beragam fasilitas transportasi.

Bukankah Jakarta adalah tempat dimana teman-teman berada? dimana orang-orang berada dekat dengan kita sehingga ruang tak lagi menjadi suatu keberatan ? dan apabila kebetulan mendesak, maka telekomunikasi pun masih menjadi suatu kemudahan disini.

Maka sesungguhnya yang saya sebutkan memang fakta, fakta tentang ruang tetapi tidak tentang waktu.

Karena waktu itu berjalan dengan cepat sekali di Jakarta, tetapi kita habis hanya untuk mengarunginya.

Belum lagi masalah konsumsi.

Barang, jasa, barang atau jasa, barang dan jasa, barang dan/atau jasa, atau bahkan komoditas-komoditas unik lainnya. Uang seakan-akan hal yang pasti anda perlukan dan dapatkan bila ada disini.

Letih.

Dan hanya memang keletihan yang terasa di akhir hari. Letih bertemu orang yang sama, letih berjalan mengais hidup, letih ketika di akhir pekan harus bekerja ketimbang tidur sampai siang, letih yang sama ketika bangun terlalu siang dan letih menyesal kenapa tidur sampai siang.

Kabur adalah jawaban, kabur adalah solusi. Kabur dari Jakarta berarti kabur dari permasalahan, Kabur dari keletihan. Lalu kabur pun menjadi kultur, kultur eskapisme.

Kultur eskapisme ini sendiri pun tergantung kepada orang-orangnya. Para realis menuju sebuah kenyataan bahwa kabur selamanya bukan pilihan, mereka perlu bekerja, berbakti kepada orang tua, mengejar kesejahteraan dunia dan kalau bisa mengejar sebuah kebahagiaan akhirat, kalau mereka bisa bertahan menjadi seorang realis.

Seorang idealis, tak akan berpikir bahwa dirinya harus kembali ke realitas, mereka bisa kabur selama-lamanya. Terus-menerus lari, to become a stranger in a strange lands, sampai pada akhirnya ajal menjemput saya kira. Mereka bisa datang dari berbagai kalangan, mereka yang bisa melawan dan bertahan. Mereka yang menjadi role model dari para realis, dan mereka juga yang mungkin menginginkan menjadi seorang realis.

Akhirnya mengingat seorang teman yang menjadi seorang realis dan idealis pada saat yang bersamaan, karena pekerjaan dan nama besarnya sudah memungkinkan ia untuk kabur berlama-lama tetapi tetap memiliki simpanan untuk akhir hayatnya.

Jakarta makin panas yah, gw sekarang udah kaga demen keluar-keluar, mending disini aja. Kerja.

Tar Juli aja baru jalan, mau 2 bulan ke Eropa.

Ngapain?

Ya, kerja.

Fuck You Pay Me: How To Ensure that You Got Everything Covered Before You Start That Project

Damn that's a long title. Anyway here's Mike Monteiro from Mule Designs talking in SF: Creative Morning about how sometimes, creative workers (designers, developers, photographers or just any kid with MacBook pro) are being undervalued by the clients but even sometimes by themselves.

Mike's talk are the ones that you need prior engaging a project, possibly even when you're just starting out or when you want to fire your clients (yes you read it right)

So enjoy and please apply this for your next project negotiation.

[vimeo http://vimeo.com/22053820]

Citra & Sondang

Citra & Sondang, the two may met in a very orthodox fashion, but the way they take their relationship is somehow an unorthodox one, because they spend a very long time for themselves to start their relationship. Having knew each other since high school to university life and finally working together in the same city, but they only start their relationship two years ago.Why? simply because they want it to be perfect.

Citra & Sondang, started off by becoming friends, they have the same circles whom they always met when they're back to their hometown. Citra, a pharmacist by training, is a serious person who's keen on adventures, designs and arts. Sondang, on the other hand, is a shy engineer with calculated minds but possessing of what I called a natural talent to break the ice. A bit of a mismatch? I highly doubt so.

Citra & Sondang, they posses something that some other couples might not have. Sondang didn't try to become a new person when he's with Citra and vice versa and they certainly did not do so in front of the camera. One's might frown or even laugh when they're together, but then when you think about it, they have what it takes to carry them against the times and tides. The ability to convey the exact words of what their feeling can express, a raw value called honesty.

Because when you think about it, what matter most isn't what you see now. What matter most is how to carry it forward, a relationship between two persons should not be stagnant such also the persons should be evolved from time to time, and when you see Citra & Sondang you'll understand that there are no better ways to evolve, rather than to learn and listen.

Carpe Diem: A Photography Exhibition by GFJA Workshop Class of XVI

The poet Horace had once said “Seize the day, putting as little trust as possible in the future”, a definition comparable to the “decisive moment”, a simultaneous recognition in a fraction of a second the significance of an event. In photography, it meant to worry less about all other things and concentrate on what’s in front of you and in the right moment, immortalize it.

Such are the works of Antara PhotoJournalistic Gallery Workshop Class of XVI, they seize day after another, chasing for that perfect moment and finally be able to exhibit their work in the Gallery at Pasar Baru from March 11 to April 9th 2011.

Unlike other workshops which are conducted over a short period of time, this workshop actually  is conducted for almost a year, bringing not only knowledge but also many great experiences for the students. Susi Muhammad, one of the Basic Program student who had initially accompanied her child for the selection process, only to find that she’s the one that gets into the program had said that the program was a great learning experience for her, to know more about the process of photography and apply it in her interest such as cultures and craft. Mira, a student on the journalistic program who made a photo essay about lesbian lovers affectionately titled “Story of Pineapple & Strawberry”, said that now she has completed her education in Antara, she views camera as not a mere instrument to document something, but a medium to produce expressions or opinions. She also said that being in a journalistic class also forced her to be more creative with written words, to create a story to accompany the pictures.

Unlike other workshops which are conducted over a short period of time, this workshop actually  is conducted for almost a year, bringing not only knowledge but also many great experiences for the students. Susi Muhammad, one of the Basic Program student who had initially accompanied her child for the selection process, only to find that she’s the one that gets into the program had said that the program was a great learning experience for her, to know more about the process of photography and apply it in her interest such as cultures and craft. Mira, a student on the journalistic program who made a photo essay about lesbian lovers affectionately titled “Story of Pineapple & Strawberry”, said that now she has completed her education in Antara, she views camera as not a mere instrument to document something, but a medium to produce expressions or opinions. She also said that being in a journalistic class also forced her to be more creative with written words, to create a story to accompany the pictures.

Oscar Motuloh, the curator of Antara Gallery, state that Carpe Diem and the class of XVI is special; due to the fact that there are many events happening in Indonesia in 2010, which directly or indirectly help to shape the student’s instinct and more importantly perspectives. Oscar also said that every class of Antara Workshop have their own style, due to the outside influence although the syllabus (and mentors) remain the same.

After finishing my interview with Oscar, I looked at the profiles of the class of XVI and attendees of the gallery whom are armed with every kind of camera; DLSRs, Analogs, Lomos, Cellphone Cameras and Pockets, although they held a different kind of cameras, they all had the same passion. Photography. One of them could be the next Cartier-Bresson, the next Capa, the next Julian Sihombing or probably the next Oscar Motuloh.

Then it comes to my mind, the words that was being held by the Class of XVI: “Lalu bagaimana besok? Tak perlu risau, karena mereka adalah mentari hari esok fotografi kita” (So how’s tomorrow? No need to worry, because they are our future photography suns) and I go back with a smile because I know that there’re still great photographs and great photographers in the making.

First Commercial Project: A Retrospective

Finally I decided it would be nice for me to take a second jobs, and because of photography remain to be the area that I am most aware or as I put it as more knowledgable I decided to market myself in the ever expanding world of photography. However, while photojournalism remains as my biggest dream (who isn't?), I started to become a wedding  photographer first, while finding work in media. And today I have my first job, my first commercial shooting for a friend pre wedding and this writing  will be my concern over the project, how to become a freelancer and what to do and what not to do.

PW-001 Having a friend as a client is a privilege, you know them well, you can easily connect with them, you can tell jokes etc, however it sometimes hard to maintain your professionalism, this is why a standard working procedure should come in handy (although I didn’t have a written one).

I start of the project by having a meeting with my clients, I asked what are their vision of the picture, what kind of picture they wanted, where should the picture be taken and is a theme involved? would be very great if they can show me the example of the picture and actively discuss into the details of the work and being on the other end, we should always give a nod to what client say and when it will be utter impossible don't afraid to say no. Next I will be discussing the fees, in which you should put a baseline for every project that you took ( i.e. 500K for a pre-wed, 200K for portraiture, etc) this will be very crucial, you have to know how many pictures that you could took, edit and give to your clients, you're also describe to your client whether your travel expenses, accommodations, meals are being covered with the fees or it is in a separate bill.

a note: please make again a SOP regarding this meals and accommodations, how much can you spend on a meal? how much is it for your accommodations? ask whether you should arrange it yourself or it is pre-arrange by the clients? Please discuss this with your clients or alternatively put it down on your project proposal (which is better because it is on a written documents) regarding all information concerning the fees

The Shooting Period

Next is the shooting, I can only say be prepared. On the weather, the client last minutes changes or any other particular things. For sure you can't always depend on your luck if you're shooting and always have a plan how a shot would be conducted and several backup plans.

Your plans will of course depend largely on your negation with the client and what are they request, and this, will largely determine what kind of kit you're bringing to the shootings.

Assuming you have a DSLR, you're going to bring a few lenses and flash and probably tripod for the, being a newcomer in this business, I only bring my 18-135 mm f3.5-5.6, 50mm f1.8, a tripod and a flashgun (in which I did not use the flash and the tripod at all) while that's probably cover your portraiture and landscape there are no specialized lens yet, I might suggest to bring a macro to shoot out some details of the shots or swap it with the 50mm.

The Editing

Your editing skills with your technique will become your personal touch, your style even. People will either love it or loathe it, so please consider a lot when you decide to move that exposure to the left.

At first, the client might ask you to have this kind of tone or that kind, however as time progresses you will notices trend among photographers' portfolio about "what kind of tone is in trend now", even  more  than just that.  Therefore the best thing you should do is of course look for trends, see other's portfolio and try it for your self.

What if your creative vision is being torn apart by your clients' need? should you follow them? for this my suggestion is that, you can create some sample prints first to show your client about their tone you create and according to their taste, sure it's double work but then if you had your creative juice out from your head, isn't that a liberating feeling?

The Prints and Frames

I've been lucky to know some affordable book printing and framing services, had our mutual agreement and generally work hand in hand to deliver something for the client.

Having this kind of support will of course be a plus point, because you can offer more services to your client, and helping a fellow photo business as well.

Management

Know how to manage your documents, workspace, proposal, branding , gears and most importantly, your photographs! and always remember backup them.

Secondly always update your portfolio, I don't know about the usage of digital media (tablet in this case) such as iPad, Galaxy Tab or Motorola Xoom for displaying your portfolio but sometimes the vintage and the rares (like books) is showing more of a personal touch rather than cold piece of beautiful technology.

Market your work in a suitable place and time, especially if photography is not your first job, make suitable and sensible travel schedule.

The Minor Differences

Handling 1000D is like handling a single bullet-gun like those of Tallulah Black, you aim, pull the trigger and bam! while 7D is a sophisticated alien weapon, with a question hanging on your head like "Can you control this beast?" and "Am I fast enough for this instrument?" oh and yeah, I change my gun to 7D now.

Between Two Viable Choices

I suppose I'll wait for a month and get what I wanted.

A Revolution Is Born Every Seconds

And in 2015 we'll have a new icon to replace Guevara. It's the pale geek from Harvard and the Blue Bird.

The Thing About..

“The thing with freelance jobs is that when you already get into the money business is that you tend to forgot all the things that make you got into that jobs in the first place.” "You tend to forget the happiness when you trigger the shutter"

"You tend to forget the feeling when you draw the basic sketches"

"You tend to forget your creative endeavour"

"You tend to forget how liberating it is to writ"

As 2011 Passing I Resolute

It's been a bit late  but a lot of things have happened and of course inevitable changes. As of 2010 finished I can say that I have finished the year with a lot of achievement, I travel a lot, I got my scuba diving license, I learnt a lot of things, meet so many amazing people and got my two marks and of course meeting her. However when 2011 come I have long decided that the year should be make specially for "return back to class" a term to denotes my desire to attend events such as seminars, discussions, talks or workshops, it also can involved to go to the library, read more books, listen more to people and become more open. 2011 also the beginning for a new project by me; De cLu tt ER 2.0, after I successfully finished 2010 with Project 365, but let’s not talk about the project here. I have a special reserve for that and will explain it there.

Therefore without further ado, here are the list of the 2011 resolutions, my 2011 resolutions

1. Lost weight, I seriously need to do this. BMI wise I'm 28 which is already on the overweight side, so in total I will need to get rid of 13 kg of excess weight.
2. Set Up and kickstart my photography business.
3. Learn more, write more, read more, attend more class session and of course travel more.
4. Get one of my photograph to be a magazine cover.
5. Upkeep project De cLu tt ER 2.0.
6. Make a portfolio website.
7. Become a freelance writer/contributor for media.
8. Print Project 365 Photobook and put them on the apartment
9. Make over the apartment.
10. Make necessary steps to secure the future.
11. Create more photography projects

As you can see these are really differ between my previous resolutions, as these  are more locally done rather than involving a lot of travel and adventure.

A sign of maturity perhaps?

Or simply I'm just getting tired?

Well anyway good luck for those in 2011, may life give you everything that you need and make you away from all the things that you want.

Cheers

R

De cLu tt ER 2.0

I guess we're all sometimes a bit lazy right? woke up on Sunday just to be in bed for the next 6 hours or so, take no shower until 5PM and eat only leftovers from a week ago? No? Just me then. Before I went to discuss about De cLu tt ER 2.0 and its significance over 2011 (for me obviously), I'd continue to wrote about the root cause of this clutter. Laziness.

Over time laziness definitely will take toll, and on one aspect create clutter, put it simply your messed up home, workspace, work desk, bed, home screen in your computer, that sink basin, that shower room, that sofa and all of them are the manifestation of that laziness.

Then come along 2011 and blank resolutions.

In 2010 I can always argue that the build up of the clutter is due to one thing, "Project 365". now that it ended, it's time to fill 2011 with some sort of project and to begin is the De cLu tt ER 2.0

Definition:

De cLu tt ER 2.0 is simply a project attempted to correct all aspect of my life and how I carry it in a day today basis, it is simply to make it work in the proper railway.

What's need to be declutter?

All! from the bedroom to my computer, from the apartment to the workspace in office, as small as my camera gear bag to my china cabinet, from all of that to my life in a general and specific term.

Who?

I will be the center of the project and the project executioner myself of course but with helps and inspiration from many people, animals behavior or systems.

Where?

Everywhere that needs to be declutter, from walking paths to my bed, to the "untouchables" like my mind perhaps or my views on everything.

When?

Now here's a thing,  there's no time frame, this isn't like Project 365 which is simply a year long project. Project De cLu tt ER 2.0will start from 1 Jan 2011 till I reach another phase in life where it is deemed to create De cLu tt ER  3.0. So there's no way I can answer this with my current knowledge, but I should know exactly when the project should be started again if the time arrived.

Why?

To make things more organized that and to fulfill the increase in my obsessive behaviour in which I hope will not turn into a psychological problem for me.

How?

Start small, from the address book of my email and phone, to my apartment then my office space and finally my life in general. It's a non stop process over time I guess.

But then everything needs a guideline and this is the "how to" on doing this project:

• Delete the unnecessary, so that the necessary may speak.
• Create and maintain a database.
• Self discipline and willingness to upkeep it.
• Reminder poster.

Yes, again it is an ambitious project but what the heck while in the end I can only say let's begin De cLu tt ER 2.0 and have an organized life, all.

Cheers

R

A Retrospect of 2010

Let's begin this retrospect by review the previous list that I have for my 2010 resolutions shall we:

1. Start on Project 365 and consistently keep it running.
2. Be more accountable.
3. Less procrastinating and be more productive.
4. Save more money.
5. Travel more!
6. Live the healthy way.
7. Try to cycle everyday.
8. Try to cook everyday.
9. Be more greener.
10. Live without debts and Blackberry.
11. Buy my sister a Spiderman notebook.
12. Learn diving.
13. Climb at least 2 mountains.
14. Go to Halong Bay!
15. Learn, Write, Read and Listen More.
16. Know what I want and what I need as well as what I am worth of.
17. Do the coming of age ritual: travelling solo!

And let's see how I've done it then

1. Start on Project 365 and consistently keep it running.
2. Be more accountable.
3. Less procrastinating and be more productive. well kinda..
4. Save more money. definitely not
5. Travel more!
6. Live the healthy way. Not
7. Try to cycle everyday. Not
8. Try to cook everyday. Not
9. Be more greener. well kinda...
10. Live without debts and Blackberry.
11. Buy my sister a Spiderman notebook. Not
12. Learn diving. Yes Yes! and Dive in Bunaken as a Bonus
13. Climb at least 2 mountains. Not
14. Go to Halong Bay! Yes! and I done it Solo
15. Learn, Write, Read and Listen More.
16. Know what I want and what I need as well as what I am worth of.
17. Do the coming of age ritual: travelling solo!

Well I can say it's pretty much a great 2010 then, while now I am still thinking about my 2011 resolutions but I have a great ones on my mind. Let me share with you when I get all of them listed out.

Cheers and have a great 2011.

A Review in The Middle

Beginning of 2010, I write a comprehensive list of what my resolution for 2010 would be, among them are plain right ridiculous but still achievable (I believe) This time I want to review them and let's begin by looking at the list.

1. Start on Project 365 and consistently keep it running.
2. Be more accountable.
3. Less procrastinating and be more productive.
4. Save more money.
5. Travel more!
6. Live the healthy way.
7. Try to cycle everyday.
8. Try to cook everyday.
9. Be more greener.
10. Live without debts and Blackberry.
11. Buy my sister a Spiderman notebook.
12. Learn diving.
13. Climb at least 2 mountains.
14. Go to Halong Bay!
15. Learn, Write, Read and Listen More.
16. Know what I want and what I need as well as what I am worth of.
17. Do the coming of age ritual: travelling solo!

And now let's see how I fare:

1. Start on Project 365 and consistently keep it running. > Currently on progress
2. Be more accountable. >Trying to
3. Less procrastinating and be more productive. > Trying to
4. Save more money. > NOT
5. Travel more! >YES
6. Live the healthy way. > NOT
7. Try to cycle everyday. >NOT
8. Try to cook everyday. > NOT
9. Be more greener. > YES
10. Live without debts and Blackberry. > Blackberry yes, debts NOT
11. Buy my sister a Spiderman notebook. > NOT
12. Learn diving. > Starting
13. Climb at least 2 mountains. >NOT
14. Go to Halong Bay! >NOT
15. Learn, Write, Read and Listen More. >Trying to
16. Know what I want and what I need as well as what I am worth of. > Perhaps
17. Do the coming of age ritual: travelling solo! >Coming soon.

So out of 17, 8 is a No, suggesting that I will need to change something in my life, maybe drastically or dramatically depends on how I fit.

Pecha Kucha Night Bandung Vol.10 & CS Bandung Gathering 03.07.10

On the middle of June, Ririe one of the CouchSurfing city ambassador of Bandung contacted me for my availability on 3rd July to present the Project on Pecha Kucha Night in Bandung and I was psyched! Since I'm not really familiar with the 20x20 format, I had to made some preparation  by learning how to make one and by attending Pecha Kucha Night in Jakarta. I had a revelation promise made to the people that I'll write something regarding how it goes.

So I start:

Let me begin to explain what is Pecha Kucha, it is a fun, fast, idea filled night where few presenters will go up there one by one presenting just about everything! regarding photography, architecture, travel ideas, communities and etc. It was first devised by 2 architects; Astrid Klein and Mark Dytham of Klein Dytham architecture on 2003 in Tokyo. The reason? because architect tend to speak unnecessarily during their presentation (quite the same for  few of us).

First city to be introduced by Pecha Kucha virus in Indonesia is none other than: Bandung, which entirely make sense since it is the city of reference for art and other creative approach. Last night make the 10th volume of the Bandung Pecha Kucha Night and what makes it more special is that it collaborates with CouchSurfing making the audience not only ranging from non-CS/Pecha Kucha Regular Patrons.

Leaving Jakarta from 10 AM, we started to get the idea that it is a good thing not to bring your private car to Bandung in the weekend because it was hell, after experiencing of bits of this and that in Bandung (read: Gokana Teppan in Ciwalk) we finally trying to figure out how do we go to the venue:

Labo The Mori.

Located in Dago Atas, this place is defined as "public space for fun and creativity". Have hosted most of the Pecha Kucha Night in Bandung it is really a venue to fit its purposes. An amphitheater like place with large white sheet for presentation located in the middle hanged in between two large trees. Labo The Mori is also the HQ for the Labo. Architecture+Design firm, which makes it the most perfect Studio slash Office with modern taste of home and library.

One other thing that makes it perfect; you don't need any air conditioner there due to the cool air of Dago plus the rain we had that night.

20x20

1. Tiyok PDW 2. Semarak.BDG 3. Ramini - Mei/Ayu/Aur-Tasik Batik 4. Ririn W. Soedarsono-Tenun Ikat 5. SM Ika Wulandari - Salsa Dance 6. Ivan Hadi Pranatha - Toy Cam 7. Intan Anggia Wardani- Sundanese Traditional Dance 8. Lunalda Kanzeila-Studio Alam Bebas 9. Ridzki Noviansyah - Project 365 10. Eva/Santos - Jejak Kaki 11. Roswita Amelinda - Angklung Web Institute 12. Adrian Ben - Game Developing 13. Nancy Margaretha - CouchSurfing 14. Pasar Seni 10.10.10 15. Anggie Retno Sari- Au Pair France 16. Phebe Wibisana- Food -O-Graphy 17. Maulana Yudiman- Tasik Funtastic Kuliner

That is the list of presenter who come in Pecha Kucha Night Vol. 10, I gotta say while all are captivating and entertaining at the same time, the show stealers come from Pasar Seni 10.10.10 ITB, with their theatrical approach. Maulana Yudiman as well as Phebe had pretty strong followers too due to the fact the present about food, when the audience are hungry and cold.

Finally it was my turn afert Ivan (btw the list is not in order, the organizer made it that it goes with the topic which is being discussed), I gotta say it's hard, 20 seconds could be too fast and too slow depends on how you speak, thankfully though I made it till the end. In the end we concluded by watching the second half of Germany V. Argentina.

Anyhow, it really was a great night in a great place, the only drawback is the lack of hot indomie with chili padi if I may complain.

Therefore kudos to the organizers and to the presenters, will try to attend both JKT and BDG Pecha Kucha Night from now on and see another great presentations from great people.

Pecha Kucha Night Bandung Vol.10 & CS Bandung Gathering 03.07.10

On the middle of June, Ririe one of the CouchSurfing city ambassador of Bandung contacted me for my availability on 3rd July to present the Project on Pecha Kucha Night in Bandung and I was psyched! Since I'm not really familiar with the 20x20 format, I had to made some preparation  by learning how to make one and by attending Pecha Kucha Night in Jakarta. I had a revelation promise made to the people that I'll write something regarding how it goes.

So I start:

Let me begin to explain what is Pecha Kucha, it is a fun, fast, idea filled night where few presenters will go up there one by one presenting just about everything! regarding photography, architecture, travel ideas, communities and etc. It was first devised by 2 architects; Astrid Klein and Mark Dytham of Klein Dytham architecture on 2003 in Tokyo. The reason? because architect tend to speak unnecessarily during their presentation (quite the same for  few of us).

First city to be introduced by Pecha Kucha virus in Indonesia is none other than: Bandung, which entirely make sense since it is the city of reference for art and other creative approach. Last night make the 10th volume of the Bandung Pecha Kucha Night and what makes it more special is that it collaborates with CouchSurfing making the audience not only ranging from non-CS/Pecha Kucha Regular Patrons.

Leaving Jakarta from 10 AM, we started to get the idea that it is a good thing not to bring your private car to Bandung in the weekend because it was hell, after experiencing of bits of this and that in Bandung (read: Gokana Teppan in Ciwalk) we finally trying to figure out how do we go to the venue:

Labo The Mori.

Located in Dago Atas, this place is defined as "public space for fun and creativity". Have hosted most of the Pecha Kucha Night in Bandung it is really a venue to fit its purposes. An amphitheater like place with large white sheet for presentation located in the middle hanged in between two large trees. Labo The Mori is also the HQ for the Labo. Architecture+Design firm, which makes it the most perfect Studio slash Office with modern taste of home and library.

One other thing that makes it perfect; you don't need any air conditioner there due to the cool air of Dago plus the rain we had that night.

20x20

1. Tiyok PDW 2. Semarak.BDG 3. Ramini - Mei/Ayu/Aur-Tasik Batik 4. Ririn W. Soedarsono-Tenun Ikat 5. SM Ika Wulandari - Salsa Dance 6. Ivan Hadi Pranatha - Toy Cam 7. Intan Anggia Wardani- Sundanese Traditional Dance 8. Lunalda Kanzeila-Studio Alam Bebas 9. Ridzki Noviansyah - Project 365 10. Eva/Santos - Jejak Kaki 11. Roswita Amelinda - Angklung Web Institute 12. Adrian Ben - Game Developing 13. Nancy Margaretha - CouchSurfing 14. Pasar Seni 10.10.10 15. Anggie Retno Sari- Au Pair France 16. Phebe Wibisana- Food -O-Graphy 17. Maulana Yudiman- Tasik Funtastic Kuliner

That is the list of presenter who come in Pecha Kucha Night Vol. 10, I gotta say while all are captivating and entertaining at the same time, the show stealers come from Pasar Seni 10.10.10 ITB, with their theatrical approach. Maulana Yudiman as well as Phebe had pretty strong followers too due to the fact the present about food, when the audience are hungry and cold.

Finally it was my turn afert Ivan (btw the list is not in order, the organizer made it that it goes with the topic which is being discussed), I gotta say it's hard, 20 seconds could be too fast and too slow depends on how you speak, thankfully though I made it till the end. In the end we concluded by watching the second half of Germany V. Argentina.

Anyhow, it really was a great night in a great place, the only drawback is the lack of hot indomie with chili padi if I may complain.

Therefore kudos to the organizers and to the presenters, will try to attend both JKT and BDG Pecha Kucha Night from now on and see another great presentations from great people.

TLSD Street Photography-Reading Material

What is Street Photography?

To define street photography is quite a challenge, directly based on the name, we can argue that street photography is photographs or images taken on the street, however it is more complex than its name. Wikipedia define it as a branch of documentary photography where the subject's is taken in candid situations. While the key word here is candid, not necessarily all candid photography can be street. Confused much? The one which makes street photography different than any other candid photography is the moment which we take the images which is called “the decisive moment” but more on that later.

There are few things that makes Street Photography unique. First, it can be taken by any kind of camera by any kind ofpeople.Cartier-Bressonmight be using a Leica M9 during his days, but somebody with a Blackberry or iPhone to say can also capture street photography nowadays. Second, the moment you captured can’t be repeated in time, true you can’t do this with any landscape pictures as well however you can always visit the place and take another stunning pictures or make it more creative than the one you did at the last time. Third, street photographer and photography care more about the detail on the images rather than the usual composition, exposure, and richness in colours heck the best street images is mostly taken in mono thus enhancing the details rather than captivating the viewers with the colours.

As been said before any camera can be used to take street images or as to put it on Chase Jarvis’ words “The best camera is the one you have on your possession”. Practically you will need these things to create your imagesratherthana70-200mm f/1.8 fancy lens; high observation skills, lightning reflexes, great sense of humour, a lot of imagination, plenty of patience and a dash of serendipity but the most important thing is to put your heart on every images you took.

The Decisive Moment

Before I talk about “The Decisive Moment” in street photography lets review what street photographer has to say regarding the photography and the process of taking the images itself.

“When people look at my pictures I want them to feel the way they do when they want to read a line of a poem twice."- Robert Frank.

“Primarily Street Photography is not reportage, it is not a series of images displaying, together, the different facets of a subject or issue. For the Street Photographer there is no specific subject matter and only the issue of ‘life’ in general, he does not leave the house in the morning with an agenda and he doesn’t visualise his photographs in advance of taking them. Street Photography is about seeing and reacting, almost by-passing thought altogether.” - Nick Turpin.

By looking at the words above we can say that all the words justify that photography is indeed a very subjective matter, however there are still aspect that been agreed, that it is a form of a very beautiful art, regardless of what people might comment about it.

Now back to “The Decisive Moment”

Imagine the one day you get married with the person that your parent choose for you, you become a rebel first and argue with them but no avail you still get married, but on the date you decide to run with the person you truly love, that is the decisive moment, a split second decision which will make or break the whole picture in which in this case your life. Fortunately though we won’t go through to that extreme.

Let’s put that into photography senses, the decisive moment only show up in a fraction of a second like example of images I’ve shown in this material. On Bye by Hade Maulin, we can see that there’s a Somalian boys waving goodbye to him, however on the background we can see that there’s another boy waving at him, if he misses this and only capture the boy on the foreground probably the image wouldn’t be as powerful as the one he captured. The same with Jumping by Tse Seng, the image is under the very impression that the girl is jumping from the boat on the foreground to the one in the background, if let’s say he misses this he might still get a good picture but then not entirely striking as this one.

We can conclude then that “decisive moment” could not be achieved by simple snap-shooting or just any candid images. There are some level of discipline needed to create the images with decisive moment shown, as been said in the beginning as well we only need a dash of serendipity as compared to a greater amount of other things.

Tips and Tricks

Photography is a subjective matters indeed, however there are several tips and/or tricks that can be useful for taking great street photography. High observation skills, lightning reflexes, great sense of humour, a lot of imagination, plenty of patience and a dash of serendipity are all depended on you and your luck now I’ll explain all the other things that beyond your control.

1st You will need a camera, which is sound very obvious but I’ll add that you’ll need a camera which you know inside out. You should know how to get good exposure from it, you  should know its flaws like the shutter lag or the lack of image stabilisation and you should be always sure that you have a fresh formatted memory card and great deal of battery juice.

2nd Study the subjects, the places and the time when you’re taking your images. Imagine you wanted to take a street photograph in a cemetery at 3 AM, you might get something worthy to be photographed yes, but you will not fit the purpose on the first place. Remember I only said to study the people’s and places’ behaviour, you can’t really get stuck with your own with your mindset of what images you wanted to take.

3rd Practise, practise, practise. Go out, take your camera and get as many images you can take or go to exhibitions, read books and catalogues find inspirations in those and then take more pictures. You can join photosharing site as well, ask for critiques and questions. Never give up and keep taking em images.

4th Is to remember that the rules are there to guide you, but then it is up to yourself to find your pace, know which rules to break and keep. Be unique, be creative, 5 person can take 5 landscape images which contain the same composition and exposure at different times of the year, but if one of them put one element that break the rules, guess which one will capture the attention.

About A Girl and A Door

I dedicate this story to all my friends, male and female alike. Even though I personally believe that I'd rather look what's behind me and not fixed with the door in front of me, I still want them to be able to write off their own stories. And I'll start with the most cliché statement known.

Once upon a time there was a little girl.

One day she took a stroll through the forest, passing the green grassy fields and the ever constant shades. She saw the rabbits and the foxes, She overheard the birds chirping while overlooking the pretty butterflies while picking herself some flowers.

She went passed the woods until she found a door on a walls which guarding the insides of mysteries, perplexed at first she decided to give it a look again tomorrow since the sun is tired.

She went back and over chicken and soup she told her discoveries to the men and women of her family along with her intention. Of course after this warnings were fired.

"You shall not go there again"

"As her siblings you of all people should keep eye on her"

Even though when she tried to explain and gain explanation.

"The point is no!"

Of course this was done of necessity, because they are afraid to lose her. To lose her black long hair, her small figure, her cherished laugh, her smile which melted the snow and her heart which is larger than the life.

But something grow bigger than her heart. Her curiosity.

Alice had always make her envy, and how she wanted to be her in the perfect world. So with few drops of sodium penthatol and her adventure kit (she kept it below her bed) off she goes to the forest.

"Funny there're no birds nor rabbits and foxes"

"It's because we're curious as well" because the animal are also dying to know what's inside the doors. "Alas evolution did not allow us the opportunity"

So when the sun is 110 degree to west, she found the door.

"Rusty"

"Big"

"Have a keyhole"

"and old of course"

That's her observation of the door she's so curious about.

So she peeped into the keyhole only to discover an eye peeping back. Surprised but returned to her composure, she knocked. First time. Second Time. When she about to knock again for the third time the door opened.

Standing before her is a boy, with dirt on his hands and face, golden hair and my what a pretty face. But still it's a boy she thought "annoying, dirty and naughty to say the very least"

"Who are you?"

"I am everything you wanted" "but not even the one thing you need"

Perplexed the girl asked "how is that possible?" "I don't even know you"

"I'll show you" said the boy

Then the boy showed her what's inside the walls, the stories about him and the history. The more he told, the more the girl felt something is growing inside her heart. Which makes her chest pounding every time and make her can't stop smiling.

She visited him everyday, and everyday the world seems brighter, like it was spring all year, like christmas happens every months and like saturday and sunday are there every weeks and days. Of course then this would have profound effect to whatever surrounds her. And she couldn't care less with the fact no explanation had been given.

And suddenly without notice, the wall, the door and the boy disappeared.

She fell into an abyss she created, she had lost her light for the world and the world as well had lost its light.

Years passed and no sign of the boy returned.

And no man or anything alike which can bring the light back.

Not even the prince on charming horses,

or the poet which befriended the words

or even the humble man whom offer her only with honesty and happiness.

Because she wants nothing except the boy, and the door to go inside the walls.

Finally one day she heard a call. So familiar, and only one person which can like that. The boy had returned. So off to the forest she goes, and find the wall she had along with the door. But instead of the boy she found a letter.

"For after you finished this letter you'll see what I meant, about what you want and what you need, because we're exemplary figures of your minds, figment of your desires. Like how you wanted to see a door and you'll see one. After you finished this letter, close your eyes, turn your back against the door and open your eyes again and tell your heart what you see, then chase out that what it seeks"