Kiasu Espresso (Leica M9 + 21mm f/3.4 Super Elmar)

Kiasu Espresso – Kiasu Pigeon, The Earliest Bird (Leica M9 + 50mm f/1.0 Noctilux)

Kiasu Espresso – Forty Hands (Leica M9 + 75mm f/1.4 Summilux)

Way before I made peace with Starbucks, I used to stop here before work to grab a small cafe latte from Spinelli’s. That was 3 years ago, before Singapore saw the explosive growth of coffee boutiques carrying better/decent coffee blends. Coincidentally Kiasu Espresso is at the same location (I think?) where Spin’s used to be.

Kiasu Espresso (Leica M9 + 50mm f/1.4 Summilux Pre-ASPH)

Kiasu Espresso – Faster Leh! (Leica M9 + 75mm f/1.4 Summilux)

Kiasu Espresso (Leica M9 + 50mm f/1.4 Summilux Pre-ASPH)

The cafe is rather small; actually it is more of a takeaway coffee spot. Originally the place was decked with some bar stools and high tables, even for the tables opposite the cashier. But they have  just changed the seats and tables to something more comfortable just yesterday. Nice touch there.

Kiasu Espresso (Leica M9 + 21mm f/3.4 Super Elmar)

Kiasu Espresso – They changed the chairs & tables (Leica M9 + 50mm f/1.4 Summilux ASPH)

The baristas may look young but they know their coffee – they won’t even flinch when you order a double ristretto piccolo latte in a single breath. For the coffee snobs/geeks working in downtown area, this is the place for your daily fix!

Kiasu Espresso – Morning in Motion (Leica M9 + 21mm f/3.4 Super Elmar)

Kiasu Espresso (Leica M9 + 50mm f/1.4 Summilux ASPH)

I think they are still tweaking their espresso grinds at the moment so for those with a sensitive palate, don’t be too surprised if your daily espresso may vary a little in brightness and body. The young barista was asking for feedback seeing that I was there almost daily. Cool.

Kiasu Espresso – Morning in Motion (Leica M9 + 21mm f/3.4 Super Elmar)

They don’t have a wide selection of food at the moment – there’s only a small selection of bread and dessert tarts such as croissants and chocolate tarts but latest facebook post from 40Hands tells us to stay tuned for some freshly baked savory tarts real soon! Can’t wait!

Kiasu Espresso – Breakfast Bites Croissants (Leica M9 + 50mm f/1.4 Summilux ASPH)

Kiasu Espresso – Sweet Tooth (Leica M9 + 50mm f/1.4 Summilux ASPH)

The earliest aka kiasu bird catches the worm – just ask for a ristretto macchiato for that “sweet” robust caffeine fix to kickstart your day!

Kiasu Espresso – Barista (Leica M9 + 50mm f/1.4 Summilux ASPH)

Kiasu Espresso – Barista (Leica M9 + 75mm f/1.4 Summilux)

Kiasu Espresso – Barista (Leica M9 + 50mm f/1.4 Summilux ASPH)

Kiasu Espresso – Morning Duo Piccolo Latte & Macchiato (Leica M9 + 50mm f/1.4 Summilux ASPH)

Update: Kiasu Espresso now has a whole bunch of stuff for their breakfast menu. They now have freshly baked savory tarts (or I guess you can call them quiches?) including the Wild Mushroom Tart, and the English Breakfast Tart. I’ve tried the English Breakfast Tart and it’s real yummy! They also have sandwiches such as the Smoked Salmon, Cucumber & Dill sandwich, and Miso Tuna sandwich, which I’ve yet to try but they sound so good I’ll make sure I do!

Kiasu Espresso – Breakfast Menu Savory Tarts (Leica M9 + 50mm f/1.0 Noctilux)

Kiasu Espresso – Breakfast Menu Sandwiches (Leica M9 + 50mm f/1.0 Noctilux)

View the entire album here. Thanks for stopping by.

Visit Kiasu Espresso at 100 AM, #01-03/04, 100 Tras Street || (t) 6444 2136 || Open Mon-Sat 8am-8pm.

Kiasu Espresso – Kiasu Pigeon, The Earliest Bird (Leica M9 + 50mm f/1.4 Summilux ASPH)

So, what about the pictures then? Apart from that 60% of them were out of focus, some really bad ones, I am very impressed by the sharpness and the colors. The colors are just popping out of the picture. See the picture below of my daughter in a café. Amazing. It almost looks like the picture has been saturated in Lightroom. What I like very much is the “Leica-style” look as many Leica people talk about. And even more with this look I think the pictures are very much suited for black and white photography. As said earlier I am using the Nik Software Silver Efex Pro 2.0. More than before I like doing this now when I have the “Leica-look”.

See my equipment list updated.

Probably this was my last trip using my Nikon equipment. During the trip to Tokyo I got fed-up with carrying all the equipment. And it is bulky and not desecrate at all. I was visiting the Leica shop in Tokyo and that is when I decided to change camera system to something that is appealing me a lot more and the photography that I am performing. But more on this in a later blog. If you are interested to buy any of my equipment please send me a mail.
By the way, I bought the Leica M9 with the Summicron 50mm f/2.0 lens.

joy villa, leica m9 w/ leica 50mm noctilux-m f/1.0. by thorsten overgaard

it wasn’t until this past weekend that i was reminded of this beauty. during a visit to the electron microscope facility at sdsu, i was taking a closer look at the petri dish and came across the bright red label on the viewfinder that read “leica.”

just when i thought that i had forgotten about you, my obsession returns.

QT

Scotts Square (Leica M9 + 21mm f/3.4 Super Elmar)

Mixed-use property seems to be growing increasingly more popular in Singapore and Scotts Square is a great example. Situated in the heart of Orchard Road, Scotts Square, by Wheelock Properties, features both prime retail and luxury residential apartments.

Scotts Square (Leica M9 + 21mm f/3.4 Super Elmar)

It stands in place of building which housed the old Scotts Shopping Centre and as well as 23-stories serviced apartment The Ascott. The entire building was demolished in 2007 and Scotts Square was redeveloped from scratch.

Scotts Square (Leica M9 + 21mm f/3.4 Super Elmar)

The residential tower now houses 43 stories of luxury apartments. The retail portfolio consists of luxury and fashion names, including Hermes, Michael Kors, Paul & Joe, Bread & Butter, Sincere Watches etc while on the dining front we are treated to a wide variety of dining options such as Wild Honey, La Luna Rossa, Delicious, Maison Kayser and so on.

Scotts Square (Leica M9 + 21mm f/3.4 Super Elmar)

I have not been to all the shops. I’ve really only been to Wild Honey and Maison Kayser regularly. Wild Honey is a popular spot for all day brunches and the outlet at Scotts Square allows for reservations and has table service (the one at Mandarin Gallery is self-service).

Scotts Square – Maison Kayser (Leica M9 + 50mm f/1.4 Summilux Pre-ASPH)

Maison Kayser is a popular bakery by famous french baker Eric Kayser. This outlet at Scotts Square is the first in Singapore and features freshly baked croissants and other bread and tarts, with a dining area where patrons can savor the lovely tarts and breads, baked daily on-site, over coffee.

Scotts Square – Maison Kayser (Leica M9 + 21mm f/3.4 Super Elmar)

Over the weekend, I have just discovered a new love – fresh coconut cake from Delicious. And delicious it was indeed! Fresh coconut shavings, sprinkled generously on the outside, shields the light and fluffy layered sponge cake, sandwiching the sweet tender coconut flesh and cream. It’s surprisingly light and sweet without being overly cloying. Really amazing!

Scotts Square – Delicious (Leica M9 + 50mm f/1.4 Summilux Pre-ASPH)

Scotts Square – Suits in Motion (Leica M9 + 21mm f/3.4 Super Elmar)

“Motion blur” – actually just a super slow shutter speed – while getting away from the security guard (me, not the suits ) And, it’s quite heavily cropped but I still like the colors and the mood this image conveys. So, I’m keeping it.

Scotts Square (Leica M9 + 21mm f/3.4 Super Elmar)

View the entire album here. Thanks for stopping by.

A Musician, Agadir, Morocco. 2011

Paulaner Salvator on tap at Brozeit, 313@Somerset. (Leica M9 + 50mm f/1.4 Summilux ASPH)

I prefer hoppy beers (ok fine I am a hophead) but I do enjoy the maltier sweeter German and Belgium beers occasionally too. And Salvator’s my absolute love when it comes to European brews. I first had it bottled but chanced upon it on tap 2 years back in Brozeit (I thought the bar guy gave me the wrong drink!) and oh my, L.O.V.E.! It’s creamier, smoother, maltier, sweeter. Just everything a huge huge plus.

Paulaner Salvator on tap at Brozeit, 313@Somerset. (Leica M9 + 21mm f/3.4 Super Elmar ASPH)

Salvator is a doppelbock and the original beer brewed by Paulaner – yes, it’s the founding beer of Paulaner. It’s really huge on malts and high in alcohol content, though the high ABV (7.9%) is not evident because it is such a sweet drink. Doppelbocks are sometimes referred to as “liquid bread” and are consumed by Bavarian monks in times of fasting e.g. Lent. Interesting right? It’s not helping my diet though, but it’s too good I can’t help it!

Paulaner Salvator on tap at Brozeit, 313@Somerset. (Leica M9 + 50mm f/1.4 Summilux ASPH)

The Salvator pours a really attractive deep copper red with a fluffy parchment colored head. Gorgeous bready aromas are pronounced and it has a really tasty maltiness with some tinges of raisins and cherries. It is really a delicious drink and even better on tap! It’s typically out on tap around March, maybe a month or so before Easter in limited quantities! Grab it at Brozeit while it lasts – cheers!

Paulaner Salvator on tap at Brozeit, 313@Somerset. (Leica M9 + 21mm f/3.4 Super Elmar ASPH)

The Voice Newspaper is a well known publication in London which has run from 1982, and has been regularly voted “Britain’s Best Black Newspaper” for their coverage on a range of issues specific to the community including sport, current affairs, education, lifestyle, faith, career opportunites and entertainment.

The papers’s Hazel Ann Williams took a trip up to Islington recently to interview one of the hottest emerging figures in the UK hip hop scene, melanin 9, to discuss his new album Magna Carta, his early days of starting out as an artist and his views on hip hop generally today.

You can read the whole interview HERE

There has been a tremendous amount of media coverage on Magna Carta in the UK primarily, and also in Europe and the United States since the promotional campaign began in the autumn of 2012. Hip Hop specialists, general urban music online and physical magazines, and national physical publications such as Clash, MOJO and Q Magazine have all featured reviews and interviews.

We predicted this, his debut album, would be a landmark release for this highly talented lyricist, and the international online coverage of his freestyle for SBTV and official videos, including “White Russian” ft Roc Marciano, premiered by Nah Right – a first for such a UK artist – has proven this to be the case.

Included in Wordplay Magazine and Bonafide Magazine top hip hop albums of 2012, there’s little doubt this has been one of the biggest UK releases of last year within the genre

It is available to buy now from iTunes, and a physical CD format version is also available to buy direct from http://m9ether.bandcamp.com

You can check it out for yourself via this snippet version on his Soundcloud

Expect to see a video for the track “Heartless Island” featuring Triple Darkness in the near future, as well as him performing some shows, including on the main stage at the Boom Bap Festival in September.

Any booking enquiries for Melanin 9 can be sent to UrbanElite PR HERE or you can connect directly with him via the contact details provided on his twitter profile @Melanin_9

All further media enquiries can be sent to Urbanelite PR via the link provided above

UrbanElite PR
www.urbanelitepr.com
T : @urbanelitepr

So anyways, I chanced upon some photos a friend has posted on his Facebook – they are of sculptures made with LEGO® bricks. Interesting. And so I contacted him for more details and he kindly obliged. Gear Combi for the day - Leica M9 + 50mm f/1.4 Summilux ASPH

This was also my first trip to the ArtScience Museum. Me and K set off real early to beat the crowd and take some pictures of the ArtScience Museum itself. It’s very interestingly shaped, like a lotus flower. The museum has a regular permanent year-round exhibition but its features other touring exhibitions mainly. Interestingly, this building also has some sustainability features and harvest rainwater, channeling it to a reflecting pool, which is then recycled for the restrooms.

The Basic Building Blocks – it all starts from here. (Leica M9 + 50mm f/1.4 Summilux ASPH)

This exhibition, at the ArtScience Museum, is part of Nathan Sawaya’s Asian Tour. Sawaya is a NY-based LEGO artist, who creates 3D sculptures and large-scale mosaics from standard-sized LEGO bricks. Nathan’s site is here. The exhibition started 17 Nov 2012 but has been extended to 26 May 2013. For more details, please visit the ArtScience Museum main page.

The iconic Yellow (Leica M9 + 50mm f/1.4 Summilux ASPH)

What I really enjoy about this exhibition is in addition to the lighting strobes, music and smoke effects which blended wonderfully together to provide a seamless multifaceted sensory experience, there are also strategic booths at each section to interact with the visitors to engage them further.

Colorful Peace (Leica M9 + 50mm f/1.4 Summilux ASPH)

Nathan is really inspiring and a great example of pursuing passion. He left a high-income life as a corporate lawyer to be a… LEGO artist! What risk, what passion! But success found him, and his creations have been commissioned by companies, charities, individuals, museums and galleries all over the world .

It is especially inspiring to me because I am a risk-adverse person by nature and for the most part of my life, I’ve been taking the safer route always.

But it’s never too late.

Mask (Leica M9 + 50mm f/1.4 Summilux ASPH)

Girl looking at Nathan’s “painting”. (Leica M9 + 50mm f/1.4 Summilux ASPH)

Blue Swimmer (Leica M9 + 50mm f/1.4 Summilux ASPH)

View the entire album here.

This music video also features a remix by Kenny Segal with Dj Drez on Cuts and Ryan Crosby on Guitar! Thanks to KTF ENT and Alyson Bruno for the video! “Gramophone” out now on iTunes and our MHG Merch Store!

POLITICAL ACTIVIST: Rapper M9

A WHITE Russian is a much-loved sweet cocktail made with vodka, coffee liqueurs and cream, it is also the lead track of hip-hop artist Melanin 9’s debut album Magna Carter.

The 28-year-old emcee might not be that well-known on the UK music scene, but he is certainly making wave across the pond in America.

Having performed with stars like Styles-P, Redman, Ghostface Killah and Method Man, Melanin 9 is now ready to take centre stage.

He has joined forces with US rapper Roc Marciano, of Reloaded fame, in his latest track, White Russian to show the world what West London can do. Speaking to The MC‘s Hazelann Williams, Melanin 9, also known as M9, recalled his musical journey and also explained why he believes rappers should get involved with politics.

How did you start in the music business?
I’ve been rapping as a hobby since I was 14-years-old but I really took it seriously in 2007 when I met a rapper called Scribbler. He encouraged me to take it seriously because he thought I had talent. He took me to a studio and we recorded our first song together. I thought the song sounded good and it made me think, ‘yeah, I can do this.’

Has it been a hard journey in the industry?
After doing my first recording, I put together a mix tape and from there it kicked off. I wasn’t ready for all the feedback that I was getting. I had Myspace at the time and people kept posting messages on it and that inspired me to keep going now I’m on my fifth release.

Your latest release, Magna Carter, is named after the charter that helped form the rule of constitutional law in the English speaking world. Why did you go with that title for you debut album?

The Magna Carter was supposed to liberate the people, to stop the king at the time from abusing his power and give everyone their equal rights and that’s what I wanted to do with my music. I want to liberate the people from the mental shackles that we face on a daily basis. I wanted to let people know about the systems and the laws and single out the potential that people have and let them know that they are worth more than what is given to them, just a positive message.

White Russian is your lead track on the album with US rap star Roc Marciano, how did you two get together?
I did that song over two years ago, before he was big in the US, I knew about him for a while and I always respected him as a lyricist I asked for his number on MySpace and he gave it to me. When I called him I said I would like to work with him and I sent the track over and he did his verse, I did mine and that was it. I didn’t do anything with it for two years. But it sparked the album, I did the song and felt that I had to do an album; I didn’t want to just throw the track out there so I worked the 14 tracks around it.

POLITICAL INSPIRATION: Magna Carter album cover

You’re taking a strong political stance in your tracks, is that something you would like to see other artists do?
Yeah, I think more emcees should get involved with politics, for me that’s what hip-hop is about. I have a song called Organise Democracy, which came about after I studied the legal system. I looked into laws that involve the police for example the stop and search laws and your rights when you are detained; there were so many things I didn’t know. I want kids and people who are stopped and searched on a regular basis to understand this song.

What do you think about the state of hip-hop and rap in the current UK music industry?
I think the market is heavily saturated, there are a lot of artists out there that are doing music but I feel they don’t have the talent to do it well. There’s not enough balance in the UK, the songs now that are getting the attention in the media are either dance or from the negative aspects of life, which is cool because it is life but we need to look at other things, like how to live positively, how to live and be honest.

Do you think the mainstream market will ever embrace positive hip-hop?
There is an avenue for the positive stuff but it’s not in the mainstream, deejays aren’t getting behind it and labels are afraid to invest in it. But with the internet you can make your own buzz, that’s the good thing about the internet, you can make your own movement without the labels and deejays.

More information on M9 visit http://www.melanin9.com

Nippon Kogaku 105mm F/2.5 Lens

Another review of UK hip hop MC Melanin 9′s album “Magna Carta” which released on 3rd December 2012.

This one had slipped under the radar until today, but first published in January 2013, online magazine Stereoboard reviewer Jonny Rimmer has given this a massive vote of approval

Opening up with an overview of the shifts taking place right now in the UK scene, with more people switching attention to the “hip hop” community, he opens :

“There are significant changes afoot in the world of UK hip hop. With grime is on the way out, and its established heads like Wiley and Dizzee Rascal moving towards poppy pastures new, hip hop is again gaining popularity in cities all over the UK. The battle scene is also making waves with Don’t Flop boasting now one of the biggest battle-league fanbases on the planet. Most tangibly though, there is a real sense that hip hop is now a real voice for young people seeking change – see the recently retired Lowkey and Logic’s ‘People’s Army’; M9 also fits this mould.“

This is then followed by the opening salvo in relation to the album itself :

“However, one cannot stress enough just how much of an accomplishment Magna Carta is. For starters, it sounds very little like a British album at all, snubbing garage for the sort of slow, meditative beats that you’d find on 90s noir records like Mobb Deep’s The Infamous. And the mood it establishes is gorgeous, with jazzy trumpets, saxophone and piano samples forming the backdrop to M9′s bleak urban narratives. Even though there are several different producers here, all of them match M9′s vision, tailoring their ideas to the MC’s aesthetic vision.“

Offering a 4.5 / 5 rating, read the whole review HERE

Magna Carta is available digitally from iTunes and can also be ordered in CD physical format from http://m9ether.bandcamp.com

Here is a snippet version of the album on his own Soundcloud page

Melanin 9 is busy recording new material as well as setting up some dates, which will also include performing on the main stage at the Boom Bap Festival in the UK in September. Anyone wishing to book melanin 9 for dates can contact UrbanElite Promotions HERE or check the contact information on his twitter profile @Melanin_9

You can also connect with the magazine on twitter @Stereoboard

UrbanElite PR
www.urbanelitepr.com
T : @urbanelitepr

Through some buying and selling and some learning experiences, I’ve finally settled down with the M9 almost 2 years ago and have been shooting with it ever since. In fact, excluding the smartphone cameras, it’s the only digital camera I own. And as cliche as it may seem, I’ve really really learnt much more about basic techniques and how the camera works just because of the simplicity of the M9. It really forces me to KNOW the basic and what I want to shoot.

As guilty as I am along with other “gearheads” of buying and selling gear, oh the lens-lust is a never-ending desire, I’ve somehow got out of this whole GAS (Gear Acquisition Syndrome, so I’m told) somewhat unscathed. Yes, I still have a couple of overlapping lenses but no longer am I scouring forums for things to buy when I’ve nothing to do. In fact I’ve not bought anything (except for that Fuji XE1 that I may or may not talk more about later on) for more than a year. But let’s not jinx that.

I am really enjoying shooting with a rangefinder. It’s relatively much smaller and lighter than a DSLR even with fast lenses like the f1.4 Summiluxes. So it works very very well for me. I used to have a a 5D Mk 2 I had to struggle with just after more than half a day of shooting, especially while traveling. Also, after much practice after shooting a several weddings and some other events, I am really finding the manual focusing a huge plus instead of a minus. Also, the rangefinder lenses are perfect for hyper-focusing and now I am finding it hard to shoot without that option (I’ve tried with the Fuji X100, XE1, and even film compacts Ricoh GR1 and Contax T3 – T3 being the most forgiving).

Well my point isn’t that it’s a perfect camera – it’s it’s perfect for me. And while not being a technical enough to ramble on about EVs of the dynamic range of the M9 or the MTFs and what-nots of the lenses, I find the images stellar (at lower isos) when nailed right. Well but that’s life, and it’s about working and living with imperfections. And, I like it.

Here are some pictures to kickstart this blog

When I Grow Up (Leica M9 + 50mm f/1.0 Noctilux)

Mickael Bellemene – Street Performer (Leica M9 + 50mm f/1.4 Summilux Pre-ASPH)

Fluffy (Leica M9 + Pasoptik 21mm f2.8)