My 48th film roll: half-frame (3)

This was the 3rd time I used this plastic half-frame camera. It was very light, so I carried it around along with my other SLRs. As you can see here, photos were taken from different time and places.

Kampong Som, November 2022, after I came back from Thailand.

Some left-over photos from O-mal (read here), October 2022.

Some left-over photos from Ayutthaya, Thailand (read here), early November 2022.

My first IELTS result

This is the second yet the first official time I took an IELTS test. Last time, I took a (rather unofficial) test at my workplace which was comprised of only 3 skills except Speaking. At that time, I scored an overall 7.0, with 7.5 in Listening, 7.0 in Reading and 6.0 in Writing. This time the overall improves to 7.5, with 8.0 in Listening, 8.5 in Reading, 6.5 in Writing and only 6.0 in Speaking. I am somehow a bit disappointed with my Speaking score, but it is what it is. Accept it and move on!

As my Listening and Reading are up to my expectation, I don’t include the explanations here.

Your Writing score explained

Test takers at this band can typically address all parts of the question, some more fully than others.
(AC) They can give an overview.
(GT) The letter has a generally clear purpose; the tone is sometimes not consistent.
Key features and bullet points are covered. The point of view and main ideas are relevant but the conclusion(s) may be unclear. Some details might be irrelevant or wrong. Test takers can arrange their ideas logically, so that the writing has a clear progression from start to finish. They are able to use some linking words well, but others with mistakes. They can paragraph their Task 2 writing, although not always logically. They have enough vocabulary to answer the question. They try to use some less common words. They make some spelling mistakes, but the reader can still understand. They can write a mix of simple and complex sentences. The grammar and punctuation mistakes do not usually cause difficulty for the reader.

Practice writing to give information and make arguments. Make sure you cover all the points that need to be covered, providing supporting ideas and details. Reread your work and see if you can make your points clearer. Is the ordering of your ideas logical? Sometimes, rearranging them can make things clearer. You can also try joining up or separating sentences, using the right connecting devices, and changing where you divide your paragraphs. Continue to develop your vocabulary. Words can be similar in meaning but differ in formality, in their tone, and in their implications. Focus on learning the best words to use for the writing task, the situation, and what you want to say. Challenge yourself by producing sentences that are more complex. If you make mistakes with them, don’t worry too much; just check and see how you can fix them.

Your Speaking score explained

Test takers at this band can typically speak at length, although they are sometimes less clear or fluent because of repetition, self-correction, or hesitation to search for words or grammar. Speaking is generally well-organised, and ideas are generally well linked, but with some errors. They have enough vocabulary to discuss topics clearly and at length, although there are often errors, and they can usually paraphrase well. They can use simple and complex grammar structures but with limited range. There may be frequent grammar errors, particularly in more complex structures, but language is usually easy to understand. Pronunciation can be clear and effective, but there may be problems. They are usually easy to understand, although words may be unclear at times.

Talk to other English speakers about more abstract topics or more difficult current topics. Keep the discussion going for as long as possible. At the same time, try to express your ideas as accurately as you can, using the best words you know. Many of your ideas will also require the use of complex grammatical structures. If you’re using several simple sentences, try to join them up in a way that makes your point clearer.

Listen (and read) in English more to help you pick up natural and idiomatic phrases. When listening, note the rhythm and also the words that the speaker stresses. Is your rhythm similar? Are you putting the stress on the right words?

My 47th film roll: going back to Yashica

47th film roll: Kodak Gold 200 expired in (what year?) on the Yashica Super FX 2000 mounted by YUS lens 135 mm f/2.8.

In most part of 2022, I was using Praktica F.X2 most of the time. I put a roll in the Yashica, and it took me almost half a year to finally finish it (some times from April to October, 2022).

Again, I love taking photos of flowers, but I have bad memories regarding their names. The light leak on the first photo is somehow strange as it doesn’t blow off what underneath.

Shop house #51 for rent.

A very delicate gable of a roof of the ticket booth to the national museum, adjacent to my workplace.

The stray cat at my workplace, or maybe, it is not stray at all.

I have always wanted to take this shot. A recent development of hugely expensive residential building and the wall delimiting individual plot of land.

One typical evening in Phnom Penh, I don’t think there is any places more popular than the front of the Royal Palace.

My 51st film roll: First medium-format

This is the first and may be the only time I use a medium-format film camera. I borrowed this one from a friend and used it in February 2023. I was planning on buying a medium-format film camera at that time, so I needed to work on a few tests before I would make up my mind.

As the system suggested, this camera uses a larger film format than my usual film cameras which only acquire a 35 mm film (36 mm x 24 mm to be exact). Its film format is 60mm x 45mm, hence the name 645. A quick check on the internet tells me that this camera is one of the three versions of the first-generation manual-focus camera, collectively called Mamiya 645. Its name is Mamiya 645J and was made between 1979-1982. It comes with the standard 80 mm f/2.8 lens.

Mamiya 645

I used Neopan Acros which normally contains 12 exposures, but the camera system allowed more, so I was able to expose it 14 times albeit one which only appeared exposed on the left side, yet the right side was completely black. Out of the total 14 exposures, there are only 3 exposures which I can show here:

the roof…

the temple…

the market…

I really like its waist-level finder (my Praktica F.X 2 is also a waist-level finder camera), the photos it produced and the way to operate it. However, I finally decide not to purchase a medium-format camera as it is normally more expensive, is heavier to carry around and is permitted to take fewer exposures, not to mention the price of the 120 film format.

My 50th film roll: half a century

Actually, it might not be my 50th film roll. The fact is I lose count of the order of the films I have used, so I end up numbering it as 50th: or half a century, well a milestone anyway. I used my favourite Praktica F.X 2 taking these shots simultanoeously with the by-that-time newly-purchased-from-thrift-store Olympus OZ80 (read here: my 49th film roll). Thus, the previous one may actually be the 50th, but I don’t have to care much for such distinction; they are all my photos anyhow. Not many words to say, so here are the photos:

The “grass”…

The lovely pets

The “rainbow” gable of a house at Phsar Tani.

The animal of burden, used mainly for rice cultivating.

Accidental multiple exposure.