BUKIT TINGGI RESORT

It was a gloomy Sunday afternoon as we leisurely made our way up to Bukit Tinggi Resort in Pahang. It’s roughly about 45 minutes drive via the Karak Highway and finally up a rather winding road up to the Resort.

The weather were holding on quite well as I was expecting it to rain any time. But nevertheless, it didn’t and occasionally we still catch some sunlight.

Our 1st stop was at the Japanese and Botanical Gardens, where we had to make a 300m hike up a steep path. After making up to Mount Kinabalu, this is what you could say ‘kacang putih’ or maybe not….

The Japanese Garden was as expected, lots of greens and several Japanese huts, garden decors and pebbles pathway aligned all the way through the garden.

Next stop, the Botanical Garden, it’s really a well-planned landscaping with an open air ‘Green House’ where you will find many different species of flowering plants. It’s a rather vast garden as you ventures deeper into the large landscapes. The pathway reveals an abundance of trees, plants and exotic flowers that grace the pathway all along the garden.

The last stop is the French-themed village, Colmar Tropicale with its French architecture that does not impress me much. As it finally rained, we find ourselves scouring for shelter and found a quaint little bakery for some coffee and cakes.

What I find interesting about this place is definitely, the cool weather that was such a relief from the hot and humid in KL City.

The trip turned out to be pleasant enough as were the photography experience. It’s a recommended place for leisure photography session with not too much expectation unless it’s well-planned out. You will find many interesting locations that suits your photography needs.

Raymond Lam Fung @ Arena of STARS

I and some of my photographer friends were invited to shoot for a concert at the ARENA of STARS at Genting on 19 December 2009. Little did we know that it was a celebrity concert by Hong Kong based actor and singer, Raymond Lam Fung! He is well known in Hong Kong, China, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Canada and even in the US.

Here are some shots of the concert which we enjoyed very much as the stage set up were very challenging indeed for any photographer. It’s even trickier as there were massive arrays of lasers, neon and spotlights throughout the stage performances.

Basically, shooting concert is an amazing opportunity to capture some great images. It can be a real challenge to work with the constantly changing stage lighting especially with its different colors.

Rule One

The first rule of thumb when covering any concert or stage performances is never use the flashlight. Not only will the constant flashes annoyed the audience, it will also affect the performers on stage. A flashlight will also instantly kill the creative atmosphere or ambience stage lighting.

Rule Two

Use a high ISO of 1600 with the widest aperture possible and

changing your shutter speed as you go along.

Rule Three

Of course, stick to manual mode as the stage lighting condition can change so drastically.

Such constantly changing lights can drive your camera metering crazy

so it’s better to have manual control.

Rule Four

You don’t need a tripod or even a monopod.

If you have the luxury to move around to shoot the concert, it’ll hinder your freedom.

Rule Five

For sharp and clean image, remember to keep your shutter at 1/250

or faster to capture your subjects on stage.

Rule Six

RAW is the name of the game!

Shooting in RAW will help you eliminate the problem

of the constantly changing light conditions, it helps tremendously with WB later.

Rule Seven

Always carry two cameras with you, one hooked with a zoom lens of 70-200 f2.8

and the other either a wider 17-40 f2.8

keep in mind the crop factor if it’s not on a full-frame camera.

Rule Eight

Compose and frame your shots carefully,
always anticipate the next steps

and be alert or ahead of what’s about to happen.

Don’t shoot like a ‘machine-gun’ which I notice is the trend of a new digital photographer.

The shutter sound can be extremely annoying to the audience too!

So these are my golden rules for shooting a concert or stage performances. Of course, it’s always different method with each photographer so you should find your own way and decide what’s comfortable to you.

'My Water Moments' with Sony TX5

I just simply love photography, and I find my subjects practically anywhere and at anytime. Sometimes, it can be a leisure stroll in the park or most times a day trip out to some ‘exotic’ location.

Many times, I find myself indulging in my favorite past time in the weirdest occasion. Sometimes, it’s in some unlikely situation where you find yourself quite prepared indeed to capture some interesting shots. Though not expecting any good outcome, the results really surprised me.. a lot!

I’m talking about underwater photography! The mere mention of underwater photography one would think of big huge underwater casing and external professional-looking strobe-lights! You start to imaging photos of beautiful deep-sea creatures and corals beneath the waves….photos which mostly belonged to the realm of skilled divers and photographers.

Fret not; the latest technology in digital imaging has brought this capability to the reach of users who simply wants to have fun underwater but minus all the expensive equipment. Just take a look at the latest Sony Cyber-shot TX5, wow – no one could believed that this little camera is not only capable for taking picture on land, you can actually take it down into the pool!

Yes, believed it! The TX5 can submerge into the pool as deep as 10’ under. What’s amazing also is that you can take it to the beach and no worries but this little baby is dustproof. There’s more, it is also shock proof meaning it can within an accidental drops from as high as 5’ height.

Now, that’s really a ‘WOW from me for a camera that so slim and tiny in size for having so much ruggedness in it.

Briefly, the TX5 is a 10mp digital camera with Sony’s very own technology of Exmor R CMOS sensor and BIONZ processor. It can cover up to 4x zoom range and has a 25mm wide angle point of view. I loved the Red body but don’t mind the Black or Silver all 3 colors oozes with charms!

That’s too much talk about these little cameras, now it’s time to share some photos of

‘My Water Moments’

It was a hot and sunny day, so off to the nearest pool to cool ourselves down. Photographing kids have always been a fun thing. So it’s important that the photographer must join in the fun. What’s more having such a great opportunity to do it in the pool makes it even more challenging and tricky!

Actually, the secrets is just let the kids do their stuff and just play along with them. In the end it’s them that actually provide you with all the fantastic candid poses which can never be achieved if you tried to pose them. After a short while, they started to devise some ways to keep themselves longer under for me to capture their amazing aquatic poses.

This little underwater camera can really be such a joy to have in the pool or even in the sea. Imaging just having these great photos taken in the pool, you have a bigger pool out there in the big open sea.

All the images turned out fantastic, color reproduction beautiful with the blue of the pool in really brilliant blue….

It’s definitely a great fun to share  ......

'My Water Moments' anytime and any place.

Carmen – Untold Story!

A famous story of a gypsy woman called Carmen.
She’s a gutsy and free-spirited woman before her time

People called her a wild woman except for those that knew her..
Born into extreme poverty, Carmen lived a life that she only know best..

A life full of trickery, lies and deceit
She knows no love and she knows no mercy,

Her beauty and charms is her way of survival
She falls deeply in love and yet very quickly out of it

Cravings for excitements and adventures constantly
Her lovers are abundance and no one matters except herself.

Can she truly remain faithful to one lover?
We pity the poor man that thought he’s won her heart!

Alas, when she get bored, he’s no more..
Carmen is what is she is, a woman full of passion

No man can have her, only she will have them.
Carmen cannot understand why?

As she lies there in her own blood
Why did they want to hurt her?

She only loved and only wanted to be loved!!
In the end, Red is her favorite color......

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Sony Alpha NEX Camera

Probably it’s what most of us have secretly been wishing for a small body camera with DSLR quality production – Sony NEX 5 and NEX 3, the new Sony Alpha mirrorless interchangeable lens camera.

These ‘EVIL’ cameras have really made a huge impact in the last year or so. Panasonic and Olympus were the first with their EVILS, the EPs and GFs, both are micro four third system. Then came along the Samsung NX10 with its ‘EVIL’ which is not so evil looking but a weak DSLR look alike body, yet claiming it’s not a DSLR but only look like a DSLR . However, giving it some credits that it has a full sensor in a somewhat smaller looking DSLR body. NX10 did not create a huge excitement in the market, unfortunately. By the way, EVIL means Electronic Viewfinder Interchangeable Lens cameras.

I guess like how they says it in a fairytale – ‘The EVIL.. rest One of them All is the NEX’.

Over the past few years, many have tagged themselves as professional photographers simply by acquiring a ‘macho’ looking DSLR camera and several expensive lenses to complete the collection. Strangely how many can produce good photographs have yet to be seen.

Of course, personally I have seen some great photos produced by a mere digital compact camera rather than those from a DSLR. In most cases, those that got themselves a DSLR actually did not really understand that they are acquiring a camera system and not just a camera.

Investing in an entry level DSLR with an 18-55mm kit lens is a good start, but it’ll not give you enough to produce creative images that you’ve always seen. And also, with a DSLR there are some technical skills to learn in order to fully make use of the DSLR features. It’ll be a total waste to own a DSLR and continue to shoot with the ‘Green’ or P mode; both means auto or semi-auto mode. If you prefer these modes, than it’s better to stick to a digital compact camera that can offers much more creative freedom.

Today, the NEX can take over this dilemma by providing a DSLR-quality in a smaller size camera that has most of the features of a compact camera. The NEX 5 automatic features is simply so easy to use and once you started shooting, there’s simply not stopping.

What I can say about the NEX is that you cannot treat it like a DSLR, it’s not a ‘macho’ thing! This stylish looking camera comes in a fantastic looking silver and black magnesium body. My personal choice is the silver one and the feeling of having it my palm, well I simply loved it. You don’t put a neck strap over the NEX because it’ll spoil the image. All you need to have is a cool looking and reliable hand strap to accessorize it.

Unlike many other DSLR, this little thing with its 18-55mm lens is a great companion to have in any occasion – outdoor and especially indoor. What a discovery for me to see the images at ISO 1600 and it’s simply awesome that some DSLR in the same range cannot match its quality reproduction.

Now I can enjoy my photography even better with a camera that I can simply throw into my handbag and yet, ready to shoot.

So this must be the camera that most have been dreaming of, but somehow it took the manufacturer or camera designers a longer time to figure it out. Or maybe, I’m guessing it wrong because they are actually waiting for the right time and moment to showcase it.

They waited patiently to see what the competitors have up their sleeves and then when the time is right – ‘Big Bang’!! Sony does it again - this time not with the tagline ‘Like No Other’ but a more appropriate ‘Make.Believe’…

Sony Malaysia held the alpha NEX 'Big Bang' at one of the most amazing location in the heart of Kuala Lumpur @ the Rooftop of Lot 10.

Coincidence – not Love or Fate

Most days of the year are unremarkable

They begin and they end with no lasting memories made in between

Most days have no impact on the course of a life

Then one day everything just changed

You cannot describe the great cosmic significance
to a simple earthy event

Concidence that’s all anything ever is

Nothing more than coincidence not love or fate.