Perch, Aim, Fire! <$BlogMetaData$>

Saturday, September 23, 2006
Public-Lecture Debut - 21st Aug 2005
My involvement in photography spans 12 gratifying years and counting. I do not claim to be professional, though many believe my work speaks louder than my words.

I do not aspire to be like Ansel Adams or another Mike Yamashita from the National Geographic. Neither am I interested publicly exhibiting my work nor making it big in the visual industry. Lucrative, I admit. But even better... it is simply 'love'.

In my case, evidently, passion has been the driving force. It has come to the point where the mere sound of the word 'photography' is enough to arouse excitement.

Throughout the 12 marvelous years, each offered a significant breakthrough. From the discovery phase to acquiring sophisticated gear and working on a myriad of photo assignments, I'm now dabbling with training...

Some weeks ago, I conducted a session called "Hardip Exposed" at IACT. The poster on top-right is explains pretty much what it was all about.

Last week, I was invited by the Rotary Club to speak on photography. It was my first public lecture to a group of Rotarians, who were predominantly senior professionals in their respective fields. It was intimidating at first but turned out awesome! I was later told to get ready to speak at other Rotary chapters. Indeed, looking forward to it.


Coverslide of the "Demystifying Photography" session, featuring
a behind-the-scenes photo of me shooting the Perth city skyline


Dubbed 'Demystifying Photography', the session was about pushing your existing camera to its maximum potential. Yes, believe it or not, your compact camera is capable of producing award winning shots!


Ruby captured this shot & I was totally oblivious. Good photojournalistic skill! :)


I'm currently redesigning the visual communication facility at IACT, which will soon have two full-fledged photography studios under my care. In a matter of time, we will be introducing short courses, from basic to specialized photography i.e. editorial, portraiture, still-life, photojournalism, etc. Can't wait to start crafting the syllabus...
 
posted by DP at 4:44 AM | Permalink | 0 comment(s)
Monday, September 18, 2006
Introducing Medic Online...
My brother Navin, who is currently pursuing his degree in medicine at the Russian Medical State University (RSMU) has constructed a free-to-browse medical reference shelf.

Dubbed MEDIC Online, the prototype website functions as a depository of medical-related resources that have been compiled from a myriad of credible sources.

MEDIC Online strives to furnish medical students with up-to-date reference materials and news broadcasts of the global medical practice.

Although still in its infancy stage, MEDIC Online possesses the potential of supplementing the exorbitantly-priced medical books that get outdated within a short period of time.

As I'm typing this blog entry, posters of MEDIC Online are being pinned-up around the RSMU campus.

"Priority is to source, extract and publish substantial yet relevant contents. Aesthetics of the website will come to play soon after", says Navin.
 
posted by DP at 3:14 AM | Permalink | 0 comment(s)
Sunday, September 17, 2006
IACT Prom 2006 - Friday, 15th Sept
Okay, I have a confession to make... we weren't exactly ourselves that evening :) Our party started hours before the prom and as expected, we arrived fashionably late; just on time for the opening performance. The Absolut indulgence left us with an incredibly awesome 'buzz'. Gimme a tinkle if you'd like to know the secret concoction ;)

Anyway, credit goes to the IACT Student Council for organizing a superb show. Held at Eastin Hotel, 'Tunnel of Time' was the theme of the night and everyone was dressed to the era of their choice. I went as Donnie Brasco of the 70s and Ruby was obviously Mrs. Brasco. Fine, I admit there was little resemble to the original character but what the heck... this is the Punjabi version man! :) Donnijeet Brascopal Singh?

During my glory days as a student, I had pierced my left ear. Knowing that, Ruby gave me a silver earring; what'ya know, it complemented the mafia look! Alas, I was too high to put on a mafia expression. Hahaha... yes, was too tame that night :)

The prom was indeed a refreshing change from my ex-habitat (corporate PR), where you'd either be organizing or attending high profile events with dignitaries and industrial hotshots. Gone are my droning 'black tie' days, where we were unremittingly securitized from head-to-toe by chieftains of the PR industry, just to be sure we were dressed for the occasion. I dreaded the times when I was instructed to reprimand PR rookies who failed to observe the rigid dress code. *sigh* really despised those moments...

The 'buzz' went low during the show so Ruby and I popped into Rush, an adjoining club for some tequila shots. Oh did I tell you the bouncers demanded an RM40 cover charge?! Before I could voice my displeasure, Nabil, my former KDU student appeared and gave us full clearance. Coincidently, he works at Rush :) Now, who ever said lecturing has no perks? The long queue of party-goers outside Rush just watched in envy...

Phew, enough said! Shall leave you wish some snapshots of the night.


With some of my former Cross-Cultural Studies students


Mr. KL Lee, Executive Director of IACT (my jovial boss!)


Again, with former Cross-Cultural Studies students!


With Vanessa (vice president of student council) &
Jourdan, the joker who won the 3d2n stay at Eastin Hotel



With darling colleague Joanna, an English language whiz!


With hippie colleague Ana & the emcee of the day


With Leo (president of the student council) and
girlfriend Cheryl; both are in my Corp Comm class

 
posted by DP at 12:33 AM | Permalink | 1 comment(s)
Friday, September 08, 2006
He Said, She Said
This is a must to watch. You'll never come across a more realistic 'reality TV' show. Bloody hilarious!

 
posted by DP at 2:27 AM | Permalink | 2 comment(s)
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
Accuracy vs Precision
A common mistake is to assume that these two words can be used interchangeably. By definition, 'accuracy' is the degree of veracity, while 'precision' is the degree of reproducibility. Whatever the hell that means...

What's the point, you ask? I'm not too sure if there's a point to this, but let's see if I can create one along the way :)

Now, I'm going to attempt to explain the difference between accuracy and precision, using a target comparison as analogy. Read and learn! (if there's anything worth learning from it, that is). In this analogy, repeated measurements are compared to arrows that are fired at a target:

Accuracy describes the closeness of arrows to the bullseye at the target center. Arrows that strike closer to the bullseye are considered more accurate. The closer a system's measurements to the accepted value, the more accurate the system is considered to be.

To continue the analogy, if a large number of arrows are fired, precision would be the size of the arrow cluster. (When only one arrow is fired, precision is the size of the cluster one would expect if this was repeated many times under the same conditions.) When all arrows are grouped tightly together, the cluster is considered precise since they all struck close to the same spot, if not necessarily near the bullseye. The measurements are precise, though not necessarily accurate.

Are you with me, so far? *sigh* just keep reading will you...

However, it is not possible to reliably achieve accuracy in individual measurements without precision - if the arrows are not grouped close to one another, they cannot all be close to the bullseye. (Their average position might be an accurate estimation of the bullseye, but the individual arrows are inaccurate).


A mate attempts to describe my character, which I think is superb example of precision, but not necessarily accurate. Obviously, I know myself best...

DipSteR says:
many ppl r just plain transparent & highly predictable, like me

Gupioli Di Bajajio says:
i dont think u are

Gupioli Di Bajajio says:
i think ur a specimen

Gupioli Di Bajajio says:
ur very politically correct

DipSteR says:
yeah rite

Gupioli Di Bajajio says:
u never tell ppl wats truly goes thru ur mind

Gupioli Di Bajajio says:
ur a hard nut to crack

Err, you get the point? If you think you just read a load of crap, think again.
 
posted by DP at 2:21 PM | Permalink | 0 comment(s)
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
Intriguing experience at NASOM
My corporate communication students are currently working on an experimental corporate video, featuring the plight of our National Autism Society of Malaysia (NASOM).

Some weeks ago, this dynamic bunch assembled their own video production team, with each assuming a predefined role (corp comm manager, producer, director, videographers, video & audio editor, scriptwriters, researchers, etc). Yesterday, the shoot commenced...


Dennis & Leo capturing footage of Autistic symptoms

I tried hard not to intervene; I'd like this to be a 100% student-production. I merely observed (their progress) from the corner of the courtyard and outside classrooms. Oh by the way, do not underestimate the potential of entry level DV cameras - it can produce award winning short films! You don't need sophisticated equipment for such projects. Best to keep it simple!



Van, KC & Gaya observing the repetitive behavour of an autistic child


Mel & Leo shooting a sing-along session


The scriptwriters, Fahmi & Stef, perfecting the corp video script

Sorry Cheryl & Lissa, no proper shots you both :( I foresee a few more trips being made to NASOM. Will try then, hopefully.

Okay, back to the story. As I was deeply engrossed in my supervision duty (while leaning on the wall of a particular classroom), I was abruptly distracted by one kid's struggle to complete a written sentence. The more attention I paid to him, the more detached I became from the primary purpose of our field trip...

Then something happened in a flash. The feeling was somewhat similar to the description of an out-of-body experience (OBE). Eccentrically, I could feel myself standing beside that kid, trying to assist him with the writing exercise. And in the midst of guiding the kid, I turned around and saw my real self leaning by the wall.

Now when I think of the incident, the less I seem to remember. Could it have been a sign of some sort? How do I interpret this? Was I hallucinating? So intriguing...

Hmm... rest assured, a worthwhile visit to NASOM.
 
posted by DP at 11:47 AM | Permalink | 0 comment(s)