4828. PHOTOGRAPHY 75 - 300mm lens. Male White-cheeked Carpenter Bee

 

Canon R5, 75-300mm lens, 230mm, 1/2000 sec, f/5, ISO 400
4 Feb 2026, 11.50am. Orchard Road public garden near Rolex Bldg    

 

The male white-cheeked carpenter bee (Xylocopa aestuans), often found in Southeast Asia, is distinct from the black-and-yellow female, appearing covered in fine, dense yellow or golden-brown hairs. Males are roughly 20-30 mm long, possess large eyes that nearly touch, a white patch on their faces, and no stingers. 

Key Characteristics of the Male White-cheeked Carpenter Bee:

• Appearance: Unlike the females which are primarily black, males are covered in fine, golden-yellowish, or brownish hairs.
• "White Cheeks": Despite being generally yellow, both sexes are named for a small patch of white hair located behind their eyes.
• Facial Markings: Males typically have a large white to yellow patch on their faces just below their antennae.
• Eyes: They possess large green eyes that touch at the top of their heads.
• Behavior: Males are known to "dive-bomb" or buzz around people, but because they lack a stinger, they are harmless to humans.
• Habitat: Commonly found in gardens and tropical regions, often seen around wood where they are active pollinators. 

While sometimes confused with other species, Xylocopa aestuans is distinct in its coloration, with the 

4827. PHOTOGRAPHY 75 - 300 mm. Toa Payoh Vets

 

 Image is at 3000 pixels wide, 75 - 300 mm lens
Canon R5, 75mm, 1/1000 sec, f/4.5, iso 160
2 Feb 2026, 2.24pm

 

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Image submitted to shutterstock below:
6965 x 5224 at 240 ppi
 

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Image at 1080 pixels wide

 

 

4826. PHOTOGRAPHY Moon. Canon R6. 70 - 200mm Brian Peck

 

On January 30, 2026, the moon over Singapore is in a Waxing Gibbous phase. 

• Appearance: The moon is very bright, with approximately 92% to 94% illumination, nearly full as it approaches the full moon scheduled for February 2, 2026.
• Visibility: It will appear quite large in the sky, a few days away from being completely full.
• Observation: It is a prime time for viewing, as the moon will be bright enough to clearly see features like the Mare Imbrium and various craters without needing binoculars, though binoculars will enhance the view.
• Atmospheric Conditions: The moon is described as shining brightly in the night sky as the week moves toward the full moon phase. 

This follows the first supermoon (Wolf Moon) of 2026, which occurred earlier in the month on January 3. 

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SETTINGS FOR MOON PHOTOS - Brian Peck

No clouds, bright moon on 30 Jan 2026.
 

Manual
shutter speed  1/250 - 1/500 sec
aperture  f/8 - f/10
ISO automatic at 100 - 200 

 

4825. PHOTOGRAPHY 75 - 300mm Cloudscape

2 Feb 2026. 2.35pm

Bright sunny afternoon over Lentor Estate, Singapore

Light fluffy cumulus clouds   
 
Canon R5, 75mm, 1/1000 sec, f/7.1, ISO 100

 

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26 Feb 2026. 12.20pm. Bright afternoon, blue sky with white clouds.

Canon R5, 160mm, 1/1000 sec, f/5.6, ISO 100
Taken via car windscreen at YCK junction.
Insert in sky replacement in Photoshop.  

 

4824. PHOTOGRAPHY - 75 -300mm. Happiness Tree Lentor Loop

 SINGAPORE - 28 JAN 2026: 6.24pm. Garcinia subelliptica, also known as Happiness Tree, Philippine Fortune tree or Fukugi is a tree with a compact conical crown and ornamental glossy leaves. The flowers are small, greenish cream coloured and develop into yellow fleshy fruit after pollination.

Canon R5, 75mm, 1/80 sec, f/16, ISO 1250

 

 

Canon R5, 90mm, 1/1600 sec, f/4.5, ISO 6400 

 

4823. PHOTROGRAPHY 75 - 300mm Jamaican cherry tree

 SINGAPORE - 30 JAN 2026: 1.32pm. The Jamaican cherry tree, also called the Jamaican strawberry (Muntingia calabura), is a fast-growing, broad leaved, perennial plant prized as an ornamental as well as a backyard fruit source. It has prolific, eye-catching, rosy-colored berries.

Canon R5, 75mm, 1/1000 sec, f/7.1, iso 4000

 

4820. PHOTOGRAPHY 75 - 300mm. Gustavia augusta fruits

 

 

 

 Gustavia augusta, known as the Heaven Lotus or Membrillo, produces edible, pear-shaped or woody, yellow-to-brown fruits (3–10 cm) that grow directly on the trunk (cauliflory). The fruit contains yellowish-orange, fleshy pulp and 2–20 seeds, which are sometimes consumed raw or roasted, with a taste often compared to meat. 

4822. PHOTOGRAPHY 75 - 300 mm. Sweet cherries for sale outside Far East Plaza.

 SINGAPORE - 31 JAN 2026: 1.20pm. Sweet cherries (Prunus avium) for sale at a fruit stall outside Far East Plaza. The sweet cherry fruit measures about 2 cm (1 inch) in diameter and varies in color from yellow through red to nearly black. It is grown commercially and is commonly eaten fresh. It provides vitamin A and small amounts of such minerals as calcium and phosphorus.

 

 Canon R5 120mm, 1/1000 sec, f/5, ISO 2500.
31 Jan 2026. 1.20pm
Two China National ladies are vendors. 

4821. PHOTOGRAPHY 75-300 mm. Owndays ION Orchard shop.

 SINGAPORE - 31 JAN 2026: OWNDAYS ION Orchard at 2 Orchard Turn, B2-69 Ion Orchard Along Linkway to TANGS is an optician outlet with a vast selection of over 1,500 stylish options starting from $98. It is within a 3-minute walk from the Orchard MRT Station and  your glasses can be ready for you in just 20 minutes upon payment.

Focus on "Owndays" lighting sign.
CanonR5, 75mm, 1/1000 sec, f/4, iso 1250

 

 

 

 

 

4819. Heart emojis

 

Heart emojis generally mean love, affection, or strong emotion, with the red heart (❤️) being classic for romance, while other colors like yellow (💛) signify friendship, green (💚) nature/growth, blue (💙) trust, and purple (💜) compassion or luxury, though meanings vary by context and individual use, ranging from support to passion.

Common Heart Emojis & Their Meanings

• ❤️ Red Heart: The classic symbol for love, passion, deep affection, and romance; used for partners, family, or strong liking.
• 💛 Yellow Heart: Represents happiness, friendship, positivity, and platonic love.
• 💚 Green Heart: Can mean health, nature, growth, or sometimes envy/jealousy.
• 💙 Blue Heart: Signifies trust, loyalty, peace, and harmony, often for close friends.
• 💜 Purple Heart: Shows compassion, deep love, admiration, luxury, or spirituality, less romantic than red.
• 🤎 Brown Heart: Warmth, comfort, appreciation, or representing natural/earthy things.
🖤 Black Heart: Often used for mourning, dark humor, or deep, complex emotions.
🤍 White Heart: Pure love, peace, sympathy, or purity.
💖 Sparkling Heart: Excitement, special affection, or a fun, playful tone.
💗 Growing Heart: Love that's increasing, emotional growth, or getting closer.
💞 Revolving Hearts: Mutual love, connection, or joy in a relationship.
💕 Two Hearts: A close bond or love between people, often romantic or flirty.
💔 Broken Heart: Sadness, heartbreak, lost love, or feeling broken.
❤️‍🩹 Heart with Bandage: Healing, mending, or comforting someone.

Key Takeaway: While the red heart is universal for love, other colors add nuance, allowing you to express different shades of affection, support, or even humor, depending on your relationship with the recipient.

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A son doesn't forget his father's birthday. Not unless he is taught to or perhaps, not unless he has been given so much that there's nothing to be grateful for.

The father sent a text to his son who forgot his 69th birthday. A text that said "Hope everything is fine with you." He got a two-sentence reply "We need more space. Do not text us". 
His wife Chloe approved his message with a heart emoji.

The father went to his lawyer to change his will. 

I told him ab out my 69th birthday, the silence and the simple text I sent and the two-sentence reply I received. I even told him about Chloe's digital seal of approval, the small heart that had felt like a stiletto blade.  

The son and wife had worked as an entitled couple, receiving $30,000 allowance etc monthly. 
Not grateful to his father. Cruelty, contempt in wanting more space.  

 

 ❤️ Red Heart: The classic symbol for love, passion, deep affection, and romance; used for partners, family, or strong liking.