Yours truely was in the news recently for being awesome and obsessed with the Titanic.
I scanned the article out and slowly pieced it together since my scanner is too small.
Just want to thank ArtScience Museum and The Straits Times for this awesome opportunity. 
click for the full size article/image
Dear Internet, tonight has proven one simple thing: Avarielle needs to be controlled when she’s in a Lomography Gallery Store. Not because she’ll go insane and buy everything there. Although that might just happen. But because she forgets to use her brain and goes insane.
(why am I talking in third person?)
the sign above the shop
Anyway today was the opening of Singapore’s Lomography Gallery Store. And the AdCrew and I were there to celebrate. Also, many of my friends in the local Lomography community were there as well – so it was sort of a mini reunion since I haven’t been hanging out with them.
This was the door gift. And those are badges/buttons – shutter buttons to be exact. Which made me exceedingly happy since I collect them.
Not much to say, just enjoy the photos. And there was cake – with the Lomography logo. It was very delicious cake.
The cake. By the time I got to it, it was half-eaten. ):
the crowd
The AdCrew looking at cameras
cameras on display
the LomoWall. Which is basically a wall of photos.
She was drawing on the pillars outside the store.
And yes, there was a lucky draw. I won something – a La Sardina. (And we can all ignore the fact that I already have a La Sardina. More cameras are always good.) The other prizes were a Diana Mini and a LOMO LC-A+. Congrats to the other two winners as well!
hello new camera!
There was a giant La Sardina so we took photos with it. And wore it as a hat!
I have a giant camera. I wonder what sort of film it requires.
and now giant camera on my head!
(not TOO many photos now since I was shooting with my LC-A+ and I’ll need to develop the film before I can get the photos. Also my brain was going ASHJDSXCVBNCXCVBNM,SDFGHJK so I didn’t take that many photos.)
That’s right folks! The awesome Lomography Gallery Store has made it to our shores. And they will be setting up shop in Chinatown.
Of course such an awesome shop needs an awesome opening party. Next Thursday, the 8th of December is the party and everyone’s invited. You just need to RSVP here.
I’ll be at the party, of course. Along with some of my Lomo-loving friends.
If you’re curious about what Lomography is, you can check out the official Lomography website to find out more. Also you can follow Lomography Singapore on Twitter or check out their Facebook page.
Once again, Lomography is back with yet another amazing analogue creation- the LomoKino. This time round, they have moved away from still photography into the very exciting world of moving pictures. That’s right folks, Lomography’s newest creation takes videos.
I’m pretty intridged by this new camera. It looks really interesting. I’ll be going to Hong Kong on Sunday for a short holiday. You can be sure I’ll be making a trip to the Lomography Gallery Store. I’m hoping to get to see this LomoKino for myself.
Enough talk! Here’s the official press release for the LomoKino.
OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE
The Lomographic Society Proudly Presents
The LomoKino – Super 35 Movie Maker
Lomography in Motion: Take the next step in Lomography with the first camera that makes your Lomographs move on any kind of 35mm film.
Unique Art: Become the director of your very own LomoMovies and produce unique and precious pieces of movie art by simply winding a crank.
True Gadget: Irresistible design and unlimited creative possibilities will make gadget loversí hearts pound faster.
LomoMovies Online: Upload, watch and share your very own LomoMovies on www.lomography.com
Lomography in Motion
How great it must have been to witness the first pictures as they started to move or to see the Lumiere brothers amazing the crowds with their very first short films. After over 200 years of movie making, million-dollar-special-effects, big scale film studios and endless Hollywood dramas, we give you the chance to return back to the roots of movie making and witness the very first steps of moving Lomography. The LomoKino allows you to become a director yourself and capture Lomographic movies on 35 mm film of any kind: no sound, no special effects, no post production ñ just simple Lomography in motion.
Unique Art
To become a true LomoMovie director, just simply wind the crank of the magic box to capture 144 shots on one roll of 35 mm film – which makes 36 to 48 seconds of LomoMovie. You can use any kind of 35 mm film for different effects: Slide film, colour negative, redscale or B/W. After developing the film, spool it into the specially developed LomoKinoScope and watch your Lomographs moving over and over again. What sounds very simple produces a unique piece of art which can either stay in your hands only or can be given as a special present to somebody who really deserves it. Show your sweetheart how fast your heart is really pounding or capture a flying birthday cake for your grandma who will feel catapulted back in time.
True Gadget
A wise man once said ìform follows functionî ñ naaaah ñ we like to say ìform follows motionî and thatís why we designed this camera to become a true gadget. Its irresistible design takes you straight back into the time when people left the audience screaming because a locomotive was speeding towards them on a movie screen and the movies were still a true business without special effects. It comes in a package either alone or with the LomoKinoScope, one film canister and a marvelous book. Its creative possibilities are so diverse that not even we can tell the limits. Itís up to you, gadget lovers, to take this baby in your hands and explore what movies used to be like the Lomographic way!
LomoMovies Online
Unlike the very first filmmakers we can call a powerful tool our own: the internet! Linking the simple technology of the LomoKino with our website, enables you to upload, watch and share your own LomoMovies. To give you a taste of the special LomoKino aesthetics and the sheer endless creative possibilities, we asked filmmakers from around the globe to create their own LomoMovies. Visit our website to get some inspiration and start shooting your first LomoMovie!
www.lomography.com
Technical Details
Film type: all kind of 135 roll film
Lens: 25mm
Exposure area: 24mm x 8.5mm: 144 images/film
Continuous Aperture: f/5.6 – f/11
Shutter: 1/100
Hand cranked: approx. 3-4 fps, 36-48 sec. movie per roll
Film counting: volume display
Focusing: (normal) 1m~infinity,(press button for) 0.6m close up
Tripod mount: yes
Retail price: tba
The Lomographic Society International is a globally active organization dedicated to experimental and creative snapshot photography. Boasting over a half-million members across the world, the concept of Lomography encompasses an interactive, vivid, blurred and crazy way of life.
Through our constantly expanding selection of innovative cameras & photographic accessories, we promote analog photography as a creative approach to communicate, absorb, and capture the world.
Through the efforts and skill of our Lomographic Society members, we seek to document the incredible planet around us in a never-ending stream of snapshots ñ literally a global ìLomographicî portrait as seen through the eyes of countless individuals and cultures.
The Future is Analogue!
It’s the 31st of October. For most people, it is Halloween. For those who celebrate it, it is either Samhain or Beltane, depending on which hemisphere you’re in.
For me, 31st October means it is time to prepare for the great writing adventure that is NaNoWriMo. For those who don’t know, NaNoWriMo stands for National Novel Writing Month. Although National isn’t that accurate of a description anymore, considering it is now an international event. To sum NaNoWriMo up quickly, the basic premise is to write a novel of 50,000 words in the month of November, 30 days. This works out to be 1667 words a day. If you hit the 50,000 word count by the time the clock ticks over to midnight on the 1st of December.
This year, it will be my 6th NaNoWriMo. I have only won once – last year. Which was a miracle in itself considering I was busy with school work in November. This November I will be free so let’s hope I can hit that 50,000 word count again.
So this happened today.
How do you describe the exhibit that you have waited 14 years to visit? The exhibit that you never imagined you would visit because awesome things like this never came to your part of the world.
Today, I got to finally realise a dream, a dream I had since I was 11, 14 years ago, to visit the Titanic Artifact Exhibit. Remember this post I did? Well I got picked.
So the best friend and I, along with the other winners and their guests, went for The Titanic Experience today at ArtScience Museum.
Your regular ArtScience Museum entrance ticket
Of course, you can't board the Titanic with just any old museum ticket. What you need is a boarding pass! Here's mine! (photo obviously not taken at the museum. I took it at home. ps. Titanic books make a great backdrop.)
We were taken around the exhibit by Faiza, our docent. (I hope I’m getting her name right.) She was downright amazing. She knew tons of facts about the Titanic and even stuff that I never knew. I was so impressed, and even the best friend could see that.
The exhibit takes you on a journey, a story of the Titanic, from the construction to the voyage to the discovery and salvage efforts. As you walk through the exhibit, you’ll find the artifacts in glass cases (don’t touch! they are fragile!), info panels and real life mock ups of places on the ship.
(As you can see or rather read, I’m trying not to give too much detail away. I don’t want to tell you everything. Just go to the exhibit and see for yourself. HAHA!)
There were many times in the exhibit when I was speechless, just out of awe. Imagine, seeing something that you have only seen online and in books, right in front of you.
After touring the exhibit, we went to do a letter writing activity. You must be thinking, letter writing? What has it got to do with the Titanic? Quite a bit, really. The Titanic was a Royal Mail Ship or Steamer(RMS) as the info panels at the museum say. Basically, the Titanic carried mail across the ocean. So there is a connection.
The letter writing "kit". A quill pen - actually a ballpoint but who cares. An envelope. And special Titanic paper! The other folder paper is a brochure.
Since I didn’t have anyone to write a letter to, and I completely forgot the US-based best friend’s address, I wrote a letter to myself. US-based best friend is my online partner-in-crime, fellow Titanic buff and all round awesome person.
See! Wax seal - ArtScience Museum style! Awesome, no? Also, my pink quill.
Then we posted our letters and the letters will be sent out – soon-ish I hope.
I got to meet Captain Smith, the Titanic's captain! Such a lovely gentleman.
I also got to meet some newsboys - I think that's who they are.
I also picked up a copy of the exhibit book. (as always, Titanic books make great places to take photos. for all you curious folk, the book at the back is Extra Titanic, basically it has reproductions of articles of the ship in the newspapers of the day.)
My verdict: GO FOR TITANIC THE ARTIFACT EXHIBIT! GO, JUST GO! You will enjoy it. If you have watched the 1997 James Cameron movie, you will enjoy it. If you’re a Titanic buff like me, be prepared for your mind to be blown. If you’re just curious, just go! Just remember, you’ll want to spend time reading the info panels so give yourself at least an hour to go through the exhibit.
I think I have made my point.
Last but not least, I would like to thank ArtScience Museum for an amazing exhibition and a most enjoyable afternoon. When they said The Titanic Experience, they were NOT kidding about the Experience bit. It truly was an experience.
For more information, check out ArtScience Museum’s website, Facebook page or their Twitter.
I’ll leave you with a couple of links to my favourite Titanic websites. Encyclopedia Titanica has information on JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING you want to know about the Titanic. If you’re into scale modeling or just interested to know about a specific part of the Titanic, make sure to stop by Titanic Research & Modeling Association(TRMA). Of course, we can’t forgot RMS Titanic Inc’s official website, they’re the folks who brought up the artifacts. These sites are amazing resources and have been around for ages. I was surfing Encyclopedia Titanic and TRMA back when I first got into ships, in 1998.
Hey ArtScience Museum!
Yep, I’m talking to you. Who? Me! Most certainly! Who were you expecting? The Doctor?
No, just me. Avarielle.
What? You wanted to know why I’d want to attend The Titanic Experience. Right, of course you are.
Here goes. My name’s Avarielle and I’m a self-confessed Titanic buff.
Yeah. Yeah. I know what you’re thinking. I’m like all the other kids. I watched that 1997 movie. I wanna be Rose and meet Jack. Actually no, the only Rose I wouldn’t mind being is Rose Tyler and the only Jack I’d wanna meet is Jack Harkness. But really, I shouldn’t be rambling on. And this is not a Doctor Who appreciation blog post.
Yes. I did watch the 1997 movie. It triggered off an obsession with the Titanic, the real ship, mind you. I devoured whatever information I could find online. I read every single book I could get my hands on.
Of course I did hear of Titanic The Artifact Exhibit. The Internet had tons of info on it. I always moaned that I was stuck in Singapore and had no chance to visit the exhibition.
You know the morning I woke up and saw news of the exhibit coming to Singapore. I nearly jumped for joy. The exhibit of my dreams, finally in my country. I blogged about it here.
The deal was sweetened when I saw the exhibit was going to be in Singapore till end of April next year. I immediately made plans to visit on the 100th anniversary of the sinking.
I’ve been reading the books, watching the movies, watching documentaries and surfing the websites. I’ve even visited the memorials in Southampton. I finally can view the artifacts right in front of me live! – thanks to the exhibit.
So… What is the point of this entire post? Well I’d love the chance to go to The Titanic Experience. It would make this Titanic buff here a very happy girl. Of course, to be able to meet other Titanic enthusiasts would be amazing. The chance to talk about the ship with like-minded people in such a setting would be a once in a life time opportunity. That is all.
Lots of love,
Avarielle.
Last Saturday was the first International Observe the Moon Night. I had planned to do some moon observing of my own. However the weather had other plans and it turned out to be more of a “Shake Fist at the Rain Night”. The next night, Sunday and early Monday morning, provide good observing conditions.
So early Monday morning found my telescope and I out on the balcony.
Here are some photos I took of the moon with my phone. Enjoy!
the Moon, viewed at 45 times magnification
viewed at 90 times magnification
viewed at 90 times magnification
I was 11 when I first heard of the Titanic. The year was 1997 and the Cameron blockbuster was due to be released at the end of the year. With all the hype surrounding the movie, I could not help but get curious and want to know more.
My curiosity lead me to learn about the ship and the disaster. Southampton immediately went on to my “list of places to visit”.
It took 10 years for me to finally achieve that dream.
In 2007, I, along with my mother, was in Southampton to achieve another dream – to sail on board the Queen Elizabeth 2. That trip was a 21st birthday present from my parents.
Since we were in Southampton, it made sense to go in search of the Titanic memorials and sites I had read all about for the past 10 years. Here are the photos and tales from our explorations.
It has been a number of years since that epic trip. Some of the details are fuzzy and I may not remember everything. However the photos here will tell most of the story.
Sit back. Enjoy. And let me take you on a Titanic trail of Southampton.
Southampton Maritime Museum
Close up of the sign on the front of the building. The dots and dashes is Morse Code and stand for SOS.
First stop, the Southampton Maritime Museum. I don’t recall much of what was in it. It mainly focused on the impact the disaster had on the city of Southampton. I recall display of Honour and Glory Crowning Time. This is the clock that graced the landing of the Grand Staircase. Of course this clock is not the one from the Titanic. It is actually from the Titanic’s sister ship, the Olympic.
Next stop, and probably my favourite memorial of all, the Engineers’ Memorial.
The Engineers' Memorial
Close up on the text in the middle
That was the last memorial for the day. It was getting late and we had to go back to the hotel. We had a ship to catch the next day. But that was not the end of the Titanic trail. We still had three more memorials to visit.
The following week, following a most enjoyable nine days on board the QE2, we were back in Southampton. As our ship prepared to dock at the cruise terminal, I recognized the dock from which the Titanic sailed from. And there was photos.
the Titanic's dock. She docked close to where that crane is.
Back on dry land, we resumed our search for Titanic memorials.
The next memorial we visited was the Memorial to the Postal Workers. Back then, mail was transported across the ocean via ship. White Star Line, the Titanic’s owners, had a contract to transport mail. Thus, their ships carried the prefix RMS – Royal Mail Ship.
This memorial was located inside a post office. Thus I couldn’t spend as much time there as I liked. Since getting in people’s way obviously wasn’t a nice thing. I just took a couple of photos.
Memorial to the Postal Workers
Our next stop was just down the road. The memorial was located inside the Holyrood Church. This church was built during the 1300s and much of it was destroyed during the Second World War.
the Holyrood Church memorial
image relief of the ship found on the memorial
much of the original words on the memorial have faded due to the passage of time. This plaque reproduces the text.
An audio information post next to the memorial. It wasn't working when I gave it a try.
After the Holyrood Church, we went in search of our last and final memorial – the memorial to the ship’s musicians. We had some problem searching for it. Ironically it was just across the road from the Engineers’ Memorial. I spotted it from across the road and it took all my willpower not to run across.
Memorial to the Titanic's Musicians
That brings us to the end of our Titanic trail. I hope you have enjoyed this. I sure have.
