Reminiscing 2013: Night lights

As much as I love to capture the sunsets, I always end up coming home late from work. Last year, I was so busy, even till this January due to the work load I always missed or don't have the opportunity to even see the sun set into the horizon. 

Figure 1: Colourful shimmering night lights.

For me, living in an island, the most spectacular views are always early in the morning or when the sun is going to set. The golden hour, everytime I look at it it makes my stress go away. Still I can't make it all the time, so the night lights will do too.

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.

Wishes for the night

Figure 1: The milky way.

When the night comes and the world turns into a state of dark, I am still wishing to capture some essence of light in the darkest state of time. As a small kid, I enjoy staring at the stars when the skies are clear. The beauty of those light from the distance is beautiful and breath-taking.

Earlier last week, I've waited for the Pleiades meteors to show, I didn't manage to capture nor see it due to the cloudy sky. There are a lot of instances when I missed the milky way directly above my head due to the light pollution. There are so many limitations to my photography due to my current kit set-up. 

I currently need a good iso 3200 camera with a f2.8 aperture opening lens. This is so that the lens opening and sensor will be sensitive enough to gather light from the dark sky. Will look into this soon, as I am still yet to afford a full-frame sensor and a lens for it will be pricey.

These are my little wishes to capture the beauty of the night, the moon at its full glory is also one of the attractions of the night. The clear skied night certainly holds a lot of surprises, there's much to capture as any sunrise or sunsets.

Figure 2: The night skies when it is clear.

Silent night

Figure 1: The Sea view of Pulau Enoe.

There are times when the nights seems to have no way for dreams. That is when I decide to wake up and find something to shoot. Not so good at night photography yet but am trying to find opportunities and trying to learn to get the best results.

Figure 2: Black and white in the dark.

My camera doesn't do great at higher iso than 400 at night. It would look so grainy that you wish you took your photos in black and white. Even the loss of detail and colour is terrible to the extent that people won't even shoot my camera. 

Figure 3: Clear skies at the tip of Borneo.

If I had a lot of money, I would probably stick the best lens and buy the best full body camera I can get my hands on. Nikon of course. Night photography is so spectacular that you wish that your camera handles hi isos noiselessly.

Figure 4: Cloud explosion at the tip of Borneo.    

What I love about darkness is the long exposures and endless things you can do to make your photos look surreal and light so unreal.

Figure 5: Waiting at the bustop to go home.