What's In My Camera Bag?

what gear should i bring to this three week long vacation?

this query flitted through my mind ever since the airline tickets were booked. at some point it was a matter of what not to bring to this vacation?

one thing was certain though - i decided early on to bring the digital camera. despite mainly utilizing film cameras for my various trips this year, lugging about three weeks worth of film of various formats wasn't something i wanted to do. especially not without some kind of proper storage. so it was decided that i only needed to bring one analog camera for my 366 project - no questions asked, the Flexaret VII takes the cake. along with it some 15 rolls of 120 film, all stored in sad ziploc bags.

it seemed logical to bring a digital camera, especially when a vacation involves traversing four major cities and a lot of driving in between. i actually intended to only bring my main lens - the 35mm - and a telephoto lens for the wedding. but then CW got himself a brand spankin' new wide angle Tokina and after somewhat of a half-serious suggestion, it was decided that i should bring it for the sake of taking awesome landscape photos. not that i'm complaining. i get to try out a wide angle lens, and to top it off, at a rather scenic destination to boot. my only concern is the added pounds on my bag which i fear will rip the bag apart, but that's the reason i got a bag like this - to withstand the ripping apart, i hope. and mayhaps burn some calories at the same time.

so, three weeks is a decent amount of time for a vacation - perhaps a little rushed for this itinerary. but there isn't any doubt that a good time will be had by all. i hope to find some awesome vinyls and CDs.

Arif & Fiqa

pre-wedding portraiture photoshoot with my best friend Arif and his bride-to-be, Fiqa! if there is a perfect location for taking pre-wedding photos, Putrajaya certainly fits the bill. a tad cloudy and rainy in the morning, but thanks to the universe, things got much better in the afternoon. my best wishes to the couple!

Lake Garden, Kuala Lumpur

Meopta Flexaret VII

Expired Fujifilm Provia 400 [Cross-processed]

ah, woe is me when it comes to using expired films. even with just a little shade, details become enveloped by the shadows (picture number two and three). prior to using this film, i did some research and the general consensus for expired slide films is to underexpose your shots a little bit, but perhaps that applies if you plan to develop your expired film in E-6 rather than cross-process it? i wouldn't know, since there isn't a decent place in Kuala Lumpur that does E-6 developing (besides the notorious E-Six). the Provia produces gorgeous hues when processed properly and if i had a choice, it'd be the one slide film i hoard until the death of film. i'd hate to see this film go to waste by cross-processing it - i don't quite fancy the green-ish red hue that comes with it. another downside to expired 120 films is how the backing paper markings seems to burn onto the film. in the right situation, it looks kind of funky, but i wouldn't want it in all of my shots.

i still have a bunch of expired films that i am actually afraid of using, no thanks to the blunder of one of my rolls of ISO800 film. having been striving for perfection in my pictures, i don't think i can afford to rely on the unpredictability of expired films. this is the last time i purchase expired films in bulk.