Look Out Point - Ampang

Few days ago, I received an email from my colleague, she invited whole Merchandise Team to have a dinner together with our Merchandise Director on Friday after work. The Location is Look Out Point in Ampang.

I knew that place is a good spot for nice scenery, so I decided to take my camera along with me to work.

we get out of the office around 6pm, the traffic was a mess. It took us 1 and a half hour to reach Ampang from Subang.

The theme was "Top On Nite", we have to wear something fancy on our head, but too bad, most of us forgot about it when we reach there.




This is the KL night scenery taken using 5 second exposure, I have no tripod so I happened to put my camera on top of a rounded-top pillar, it was pretty unstable.

(Sometimes, blurred image can be beautiful too)

I have lack of another important element - the External Flash
This thing is very useful for indoor events especially a dinner like this!
The built-in pop-up flash is just too harsh:

(Merchandise Director - Laurent Piazza & my colleagues)


(It's not often that you can see your boss dress like this!)

I even snapped some pics of the decorations on fire!



Overall, the night is enjoyable, I only downfall is lack of external flash and a sturdy tripod =(
What a waste....

New Gears in the House

Bought some new gears on last Saturday (21/02/2009)

Phottix Battery Grip for 450D/1000D with LP-E5 Magazine Slot & 6AA Batteries Magazine Slot
Free Octopus LP-E5 1080mAh Battery

RM 300

(Pic shown is the Battery Magazine for LP-E5 Batteries)

3-Stage Collapsible Hood for 52mm lens - RM25

(Stage 3, maximum)

(Stage 2, minimum)

(Stage 1, storage formation)

Cleaning kit (3-in-1) - RM 35

(Blower + Microfiber cloth + Lens Pan)

Total RM 360, discount RM10
Net RM350.

Total Spending up to date - RM 2,460

Malacca half-day trip

Just back from Malacca.

I went there with my cousin, to fetch my uncle down to KL for his medical appointment. So, it's not a trip actually, just happened to bring my camera along.

After having lunch, I went for few shots near my uncle's house before fetching him, but most of them are disappointing, the sun is too hot. I cant even take shots slowly and think carefully under the hot sun, so I ended up with few shots without thinking much.

Stadthuys Square:

(at 18mm, f/8.0, 1/200s, ISO 100)

(at 18mm, f/8.0, 1/1000s, ISO 100)

Panning

Panning is another major area in Photography. Panning is usually found in sports, wildlife and pets photography (i.e: F1 Race, Leopard chasing a Gazelle or even your pet dog running).

This technique is done by moving your camera horizontally while taking pictures (moving when shutter is opening). The essence of panning is: sharp object (with bluring wheels, legs etc) with blurring background. This brings out the sense of "motion" in the photograph. This is a lot better than using a fast shutter speed and freeze your moving objects.

This is my first try on panning:
All shots are using my Canon EOS 1000D + EF-S 18-55mm kit lens.

(Aperture Priority + AI Servo at 34mm, 1/80s, f/18, ISO 100, AWB)

(Aperture Priority + AI Servo at 34mm, 1/80s, f/16, ISO 100, AWB)

(Aperture Priority + AI Servo at 40mm, 1/30s, f/18, ISO 100, AWB)

This are the 3 sharpest shots amongst the 44 shots I have taken. (Yes, 3 out of 44).
This shows how hard panning is, it does requires a lot of practice. Even these 3 shots aren't very sharp compared to other people.

Panning is usually done at relatively slow shutter speed compared to normal circumstances. You can note that the shutter speeds are relatively slow (1/60s and 1/30s).

AI Servo is used to enable its continuous focusing and tracking (Although kit lens's focusing is not as fast as Canon's top notch USM and 1000D's focusing speed and fps is slower than others like 5D Mk II).

Welcome to the world of photography.

Taman Jaya

Just went to Pudu Plaza, KL to settle some minor matters. On the way back, I took a detour and stopped at Taman Jaya Park. I saw some activities happening in the Taman Jaya Park, they are from UM and I believe this is some Leadership or Team-Building Workshop or some sort:

Briefing on the rules etc...


Let's roll out!


I have no idea what is this for...

I realized one thing, my photography skills has worsen, I don't know why and that's the problem...T_T