2017/06/08

To Kill A Mocking Bird

book cover of To Kill a mocking bird
To Kill A Mocking Bird
"Mockingbirds don't do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They don't eat up people's gardens, don't nest in corncribs, they don't do one thing but sing their hearts out for us. That's why it's a sin to kill a mockingbird." (from Chapter 10)
Each time when I've hanging around in a book store, I will come across this little book, and every time I have to leave it behind cos' my quota only allows me to grab others; but this year, I've decided to get it.

To those who study Literature is for sure, will be familiar with it, right? But not me, I don't have the idea of what it's related to and why it is a famous American Classic! That's why I want to read it and find out the answer myself.

The first few chapters makes me feel that I am entering 3 kid's world (Scout/ Dill/ Jem)  in a small town call Maycomb. They live with their lawyer father Atticus, who looks a bit emotionless ; and a black maid Calpurnia.

School life, teacher, classmate, neighborhood...every thing happens day by day as usual together with a routine adventure of tracing the mysterious Boo Radley; not until these kid facing the real life of mercy, humanity, death, races, unfair, righteousness......they are actually grown up under Atticus's role model and love.

They are kids, helping us to view in the angle of purity which we had once before. We may not intend to but kill a mockingbird while achieving our goal somehow. In this book, you will discover those "mockingbird", they are really touching and inspiring; hopefully we can all find those in our real life and treasure them with our greatest effort. 

P.S.: highly recommend to read it :)

2017/04/22

不遷不拆水瓶座 Aquarius


最後一套電影是巴西作品, 除了有風景怡人的海邊小樓, 還有非常悦耳動聽的配樂及精湛演技的女主角Sonia Braga. (雖然已經年華老去, 仍然美麗動人!) 此外, 便是一個普通的地産迫遷故事.

如果不是被主角牽動 着我的思緖, 相比之前的兩套, 感覺略嫌遜色!
幸好故事結尾有個較為震感的twist, 令整套電影留下較強烈的控訴性.

總結今年小試參予學習欣賞第41屆國際電影節的經驗, 感覺還是很不錯的 . 雖然偶遇一些"發燒友"在狂買戲票之餘, 忙於趕場及評論的有趣情景. 也有不乏獨自靜心享受, 或即興入座的朋友; 又或是打扮很"文青"的女生/ 男生...電影内外, 人生百態.

也許, 不論你我屬於那一類觀衆,撇開影評, 親身顴賞後所帶給我們, 或喜、或悲、興奮又或失望的體驗......オ是最寳貴的得着!

2017/04/21

最後的藝術家庭 (The Last Family)

從來都很奇怪,為何有些朋友即使本身不是從事電影業,卻對每年的國際電影節如此著迷?今年是第41屆國際電影節,為此,終於積極地"撲飛",盼望可體會一下箇中滋味。

今天下午欣賞了第一套外語片,是波蘭作品,講述知名畫家兼攝影師 Zdzislaw Beksin'shi 的人生。本身熱愛藝術,因着有位賢內座,即使有個躁狂抑鬱的兒子及兩位需要照顧的年邁母親及岳母,仍能得以專心作畫。但隨著身邊一個一個親人的離世,即使本身豁達又富幽默感的他,也無法理解命運、死亡這一回事⋯⋯而他自己的結局,也充滿着悲情。

電影這門藝術對我來說是陌生的,但也正因為這樣,更能單純地感受到戲中對人物、現實、生活壓力、惶恐、無奈…的細緻描繪; 尤如主角的畫作一樣。

全套戲的結構,人物或背景也很簡單;雖然是外語片,訴說著的人和事,卻令人如此親近。燈光、畫面及色彩,雖然帶著一種淡淡哀愁的感覺,卻又如此令人依戀,彷彿交織著人生的種種回憶和片段。

期待着欣賞下一套電影作品的日子!

2017/04/16

愛美麗的今生 A Quiet Passion


昨天迎接着第二套電影,單看觀眾人數,明顯比上一套多,甚至有不少是即場購買的。也許是因為假日,又或許是這套電影的題材較易接受。

坐在我身邊的是兩位女士, 開場不到三分鐘, 左邊的一位已睡著了, 右邊的開始她的"脆脆"小吃時間 (斷斷續續地歷時個多少時)...... 

這是一套關於一位美國女詩人Emily Dickinson 的人生,由少女時代至離世。她率直、敢言、詞鋒鋭利、感性,總覺得自己不夠美麗在感情上有所退縮;亦覺懷才不遇,生不逢時......
說到這裏,或許你也會說,怪不得有人睡着,有人要靠小吃調劑;甚至有人中途離場!

不過我想說的是,姑勿論你喜不喜歡主角的宅女性格,整套戲的感覺是自然流暢,燈光鏡頭說故事;加上女詩人自己的詩句讀白,美麗、純真又帶點憤慨和唏噓;足以把觀眾從現實帶進詩人的內心世界,再加上 Cynthia Nixon 出色的演譯,把它放在大師級系列是肯定的。

期待著最後一套電影!

2017/02/18

Hong Kong Wetland Park

colorful tree leaves below sunny blue sky


What a wonderful days we are having in Hong Kong this week, so I've decided to visit the Wetland Park. 

Most of us will be fascinating to the "tenant" inside : birds, fish, butterfly,...etc. So my original intention is  bird watching , especially when one of my friend told me that the best moment for this activity is in Winter (even it's a bit late); but to my surprise, there are candy like trees found somewhere in the park.

See, what a beautiful color they are under the clear blue sky. I took the first picture at around 2:00p.m. but I've decided to wait until 4:30p.m. for a second shot to capture the golden moment.

    red orange leaves under blue sky
So I got this lovely "mango like" leaves, too. If it is not God's creation, what can it be?

It seems quite strange that why there are still leaves on tree but not in fresh green during this early Spring time? The fact is some tree will keep their leaves but stop producing chlorophyll to reserve food for itself. Or otherwise, we will not have a chance to "meet" them.

My student always said that they are not well trained in design and therefore do not have the knowledge of color sense. But this is what I've replied and is absolutely true : color are around us everywhere in every moment, simply look and feel, you will be astonish and amazing in the nature of what God made for us.  Enjoy :)

2017/02/07

不想做個"機關"算盡的設計師

啱啱教完上一季嘅興趣班, 同學們例牌會問嘅問題係: 
1) 係房起個地台擺嘢好唔好? 
2) 升高張床下面做衣櫃書枱好唔好?
3) 張睡床摺上摺落好唔好?

通常我都會答: 
如果唔好收埋咁多無謂嘢, 善用空間, 上面三個問題嘅答案就梗係"唔好" 啦!

不過時而世逆, 可能因為"納米樓"嘅出現, 以後想唔好都唔得啦!

前排係會展見到一個展覽, 其中一D室内空間運用亦係因為住屋面積愈嚟愈少而設計嘅. 例如張睡床要行完好多級唔啱人體工學嘅"儲物樓梯級"先可以去到. 又話者你哋係電視上都會見到嘅"厠所浴室門共用"方案; 梳化下面暗藏浴缸(當然係放係客廳啦)...等等. 將來我哋呢行嘅前景(以住宅設計而言) 就會變成設計"機關" 主導.

我諗新嘅物料, 家具小五金用嚟整"機關"配件, 空調抽風系統亦都會相對革新. 短期内應該會令市場有D新鮮感, 甚至會造就好多主打呢類樓盤嘅新興設計師; 不過無論係對用家同設計師嚟講, 長遠嚟睇絶對唔係好事.

一個原本可以簡單舒適嘅家會變成好複雜同忙亂, 例如突然覺得凍想攞件衫都可能要: 先執番枱面D嘢, 摺番埋張枱, 泊番隻浴室門, 同衣櫃(如果仲有的話) 前面做緊其他嘅家庭成員貼身調換位置之後, 先去到其實只係距離不到6呎嘅目的地完成"任務"......要返回原位繼續工作.....(請自行逆轉動作一次)......希望呢個惡夢唔會成真.


2017/01/02

what a year !


neon sign in Kowloon City

year after year...day by day...
Kowloon City...
never change !

 

2016/11/20

葉壹堂

Gift card of Page One book shop
葉壹堂 - 這是我所認識的Page One. 
很喜歡它的中文名, 帶點古早味.

差不多所有設計人都是這裏的常客, 而自從它進駐香港之後, 書店文化及室内設計上也有很大的改變. 

年初時, 競成美術用品+書店(Keng Seng)結業; 我帶着沉重的心情逗留了幾小時, 帶回最後的幾本書回家. 想不到今個月, 剛從葉壹堂帶回來的兩本書 
The Fox and Star  及 The Paris Winter 仍未看畢, 卻原來是"告別之作".

又一城分店的設計書架, 是我的靈感泉源及工作伙伴. 而它的Fiction 書架 , 更是我的"避難所"; 毎當心情差或有大堆不能解決的問題時, 只要在此處逗留一會, 煩惱盡消.

兩年前, 好友送了一張書卷給我, 開始了看傳記及古典系列. 一直放在書店内心儀的Classic 書, 本打算在"餘生"遂本買下, 好好"享用", 只可惜等不到了!

或許你會説, 這間結業往另一間買便可以, 何需"哭喪"似的?  説真的, 我確實有"好友離世"的那種心情. 書店是心靈及精神上的另一個家, 這是網上書店或電子書不能替代的. 而毎一間書店所帶給我們的感覺及書種, 眼界, 思維空間, 回憶,也是獨特的. 

PageOne / Dymocks / Swindon / Keng Seng / Prologue /  商務印 / 中華/ 大衆/ 誠品/三聯.......其中的體驗, 各不相同.  一間好的書店,你會流漣忘返; 否則,只會被一些沒有生命的書籍重重圍繞及壓逼下,不得不奪門而出.

無論如何, 別了! 葉壹堂! 感謝您為我的生命添上無限精彩, 正如您的格言:

every book begins with PAGEONE !!! 

2016/11/13

It's respectable

Color chart of blue daisy

A soft touch of dignity and memorable.

Tone:  Cold
Fashion: Autumn, calm and elegant
Packaging:  gift wrap, card, stationery
Retail: floral boutique, gift shop, daily living
Residential: living room

2016/11/06

The Fox and The Star - by Coralie Bickford Smith

Book cover of The fox and the star
How pretty this book cover is !!! - the first impression when I found it in a book shop yesterday. It was wrapped up by a plastic bag, so I really don't know what's inside?! But the fabric cover, the drawing, the title...all attracted me so much that I really want it, so I grabbed it without second thought.

I will say it just like starting an adventure whenever you bought a new book, imagine how it will lead you to another mysterious virtual world.


Orange red stitch book binding
Aroma and touch of paper immediately bring me to the starry night of a forest. The orange red stitches inside is the color of this little fox, unfortunately I can't unveil all the amazing drawings of this book due to the copy right issue, trust me, they are so beautiful.

You can only find 3 colors here except the neutral white, black and grey, but it's more than enough to present the whole world of Mr. Fox.




Inner page of beautiful illustration
The story is a simple one, but with open ending for you to explore much more than you can imagine.

If you see this by chance, bring it back to your bed side, it's worth and you will absolutely love it !

2016/10/30

Happy Halloween

digital graphic of Happy Halloween

2016/10/26

做個重新上路的設計師

"有人辭官歸故里,有人漏夜趕科場!"我諗,我正處於呢個狀態。

可能好多人都會有同感,尤其係做設計嘅人:做到想轉行,但係又唔知轉邊行好?始終一個做到上哂手,累積咗大量經驗,人脈及相當收入嘅工作係好難放棄嘅。不過時移世逆,越嚟越多嘅工種因着科技及需求而改變。

零售租約愈縮愈短, 流動辦公室嘅工作模式, 住屋空間愈嚟愈細, 師傅人工愈加愈貴...... 等等,仲有各式各樣嘅原因都令我覺得係時候準備辭官歸故里。

所以係另一邊廂,就想試吓可唔可以趕入設計布藝這個"科場"?!

其實早係十年前已經嘗試係Spoonflower設計布欵(因為成日揾唔到一D啱心水嘅布欵俾客人用),但係一方面當時佢哋 啱啱成立冇幾耐,支援好少; 而我哋又忙緊正職,所以只係隨意設計咗十幾欵就擺低, 估唔到呢粒種子到今時今日又可以重生。

十年人事幾翻新, Spoonflower 今時今日已經發展到好大,唔少平面/布藝設計師已經係常客,而我,就係一個初哥!雖然因為從事室內設計會對布料及製作軟件有一定認識, 但係今次當我認真對待嘅時候,就發覺要設計一D市場受落又唔太"行"嘅布藝,係當中大有學問……所以, 呢個就係我要重新投入同學習嘅一個教室。

雖然要投放嘅時間,資源同心機肯定唔少, 但係身為設計行業嘅人,唔多唔少都會有份勇氣去嘗試同發掘新可能性嘅心態;期望有一日可以擁有一個CocoaDesignLife 品牌嘅"可可布館",設計出一D較有個性嘅室內布藝。或許,呢個都係另一個職場上嘅延伸都未定?

短短半年嘅時間,令我對網上銷售有多D了解; 重新再強化自己嘅攝影技巧,平面設計,混合媒體及至Photoshop 嘅運用係必需嘅。所以話世界上永遠冇學得完嘅事物,亦唔可能會悶,只要你肯向前行出一步,奇妙旅程又再度展開!


banner graphic of Cocoa Design Life of Spoonflower shop
可可布館


2016/10/13

Reuse

Fabric sample colorwayWhat do you think an interior designer got most? Money? Client? Software? Paper? ........ Material Samples !!!

Even thought we are now using images and photos to present sample board to our clients, but actual material still plays an important role because we need to feel the real texture + to see the true color.

So...what it comes to the end, we stock tons and tons of fabric, plastic laminate, tile and mosaic, metal, timber, glass, etc. 

Well, of course it can be simply throw to the rubbish bin afterward, but if you love Interior Design, you love them especially the high quality fabric in full colorway.
  
                                             A new cover to my manual ! 


Fabric jacket for a manuel(Yes, user manual is also one of my "stock item" because I love to read with the real paper touch) 

"A double face" pocket that can protect my almost dead manual, two pieces of fabric are just enough to sew one, simple and unique. 




Add a bit of detail inside 
to secure the booklet.
 


DIY manual fabric jacket

Voila! Reuse project done :) 
How about you? 
Got some ideas to reuse yours?

2016/10/06

向左走。向右走 vs You've Got Mail



向左走。向右走 male figure最近番看了由 Tom HanksMeg Ryan 於很多年前主演的 
You've Got Mail 。 

電影開場時是描寫兩人各自由家中預備,步出家門,買咖啡,再朝着目的地,預備開始一天工作的情景;由於用了左右分鏡去表達二人同步的畫面,令我即時想起幾米的"向左走,向右走"。 

向左走。向右走 female figure如果你有看過他的插畫作品"月亮忘記了",也必定不會錯過這個故事, 是同樣出色的繪本。故事道出一對居住在隔鄰的單身男女,由於每天早上,一個必定朝左邊出發,另一個則朝右邊, 因此總是碰不見而沒法互相認識......直至一天,基於地球是圓的道理,他們終於遇見。美麗的偶遇,期待着下一個約定,卻因為雨水洗掉了手上由對方留下的電話號碼而落空......

同是都市愛情故事,幾米藉著簡單優美的畫作,純樸地演繹。而 You've Got Mail 則利用網絡空間的相遇,使原本在事業上對頭而且屬於兩個世界的人連結在一起的這個意念,藉着電影浪漫地上演。

兩個故事最終大圑圓, 安慰了不少在煩囂鬧市中寂寞的心靈. 雖然兩者的演繹方法各不同,但看後卻得着相同的訊息和觀感。我想......
這就是視覺媒體的共同語言和威力

如果把這兩個標題套用在朋友關係之上, 將會變成一套怎樣的電影和一本如何的繒本呢?

2016/09/26

I love "Classic" !

Gaggia Classic Espresso machine unpackActually, I should write this post 2 years earlier, unfortunately those days were a bit messy, so today is the time to share this experience with you, and hopefully it's not too late :)

Well, you may already know that we have an espresso machine, that was bought 5 years ago. For people using it daily, sometimes twice or up to xxx times  a day meaning, it is quite heavy loaded.

Basically, daily cleaning and occasional back flush should be good enough, plus a yearly descaling process will be perfect, too.

One day, it stopped working, totally - no more coffee comes out from the blew head = clog as assumed ?! Even though I went through all basic cleaning and checking procedure, it refused to work again.  You may think sending back to the manufacturer will be the only solution......

......the magic happens to Gaggia Classic because it is a mechanical machine, i.e. no chips or complicated computerize parts and therefore, we can try to repair ourselves. But, how to start??? This is what I've found from the Internet

reedsmeals.blogspot.hk

Tools to repair Gaggia ClassicA detail step by step guide to teach you how to open the machine, what to check and what to clean. So, I tried by ready all tools + the print out guide and began with the "operation".

It took me 4 hours to complete the task and make sure no clogging inside the solenoid (detail please refer to the above link as the picture are much more clear), then re-assembling everything together, started the de-scaler process, that took another 2 hours......

I have to say the "Overhaul of Gaggia Classic Espresso Machine" blog post is gorgeous, but,  still not working. It's a frustrated before a clue that suddenly woke me up : the group gasket was deteriorated, Yes! it was as hard as a metal after four years working. So... a replacement makes everything alive !

If  there is not a good blog post to guide me, I can never using deduction method to reduce the affecting issues; and if this is not a true CLASSIC,
I can never try to repair it on my own.

Thank you Christopher Reed and Gaggia !





 

2016/09/20

Making Pictures in the Rain

photo in the rain of old buildings
shelter
Before I write anything, I would like to share this article that really inspiring and  
Making Pictures in the Rain  a lot more fun :)

I am not a professional photographer thus can only shoot when not in work, plus "a Sunny Day"......which I thought it should be, at least to be easier to deal with the light source; in addition, I don't have any waterproof accessory for my camera, so it may be a disaster if it get wet.

May 2015 was so humid and kept rainy all days, even though I was free, I could only stuck inside house. By chance, I read the above article and fascinating to the photos inside, I wondered, might be I should try one day...so I charged and packed my stuff, I told myself no matter what the weather tomorrow would be, I was ready to go!!

Ha Ha! God gave me a big challenge! It was Black Rain Signal when I saw the notice at MTR station, what I've got was an umbrella and a towel with my camera, then I thought, why not, just go......

To capture the special color tone and mood, interesting passengers' behaviour, or try using the "vivid" mode to brighter your target...these are wonderful experience that difference from taking pictures in sunny weather. 

Forgettable places express their emotion strongly in the rain, color appears more attractive when dust are clear from the dead air; a soft melody presented by rain drops act as your companion, the street is more remote for you to make use of every corner to set your camera, no one will bother you as they are sheltered inside store ......

A truly tranquil and enjoyable moment that I would like to experience more in this year ! Hope you get your moment, too !


street photo in Sheung Wan
no holiday 02





















                                            

2016/09/19

做個氣定神閒的設計師

話説最近呢幾年有幸參予一D成人興趣班嘅教學. 有同學覺得我(好似)好斯文, 奇怪我點同師傅溝通仲可以支持佢哋D "問候語"?

首先要澄清唔係個個師傅都咁"粗皮"嘅, 尤其而家, 好多都好斯文有禮. 我同同學講, 如果想係裝修期間大家做得開心, 令工程順利完成, 有三個人好重要:-

一個將心比己, 明白事理 嘅顧客
一個有專業操守, 氣定神閒 嘅設計師
一個細心老實, 尊重自己行業嘅師傅

當然, 時間/ 金錢/ 各方面嘅能力就不在話下喇. 始終一個住宅裝修工程由設計到完成分分鐘搞成五六個月; 除咗要兼顧大小事項之外, 突然期來嘅問題都唔少. 基本上顧客同師傅都承受一定壓力.

所以, 如果身為設計師嘅我哋唔能夠凌駕壓力, 毎次落地盤都令氣氛變得過份緊張, 搞到D師傅好似樣樣都做得唔好咁, 係"委屈"或"不被尊重/信任"嘅感覺下面, 好難令整件事美滿咁完工.
而我認為氣定神閒 嘅設計師擔當好重要嘅角色, 因為我哋係顧客同師傅嘅橋樑. 經驗話我知如果我哋可以心平氣和, 恰如其份咁處理整個工程運作, 好多時D問題都係可以解決到嘅.

雖然要集齊以上三個人辧, 有時都要靠彩數, 咁我就祝願大家好運啦!

2016/09/13

月光光 Up Up in the sky

Mid Autumn Festival acrylic painting on tile

送你一個不會受天氣影響,
隨時隨地也可見的滿月.
中秋節快樂:D
Whatever the weather is going to be,
here is the full moon that will always
shine in your heart.
Happy 
Mid Autumn Festival 
:D


2016/09/08

意料之外

Red flower in vintage picture shot
It's Summer
2015年6月, 非常炎熱的一天, 一早經東涌乘車往大澳, 己經忘記了有多少個年頭没有到訪......

那種久違了的魚村風貌隨着年日消磨, 亦己改變了許多. 正當艶陽高掛, 我不知不覺間歩入了村民的"後花園", 被這從樹梢垂吊下來, 隨着熱風擺動的"小燈籠" 吸引着.

懂得攝影的你也會知道毎當要拍攝正午下背光景物時是需要稍為曝光過度オ可以把主體反映清晰, 所以心知這張照片會over. 

或許是我的壞習慣 : 喜愛正午影相卻又不大喜歡在電腦做太多後期調較; (因為雖然現在科技便利, 但仍然會眷戀着菲林時代的那種曝光限制)不過最基本的level 檢示是必需的, 但結果......我卻保留了沒有調較過的這一個版本.

Nikon D300
ISO 320
f 4.5
1/80
+0.3

或許是一些意料之外的色彩浮現,令我很喜愛整個漫不經意又有點懷舊的感覺;也許這就鏡頭内外,兩個世界令人着迷之處! 











這是調較還原的色彩
你會喜愛那個版本呢 ?

2016/09/04

Nikon AF600 : my second camera

Nikon AF600 camera
You may wonder after my first 120 roll film camera, it's normal that an upgrade of 4x5 format should be used...ha ha!

This is what I bought at last: a 35mm roll film camera for "dummy", i.e.: fully auto. 

As far as I've remember it is a tiny size negative of 24nos. picture film, very cute when you compare with the 120 format side by side.

That's for sure it is a very handy camera, not much to be adjusted, absolutely risk free snap shot expert, easy to use and light weight. 

I used it not only for leisure but when capture site work when I was a junior......long...long...time ago :D . Look at the bottom right corner, see that "Panorama" mode? Yes, this was her strongest feature that attracted me; I still remember how she did her good job but unfortunately I can't find those old photos in my file. But no matter how, she was my best assistant...thank you!

P.S.: Even thought a fully auto camera or "A" mode can do most of the job, remember to use the focus lock (or half press shutter release) to lock your target image before framing - otherwise a blur image as a result but it's not the camera's fault.

Alone

Signal lamp in good old days
Creative works can be in team but most of the time, we are alone. Like many of other photographers, writers, sculptors, painters, designers...,etc. That's why we love the moment after mid night.

There is always another "world" for us to enter, once the shutter wide opened, writing paper and pen are ready, colorful acrylics are on the palette.....and, we are ready to be "Alone"!

Not everyone like this feeling, especially when we are not in good mood; but it definitely gives us an environment to have free thought, no burden, no reality, no right or wrong, just concentrate...so concentrate onto the next move, bit by bit, so quiet that it seems we are the only living creature at that moment.

I love to do editing of what I've shot in the day at night, too. When photos appear on the screen, they were framed not only the scenario, but the background "music", aroma, people and things happened around at that specific moment...now, "act" once again in front of me..."at Night" "Alone" !

You will be surprised to see there are much more other then what you've intended to capture, take your time, enjoy!