art from ordinary

The new Dawn

2012-01-01T05:18:00.001-08:00

There are predictions that there will be no 2013, so is this the last picture of the series?

The number of posts on this blog has been dwindling. Just 10 posts this (last) year! Lol. Well.. the number of posts is inversely proportional to my stress level.. So you know the reason..

Probably the most hectic University year so far, each semester having 2 projects to contend with. Even my summer break was spent on internship. And it may just get worse..

Despite the lack of time, I’m glad I’ve learnt 2 new shooting methods. Firstly, the Brenizer method, giving me the ability to create achieve very shallow DOF images without new equipment. Secondly, my “secret sauce”, giving me the ability to make more realistic HDRs like the one you see above. The number of hobbyist photographers have certainly increased this year, as shown in the photo… one must constantly learn new tricks to stay ahead.

All the best in 2012! And STAY ALIVE!

自然

2011-12-27T04:44:00.001-08:00

30mm f/0.79 equivalent

邻家女子，天真活泼，无矫揉造作的扭捏，少胭脂水粉的装点，美在劳动中，美在自然中 =D

‘Tis the season to bokeh-ing~

2011-12-13T01:24:00.001-08:00

56mm f/1.3 equivalent

Another brutal semester has come to an end. It’s a great relief to go out to shoot again. I’ve always had such images in mind whenever I walked along orchard road, especially when the Christmas decorations are up, and I’m glad to have finally learnt how to create them. Happy holidays!

46mm f/1.2 equivalent

62mm f/1.4 equivalent

48mm f/1.2 equivalent

The problem with bokehrama is the ghosting due to people moving around you. See if you can spot them. Ha.

Hope you’ve enjoy the pics as much as I’ve created them for you~

Bokeh-licious

2011-08-07T02:55:00.001-07:00

82mm f/0.77 equivalent

No, I have not bought a new lens. But I learnt a new skill. A method so awesome I have to applaud its pioneer – Ryan Brenizer. He calls this the bokehrama, but people coined it the Brenizer method. Either way, I’ve been trying it out for a number of times and am now ready to talk more about it.

60mm f/0.82 equivalent

Think of it as a panorama. Just that it is shot using telephoto and at the widest aperture to achieve as shallow a DOF as possible. Then stitch them up so you get more angle of view. Easy? You bet!

32mm f/0.72 equivalent

Just as you slow down and carefully compose a landscape shot, you have to do the same here too. But it is a lot harder composing a panorama, as you only have a vague idea where you should end. The problem is worsened by the fact that your model won’t be able to hold still for very long, so you can’t just take your time and shoot the whole view in front of you. The key is to practice a lot, and don’t be discouraged if only a few shots (or partial composition) is usable. It also helps if you can find a very helpful model =)

72mm f/1.2 equivalent

One important thing to take note is not to over-do it. Like HDR, things start to look really absurd when you go over the board.

29mm f/0.54 equivalent

Ryan Brenizer recommends shooting in small jpegs to conserve space and processing power during PP. If you choose that route, you would have to manually set your white balance to ensure consistency. The tone curve applied to every jpeg is not consistent too.. depending on your camera. I chose to shoot RAW though, and while it severely restricts the number of bokeh-ramas I can create, I’m glad I have the latitude in PP.

100mm f/0.94 equivalent

Be patient in stitching the pictures. Most of the time the panorama generated will not be flawless, and you’ll need to do some manual blending. It’s time to revise your Photoshop skills~

Finally, try out the Brenizer calculator to find out what lens you’ve “created”! Enjoy =)

Nice prop

2011-08-05T07:35:00.001-07:00

27mm F/0.7 equivalent

The EX1 has made itself useful.

The quest for more bokeh

2011-07-31T00:18:00.001-07:00

Had the chance to try out some exotic lenses~

50mm f1.2 equivalent

120mm f1.4 equivalent

40mm f1 equivalent

32mm f0.85 equivalent

28mm f0.5 equivalent

Some of the lenses are still strictly experimental.

And special thanks to my dear model =)

Blue Hour Blend

2011-07-18T08:22:00.001-07:00

The Marina Bay Sands is proving to be a very nice place for sunsets. I applaud the use of pools which made a whole lot of difference in blue hour shots.

And the “secret sauce” is becoming an almost indispensible tool in the push towards a realistic blend

The way it’s meant to be seen

2011-07-14T07:11:00.001-07:00

Typical overcast afternoon, with very high contrast. Not a very ideal afternoon to shoot. Those were the conditions when I took this shot. I haven’t been very healthy lately and hence the lack of new photos. This was from 2 years ago..

The trip was meant to be an infra-red shoot, but I found the form of this tree particularly pleasant, and took a series of bracketed shots hoping to be able to process them properly one day. Well.. I never managed to get an image that represented my intentions.. until recently.

Below is one from the original series, for comparison sake.

Compact-ing…

2011-06-26T06:18:00.001-07:00

6 exposure blended

I’ll be trying to see how much the EX1 can perform for my more serious works. Stay tuned~

De-Haloing

2011-06-01T07:42:00.001-07:00

One of the greatest bug-bears of HDR has been the halo effects due to tone-mapping. I’ve been trying out several HDR software, with the latest being HDR efex pro and Photomatix, but somehow I still couldn’t get it to look as natural as I want. Well.. today I just got one step closer =)

Read on for more details…

The bottom picture is produced using HDR efex pro, which is quite fake to be honest. To be fair, this is a scene with a rather extreme dynamic range, and I had to use 9 exposures to get them all in, but hey.. isn’t this what HDR is for?

Unfortunately, try as I might, the halos are still very obvious. One could argue that I could take it into photoshop to mask out the halos, but that would be a rather tedious job. I could also just blend exposures in photoshop all the way, but I’m so lazy I’ll only do that for the very favourite pictures.

And so, I chanced upon a secret sauce to a more natural blend, and it isn’t exactly too time consuming. A few more pictures for illustration..

Forests.. normally a very difficult scene to blend.. (9 exposures)

Indoors, also a rather difficult scene to recreate naturally (9 exposures)

And finally, the usual sunsets. This is an improved version of the 2 images I had from the previous post.

So there! I won’t be revealing the secret sauce just yet, in case you are wondering. =P. Ha.

It pays to wait ;)

2011-05-22T08:43:00.001-07:00

Tokina 11-16 at f/8, 90s, iso200, ND400

Hello everybody.. I’m baaaaack!

I dropped from heaven straight into hell when I returned from my SEP in Taipei. Literally to the neck with projects after projects, assignments after assignments, and thanks to my stupid leg I wasn’t too keen to shoot for a long while. Finally made it a point to break out my D300 and do something serious.

First time being to Lower Pierce Reservoir, but my experience in Kending, Taiwan paid off. I kind of expected a light show judging by the kind of clouds in the sky, and voila~ Here it is!

Was even more happy to see the reaction of some D700 shooter behind when the sunset took him by surprise. What good is your 14-24 if you pack it up before the real action begins?

A HDR version after the break

5 exp HDR, processed in Photomatix

Sometimes, you just have to get over it..

2010-11-11T22:02:00.001-08:00

Just in case you are thinking that this blog is dead, I’m sad to say it isn’t. Ha. I was just blogging on another more informal blog (you should know where to look if you know me enough).

This is 黃金瀑布@九份. Rainy and misty afternoon. Limited time. Wet lens. Had to hide under an umbrella to shoot this. Just a customary shot. Could have been a lot better if time + weather were on my side.

I may not have the time + opportunity to come back for another try, as it is 1.5hrs away from my school by public transport. Sometimes, you just have to get over the missed chances, and look ahead so you don’t miss other chances that may come by =)

Face off!

2010-10-13T07:27:00.001-07:00

I believe there are still many people troubled in deciding between a micro 4/3 (or other mirrorless interchangeable lens) camera, and an advanced compact. I’m lucky enough to be holding on to one of each here, and here are my initial impressions after an evening’s walk with them.

The emphasis of this post is on the low light capabilities of these cameras, specifically the Samsung EX1 and the Olympus EPL1 (with kit lens). Firstly, I’d like to comment that indeed the EPL1 will outdo the EX1 given a better lens, like the 20mm f1.7, or some of the exotic Zuiko lenses. But if you want a flexible, portable and cost-effective kit, the kit zoom is the lens to go. Most first-time owners would be sticking to it for quite some time too.

Sensors play a part, and the EPL1 has a much bigger sensor compared to the EX1. I started out believing that the EX1 will be at most on par with the EPL1. But as it turns out…. you judge for yourself!

First up, a relatively dark, but still sufficiently lit arena. This is the kind of light one will encounter if you are in a typical wedding banquet and when food is served.

The EPL1 might appear to have more detail in the 100% crops, but that is because the lens is less wide at 28mm, and the EPL1 has a 12mp sensor compared to the EX1’s 10mp. Notice that the default EPL1 white balance is slightly warm. The EX1 is displaying finer noise grains due to a much lower iso used (200 vs 800).

Next up, a typical handheld night street shot, comparable to Christmas lightings. This is shot with both lenses at their max-telephoto (84mm vs 72mm) The EX1’s image stabilizer isn’t as effective as the EPL1, and a higher shutter speed is chosen for this test. However, the superior lens on the EX1 still allowed a much lower ISO to be used.

Last of the set is a shot of a dark alley, which is already the max you should consider shooting handheld. What is astonishing is that the EX1 completed the task using a mere iso400, compared to iso1600 on the EPL1 (which is the limit of the sensor, unless extra gain is used). The noise difference is pretty significant now..

The above examples prove that the EX1 can stand it’s ground in the low light arena against larger, more expensive kits like the PEN series, or even DSLRs with kit lenses like the d3000.

However, there is no free lunch. The macro performance of the EX1 pales in comparison with most kit lenses, and most users will realize that shooting food is not the best job for it. The sample below illustrates how close I could get to my dinner with both lenses.

Below is a more specific list of findings, regarding the EPL1 vs the EX1:

EPL1’s LCD refreshes at a higher rate than the EX1, resulting in higher noise shown when using Live View in dark scenes.
EPL1 needs long exposure noise reduction from ~2sec onwards. This is certainly not on par with DSLRs. On the EX1 there is no way to turn it off.
The EX1’s auto-white balance is much more accurate than the EPL1’s. However, the EPL1 can be configured to custom-wb at the touch of a button.
The EX1’s LCD is clearly superior.. higher resolution, better colour and multi-angled. I sorely missed it when i’m forced to squat/kneel when composing the EPL1 from odd angles.
Menu and customization on the EPL1 is miles ahead of the rudimentary one on the EX1.
RAW files from the EPL1 are more elastic, retaining highlights significantly better than those from the EX1.
The EX1 feels more solid than the EPL1.
Focus speed is comparable for both cameras.

For those who are still deciding between the 2, I hope this post has been useful =)

帥哥美女

2010-09-14T21:13:00.001-07:00

It’s been some time since I shot portraits seriously, and to be honest I was a little nervous about taking this assignment. The requirements seemed high, given that the previous shoot (by another photog) had some photos that didn’t really met the expectations of the editor. So I’m supposed to be here to clean up.

Luckily, the models are mostly quite photogenic and friendly. Of course, thanks to Jiayin being my assistant for the day, if not I’ll be limping much worse at the end of the day.

However, I was told that the editor did some merciless crops to my images while publishing… Oh well, now I know why the other photog didn’t bother to shoot properly.

Samsung EX1 – 1 month onwards

2010-09-01T00:26:00.001-07:00

It’s been a month since I bought this toy. In light of the launch of new serious compacts, notably the Panasonic LX5 and the Canon S95, how do I feel about the EX1?

Advantages:

1. RAW image quality. Since the launch of Lightroom 3.2 RC (and eventually LR3.2) the quality of the raw files never fail to impress me. This camera has an amazing ability to retain shadow details. Nowadays I tend to expose for the highlights, and recover the shadows in post:

The example above is typical of what i’ll do for a scene with a large dynamic range. There will be some noise no doubt, but insignificant unless I print huge.

2. High ISO performance. This is one of the best compact sensors optimized for low light shooting. I have doubts the LX5 can beat this significantly.

The above is an image shot at ISO400, and an ISO800 shot below. The detail preservation is still very satisfactory.

3. Fun with Infrared. The convenience of framing your shot with an infrared filter over the lens encourages me to explore this field of photography. It would be even more fun should lightroom allow a broader WB latitude to process IR raw files..

4. Swivel LCD. Sneaky cam for street shots. Virtually silent when shooting too!

Disadvantages:

1. Poor OIS. I’m used to the OIS from Panasonic and Canon, and the one in the EX1 is clearly not as good. Shooting below 1/15 (even at 24mm) is going to be a hit and miss issue.

2. Focus accuracy needs improvement. In low light, due to the comparatively smaller DOF of the F1.8 lens, there’s a tendency for the camera to miss-focus.

3. Colours in IR are rather muted, compared to the D70.

4. Custom modes please… The LX5 has 2, and the S95 has 1. Nothing on the EX1.

Tips and tricks for existing users (from my own experience):

I usually leave the camera in auto ISO (which caps at ISO400). In bright light, I’ll use P mode unless i want more specific control. Indoors or at night, I’ll switch to the “dual IS” mode, which just sets a higher auto ISO threshold of ISO800 instead.

Quality = RAW, and focus = selective all the time. Exposure is controlled using EV compensation and A-EL.

Verdict

Oh.. and in case you’re wondering, it’s still the EX1 for me. The LX5 may be sweet (and very handsome looking), but there is no swiveling LCD, which is a big deal to me.

That’s life..

2010-08-20T21:22:00.000-07:00

You can’t have everything in life. And there’s no point too..

Blue

2010-08-12T07:00:00.000-07:00

Samsung EX1 – f/1.8 1/20th iso400

The ugly duckling grows up…

2010-08-10T08:09:00.000-07:00

If there’s anyone wondering why i’m so particular about my camera shooting RAW, this is the post for you.

Adobe has finally released camera raw 6.2 (albeit a release candidate) to the public, and my Samsung EX1 is officially supported. What a coincidence for me to google for ACR 6.2 and jump to the download page literally minutes since it’s release (faster than dpreview’s announcement!), but tt’s another story.

Above is the comparison between an out of camera jpeg, vs a jpeg converted from RAW, on the deadliest subjects ever – foliage. Samsung’s jpeg engine is still far from mature, and lacks the crisp, saturated look of Canon’s jpegs (go see the G10’s output to see what i mean). Even at base ISO, fine details and textures are smeared away, and the remaining detail over-sharpened. Doesn’t do justice to the mighty Schneider lens and the Sony sensor it has. The metering tends to overexpose too, which is good for skintones but bad for nature stuff.

Switching to RAW, and a veil of NR is lifted to reveal the awesome-ness of this lens/sensor combination. Bloody sharp.. I’d say =)

Will you?

2010-08-05T07:17:00.000-07:00

if I were to wear a YOG shirt and ride my bike on the lane…

A worthy companion

2010-07-30T23:43:00.000-07:00

Ideal compact – When one has shot DSLR (and larger) cameras long enough, this term will start appearing in the back of your mind. Nope, I’ve not found THE ideal compact yet, but I’ve got something close enough =) [long post. Beware..]

Why a compact?

The first reaction from mom – How many cameras have you got already? Why yet another one? Don't waste money arh...
Reactions from some friends and colleagues – People who have compacts are selling them for DSLRs. Why do you want a compact when u already have a DSLR?
My reaction – Different tools for different situations. Why would want need so many different footwear? Why so many types of bags?

DSLRs may be very versatile, but they are also bulky and heavy. They’ll drown your photographic enthusiasm with their weight. You’ll be lazy to pull them out of your bag and deploy just to try out a composition you happen to see. You’ll think twice before bringing it out (and hate yourself when great scenes appear and it isn’t with you). You’ll spend time thinking of which lens combi to bring, only to regret not bringing that “most suitable” lens when inspiration strikes. Never had such problems? You’ve never played with a DSLR long enough!

What do I look for in a compact?

Lens – All compacts will be hindered by their tiny sensors. The laws of physics still applies. We’re not going to get beautiful bokeh and night vision capabilities here. So the lens is one very important factor in compensating for the sensor disadvantage.

It has to be fast. Real fast, so you can still use lower ISOs than a DSLR in similar situations. Ok, maybe not when compared to a prime, but faster than any SLR zoom available.
Wide. I don’t need long teles in a compact. Shooting tele with a compact is like cropping. You just don’t get the kick compared with an SLR coz of the deep DOF. However, you’ll find yourself shooting lots of group shots with a compact, and being wide helps alot.
OIS. Every compact should have this. Because of the way a compact is held, you’ll tend to shake alot more compared to shooting with SLRs.

Control – Once you’re used to a DSLR, you’re never going back to fiddly menus, or even worse, gimmicky “smart” modes. Important parameters like PASM should be there. Aperture, Shutter speed and ISOs must be visible and readily accessible. Ditto for exposure and flash compensation.
LCD – I don’t want a viewfinder in a compact. They’ll never be as good as an SLR’s, and take up alot of bulk. But the LCD must be readable outdoors at least. But for me, I’ll want my compact to have a swivel screen. I’ve proned, squatted, and twisted my neck many times while aiming through the viewfinder on my DSLR, and swore to myself that my compact mustn’t give me such problems again.
Image quality – I’m realistic enough not to expect amazing details from jpegs out of a compact. But it should at least be good enough. RAW should be there, for the times when i need the quality.
Hot shoe – Not a must, but good to have, so i can play with some flash photography.

SAMSUNG EX1 – The ideal compact?

The answer is NO. While it may not meet all requirements above, there are some features that are just plain fun to use~

Lens – 24-72mm, f1.8-2.4. Fast, wide and very sharp, with OIS. No complaints!
Control – Front and rear dials are there for aperture and shutter speed. Dedicated buttons for ISO, focus selection and flash, with dedicated dial for drive mode and bracketing. But it lacks customizable controls, and the ability to assign profiles, which is quite a waste. It also has weird combination limitations, and some features get blanked out without you knowing why. Nonetheless, control is much better than many compacts out there, once you learn your way around.
LCD – A swiveling AMOLED. Swiveling, and AMOLED. No problems in bright noon sunlight, and no problems to my neck. It urges me to try out weird compositions, and allows for very easy self portraits =)
Image quality – JPEG is ok.. nice colours but a little over-sharpened, with noise acceptable up to ISO 400. RAW is an entirely different story. RAW files are very detailed and usable up to ISO800, or higher if i’m doing black and white. Impressive stuff!
Hot shoe – Almost useless.. which is a letdown. It only triggers samsung flashes (so selfish!). I heard it triggers radio slaves, but for now, it’s as good as absent for me.

So, how does it feel in real life?

A fast wide lens, together with good noise control, gives me the freedom to shoot indoors, or night street shots without a tripod. It’s as good as an entry level DSLR with kit lens, and better than M4/3 cams without a prime. What more can you ask for?
It shoots IR. This is crazy. I can now compose with an IR filter over the lens, and shoot handheld. Sounds like the death knell for my D70.
Swivel AMOLED. I keep mentioning AMOLED coz it is simply beyond LCDs. Unique angles can be shot very easily~
Smart Range. It is something like an in camera HDR. Works only on JPEGs. The effect is subtle, but very useful in bright sunny Singapore
Smile shutter and face recognition. Always thought it’s a gimmick, but it can be useful too. No need for IR/radio triggers when taking group shots (it can be triggered by IR anyway). Just smile at the camera~. Together with a swivel AMOLED, I’m sure this cam will appeal in social situations, although i admit i don’t get into such situations often (and i hardly smile)
Price. It’s the most powerful compact, built like a brick, yet the 2nd cheapest camera in my house. Comes free with 2 class 4 SD cards and 2 batteries somemore. In terms of value for money, nothing comes close to this~

Photography just got more enjoyable!

昙花一现…

2010-07-23T07:23:00.000-07:00

It may have brightened up the night sky, but how long can it sustain?

Path with a view

2010-06-27T08:29:00.000-07:00

My new observation: Rainy morning = clear blue skies in evening.
It’s been a long time since I’ve shot such colourful sunsets at Pandan reservoir lately.. this shot came just in time for me to try out a number of new processing tools.

No emo no emo kk? =)

Fortress in the City

2010-06-08T07:53:00.000-07:00

5 exposure HDR, processed a little more aggressively for the controversial, HDR-ish look.

Been rather busy with work these days.. No time to shoot beaches… yet. ha.

Soft and delicate…

2010-05-29T23:43:00.000-07:00

I’ve never really felt Singapore’s beaches were worth treasuring, as there is nothing much there anyway, given all the land reclamation going on. But when i heard of the oil spill which left the East Coast and Changi beach covered in oily sludge, I suddenly had the urge to visit all the other beaches before they are affected too. They have never meant so much to me before..

Being a major petroleum refinery, Singapore is highly susceptible to oil spills. The beaches are lifeless enough without all the sludge, and all it takes is a couple of oil spills to finish them off.

Pointing and shooting

2010-05-29T05:44:00.001-07:00

Shooting with my E72 never fails to surprise.. Being “free-and-easy” encourages me to walk more, and explore more angles. There is no pressure to create good pictures, but when I make a pic i like, the sense of satisfaction is just as strong.

Colour on the E72 is rather poor though.. and lacks the punch and contrast of a proper camera. But with some processing, I doubt anyone would notice it.

The nameless

2010-05-26T07:44:00.000-07:00

Been trying hard to find new perspectives from the ~~short~~ mini stretch of “beach” at West Coast Park. It’s naturally a delight to find new spots, though the environment isn’t what i’d call friendly.

Another pic, another mood.

Gorilla comes to life

2010-05-15T08:55:00.000-07:00

With the addition of a head, the giant monkey is a lot more maneuverable and usable now. Above is the first shot that demonstrates the capability of the new tool. Taken in JB, on a trip that a tripod would be too bulky and unwieldy for me to take along. Click on the see it in action…

SYPA aftermath

2010-05-10T19:35:00.001-07:00

This is a rant post. You have been warned.

I reckon phone calls have already been made to all shortlisted winners by now, and that excludes me of course. Not entirely unexpected, but I was disappointed that I wasn’t present when the open judging was carried out. Now I don’t even know where I stand.

For the effort contestants put in for each entry, I felt it’s only fair we receive an acknowledgement email about when the judging will take place, and not expect us to visit their website every day.

Well.. I have 1 more try before I grow too old for the competition. I take this failure as a motivation to work harder. I will keep in mind the contest themes from now on, and keep an eye for opportunities.

I’ll be back!

Change

2010-05-10T19:16:00.001-07:00

The blog has been rather dead for a while, just like it’s lifeless author. But it’s all set to change, as holidays are here and I’m itching for shoots again!

This is a rather major facelift for my ageing template. New header, colour schemes, and slight changes in layout. Also added are lytebox plugins to enhance the image viewing experience. Only the previous post (the SYPA submissions) has this enabled though, as i’m lazy to make changes to previous posts. Rest assured that future images will have this feature enabled.

Some parts of the blog are still under construction, especially the pages. So please be patient =)

A learning process

2010-04-16T06:07:00.000-07:00

My first time taking part in a competition (SYPA) seriously.. and the first time I had to print some of my favourite images. There’s a lot to learn from the process.. the selection of pictures, the editing, proofing and finally printing. Click on for the whole story…

Photo selection

As a photographer, our sense of judgment is often affected by the process of obtaining the pictures. A lucky shot, or one that you’ve put in extra effort in taking, is likely to rank high among others. However, in a competition, you are not the judge (obviously). The judges have no idea about the story behind, and hence it is up to the photo to tell them how much you’ve been through, to demonstrate your photog skills, and to scream at them to “look at me!”

The only way to know the strength of your pictures is to get feedback from others.. others who are more experienced. I’m glad I enlisted the help of protogs like Ray and Guoxiong, who’ve probably seen millions of pictures up till today (and perhaps was a judge themselves in the past). One has to learn to put your ego aside, and accept the criticisms they might give. Suck it up even if they tell you to discard your prized pictures. This is how you know your weaknesses..

Getting it in print

This is not as simple as it sounds.. as it isn’t easy to get prints to match what you see on your screen. Screens are transmissive, while prints are reflective.. Prints are meant to be seen from afar, while on a screen you could zoom down to the pixel level. How to judge? Lucky for me, I have a beautiful screen to take advantage of. Set it to the right orientation, black out everything else, and stand from afar. Remember to use the correct profile for proofing, and with a bit of adjustment (after comparing prints with the screen), i was able to get the colours to match almost exactly with the 2nd print.

There’s one thing i must mention… printing large (about S8R size) tends to give your photos a very different effect.. Composition plays a very important role here.. especially negative space, as the eyes will tend to roam about when faced with a large picture. Details will be visible without zooming too.. so one has to be very meticulous about what you want to show/hide.

But when an image is printed well.. the satisfaction is very high. Your favourite image.. which previously only existed in digital form.. is now tangible.

Submission

Every picture must come with a title.. and I’m not the chim type who could generate poetic titles on demand. Lucky for me (again), I have someone who compliments me very well, and I love the titles as much as I love the pictures =)

Finally, here are the submitted pictures:

From Heaven to Earth – NightScene

两小无猜 – Children at Play

I want! I want! - Nature

Wad’s Up? - Nature

F = (mv^2)/r - Architecture

il Cupolone - Architecture

Good luck to my fellow friends who’ve submitted too! May the judges recognize the effort we’ve put in for our images!

How many hours of sleep is 1 mark worth?

2010-04-07T23:15:00.000-07:00

According to my calculations… at least 10 hours per mark… maybe more. Thanks for understanding. =)

漂亮的日落，却只能一个人欣赏，好遗憾。。。

Monkey business

2010-03-06T20:07:00.000-08:00

Which way’s up? In case you are confused, you are looking at an upside-down image. Yea, my D70 just got a new lease of life – as a stuntman. Ever since it sprouted legs it has been trying out all sorts of weird poses at home. These legs aren’t cheap, considering that they are already OEM products, but are pretty solid, capable of handling even the d300+80-200 combo. It takes some experience to get the legs in the strongest position though, and i’ll need to find a suitable ballhead for this contraption. It isn’t easy making fine composition adjustments when u’re upside down.

I’m already considering the smaller sized models to hold up my flash, and in case i get a compact camera, provided a decent one is available.

好久不见

2010-02-28T04:51:00.000-08:00

好不容易有机会遇见的景色，却在刹那间消失。。。很遗憾，我错过了。月亮太高太亮了，四周的光线却越来越暗。。。

Hmm.. 下个月再见吧!

The day…

2010-02-13T09:53:00.000-08:00

Conflicting interests… While I looked forward to this day, I dreaded it too.. How will today pass?

*fingers crossed*

Feb 2

2010-02-02T04:09:00.000-08:00

Long time no blog.

Took a new route home today, just to have a look at some of the new buildings (that are not meant for undergrads obviously…) Snapped this with my E72 (inspired by a Windows 7 wallpaper).

Problem with hand-phone pictures… they are so compressed banding is very obvious once you start adjusting (take a look at the sky). Also had a hard time anti-aliasing the over-sharpened edges. In short, this picture went through quite a bit of photoshop.

Just as an update to my loyal readers: I’ll be away for Chinese New Year from 16th to 22nd Feb.

Back to mugging….

Pandan Reservoir will never be the same again…

2010-01-16T05:38:00.000-08:00

Will I change too?

For better or for worse?

010110

2009-12-31T20:28:00.000-08:00

The date is in binary again. Just an observation.

Anyway, I’m back at the same spot, with (almost) the same composition as of 2008. Dunno why i couldn’t find the spot on 2009, but heck. Things have certainly changed, with the casino almost ready, some building behind the statue, and a new double helix bridge on the extreme right.

2009

2008

2007 (Not on Jan 1st)

These photos also show the gradual change in processing techniques I’ve developed over the years. Mind you.. the merlion (and now the IR) is still a tough job to blend with the sky.. but hopefully it’s getting less obvious over the years. 2007 was just disastrous post processing. In 2008, the image was almost 2 stops underexposed (with a GND), while the 2009 one was shot using double graduated filters. This year, I used HDR and some smart object blending. (Maybe in a few years time, there’ll be cameras that can take it all in!)

Somehow, I felt the buildings in Singapore lacked consistency and character. Soul-less towers of glass and steel.. Is it a fad of the 21st century or what? They should rebuilt the merlion with glass and steel to match the theme then…

Due to the countdown last night, the area was barricaded, and this is the closest I can get to the merlion. There also seemed to be a lot more photogs this year. (Last year had the least of all 3), and I had to book my prime spot for this shot.

Ok enough of complaints. Happy new year to my loyal readers! Treasure 2010. You never know how many more years you have ahead….

The last decade…

2009-12-30T18:07:00.000-08:00

2010 is imminent. And recent news reviews made me start pondering over wad happened in my life, from 2000 to 2009. Indeed, many things happened, and i was just a sec 1 noob back in 2000. The most memorable events, in chronological order:

Introduction to the internet (Singtel magix being the 1st ISP, at 256kbps)
O levels
Introduction to MSN
1st handphone (which eventually got stolen)
1st personal computer
Started writing daily diary entries
A levels
1st prosumer digital camera (Panasonic FZ30)
National Service (which helped me lose weight significantly)
Started taking photography seriously, with the purchase of the Nikon D70
The launch of this blog
Overseas exercises (including a missile launch)
Introduction to SheYingDui (and TXY in general)
Acquiring the D300, and several other photographic equipment
University (and the lack of) Life
Knowing you….

I’ve certainly grown up over the years, but my interpretation of the world around me, and my idea of life, is far from mature. What will happen in the next 10 years? Will I still be alive? Only time will tell… But the last decade have certainly been exciting =)

The end of 2009

2009-12-30T18:05:00.000-08:00

“Capturing more than the eyes can see” – That was the theme I set out to achieve in 2009. Have I achieved it?

Only to a certain extent. I have almost 30% less pictures this year, and that is because i refused to post any pictures that i don’t have strong feelings for. In addition, most feelings are transient - they come and go quickly, and hence are hard to capture when my gear remains in the drybox most of the time. Luckily for me, this year also sees a lot more feelings and emotions, and I’ve managed to illustrate it with a few pictures as and when the opportunity arises. (not many are posted here though)

Photographically, what have I improved? Workflow wise, the greatest change is the switch to adobe lightroom, and shooting entirely in RAW. This allows for a much faster turnover of images, and loads of flexibility in editing.

Gear wise, I have not bought anything for my camera this year! I’ve no temptations to add anything else (perhaps only a prime, or a 2nd flash, or a softbox…oops!). The only major expenditure is the repair for a fallen tele. A lot can be accomplished with my current rig, the bottleneck being my own talent. Somehow, I felt that a good compact would see a lot more use than more DSLR gear. This blog has seen a lot more images from compacts (and even handphone) this year too. Let’s see which company can produce the ideal compact in 2010.

Composition wise, nothing much has changed. I find my composition largely predictable. I may have developed a habit of semi-defishing my images, resulting in uber wide pics like the one above, but I see no breakthrough in the way I see things. Still much room for improvement!

Merry Xmas to all

2009-12-25T17:31:00.000-08:00

Christmas (and New Year) may be holidays, but I don’t really look forward to them most of the time. They signal the imminent end of school holidays, and reminds me that it’s time to tidy up my stuff and prepare for another semester of mugging.

To my dear friends who celebrate Christmas, happy (belated) Christmas Day!

Special thanks to you for making this Christmas a different one =)

乱走

2009-12-11T22:04:00.000-08:00

Somehow this year’s orchard walkabout pic is also in duo-tone. I guess I’m not someone attracted to the glitters and colours of Christmas decorations…

New toy

2009-12-01T07:11:00.000-08:00

Apparently my E65’s camera didn’t have much chance to serve me. Hope it’s replacement will get more chance to see the light. It has proven to be able to resolve more detail and have a surprisingly acceptable dynamic range too. Meet my new… E72!

Exams are over, and my new hobby is to write some code for my new toy. Symbian anyone?

Are you ready for the storm?

2009-11-17T06:05:00.000-08:00

The storm of the semester is here! Are you up to it yet?

Click on if you are a techie..

Although Singapore have a very high occurrence of lightning storms, it’s still a rare chance to get to photograph one conveniently. Firstly, the storm took place quite a distance from my house, so it wasn’t raining at my place, allowing me to open my window wide and plant my tripod without worrying about getting wet. Secondly, the timing was just right, not too dark, yet dark enough for a long exposure of 40+ seconds (on bulb, iso200, f/16). Thirdly… the bolts came huge and fast!

Nonetheless.. the above was a merge of 3 exposures in photoshop. The file ended up over 500mb (16 bit Tiffs) and almost crashed my com. Damned.. I need an SSD and more RAM!

Ricoh GXR? Hmm…..

2009-11-10T03:52:00.000-08:00

This is a rant post. Ranting is a side effect of mugging… Got a few minutes to spare?

Innovation is good. I applaud Ricoh’s bold new move to come up with the GXR. Go google if you don’t know what’s special in this camera. But basically it is a system of interchangeable lens+sensor, (instead of lens only). Yea.. so for USD500+ you buy yourself a body without a lens and sensor.

Advantage?

A different sensor for a different application. Low light? An APS-C sensor and a fast prime (and you lose some compactness). Street? A 1/1.7 inch sensor with a useful 24-70 (which is similar in size to a G11) Travel? Probably an even smaller sensor, but a 10x zoom…
Still get to shoot RAW, and the same amount of control, regardless of the modules used

Disadvantage?

$$$. Close to USD450 for the 24-70 module, and USD800++ for the prime module. Together with the body, i might as well get a 35mm 1.8 (for my D300) and an LX3 for street use (only about SGD1K)
I have doubts that Ricoh will remain loyal to this product, and make more modules for it in the future

(The list will be populated with more pros and cons as and when I thought about them)

If you’ve read my previous posts, you’ll probably guess that I’m one of those waiting for a perfect point and shoot. I already have a pretty good DSLR system so I know what to bring if I want real speed and quality. I’m willing to sacrifice a bit of those for something more compact and portable and less flexible, yet still produce decent images with good controls. (and at least 24mm wide coz I’m a wide junky)

How can Ricoh tempt me with this product? Make it affordable, and comparable to alternatives. Something like SGD300 body, with <SGD500 lens modules is what I’ll consider reasonable. Otherwise one might as well buy new compacts as an when better options are available, as there isn’t any incentive to remain loyal to a camera body. And keep the size down… I will wait for a year after release and see how successful this concept will turn out to be…

Ok.. back to work..

It’s that time of the year again…

2009-11-07T03:00:00.000-08:00

The stress… the gloom… the deadlines…

Good luck my friends! The sun is still shining beyond the clouds!

What is a camera?

2009-11-05T00:09:00.000-08:00

Isn't it frustrating every time when one sees a nice scene, and realizing that you don’t have a “camera” with you?

To me, a camera used to be something that shoots in RAW, has manual controls, responds quickly and produces decent detail up to iso 800 (for compacts), or iso 3200 (for dSLR). The problem is that while I have one that meets these requirements, it pulls my pants down if I force it to go into my pocket.

Well.. the heavy rain in the late morning today created such a different atmosphere, I was beginning to regret not bringing a “camera” with me. So I whipped out my handphone and for the first time (i think) i started using the camera function.

Whitebalance? Atrociously green. Responsiveness? Lag like siao. Noise? Plenty…

But when converted to monochrome… I thought this was a great representation to what I felt and saw at the moment…

So.. what is a camera?

How many sunrises have I passed sleeping?

2009-11-04T05:18:00.000-08:00

I shouldn’t dread waking up early in the morning for school.. seeing how much there is to enjoy by waking up just 1 hour earlier than usual, and how much more enjoyable the walk to school seemed to be, with someone to talk to..

Ok now back to work =)

Wednesday…

2009-10-13T22:25:00.000-07:00

无言

2009-09-24T07:27:00.000-07:00

Sitting under the deep blue sky, watching the clouds roll by… singing to myself, and dreaming of yesterday…

Light you don’t normally see…

2009-09-23T23:32:00.000-07:00

Finally gotten around to do some IR pictures. Shot this handheld while on the way to school. It takes quite a bit of estimation to compose this picture, as you can’t see through the R72 filter.

I admit this picture has nothing special, but i missed the IR tonality…

Nice blue skies today!

So happening, yet so boring…

2009-09-19T20:30:00.000-07:00

MAF again. The bigger the crowd, the lonelier you feel. Is there any point left in going back?

有阳光，有流水，还有微风吹 ……

2009-09-16T08:16:00.000-07:00

Wanted a brighter and more cheerful picture to better depict my mood for that day…

When placed strategically, texts can make an otherwise mediocre picture look polished, giving it an additional point of interest, and helping to balance the elements in the scene. I personally refrain from adding them as it will make me lazy with my composition. (with the exception of photos taken from assignments)

Not in this case though.. coz I really wanted to use this picture.

5 exposure HDR (photomatix) + manual blending + slight-defishing

To watch a Sunrise…

2009-09-12T06:43:00.000-07:00

It’s a race against time.. to see who reaches the spot first… the sun or you.

It’s a bet against nature, your precious (and most comfortable) hours in bed, in exchange for a show that is unknown and unpredictable.

It’s test of endurance, to move around with no food in your stomach, but a sole purpose in your mind.

It’s a lesson on determination, to learn not to despair should you come back with nothing.

It’s an appreciation of life.

In summary.. it’s a great way to start the day with you =)

天生我材必有用

2009-09-07T07:33:00.000-07:00

Slow… Small… Vegetarian… Born loser?

I don’t think so…

嗡嗡嗡。。。

2009-09-06T01:57:00.000-07:00

Insects are amazing… especially flying insects. The control involved in keeping such a lightweight frame aloft, to be able to react with such accuracy and agility… all packed into a processor measured in terms of millimeters… from an engineering point of view, the technology involved is simply incredible. It is humbling to know how backward human knowledge is compared to the power of nature.

First time using a dedicated macro lens (a borrowed sigma 150mm F2.8). It’s great to have AF, as it helps to save time when shooting subjects that vary their distance quickly. (and i can MF by just grabbing the ring to fine tune the focus) A great lens with beautiful bokeh, but I doubt I have the budget and time for macro anytime soon…

Sunshine

2009-09-02T22:36:00.000-07:00

Never have I wanted a day to be sunny so badly…

And I’m glad my wish was granted yesterday =)

一个风和日丽的下午。。。

2009-08-29T21:52:00.000-07:00

灿烂的阳光，灿烂的笑容，灿烂的你 =)

For high levels of detail, only my D300 is up to the job. With a very light anti-aliasing filter and proper processing in raw, together with a quality lens at optimum settings, not only can I count the number of kites in the sky, but also the lines attached to each kite too.

I’d love to see a compact that can deliver similar amounts of detail… the closest currently is probably the G10, but still not close enough…

Far far away…

2009-08-19T08:12:00.000-07:00

Will we get there?

Third consecutive image taken by a compact. The convenience is tempting… my D300 must have been jealous.

This shot isn’t taken by me.

Update on 200809: It seems that Canon has finally woken up from it’s Megapixel dream, and recently released 2 比较像样的 compacts – G11 and S90. Both shoot RAW (yea!), and I’m enticed by the articulating LCD on the G11 (it’s damn useful.. not a gimmick at all), but none of them goes wider than 28mm (and offer uncropped 3:2/16:9 outputs). I love wide-angles.. and am hoping Panasonic would finally release something that’ll make me part with my mula…

花香

2009-08-15T20:06:00.000-07:00

花，有永久不谢的吗？只要是真的花，开得再灿烂，再芬芳，都有它凋谢的一天。它的存在只是为了完成更大的任务，任务一旦完成，它也就失去意义了。

人生也不过如此。

人有生、老、病、死。物有成、筑、坏、空，这是自然的循环理，没有必要执著于某个阶段。事来则应，事去则尽。只有这样才能达到逍遥自在的心境。

no more emo =)

The lure of compacts

2009-08-07T21:52:00.000-07:00

There have been interesting development in the camera arena these days. The most interesting being micro 4/3rd camera systems (especially the Olympus EP-1 and the rumoured Panasonic GF-1). These systems serve to bridge the gap between the versatility and image quality of DSLRs, and the portability and stealth of compact cameras. Another interesting development being the back illuminated CMOS (by Sony). This technology potentially brings high ISO capability of compacts closer to entry level dSLRs. Ok I’m going to rant now… don’t blame me if you fall asleep.

I’ve never seen a compact with image quality that is as good as a dSLR. Can’t really stand the smudgy foliage and noisy shadows (especially after using the tokina 11-16). However, I have to admit that the portability and stealth of compacts cannot be underestimated. I tried bringing my family camera (TZ-3) around for a few days with no aim in mind, and whenever I spot an opportunity, I’m genuinely glad I have a camera with me to capture the moment. Some opportunities are just 可遇不可求, and the D300 system (even with my changeup) isn’t a viable setup to bring along everywhere i go.

But the TZ-3 is just so… dumb. It is fully automatic, meaning I can hardly tell it what i want. It is also very noisy, meaning no photos between 7pm – 8am. While it is frustrating to not have a camera when an opportunity arises, it is as frustrating (if not more) to be unable to create a picture you envisioned, simply because your camera is stupid. =P Ok.. i’m just psycho-ing myself that I need a “clever” compact.

For a moment i’m genuinely interested in a micro-4/3rds system like the EP-1. It will be even more tempting if Panasonic managed to get everything right in the GF-1 (better focusing, built in flash). However, this is a system.. meaning additional lens/accessories to go with the body. Probably cost a bomb (i’m thinking of the 7-14 f/4), and i still have to decide on lenses to bring out everyday. Kind-of defeats the purpose.

For compacts, the only one that caught my eye currently is the Panasonic LX-3. Small enough, wide enough, probably just fast enough. But not cheap enough. (still $700!!) The image quality, while best among compacts, is still far from good (max iso 400 for me). But at least it shoots RAW, and has an excellent Dynamic BnW function. Also has a hot-shoe where i can jam my SB-800 on for shooting indoors. Hmm…

For now, I shall wait. I foresee a dramatic improvement in image quality among compacts, should the back illuminated technology becomes more widespread. (and iso 800 becomes usable). I just want:

Ability to shoot RAW
Wide and fast lenses (24mm f/2 is at least)
Clean and detailed IQ at base ISO
Usable iso800
A dynamic range as good as Fuji’s F200EXR
Fully Manual functions
Almost pocketable in size
<$600 price tag

I can dream.. can’t I?

What would my world be without you?

2009-08-01T07:27:00.000-07:00

a NEED, not a WANT.

Seeing Light

2009-07-30T00:55:00.000-07:00

Taken by a compact. Converted to black and white because the WB was off. Nevertheless, the noise was already rearing it’s ugly head at iso160.

But then again.. the mood was there… and a compact is user-friendly enough for others to take a portrait of yourself.

Compacts… better than nothing.

Stephanie Sun @ Singapore Indoor Stadium

2009-07-11T20:50:00.000-07:00

Crammed pit, high stage, crazy contrasty lighting, dangerously close pyrotechnics… do u even expect me to shoot?

Most pictures here have gone through some pretty shameless post processing work. If i shot such concerts for a living the D3 is a necessity, not a luxury. There isn’t enough highlight headroom at iso2000 on the D300, and the noise is getting pretty intrusive.

Waited an hour before the concert began.. WTH. Seeing how the arena was arranged i sort-of knew what’s to come… 7 of us photogs were sandwiched between 2 huge video cams. I’m in for a rough time.

The high (taller than me) stage meant that full body shots were almost impossible. The “extra” dancers were also always around her, thinking that they were some multi-coated high transparency glass. Gits…

As we shoved and stack over one another in a bid to get a few bread-and-butter shots, they decided to give us a little treat by blasting some pyrotechnics aimed dangerously low below the waistline… Everything happened so fast there wasn’t time to dodge. In the end all of us looked like clowns in golden feathers. I know my outfit isn’t as fancy as yours… but at least respect my choice ok?

Talk about finale…

学...

2009-07-07T05:24:00.000-07:00

6 lengthy days. 6 sleepless nights. 44gb of pictures. Countless thoughts. What have I learnt? What have I understood?

Learning is a slow and on-going process. The same applies to the CAM3500DX focusing on my D300. The same applies to shooting a table tennis competition. The same applies to things in life.

Different players have different habits, different playing tactics, different reactions when they win/lose, and love to face different directions. Observe. Study carefully, and only then can one get the better pictures. Don't rush.

While the focus tracking on the D300 is certainly very good, it has many limitations too. The point you first focus on is very important. It will affect how the camera will track the subject subsequently. Depending on situations, one might have to turn on the focus lock-on so that it doesn't get distracted so easily. I personally find dynamic 51pt autofocus, with lock-on set to "normal" tends to be most suitable.

Same goes for life. 出发点要对. Have a strong purpose and clear goal in life. Without it, it's easy to lose your way...

Do not fret when you miss a picture. Chances are you'll miss even more while fretting.

Stamina is crucial, one must be prepared for the long run. Know when to rest. Know how to work out with your team to optimise the effort you put in. Know where each other are, so you don't duplicate/block each other.

Mutual trust is important.

Everyday is a learning experience.

A bouquet of bokeh

2009-06-17T06:25:00.000-07:00

If you thought fisheyes are incapable of producing proper bokeh, think again....

If you thought small roadside flowers are not worth a second look, think again...

If you thought fisheyes are not for small objects... look above.

If you don't try, will you ever know?

太阳永远是光明的

2009-06-13T09:13:00.000-07:00

只要能突破乌云，定能重见天日 =)

Yupz another view from my window (ok along the corridor above, but close enough). I'd probably be able to compile a whole series of "through my window" photos one day... and hopefully increase the property value of this flat. Hehe!

What's to come?

2009-06-12T06:14:00.000-07:00

A blur, a winding path, an imminent storm behind me. At high-speed i ride unguided and in unknown territory... will I fall? Will I be injured? Either way, please don't let me hurt anyone ahead.

One thing is for sure though - It's thrilling =)

Hand in hand at 64.2m above sea level

2009-05-29T07:42:00.000-07:00

It'll take loads of creativity to come up with something original about the Henderson Waves after looking it up on Flickr. While I can't claim this angle to be unique, i tried my best to include some human elements. I realised my PJ exposure over the years have seriously influenced how i see, compose, and wait for the right moment, and i'm glad it did.

F = (mv^2)/r

2009-05-25T07:34:00.000-07:00

7 exposure HDR, processed in photomatix and lightroom

This place has many photographic opportunities unexplored. I'll make it a point to return again, before it becomes too cliche.

Inspiration needed

2009-05-11T08:51:00.000-07:00

It’s been REALLY long since i posted the previous entry. Sad to say that’s because I haven’t got any satisfactory pictures to post. Realized that i can only shoot when given specific subjects and instructions.. goes to show how creative one can get after months of mugging.

This picture above is posted just because there’s something which i can crap about.

No, it’s not because they are celebrities… although this is the first time i get to pose them (and i have to admit feeling stressed, afraid that i might not produce photos worthy of their looks). It’s a relief i managed to squeeze out a few pics within a standard lounge full of nasty incandescent fixtures.

The saviour – my trusty “magix” envelope. Strapped to the flash was a 1/2 CTO that matched the incandescent ambient quite well, and by setting the WB to 3300K the light from the windows were rendered a very pleasant tinge of blue. The final ingredient was a full horizontal blast of flash instead of the usual top-down, which never fails to kick in some depth.

The good thing about celebs is that they obviously know how to pose, and are usually blessed with beautiful smiles. I regret not coming up with something more demanding… must have appeared a noob to be satisfied with such simple poses. Should have tried to prolong the shoot as well, coz it’s not everyday i get pretty faces smiling at me (ignore the camera in between).

Ice Age

2009-04-07T19:59:00.000-07:00

"Erm, we'd need to take photos of your product" is equivalent to "Serve me one of those for free!"

The power of the SPH identity pass. click on for more ->

We said the above to 4 different shop owners selling 雪花冰, and they happily complied (who could resist free advertising). The problem is, it's ice. 10 bowls full of ice. All in a day's work. 8 hours to be precise. Must have broken some record.

Despite the variety flavours, all of them are cold. Empty stomachs don't like cold food. But out of politeness (and maybe greed), we (3 of us) still managed to stuff all the desserts down our throats. The last 2 bowls were especially huge, and despite being very tasty, we had a hard time finishing it. I wonder what other customers might be thinking, seeing the 3 of us dying in front of tasty (and expensive) food. Siao.

No more 雪花冰 for the next few months

It turns out that this looked better

2009-03-30T23:59:00.000-07:00

This was made using Photomatix 3 (together with Lightroom). I was getting a little lazy to blend the exposures manually, and it turns out that the software is capable of some pretty nice results. I personally find this better than the one below (composition and colour wise), although it might be a bit overkill with so many sunset+water+boat pics these days. I should just remove the previous post.

My first Panaromic HDR

2009-03-27T20:17:00.000-07:00

On second looks, it doesn't even look like a panaromic image. But hey... 15 images, and some serious computing power were used in its creation. One day I'll lay my hands on that CS4 64bit. My HDD must be feeling damn angry that there's 1gb of ram slacking away while it is forced to thrash about.

I waded into the water for this shot, ankle deep in soft, greyish mud. It's low tide these days, so I hope not to waste the opportunity to get more shots like these. I'll be back!

When the cold wind blows...

2009-03-25T06:27:00.000-07:00

Today is not so sunny after all. Another day... perhaps.

Went for a walk in the park after the heavy rain, and found yet another casualty.

When time permits...

2009-03-23T04:36:00.000-07:00

For the sake of blog revival, i'm posting this far from perfect picture.

After a long day staring at 2 screens of codes, it's a relief to have a beautiful sunset. Sunset these days are very colourful, and I will try to go for more pictures if time permits.

Now... back to coding.

Wake up dude... it's all over!

2009-02-14T08:00:00.000-08:00

The exams will be upon me in 2 weeks, projects due in days, a mountain of tutorials to clear, yet i'm still dazed and drugged by the endless new year goodies (enough to make me fat for another lifetime.)

WAKE UP AS***OLE!

Yet ironically i aborted my tutorial to go downstairs just to shoot this picture.

Romance of the trailers...

2009-02-13T08:00:00.000-08:00

Erm other than the theme, i don't find anything really interesting in this pic though... Must be a bit desperate for photos...

Surprise surprise

2009-02-11T00:58:00.000-08:00

Sorry.. still no photos to show. Haven't been photographically active these days, which is a sad case since my poor gear are left at home, depreciating.

Damn. Now to the topic of the day.

The latest announcement by Nikon caught my attention. AF-S 35mm f1.8 DX. This is one sweet little lens which sits nicely at the lower rung of the product line, finally giving budget conscious users a chance to explore low light photography. A very smart and well placed product. I'm tempted.

Always wanted a cheap "normal" prime. The options before this were the sigma 30mm f1.4 (500++) or the nikkor 35mm f2 (350++). Decided against the sigma due to quality control issues (and lack of AF fine tune), and the nikkor isn't as sharp at F2. While this new f1.8 isn't that much better, if it's cheap enough (200+) and sharp enough, it'll probably earn a place in my bag.

All the slamming about it being a DX lens are probably rants by loaded chaps who don't mind paying 1k+ for a 35mm f1.4. Give us more cheap primes nikon. Save the FFs for when my pictures are worth more than my equipment.

CNY sans photography

2009-01-31T06:42:00.000-08:00

I can't believe this. The only pictures i've taken on this trip are group shots and candids. Ok i did a mini walkabout (20 mins?) once, but that's about it. This is gonna be a rant post...

This trip's main purpose isn't photography. It's about talking to relatives and getting fat. Yeah it's a very rare chance to celebrate CNY with my relatives. (the last time i did this my brain wasn't even working). The schedule was tight, as i had to travel to many places to meet people i didn't know existed.

Generally there weren't any cny decorations put up in public. (hey it's Kelantan) Firecrackers were banned, though i'm surprised nobody tried to smuggle them in from the Thai border.

There was a moment of great opportunity though... we were stopped on the road by a bunch of cows crossing. Damn i was behind the wheel, otherwise those cows would find their portraits on my blog.

The camera ended up making loads of group photos. Boring 1-2-3-cheese stuff. Some relatives volunteered to be my model, perhaps trying to flaunt their new clothes. Didn't turn out too bad, but those are too personal to post online. If i get to go back again i'll make sure i bring more flash and strobist stuff.

But photography isn't everything...

A season of crowd, food, and perhaps... happiness?

2009-01-18T07:01:00.000-08:00

It's a season of traditions and supersitions. While some are good to have (ang baos hehe), some are really troublesome (spring cleaning and buying new clothes). Luckily I have a set of new year clothes that are set aside for new years. That said, I'm looking forward to this new year though, because....

To all my dear friends and readers, I shall not be in SG from 22nd to 29th (inclusive). I will finally have the chance to experience CNY with my extended family members back in Msia. While this means i'll be meeting many people for the first time, I should also be able to document CNY celebrated in a different country, in a place where Chinese are not the majority. And that sounds exciting!

This is a rare publicity post

2009-01-10T19:07:00.000-08:00

Have a strong interest in photography and photojournalism? Young, energetic and keen to put that newly bought DLSR to good use? Want to see your pictures published in a nationwide newspaper? Yes the student wing of photojournalists 《联合早报学生通讯员摄影队》(SYD in short) will be recruiting new members soon. Click on if you are interested...

SYD main site: TXYSYD

Description in short
We are a group of young people (mostly students) that provide photographic support to newspapers like lianhezaobao and friday weekly (now known as zbComma 逗号) Apart from assignments for the papers, our activities include training, photo outings and talks (from and not restricted to the pro PJ's at SPH) as well as welfare gatherings. We are also recognized by ministry of education as an external CCA (you get 1 participation pt per year if u need it).

Our assignments do not include accidents/natural disasters/papparazzi.

As part of 联合早报学生通讯员 we will also get to mingle and join in the fun with the writers, editors and comic artists in the organisation.

What can you gain?
Experience! This is the one most valuable asset you could gain as nobody can steal from you =) If you've read through my "experiences" tagged post you should have an idea of the variety of assignments we take on. Seeing your pictures published in major newspaper will be a definite boost to your portfolio (and maybe ego/bragging rights lol) Members who are less experienced can pick up useful photography skills and tips through our training sessions. Don't worry if you feel like a tech dummy. We are not a bunch of techies lusting and racing after the latest and greatest equipment. Our activites aim to develop your photograhic instincts, not fill up your drybox.

But do note that as we receive very minimum funding from SPH, we have no pooled equipment at the moment. Members should preferably own a DSLR if they intend to go on assignments, or at least be prepared to buy one. (We will certainly teach you how to appreciate and milk it for what it's worth)

What you should not be expecting to gain?
Money. You will not get rich from assignments. Yes you do get paid for pictures published but they are nowhere near what commercial wedding/dnd/fashion photogs are getting. But you stand to gain credentials and portfolio that should help greatly if you intend to work in this field in the future.

Who are we looking for?

Passionate young photographers (preferably below 18) who are willing to learn, share and have fun. If you want to join and is above 18 (but still a student/NS/Uni), there is no restriction but be prepared to work in an environment of teenagers.

Interested to join?

Keep a lookout for our recruitment articles in zbComma, and follow the instructions inside. Also, feel free to email your name and contact to sheyingdui@gmail.com so we will take note of you =) We will then contact you to come down for a recruitment briefing and interview.

A year in review: 2008

2009-01-05T23:30:00.000-08:00

Due to some stupid eye injury, i spent the last 2 days thinking and sleeping (what else can one do with his eyes closed?) My right eye still shows a blur mess, but at least it can open without feeling pain now. This post isn't going to have any pictures, so click on if u are interested in rants...

Remembering the moment when I first created this blog, the title was "shoot first, think later". That was my first phase in photography, to work out my techniques and familiarize myself with this hobby. It wasn't long before I grew out of that stage, looking out for unique angles, more details and trying to present them from a visually pleasing angle. Realizing the change, I renamed my blog to what it is now - "art from ordinary".

My works in 2008 more or less remains within the above description. I've added quite a lot of new gear, and they all serve to create more opportunities and angles for me to explore. While the quantity of the keepers improved substantially, have the quality improved?

To a certain extent, yes. There are images that were not even possible to create without the new stuff. I'm now able to shoot faster, longer, in less light and with less noise. But I'm afraid that is where it all ends. As I was browsing through past works, I was surprised at the lack of satisfaction I could derive from them. Most of the pictures could only relate what I saw, but not what I felt. Anyone with the same equipment and skill standing at the same location would have been able to create the same image. The human touch is lacking. There is no soul. This may all be stemmed from the lack of purpose when I made the images. And this is where I will work towards in the new year:

Capturing more than what the eyes can see.

Same place, same time, 365 days later

2009-01-01T06:44:00.000-08:00

And the problem is, i like last year's composition better! Read on for some new year rants...

It's new years day. Are you happy? If you are, i don't need to wish you anything, and if you aren't, i suppose my wishes wouldn't be significant either.

The marina bay is going through some major changes, and i thought it would be cool to photograph the first sunrise of every year at this same spot. I'm only into my 2nd year, but i intend to make this a yearly affair, rain or shine. It's a symbolic spot, and a symbolic event. Hopefully the merlion will remain standing as long as the sun rises.

Let's get a new...

2008-12-28T17:41:00.000-08:00

Whatever it is, that statement means something old must go. Is it really unusable? Have you made an effort to ask if someone else is willing to take in that non-so-new furniture?

On assignment: Fahrenheit @ indoor stadium

2008-12-19T19:16:00.000-08:00

When some people decide to name themselves after a temperature scale, I should have expected them to play it hot. But... not THAT hot. Read on to find out more...

No i'm not gay. I was referring to the literal meaning of hot, being so close to being barbecued by some hidden pyrotechnics. As they gathered for their first group pose, I rushed forward with my 11-16 and shoom! I was less than a meter from the nearest volcano, and the heat wave was intense. Picture wasn't great as the exposure was blown by the flames. Not worth the risk coming to think of it.

The lighting for the first 3 songs were bland. No gobo-ed spotlights, no beautiful patterns, no back-lighting, just some crude LED screen behind making the stage look like some variety show. 4 spotlights beamed down on the singers, and when they converge, the exposure quadrupled. Their sweat resulted in some harsh specular highlights that were far from flattering. With no light patterns to compose with, their expressions and moves became the natural points to look out for.

But there were other problems. The stage was high. Lots of monitors lined the edge, making it hard to get a full body shot. I didn't want to move in too close after the first experience with those hidden pyrotechnics. So in the end it was more of those cliche tele shots which you don't gain much satisfaction from.

For the third song they walked down a catwalk, allowing for more refreshing angles. Here i mounted the fisheye and flash and unleashed a lightning storm back at them. =)

Just as i pack up to leave, an abundance of lighting effects filled the stage. What a taunt!

Bottled water

2008-12-18T05:50:00.000-08:00

Power of motion

2008-12-01T19:29:00.000-08:00

I'd like to visit beaches with much larger waves than these.

It's over... all over.

2008-11-29T07:20:00.000-08:00

What a luxury it is to be able to doodle on 1 photo for the whole night =)
Read on if you have such a luxury too...

After sooo many days of inactivity, i wanted something special to refresh this blog. The weather these days are dry and hot. While i do curse and swear at how much floor mopping i'll have to do, its also true that the sunset is a lot more colourful.

Exams are finally over, after less than 20 weeks of actual schooling (not counting test/break). Kindof feels like BMT, intense training/studying and stress and then poof... all the weight off your shoulders, but with the lingering worry of what's to come next.

I have no plans to go anywhere during the hols, but intend to do a lot more photography. Every shoot feels like a little holiday trip, especially those that i go solo. Its just you, and your way of seeing, unaffected by convention. I get to think aloud, commenting my own pictures and in a way, get to know myself.

While shooting this pic, i realised that i've changed a little in the way i compose. I am seeing it more as a painting than a picture. I ask myself questions like: If you were to paint this scene, what would you include? Colour or monochrome? How dark/bright would u paint this area.. stuff like that. Photography, with photoshop, gives me the power to make such decisions =)

Technical data: 5 exposures digitally blended. 2 GND8 stacked (results in the nice vignette at the top). Tokina 11-16 f11 at 11mm.

Dusty filters can surprise...

2008-11-22T03:39:00.000-08:00

...but a rusty brain can only kill.

Sunrise-refreshed

2008-11-01T03:03:00.000-07:00

Someone posted the previous version on her facebook =) So i clicked it again just for fun. Before i knew it, 4 hours of my weekend was gone. Click on to waste your day as well...

Viewing the previous edition on a calibrated screen looked very different. Too contrasty, over-sharpened, over saturated.. basically photoshop on steroids. The use of double GND also resulted in the background rocks devoid of detail, not doing justice to the scene i recall.

Now that i can run capture NX2 properly, i decided to give those NEFs another go. The final version is blended from 6 different files. Added a touch of warmth at the end.

Barking up the tree

2008-10-11T06:11:00.000-07:00

This was an opportunity shot. I wasn't there to shoot chameleons. I just thought this chap's position allows for an interesting composition.

I was in WCP for cycling, trying to feel some wind from an otherwise hot and humid day. Although there is no autumn in SG, the amount of dried leaves and flowers is still substantially more. Stopped to have a second look at a particularly beautiful angle when i noticed this sunbather. Glad i brought my cam along.

The bigger version is a must see. I love the colours and details one can extract from shooting NEF.

Bankruptcy - Some people just don't care

2008-10-10T05:56:00.000-07:00

Humans create their own problems. Let them die for all I care. As long as the sun still rises tomorrow, I will be here to embrace it.

Every sunny afternoon, these guys will be there for their spa. Always. I've made it a point to carry my camera with me today, and i think i'll do so more often.

Barely 200m long, this path to school never fails to surprise me. Rain or shine, there's always something interesting, if you've been observant enough. One day i shall stick a fisheye into one of these lizards' face. Until that day... For now, i'll look forward to school.

New stuff.

2008-10-04T20:29:00.000-07:00

I'm gonna have a new lift soon! Ok, not THAT soon, and I've got to put up with quite some inconveniences as well.

Click on only if you have time to read my ramblings.

Been busy with my schedule of exams, school, tutorials as well as building up my new photo processor. I can now finally shoot and process NEFs in Capture NX! My old computer will just die when processing these 12mb files (which can expand to several times its size when opened due to all the caching involved using the notoriously inefficient software). Together with my new laptop bought from the uni fair, I bought a docking station and attached it up to the larger 20" screen. (sorry if u think i'm bragging a bit.) It's an LG L2000CP, using an IPS screen! In case you are wondering what's that, it's a technology used in LCD panels that has much better viewing angle and contrast compared to conventional screens. It can also display more colours (8bit compared to 6) The downside is its higher price tag, as well as slower response times.

Ok its not the largest screen, nor is it the best quality screen. In fact, it suffers from uneven backlighting which is noticable when u display a complete black screen in a pitch dark room. You will see that the edges are brighter than the center. (If you are looking for even more excuses to spend big money on a better monitor, try out this site.) The one BIG factor why I love this screen is its ability to tilt to portrait. I can have 1600 pixels of height for my pictures shot in portrait orientation, all that real estate dedicated to the picture itself, with the thumbnails, palettes all on my laptop screen. (dual monitor rocks!) And mind you, you'll need a 30" screen to have 1600 pixels height if you can't rotate, and a normal screen will suffer from horrible viewing angles when tilted vertically. Plus, its the cheapest available 8 bit panel.

Enough of the screen and back to the photos. When i first opened this file in capture, it literally jumped at me. Out of camera and unprocessed, the colour, contrast and sharpness were so real, so accurate. I was staring at my screen for a few minutes just "wowing". Of course this was partly because it was shot using a uber sharp tokina 11-16 stopped down to f8. But wow. I can literally "feel" all the texture on the netting, the steel chain... it is as 3D as a 2D image can get. Nothing beats Nikon's own software for opening NEFs for now.

In the Field: Elva @ Max Pavilion

2008-09-20T23:12:00.000-07:00

Yay it's mid term break, and I was sinful enough to go out to shoot. Should have been revising for mid term tests, but the lure of a concert shoot was just too much. Quite last minute notification (but i was guilty for not bothering to ask around). Just picked up the cam and go! More after the break.

The singer was by the name of Elva (whom i heard wrongly as ah hua the day b4). Just 1 singer. Easy target i thought. But upon arrival i realised that there was no arrangement for me to go within the barricades. This meant that i've to crowd around with amatuers wielding compact cameras, and enthusiasts banging their Gary Fong diffusers around thinking that they-should-display-it-since-they-bought-it. Crap. The worse part was the fact that i've to handle front row spectators as there were times when i had to block their view just to get the shot. Maybe the organisers thought Friday Weekly wasn't a paper with enough publicity, or I was too young to know how to dodge video cams. Whatever.

Well, after the first few songs i found myself without much space to move, so i ended up camping one spot with more variety of light changes. Despite the considerably less mobility, I found that i've returned with more keepers this round, mainly due to 3 reasons.

Firstly, i had a better feel of the metering having been to Max Pavilion before. A good point to base your exposure off would be the main projector screen behind. Just manual meter that screen, and adjust your compensation from there. Shouldn't vary much (unless they decide to pull stunts and use candle-light). I shot RAW this time round since i have more computing power now, and quickly realised i don't have enough mem space. Well, 160+ pictures is still more than enough.

Secondly, the AF settings were more appropriate. 21pt Dynamic for tele shots, 51pt dynamic for wide. Important to set AF lock-on to long. I set it to short the last time round which resulted in it focusing on the background immediately should the subject leave the AF pt. Don't bother with 3D tracking since the colours change so wildly it would be thrown off. I only had less than 10 OOF pics, of which half were handshake as i attempted to pull some motion blur stunts.

Thirdly, I had the luxury to shoot throughout the session. Only 5 songs in total, but with enough breaks in between to check my pics and correct my mistakes.

So much for now. I saw adverts for a few more concerts coming up in Oct to Dec, and hopefully when we get the chance to shoot again, these info would be somewhat useful.

In the field: Sodagreen - 陪我歌唱

2008-09-11T04:53:00.000-07:00

Woots.. my first concert shoot! One of the most adrenaline pumping 10 mins behind a camera, other than shooting a missile launch of course. Read on to find out more...

Concert photography is demanding, both for the photog and the camera. I was fortunate enough to get to shoot such a major performance to have a taste of this genre of photography, described aptly as "low light, fast action photography".

I did my research way before the shoot, reading up on who's Sodagreen, watch fanclub made videos, read up on the tips to take note, as well as any specific photographic tips i could apply. I've never been to any such performance, as i never found any reason to, until this assignment came =D I stumbled upon ISHOOTSHOWS.COM, founded by an amazing concert photographer Todd Owyoung. I love his photographs... simply adore them. He is naturally a D3 shooter (well, it is THE camera to turn to in such situations) but he did shoot many nice pics with less than stella gear. From his pictures i learnt to identify what are the key points to look out for... basically expression and lighting.

Talking about the lighting... It is a different world. Spotlights were transient, wildly saturated and varying in both direction and intensity. At one moment they even switched off all the lights, having the lead singer lit only with a torch. Dance actions were fast and difficult to anticipate. I was glad i did not take up any such assignments earlier... i just don't have the skill and equipment to cope before this.

But hey, now i have some serious stuff to play with. I came in armed with a borrowed 70-200VR, my trusty 17-50 tamron and at the heart of the system: a D300 beefed up with 8AAs to give me the majestic 8FPS, faster mirror blackout and faster AF. The only limitation now is my hands, eyes and experience.

The usual rule applies: Only the first 3 songs can be photographed. That means less than 10 minutes to get that picture for the paper. The first few moments started off with hardly any light, and the performers strolled in and took up their positions before the lights came on. Crap... no opportunities to take them as a group, given the big lobangs between them.

The tempo picked up immediately, flashing lights and dancing men. Made a wild guess on the exposure and it turned out pretty accurate: ISO1600, f2.8, 1/250. Had to shoot RAW as i needed the flexibility with the WB. Throttled up the release mode and watch the shutter fly, occasionally checking for focus/exposure errors.

One thing nobody could teach you is how to move during the shoot. U have to dodge other photographers and videographers, and watch out for wires, steps and stuff in the dark. Having light gear and strong legs help here, as you can regain your balance easier even if you trip. (yeah i almost fell once, tripped against some hidden firecracker tube). Move with the beat, feel the music, and spam during climaxes. At least that's wad i did.

Before i knew it, my first card filled up. Holy... now i'm down to 1 mag of 2GB. Had to sacrifice and shoot in Jpeg now. The AWB was pretty accurate when the spotlight was on, so i took the gamble. Alright, 3 songs up, and i was dragged out of the pit by those MIBs.

I can't really appreciate the music though, so although i was given a free seat i left early. Expo is far, and going home late is just looking for trouble. I left after the 5th song.

While reviewing the pictures, I found that i had far more close-up shots than necessary. Should have used that tamron more. Spent much more time processing the 15mb RAWs on an old laptop with only 512mb of ram. Wth... i'll really look forward to the next concert assignment, doesn't matter who's singing.

In the field: Gigi @ Tampines Mall

2008-08-25T05:18:00.000-07:00

Once in a blue moon I do get the chance to go shoot for WanBao. Their articles usually have more readers. Might be a good chance to gain publicity =) One such opportunity came in a form of a last minute call to shoot some HK celebrity who happened to be in SG. More after the break...

I'm a mountain turtle when it comes to the realm of celeb and pop world. When the photodesk told me i was to shoot Gigi Lai and Aileen, I had no idea who they were. "gigi? Wasn't that the malay term for 'tooth'?" Oh well, since i happened to have an assignment later that day at the same region, i took on this assignment and immediately set off, didn't even google about who's the person. Come to think of it, that was quite risky. I may have banged into her unaware... but thats rare i think.

Once on location, i realised what sh*t i got myself into... an army of compact/handphone wielding aunties. Believe me, their fanatism is a force to reckon with. No amount of equipment or press pass u display can repel them. But hey, I've got a big zoom and a powerful flash, and some height advantage. I decided not to be polite (since it will most certainly not be recipocrated) After observing how the organizers move, I found myself a strategic position and stand rooted to the ground, conveniently blocking the view of quite some people. (they can buy the paper afterwards)

Arrival of VIP. Flash head-on, full auto, OTOT carry on. What intrigued me was the technology of cosmetics nowadays. Gigi's nano-coated face can take any intensity of flash you throw at her, and just refuse to hot-spot. I sometimes get a feeling that her light complexion might be attributed more to the xenon beams she receive than any weird water she may be promoting. Just IMHO.

Soon came the interview session, and i had to wade through the crowd to get to the press area. I don't know if it was intentional, but the reporter came in from behind gigi and forced her to turn her head sideways against the illuminated advertisement board. Well done! The soft-box sidelight effect was simply flattering, and I hogged my position throughout the interview, contentedly spamming my shutter at any chance of more unique expressions. Nobody gave way for me to get out anyway, so why should I give up my prime angle? (ok i'm a fishmonger) To be even more selfish, I added watermarks on pics posted here lol.

Ok, learning points from the assignment: Google the VIP if you are a mountain turtle like me. Then try to be early to access the situation and lookout for prime angles. Do not use big shoulder bags if possible. Watch out for expressions... celebs already have alot of generic poses, so you don't wanna repeat them. Ask the reporter what exactly do they need, so you won't waste effort in getting shots that end up discarded.

Article published 030808

Mum i've been shooting: 抢麦08 portraits and performance

2008-08-18T09:00:00.000-07:00

The Qiangmai season has been a very good opportunity for SYD members to experiment with portraiture. Every season, we are required to come up with publicity portraits of top 16 to finalists. Photos aren't used in major publications, but we still strive to produce our best. Where can you find so many free models anyway?

More after the break...

Judging by previous year's portraits, I believe we have made a big improvement this year. Main ingredient is the use of multiple off camera flashes, AKA strobing. Putting together different brands of flash, gels, DIY light modifiers, we had a taste of what multiple lights can do.

Of course, it was not all about going on site and just shoot. Planning for the shot is most important and time consuming. When we get the theme, we scour the net for what others have done, just to come up with inspirations. Models have to be notified on what to wear, and when to turn up. We have to decide where and what time to do the shoot. Coming up with the idea before shooting will easily save hours, and make everyone happy. A happy model also look better in pictures.

Being new to strobing, experimentation is key. All thanks to the immediate feedback of digital photography, we can see how every little change affects the overall image. Having consistent positioning of lights is very important, and is one problem we face. We do not own lightstands, and have to rely on our dear juniors to hold up the lights, tiring them out and wasting time. Really have to work on this the next season.

Other than that, I guess we learnt alot about how light positioning could really affect the image, and this helps in reverse-engineering those magazine images to deduce the sort of setup others use. Also aids in allowing me to pre-visualise the effects, and know when to employ off camera lighting on assignment.

Besides portraiture, we had to cover the performances as well. Being a rather stress-free assignment, the performances served to hone our skills in metering, which trust me, is one of the hardest to nail. Lights are harsh and ever changing, and we have to develop a feel of what settings to use.

This time round, due to the rather bland lighting, I decided to cheat a little and use off camera lighting =D. Certainly helps in preparing me for covering concerts.

The whole album is visible on my multiply. Do click around.

Mum i've been shooting: 文化营08 @ DTE

2008-08-16T20:57:00.000-07:00

This happened to be my 3rd multi-day event, the 2nd being 迎新 which was a flop. This was the first time we produced a proper slideshow on time =D Of course this represented a significant improvement in our workflow, especially since we have 5 photogs on site. Click on to find out more.

3 day event, I was there for 2. Boss didn't let me off for the first day.

I always view big events as a test of my level, a gauge of how far i've come. The list of improvements are as follows:

1. Workflow. Having 5 photogs on site and having to juggle >10GB of photos with only 512MB of RAM isn't exactly easy. We synchronised all our camera clocks so all our photos come out in sequence. We also came out with an efficient rating system, being able to sieve 70+ pictures out of thousands within 3hrs. Although we still didn't get much sleep, our slideshow could be presented on time, autonomously, with music and transitions all in. Except for lousy projector which we couldn't do anything about, I guess this was as good as we've come.

2. Agility. First major event using the ThinkTank Changeup. Wet or dry, I could have all my gear with me. Even brought them into Wildwildwet, while keeping them dry with the raincover. Good stuff. Much less tired than usual at the end of the day as well.

3. White Balance. WB in de-tente was horrendous. Green floor and fluorescent is a lousy combi. I learnt to adjust WB to as close to perfect as possible, using a combination of live-view and WB fine-adjustments. 2 sets of WB settings, 1 for flash and 1 ambient, and switching between the 2 on the fly. Gelled up the flash to match fluorescent as well. RAW was out of the option as I do not have enough capacity and computing power to process them on time.

New aims for the next event? At least 2 computers to expedite the sorting and processing. (now that most of us have new laptops). More use of off camera flash for more "kick". More flash units for the group shot so we can go below ISO1600. Of course, grabbing more and better shots.

Event held in May08, published a week after that.

Mum I've been shooting: 专访

2008-08-09T09:00:00.000-07:00

I'm not good at working with people. Much less shoot them. It will take quite a while before I reach the strobist standard, but I'm lucky enough to get opportunities to practice.

More after the break...

Feature portraits are very much a bread and butter of photojournalists, and as SYD shooters we do get our fair share of such assignments. These are the assignments that got me thinking way before I actually go on the shoot, and still get stressed up on site.

There is considerably more PR than technicality when it comes to feature portraits. The person knows he is going to be shown to a lot of other people, and will get particularly picky at times. Most important thing I had to overcome is to act confident. Yea... act. They will be more comfortable if they think you are pro... (and they will think twice about asking to see the pic u have taken) Even when the initial pose is crap, just take a few pics and praise him. Dun keep changing posts too often and too quickly.

Then there is the picky PR manager to deal with... those pesky people who's always looking for opportunities to make free adverts. They want you to include crap stuff like their company logo, their medals, their work... all sorts of stuff you know will be irrelevant. Just take a few random shots to pacify them.

There are also those who can't smile (me being one of them). I had to learn how to talk crap with them to make them comply (something i'm still learning), and its considerably harder to convince a grownup than teens/children, us being still young haha.

Another aspect I had to work on would be the relevance, how to link the guy's face to the topic of the article. Usually it would mean posing props in interesting positions, and photogs only have like... 5-10 mins to work on the poses, and we don't have much time to pause and think between poses. I remembered how shaky I was during my first few assignments, when everyone was looking at me as I try to cough out some poses on the spot. Sweat. I'd really like to see how a pro works in the field one day.

One tool I'm learning to use effectively is off camera flashes (aka strobist). Maybe one day, when I own more flashes and maybe some light stands. But right now, I still have to rely on our dear reporters to handhold them for me.

Mum i've been shooting: 通讯员 internal camp 07

2008-08-07T09:00:00.000-07:00

My first multi-day super assignment came in the form of a 4d3n camp. Both equipment and operator were taxed to the limit. To me this is the perfect endurance training.

More after the break...

The camp was held at changi MOE adventure camp site, and I was to provide coverage for the entire event.

What is challenging is the multitude of conditions I had to shoot in. Indoors, outdoors, bright sunlight, dark campfires, rain or shine, my job is to document the games, and capture the smiles. And continue to do so with less than 4 hours of sleep every night. Don't forget the slideshow at the end of the event as well.

Photos are expected to be more aesthetically pleasing than meaningful, so I got to experiment a lot of unorthodox angles, which is where I really get to learn. Shoehorn a UWA into someone's face? No problem. Super-slow sync? Off camera flash? Zoom burst? Whatever you can think of. Just... impress.

With a camera in my hand for extended hours, I really understood its ergonomics and limitations. I learnt to handle the equipment by instinct, like counting the no. of clicks when turning the dials, or swapping lenses without looking down. It is in situations like this that I really thank Nikon for putting so much attention into ergonomics. A little flaw in the balance, or a mistake in the shape of the grip would definitely show up the next day in the form of muscle aches.

Adrenaline is also kept high. One has to 眼观四面，耳听八方, or at least try to maintain that level of vigilance. There are moments where you will just want to slack, but the thought of missing the action, missing the smile, or maybe missing THAT million $ shot will really push you to endure.

All is not done when everyone else goes to sleep. We had to process the photos, and this is where I get to learn how to streamline the workflow: Being critical in selecting pictures, and keeping the edits simple and fast, how you separate the selected, edited or resized photos from the rest of the pool without making too many duplicates... Working with event photography isn't quite the same as hobby photoshoots... all these factors are critical in getting the presentation delivered on time, and in style.

The article was published on 2nd of January 2008. Though I didn't get paid for this (coz its a combined effort), just going through the training is worth the effort. Of course, seeing your pictures blown up on paper is a real bonus =D