如果這些孩子也算是旅遊景點的景色的話，我寧願不來。

這個夏天去了好幾個地方。暑假開始後，從汕頭往廣州、香港到日本的大阪、京都、東京、北海道、奈良、大原再趕往昆明、大理後回到吉隆坡不到三個小時就和小燕子老師飛往暹粒參與雷昇傑和林悅搞的柬埔寨攝影旅遊團。

說起來，最近除了參與和博客有關的活動以外，我好久沒出席跟攝影有關的活動了，雖然都會在日本的攝影展館看大師們拍的照片，要在大會論壇發言已經是年深久遠的事了。

攝影對於一個新聞工作者而言，是一個說故事的方式，文字的延伸，這個夏天在日本持續着自己在哪裡的拍攝任務，一面思考着一些所謂“大師”們的原則，全手動操作就叫厲害嗎？那麼 Joe McNally 和一票非常專業的攝影大師用光圈先決拍攝模式是不是 “不專業” 呢？後來在大理遇到了 Daniel，王景春這些實幹的攝影人，印證了我的一個看法：攝影機的設備只是一個工具，手動或全自動都不是你拍照前要想的事 — 拍攝的故事才是你需要思考的東西。

這次在大理攝影節展區之間遊走看了近千照片，有些拍得很好，有的熟口熟面，有的過於賣弄，有的沖印得非常巨大來凸顯攝影者的財雄勢厚，有的讓胡某唾棄，照片很多，精華太少。我走了一圈，發現自己手中的攝影機竟然提不起來，因為這座建給遊客看的大理古城的故事已被拿著長槍大炮的攝影人佔據了。

記得日前和阿甘在香港逛的時候，這位無所謂的攝影師感歎現在器材的普及反而讓很多人變得自負起來 — 不要忘記現代的攝影機基本上都不需要你太多的技術參與就可以拍到可以看的照片了。

到暹粒的主要原因是旅遊，因為同行的昇傑和小燕子老師是朋友，總比自己一個人到柬埔寨瞎摸的強。後來原本打算拿來拍視頻的 GH-1 借了給團友，我的尼康 D700 便成了我的錄像機，主要拍照的工具落到我的 徠卡 M8 的身上。

攝影班，為了尊重帶團人，我也跟著上了，甚至功課，也順手交了。

回來後把所有未經挑選的照片隨手做了一個視頻上傳後竟然被批說我的照片不怎樣，我應該主攻視頻。
說真的，我倒想看看說這些話的人儲存卡裡所有的照片有多少張是可以用的。

不過這也就算了，因為我應該是個器材佬，不是嗎？

這個夏天，其實讓我重新認識攝影。
讓我期待明年的平遙和大理，因為要認真考慮明年在那裡展示我從不示人的照片了。

我們乘坐免費巴士從地鐵站到達皇宮外的巴士終站。

胡嫂和我在大殿外門隨著人潮流向大殿。

皇宮大殿外面的沙地上點了無數蠟燭。

待續。

可能是我古板，還是比較喜歡沒有 Photoshop 過的妳。

大前年的這個時候，我們為《大馬中文部落格祭》而忙，沒能和妳慶生。
前年的這個時候，好友愛芳離世。
去年的這個時候，我正忙著人生大事，今年這時候的妳似乎已恢復正常。
轉眼，一年又過。
今年的這個時候，我們又開始為《大馬中文部落格祭》而忙，沒能在吉隆坡和大家為妳慶生。

愷。生日快樂。

Truth be told, the few times I met the then president of the so-called Malaysia’s largest Chinese political party were never at the office; I interviewed him at cheramas, and also at his house that is so huge most people may consider it a palace of sort. So, for someone who have been inside, I must say the presence of that ghostly boss has never haunted us.

Only once, perhaps, was when I was told to write a report about him.

So I believe the RFM “scandal” is a purely business decision, only to be stirred up by those with vested interest and then escalated through the magnifying power of the social media.

Imagine this.
You own a company with a mailing list that reaches thousands of people and one of your staffs abused it.

You now face a problem: deal with a lawsuit that may endanger the existence of your company? or just fire the ass of the one staff who did not do his job?

Freedom of expression should do no harm to those who provide the channel.

Consider the fact that Blogger’s blogspot.com is still blocked in certain parts of Asia, or BlackBerry now facing hard-handed policies in India, should Google or BlackBerry be blamed?

I think not. But the way politicians are seeing blood in the waters and doing their best to maximize their political mileage, I’d say enough is enough.

Who is this Jamal?
Who is John Galt? (people who do not know Ayn Rand, please ignore this.)

Making him a martyr doesn’t turn him into a freedom fighter.
It just makes this whole thing look more like a joke than it already is.

If you are reading this, I’d say, please calm down and look at the whole picture. Do you believe this is purely politics? Or the fact that MCMC can terminate the radio station’s broadcast license at any time. And the board of directors of the Star have to take care of the welfare of those who may lose their jobs?

So, before you press that “share” button on your facebook account, please consider this.

I’ll let you be the judge.

民主行动党副秘书长兼大山脚区国会议员章瑛指出，“初恋红豆冰”就是一个例子，导演阿牛出身北海，该影片在槟城、怡保等地取景，大多数演员也是本地人，却因为所用的对白主要是华语，少过60%马来语而被列为外语片，必须缴交20%外语片娱乐税！她批评此举等于不鼓励本国华语影片导演在本国拍摄电影，自我倒米！

博宣傳也不必這樣罷？

轉眼，就快一年了。

一年前的今天，胡某忙著東奔西跑。
原來結婚一點都不簡單。

彥彥的尼康 D300s。

代敗的其中一個樂趣，就是能夠試用不同的相機。
想知道尼康 D300s 拍高清視頻的效果嗎？

這兩天胡某將會全面測試這台不是很貴的高階數碼單反相機。

We respect every member’s rights to party, but we, as a group, is beyond party politics. Kopi, a friend I have known for years, used to be a DAP member, but he doesn’t call himself a “DAP blogger”, KK is now a member of PKR and actively campaigned for PKR candidate Jin Wen.

Our good friend Elizabeth Wong needs no introduction, and she too has helped us in many ways, last year, Dr Chua has generously donated money to us to help us organise our event in Kuala Lumpur. The platform is neutral, and we are an enemy of nobody, as we respected everybody’s right to a political idealism.

About Respect.
I have known the Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng for many years, he may not remember me, and I may not consider him a friend, I believe we must respect his position as an elected leader, by simple majority, it is by the same principle we respect our Prime Minister.

Respect is earned, and often cherished by those who have worked hard to gain the trust and respect from his peers. I respect Vincent, a friend I have come to know since 4 years back, he is one of those few who stood by his words and kept his promises. Calling someone you know by his name is respect.

I will be the last person to use “Fat Blogger” to describe Vincent, his weight and body size does not make him a lesser person. And I caution those who throw insults at people with limitations that he or she cannot alter, because the same may be used on you. I don’t believe anyone chooses to be ugly or fat, but I believe it is by choice that people refuse to learn.

About Our Language.
Mybloggercon Awards was setup to honour and promote those who excel in their various fields using the Chinese language as the means of expression. It is our effort to preserve this beautiful language among our peers.

I am writing this in English because some people who claim to uphold the integrity of Malaysia’s largest Chinese party has failed to learn the Chinese language.

Learning is a choice made by individuals who want to become part of the fabric of the society. My friend Elizabeth Wong has worked hard to learn Mandarin (and maybe a little bit of Hokkien) because she wanted to communicate better.

I therefore challenge this individual to learn Mandarin and hopefully be able to debate with yours truly in Mandarin, one day. And I eagerly await that day, because when one stops to learn, one stops to grow.

About Enemies.
Who is our enemy? In the email shared by Vincent, the Chief Minister, who is the leader of the Penang state was named an enemy. Sometimes, I really wonder if some people are so blinded by politics or hatred that they have missed the ball totally.

Our common enemy is poverty.
Our common enemy is inequality.
Our common enemy is the lack of social justice.
Our common enemy is he who abused the power and violates the basic human rights that we all cherished.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng cannot be our common enemy, because he is our elected leader.
Very much so, in the case of Dr Chua who should be respected as the elected leader of the MCA.

About Leadership.
Human err. No matter how perfect or imperfect the person is.

A leader leads, not scandalise.
A leader heals, not pour salt on wounds.
A leader sees beyond the gapping hole between gender, race, religion or bank accounts.

Some Things Are Beyond Politics.
Some things are beyond politics, and if we are going to rely on a leader who cannot see beyond politics to lead our way into the future, then I must say this person is not fit to lead, nor take the podium and cast the first stone at those who have looked beyond politics for the common good of the people.

八月來了，十月還會遠嗎？

《大馬中文部落格祭》即將登場～