Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Reminiscing 2013: 1st photo

The first photo I would like to share on the year 2014 is among my most favorite photo for last year. It is my future wife's photo looking out of the window. I took this photo while she was attentively looking out of the window. Her expression as well as pose makes me fall in love.

Figure 1: Looking outside.
This year 2014, I am going to propose and marry her. I look forward to that fateful day. I am still nervous about moving up to the next phase in life, but I know that together with her, she'll complete my lacking and I hope to be the best partner for her.

Monday, December 23, 2013

Cat like

Cats are adorable creatures, I am exposed to household cats since I was a little boy and have lots of experience with it. Some are enjoyable and some are sad experience of getting clawed at, even bitten. Still, cats are nice to touch and are cute when snuggled between my legs for a nap.

Figure 1: Playful cat.
People say that cats have nine lives. I really believe in it. I have seen cats take the leap of faith, and ended up falling from such great height but still manage to survive the fall. Cats which have fall down into the depths of the river, yet manage to save itself from the calamity.

Figure 2: Nose focus.

Cats like dogs, have a certain connection to human and can live together in a household. I especially like cats which can catch mice though but nevertheless despite their smelly manure, cats makes nice pets. Especially if you have those beautiful breeds, given they don't bite and scratch. 

Figure 3: Always eyeing the prey.

Saturday, December 21, 2013

Mi sunset

Figure 1: Reddishness of the sunset.

It has been raining almost everyday of the weeks of December, and now going to the end of this month, I was looking forward for some night cycling but due to the unpredictable weather it has never materialize. Thus every other evenings before the sun sets, I cycle for a bit.

However, last Friday, I was cycling around and looked at the sky with its tiny little clouds hovering, the storm clouds are faraway and the sun looks clear and a yellowish light engulfs the horizon. I was excited to finish my ride and continue with shooting the sunset.

And, wallah, these are the shots that I managed to get. I was so glad to be able to settle down for the beautiful sunset shot just close to the island's runaway. For me, it is a shot worth waiting, rushing and capturing.

Figure 2: Steaks of light.

Thursday, December 19, 2013

Uncomfortable

Figure 1: Lone moon.
I am quite forgiving as a person. I can tolerate others when I am at work or outside but there's one matter which is very sensitive to me. I cannot tolerate living for a long time with other people who I am not close with and have habits which I dislike. Meaning to say, not my close family members or my spouse.

It is a behavior that has developed in me since I was small, I was encourage never to stay at other people's place, despite it being my friend's house. So it is natural for me, to stay home with my family as I have lived since I am small. When I entered university that is where the problems arises.

I cannot tolerate my room mates making noise when I am sleeping at night. I don't mind when its day time, but I really cannot stand it. So, my anger gets to my head and things came crashing without me realizing it. Next day, no one dared to make much noise when I sleep.

So, now that I am working, I do not want to live in a house sharing with other people. I dislike having to tolerate other's whom I am not acquainted in a home setting. I don't mind after stepping out of my home, but where I sleep, rest, and spent the rest of my time in privacy, I do not wished to be disturbed.

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Running nose


Figure 1: After-math of the sunset.
Have been really busy these few weeks, preparing and coping with daily problems at the work place. It is really stressful for me, especially human handling but I have to live with it and do the best I can. So, today, I finally have decent time to capture the beautiful sunset.

This takes away the stress inside of me and give me hope for a better tomorrow. I am indeed blessed. I need to rest early, can't blog too much. Too tired and weak as I have contracted winter cold. My nose is runny and I keep on sneezing. Good night.

Figure 2: Perfect sunset after weeks.

Friday, December 13, 2013

Manual focus

I used to enjoy fine tuning my focus on the camera. Especially, when I first learned how to use a DSLR, I heavily manual focus. However, recently, my eyes seem to have a tough time discerning the focus, especially on my optical viewfinder and when using large aperture lenses. 

Manual focusing can be fun, but it is also time consuming especially if you're not used to using manual focus lenses. The best manual focusing lenses have a very smooth and solid feeling when using the focus rings. This allows for accurate and quite speedy focusing.

Manual focusing is especially useful in low-light, this is where, this technique shines. However, for me, I still find it quite tough because of my sights. I prefer the use of autofocus which is very good in modern DSLRs and unless pressed, I will stick to auto-focus.

So, goodbye to manual focus lenses for now. I am all automatic.

Figure 1: Large aperture MF lenses.

Mundane

It's been quite an eventful week for me, filled with work and un-pleasantries. It is quite challenging for me, especially when dealing with people. It is really tiresome when you have to blast out all your energy just to get disappointed at and blamed.

I am feeling the stress and heat especially as I am the person squeezed in between. It really feels being squeezed and mushed in a large pressure cooker. Well, at least I managed to live it up for the past week. I really appreciate the weekends.

I need to find something to color up my life. Maybe this isn't my passion and not the field that I want to progress in. Or maybe it is the culture of the workplace that is dragging me down everyday. I need to invest in my passions. Sooner or later.

Figure 1: It's been so dull.

Monday, December 9, 2013

20 best photos of the year 2013

Dear all,

I will be joining top 20 photos of 2013 which is hosted by Mr.Duncan, who is an avid blogger at *The KUANTAN blog* . As I have been learning photography since early of the year, I am always seeking to improve myself through learning photo composition, camera settings as well as capturing the moment at the right time. 

It is tough, but along the way of learning I discovered that I am actually passionate in photography. Thus, I would like to share what is to me among the best photos for this year 2013, next year starting from the 1st of January 2014 till the 20th with a photo each day.

For those reading this and have great interest in photography, you are also invited to join in the fun at the link below, 

Registration for Top 20 photos for 2013

Create your own banner at mybannermaker.com!
Thanks,

Best regards,
-al-

Again

Figure 1: One day, she will come.
Once again, I want to talk about patience. Is there a significant benefit to be patient and wait on something which is likely or not likely to happen? It all depends on your perspective and attitude. For me, if it is worth it and once in a lifetime opportunity, then why not wait for it.

Patience is a virtue, as stated by a lot of wise men. However, patience doesn't mean just waiting for it to come without self doing anything. Well, if you're waiting patiently for that opportunity but am being idle, that is indeed a waste of time and energy.

You may be waiting for that special someone, or a better opportunity else where, so this is where you can do some research and try experimenting with something new. Who knows what may come, so best be prepared for it rather than be in a state of shock.

With that amount of time spent, you can do your best at your current situation while waiting for that opportunity to come. By the time the opportunity comes, you are ready and in your best state to grab it and surge forward in life. Patience is the essence of success. 

Figure 2: Sometimes it is worth it, sometimes not.

Saturday, December 7, 2013

Night sky

It's raining today, droplets poured and I missed out a very beautiful sunset because I have leg cramps. Oh well, I am complaining so much despite being lazy to actually get out and grab the shot. However, last night I was out cycling and the skies are so beautiful and clear.

Figure 1: Starry night.
I could just scream out loud and hope that my sound-waves reaches the skies but I know that will be just in vain. Just looking up into the skies makes me psyched and feeling excited despite my legs pushing its limits. I am heavy and cycling in the cold dark night is new to me.

Figure 2: The clouds engulfing the skies.
43 kilometers of road rage and finally I'm home, that's about 3 hours of cycling and the time ticks at 0030 early morn. I think I have my calling and I enjoyed this sport of mine. For the sake of excitement and exercise, I declare that I just love cycling at night.

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

Environment

Figure 1: Bottled sunset.
Our world is getting more and more polluted as time passes by. Trees are getting chopped down one after another to house human modernization. Stress at work is getting worse due to the selfishness of man, wanting more than what is already been provided.

Once, God gave a huge responsibility to mankind, to take care of the earth and toil its soil in order to sustain. However, the opposite happened and now, due to greed, most of the world's precious resources is now been harvested. One day, it will all be gone.

Just like the platypus, just like the javanese rhinoceros, all will be extinct and rare. Even though, its just one bottle, bottles will never degrade up to like 400-500 years. Marine life can get killed by all those plastic bags and strings. 

Still, it hurts just to think about it and unable to do anything much.

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Little secret

Figure 1: Whispers secrets.
If it's a poem, let this be one from a girl to a boy she loves..

With the sun far out on the horizon,
It's a nice weather to spend the day,
So sit close to me in this beautiful garden,
Just you and me to pass the time by.

Close to you feels like a little heaven,
Hear me out and listen closely,
Smile and don't be craven,
I'll whisper it secretly.

As far as there is perfection,
There will be always be flaws,
But I know that deep within,
You'll be the best always.

Just a little poem to keep calm and always stay creative.

Figure 2: The couple.

Monday, December 2, 2013

Tokina Japan

I would like to share the lens that I used for all my landscaping images on my Nikon D200. This is the only lens I would like need for all my landscapes if I can only have one lens. It is quite sharp at f4, but stop it down to f8-f11 it is really sharp. 

Figure 1: My wide angle lens.
Most people complained about flaring with the Tokina, fortunately, unless it is really direct to the sun, the Tokina doesn't generate much flare at all. If I put on the hood, the contrast of the images improves in bright sunny days.

Figure 2: Aspherical element inside.
This lens has a 77mm front element which matches most of the more expensive lenses. It is well built and it is really quite an affordable lens if you're interested in wide angle photography. This lens has a clutch type autofocus mechanism which is easy to engage when I want to manual focus.

Figure 3: 77mm filter thread.
If I have more money, the next lens I want to have for my crop sensor camera is the Tokina 11-16mm f2.8 which is a very sharp lens, well built and also affordable. Still, sooner or later, I have to upgrade my body too.

Figure 4: Tokina 12-24mm f4.
Still I wish there are more respectable ultra wides out there in the market, as far as I know, Tokinas are the best in the aftermarket brand. It even beats up Nikon's own crop sensored ultra wides in terms of sharpness. Most important is it is affordable for all enthusiasts like me.  

Reddishness

Figure 1: Horizon stretched in red.
Checkered clouds, just leaving the horizon, leaving a red tinge of red. It's December now, and the storm clouds are everywhere, times to capture the glorious sunset is getting rarer each day. I want to do something different soon and very soon, to go forward and pursue my passions.