It’s been nearly half a year since I did an evening/night shoot of The Minton. Just recently, a resident advised that the lights had been turned on at the ongoing construction – perhaps to light up the area and deter late-night intruders (?). So, we drove by after dinner at the pre-holiday evening for a look.
The panoramic shots were all long-exposures at ISO200 and each of around a few second exposures. The E-M5 was mounted using the old GorillaPod Focus. I discovered though that the remote trigger wasn’t working well anymore, so ended up using a timed release to eliminate any chances of accidental shake if I triggered a manual shutter release. The non-panoramic pictures were mostly handheld, and involving 1/4s exposures – impossible if it wasn’t for the five-axis stabilization system in the E-M5. The Panasonic 14mm f2.5 prime with the E-M5 was used for all the pictures, excepting the last one (that involved the 17mm f1.8 and new E-PL6).
As an aside though; the pictures here look more glittery than it really looks in reality. The place looks very dark actually LOL – but camera sensors are a lot more sensitive to light than human eyes are. In short, the pictures here look more spectacular than it actually is. Also, it might be time for me to replace the GorillaPod Focus too. Exposure to humidity has caused the rubber padding at its leg joints to gradually disintegrate into a nearly sticky mess. Once the rubber parts go, the metallic parts might start rusting next. Sigh.
As before; the larger sized and other pictures are available here at the Flickr album.
Hi Chek Yang. Got a message from an ERA agent that TOP has been obtained and key collection will start on Monday. Signage for key collection has been put up in the estate. Not sure how true this is.
Hi Siew Eng; it might be true I think. Signage has indeed been put up at the place. From what I’m also hearing, letters will go out starting tomorrow, key collection to begin next MON and with Blocks 12 and 14 first.
Then again; the key collection signage has been removed, and site staff was saying that TOP hasn’t actually been reached yet. Might be a false alarm, though the information that some property agents got earlier this afternoon on-site might still be correct at least (distribution of letters to start later this week).
Hi CY, I just wanted to commend you on the blog. It has been my source of updates for the Minton and l look forward to seeing new posts regularly. I have a unit in Block 8. Could you kindly send me the facebook link?
Thank you very much!
Cheers,
Elaine
Hi Elaine; thanks for the visitation to our blog. Will email you later. We didn’t go by last weekend for a site-visit; we already had a very packed weekend!
Hi CY, I made a visit to the site on Sunday (yesterday). I was told by a Chinese contractor on site that the team of security guards will start work beginning of November. He casually mentioned that collection of keys will be gradual from November. They would not get security onboard unless the site is fully ready for TOP, right?
Hi Rina; thanks for visiting our blog. The start-work date of security personnel does sound in sync with the rest of the events that are happening as well (e.g. preparing of site for key distribution). From what I’ve heard though, the next attempt at TOP is later this month, and it’s expected to clear this time round. Once that’s issued, keys can indeed be released, with security personnel already on-duty then too.
Hi Chek Yang, just went to the site. Nothing major going on already but guard said still need 1-2 months. Any idea wat is going on?
I just went by the site too just a few hours ago today. A couple of months more sounds odd, since from the last query on the BCA web site, I think the TOP documentation has just been re-submitted again – and hopefully this time, TOP will be reached. We’ll know soon I guess – perhaps in a week or so.