Heritage Singapore Flickr Exhibition@NLB

Heritage Singapore Flickr Exhibition@NLB
Originally uploaded by Edgedale

My very 1st exhibition which showcase 8 of my best creative work in public display at the National Library Board. Thanks to everyone in Yahoo! and Flickr Singapore. Special thanks goes to Miss Suzz. Without her, everyone's work will never ever be in display.

Total of about 15 of us got our photos printed in 8Rs and some were in 4Rs.

Exhibition started on the 2Aug till 10Aug 2008.

How to shoot F1 in Singapore GrandPrix Nite Street Race?

The best angle to catch the fast moving car like the formula 1 super cars will be camping over tight corner like a hairpin curve.

Reason for that will be;
There is no way for our semi-pro or prosumer camera to be able to capture it. Especially on a night street race. Try to shoot when cars are just on the mist of picking up it's speed on tight curves.

And also for our Singapore nite race, a good wide angle lens will do the work. Telephoto lens, if you are shooting from Padlock area or VIP Grandstand. Else, there willn't be a chance at all, as many amature photographers and car lovers will be crowding around the frontal view. Also, cages will be put up for safety reason.

I had did some recee on the tracks.

1. VIP and Lockpad sector




2. Pit Stop sector (Prohibit to all unless you are belong to a race team or crew)


3. Test shoot on a Go Kart on the padlock sector (Using 10mm-22mm)

Guidelines of Journalistic Photography

Have you wanted to do journalistic photography and yet do not know it's guidelines? The below article contain most guideline which many photojournalist used.

For more details, refer to the link below the guidelines.

1.0	True-to-Life And Utility-Enhancing Procedures
	The following digital image editing procedures are permitted to compensate for limitations and defects inherent in the digital photographic process, provided that the impact is to make the photograph more true-to-life (i.e. accurate):
	1.0.1	Color balancing/correction
	1.0.2	Burning
	1.0.3	Correction of lens distortion
	1.0.4	Despeckling
	1.0.5	Dodging
	1.0.6	File optimization
	1.0.7	Focus adjustments
	1.0.8	Glare elimination
	1.0.9	Overall lightening or darkening
	1.0.10	Red eye elimination
2.0	News/Editorial Images (Permissible Procedures)
	The following digital image editing procedures generally are permitted for news/editorial purposes, unless the nature of the publication requires images to be precisely representative of what was photographed.
	2.0.1	Cropping, darkening or focus-softening to reduce/eliminate superfluous material in a manner that preserves the context of the event.
	2.0.2	Enhancing an image, or part of an image, when it serves an investigative purpose. The use of enhancement techniques should be disclosed.
	2.0.3	Legally-required (or advisable) concealment of a subject's identity, done in an obvious way (e.g. pixilation).
	2.0.4	Adding realistic proportionate "motion" to moving objects. (Some commentators have taken exception to this guideline and argued that motion should not be "added" when it was not part of the image out of the camera. This point, in essence, is that the photographer and not the digital editor should determine whether to create an image with motion. The same issue arises with respect to the application of "fisheye effects" and other effects in image post-production. These important issues must be resolved between a photographer and his/her publication. A digital editor should respect whatever policy is communicated.)
3.0	News/Editorial Images (Impermissible Procedures)
	The following digital image editing procedures generally are not permitted for news/editorial purposes:
	3.0.1	Adding, removing or moving objects in such a way that the context of the event is altered.
	3.0.2	Age progression or regression (e.g. adding gray to hair).
	3.0.3	Changing a subject's facial expression, gestures, clothing, body parts or personal accessories.
	3.0.4	Retouching that enhances or reduces the apparent quality or desirability of an item, or the aesthetics of a place.
	3.0.5	Using "motion" to create a misleading impression that the subject is moving at a different speed than he/she/it was moving during the events.
	3.0.6	Using effects or color changes in such a manner that it is unclear whether the effects or color changes were applied through digital editing or were part of the original event that was being covered.
	3.0.7	Using any other digital editing procedure in a way that creates a misleading impression of the events, participants or context.
	3.0.8	In nature photographs, special care should be taken to represent animal and plant life in its actual environment, habitat and context (e.g. do not lighten a background to make it appear that a nocturnal animal is diurnal or place an animal in fabricated geographical settings).
	3.0.9	It is impermissible to manipulate a nature photo so as to create a false appearance that animals were associating with other animals (including humans), to group animals together in a manner that did not naturally occur or to increase the number of animals in a group.
	3.0.10	The enhancement of nature images for the purpose of investigation or viewability is permissible, provided the manipulation is incidental, obvious or specifically disclosed to the viewer.
	3.0.11	It is impermissible to represent a fabricated phenomenon as natural (e.g. adding a shooting star or rainbow).
	3.0.12	These procedures are impermissible whether accomplished through digital editing or physical editing ("mortising") of images.
4.0	Promotional Images For News Publications (Permissible Procedures)
	The following digital image editing procedures are permitted to achieve promotional objectives (e.g. on publication covers and introductory areas of an article) in a manner that is not misleading as to the events, participants or context:
	4.0.1	Modifications of image composition are disfavored and should be disclosed. The cropping of an image to exclude damage constitutes a modification.
	4.0.2	Cropping, rotation or image enhancement beyond the repair of after-acquired damage or deterioration (including contrast change) are substantive modifications of an image that should be applied to archival images only when necessary to achieve a proper archival purpose (e.g. analysis of a particular architectural feature) and in a manner that is consistent with the principles herein.
	4.0.3	Cropping of the secondary support, frame or vignettes in the original should be avoided when possible. Secondary supports, frames and vignettes should be considered an integral part of a photographic artifact and may carry valuable historical information, such as watermarks, signatures, stamps and studio names. A digital image of a secondary support, frame or vignette may be restored in a manner that is consistent with the photo restoration.
	4.0.4	Reference To Journalism Ethics: It is impermissible to modify a historical image in a manner that would violate ethics pertaining to manipulation of journalistic images. Reference is made to the "DigitalCustom Model Rules To Preserve The Integrity of Images For Journalistic Purposes" (Release Version #2.0, March 1, 2003)(available at www.digitalcustom.com).
	4.0.5	Skin and hair beautification.
	4.0.6	Title (or other text) overlays.
	4.0.7	The use of other digital editing procedures in a way that is not misleading as to the events, participants or context.
5.0	Promotional Images For News Publications (Impermissible Procedures)
	Same as 3.0.
6.0	Preservation of Source Materials and Ancillary Principles
	The original unedited file captured by the photographer (or scanned), and all files integrated into a composite picture, should be preserved as evidence of the extent of editing.
	6.0.1	The publication should designate one or more editors to decide ethical issues related to digital image editing procedures.
	6.0.2	Artists and technicians who perform digital image editing services that are subject to ethical guidelines should be provided with the guidelines, and be instructed promptly to disclose to the publication any known variance from the guidelines.
	6.0.3	Absent information to the contrary, a digital editor may assume that editing instructions received from a designated contact person at a publication are consistent with the publication's policies.
	6.0.4	These guidelines do not address the issue of who has discretion over journalistic image editing for a particular publication (e.g. the photographer, publisher, editor, reporter). The publication should make clear its policies in this regard.
	6.0.5	These guidelines are addressed only to journalistic images and are not intended to limit the procedures that might be applied to commercial images, artistic images or images for personal purposes.

Source from DigitalCustom
http://digitalcustom.com/howto/mediaguidelines.asp

EF400mm f5.6 L USM "Super Telephoto" Lens

Personally my first impression of this lens is rather light just like my EF200mm f2.8 L USM. There isn't any IS feature but when holding this lens, surprisingly i was able to shooting without any problem on a outdoor daytime shoot. It's image quality is stunning sharp with full details which make my sports photography for the recent surfing shoot turns out to be very satisfying. Not only it give me the range which I need, it's focusing speed is lightning fast too.

Compare having a extender of 2x on my EF70-200mm f2.8 L IS USM which give me the same range of 400mm, the picture quality was very poor.

I personally recommend of owning this lens as a robust light weighted sports lens to have.

My Long Absense

It's been quite a while since I update my journal. I was very busy with work and also my 2.5 weeks of NS reservist.

I will be providing more write up on photography, tips and tricks in coming weeks. Stay tune in here.

Thankyou for dropping by.

Photography Tips: Making full use of your gear and system

Shopping in a retail store, usually the salesman will recommend you with many good product like the exposedisc, filters or lenses or even the latest camera. As a commercial photographer, i do not blow my budget on any gear i will spend on. Take for example the exposedisc which cost about $200 plus for a 77mm diameter disc, where i can able to mimic something which did the same effect and cost me less than 2 buck.

Make use of what you have and what you own in your camera bag. Buy only things which you will always used. Buying a lens require many consideration factors, one wrong buys, and you will regret it. As for me, i never regret on any lens I bought. Because I know what kind of photography I will usually do in my field of work.

Buying a second hand lens from someone whom you never know or meet before is a risky thing. You don't know how he handle the lens or how he take care of the lens before he selling to you. Always check for loose parts and electronic contacts part and also most important, check for any fungus buildup inside lens elements and also the coating of the lens. I will say, buying at your own risk.

Photography Tips: Shooting with one focal length

To improve your level of photography, try to shoot have a photo assignment on your own or in your group. Force yourselves to limit to a single focal; ie, 50mm. In fact our eyes are looking at 50mm f/0.

It is good to restrict yourselves to a fixed lens like the 50mm, there is how you will learn to see things from the 3rd eye. I enjoy shooting from my 50mm f/1.8, because it not only give me a good bokeh of cause if you want a better bokeh, (a f/1.4 or a f/1.2 is far better) but it's does not have any image distortion. I like to shoot food and product with my trusty cheap plastic 50mm.

Have a small photo assignment of yourselves today. Get a prime lens and shoot at a interesting subject.

Happy shooting.

Photography Tips: Cemetery Photography

Soo Chin saw something
Originally uploaded by Edgedale

Creating a interesting shot not only it required a level of photographic skill and post processing skill, you need luck. Luck on the weather, the lighting and the moments of person's reaction.

Shooting at high bust give you more chance and selections of events happening in that period of time frame.

Usually how i compose my shot, i pick a subject which my friend, Soo Chin, comes into the picture. Using my 70-200mm lens, i fired away 10 frames at a roll with shutter speed of 1/500 on Shutter priority mode in AI servo focusing. Having shooting all 10 frames, i am able to select the best frames among all 10. In moments of events, every seconds counts. If you are slow, you will miss it.

To have strong contrast image, i shooting at -1/3 stops and i further push it's contrast level higher via post processing, like using Photoshop. High contrast level gives a higher detail in texture, and also giving a harsh image and mood.

Review: Canon EOS 40D

Canon EOS 40D
Originally uploaded by Edgedale

After waiting for few minutes in order for me to test out the 40D, the first impression of this new camera was feel good with holding it with your palm. It's viewfinder do look alittle bite larger, in fact it is very subtle change in size. It's shutter sound is alittle quieter then the 20D and 30D. The only different between EOS 40D and EOS 1D MkIII will be it's Live View which allow auto focus, just like the Powershot and Ixus series.

It's UI Menu do look the same. From a Canon user like myself, when I hold and shoot it, all the buttoms are located almost same as my EOS 30D with few buttoms addon, like it's AF buttom which make it look rather 1 series wannabe.

I really enjoy playing with EOS 40D and it do worth a upgrade for any amature shooter should you really want to jump into dSLR, I will strongly recommend the EOS 40D over the EOS 400D which is a little bit price difference.

Go get it now! The next shipment will be end next month.

Photography Tips: Shooting the Japanese Cemetery Park

Shooting in Singapore can be challenging as there are not much interesting places compare to other countries like Vietnam, China, Europe or the States. Often local photographers will shooting in town, Singapore Botanical Gardens, Chinese/Japanese Garden, Sentosa, Chinatown, etc.

Looking for unique places can be very challenging. To have uniqueness, one need to have a different perspective eyes of looking at things or object. Many people will tend to overlook at some things which they take it for granted, others don't be bother by it.

Tomorrow I hope the photo session with my flickr group will be a fruitful and educational one.

It will be my first time shooting the Japanese Cemetery Park at Chuan Hoe Avenue. Stay tune as I will be covering on how to create interesting morbidic shots.


Japanese Cemetery Park

Photography Theme: Lomo photography

Lomophotography is something new to me especially in digital photography arena. The typical DSLRs are unable to archive. The only solution for lomo photos will be in post processing. But again, a camera is just a tools and what it do is taking in any light onto the sensor. So in my term it is called, "garbage in garbage out".

There are some rules about Lomo photography to keep in mind;
1. Take your LOMO everywhere you go and whenever you go.
2. Use it any time - day or night.
3. Lomography is not an interference in your life, but a part of it.
4. Shoot from the hip.
5. Approach the objects of your lomographic desire as close as possible.
6. Don't think.
7. Be fast.
8. You don't have to know beforehand what you've captured on film.
9. You don't have to know afterwards, either.
10. Don't worry about the rules.

Canon Media Storage M80

My experience with my new M80 is a very pleasant and delightful one. Not only it mean for my RAW files previewing, it can watch video files of mp4 and avi and also digital audio files.

The overall chassis is make of the same material as my EOS 30D, magnesium alloy. It have a large hi def LCD display and also a CF and SD card reader which my Powershot able to make full use of it. As for battery type, Canon have did a great job by using the same type of battery in my EOS 30D camera.

The down side for M80, well it's took a long period of time to open up a full length movie file. Guess it 's not really mean for watching vids than storing and previewing images.

M80 is workable in both macosx and winXP platform. Cost of this hardware is on the high end price for a storage media.

My rating for M80 is 4/5.

Motivation for better picture

The Big Walk
Originally uploaded by Edgedale

At time you may found out that you have run out of ideals, concepts, creative juices and motivation to have a right shot or a good shots. Don't worry about that, it's part of life in the world of creativity.

I used to bump into corners where I have doubt of myself and my capabilities of a good creativity person and a photographer. I run out of ideals, concepts and also lose of motivation.

Sometime, it is good to have something to keep you going and push on. Listen to morale boosting talks or read a book on motivation or happy music tunes. Share your problem with your senior, mentor or your love ones is vital.

Have a positive mindset of being criticise on your work. Accept feedbacks on mistakes which you made on your shots, try to change your style or your way of shooting. Learn from the real professional, learn from their way of shooting and their workflow. You can try to mimic their style but do not copy all. Have you own style and theme.

Look at the bright side if you got negative feedback. You can never please everyone.

I have a very good motivation song which I will like to share with you. It's by The Polyphonic Spree, Light and Day.



Lyric:

Light and day is more than you'll say

Because all
My feelings are more
Than i can let by
Or not
More than you've got
Just follow the day

Follow the day and reach for the sun!

You don't see me flyin to the red
One more you're done
Just follow the seasons and find the time
Reach for the bright side
You don't see me flyin to the red
One more you're nuts
Just follow the day
Follow the day and reach for the sun

Just follow the day
Follow the day and reach for the sun!

You don't see me flyin to the red
One more you're nuts
Just follow the seasons and find the time
Reach for the bright side
You don't see me flyin to the red
One more you're nuts
Just follow the day
Follow the day and reach for the sun!

Just follow the day
Follow the day and reach for the sun!

Just follow the day
Follow the day and reach for the sun!

Canon EOS 40D

The new Canon EOS 40D will be replacing the prosumer flagship, EOS 30D in coming September 2007.

Having it's new technology of the DIGIC III processor and the ICS (Integrated Cleaning System) which inherit from the EOS 400D. Beside of having DIGIC III, ICS, the body is slightly bigger than it predecessors EOS 20D and 30D. And with a 3" LCD Live View which bare the same feature as the Canon EOS 1D MkIII.

Burst rate have increase by 1.5fps. It's UI menu system is the same as the EOS 1D MkIII too and a increase in it's view finder.

EOS 40D is worth upgrade for any EOS 20D or EOS 30D shooter. As for me, I will rather have a leap to the 1 series.

Cleaning the CMOS sensor

There some best practices in cleaning the sensor. One of method which i always do it on the field or in my room will be the exposing the sensor facing down ward.

This way, you will have minimum dust particles that will fall back into the sensor while you blow it using your blower. This method can be apply on both indoor and outdoor.

Changing lens on a windy day can be tricky. Never open up the sensor facing upward or sideward. Dust particles will easily caught inside the shutter windows and onto the sensor.

Should you really need to change a lens during on such event, always face away the wind direction when you open up the lens to change. And always face the sensor downward to minimum dust particles that will fall back into the sensor.

Canon EOS 1D Mk III

Speaking about sports photography, the Canon EOS 1D MkIII is a better choice for any extreme or high speed sports photography genre. It have the nice 10fps shutter speed with a 1.3 crop sensor which is the upgrade from it's predecessor of Canon EOS 1D Mk II.

I have personally tested out this camera on the Canon Road Show at East Coast few months back and it made me feel that I should get a professional level camera any sooner as I love to shoot in high bust rate and of cause, I love sports photography.

The weight of the EOS 1D Mk III is much lighter than it's predecessor and have a built-in integrated sensor cleaning system like the EOS 400D. What make this camera so unique to all Canon's camera is that, it have a DIGIC III duo processor which allow it to handle such a high speed bust rate and a precision auto focusing. It's view finder is so much bigger and clearer than my EOS 30D.

All the long I have been wishing that I will have a live view LCD screen on my EOS 30D which my Canon Powershot A700 has. Now, for the very first time, the EOS 1D Mk III finally have one. But it will be on manual focusing rather than auto focusing.

As for MegaPixel, this baby is a 10.1MP which is almost same as the EOS 400D. And able to shoot in very high ISO setting with low color noise. Which make it my next camera upgrade next year.

Spec of camera (source from www.dpreview.com)

Max resolution : 3888 x 2592
Low resolution : "3456 x 2304, 2816 x 1880, 1936 x 1288"
Image ratio : w:h 3:02
Effective pixels : 10.1 million
Sensor photo detectors: 10.7 million
Sensor size: 28.7 x 18.7 mm
Sensor type : CMOS
Colour filter: array RGB
Sensor manufacturer : Canon
ISO rating : "100 - 3200 in 1/3 stops, plus 50 and 6400"
Zoom wide (W): n/a
Zoom tele (T) : n/a
Digital zoom: No
Image stabilization : No
Auto Focus : Yes
Manual Focus : Yes
Auto focus type : TTL-AREA-SIR with 45-point CMOS sensor
Normal focus range : n/a
Macro focus range: n/a
White balance override: 8 positions & manual preset and 3 memories
Aperture range : n/a
Min shutter : 30 sec + Bulb
Max shutter : 1/8000 sec
Built-in Flash: No
Flash guide no.:
External flash : "Yes, hot-shoe & sync"
Flash modes : External
Exposure compensation : -3 to +3 EV in 1/3 EV or 1/2 EV steps
Metering : "21 area eval, partial, spot (center, AF point, multi-spot), center-weighted average"
Aperture priority : Yes
Shutter priority : Yes
Focal length: multiplier1.3
Lens thread: Canon EOS EF mount
Continuous Drive: "Yes, 10 fps max 110 JPEG or 30 RAW"
Movie Clips : No
Remote control : N3 connector
Self-timer : 2 or 10 sec
Timelapse recording : "Yes, by cable and PC"
Orientation sensor : Yes
Storage types: "Compact Flash (Type I or II), SD/SDHC card"
Storage included : None
Uncompressed format: "RAW, sRAW"
Compressed format: JPEG (EXIF 2.2)
Quality Levels: "Fine, Normal (can have ratios programmed)"
Viewfinder : TTL
LCD : "3.0 """
LCD Pixels : "230,000"
Video out : Yes
USB : "Yes, 2.0"
Firewire (IEEE 1394) : Yes
Battery / Charger: Yes
Battery : Canon Lithium-Ion & double charger
Weight (inc. batteries): 1335 g (47.1 oz)
Dimensions : 156 x 157 x 80 mm (6.1 x 6.2 x 3.2 in)
Notes Live View: available

Photography Tips: Shooting Firework

Team China
Originally uploaded by Edgedale

What will many amature photographers will usually do for a firework like these, many will just shoot from the frontal view from coastline, bridges or as close to the firework display venue.

Many have shot very nice firework displays, smokeless scenes. But such firework display on a nite scenes are all boring and uninteresting.

What will you see during such a moment?

People and some activities.

Yes. You will see such moments of people clusting around, some sitting on the grass plains, some trying to shoot the displays. To have a perfect fireworks display photos. It will be interesting to include all these moments together with the fireworks display.

Photography Critic : The Lone House along Still Road

The Lone House along Still Road
Originally uploaded by Edgedale

The method and style are well execute but this is not a prefect shot.

The main reason of not having a prefect angle and shot, I'm shooting it from a moving car. The background apartments spoil the theme and it's morbidness.

Photography Theme: Calmness before Storm

Calmness before Storm
Originally uploaded by Edgedale

The main focus of this picture are the 2 kids playing by the beach as the background focus is the coming storm cloud.

With such a scene not to miss, high contrast and low lightning control is vital. To boost up the mood of calmness before the storm, rules of third comes into the picture. 70% on the sky and 30% on the beach.

Grains and Desaturation is always the style on my work.

Photography Theme: Gloomy morbid road

Gloomy morbid road
Originally uploaded by Edgedale

Some photographer will not rather take chance to shoot under rain.

I will say, do not take chance for granted. Moment do not last forever, if you missed it, you missed it.

Take for instant this scene, a road.

It is just a lonely road with not much subject to it. It was heavily drizzled with very overcast sky and dark rain cloud. I was traveling inside a moving car.

What i want to show my viewer will be a dark, gloomy creepy scene.

Most shot can be digitally enhance. Thanks to digitally imaging magic of photoshop.

All you need to work on, will be low color theme, i will used the term, desaturation. Where you lower down the vivid colors from the scene and you tweet it. Grainy effect was introduce to add it's mood and feel to the scene.

I don't use color filter, because, filters were used during the days of film but to the modern technology of digital photography, all filter effects can be achieve from post processing.

Added to this, I present to you, my own photography style which i called "Morbid Desaturated".