With my old camera that is…
Since I was alone for Christmas because my son was over at his Dad’s, I decided to go ahead with my friend to watch the Grand Prix Marching Band Indonesia 2011 held on Christmas Eve here in Jakarta. She coaxed me saying I could take some really cool pictures.
For the records, I knew nothing about marching band and never watch them exclusively.
We got to the big stadium and got front row seats where I quickly took some pictures. After lunch break we went back inside and it was packed! We had to kiss our seats goodbye and stand by the edge. Were difficult taking pictures so I went down, positioned myself right next to this guy who carried the big white lens. His big camera and lenses made me feel so small hah but what the heck, I was determined to take lots of pictures.
I was blown away by these marching bands performances. Before, I would think “Ah, so what they’re just bunch of kids playing musical instruments.” But what I didn’t know was, they are pretty much theatricals, there are storylines even characters brought to life with the music pieces they are playing. It was so much fun.
My two favorite marching bands were from BCK Duri their theme was Harry Potter. So brilliantly done and the music they played were out of this world.
Here’s an amateur video of their performance I found on YouTube.
The other favorite was from Pupuk Kaltim (Bontang PKT) – which by the way is already a household name for Marching Band in Indonesia. How on earth they made the sounds came out to be in perfect stereo is beyond me.
And here’s another YouTube video of their performance:
After the loud day at the stadium – I went to one of the newly opened mall where my family was then headed home.
It is our family tradition here that on Christmas Eve and New Year Eve to have my uncle + his family also my aunt and her family to come over just before midnight. With my mother being the eldest, they always gathered here. We would be praying before midnight followed by midnight meals. Yes, we would eat! Then my mom would call her mother who is in another town.
We stayed up late on Christmas Eve not to open presents but to pray and just be together. Granted, everyone was in mad dash to wake up the next day and get to church for our 10am service.
Before having the families over I decided to play around with my camera some more. Object of experiment? Bokeh lights. Using the Christmas tree and some props I came up with these shots. Of course me being the worst critique of myself, I wasn’t very satisfied with them but for a first try some actually came pretty good. What do you think?
So that is how I spent my Christmas Eve, falling back in love with my old camera. How did you spent yours?
PS: You can check out the rest of the pictures on my Flickr page.
Cool pics!
Thanks, Lia
Those photos are awesome, Maureen! Very, very cool effects… A belated happy Christmas to you!
Thanks, my friend. Hope you and your awesome family had a wonderful Christmas too
Nice pictures….. Glad to know that you had a great time. We had a great time too. I was so tired, but really happy as everybody loves my Indonesian yellow rice. After all the guests left, I still had to stay up late, making sure that the boys were fast asleep before I put up the presents under the tree, and filled up our stockings.
Thanks Sylvia. So good to hear your nasi kuning was a hit
Merry Christmas to you and your beatiful family.
You take beautiful photos! I love them!
That Harry Potter performance is absolutely incredible! I am really impressed by it and I really enjoyed watching it!
Caity recently posted..Christmas at Totaranui
Merry Christmas Caity!
Thanks so much. Yeah, they were impressive. I didn’t take the video because I was down by the side of the court and taking pictures like mad hahaha.
The videos were awesome – such precision. Your photos, however, were over the top! Hope you enjoyed the holiday. Merry Christmas – because you just can’t say it often enough, right?
Nami recently posted..Say NO To White
The videos were awesome – such precision. Your pictures, however, were over the top! Merry Christmas again, because you just can’t say it too often this time of year, right?
Nami recently posted..Say NO To White
Sorry. There’s a not so exact echo in my laptop. Ha, ha.
Nami recently posted..Say NO To White
Wonderful pictures, especially those last few with the blurred lights in the background!
BiculturalMama recently posted..Happy Holidays from Our House to Yours
Happy New Year 2012!
BLOGitse recently posted..ColOURfuL New Year 2012!