The Minolta Legacy 1940 - 1969.

The Minolta Legacy continues. 1940  to 1969.

1946.  Semi Minolta IIIA Folding Camera
A 45 X 60mm on 120 film. The first with a Rokkor lens and was the first to be exported after WWII.

1947.  Minolta 35.
Minolta's first focal plane shutter camera with coupled rangefinder and self-timer. It used the standard Leica lens.

1949.  Minolta Memo 45mm leaf shutter camera.
First 35mm leaf shutter camera with lever wind built in Japan.







1960.  Minolta Uniomat.
First Japanese leaf-shutter with program shutter controlled by the light meter.




1960.  Minolta SR-3.
A SLR (35mm) that can coupled on a Cds meter.

1960.  Minolta 16 II.
A submaniature camera using 16mm film.

1962.  Minolta Hi-Matic.
The famous Minolta that flew into space.

1962.  Minolta 16 EE 16mm Camera.
The first Japanese 16mm submaniature camera, with buit-in exposure meter.





1962.  Minolta SR-7 35mm SLR Camera.
The world's first 35mm SLR with built-in Cds exposure meter.





1962.  Minolta Sonocon.
The first 16mm camera with built in radio.

1962. Minolta ER.
The 35mm SLR with in lens shutter.

1963.  Minolta Hi-Matic 7.
The world's first 35mm leaf shutter camera with Cds photocell
in the lens barrel.

1964. Minolta 16PS 16mm camera.
This submaniature camera introduced symbols for exposure settings.

1964. Minoltina P 35mm Leaf-Shutter Camera.
The first 35mm camera to use the 38mm 2.8 lens, which became the industry standard for the next 30 years.

1964. Minolta Repo-S 35mm Half Frame Leaf-Shutter Camera.
A built-in match needle half-frame 18 X 24mm camera.







1964. Minoltina S 35mm Leaf-Shutter Camera.
The world's most compact camera with cuopled exposure meter in its days.

1965. Minolta Electro Shot 35mm Leaf-Shutter Camera.
Minolta's first electronically controlled autoexposure camera with built in Cds meter.

1965. Minolta 24 Rapid Leaf-Shutter Camera.
A 35mm rapid system with built-in Cds exposure meter.

1965. Minolta Autocord CdS.
A 120 film TLR camera with built-in Cds exposure meter.










1966. Minolta SRT-101.
Minolta's first 35mm SLR with TTL full aperture metering.

1966. Minolta Autopak 500 126 Cartridge Camera.
This camera with auto switch to auto flash was launched together with Kodak's 126 instamatic, but is considered better built.

1967. Minolta SR-1s 35mm SLR.
A 35mm with clipped on Cds meter.

1968. Minolta AL-E 35mm Leaf-Shutter Camera.
A shutter priority compact.

1969. Minolta Autopak 800 126 Cartridge Camera.
An instamatic catridge with automatic film wind-on camera.

1969. Minolta Hi-Matic C 35mm Leaf-Shutter Camera.
A collapsible lens compact camera.





Ref:Photoclubalpha.http://www.photoclubalpha.com/minolta-history-seven-decades/2/ http://www.photoclubalpha.com/minolta-history-seven-decades/3/

Long Tail Macaques

A mother restraining her baby.

The long tail macaques (Macaca fascicularis), sometimes called the crab eating macaques are distributed widely in S.E.Asia.

Weighing from 7 to 26 pounds, the males are larger than the females. They live in groups or troops of about 30 members. Though arboreal, they do spend a portion of their time on the ground for food and play. Their foods consist of seeds, shoots, fruits, insects and small animals. Sometimes, if they are living near the coasts and mangrove forest, they do relish crabs too, hence the name crab eating macaques.

This macaque can breed anytime during the year. After a gestation or pregnancy that lasts 160 days the baby will be born. They will be weaned at about 420 days. The males reach sexual maturity around year 6 while the female achieves theirs at age 4.

Due to development, many colonies of these monkeys are being isolated up in forested limestone hills surrounded by housing estates. Sometimes they do move into houses to forage for food and as such making themselves a pest.

Until recently, they were still caught and sold for scientific experiments. But now the pressure has being lifted as those used for medical researches are being bred domestically.

A mating pair.

Three juveniles playing.

A mother and its child.

Curious.

On the look out.

A family of three.

A seaside dwelling macaque.

THE HUNGRY GHOST FESTIVAL

The Hungry Ghost Festival is traditionally a Chinese Taoist Festival celebrated on the 15th night of the 7th lunar month. This month is generally referred to as the ghost month, when the ghosts and spirits are released from the ‘lower realm’ to roam in the human world. As such, travels, weddings and other auspicious celebrations are generally avoided during this time.


Both Taoist and Buddhist temples will hold special prayers for the departed souls. The most elaborate ceremonies are found in Taoist temples where Chinese operas, stage shows together with dinners are usually held in the temple premises or their vicinities. To the uninformed, those few empty tables and chairs at the front of the stages are reserved for ‘visiting ghosts’ that might want to join in the fun.

Believers would bring offerings and other paraphernalia made from paper and bamboo strips for their departed relatives. Taoist priests will perform rituals, chant prayers and do their elaborated moves, accompanied by beats from cymbals and drums to bring peace as well as to help the ghosts to go on their ways safely. These ceremonies are also meant for those homeless and hungry ghosts that have nobody to pray for them.

The climax of the month long festival is the burning of the effigy of the Deity “Da Shi Ye” or Guardian God of Ghosts.

Taoist priests chanting, while doing their
 intricate movments to bless the departed souls.



The priest's helper carrying the altar of
the departed to the paper boat so as to
send them on their ways back to the lower realm.



Family members being blessed by the
priests by circling the prayer area.

These roasted pigs were donated by
believers. In the background was the effigy
of the "Da She Ye".

Helpers helping to chop up and
distribute the roast pork to believers. 

Some of the paper horses offered to
 be burnt at the end of the festival.

One of the performers.

The priests were doing their final chanting of prayers.

All paper effigies, including the Diety "Da She Ye"
or God Of Ghost being burnt at the end of the festival.

THE NINE EMPEROR GODS (KOW WONG YEH).

The festival of the Nine Emperor Gods is one of the most grand festivals of Taoism. This festival begins on the eve of the 9th month of the lunar calender. Dedicated to the nine sons of Dou Mu Yuan Jun (The Goddess of the North Star) and Dau Fui Yuan Jun. The nine sons, also known as the Nine Emperor Gods, are worshipped as the patrons of properity, wealth and good health. It is the immigrants from the provinces of Fujian and Quangdung (Widely practiced in Southern China) who brought with them this practice to S.E.Asia.
On the eve of the 9th lunar month, temples of the dieties hold ceremonies to welcome the Nine Emperor Gods from the river sides or seashores. Devotees usually observe nine days of strict vegetarian diets. The climax of the festival is the fire-walking ceremony (only done by those who have observed 9 days of vegetarian diets) followed by the sending off of the Gods. Most times street processions are organised on a grand scale with devotees going into trances. Some might even have their cheeks pierced by  long lances which they carry throughout the processions. Marching bands, flower girls and floats add to the carnival like atmostphere. The main attractions are the heavy sedan chairs carried by four or more devotees in white that will swirl and swing as they slowly move along with the procession.

A devotee praying and
burning paper offerings.



A devotee having his cheek pierced
 by a long lance conducted by the master.




Devotee in a trance, prancing
round the temple compound.



Fire walking is on the last day of
 the festival preceding the sending
 off of the Nine Emperor Gods.




Devotees from other races
 sometimes join in too.



Lion and dragon dances are
a  part of the procession.

 

The giant flag bearers show
off their skill by manoeuvering,
 tossing to each other and
 balancing the flags.

Marching bands are the ones
 providing the beats and
modern music to the mood.

The gaiety of the festival are
 shown on the faces of these girls.








 

HERITAGE BUILDINGS OF PERAK, MALAYSIA.

Perak, the Silver State of Malaysia has many old buildings with rich historical backgrounds. I include here some of the more interesting buildings for all to see.

Ubudiah Mosque, Kuala Kangsar.
Reputed to be the most beautiful mosque in Malaysia, it was located on Bukit Chandan in Kuala Kangsar. The word 'Ubudiah' means 'to yield oneself to the will of Allah'. The late Sultan Idris Murshidul Adzan Shah 1, made the decision to build this mosque. Work started in 1911, but was delayed when two elephants belonging to Sultan Idris and Raja Chulan fought and damaged the imported Italian marbles.

Ngah Ibrahim Fort (Matang Museum).
Ngah Ibrahim, the son of Che Long Jaafar, was a powerful and wealthy Malay tin miner. He lived in this fort, with walls that were fortified to resist threats from the secret societies, Ghee Hin and Hai San, as well as the East India Company. It was also here that Dato Maharaja Lela and one of his followers were tried for the killing of the British Resident, J W W Birch. The building also was used to house Malaysia's first teachers training college. At present it is used as a museum.

Baba Nyonya House, Taiping.
From an anthrological point of view, the Baba Nyonya houses are masterpieces that protray the racial integration of the early Chinese immigrants and the locals. The fronts of the houses usually have intricately carved doors and windows. These houses normally have prayer halls and open courtyards (khim cheah) in the midsections for ventilation purposes.

Istana Ulu, Kuala Kangsar.
Built in 1903 during the reign or the 28th Sultan of Perak. Also known as Istana Kota, it is now used as Sultan Azlan Shah Gallery. Until 1954, it was used as ruler's residence. It was then taken over and was turned into Istana Kota National School. From 1970 onwards it was used as a girl school called the Raja Perempuan Mazwin School. In 2002, it was restored and now houses the Sultan Azlan Shah Gallery.

Malay College, Kuala Kangsar.
It is the first fully residential school in Malaysia. Established on 2nd Jan 1905, it was the brainchild of R J Williamson. Its first headmaster was Mr Hargreaves. Initially it was founded to educate the Malay elites, consisting of children of the royalties and nobility. In 1947 the policy was changed and is open to all Malays because of Malay nationalistic feelings. On the 10th June 2006, Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko of Japan visited the school.

Royal Museum (Istana Kenangan), Kuala Kangsar.
Built mainly of wood, it was planned and built in 1926, after the Great Flood. The carpenter was Haji Suffian who came from Sebarang Perai with his children. Seen from the top, the building is in the shape of a sword. The walls are made of woven sliced bamboo and weaved in diamond shaped patterns. Completed in 1931, it became the official palace of Sultan Iskandar Shah (1918 - 1938). The sultan moved in because the Istana Negara was to be demolished and a new palace, the present Istana Iskandariah, was built. It is now used as the Royal Museum of Perak.

Perak Museum, Taiping.
This oldest museum in Peninsular was completed in 1886 and additions were made in 1900. In the early days, emphasis was given to natural science. Later, documentation of culture and the life of peoples of Malaysia were added.

Taiping Land Office.
Designed by Francis Caufield, a state engineer in the early Perak administive offrice. Started in 1892 and completed in 1897, it features a distinctive Palladian facade and rooftop's pedements. Initially it was used to house council chamber, offices for secretariates, treasury, audit, education and forest department. Now occupy by the Larut Matang and Selama Land and District Offices.

Taiping Prison.
Built in 1879, it was originally called the Perak Prison. The first prison in Malaysia, it was built because of the unrest in the wakes of the Larut Wars between the Chinese secret societies. In 1881, Sheikh wardens were brought in to assist the Malay wardens. A European warden was appointed in 1889. During the Japanese occupation it was used as a public prison as well as a prisoner of war detention center.

Ipoh Town Hall.
Designed by the British Government architect named H B Hubbach in 1914. It was completed in 1916 and reflects a neo Renaissance Victorian theme with Greek and Roman columns. The Malay Nationalist Party, the first political party formed in Malaya held its inaugural congress here from November 30th to December 3rd 1945.

Ipoh Railway Station.
Designed by the architect, A B Hubback, it was completed in 1917. It had Moorish inspired domes and is nicknamed the Taj Mahal of Ipoh. The first floor, is used as the Majestic Station Hotel. In front of the railway station is a fenced up tree called the ipoh tree from which the city got its name.

Sheik Adam Mosque, Ipoh.
Established by an Indian Muslim tycoon, Sheik Adam, from Southern India. This mosque is frequented by Indian Muslims of the 'Hanafi' sect. Completed in 1908 and built according to the 'Chitya Indian' or the Moghul mosque design.

Koo Miu Temple, Ipoh.
A 137 year old Taoist temple located in Bijih Timah Road, Ipoh. In the old days consultation and medicine were dispensed free to the local folks. A school was built to offer education to pupils considered too old to be admitted to government schools. It was built by Leong Fee or Leong Pi Joo, who came from Penang bringing along the spiritual tablet of the diety, Tua Pek Kong or Tai Pak Koong (God of prosperity) near the Kinta River.