News - Colorless

I do prefer colorful especially the beauty of Nature... I love the green, orange, golden color of the sky... leaf ..............

But I have to admit at certain view and weather.. it is always good to capture it as mono ... but I still not agree those unwanted picture to be convert to Mono instead .... we should always plan what we want to PP while we plan our shooting (but this do not mean we have to shoot in Black and White) but we can plan it, shoot it and convert it ..........

still long for me to learn ... it is totally new to me ...................................time to look around for expert and books .............


this was beautiful morning with golden Sun ray


mono make the mystery feel



weather was real bad ... no color at all on the sky .... I play with 10 stops filter to create the line .


I had create new set @flick

http://www.flickr.com/photos/liewwk/sets/72157625640480407/

and had started a new category in my web site


http://www.liewwkphoto.com/gallery7.htm

(still empty as busy schedule , will try to get some update here)

New Gallery for www.liewwkphoto.com - Slow Shutter

http://www.liewwkphoto.com/gallery6.htmWe need to give good respect to people doing a lot of slow shutter photography... their patient to have better work need to respect ......

every shots could toke easily from 15s up to minutes... or even hours ... but it may not come out good due to composition, light change affect final output, wind shake, wave shake ....

every one extra stop we are talking in slow shutter could be in minutes ...

e.g. while we have correct exposure @30s but as for the light change (getting dark) due to sunset, we may need to have extra 1-2 stop where we are talking
30s extra exposure for 1 stop and 90s extra exposure for 2 stops .... as long as the calculation is wrong .... then everything have to reshoot, re-calculate again .......


I am shooting slow shutter witheither
1. night scape
2. B+W ND1000x
3. Lee Filter - Big Stopper

where discuss before @
http://liewwk-macro.blogspot.com/2010/11/my-gear-10-stops-nd-filters-b-w-nd100.html


after few shooting, I start love the slow shutter photography and promise to shoot more and share more .... and a New Gallery create for www.liewwkphoto.com

Slow Shutter - Gallery 6

thanks all ....

Landscape Spot - Port Dickson 1 [Pantai Pasir Panjang]

it is not my 1st time visit this place .. but last week we make final decision to drop by and spent a wonderful evening with my gang [shunfa, Lio, Xiao Yi & Ken]....

it is locate almost end of famous beach Port Dickson where almost reach Melaka.
direction
- from Kuala Lumpur, South (Melaka, Johor, Singapore) from North south Highway
- look for Port Dickson out
- then look for Port Dickson (highway will be much easier/faster to access this beach) so follow Port Dickson (green board)
- follow the highway, you should reach to a roundabout ... don't worry look for Tanjung Tuan lighthouse direction
- then look for Pantai Pasir Panjang (which is ~12km to the destination)
- this place locate near Ikan Bakar Pantai Pasir Panjang


this place facing sunset so this is a good sunset spot with Tanjung Tuan Light house locate at far (but after dark you still view the light house lihgt)

e.g.


few advice .
1. take note of yours' tripod .. many fisherman walk around .. so may accident "kick" yours' tripod into sea
2. do not look for 2nd seafood store (the center one).. it took hours to serve even not much customer (ouckesssssssss, we are 2nd table and wait ~1.15 hours for our dishes to server)
3. mosquitoes after dark
4. plan with tide level if you want different view of the pier
5. beach is further in the ikan bakar store so if bring family have to plan for this as this spot do not have beach
......




an old shot


happy shooting .........

How I Shoot Landscape - Shoot under the rain

we having real bad weather recently .. either cloudy, hazy ... or rain almost everyday ... but again and again , we never give up and we managed to enjoy beautiful sunrise and sunset for last weekend ....

Every time rain, I telling my friend .. "no worry, canon weather proof mah .." so do I shoot under rain? Yes and no ... I never know how to verify how many ml/m or ml/feet .. :D so I judge myself every time... is it worth to shoot even rain ?  and I continue shoot most of the time if the rain do not hit on to my len :D

so when I 1st meet horn-frog in wild


it was heavy rain in the jungle ... I saw it ... how I resist to have few shot .. :D

last Saturday, I went out for a sunset outing and most of my gang never give up even raining. We setup our gear and wait for the light to appear ....

so how I call weather proof :D

haha .. normally I use rain coat for my camera so I will be all wet while waiting for the moment .. but this time I use umbrella .. thanks Suzanne Chew for the umbrella (think it was for me but end up I use it for my camera)...


both pictures above also capture using Canon :D (Canon Ixus :D )


so what I waiting for ?

... never give up ...


worth the wait ?




some of my "crazy gang waiting shot (different date) and thanks Alexander Poh for the lake location and the capture ....

*** please do not follow their action .. if you love yours; camera :D 

 

 

How I Shoot Landscpae - some basic

I think this is my 1st share on "how I shoot landscape", I am still far to learn at landscape photography. for me it is real challenge compare to what I did before ..... while you shoot landscape you need

1. luck - weather not control by us
           - you have right weather do not mean you at right place
           - need to understand the light .. what's the best time for this angle ... sunset , sunrise ... magic hour etc ... need to know what light you need but then it is very much depend your' luck... even though sometime weather forecast do help 

2. need more understanding of yours' camera
    - how to change WB (which I seldom do this previously)
    - what is hyperfocal distance of each focal length
    - need good skill to control yours' tripod. the light could be just appear for seconds ...
    - exposures bracketing (need for exposure masking, HDR ....)
    - calculation of exposure under bulb mode

overall we need to understand our equipment especially our camera ... so read manual, internet guidance .... before go out else you may miss the great view ....

3. composition
    - one of the most challenge ... nowadays, think many of us try to no shoot the main object directly but with add on some blocking object thought it is composition then we are wrong .... it is just call foreground inside the frame but not composition
    - this sound very simple ... some thing make viewer feel comfortable ... simple ???? but it is not
    - it should have some line (U, L, J, triangle ....) leading from sky to object to the foreground, symmetry, rule 2/3, keep in simple ... you may come with it , learn it from forum, pictures sharing web site , books ......(but prefer to learn from few peoples or forum instead one ... )
    - do not fully addict to one style while learning, try learn all methods or understand then choose yours' style later after build all the foundation. e.g. shoot basic landscape before learn exposures masking then HDR ... then use filters ....

4. environment
    - need to study what time the sunrise and sunset
    - tide table
    - moon table especially for nightscape
    - temperature

5. stamina
    - need minimum hiking, jungle trekking to get to the beautiful places

6. choose right equipments
    - tripod .... choose those withstand salt water, mug ...weight will kill while have hiking
    - lenses .... need full focal length else you may miss out what you want. weather seal is recommended
    - camera .... good dynamics range, weather seal is highly recommended.. weight
    - beg .... multiple begs require for different location, weight of the beg
    - filters .... need different filters for different effect or capture. CPL, ND, GND ....
    - transport .... eventually you may need 4WD to access some beautiful places

7. post processing
    - it really help to improve the final output
    - not doing the super impose
    - clone dusts, increase contrast, increase saturation, masking for exposures ... noise reduce are basic requirements
    - shoot raw in case WB need to be change so it can be done easily
    - color cast remove easier by using RAW too
    - calibrate monitor

so all I learn now ... may keep update while I find something I need to add on .. and will discuss each in details slowly in future ...

Landscape Spot - Kuala Abang, Terengganu

sunrise is not common for me especially seascape sunrise, as I stay @west coast of Malaysia. I had plan east coast to look for sunrise spot since early of the year 2010 .. but I was too busy to work out one ....

Last weekend, I had a chance to stay there 3d 2 nights... (a wonderful weekend I had), finally I can spent my time slowly to look for spots for the days and future. the time pass fast so I manage to spend time for
Kuantan -> Kemasik --> Kuala Abang --> Pantai Chendering --> Kuala Terengganu --> Kuala Abang --> Paka .... (and some beaches in between....)

back to the days... I was lucky , managed to
i. 2 sunrise
ii. 1 beautiful sunset @ Floating Mosque
iii. beautiful night sky .. but too tired to have star trail


for this I am sharing a place call Kuala Abang, it locate ~1.5 hour (normal speed) drive from Kuantan, Pahang. this place full with beaches, homestay, inn , hotel..... so no worry for the accommodation. even you can't find one, it is not far to Kemasik or Kuala Terengganu.

I spend one of the morning near (few steps away) Kuala Abang Guest House, it have a beautiful Island opposite , big rocks near by , coconut tree ...... sunrise for sure (if you lucky enough) .



few thing to remember ...
i. not much food variety ....and have to drive out to look for
ii. beaches are dangerous to swim ...
iii. many sharp rock ..


some fisherman and cleaner wil pass by the sea in the morning ...



will go again for sure ..........................

Landscape - the waiting

not too sure what is my feeling on the waiting moment for the sun to be out or disappear.. because every time it happen just too fast and I never able to record down my feel of the moment ....

one of the e.g.
the sky show it going to be beautiful day for sunrise but the mist full cover the dam/lake ... it going to be confuse feeling where I hate to mist but I could love it too as it make make a wonderful misty feel sunrise ........(what am I saying !!!!)

so do you enjoy the waiting or hate it.?


and I am sure I enjoy the moment to wait ........................


updated 22 Sept 2010...

Nature Outing - Starchaser

after stop the "star chase project" 3 months ago , this week I have few plan to get some stars shots ... and I am ready to go ... just waiting.... 2hours to go

*** above picture miss out a compass :D

last few star job ...





and 2 still motion

Landscape - Confusion sss

you can see most of the lake in MA, US give a good reflection ... and it is not easy to have it here ... so I had stop by few lake/pond... to capture those reflection. These reflections are so clear sometime it can me compare to the actual view .. that's why I have an idea to capture and PP those picture upside down to make this collection ...

1. 1st one while my April 2010 trip... I shoot this ~3-5C in the morning and with no PP of the picture (no rotation)


2. shooted @ Maine while I just finish my shopping :D


3. while I am looking sunrise spot



there are few refllection capture
1. beautiful place but got warning by Police ... hmmmmmm


2. after long day driving and shopping but still stop by for this


3. a cold sunrise


4. bit windy ... and a late sunset

Travel Report - Taiwan May 2010 (1)

I was invited to go Taiwan to have a Nature Photography Trip by 大鬍子 [Director of http://www.chiuhua.com.tw/] ...within 5 days we travel from Taipei --> Wulai --> Syueshan (台北 --> 乌来 http://travel.network.com.tw/tourguide/twnmap/taipeicountry/Wulia.asp --> 大雪山 http://tsfs.forest.gov.tw/DM1/index.asp)

We meet quite a lot of Nature photographer & book writer (from all over the Taiwan , south, east....) and all of them are good nature lover and photographer...from the discussion and conversation , I do learn a lot from them ... not only on photography but how to appreciate the nature ....

There are a lot of hit and miss (photography) e.g. I got plenty of endemic birds and wild life from Taiwan which I do not expect ...... but I do missed out some of the creatures that I able to see but failed to capture ... :(
i. plenty of Scorpion flies around ...easily >10 among Wulai & Syueshan 乌来 --> 大雪山
ii. green metallic Giraffe Weevil .... it is still as shy as Malaysia GW
iii. a bird call Doraemon (小叮噹)
iv. lophura swinhoii (藍腹鷴) .... a endemic bird from Taiwan ...according to them ... it is most easy bird ever but then we still miss it due to the bad weather on last day in the Syueshan (大雪山)
v. Star ... even good weather but the star are not really bright due the bright moon

But again this was a wonderful trip and thanks Mr Chai [大鬍子] for the accommodation , time spend , nice foods ....

I may too busy to process all the pictures capture in 1-2 weeks time so let me share the view from 大鬍子 house @ Wulai (乌来) peak (this is a place locate at far high from the common tourist area and not all people allow to go out to this area as it do have a road block by police 7 x 24 @ entrance ... (Location map @ Flickr map)

Landscape - how stars move?

I am back from MA, US and will share some of my shots there ...

spent ~2hours @~40-50F and it was windy ...still remember the coldness and this is what I plan to have .. even the north start seem little out of my plan spot ..

a standard quality


but if wish to have better quality movie
http://www.liewwkphoto.com/still/MA/startrails1/MA-Star1.htm


missed out the picture

News - 1st try on Still JPEG Movie

finally I managed to capture and create my 1st still JPGE movie with another star trail capture and outing ... happy to went out with my gang (even another long hours outing 2am - 7pm) .. but we enjoy the outing very much as we learn, laugh .. here are output from 1st try

1. picture


2. movie


*** prefer to view larger and better quality from http://www.liewwkphoto.com/still/Genting/trail1/Genting-Star1.html

a tired day outing

a tired weekend

1. last friday 15 Jan 2010 from 3am -6pm then went for a Canon - Photomalaysia.com talk for videography + 1dm4
2. on next morning ~730am, we went to Sekinchan, Selangor, Malaysia for paddyy field shooting and was plan this for long as would like to see the brown + blue contrast color instead of common green + blue (but then I still want to shoot that) ...
3. we left Sekinchan ~4pm and drive toward to Pantai Jeram where ~1 hour drive from Sekinchan. and leave the place ~8pm then arrive house ~11pm

and I am leaving Malaysia to Singapore early of the morning next day ....

I would say .. WOW .. but my body just can't follow my brain .. so I comment myself 20++ brain but 40++ body :D

but with 2 pictures (many of them but simply choose 2 to fast process out) ... I am happy with the tired outing ....

Pantai Jeram


Paddy from Sekinchan


this is what I plan and look for ...


and more will share on my flickr here

I am poor in shooting city ...

am in Singapore , a beautiful city but just feel difficult to get my camera to shoot as not sure how to present city ... (think i need more effort on this) ... may be you all should tell me how I improve .. I will post few pictures from my few days trip here...

Landscape Spot 3 - Pantai Jeram

a beach or fishing village not far from Kuala Lumpur (~1-1.5 hours drive from city), and this is good for sunset and it direct facing west... you may need to check on the tide level as it give different view and capture mood ...(pictures will share below)

Direction
- from Sungai Buloh toward Kuala Selangor
- after pass by Ijok
- arrive to a T junction
- turn right to Kuala Selangor, Sekinchan ...
- but we going to turn left toward klang
- keep ~5-6KM there is a signboard show Pantai Jeram with "Ikan Bakar" on your right

- a easy sunset spot where drive there and walk less than 10m
- but not much foreground ... while high tide

high tide
... losing my path ...


low tide
... Reflection ...


... stop here ...

Landscape Spot 1 - Tanjung Tuan

I am slow recently, due to need to spend more time on family and work (aikssss preparing for exam now).... but I think it is good to start share some of the Landscape spots that I visit before I forget the details ...

This is going to be same as MACRO spot ... I will share some picture from the spot, how to be there, what need to be take note ... etc

Tanjung Tuan is located down south from Port Dickson Town, a popular beach destination for city folks. Also known as Cape Rachado, this place is essentially a coastal forest gazetted for a park for bird watching, especially for raptors, as well as being a tourist attraction (lighthouse at the peak). The forest is composed of both rainforest and mangrove swamps.

Direction
- Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan
- from North-South Highway toward South (Singapore, Johor) Direction from Kuala Lumpur
- drive ~1hour to Port Dickson exist
- follow sign board, it will lead you to Port Dickson near a place call Teluk Kemang
- toward the end of the highway, you will reach a roundabout turn 9 o'clock
- follow the main road you will reach Hutan Rimba Tanjung Tuan Or "Tanjung Tuan Light House" ... this will take ~10-15minutes
- make right turn from the main road after see the signboard Hutan Rimba Tanjung Tuan
- will pass by Tanjung Biru (Blue Lagoon), Tajung Mirror....
- ~1km will reach Hutan Rimba Tanjung Tuan Entrance
- walk into the Hutan Rimab (reserve jungle) toward the end ~30-40minutes walk
- light house will be at the end
- it will be a down hill path which lead to sea side (will discover next visit)
- this post only share the view from the hill

Difficulty
- need to pass by a Hutan Rimba (reserve jungle)
- no drive up
- not really tough as it only need ~30-40minutes walk

Why
- this is located @west coast of MALAYSIA so sunset ... from hill
- people come here also for raptors .... but not me :D






more pictures can view here