'' JAMMING '' at The '' SANDMAN '', Batu Pahat.

Hello Folks,

Its another Bold New Year again ... !! Don't let the title fool you, it isn't about '' Peanut Butter '' or our local '' Kaya & Planta '' Jam . Its all about Musical and Band '' Jamming '' and singing your hearts out !! Yes, its a wonderful feeling I haven't had since my post High School days . Ya, I know, its hard for my acoustic playing style to blend in, but just like most Ex Gospel singers, I still can belt out a few songs from the rocking past ... Yee Haa !!

Singing in a Live band is far cry from the norm of today's '' Kara_OK ''. Unlike karaoke, you have to memorize your Lyrics and know the '' Key '' to the song you're singing. For short sighted folks like me , you need a Large print song sheets , so that you can see clearly every Chord and Lyrics ... Ha,Ha. But its all worth the effort that we put in, as it's Pure Feet Tapping, Body swaying, Ego Rocking Fun of the utmost Kind ... Yee Haa !!

Here's our ''JAM '' session done in pictures , both in Normal & Abstract style . This is my second session and still I hardly could remember most of their names ...Deng !! Held every Wednesday, on the third floor of the most Popular Guitar Store , north of the border ... '' SANDMAN '' !!

First the band itself and its Players & Singers. All shot with The outdated 10 year old E-300 & 14-45 kitlens. Look at those ''Gorgeous '' skin tones and the Film like colours !!

Starting from '' Leader of the Band '', not that song by Dan Folgerberg, but our band leader, Mr. Seah Kok Hwa aka '' Paul McCartney '' on Rhythm .

 Followed by our Rhythm & Lead Guitarist '' Forever Young '' ... Mr.Tony 

And our Lead Guitarist  '' Ironman 3 ''... Mr. Melvin Chan 

 

On Bass , our Rugged '' Inspector ''... Mr. Faizal

When you need to '' Key In '', we have our very own Veteran Veterinarian Keyboardist ... Mr. Zain

And Finally, an old friend of mine, one of the best '' Drummers '' around  IMHO ... Mr.Nan

The '' BAND '' on The Run ?? Ops !! ... I mean Band Having Fun and Rocking Away !!

And now for our very own in house Singers and Candidates for the '' Batu Pahat Idols '' 2014 '' ... Just Kidding Lah !! If I were one of the Judges, all three would have easily entered the Final !!

First off , our '' Teresa Teng '' Miss Mary ( Had a Little Lamb ). Here seen rendering a Mandarin song with her Soft, mellowed and sweet voice.

Next is our Soulful and Mid tone singer of both '' Hokkien & Mandarin '' songs ... Miss Susan ( No relations to Susan Boyle ) here.

Finally, another veteran who has just gotten back from overseas, the '' ELVIS '' of the band, Mr. Danny. Here singing one of Elvis's song with his '' Husky ''voice.

Now for some  truly close ups and special effects shot of all things related to '' Jamming '' and  '' JAM ''. Have fun and simply enjoy the pics and rumblings of this old man ... Ha,Ha.

Kok Hwa yelling ...... '' Rock Steadyyyyyyyyyy '' ...!!! I hope his Vocal Chord can take it .

When One '' Nan '' isn't enough .... Lets have '' FIVE '' more !!

 Hot ..... '' FINGERING ''  ( No wrong ideas here ) by our Keyboardist Zain.

 The Union Jack from a '' Down Under '' View , from Tony's Fender Guitar.

Or The Union Jack from above ...The Head !!

Now for some Bossa Nova '' Big Bad Bass '' effects !!

 

Remember, Life is Too Short for those Wait, too swift for those who enjoy, so,  Live Life to the Fullest and '' Sing '' your Hearts Out and Treasure every Moment of it . Just Do It and Lets .... '' JAM '' !!

Well, That's it for now, looks like it will be another busy year again for me. Another New Pastime and whole lot more Travel , Photography, Archeological, Art and Antiquities to do in this year of the '' Horse ''.

As ever, do take grace in any mistakes or Typo that I might have made, for I am a year older but certainly a little more Wiser ... '' Hakuna Matata '' Cheers !!

Regards .... Uncle James.

Back To Basics & Those Wonderful '' Kodak Moments '' With The E-300.

Hi Folks,

First of all here's Wishing you all out there a '' Merry Christmas & A Jolly New Year ''... !! Time really does Flies and at Godspeed. Its another New year to look forward to and Resolutions to meet. As with previous years, there are of course some unresolved resolutions left undone.  Well, all this are part and parcel of life, and one must always look at the bright sides of things. The most important thing is to be Content and be Happy in Life. Always remember that there are millions of people who are less fortunate than yourself. Spare a Thought for our fellow Brethren and remember to always be humble, for we all the children of this Pale Blue Dot we all call '' EARTH ''.

As with all most of my previous post, I have always emphasize the need to just go out, explore and take more Pictures, rather then to worry about the Best and the latest. Thanks to my recently purchased of the E-300, I have now virtually, gone back to Basics. It was this Camera that once again opened up my eyes to the days when Photography was all about taking good pictures , rather than just snapshots. It has help me discover my old self and force me to be creative all over again. I realise that this past years I have been spoiled rotten and gotten Lazy with all those Autos, Art Filters, HDR, Sweep Panos and Touch Screen etc. This is one camera No one wants in this double digit megapixel days. Its just like the good Old Film days again, where anything above ASA ( ISO ) 400 are but noise ...!!! It has made me Utilize the best of the situation and make full use of the whatever available Light there is, after all, Photography is all about Light. For without it, Photography itself would cease to Exist.

Here's sharing a few '' Rolls '' of those wonderful almost Film Like ... '' Kodak Moments ''. All shot with the E-300 & 14-45 Kit lens. Most were shot recently and a few were from the past. Have fun , relax and simply enjoy this simple collections of mine. All done in random themes without focusing on a particular subject.

Here are some Old school '' Art & Still Life '' Design  Shots, taken with my E-300, and Updated this 27th Dec, 2013. Those were some wonderful Film cameras that I owned during the 70's & 80's.

 

 

 

 

And here are some from my previous post from '' SANDMAN '' .

 

 

Finally for some truly '' Black & White '' conversion of those Kodak colours ...!! Looks like those 60's & 70's  T-Max 100 Films. 

  

Well, Those are just snippets of what this Baby E-300 could do in good hands. I have to limit myself to available lights and shooting in Low Lights is a challenge, just as in my Film days. But it doesn't get any more exciting than this, as I have Learn to go back to '' BASICS '' and relive and Rejuvenate my Passion for all things Photography all over again ... Yee Haa !!

As always remember to Utilize what that you have and just go out and have Fun. If you have a particular subject or category you like, by all means, give it your best shot and soon, you too will be a Master of it. As for me, I am into most things Photographic, and sadly Master of none ... Ha,Ha.

From time to time, I will as usual do an update when possible. There is so much to share and yet so little time to do it. But I certainly will add on as I Tag along.

Before closing, here's wishing that the New Year will bring you Fresh hopes and may all of your Resolutions comes true ... !!

Take care and Look to this day for its Life, the very Life of Life .... '' Hakuna Matata '' !!!

Regards .... Uncle James.