2021-03-25

Kanta Manuscript 2020– photobook limited run

10 March–  Prepared a batch of books donated to Gerai OA as contribution back to the Indigenous community through the sale of the books. All proceeds from the sale of the book from them will be donated to the cause of this organisation. At the same time, I managed to get this book registered with ISBN number required for sale at certain bookstore chains. Unfortunately until the pandemic lifts and international post system reinstated, this book will not be available overseas.


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10 December– Just delivered! Hot off the press, Kanta Manuscript 20, brief writing and reflection of the project, 20 portraits, 48 pages, 128 x 186 mm (B6 size), 4 colour Black & White print, higher res print at 200 line screen, on FSC Certified- Symbol Tatami White paper, open sewn binding, printed 500+ books. To be released starting this Saturday at @tropicalspicegarden event in Penang. Available from next week onwards! (Born during lockdown)

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7 December– Kanta Manuscript 20 book is going to print! Should be ready by next week i hope! Book Cover– Kanta Manuscript 20 book, with frame marks for the sizes of prints I've made. Image- seeing through my box camera, view of the insides

offset print run

first signature done
four colour black & white print
press check for colour
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4 December– New batch is out ! (UPDATE: run out of copies, but offset print edition will be available in a few weeks). Kanta Manuscript 20 photobook mockup, printed and hand-stitched another 10 copies of the book. Additional 4 are uncut versions.

A selection of 20 portrait prints made during the Kanta Portraits project between 2015 and 2019. The prints were initial prepared for submissions to photo festival for year 2020. This publication compiles all the entries into a manuscript as an introduction to the project.

Digital print on FSC paper. Available please enquire if you’d like a copy. Cover is pasted with random failed silverprints from the project. An offset printrun is scheduled this month! the book is going to print.

It’s RM60, shipping throughout Malaysia (RM8 + RM3 box), Singapore and Brunei only (RM20 + RM11 tracking). I can hand deliver within KL City and surrounding suburbs, or self-pickup at Brickfields. (mockup for submission to @lightbox_lib #invisiblefuturevisiblepast #periodicwaysofseeing)

20 maquette books ready, new stitch method

special cover design
trimmed edition, black thread
uncut edition, orange thread

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17 November– Kanta Manuscript 20 photobook mockup (mockup for submission to @lightbox_lib #invisiblefuturevisiblepast #periodicwaysofseeing). A selection of 20 portrait prints made during the Kanta Portraits project between 2015 and 2019. The prints were initial prepared for submissions to photo festival for year 2020. This publication compiles all the entries into a manuscript as an introduction to the project. #kantamanuscript20

I only made and hand-stitch 11 books, of which only six are as close to the colour I wanted. Digital print on FSC paper. Available please enquire if you'd like a copy. Cover is pasted with random silverprints from the project. Highly likely I will do a limited offset print run, preorder with me.

maquette, hand stitch

with silverprint cover
publication notes
project introduction

Amai portrait writeup
Jeliah portrait writeup
Dave Diaman portrait

Amran portrait writeup
silverprints
black & white versions

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24 September– Kanta Manuscript 2020– limited run—Photobook maquette / mockup. Managed to squeeze in a little booklet printout for #KantaPortraits (limited run, will release some proper pics after i hand mockup the book). The last few weeks have been choc-o-block mentoring and putting together 4 commissioned photobooks of local photographers to be sent to Taipei as part of the exhibition I'm curating, working title #periodicwaysofseeing

2021-03-22

#12Russkieкамера 13x18cm Здравствуйте

22 March– Last Field test before I go away for awhile. Portrait of Master Long, artist, painter— Field test, indoor daylight, 2-3 seconds at REXKL . Master Long Thien Shih sold me this camera #12Russkieкамера. Just as an appreciation, i made a couple of portraits for him. Sukee nang, part of the same dialect/ tribe with my father, he is just a year younger than my dad. but what a world of difference in his philosophy and outlook to life. Thank you for the additional holder, and being like a mentor to my ethnic past.

Portrait of Hafiz Jelir, photographer, editor, writer, Svara publications. Field test of camera #12Russkieкамера at about 2-3 seconds. Much respect for the work and advocacy of Hafiz Jelir and team on their local indie publication, Svara (voice), pushing the literary and language of Malay, bringing up many local stories and cultures in a beautifully designed and typeset publication. Makes most of the photographs himself and is an advent film photographer. Terima kaseh for your patience on being a test sitter.

My exposures are still slightly off, and determining the framing is still challenging. I need my flash units and reflectors/ blockers... and an extra set of limbs... thanks for the assistance of Alvin and Zarif


setup at RexKL
Portrait of Long Thien Shih

portrait session at Zhongshan Building

Hafiz Jelir
Hafiz Jelir

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20 March– #12Russkieкамера Field test of the recent rebuilt tailboard camera, Russian made, FKD ФотоКамера Дорожная (Field Compact Camera). First built in the 1840s? was advanced for its time with movements. This version perhaps late 1890s or pre WW2, earlier version judging from the make. 

Starting with indoor dark studio setting- self portrait initiation, then indoor day light with @baba_vic_es, to outdoor daylight, on a trail at @friendsoftamantugu #TamanTugu- black flower of Tacca plant / Bat Lily; and lastly, field indoor daylight, another member of the @fiveartscentre @mark.teh_ 

Thanks for being the test subjects, I'm really liking the format 5x7" and the working of this camera. The lens is exceptional heavy, crystal lens and brass, its a great lens. I'll use this camera for indoor portraits, and it will also be part of the new series of workshop @ilfordphoto @srishtidigilife_my starting in June (postponed from January) at @zontiga

Completed rebuild
first indoor studio shoot

first print, self-portrait


negatives

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travel bag

first indoor daytime test shoot
test prints

carrying case

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first outdoor daytime test
Taman Tugu city trail

first daytime outdoor shoot
black flower of Tacca plant / Bat Lily

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Camera setup
Mark Teh portrait

Full body portrait distance


negatives
two exposure, different settings


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20 January– Completed stage 1 repair work done! film holder has been repaired as well, only need to patch light leaks in the bellows and it is ready for field test. Needs a dark cloth to shade camera, all cloth felts needs replacement. Stage 2 repair work after completing other build projects.

Stage 1 repair done– ready for studio test

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19 January– Adding wooden shim to moving boards. camera has water damage which cause wood to warp and joints to loosen. 

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15 January– Strengthening the base board and rear standard. replacing missing adjusting bolts and rear movements.

base rail
adding dove insert
finished assembly

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30 December 2020– Rebuilding the front standard. Unassembled the entire front standard to the base, glued and install dowels to strengthen.

disassembled
gluing down front base
strengthen front joint

reassembled

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16 December 2020– Acquired some acrylics to make new ground glass and for the film holder backing. 

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30 October 2020– Здравствуйте Say hello to my #12Russkieкамера 13x18cm camera
FKD ФотоКамера Дорожная (Field Compact Camera) thanks @goshakeymakh. Acquired my 3rd camera to rebuild my camera arsenal here in Malaysia. About RM300 (USD$72). Russian-made, appropriated German technology after WWII, Tailboard or Reisskamera circa~1860s, this camera probably from the 1950-60s... needs alot of repair and modification to get it to work. 

Shoots 5x7 format. 210mm f4.5 barrel lens with lens cap as shutter.


prism industra-51 210mm lens
bellow are still intact
fully unfolded

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23 October 2020– Visited Master Long to have a closer look at the Russian cameras he had. 8x10" and 5x7" cameras. 
Master Long Thien Shih

5x7" & 8x10" newer versions
5x7" older version