World Press Photo ’10

Attending World Press Photo ’10 was short, but came with an intense experience as you’re thrown into the works of professional press photographers. Something I’ve always love doing passing time; looking at ‘pictures of profundity’, should I put it. And this was undeniably a treat.

Extracting raw emotion from something as demure and silent as a picture takes gut-feelings, a good eye, timing, a little bit of luck and a lot of patience. One of the best that I’ve enjoyed there was from Matt McClain a freelance photojournalist who does generated stories for People Magazine. I love how he captures the essences of human motion/action in all his works, his best asset.

Second-prize winner in the ‘Daily Life Stories' by McClain

Blind from birth, Pandu Fayre, 6, was living in an orphanage in India when he was adopted by Americans Jason and Lalena Fayre in November 2008. Jason is himself visually impaired and wanted to pass on the skills that he had learned in coping with everyday life to his adopted son.

The compilation above does not do justice to his pictures. More in depth caption and explanation for each photo and his other works can be found on his website.

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Ice Kacang Puppy Love

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Ice Kacang Puppy Love is a movie I personally am proud to suggest not only because is it Malaysian-born but because it is just so damn likable!

Ice Kacang Puppy Love is a conventional love story played out with simplicity as its best gain. Set in the probably early 90's in Ipoh and Pulau Pinang, with the title fully denoting the substance of the story; puppy love.
It takes you on a journey through the early developing Malaysia with our iconic ‘coffee shop’ culture and heritage. Placing you into reoccurring familiarity that all of us have been through in the past; the movie is effortless to relate and get intact with.

I love how the movie renders our Chinese Malaysian culture, with instances of border-line innocent physical contact, family relations, happiness, comedy and heart-wrenching moments as it takes it’s time to unfold; while never leaving you detached.

With great directing and a few well famous casts like the ever-pretty Angelica Lee Sin-Jie who did an amazing performance, the movie feels raw and indie-ish yet still professionally played out as the story keeps you griped and rooting for the main characters' coy puppy love right till the very end.

Plus, the well played cinematography is notably mint and proficient. Something I would never have expected from a Malaysian-made movie, as most (if not all) Malaysian camerawork usually dwell between non-existent and a major dissatisfaction. A disgrace that we all learn to ignorantly live by. However, Ice Kacang Puppy Love trumps that notion.

My favourite Malaysian-made movie period. I’m even distraught I did not catch it in the cinemas before.

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