Kelas Inspirasi

"what do you want to be when you grow up?"
this was a quite confusing question asked to me when I was a child. 

Children that day, including me seemed to know nothing about a profession or a job other than a doctor, president, pilot, train driver, soldier, farmer, and teacher. We were all blind about what will we become when we've grown up because it seemed like future is something un-imaginable, untouched. So, we had just those portrays of grown-man profession, if I may say, a little dream of 90s children. 

under the trees.

I was bored, I had no big idea what to photograph in this weekend. I feel a lack of enthusiasm walking on hot day, in the busy street together with the smoky-dusty polluted air. So I decide that I need to bring back my passion, my spirit to do this 'weekend snap-shooting' activity by doing it with the medium I never used before.

There always be a fresh new impression using new medium or tools, I call it as "syndrom barang baru" (thanks to Mas Donny for lending me his M8). Because of the 'wake-up-early-disability', I got the camera at about 11 o'clock, not a really good time to walk under the hot sun. So we headed to Alun-alun Malang, having some snapshots in the less-polluted area, mostly in the park surrounded by trees. And here they are, some photographs I took with the borrowed camera. hahahahaha...

In a hot mid-day, Alun-alun's green grass is heaven. It was a favourite place to lay down, to sit, or having small picnic with family. Some people choose to stay in a shady area under the trees. So am I, avoiding the hot sun and snapshooting under the trees today.

PASSING by Edy Purnomo

It was almost half year ago since I opened the book and I found this beautiful line of Robert Frost poem. Usually the line is repeated twice as how it is actually written, reading this one fine cut-line is new for me. It is like the lines continues even I did not read the previous lines and the last line. The whole poem is just like sesomnating in my head, and I know where the book is going to take me, an endless journey. 

LUCKY 100 in Tengger

It was a cloudy Saturday (12/15) when I, Boljug and AndiBlidz went to visit Jarak Ijo village in Tengger mountain range. We had decided to visit the village one week earlier to find some information about Unan-unan, a traditional ritual which will be held at the end of the 2012.

It was fun even we should ride trough little rain from Malang to Jarak Ijo. The visit to Tengger always fascinates me, its amazing view, fresh air, and the hospitable and friendly people. So, I decided to spend one roll of Lucky SHD 100 to take the photograph of both villages, Jarak Ijo and Ngadas. I wished that the weather would be a little bit cloudy. Fortunately, the weather was perfect as I expected. So, here they are, several frames I took in Jarak Ijo using 35mm lens and Lucky SHD 100.

welcoming changes.

I have spent several times photographing the development of my hometown, Malang. Today, I planned to re-photograph one of the construction, but I was surprised to know the building is almost finished. It was about half year ago since I noticed a new construction in Kedungkandang. I spent several hours to pay a visit, photographing, and collecting information before i find out that it is a construction of a new housing project (rumah susun).

I think that i haven't had the best shot of this construction. I feel that I need to take another shot this morning, so I packed my camera and go to the construction area. I feel a little bit unlucky because I find out that the building is almost finished. But that's okay because I already notice and witness the change of my city, visually. The almost-finished rumah susun will surely triggers interesting development and change worth to be observed further.

Sinau Bareng

Sinau Bareng, an independent movement by several youngsters in Malang. The program is purposed to help student’s problem about school lessons and  also to stimulate children to be interested in studying. By conducting the program everyday at about 18.00, sinau bareng has helped many students doing their homework, also answering things they can’t probably ask to a teacher. The volunteers, whom I might say as a teachers or even friends to the students are mostly college students. Besides, some are workers who are willing to spend their leisure time with children.

Until now, about 36 children are consistently joining the program with about 10 teachers. The students are divided into three groups based on school grade, pre-school, elementary school, and junior high school. The class are now located in Klojen, Malang after the first place was hauled by government.  There are many reasons why the program is continued, one of those is because there still a chance to help.

Tradisi yang Patah!

Sejak beberapa tahun lalu setiap awal bulan Agustus hati saya selalu berdebar-debar menyambut kejutan dan sajian apa yang ada pada HUT-RI 17 Agustus nantinya. Namun selalu saja yang saya harapkan tak terjawab, sudah lebih dari ‘beberapa’ tahun ini tak ada kegiatan atau perayaan apapun memperingati hari ulang tahun proklamasi negeri ini. Saya sampai lupa Tradisi baru untuk tidak meramaikan HUT-RI sudah dimulai sejak kapan.

Ritual rakyat yang semenjak 67 tahun lalu kini bagai goresan tinta yang terkoyak penghapus biru merah kasar. Saya kaget ketika menegok perkumpulan adu celoteh burung biru, HUT-RI 67 menjadi trending topic  yang ramai dan menggelegar. Tak henti-hentinya rekan dan kerabat yang tergabung dalam perkumpulan burung biru menyampaikan celoteh dan ocehan kosong merdu tentang merah putih, bendera yang ditegakkan dengan darah dan keringat pejuang. Pujian demi pujian dilantunkan lewat nada tak bersuara, dikemas dalam huruf dan kata yang terkurung dalam paket 140 karakter. Pastinya tak akan muat naskah proklamasi dalam media berbatas seperti ini sehingga harus disambung-sambung. Sedangkan celoteh dan ocehan semakin ramai berisi karakter tanpa suara yang nyata, tak terdengar menggelegar walaupun sudah dipaksa memakai huruf kapital. 

Berburu Sesajen Jatah Dewa

Berdesak dan terburu naik ke kawah Bromo cukup lumrah terjadi jika berkunjung ke Upacara adat Kasada. Ratusan warga beramai ramai melangkahkan kaki seribu kali menggotong ongklek-ongklek cantik, sesajen yang dirangkai indah untuk kemudian dilempar begitu saja ke dalam kawah. Karena larung sajen dimulai menjelang ufuk, pandangan mata sangat terbatas sekali. Jarak pandang pun menjadi sangat pendek sehingga perlu berhati hati agar tidak celaka dari ketinggian kawah 2392 dpl ini. 

the big step.

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"And among His signs is this, that He created for you mates from among yourselves, that you may dwell in tranquility with them, and He has put love and mercy between your hearts. Undoubtedly in these are signs for those who reflect." [Noble Quran 30:21]

July 5, my first cousin has made a big step on his life, marriage. One big step to make a man and woman to live as husband and wife. With a brave heart he gets a blessing from God and family to marry a woman  carrying out one of Prophet's Sunnah, he opened the gate into a new life as a complete man.

Kerutan Wajah Tua Budaya Indonesia.

Gempa gempita lifestyle dan budaya modern yang merebak luas di kalangan masyarakat  tentunya mengakibatkan pergeseran dan erosi internal budaya nusantara. Gaya hidup kebarat-baratan atau modern yang dibilang up-to-date tentu akan lebih menarik untuk diikuti oleh kalangan masyarakat terutama para remaja yang sedang ‘galau’ mencari mode. Predikat ‘keren, cool, dan gaul’ pun akan menempel seperti perangko pada  western lifestyle daripada budaya kita sendiri yang bahkan dianggap ‘katrok, kuno, atau ndeso’. Hal tersebut tak lepas dari pemberdayaan budaya tradisional Indonesia yang pergerakanya kurang ‘surface’ atau lebih ‘underground’ dalam artian tanpa publikasi yang memadai sehingga usaha perberdayaan tradisional tersebut kurang diketahui. Masyarakat pun banyak yang berlari mengejar ide-ide ke-kerenan dan ke-gaulan yang lebih assoyyyy sebagai identitas untuk bergaul dengan sesama kawula muda. Jika kita cermati, pergerakan publikasi sanggar atau grup seni tari di kampung kampung lebih banyak dilakukan secara oral atau dari mulut ke mulut. Tak heran kalau anggota sanggar rata-rata berasal dari sekelumit orang di sekitar sanggar tersebut karena ‘senjata’ publikasi masih menggunakan media tradisional penyebaran folklore yaitu dari mulut ke mulut.