Getting to know you

It is indeed a beautiful moment. Two people of different backgrounds, upbringing, habits coming together... it's all about understanding, compromising, complementing one another.

Some of it applies to me and my Tamron too. I forced myself to bring only this lens to the wedding, just so that I can better understand the strengths and limitations of this optic. It will take some time before I can fully exploit its capabilities.

Only when the camera and photographer fuses as one body can one fully concentrate in capturing the soul.

Thank you Mrs Phee for granting permission to publish this photo here

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Today I wiped all the walls

...now I'm tempted to clean the toilets

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New year goodies #1 - Tamron 17-50mm

New year goodies should come in red, but mine will all be black. Ok, with a bit of gold, and the one with a bit of red will arrive... soon?

For a start, my goodies should come in 2 parts. (hint hint) This is the first major upgrade - the Tamron SP AF 17-50mm F/2.8 XR Di-II Aspherical IF. Try saying that in one breath. This is the one lens that will take over my kit, and it's my 2nd lens capable of an f2.8 throughout.

There are many people looking to upgrade their kit lens, and being just 300 bucks more, one should certainly consider this lens as an option. So just how big is the improvement? When I took the first picture with this lens, I was stunned. Despite the picture being taken indoors (in the shop) without flash, the colour rendition was punchy and bright. Why couldn't i get the same picture with other lenses? I shot it at iso400.

It is only when one uses a fast lens that he realizes the advantage. No matter how great your body's high iso capability is, it is no substitute for fast glass. The subject isolation, OOF highlight rendition, it's simply one level up. For the price of SGD600, there is just no contest. Nikon's very own 17-55mm is at least 3.5 times the price for the slight improvement in optical quality. For a cheapskate like me, that lens is simply out of the question.

Reviewers like to say how much inferior the built of the lens is, compared to the rest of the competition. I'd say it's rubbish. One shouldn't compare a 600 dollar lens to a 2k+ Nikon, or a 800+ Tokina. I can break 3 tamrons before I actually match the loss of a Nikon. That is almost a 9 year warranty! (18 years, if you are in USA) Compared to a tokina 16-50, this is simply the sharper lens. You are trading image quality for build. Coming from the kit 18-70, I'd say this lens feels more solid. There is no wobble in the extension cam, unlike the shaky twin cam design of the kit. The thick rubber zoom ring has a nice tension when turned, and the focus ring is pretty damped. It is quite comparable in built to a Canon 17-85 imho, and I'm not at all worried about using this lens on my assignments.

Next, is the focus. For Nikon users, we are in luck. (Sony guys too) Tamron's own micro-motor for canon is just squeaky and slow. On my d70, I am hard pressed to find any difference between this lens and my kit. Sure it is less silent, and the moving focus ring might annoy some, but I have no complains. Hopefully, it is even more responsive on a d300 (another hint hint). Of course, these are just first impressions as i have yet to drive it hard on assignment.

Image quality is stellar for the price. I tested it extensively in the shop, bringing my laptop to view pictures at 100%. This made in Japan set has no TTL-BL overexposure syndrome, and is tack sharp, even at f2.8. No front, back focus problems too.

My remorse for selling my kit lens is pretty much gone when I tested this lens. I believe it shall be one hell of a companion in the days to come.

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Goodbye to you my beloved

Dear Kit lens,

Being my first lens, you are very special and lucky. You accompanied me on many occasions, and even shot a wedding all by yourself back in 2006. Your versatile zoom range and light weight made you the choice lens for "one-lens" walkabouts. Your IR capability also opened up a new realm of photographic opportunities, enabling the creation of some extraordinary photographs. You took the most holiday, landscape, walkabout and huixun photos to date.

Unfortunately, you took the most abuse as well. Your over ambitious owner wanted to create professional results from amateur equipment, and subjected you to a professional level of torture. I often had no time properly settle you in the bag, not to mention putting on your cap. You had to brave sand and rain, conditions that were challenging even for your better built counterparts. Eventually, you fell ill with a stuck zoom. The lens doctor say you have a screw lose, and I had to pay for your medical bill. You were also said to have a weak motor, and is not fit for heavy duty anymore.

I'm sorry I had to sell you away. Blame me for being heartless, or even cruel, but I was afraid you could not take the stress and might just break down one day. I am also greedy, hoping to find a sharper, faster lens for my PJ work. I put my job ahead of your welfare. I apologize.

Hopefully, your new owner will not torture you so much, and you would have a better life ahead. During the 17 months under my ownership, you have given me an amazing collection of pictures that I will treasure for ever. I will miss you.

Your step-owner,
manpacker

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眼花缭乱

Honestly speaking, I'm don't like the mood of CNY. It just makes me chaotic, heated and dizzy. The loud crackers and music, the huge crowds and the raw, saturated reds just makes me anything but happy.

CNY also means spring cleaning, and there's no excuse for me to not do anything. Sheesh...

I can't imagine how I will feel glad about CNY the day I stop receiving ang baos.

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One for the family

Panasonic TZ-3, 1 torchlight, 20 sec exposure

No one in the family wants to use my d70. I decided to recommend this cam instead. Easy to use, with a super versatile 28-280mm lens and true 16:9 aspect ratio, it is very fun to shoot with. But image quality.... is quite a disappointment. One must really understand the behavior of the camera in order to bring out its true potential.

I'm exploring the techniques of light painting. It is free (provided you own a camera and torch light), and fun.

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那一刻的惆怅

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On the way to commit the same mistake again?

"A good carpenter never blames his tools"

This is a phrase I really hope to believe in. 3 years ago, my dad was on the verge of upgrading our 2nd hand, 20+ year old piano. I told him to wait, despite knowing that there would definitely be an improvement if we upgraded. Beethoven learnt on a piano found from a junk yard. So why couldn't I carry on with the old one? A new piano would cost in excess of 8k, and that is a hideous sum of money, for a piece of instrument that has only one application.

In the end I stopped my lessons due to NS, and have yet to consider carrying on now that I ORDed. I thought it was lucky that we did not upgrade. But on hindsights, should the piano in the living room be a brand new one, I would have forced myself to carry on.

Today, I'm in the same dilemma again. My d70 has contracted terminal illness, and wouldn't be worth repairing due to high costs. I've decided to wait... just carry on using it till it breaks into pieces, despite knowing that much more powerful cameras are available. Award winning photographs were made with even older cameras, why should I upgrade? 2.6k for an instrument that only shoots photographs is an enormous sum too.

The future for my photography seems bleak. In half a years time I'll be in uni, and might not have the luxury of time to shoot much. I can still stay on in 摄影队，but I've not seen any uni students still shooting as a student photojournalist.

Will this hobby just die out on me? I'm beginning to see myself as a guy who cannot sustain interests. Everything is just 三分钟热度. I despise myself...

Shit.

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These are the few of my favourite things

My current obsessions - square crop, infrared, frames. Shot this photo while walking back to the car from the merlion sunrise. The lush and tall trees made me want to frame everything up, and then i saw this building. It was framed so delicately by the trees around me I forced myself to setup the already stowed tripod for this shot. The IR tones further enhances the British flavour of the colonial building. It is a picture which I derived most pleasure in post processing. Finally, the square crop just made it perfect.

It would have been a little better, if the vegetation on the left were a little thicker... but this is already good enough. 知足常乐嘛！

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Peaceful, Easy feeling

The first sunrise of 2008

There are many ways to celebrate new year's day. Some people like to stay up late into the night, partying, counting down and partying again, trying their best to out-scream each other as the clock strikes twelve with the fireworks booming in the background... Only to wake up late with a splitting headache and finding your ass toasted by the sun.

Some others, being lazy, may prefer to stay at home with family and friends, watch the countdown from TV, then send out a few generic SMSs and then sleep... like any other day.

Being solitary (or anti-social), I don't really enjoy crowded places. I wanted to do something meaningful, something that will make today worth remembering. Ideally something photographic as well. I decided to catch the first rays of sunlight.

And bring back this symbolic picture.

With this, I officially start year 2008.

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On a side note, I made my very first solo drive down for this picture. With the streets empty and the air cool and refreshing, it was a truly sensational journey. The experience itself was worth the trip =)

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o.O Believe in your eyes

Yes, your eyes ain't lying. That's me in the pic.

Only 0.1% of the pictures I've taken has got me in it. This is not surprising. Not only am I very un-photogenic, as a photographer I have high expectations of how I should look in a pic. My camera isn't exactly passers-by friendly too.

It's a new year, and my 1 year old avatar should retire liao. While waiting for the sun to set, I got my other un-photogenic friend to help me make a new avatar. We tried out a cross-lighting technique picked up from strobist, and it worked like a charm. But sadly, the subject was not very glam to begin with... but heck. I need a new avatar.

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Dear d70

Thanks to you, I could not post any pictures in time for the arrival of 2008. I know it has been a long year for you. Ever since I bought you, you have taken no less than 16000 pictures. You've been put through difficult times, under the rain, baked in the sun, exposed to gusts of sand in the outbacks of Australia, and not a moment of rest from the 3 weddings you've shot. I understand, it's tough, but dun do this to me ever again.

I've spent an hour and a half travelling to punggol, waited another few hours just for the last sunset of the year. And then you formatted my card. Without warning somemore. What are you thinking? You wanna go on strike? I know it's new years eve, but this is your responsibility. You ought to be ashamed of the Nikon badge you wear.

Now you have to force my 3 year old laptop to work OT, putting back the pieces of wadever is left in the card. He did not get a good night's sleep. People just recovered from a heart (disk) failure and you want to torture him. Naughty fella!

Now, go back into the dry box and think through what you've done. If you ever repeat this mistake again, you shall be relegated to back-up status. I'll just have to find someone else to get the job done.

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A day through my window

What happens when I mentioned that I have nothing on tdy? A pail, rag and bottle-o-detergent appeared in front of me, together with an order - clean all the windows.

我不入地狱，谁入地狱？Started cleaning from 1030.. continued after lunch... till 3+. As the windows are tinted, I got a good gauge of how the sky will appear through an ND filter. And I saw a great ray-of-light phenomenon spread across the whole west coast. Camera out, naturally =)

As I continued to clean another set of windows with my Nikon within grasp, it started to rain... while the sun was still strong. My instincts (or experience, or science knowledge) told me a rainbow should be appearing anytime soon. The good thing about a window cleaner is that u get to pay attention to anything happening outside, every minute (duh). Lo and behold - a full arc appeared, so close I thought I could spot the pot of gold at the base of the arc.
I couldn't take the whole arc due to stupid HDB obstructions in front... the rain grew heavier, but I snapped on, risking my gear (or perhaps hoping to damage it so i could get a new one XD).

Rain gone, rainbow's gone, 2 more sets of windows to clean. Its already 5+ (trust me, cleaning windows manually is no mean feat). The sun was out strong, and birds began to sing. Looking out of the window (where else can I look...) I spotted birds of breeds less seen. Perhaps because I was already at the window so long, they thought I was part of the scenery. I was lucky to be this close, since 200mm is my longest telephoto available.
Finally finished all windows by 1830, and stopped to admire the scenery before me. It is interesting how good it looks when the grills are open. As the sun sets, I was treated to a red glow from the only energy source in this universe.
Did the calendar mentioned that tdy is a 吉日 for window cleaning?

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With my BENRO and my NIKON and mEEeeEE

好久好久没有独自户外拍摄了。 今天心血来潮，带着为自己新买的圣诞礼物 - Benro 三脚架，到裕华园做红外线拍摄。如果没记错的话，我应该有7-8年没到裕华园了。公园里宁静的湖水，再配上细心栽种的树木，使这里成为红外拍摄的最佳地点。

单独拍摄，感觉好像在旅行。自由自在，毫无干涉地欣赏公园里的美景，也可算是人生一大乐趣。没有人在身边，就不用浪费精力做无益的交谈，不用浪费时间等别人拍照，思想也不会因别人的照片而受干扰。在这种情况下，一个人的想象力才能得到充分的发挥。大多数有名的山水摄影师，不就都是单独拍摄的吗？

当然，单独拍摄也使我感到蛮寂寞的。夕阳西下后，孤零零地回家时，我突然想找个人陪伴。咳！人生本来就矛盾。

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Omg... that took me 40 mins to write.

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What is hairy in front, and bald at the back?

Opportunity
- When it approaches u head-on,
You have no idea what it is.
The moment it passes-by,
There is nothing behind to cling onto.

I remembered when I first shot this photo - a hazy afternoon, gloomy and sad. When there was a sudden break in the sky, I scrambled downstairs for this shot (see post one). It was the first IR shot I ever made, and because I planned it long before-hand, it was a success.

But just because it was a shot taken from a park downstairs, I did not treasure it, and failed to backup. A recent hard-disk crash erased it, and now it was gone.

As year end approaches, I decided to compile my best landscape photos taken this year into a 2008 calender. Browsing through the pictures on my blog, I came to realise that this, together with many other IR shots, were one of the best landscapes I could have had. Perhaps due to the trouble of setting up such a picture, each shot was elaborately planned, resulting in almost 80% keeper rate (thats a lot!). Omfg.. all the original IR shots were lost.

In my bid to retrieve at least one picture, I waited for a gloomy afternoon, and went down to the exact same location for a re-shoot. To my horror, the table is already partly damaged, and a large tree to the right uprooted sometime ago.

Moral of story - nothing is permanent. Backup all pictures you like if you haven't already done so. What is gone can never be retrieved again.

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Through thick and thin

Such is the value of love

Am I going emo again? Maybe... but one thing is for sure - I've settled upon a favourite black and white conversion process. Be prepared to see more BnW pictures in the future. To me, monochrome removes the distraction of colour, forcing the viewer to focus on the mood. This in turn makes it more engaging.

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Emotions gone wild

This is a scary and dangerous thing, as we tend to commit mistakes in such situations. It isn't exactly healthy too. I'm saying this because i just witnessed a wild party during the SPH Txy internal camp. People just went mad, fueled by music and occasional SIA planes flying over. Studious looking people can gyrate so hard as if to shake their pants off, girls screaming non stop as if they have whistles built into their throats, boys behaving like girls and vice versa...

Ok, I admit this is just a very moderate campfire party night. I know there are much much worse cases. But the thing i couldn't understand is, how come people can get so high? Is our society getting so stressed people must resort to such activities to let lose? Or issit because we are born at a time where upholding our moral values is no longer as important?

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Wordless Wednesday

posted on a Thursday

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Grey days

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Yet another RANT

I've finally come to the last wedding pictures for this "season". As usual, I'll do a de-brief of things I learnt.

Where I failed:

• Too tight crops of subjects. I was a little too desperate to capture certain expressions, so much so that I zoomed right into their faces. Not only does it look weird to have 6mpx worth of a face, the picture also fails to tell a story. Why did this person laugh? Why the funny expression? An excuse I can come up with is that with a small and dark viewfinder, I tend to zoom in more closely to look at the expressions. Crap, another excuse for a d300.
• Too much tilt shots. This is getting out of hand. An occasional tilt adds life to the set, but overdoing it resulted in a hap-hazard presentation. Stupid. In my tries for the perfect tilt, I screwed up many shots that would otherwise be ok. In addition, having too much tilt shots also shows that i lack maturity and proper composition skills.
• Poor focus. Can't be helped, I'll get the solution should a new wedding assignment draws near.
• Not observant of light. Mounting a flash results in being totally insensitive to light. I should also learn to add more direction to where my flash is bounced, but have to watch where I blast it at.
• Bias towards family members. I shot so many pictures of my relatives I find them sick. Should have paid more attention to other people. I still lack professionalism.
• Lazy. Somewhere into the dinner, I felt tired and began to think I've got enough shots. But the truth is, the later into the night, the livelier the crowd becomes, and the more opportunities there are. Haiz.

Where I improved:

• Expression. Of course as I mentioned I get too tight expressions, but having expressions is still better than none at all. At least there is a little more variety compared to previous weddings.
• Exposure. Although I have no fast lens and hot bodies, I do have a good flash, helping me nail the exposure for the bread and butter group shots. I need to develop a way to flash without getting reflections from glasses though. An option would be off hand lighting, which is cumbersome.
• Workflow. I learnt to be more organized in picking out the better pictures and developing them, saving time (as if i'm in a hurry...lol)

Enough said. To the average joe, my pics might look ok, even great. But I know where I stand - NOOB

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