I was fortunate enough to come across some of the lovely cats around the homes. The miniature rooster is no bigger than the size of a soccer ball. All were shot with the K20D with the fast focusing FA 135mm f/2.8 telephoto.
29 March 2009
Kampong Buangkok Pentax Outing Part 2
A continuation of the earlier post of our March 2009 Pentax meet-up. One of the endearing hallmarks of the kampung (Malay village) are the animals that are kept as family pets.
I was fortunate enough to come across some of the lovely cats around the homes. The miniature rooster is no bigger than the size of a soccer ball. All were shot with the K20D with the fast focusing FA 135mm f/2.8 telephoto.
I was fortunate enough to come across some of the lovely cats around the homes. The miniature rooster is no bigger than the size of a soccer ball. All were shot with the K20D with the fast focusing FA 135mm f/2.8 telephoto.
22 March 2009
Kampong Buangkok Pentax Outing Part 1
Our monthly Pentax photographic outings have been a good opportunity to catch up with fellow Pentax users and more importantly the opportunity to take pictures together in a congenial atmosphere.
For our March 2009 meet-up, we took the opportunity to visit probably one of the few remaining Malay villages (kampung) left in Singapore. The rapid pace of urbanization of Singapore means that there are few remaining vestiges of the old left untouched. Kampung Buangkok is just one of those places.
Nestled amidst encroaching apartment blocks and private houses, the location is small by most standards but offers a varied mix of the old and eclectic, a treasure trove of photographic opportunities. We had a good turnout and the pleasant weather made for an enjoyable outing.
I have to say I really liked the shots that I took in the short time we were there. I opted for a prime lens combo of the FA 50mm f/2.8 Macro, FA 77mm f/1.8 Limited and the FA 135mm f/2.8 telephoto. I also brought along as I always do the small DA 21mm f/3.2 Limited but opted not to use it. All in a one of the best outings we've had to date.
For our March 2009 meet-up, we took the opportunity to visit probably one of the few remaining Malay villages (kampung) left in Singapore. The rapid pace of urbanization of Singapore means that there are few remaining vestiges of the old left untouched. Kampung Buangkok is just one of those places.
Nestled amidst encroaching apartment blocks and private houses, the location is small by most standards but offers a varied mix of the old and eclectic, a treasure trove of photographic opportunities. We had a good turnout and the pleasant weather made for an enjoyable outing.
I have to say I really liked the shots that I took in the short time we were there. I opted for a prime lens combo of the FA 50mm f/2.8 Macro, FA 77mm f/1.8 Limited and the FA 135mm f/2.8 telephoto. I also brought along as I always do the small DA 21mm f/3.2 Limited but opted not to use it. All in a one of the best outings we've had to date.
28 February 2009
Horse - Camera Raw Processing
With a slew of Adobe products available to photographers, many have gravitated towards using Lightroom to manage their photo collections and to develop them non-destructively. While Lightroom 2 is really a worthwhile and excellent upgrade, it seems that using Adobe Bridge in conjunction with Adobe Photoshop CS4 and Adobe Camera Raw 5.3 seems redundant.
Well I have to say using ACR is now a breeze and actually capable of quite dramatic results on its own. The beauty of ACR is that adjustments and refinements made are non-destructive with plenty of options for effect. Here I took inspiration from the Lord of the Rings to try to depict a horse post processed as dark and evil versus good and light. Taken with a K100D with the superb Voigtlander 125mm Apo-Lanthar Macro.
Well I have to say using ACR is now a breeze and actually capable of quite dramatic results on its own. The beauty of ACR is that adjustments and refinements made are non-destructive with plenty of options for effect. Here I took inspiration from the Lord of the Rings to try to depict a horse post processed as dark and evil versus good and light. Taken with a K100D with the superb Voigtlander 125mm Apo-Lanthar Macro.
25 February 2009
Silhouette abstracts
Took these close-ups of a metal sculpture that was made up of outlines of human figures. Meant were to represent different poses and expressions of the human body, they were connected into many branches to form an interlocking tree. K20D with DA 50-200mm.
23 February 2009
Rain drops on bonsai
Took this macro using the K20D and the FA 100mm f/2.8 Macro. I really like this shot and it was fortunate I could visualise the shot because the lead was pretty small to begin with.
11 February 2009
Our Lady of Lourdes
Just two images of Our Lady of Lourdes Church taken very early in the morning.
This is one of the oldest Catholic churches in Singapore. Built in 1888, it is the first Tamil Catholic church in Singapore. Architecturally, it is modelled to the original church in Lourdes, France. It has in my view an excellent facade and it is now gazetted as a national monument.
Took the opportunity to give the images a HDR like treatment. Processed in Lightroom and Photoshop CS4. Taken with the K20D and the DA 18-55mm II kit lens.
This is one of the oldest Catholic churches in Singapore. Built in 1888, it is the first Tamil Catholic church in Singapore. Architecturally, it is modelled to the original church in Lourdes, France. It has in my view an excellent facade and it is now gazetted as a national monument.
Took the opportunity to give the images a HDR like treatment. Processed in Lightroom and Photoshop CS4. Taken with the K20D and the DA 18-55mm II kit lens.
From an early morning walk
Today I grabbed my K20D with my DA 18-55mm II kit lens to shoot some images by the beach at dawn. I spent a productive time there deep in thought and took these images almost by accident, shooting with no defined purpose which ordinarily is not a good thing!
Forest shadows
Coconut and leaf
Boulder at dawn
Opening the images in Adobe Bridge, a few images immediately drew my attention as being ideal in black and white. Post processed the images in Photoshop CS4 in a jiffy. What I can conclude is that even with the lowly kit lens, one can get excellent results with the K20D. The camera's dynamic range was well able to handle the strong side lighting from the morning sun, and I wasn't even shooting in RAW but jpeg. I've been pleasantly surprised by the kit lens as it makes for a very cheap wide angle lens. Just when my mind says to switch to a better performing and more expensive lens the kit lens always comes back with winners and "deliver the goods."
Pointed rock
Forest shadows
Coconut and leaf
Boulder at dawn
Opening the images in Adobe Bridge, a few images immediately drew my attention as being ideal in black and white. Post processed the images in Photoshop CS4 in a jiffy. What I can conclude is that even with the lowly kit lens, one can get excellent results with the K20D. The camera's dynamic range was well able to handle the strong side lighting from the morning sun, and I wasn't even shooting in RAW but jpeg. I've been pleasantly surprised by the kit lens as it makes for a very cheap wide angle lens. Just when my mind says to switch to a better performing and more expensive lens the kit lens always comes back with winners and "deliver the goods."
Pointed rock
02 February 2009
Changi Museum Chapel
Took a quick visit with my son to the Changi Museum last week. Situated just a few kilometers away from my home, the museum is a memorial to the thousands of Allied servicemen interned by the Japanese forces at Changi Prison during the Second World War. The centerpiece of the museum is a replica of the Chapel that the POWs erected during those dark days. The museum gives a good account of the harsh conditions the POWs endured. A poignant reminder of the sacrifice they made and certainly well worth a visit.
The image of the Chapel was shot with my modified for infrared Pentax *ist DL2 with a DA 18-55mm II kit lens. Image was post processed in Photoshop CS4.
The image of the Chapel was shot with my modified for infrared Pentax *ist DL2 with a DA 18-55mm II kit lens. Image was post processed in Photoshop CS4.
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