Amidst the Cannonball trees
In my bid to secure new perspectives within West Coast Park, I ended up feeding mozzies while this picture was taken. I find that i'm still weak at composing those messy subjects into neat images. Hmm...Sunday, May 25, 2008
In my bid to secure new perspectives within West Coast Park, I ended up feeding mozzies while this picture was taken. I find that i'm still weak at composing those messy subjects into neat images. Hmm...
Friday, May 16, 2008
Missing my sec sch days
We had the largest track, the biggest pool, the best view, the strongest winds... those were the days
Pandan reservoir is my favourite haunt when the weather gets real hot. I'll cycle around the 6.5km track just to feel the wind in my hair, and relive the days when I had to run the gravel path just to complete my 2.4km during sec school.
RV at that time is THE value for money school. It's near my place, and I don't have to pay maintenance for a huge track (the reservoir), nor a swimming pool (pandan public pool). And yet we do use these venues for PE. Our standard of education is not that far from what is provided in independent schools, and yet our fees are govt subsidized. Shiok.
Image above is a panaromic HDR. It almost killed my com, merging 10 x 12 mpx exposures into 1 huge 20+ mpx 32bit tiff. And I only have 512mb of RAM. Jeez.
RV at that time is THE value for money school. It's near my place, and I don't have to pay maintenance for a huge track (the reservoir), nor a swimming pool (pandan public pool). And yet we do use these venues for PE. Our standard of education is not that far from what is provided in independent schools, and yet our fees are govt subsidized. Shiok.
Image above is a panaromic HDR. It almost killed my com, merging 10 x 12 mpx exposures into 1 huge 20+ mpx 32bit tiff. And I only have 512mb of RAM. Jeez.
Sunday, May 11, 2008
ThinkTank Change-Up - First Impressions
A new lens changes one's shooting perspectives, but a new bag will change one's shooting experience. Read on to find out about my first impressions of the Change-Up after 2 days of assignments.
On Saturday, I wore the full load (80-200 f2.8, 12-24, 17-50, SB800, D300 + grip, 8 extra AA batteries, umbrella and 1 full water bottle) All the way from 2pm to almost 7pm. I did not bother to take them off, even as I stood through all the MRT trips. At the end of the day, I could hardly feel any strain from the load. Full marks for carrying comfort. Impressive.
Throughout the event, I get to constantly switch lenses as and when I feel like it. It is just so natural. In the past, I have to #1 shrug my shoulder to allow my hand to reach into the bag, and #2 use 1 hand to hold the flap open, #3 keep still so the bag doesn't pendulum around. Doesn't sound difficult, but try it when ur bag weighs about 5 kilos. I usually choose to leave the bag on my seat, and return to it for lens changing. I chose to risk not getting the shot I want, in return for a less shoulder strain. It is also risky as someone might go steal your stuff.
Right now the whole process is just so natural I felt WEIRD to be changing lenses as I walk around. Full marks for accessibility. No doubt about that.
And when I had to suddenly rush in front to grab spontaneous shots from low angles, I just.. do it. In the past, I'll have to crash my whole bag onto the ground doing so. No doubt the bag is thickly padded, but is it really necessary?
But before I give full marks for agility, I do noted 1 problem. With the 2 chimp cages on the sides, it can take a while to get used to the added width of your body. I can barely get through MRT gantries, if I don't rotate the pack. Something I have to get used to, but a possible disadvantage when fighting through crowds. 9/10 for agility.
Finally, I shopped for an hour in Plaza Singapura after the assignment (something i don't think i'll be able to do in the past... too shag at the end of a shoot). Nope, I don't get weird looks. Perhaps people are used to flamboyant outfits on orchard road, but I doubt looks isn't as big a problem as I initially thought. It's worth adding that I wore it "reversed", other than in front as recommended on the site, so now it really looks like an SBO, rather than a fake belly. Heck. I see people carrying large guitar cases, and they seem proud of it. I should be proud of the new look too. It's probably because as photographers, we are naturally more observant than the rest, and in return become more self conscious.
Earlier in the day, as I strolled past a guy stopped in the middle of the path trying hard to stuff a lens back into his crumpler, I can't help but flash a smile at him. I was cleaning my tokina while walking towards the MRT station. Ha!
On Saturday, I wore the full load (80-200 f2.8, 12-24, 17-50, SB800, D300 + grip, 8 extra AA batteries, umbrella and 1 full water bottle) All the way from 2pm to almost 7pm. I did not bother to take them off, even as I stood through all the MRT trips. At the end of the day, I could hardly feel any strain from the load. Full marks for carrying comfort. Impressive.
Throughout the event, I get to constantly switch lenses as and when I feel like it. It is just so natural. In the past, I have to #1 shrug my shoulder to allow my hand to reach into the bag, and #2 use 1 hand to hold the flap open, #3 keep still so the bag doesn't pendulum around. Doesn't sound difficult, but try it when ur bag weighs about 5 kilos. I usually choose to leave the bag on my seat, and return to it for lens changing. I chose to risk not getting the shot I want, in return for a less shoulder strain. It is also risky as someone might go steal your stuff.
Right now the whole process is just so natural I felt WEIRD to be changing lenses as I walk around. Full marks for accessibility. No doubt about that.
And when I had to suddenly rush in front to grab spontaneous shots from low angles, I just.. do it. In the past, I'll have to crash my whole bag onto the ground doing so. No doubt the bag is thickly padded, but is it really necessary?
But before I give full marks for agility, I do noted 1 problem. With the 2 chimp cages on the sides, it can take a while to get used to the added width of your body. I can barely get through MRT gantries, if I don't rotate the pack. Something I have to get used to, but a possible disadvantage when fighting through crowds. 9/10 for agility.
Finally, I shopped for an hour in Plaza Singapura after the assignment (something i don't think i'll be able to do in the past... too shag at the end of a shoot). Nope, I don't get weird looks. Perhaps people are used to flamboyant outfits on orchard road, but I doubt looks isn't as big a problem as I initially thought. It's worth adding that I wore it "reversed", other than in front as recommended on the site, so now it really looks like an SBO, rather than a fake belly. Heck. I see people carrying large guitar cases, and they seem proud of it. I should be proud of the new look too. It's probably because as photographers, we are naturally more observant than the rest, and in return become more self conscious.
Earlier in the day, as I strolled past a guy stopped in the middle of the path trying hard to stuff a lens back into his crumpler, I can't help but flash a smile at him. I was cleaning my tokina while walking towards the MRT station. Ha!
Thursday, May 08, 2008
Walkabout #32 - NUS
Seriously, this photo doesn't deserve a place here... it's meaning less.
Just trying out my HDR technique... the composition could be better. Another day perhaps...
Just trying out my HDR technique... the composition could be better. Another day perhaps...
Saturday, May 03, 2008
Agility, Ergonomics, Protection and Image
After close to 3 years of using clones and inferior camera bags, my body is able to tahan no more. Despite being a manpacker, I've spent 100+ on sinsehs just to twist my spine back into position. I'm feeling the effects of poor ergonomics. Today I finally gave in and got myself the ultimate... the PRADA of camera bags. It's a brand I never thought i would buy. It's a thought I'd dismiss as insane a year ago. It's a ThinkTank bag!
Show me any established photographer, and I can show you his dirty closet of bags... tried, tested, and laid aside. Camera bags to photographers are like handbags to ladies... there is NEVER a perfect bag. It is always a balance of agility, capacity, speed, comfort and of course, your image (as in what people view of you)
I knew of this long before I bought myself a proper bag, and hence have always researched and researched before getting any bag. The bag must be useful, and would not go obselete. I'll never buy another shoulder bag after my Safrotto stealth reporter D400 clone, just like i'll never get another backpack after my Tamrac Adventure 7 clone. At least not in the near future. Bags don't hold their value... so you will have to leave them to rot once they lose their purpose.
There are many considerations when choosing a bag. And i've broken it down into 2 different phases, followed by priorities to be considered:
Travelling to location - Be it on the train, bus, bicycle or just plain walking down the street. Comfort being the most important, followed by gear protection. No way you want to feel tired before you get there, and no way you want to damage your gear before the shoot. Image is of great importance too... you dun want to look like a 可疑人物. Accessibility to gear is not really important here. Too accessible, and it could well be stolen.
On location - Accessibility to gear is the most important, followed closely by comfort. You have to be able to run and gun, and swap lenses in seconds. You cannot get tired too easily too... Protection is not so important since your gear is already in your hand. Image... it depends on what you are shooting, but people will first look at your camera then your bags.
See the problem? Despite the plethora of bags available on the market, none have been able to satisfy everyone. You simply can't have everything.
There are those who would go all out for image. They are almost everywhere. The richer ones would go and get brands like Billingham, Domke or Crumpler. These bags either make you look up-market, young and chic, or for Domke users, retro and pro. Problem is, these bags are usually ergonomic failures (at least for total load >4kg). I've seen people lugging Crumpler "sinking barge", an obtrusively enormous shoulder bag... and unless he has it all stuffed with newspaper, I wonder if he would have any shoulder left at the end of the shoot. But hey... the bag matches his flambouyant outfit, so at least he doesn't look nerdy/geeky when he goes out with his girlfriend(s). Maybe his gear is just there to shoot photos of himself.. who noes?
Domkes are canvas bags. They are not cheap too. People using it will probably claim that they've shot/developed film. They speak of "hey, i'm an old bird... dun play play hor..." I've never found any of their bags attractive, at least in terms of usablity. They may be softer and slightly more comfortable, but they don't distribute heavy loads well enough. Beware your spine.
For those who are not so well off (or think that money could be better spent elsewhere) they would either get clones, or lowepro bags. Lowepro offers a huge variety of bags, but they all have a common problem - too stuffed with padding. Even when your gear is out, your bag still occupies the same bulk, and you will tend to bang into people/stuff. I've knocked down glasses at a wedding before, and have also problems going through MRT gantries with their stealth reporter series. They are only great when it comes to backpacks... all the protection you'll ever need, at a reasonable price. For ergonomics... you'll have to look elsewhere.
And then there is this rare minority that are willing to sacrifice image for the ultimate in agility, accessibility and comfort. This is where Newswear, Kinesis and Thinktank bags comes in, the ultimate being Newswear. You know SBO? The tried and tested concept derived from wars, the SBO concept fully distributes loads around your body while providing unparalleled access to equipment. Journalists swear by them. Heck, you could go run SOC with your gear! The biggest drawback - Image. You simply don't belong in the civilian world. But to a real events photographer, that might just be the ONLY way to go.
A week ago, I finally found what I thought would be the best compromise. The ThinkTank Change Up. It is like the transformer of bags. It can be used as a SBO on location, a shoulder/back pack for travelling, or a belt pack for comfort. Offering near SBO accessiblity and agility, it also has adequate padding while being flexible, and when coupled with attachments, is able to contain all my gear. Last but not least, it does all these while maintaining a somewhat civilised appearance. It is the most adaptable bag i've seen so far, and hopefully, after putting it into use, is able to deliver. I don't want to buy anymore bags!
Disclaimer: I'm entitled to my own opinions. If you find that my stereotyping might have offended you, then kindly ignore this post
Show me any established photographer, and I can show you his dirty closet of bags... tried, tested, and laid aside. Camera bags to photographers are like handbags to ladies... there is NEVER a perfect bag. It is always a balance of agility, capacity, speed, comfort and of course, your image (as in what people view of you)
I knew of this long before I bought myself a proper bag, and hence have always researched and researched before getting any bag. The bag must be useful, and would not go obselete. I'll never buy another shoulder bag after my Safrotto stealth reporter D400 clone, just like i'll never get another backpack after my Tamrac Adventure 7 clone. At least not in the near future. Bags don't hold their value... so you will have to leave them to rot once they lose their purpose.
There are many considerations when choosing a bag. And i've broken it down into 2 different phases, followed by priorities to be considered:
Travelling to location - Be it on the train, bus, bicycle or just plain walking down the street. Comfort being the most important, followed by gear protection. No way you want to feel tired before you get there, and no way you want to damage your gear before the shoot. Image is of great importance too... you dun want to look like a 可疑人物. Accessibility to gear is not really important here. Too accessible, and it could well be stolen.
On location - Accessibility to gear is the most important, followed closely by comfort. You have to be able to run and gun, and swap lenses in seconds. You cannot get tired too easily too... Protection is not so important since your gear is already in your hand. Image... it depends on what you are shooting, but people will first look at your camera then your bags.
See the problem? Despite the plethora of bags available on the market, none have been able to satisfy everyone. You simply can't have everything.
There are those who would go all out for image. They are almost everywhere. The richer ones would go and get brands like Billingham, Domke or Crumpler. These bags either make you look up-market, young and chic, or for Domke users, retro and pro. Problem is, these bags are usually ergonomic failures (at least for total load >4kg). I've seen people lugging Crumpler "sinking barge", an obtrusively enormous shoulder bag... and unless he has it all stuffed with newspaper, I wonder if he would have any shoulder left at the end of the shoot. But hey... the bag matches his flambouyant outfit, so at least he doesn't look nerdy/geeky when he goes out with his girlfriend(s). Maybe his gear is just there to shoot photos of himself.. who noes?
Domkes are canvas bags. They are not cheap too. People using it will probably claim that they've shot/developed film. They speak of "hey, i'm an old bird... dun play play hor..." I've never found any of their bags attractive, at least in terms of usablity. They may be softer and slightly more comfortable, but they don't distribute heavy loads well enough. Beware your spine.
For those who are not so well off (or think that money could be better spent elsewhere) they would either get clones, or lowepro bags. Lowepro offers a huge variety of bags, but they all have a common problem - too stuffed with padding. Even when your gear is out, your bag still occupies the same bulk, and you will tend to bang into people/stuff. I've knocked down glasses at a wedding before, and have also problems going through MRT gantries with their stealth reporter series. They are only great when it comes to backpacks... all the protection you'll ever need, at a reasonable price. For ergonomics... you'll have to look elsewhere.
And then there is this rare minority that are willing to sacrifice image for the ultimate in agility, accessibility and comfort. This is where Newswear, Kinesis and Thinktank bags comes in, the ultimate being Newswear. You know SBO? The tried and tested concept derived from wars, the SBO concept fully distributes loads around your body while providing unparalleled access to equipment. Journalists swear by them. Heck, you could go run SOC with your gear! The biggest drawback - Image. You simply don't belong in the civilian world. But to a real events photographer, that might just be the ONLY way to go.
A week ago, I finally found what I thought would be the best compromise. The ThinkTank Change Up. It is like the transformer of bags. It can be used as a SBO on location, a shoulder/back pack for travelling, or a belt pack for comfort. Offering near SBO accessiblity and agility, it also has adequate padding while being flexible, and when coupled with attachments, is able to contain all my gear. Last but not least, it does all these while maintaining a somewhat civilised appearance. It is the most adaptable bag i've seen so far, and hopefully, after putting it into use, is able to deliver. I don't want to buy anymore bags!
Disclaimer: I'm entitled to my own opinions. If you find that my stereotyping might have offended you, then kindly ignore this post
Thursday, May 01, 2008
Blog changes
It has been a while since I last made changes to this blog. I noticed that there is a significant increase in readership recently, and have decided to implement some new stuff to make it a more interactive experience reading the blog. Click on for the list of changes.
Ratings system - I thought this would be a great way to get feedback from readers on which are the photos that you really liked. But if you rated it "poor", do sound out what went wrong, and how to improve it. Thanks.
Summary - Being very long winded, I thank you all for patiently scrolling your way through the posts. With the implementation of a "summary" system, I can keep the posts looking short, and you can read the rest of the crap when you have time.
Tagboard - Let's try this out once again. Hopefully there would be greater interaction this time round =)
Summary - Being very long winded, I thank you all for patiently scrolling your way through the posts. With the implementation of a "summary" system, I can keep the posts looking short, and you can read the rest of the crap when you have time.
Tagboard - Let's try this out once again. Hopefully there would be greater interaction this time round =)
Sunday, April 20, 2008
我和我自己的影子
Stamina and dedication is one aspect every aspiring photographer must have, and above all, passion as the force multiplier.
Night HDR. Something I've always wanted to do, and (after this shoot) to do more. Night is cooling, and there are many places that only shine when darkness falls.
Night HDR. Something I've always wanted to do, and (after this shoot) to do more. Night is cooling, and there are many places that only shine when darkness falls.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Great way to waste petrol
There's a very predictable pedestrian traffic light somewhere near my place. 3 seconds after one presses the button, the amber light will turn on for 3 seconds, and then the red. This observation led me to conceptualize this image - one that captures all 3 lights in 1 single exposure.Predictable as it is, I still required 4 activations of the traffic light to catch this image, as it isn't really as easy as it seems. First, I must set the intervalometer to start taking picture 5 seconds after I leave the camera. I'll have to push the button at the start of the exposure. Most difficult part is to time it such that there are enough cars passing the lights before the red comes on, so as to record some trail lights.
I guess the drivers stopping at the lights must be real pissed... seeing this idiot stopping the traffic just to shoot some lame picture. Sorry fellas!
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
It's all about being there
清明时节雨纷纷, this is particularly true for me this year. I yearned for a stunning sunrise, with the gleaming sun bursting through the morning mist, amidst the padi fields in a kampung setting. Just the thought of the picture is enough to keep me awake the night before... and the first sounds of rain prevented me from falling asleep thereafter. Althought it was reduced to a drizzle around 6am, I couldn't see any stars in the sky, and this can only mean 1 thing - Heavy cloud cover. Not the best day for a sunrise dude...
But I had only one chance... seeing that my cousins were already awake, we drove into the darkness, heading for any roadside padi-fields available (no chance to recce the day before). Arrived, deployed, and only after 2 exposures, we were hit by yet another wave of showers. Cold and hungry, I felt guilty for bringing my cousins outfield. And then... miracle happened.
A hole opened up in the sky, revealing pink fluffy clouds beyond. Stalks began flying in squadrons before me, intercepting perfectly with the opening. This is no opportunity to miss. If there had to be only one picture from this trip, it had to be made now. Shot as many as possible before my filter gets smeared with raindrops. It is hard to catch the birds in a graceful formation... their wings were hardly in sync. Toyed with the idea of cloning... but heck... this is nature... nothing is perfect.
Lesson learnt: Opportunity is random and hardly predictable. It's all about being ready... it's all about being there.
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Journey in search for the roots
2 days of driving brought me back to the place where my parents were born. A PAS controlled state for many years, Kelantan is one of the most under-developed states in Malaysia. Going there primarily for Qing Ming Jie festivities, I also took the rare opportunity to document the local people as well as their lifestyles.
There are many pictures that I love to share, but it would be hard to present it as a list on this blog. I've decided to embed a slideshow from google's picasa albums, but it is setup to run continuously by default. I'll strongly suggest you take time to read my captions, so pause the slideshow and advance manually. Alternatively, go straight to my web album to browse them in full view.
The album also compressed my pictures, reducing the vibrance while increasing JPEG artifacts, which is a pity as it does not do justice. Anyone has a better suggestion as to where to host the pictures?
Sunday, March 23, 2008
How long how long?
After about 4000 shots with my new toy, I begin to see subtle improvements to my pictures. They are mainly in event photography, where the speed and ISO performance really makes a difference. But even so, I've come to demand much better pictures than before, so much so that none of the pictures taken so far deserves a place on the blog. (ever since the bird nest pic)
I've decided to rant a little, and add a mediocre pic (trying out the panaromic crop) just to keep this blog alive. Also wanna update on what feature on the new camera has proven its worth.
1. Live view - Surprise surprise =) This is a very useful feature to have. It allows me to get pictures from wilder perspectives, perspectives that others have to rely on experience and trial and errors to get.
2. Auto area AF - This is another sick feature. Not because it isn't seen on other cameras (it has been there since the days of the d70), but because of the awesome coverage of the AF points, together with a dedicated switch to flick it on. Shooting from the hip? No problem. Run and gun? No kick. In a flash you are ready to tackle the situation.
3. Auto ISO - This is one hell of a feature. So powerful i wonder how i managed without it in the past. Together with the "flash off" button, it does wonders especially indoors. Set the base to ISO800 to retain background detail when using flash, and when you cancel the flash with "flash off", the iso automatically ramps up to attain proper exposure. I can take successive with/without flash shots instantaneously. Sick.
That said, I feel that I am still at the tip of the iceberg of features the D300 has to offer. I still make lots of stupid mistakes, like leaving ADlighting on, and switching shooting modes without checking ISO used. The above picture was shot at ISO800. What a waste.
I've decided to rant a little, and add a mediocre pic (trying out the panaromic crop) just to keep this blog alive. Also wanna update on what feature on the new camera has proven its worth.
1. Live view - Surprise surprise =) This is a very useful feature to have. It allows me to get pictures from wilder perspectives, perspectives that others have to rely on experience and trial and errors to get.
2. Auto area AF - This is another sick feature. Not because it isn't seen on other cameras (it has been there since the days of the d70), but because of the awesome coverage of the AF points, together with a dedicated switch to flick it on. Shooting from the hip? No problem. Run and gun? No kick. In a flash you are ready to tackle the situation.
3. Auto ISO - This is one hell of a feature. So powerful i wonder how i managed without it in the past. Together with the "flash off" button, it does wonders especially indoors. Set the base to ISO800 to retain background detail when using flash, and when you cancel the flash with "flash off", the iso automatically ramps up to attain proper exposure. I can take successive with/without flash shots instantaneously. Sick.
That said, I feel that I am still at the tip of the iceberg of features the D300 has to offer. I still make lots of stupid mistakes, like leaving ADlighting on, and switching shooting modes without checking ISO used. The above picture was shot at ISO800. What a waste.
Sunday, March 09, 2008
Mom, what's for breakfast today?
1/250th f11 ISO 800
AFD 80-200mm
Vivid
Had the luxury of covering a sunbird family's breakfast, as they conveniently built their nest on my neighbour's plant. Sunbirds always return to where they built their nest previously, and I was told by my neighbour that this is the third time this couple chose this spot. Even if they are forced to abandon a half built nest, they would reuse the materials collected.
I've been keeping an eye on their activity about a month ago, ever since they began construction. Both the male and female contributed to building the nest, and soon after completion the female lays her eggs. Only 2 eggs were laid. I suppose thats the maximum the nest could hold, and perhaps the max the female could produce as well.
12-14 days later, the eggs hatched and out pops the chicks. Both parents took turns feeding them. It is really heartwarming to see their co-operation =)
I've been keeping an eye on their activity about a month ago, ever since they began construction. Both the male and female contributed to building the nest, and soon after completion the female lays her eggs. Only 2 eggs were laid. I suppose thats the maximum the nest could hold, and perhaps the max the female could produce as well.
12-14 days later, the eggs hatched and out pops the chicks. Both parents took turns feeding them. It is really heartwarming to see their co-operation =)
Sunbirds are curious creatures, and quickly adapt to human environment, as well as human presence. After standing beside the nest for about an hour, they completely ignored my presence (so long as I don't move) I was able to get as close as 1.5m.
With 12mpx, I was able to discern what was fed to the chicks. This mornings menu was full of caterpillars and grasshoppers, different from yesterday's berries. I was also able to tell that little yellow feathers are beginning to grow on the chicks. What's most interesting is the materials used in the construction of the nest - feathers, twigs, tree barks and nylon strings.
Some tips I picked up:
With 12mpx, I was able to discern what was fed to the chicks. This mornings menu was full of caterpillars and grasshoppers, different from yesterday's berries. I was also able to tell that little yellow feathers are beginning to grow on the chicks. What's most interesting is the materials used in the construction of the nest - feathers, twigs, tree barks and nylon strings.
Some tips I picked up:
- Use a tripod. U will have to hold the setup in position before the birds come in, and you will never be able to handhold for hours, even a compact camera is going to render you exhausted.
- If you had to use flash, always use manual. Small birds have super fast reflexes and will react to your pre-flash. I was told that certain species can even fly away when your mirror flips, and before your shutter opens!
- Lots and lots of patience. And do some homework on the bird's behaviour before approaching the subject.
Friday, February 29, 2008
路遥知马力
F2.8 1/6th ISO3200
Picture control: Vivid
Active d-lighting: Normal
Picture control: Vivid
Active d-lighting: Normal
1 month into using the camera, and I'm still at the stage of customizing it. Here are my latest impressions.
Memory Banks
There are 2 kinds of memory banks, namely Shooting menu bank, and Custom menu bank, and it is the most confusing aspect of the camera I've found so far. Each of these banks have 4 slots, and can be renamed. Problem is that ALL the settings can be stored in banks, so I always forget which bank has what settings. It is very frustrating to pick up the camera only to realise that sometimes this button does this, and sometimes not. Sometimes it beeps when in focus, other times it just doesn't shoot. So one fine day I sat down, drew out a large table on an A3 paper with all the available settings, and carefully planned out what I deem should be the most effective way of utilizing them. (And up till now I am still fine-tuning the chart) Here's my plan for reference:
Shooting banks - I tend to think of them as the "film" I load, and name them rightly so.
A - "Standard outdoor" - ISO auto base @ 200/Standard + 5 sharpening/NR low/AD-lighting normal. This is the mode I'll use for walkabouts and casual shots. It delivers pictures ready for print, and works well when flash is not used indoor too.
B - "Indoor flash" - ISO auto base @ 800/Standard + 5 sharpening + 1 saturation/NR low/AD-lighting off. This is usually for indoor events. The reason for ISO auto is that if subject is too far for flash to light up, it will automatically bump up the ISO. For all other cases, it remains at the base 800. U will have to manually crank it up if u want more ambient light. ADL must be off. If left on, it will ALWAYS underexp 0.3~0.7 stops depending on settings, and then level it up in PP. My strategy indoors however is to overexp 0.3 stops and level down, as indoors we are more worried of shadow noise than highlight blowouts.
C - "Vivid landscapes" - ISO auto base @ 100/ Vivid + 5 Sharpening/NR low/AD-lighting high. This is used interchangeably with A. It is equivalent to Velvia 100. Very good for high contrast landscapes.
D - "HDR" - ISO base 100/Neutral/NR off/AD-lighting off. As the name states, this is purely for HDR, as well as pictures where I want to do heavy PP. Since we will be shooting and bracketing on a tripod, NR and ADL isn't required.
Any other settings are normalised throughout the 4 banks so as to reduce confusion.
Custom banks: I think of this as the "camera" I'm using. This is also effective should you be sharing the camera with someone else. Right now I'm only varying the AF settings and button arrangements across the banks. It is worth to consider reserving a bank as "dummy", with everything auto, so that the friend who is picking up your camera won't suddenly realise that the buttons don't work as labeled.
High ISO performance
This was taken for granted in the Canon camp. But with the D300, Nikonians are finally on the same level. But this is no D3. D3 is the jaw dropping available DARKNESS shooter. That said, the shot above was taken around 7.30pm, and the tires were lit by streetlights. Very impressive, coming from a Nikon. But Nikon has never been stingy with image quality. I wouldn't be surprised the upcoming D90 will have better high ISO performance, so this shouldn't be the main factor for any upgraders.
Liveview
I shot the above pic using LV. Otherwise i'll have to prone on what looks suspiciously like an army of ants. But it is without it's idiosyncrasies. It still flips its mirror down, and up, before a picture is taken, even in MF mode. I know I have a 150,000 shutter durability unit, but this is a stupid way to waste shutter count.
AF
It is not magic. U HAVE to fully understand the algorithms before you can max it out. That said, I just shot my nephew - an 18 month toddler running around the house in 3D 51pt focus, and results are superior to D70. I no longer need to focus and recompose. I can concentrate on composition while the camera takes care of focus. You have to watch it though, it may go nuts when the light gets low.
AWB
This is something head and shoulders ahead of D70. It is eerily accurate even under artificial lighting. Tungsten is a little warm though, but very representative of what our eyes see.
That's all for tonight. Shall end with a picture for my 6 year old favourite transportation.
Memory Banks
There are 2 kinds of memory banks, namely Shooting menu bank, and Custom menu bank, and it is the most confusing aspect of the camera I've found so far. Each of these banks have 4 slots, and can be renamed. Problem is that ALL the settings can be stored in banks, so I always forget which bank has what settings. It is very frustrating to pick up the camera only to realise that sometimes this button does this, and sometimes not. Sometimes it beeps when in focus, other times it just doesn't shoot. So one fine day I sat down, drew out a large table on an A3 paper with all the available settings, and carefully planned out what I deem should be the most effective way of utilizing them. (And up till now I am still fine-tuning the chart) Here's my plan for reference:
Shooting banks - I tend to think of them as the "film" I load, and name them rightly so.
A - "Standard outdoor" - ISO auto base @ 200/Standard + 5 sharpening/NR low/AD-lighting normal. This is the mode I'll use for walkabouts and casual shots. It delivers pictures ready for print, and works well when flash is not used indoor too.
B - "Indoor flash" - ISO auto base @ 800/Standard + 5 sharpening + 1 saturation/NR low/AD-lighting off. This is usually for indoor events. The reason for ISO auto is that if subject is too far for flash to light up, it will automatically bump up the ISO. For all other cases, it remains at the base 800. U will have to manually crank it up if u want more ambient light. ADL must be off. If left on, it will ALWAYS underexp 0.3~0.7 stops depending on settings, and then level it up in PP. My strategy indoors however is to overexp 0.3 stops and level down, as indoors we are more worried of shadow noise than highlight blowouts.
C - "Vivid landscapes" - ISO auto base @ 100/ Vivid + 5 Sharpening/NR low/AD-lighting high. This is used interchangeably with A. It is equivalent to Velvia 100. Very good for high contrast landscapes.
D - "HDR" - ISO base 100/Neutral/NR off/AD-lighting off. As the name states, this is purely for HDR, as well as pictures where I want to do heavy PP. Since we will be shooting and bracketing on a tripod, NR and ADL isn't required.
Any other settings are normalised throughout the 4 banks so as to reduce confusion.
Custom banks: I think of this as the "camera" I'm using. This is also effective should you be sharing the camera with someone else. Right now I'm only varying the AF settings and button arrangements across the banks. It is worth to consider reserving a bank as "dummy", with everything auto, so that the friend who is picking up your camera won't suddenly realise that the buttons don't work as labeled.
High ISO performance
This was taken for granted in the Canon camp. But with the D300, Nikonians are finally on the same level. But this is no D3. D3 is the jaw dropping available DARKNESS shooter. That said, the shot above was taken around 7.30pm, and the tires were lit by streetlights. Very impressive, coming from a Nikon. But Nikon has never been stingy with image quality. I wouldn't be surprised the upcoming D90 will have better high ISO performance, so this shouldn't be the main factor for any upgraders.
Liveview
I shot the above pic using LV. Otherwise i'll have to prone on what looks suspiciously like an army of ants. But it is without it's idiosyncrasies. It still flips its mirror down, and up, before a picture is taken, even in MF mode. I know I have a 150,000 shutter durability unit, but this is a stupid way to waste shutter count.
AF
It is not magic. U HAVE to fully understand the algorithms before you can max it out. That said, I just shot my nephew - an 18 month toddler running around the house in 3D 51pt focus, and results are superior to D70. I no longer need to focus and recompose. I can concentrate on composition while the camera takes care of focus. You have to watch it though, it may go nuts when the light gets low.
AWB
This is something head and shoulders ahead of D70. It is eerily accurate even under artificial lighting. Tungsten is a little warm though, but very representative of what our eyes see.
That's all for tonight. Shall end with a picture for my 6 year old favourite transportation.
F2.8 1/50th ISO 2200
Yes, the orange light is streetlight as well
Yes, the orange light is streetlight as well
Sunday, February 17, 2008
My alarm clocks for today
This playful duo were happily chirping away early in the Sunday morning. Their calls sounded very much like "好了没有". Figured I couldn't sleep anymore (it's only 8am!) I got up determined to snap them. Apparently there's a third one around, but these 2 are always together.
This scene is damn hard to auto-focus, the system loves to lock onto the bright and contrasty background instead. (yes even with the CAM3500DX on single point single shot servo). This might be yet another compelling reason why pros use big teles instead of cropping from a high res sensor - to fill more of the frame with the subject for easier AF/AE lock.
This scene is damn hard to auto-focus, the system loves to lock onto the bright and contrasty background instead. (yes even with the CAM3500DX on single point single shot servo). This might be yet another compelling reason why pros use big teles instead of cropping from a high res sensor - to fill more of the frame with the subject for easier AF/AE lock.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
It's that time of the day again
The bad thing about an 8-5 job is the monotony of life. Everyday is essentially the same thing all over again. I look forward to evenings, not only because of beautiful sunsets, but because it is the moment I can come out to play - jog, swim, cycle, or just walk around feeling the breeze.
And now I shall get back to work again.
And now I shall get back to work again.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Beauty and the Beast
Shit I'm getting very vain. Only bo liao or haolian photogs would shoot pictures of their own equipment. A search on flickr would throw up lots of pictures of fully loaded backpacks with sweet bodies/lenses spread all over the frame, and drawing silly comments on how cool their equipment is. I despise them. Now I *almost* despise myself.
The AIS lenses just seemed to have a different coating, and the reflections from the elements look wonderfully multi-coloured. Of course I couldn't help but mount it on my new baby and yes, it was shot using the d70 - still alive and kicking.
The AIS lenses just seemed to have a different coating, and the reflections from the elements look wonderfully multi-coloured. Of course I couldn't help but mount it on my new baby and yes, it was shot using the d70 - still alive and kicking.
Thursday, February 07, 2008
Towards a better year
The first shoot done by the D300/17-50 combo
I will never forget last year's Chinese New Year. I sneaked out of house early in the morning to buy my Tokina, while most of Singapore's Chinese population were resting from the hectic celebrations. It was a damn worth deal, and that lens remains as the most fun-to-use lens.
In just a short lunar year, I've seen myself progress, equipment wise as well as skill. (Though I seriously think my equipment is too pro for me) The addition of 2 lenses, a flash and a solid pro body, who would have thought of such a major upgrade a year ago? Hopefully, I will experience similar levels of improvement this year.
To all loyal readers of this blog, may the new year bring ample photographic opportunities!
In just a short lunar year, I've seen myself progress, equipment wise as well as skill. (Though I seriously think my equipment is too pro for me) The addition of 2 lenses, a flash and a solid pro body, who would have thought of such a major upgrade a year ago? Hopefully, I will experience similar levels of improvement this year.
To all loyal readers of this blog, may the new year bring ample photographic opportunities!
Sunday, February 03, 2008
D300 - Coming from the D70
The more you understand it, the less you will want any other DSLR
I am beginning to agree to this advertising statement from Nikon. I put this baby through some portrait shoot today, and shot some 150 pics. While I'm still far from understanding it inside out, initial impressions are that this is something no nikon user could have imagined 5 months ago. I'm not going to bore people with the usual specs, you should know them if you managed to find my blog. This is purely my personal opinion, coming from the nikon d70.
Build and ergonomics
The d70 feels like a toy next to this thing. The softer, stickier rubber used on the already well sculpted body ensures a very comfortable grip. The MB-D10 is almost indespensible if one shoots portrait orientation often. The battery grip, I believe, is the most well made grip ever. (don't know about the F6's grip though). It's revolutionary design means that it has a slimmer profile, and batteries are loaded just like the pro bodies. Solid, with no creaks and hardly any movement even when I mounted the d300 + grip + 80-200 f2.8 on a tripod via the grip's tripod socket. Yes.. it's the closest thing to an integrated grip as I can imagine.
Viewfinder is 100%. Real 100%. Users of D200/D80 would not find any difference in size, but the 100% is CRUCIAL to framing portraits. I can now be confident that I cropped off the body parts at appropriate positions. I can now be confident the space around the subject is just right. Put it shortly, I can frame the shot just like I would crop it in post process.
The LCD
No need to shoot tethered to a laptop on commercial shoots now. Enough said.
The Colours
I loaded up the D2XModeI for a portrait shoot today. While amatuer models would tweak the rendition for a more punchy look, it screws up skintones, making people look jaundiced. This mode got me very natural skintones. Smooth and detailed, replicated pretty darn close to what my eyes perceive. Awesome. No more orangy arms, or magenta faces. Just like I want it to be.
The CAM3500DX 51pt AF module
51pt dynamic 3D tracking may not be the most accurate method for sports, but it is pretty darn useful for portraits. I could concentrate on composition while the model strolls down the road. No need for the subject to stay in selected focus point. The camera takes care of it all, and you could actually see the AF points light up wherever the face is. Something like face-detection on point and shoots. Cool stuff.
Handling and feel
I remembered how intrigued I was when I moved from FZ30 to D70, and as I move to D300, I was equally stunned. Employing a 'soft' spring on the shutter release buttons, I can almost trigger the camera by instinct. I can take a picture before I actually realise it. Wow.
I am beginning to agree to this advertising statement from Nikon. I put this baby through some portrait shoot today, and shot some 150 pics. While I'm still far from understanding it inside out, initial impressions are that this is something no nikon user could have imagined 5 months ago. I'm not going to bore people with the usual specs, you should know them if you managed to find my blog. This is purely my personal opinion, coming from the nikon d70.
Build and ergonomics
The d70 feels like a toy next to this thing. The softer, stickier rubber used on the already well sculpted body ensures a very comfortable grip. The MB-D10 is almost indespensible if one shoots portrait orientation often. The battery grip, I believe, is the most well made grip ever. (don't know about the F6's grip though). It's revolutionary design means that it has a slimmer profile, and batteries are loaded just like the pro bodies. Solid, with no creaks and hardly any movement even when I mounted the d300 + grip + 80-200 f2.8 on a tripod via the grip's tripod socket. Yes.. it's the closest thing to an integrated grip as I can imagine.
Viewfinder is 100%. Real 100%. Users of D200/D80 would not find any difference in size, but the 100% is CRUCIAL to framing portraits. I can now be confident that I cropped off the body parts at appropriate positions. I can now be confident the space around the subject is just right. Put it shortly, I can frame the shot just like I would crop it in post process.
The LCD
No need to shoot tethered to a laptop on commercial shoots now. Enough said.
The Colours
I loaded up the D2XModeI for a portrait shoot today. While amatuer models would tweak the rendition for a more punchy look, it screws up skintones, making people look jaundiced. This mode got me very natural skintones. Smooth and detailed, replicated pretty darn close to what my eyes perceive. Awesome. No more orangy arms, or magenta faces. Just like I want it to be.
The CAM3500DX 51pt AF module
51pt dynamic 3D tracking may not be the most accurate method for sports, but it is pretty darn useful for portraits. I could concentrate on composition while the model strolls down the road. No need for the subject to stay in selected focus point. The camera takes care of it all, and you could actually see the AF points light up wherever the face is. Something like face-detection on point and shoots. Cool stuff.
Handling and feel
I remembered how intrigued I was when I moved from FZ30 to D70, and as I move to D300, I was equally stunned. Employing a 'soft' spring on the shutter release buttons, I can almost trigger the camera by instinct. I can take a picture before I actually realise it. Wow.
8fps is just ecstacy. I have no use for it now, except maybe to draw some unwanted attention. But knowing that you have such an option is a definite boost to one's confidence.
Oh yes, I've asked this question many times but seldom will people answer me. There IS a noticable improvement in focusing speed when the 8 AAs are loaded. Add that to the inherent improvement over the D70, my all AFD arsenal of lens just got more responsive.
AF Fine tuning
I can now ensure that my lens won't back/front focus. They are now TACK sharp. You won't think this is important until you start shooting 12mpx files. This is the way to ensure every single ounce of detail is squeezed out of your prized lenses.
A point to note though, there can be compatibility problems with 3rd party lenses. My d300 cannot tell a tokina 12-24 from a tamron 17-50... but very very luckily, both my lenses require the same compensation. Phew!
Metering with non-cpu lens
Shot with my AIS 50mm f1.4 indoors. It can matrix meter, and do ITTL flash. No problem. Turning the aperture ring automatically updates the camera. DOF preview is also possible. The large viewfinder makes manual focusing easier, though it's still a far cry from the prism split screens on the FM. But I no longer need to guess the exposure with my 50mm. Every single shot is well exposed, vibrant and colourful. I now know how optically wonderful this lens actually is.
Extras extras extras!!!
The more I read into the thick manual, the more surprises are revealed, all contributing to making the D300 one of the most customizable camera ever built.
Saturday, February 02, 2008
This is the closest thing to crazy i've ever did
It's nauseating to hand over large stacks of cash. Almost fainted when I saw my bank balance after the purchase. Felt real sick. It's buyer's remorse at the max. This baby had BETTER be REAL GOOD.
Else this shall be one of my last posts...
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