Yesterday was eventful. I had a rough time in school, something I would very much not want to relive. Thankfully, it was a short day, and the depressing feeling of frustration arising from being deep in shit dissipated as quickly and unexpectedly as it had came.
Still, things did not go altogether peachy for the rest of the day. As I had to arrive back in school for an event at night that I was assigned to photograph, my original plan was simple: take the long train ride home, finish some assignment that was (over)due, perhaps watch some of the many videos lying neglected on the hard drive, and use the same mode of transportation to reach school in time for my duty. That would have achieved a win-win situation for me - I could get my homework done, redeeming me from the wrath of my already-peeved teacher for one more day, enjoy myself for a bit, and still get back - save enduring the mind-numbing train rides.
Except my marvellous plan was not to be, as that damn station, along with a stretch of the line, was closed without so much as a clear explanation:
A flurry of activity: curious looks, and an army of cameraphones snapping away. Uncoordinated strike units of furrowed brows and scathing mouths - it was messy for the hapless station staff, who were evidently doing their best to suggest not entirely valid or convenient alternative modes of transport, and, from what I could glean, were not entirely in the know, too. Well, I was not the only one confused - you’d have to admit it’s quite the wonder, seeing the typically efficient Singaporean public tranportation system on its knees, even if only for a few hours. I decided to take a bus to Orchard and take a train home from there.
Needless to say, this took up an amount of time I would have rather not spent. I stopped at a Starbucks to grab a drink and possibly start on my assignment, only managing enough resolve to do the former, but I flipped the laptop open anyway. Halfway through my frap a girl with a Macbook Pro and a weird accent - unmistakably Singaporean, yet with a spritz of Aussie slang; I guess she was studying overseas at the moment - asked me for assistance in connecting to the Wireless@sg network. I’m not too familiar with it, merely using a login account I signed up for long ago for access, though I had some inkling that it might be possible to sign in with a roaming mobile number. In any case, I didn’t want to take up too much of her, or my, time troubleshooting, should anything go awry that way. So I advised her on NYDC’s free wireless connection that I would anticipate being hassle-free. So she asked me if the cafe was located at The Heeren - yes it was, so I gave her a nod. But, crap, this particular Starbucks was right next to Wheelock, which had an NYDC of its own. Unfortunately, I didn’t realize this until I exited Starbucks a while later. I’m extremely sorry for needlessly making you walk such a distance, random stranger!
After getting home, rushing through the assignment, and getting back to school, I was already slightly late for the second Battle Of The Bands. And due to some logistical screw-up, there were a lack of entry passes for the photographers on duty, and so, much time was wasted in convincing the relevant people in charge that we were legitimate and should be let through. This not having a pass also apparently barred me from shooting from right in front of the stage, but of course I still did anyway, as taking photographs from the back of the auditorium was not an option due to the nature of the 50mm prime lens I had attached.
This year’s Battle Of The Bands saw a significant improvement in the overall quality of participating bands, though I feel that last year’s winner, who gave a guest performance, is still the one to beat. Well, I remember getting quite ticked off by the unduly rowdy (ha, I remember the police car) fanboys last year, and I have to say this year’s crowd was amzingly well-behaved, yet still brimming with good energy. (Nebulous, I know, but I don’t care enough to improve that description.) I’ve also come to understand and somewhat appreciate the school patriotism attached to these representative bands, which for some reason I derided last year. Seems like I’ve forgotten myself from a year ago - all for the better, I guess. I still don’t like Daphne Khoo’s (another guest performer) singing, though.
Photographically speaking, the harsh spotlights were a boon, even as the rapid fluctuations of intensity and colour made the constant alteration of exposure settings quite a challenge. The smoke machine, borrowed from Mal, contributed immensely to the atmosphere of the concert, though I felt the amount of smoke was excessive at times. Still, it allowed for a few dramatic shots which I quite like. And, as expected, the 50mm was both a blessing and a curse.
The day ended with me enjoying a large slice of chocolate cake in the Coffee Bean, sipping on iced tea that would not turn sweet no matter how much syrup I added and nursing my sore ears (I was for the better part of 3 hours standing next to an enormous speaker) by listening to the iPod at a very low volume.
An album of BOB 2 for posterity:
