Acquisition: materials for Taiwan

#KantaTaiwan as the days draw closer to departure, getting some essentials and preparing items for transport & field trip.

1. More ply wood, to fit on rear standard, protecting ground glass, 2 sheets ($RM10) local framer
2. Inside the #mobiledarkbox. Since the size has changed to #8x10, so does the space required, save weight by replacing table with A3 3mm acrylic sheet ($RM17), and pvc box ($RM11) to keep papers and holders dry in this semi wet darkroom environment
3. New sheets, some test shots soon on new #8intrepid, unfortunately out of gloss stock, so pearl is next best choice. Going to try fitting with small film change bag, that would be a challenge. Box of 100pc, RC pearl Multigrade 8x10" ($RM 277)
4. Return trip, swing by to get travelling analogue metronome ($RM40). Timing is abit off if following the scale, did some test and markings. Now almost accurately 60bpm, 1 second intervals. Now testing time length, 10 minutes so far. No batteries needed.

1. more plywood

2. inside #mobiledarkbox, materials

3. 8x10 RC paper

4. analogue metronome

Print Taiwan map

#KantaMap print shop, A0 size official map of Taiwan ($RM60), although the scale is off, need to reprint at 1:750,000 scale in similarity with Malaysia's map #KantaTaiwan #KantaPortraits #KantaBoxKamra

UPDATE: 3rd May, Reprint Taiwan map at scale of 1:750,000. Not legible, but for size with Malaysia' map. This smaller island has so much culture and energy put in the right place

A0 size

scale 1:750,000

Prep work for Prototype #2foldie

dusting off kamra prototype #2foldie fixing it up. this is the first one I built back in 2013/14. proof of concept, if weight limit permits i'll bring this over to taipei too #KantaTaiwan #KantaBoxKamra

prototype kamra #2foldie, is more like a lambe lambe

Making the lens board #8intrepid

Making a lens board 4mm thickness ($RM2). Scrap ply from framer's shop, jigsaw out diameter, mount barrel lense #8intrepid

camera #8intrepid with lens board mounted

local framer shop

4mm plywood cut to size

jigsaw out circular hole

OA mappers workshop

Today's catch-up. #KantaMap chance meetup with orang asli mappers here in KL for a workshop with another #JeffJahut map master. At #COAC #JOAS inspiring effort from beautiful people

#8Intrepid camera prep work

prep work; setup camera for repairs and tweaking for upcoming trip. have a new addition, 8x10 intrepid camera (£480) now aptly numbered #8, to replace 10x12 for flight trips due to weight constrain. relearning the methodologies, testing and field work to follow. (left: 10x12 #5elecamm, centre: 3x5 #1interchange, right: 8x10 #8intrepid).

my days (day 5) are spent trying to fix this new camera I just acquired #8intrepid #intrepidcamera The Intrepid Camera Co. The Official Intrepid Users Group modifying and making it more robust. Unfortunately, I have much other things to prepare, but since I've invested alot of funds for this solution, I better make this work. #KantaBoxKamra #KantaTaiwan.

#KantaPortraits bought a film back to replace #intrepidcamera #8x10 film holder (£40 each, bought 2), I'm afraid it's not as well made and needs alot of fixing, will post fix solutions. Fidelity Elite (RM600) for camera #8intrepid. Thanks K Azril Ismail for hunting one down, involved about 50km of cycling and 1000m hill climbing... My body is a slug today.

Mammoth lens

now that's a lense! 36" focal length at f4 about 20kg Collaboration to make this lense catch some light. Agno3solution Morpheuse Esq

Acquired; Audio Recorder

Audio recorder, for interviews, ambience and recordings. beyond the print. Zoom H1n & windscreen RM 580.50. About RM 80-100 less for the previous one H1, biggest differences are limiter function, and overdubbing. The rest is design function changes. But service support was one of my concern.

Intrepid package arrives

#KantaPortraits Arrived package containing #intrepidcamera #8x10 film holder and lens board @intrepidcameraco / The Intrepid Camera Co. / The Official Intrepid Users Group. new camera for flight-friendly weight and field-use. Next phase of project that involves flights where weight limits would be a challenge, this camera would replace #5elecamm #10x12, while I will still be bringing kamra #1interchange #3x5 excited, but not gonna open yet

Upper Perak expedition with COAC

#KantaPortraits Over the weekend, will be heading into the interiors of Upper North Perak. I'm just guessing it is somewhere there. This is an overnight trip, first in the field. Will try with some camping gear.

Out of the interiors and exhausted. About 7+ hours journey one way, and half of it offroad (first ever time thrown into the deep to drive). Me trying to be as the natives are, and my latest obsession with the Cub chai (motorcycle) and how they are the staple mode of transport for native communities. They are like nimble horses that can tread any type of terrain, if handled by very dextrous rider of course. Overnight trip up north to ... Village. Took about 15 portraits in this village of over 90 natives. Apart from mapping, native land rights agendas that was the primary reason for the trip, portrait-taking was only the secondary (sideshow) program. More details and images when I get the time soon.

Thank you @Center for Orang Asli Concerns #COAC for the support.

2nd camp training– Sg Pertak

My second camping experience, this time with self cooking challenge, cooked basmati rice with Chicken curry potatoes (from a can), filter/ boil stream water for consumption. ok getting more self-sufficient. Next is to bring camera along, or do it with the bicycle #bikepackingKL

1.
#Camping training, hitch-hiking on the way out, Sg Selangor Reservoir, Kuala Kubu Baru. it's cycle-able here, recce #bikepackingkl trip future plans.

2.
One night camping, with cooking gear, hmm, I'm still bringing too much stuff! This is my backpack without tent and sleep mat yet, about 13kg in total. Recce for future #bikepackingkl trips. About 6-8km hike one way, Kuala Kubu Baru.

3.
Hiking trail, might be hard #bikepackingkl with side-mounted panniers with narrow trails. Need to have inline bags more streamlined, recce for future cycling touring.

4.
One night camping up north of city, one of the tributaries of Sungai Selangor Reservoir, Kuala Kubu Baru from Bukit Hulu Bakau.

1. Sg Selangor Dam

2. backpack without tent,and floor mat

4. trail map from road

3. hiking trail

Dinding Potret in Taiwan

#KantaTaiwan meanwhile in Taipei, the artpiece Dinding Potret has arrived in 7 days, all looks great. There will be a small exhibition starting May 12 of #KantaPortraits work in progress #BeyondBorders #EdgesofMalaysia

Reinstate 135 format enlarger

Upcycled my old workshop table top to make this baseboard for a very old Durst M305 enlarger. At 21x24" it should fit my largest easel #bilikobscura

Acquired; tripod & head

Just bought online, 2nd hand tripod and head. 7kg load capacity, for new camera that's coming in real soon.

manfrotto 055xpro $RM530.
manfrotto 3D pan tilt head $RM200

tripod

tripod head

Shipping artwork to Taipei

Dinding Potret Kanta art piece #DindingPotret is packed and ready to ship to Taipei for an exhibition. Can't believe it's actually happening, quite emotional seeing it being in a box being carried away. Thank you #KLbiennale for taking in my work and giving it all the exposure. Onwards to new frontiers and new works #KantaTaiwan #KantaBorneo as the kamra makes it's journey #KantaBoxKamra