this is the way i see it*

okay.. I'm going to.. surrender..

2008-11-02T16:43:00.008+08:00

The updates are not coming in as often as half a year back. Well, I haven't done much impressive progress for my part-time hobby. Occasional snap outings with friends was all I could manage. Updating separately in multiple online properties, feels like added-on work to my daily obligations. Enough internet publishing already!

So.. I'm going to surrender... to..

flickr

Catch me there for pictorial updates in Photography.

I've got so many other stuff on my plate now.. and mainly I have to focus on one thing now.. more than anything else. So macro and other aspects will have to wait. Will I ever get my macro lens? The much rambled about Tamron 90mm, but never actually bought? Haha.. More ramblings after one month. Wait till I settle what I have to settle first. Grr..

I think I know which one..

2008-09-17T22:42:00.009+08:00

And so, classes have ended about six weeks back; which also explains the lack of updates. :P

One closed door leads to another open door.

I found myself lured to join the outings organised by a photography group on Facebook. I was paranoid at first, since.. they could be total strangers. But in this Web 2.0 world with it's emphasis on social networking, making friends through Facebook based on common interests and activities could actually be effective. I thought.

New friends. New experiences. New lessons learnt. Fun. Social. The people were all really friendly, helpful and with lots of humour in them too! All too passionate about Photography.

Singapore Fireworks Festival 2008

* * *

Tamron has announced a revised version of its popular 90mm macro lens with an autofocus motor for Nikon cameras. The move allows the use of this venerable lens design as a telephoto macro with the Nikon D40, D40X and D60 models. The lens will be available from the late September in Japan with other markets following.

Source: www

Wee...! I hope this lens would come to SG soon enough. I think I'm leaning more towards Tamron than other options. I wanna MACRO..!

Third-Party Lens

2008-07-24T22:38:00.003+08:00

Okay, so everyone knows a Micro lens is going to cost $S1600++. And so the instructor/seniors recommended either the Tamron 90mm Macro or Sigma 150mm Macro. The humourous instructor specifically insisted on Sigma, saying that it produces super sharp images. One senior informed me that the Tamron would cost around S$600++ while the Sigma one would cost ~~S$900++~~S$1,200++.

Then someone else pointed out that the Tamron lens wouldn't be able to auto-focus on my camera.. something to do with.. mm.. that lens doesn't have a motor or something and wouldn't be able to communicate with my camera. Yeah, something like that. LOL

The seniors were all really friendly and kind. I got to borrow the macro equipment/external flash/super sturdy tripod from various seniors, and they even helped to set it up. Pretty cool stuff. Managed to spot a dragonfly. Gosh.. it's got such a metallic shine.

But no, insects are not my intention at all, just stepping stones.

I'll have to think again. Just how much do I want the macro stuff.

How much..

You tell me.

Lessons

2008-07-13T23:08:00.001+08:00

Still around. Been to three lessons of Nature Photography so far, and I think all those technical terms of aperture, depth of field, shutter speed, and so on, are finally sinking in. I think they just can't emphasise enough about shooting in manual mode; manual is the way to go; or tripods are essential for serious shooting.

Of my other 23 classmates, I must have been the youngest of the lot. Them retirees, housewives, aunties and uncles? Though the instructors are young enough I think.

Last week we were introduced to Macro Photography, the essential equipment and set-up. The serious Macro person would be lugging around with a whole lot of equipment and chasing after shooting micro objects such as insects and bugs. I haven't thought of going that extreme. Still weighing the options, trying to get the best from what I have; then perhaps try buying an extension tube like some had suggested.

It's Landscape this week and 90 minutes of theory in class. Rule of thirds, hyperfocal distance, landscape design, and so on. He did some demo with a dino stuffed animal for fill flash. Amazing, when I never could work out how that worked before.

Keep shooting, practice yeah.

Nikkor-AF-24-85mm f/2.8-4

2008-06-26T17:12:00.001+08:00

Hey.. what do you know? My uncle is a Nikon user too.. back in the Stone-Age. I guess he recently heard about my purchase and thus offered to pass me one of his lens - Nikkor-AF-24-85mm f/2.8-4.

Been google-ing about it and reading about it's capabilities and stuff. I like the bit which says:

Additionally, the new 24-85 has some hidden talents that bear mentioning. When the macro mode is engaged, the lens becomes a 35-85mm lens that focuses continuously from infinity to 1:2 (half-life size on the film) at the long end @ 8.5 inches. Center sharpness in the macro range is excellent at all apertures except f2.8. The enhanced macro capabilities add a significant extra value to an already versatile performer.
Macro images from the 24-85 were quite good even when compared side by side with the superb macro images shot with the Micro-Nikkor 105/2.8. The 24-85 will not replace a dedicated macro lens, but it will do a much better job than most “macro” zooms.

Source
This wide-to-telephoto lens is ideal for landscapes, full length portraits, travel and general purpose photography. Compact and lightweight, this high performance zoom lens captures 24mm wide angle images with a fast f/2.8 maximum aperture, with autofocus throughout the lens' close-up Macro focusing range. Its maximum Reproduction Ratio (R:R) at 85mm is 1/2 life size (1:2), allowing superb close-up photography. Accepts 72mm filters; HB-25 lens hood.
Source

Right, so if I do manage to use it properly, I'll have wide-angle and macro options!

JAPAN

2008-06-09T22:41:00.008+08:00

Finally, after years and years of learning the language, I reached the land of the rising sun, of awesome service, cute-sy stuff and lots of extremely polite people. Very punctual too. It was kind of a challenge for me, to try doing some street talk, ask for directions and such. Some know English, but others just don't.

Weekday mornings at the subway/metro stations are rushed affairs. People are rushing everywhere. The train network(s) were awfully complicated with multiple lines and train providers - metro/JR/etc.

I love the food halls. I just love the food. I love the weather.

When a friend mentioned that 600 pictures were taken at some trip to Hong Kong some time back, I wondered how it was possible to take hundreds of pictures; until I did a few hundreds myself on this trip.

There's just no explanation. As I told BK, "when you start, you just can't stop."

: )

Love of Macro

2008-05-22T21:32:00.001+08:00

Shooting macro using point-and-shoot cameras used to be perfectly fine until I started to scrutinise the finer details such as the picture quality, bokeh effects and colours. There wasn’t much skill to be involved either.

After much research around shooting macro with slr cameras, it all boils down to… if I’m really serious about macro, then I’ll have to invest in the one expensive – the MACRO lens. No matter it being SIGMA, TAMRON or NIKKOR Micro, they are all very costly. Very, especially NIKKOR ones. Even as I try to stretch my kit lens to however macro it can go, there is still a limit.

And then I happened to spot this workshop organised by Botanical Gardens & Nature Photography Society Singapore. The course covers composition of photographs in general, macro, landscape, advanced macro, etc. After shooting aimlessly for the past couple of months, I thought I really don’t mind paying to absorb some theory and guidelines in this genre of photography. The course promised 6 lessons over 6 weeks of theory lessons, as well as outdoor hands-on practice. The price looks pretty reasonable.

Following those shutterbugs on their carefully planned trips were good experiences, but their photography expertise were intimidating. So I thought that perhaps I should get some basic stuff laid down first. After all, it’s meant to be a hobby; at my own pace too.

I’m in for the workshop. :)

0512 Sunrise

2008-05-13T00:34:00.010+08:00

I awoke at about 6.55am on Monday morning, without even a hint of sound from my alarm clock yet. The first thing I noticed was the orange ray of light from outside my window. The formation of the clouds and colour made me grab my camera to capture this moment. Oh yes.. and the polariser filter too. Hee..

Haven't felt inspired to snap pictures for the past two weeks. Hmm.. emo.. and other commitments are in the way. Losing interest? No way! It's just that.. I need a holiday. lol

Botanic Gardens II - Flowers

2008-05-04T20:35:00.005+08:00

Flowers have got to be my favourite subject.

They never fail to fascinate me. (:

Object: Water

2008-05-01T14:10:00.004+08:00

An experiment with MF mode

Botanic Gardens II - People

2008-04-27T11:43:00.001+08:00

I have never attempted to shoot pictures of humans/people before this. I thought the people visiting the Botanical Gardens were pretty interesting. :P

Botanic Gardens II - notes

2008-04-26T23:55:00.001+08:00

I treaded on the land of botanics again, exactly a month later, and this time with a friendly bunch of shutterbugs. I was shocked to see their full gear in hand and all the technical knowledge and experience that they had about macro/nature photography. I realised how little I knew and wondered about the true definition of photography to these people. Shooting in manual modes were everything - exposure, aperture and shutter speeds; they all sound foreign to me.

Botanic Gardens

2008-04-13T19:15:00.005+08:00

Left footprints on the lands of botanics and nature.

Stalked after creatures such as these.

Spotted some berries while suspecting that they might not be edible.

Just the Beginning

2008-04-12T13:03:00.002+08:00

March 09, 2008 - marks the start of a new imaging journey with my first-ever digital slr gadget. From the moment I had a hands-on session with it, I knew the time has come to finally purchasing one. One expensive investment to help kickstart a whole series of new adventures and new perspectives. And this.. shall be the evidence of my journey. Just photos and little anecdotes. Welcome to my photo journal. : )