A good tip I read from another photography related blog.
Safe shutter speed for handheld photography..
To ensure that the picture is not affected by handshake, the photographer should set the shutter speed to 1/(2xN) where N is the focal length of the lens.
eg. Using a 55-250mm focal length zoom lens at its maximum 250mm, the maximum recommended shutter speed should be 1/(2x250) = 1/500 s.
This rule applies regardless of aperture of lens. Of course, there'd be cases where the metering will say that this picture will be underexposed if the environment is of low-lighting. That'd probably mean you'd not be able to use the camera in the handheld manner and it'd be time to bring out the tripod.
Image stabilization built into the lens mechanism may help a little. ( 1-2 stops above the tolerance shutter limit as advised above ) But please do not attempt to shoot anything with a shutter speed of more than 2 seconds using handheld DSLR. IS(Canon) or VR(Nikon) or OS(Sigma) or VC(Tamron) doesn't mean it's super duper no shake.
For subjects that are inanimate, tripod with long exposure may get the desired picture. But for subjects that can and will move, it'd be preferable to use a flash instead. However, using a flash have its limitation of distance.
Thus under low light conditions, if subject is not of near distance and constantly in motion, it might be better to return another time where there are more daylight to shoot the subject again.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
After movie night, makan at Tanjong Pagar Railway Station
We watched The Expendables that night.
Since the birth of Nathaniel, we didn't have much luxury of time to watch movies.
Luckily for us, we were able to arrange our nanny to look after the boy that night.
So after the movie, we took a quick detour from the cinema at Great World City to the old railway station at Tanjong Pagar to grab some supper.
FYI, they serve lousy prata there.
But nonetheless, I was able to snap a few pictures of a happy girl.
Since the birth of Nathaniel, we didn't have much luxury of time to watch movies.
Luckily for us, we were able to arrange our nanny to look after the boy that night.
So after the movie, we took a quick detour from the cinema at Great World City to the old railway station at Tanjong Pagar to grab some supper.
FYI, they serve lousy prata there.
But nonetheless, I was able to snap a few pictures of a happy girl.
Nathaniel enjoying mini Cornetto ice cream at Toa Payoh 21 Aug 2010
Yes, he enjoys very much the mini ice-cream!
Hehe, see his mini chocolate mustache as he munches down the cone!
Friday, August 27, 2010
AMK Park
I took 70 shots and sadly only 3 of them are good enough to show people.
Sweat attract the mozzies and I ended up bitten all over.
The first picture is to identify the location at Ang Mo Kio Park.
[ Opposite AMK Library ]
Sweat attract the mozzies and I ended up bitten all over.
The first picture is to identify the location at Ang Mo Kio Park.
[ Opposite AMK Library ]
Took a pretty pink flower to warm up
Tiny droplet of water dangling off a partly chewed leaf. [ Seconds before launch ]
This caterpillar has to be my best effort to date. Taken with 90mm handheld without tripod. Using Nissin di866 with add-on standard cover diffuser.
Citylights Bokeh 13th August 2010
Taken at my family's weekend mahjong haunt
[ Auntie Jaey's house at Toa Payoh ]
A magnificent view of the city can be seen from her flat on the 17th storey in Toa Payoh East.
This picture doesn't do justice to her flat's city view but I guess that's what my grandma sees each night, when she sits on her comfort chair at the balcony, without her glasses on.
[ Auntie Jaey's house at Toa Payoh ]
A magnificent view of the city can be seen from her flat on the 17th storey in Toa Payoh East.
This picture doesn't do justice to her flat's city view but I guess that's what my grandma sees each night, when she sits on her comfort chair at the balcony, without her glasses on.
What is Bokeh? It sounds hokkien!
More Macro with my 90mm Tamron at Bedok Reservoir Park
The following pictures were taken at Bedok Reservoir Park on a cloudy afternoon.
Flash was a bit harsh on this pic, I need to learn how to diffuse more.
This one was taken with my Nissin di866 with a white translucent party plate cutout placed
at the filter thread of my lens
This one was taken with my Nissin di866 with a white translucent party plate cutout placed
at the filter thread of my lens
This was taken with the same party plate but with the popup flash
Popup flash with party plate, I wanted to get closer but I was currently comfortable with my lens
proximity of about 15cm away from the subject. I didn't want to scare it away. The extended branch that this fly was perching on, was swaying like mad due to perpetual breeze. I had to hold the end tip of this branch with one hand, and with the other hand, hold the heavy Canon 40D singlehandedly and depress the shutter button. I wished I could get closer, I'm sure I'd be able to capture more of the compound eye details if I were to move nearer by another 3-4 cm.
proximity of about 15cm away from the subject. I didn't want to scare it away. The extended branch that this fly was perching on, was swaying like mad due to perpetual breeze. I had to hold the end tip of this branch with one hand, and with the other hand, hold the heavy Canon 40D singlehandedly and depress the shutter button. I wished I could get closer, I'm sure I'd be able to capture more of the compound eye details if I were to move nearer by another 3-4 cm.
Friday, August 20, 2010
Futile Macro Attempt
There was a grasshopper whom made a temporary home at my corridor.
It was seen hanging around my money plant for at least 2 days.
So I decided to take a picture of this unexpected guest late one night... Surprisingly, it was still around the same spot..
And now I know, why they say macro photography is not just about the lens.
Besides having to creep up to the subject to within 5cm distance with my intimidating lens, and having to steady my hands with the DSLR that was attached with an external flash. Let's just say that the Canon 40D isn't exactly a lightweight camera.
My hands were shaking uncontrollably when I took the photos and the more I tried to stabilize my hands, the more it shook. I believed I spent 5 minutes at squatting at the corridor, taking more than 10 shots of the same subject within this time and holding the weight of the camera,flash,lens on my hands all this time..
Some slight aching especially on the forearms after the shoot.
It was seen hanging around my money plant for at least 2 days.
So I decided to take a picture of this unexpected guest late one night... Surprisingly, it was still around the same spot..
And now I know, why they say macro photography is not just about the lens.
Besides having to creep up to the subject to within 5cm distance with my intimidating lens, and having to steady my hands with the DSLR that was attached with an external flash. Let's just say that the Canon 40D isn't exactly a lightweight camera.
My hands were shaking uncontrollably when I took the photos and the more I tried to stabilize my hands, the more it shook. I believed I spent 5 minutes at squatting at the corridor, taking more than 10 shots of the same subject within this time and holding the weight of the camera,flash,lens on my hands all this time..
Some slight aching especially on the forearms after the shoot.
Having a macro lens doesn't instantly mean being able to take great macro photos!
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Honey.. I am going out to shoot me some Dragons in Singapore
I went out late on an August Saturday night with the intention of shooting a dragon in Singapore.
I had to cross a river..
I had to avoid thundering steel beasts!
It was there waiting for me to shoot it!
A threat to village folk?
Camouflaging itself in the vegetation!
Making its escape into the forest...
The dragon moves fast!
Alas, frozen in stone!
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
My kids day out at Marina Barrage 8th August 2010
It was a sunny day, most photos were taken with F6 to F16.
70-300mm Sigma APO zoom lens was used very often to capture candid shots from a distance away.
The entire family was glad to have spent the day outdoors in the sun and occasionally in the shade for our little picnic.
70-300mm Sigma APO zoom lens was used very often to capture candid shots from a distance away.
The entire family was glad to have spent the day outdoors in the sun and occasionally in the shade for our little picnic.
I love my dotter's radiant smile! It will break many hearts when the day comes.
Cheeky Isabel and our maid, Yunani
She loves posing for the camera
A bird, a plane or a layang(kite) ?
Nathaniel testing the water...
No no no, I don't like the cold and wet water!
Mummy wants Nate to try again...
Nathaniel strong rejection to try getting his feet wet... ( we shall see )
Look, Dad! I'm in the water!
Who wanna play catch the ball with me?
Fishing for the ball
Nate's hooray pose!
I threw the ball that direction!
Mummy looks so radiant too!
Now I love the water!
Without any trace of doubt, the bum is wet.
This was the look that made me fall many years ago.
The prisoner in white
Isabel loves her new toy!
