Kelvin Photography

WORDPRESS

2012-02-06T23:54:00.002+08:00

All my recent work have been uploaded to either FLICKR or WORDPRESS.

This is my latest blog site : http://kinoz4eyes.wordpress.com/

Ipoh : The Original Oldtown White Coffee maker

2011-09-02T10:44:00.001+08:00

When people say 'Ipoh', the first thing that came to my mind is the Oldtown White Coffee, not the brand though but the Coffee itself, the first time i tried it was during my first year in my architecture study, my friend decided to hang out at this fancy kopitiam at Teluk Intan and from there, i started to familiarize myself with the smooth strong taste of the Ipoh White Coffee.

So, my actual plan to visit Ipoh is actually to find the original White Coffee Kopitiam, where from what i heard, is far better taste than those sale under franchise. The other reason would be observing the culture and architecture of the place, and FYI, most of Malaysia famous Comic Artist are born and raised from Ipoh. :D

A self portrait of myself inside the hotel bathroom which is complete with hot water, its not that good but considering the price per room, its worth it.

A week before my mid-semester holiday start, i did a few research on Ipoh and for starter, its a the Capital City of Perak and plays an important part in the history of Malaysia. I learn lots of stuff during my primary school under the History subject and it seems that British and many other foreign country are interested with the massive amount of raw material such as tin and from there, Ipoh have grown into a wealthy City.

A view of the Ipoh city from the third level of Caspian Hotel, i stay here for one night though because i got lost and couldn't find any road sign. (Plus i forgot to bring the map of Ipoh that i hang on my room wall.)

I travel by bus from Teluk Intan and it took about 3 hours, i don't recall any of the place that the bus pass through but my first impression of Ipoh is not that good though, the bus station layout and planning is sucks and as an Architecture Student, i could propose a better design!!! (Provided that i am a licensed Architect... :P)

So, from Medan Gopeng, i took a bus to Medan Kidd where the bus station is actually worse than the other one where all the bus parked around the building and the building is to small to properly cater all the passenger of different bus. The government should take notice of this as not only it would be a hassle for the local but also to the tourist, imagine all the foreign tourist typing about this one their facebook page.

Ipoh Curry Mee and Laici Kang, one of the first delicacies that i tried before one of my friend arrive at Ipoh. This one is good and the stall is located near Ipoh Parade, just in front of the Esso Oil Station.

Okay, apart from the Public Transportation, Ipoh is actually a good place for a short visit especially if you would like to understand the history and architecture of Malaysia better. The Chinese and Indian culture is well preserved here just like in Penang and Melacca.

So, i have been observing, it seems that there are more Chinese and India around Ipoh than Malay, which is interesting but it is probably because most of them have been living around the area for a long time, especially those who live in a shoplot. This was some of the picture that is best represent the people of ipoh, in my point of view actually. Most of it is taken in the city area.

I don't really know how to take a bus here at Ipoh so me and my friend decided to explore the entire Ipoh city by foot, so during one of our trip at the other side of the Kinta River, we buy some drinks and i notice that the 'Kincir Angin' is spinning rapidly and the storekeeper is giving good response when i show him my camera, so i decide to take a portrait of him.

We were walking through the back lane of some Shophouses around the Oldtown area and while taking some picture of the architecture element of the Shophouses, i notice that there were some worker working on a renovation project on a Shophouses nearby. So when he pass through us, i ask if he are willing to let me take his picture and he is more than happy to do so. :D

After i took a portrait of the other guy, he ask me to take a picture of one of his friend who are working on the wall, probably taking down some of the flaking paint. There is one of the picture where he was smiling but the area is to dark for my camera to capture properly. But nevertheless, they were very friendly.

Ipoh also have their own heritage building, apart from the Art Deco and Neo-Classicism influenced Shophouses, they also have Government building that is designed by the British for many other various purpose. This is great for Architecture Student though, just bring in your camera and sketchbook, and that is just what i did. :D

This is a picture of the Ipoh City Hall (Correct me if i am wrong), oddly enough, i find that the lamp post is more interesting than the building. Hopefully i could print this into a 6R size picture.

I also notice that there were a lot of School and Churches around the City area, probably due to the long history of how the Western trying to spread their belief into South east Asia, this place was once, belong to the British. But still, i find that the statue is pretty cool.

I took this picture first before i took a portrait of 2 of the worker, spiral staircase is really cool although it might be a bit hard to design and constructed, it still provide great aesthetic value to the design. The only problem is that sometimes, it cause problem during fire emergency.

This is a section of a Shophouse though, i don't really know what happen here but from the look of it, they might be planning to built another new building. :D

There is still a part of Ipoh that retain its traditional heritage, apart from their Architecture, i notice that some of the Chinese Folks still use bicycle to transport their goods to the central market.

The old and worn out wall create some nice texture against the air conditioning compressor. Which is Cool!!.

Well, some people might not like this kind of graffiti, but i kinda like it. This was taken somewhere near the UMNO Building.

During my second day at Ipoh, we did the 'Ipoh White Coffee hunting', although we didn't find it during our first try, but at least we found the Oldtown white coffee franchise near Padang Ipoh. That small book there is one of my sketchbook though.

Ohh, something worth mentioning is that Ipoh also have a section of it road to be close in the evening to sale some bargain clothing and stuff. That section is called 'Gerbang Malam', i didn't take much of a picture at that time because the place is so crowded and i was so tired... :P

Okay, on the third day of my stay, we decided to eat at one of this restaurant that sales Nasi Kandar, to my suprise, the owner is actually Chinese (maybelah...). The Nasi Kandar with Ayam Goreng Merah taste really good though.

So the hunt for the original White Coffee continue, while passing through a bridge, i notice that the sky look nice against with the lamp post. It does look a bit messy, but in my opinion, it make a good image.

Finally, We found the Kopitiam, actually there is another one just in front of this shop but someone told me that this one is better. Thanks to my friend though that i finally manage to find this Kopitiam, it is packed with people but we got ourselves an empty table, lucky us. :D

So this is the 'Original' White Coffee looks like, it taste better though with some smoother coffee taste in it. It cost only RM1.70, which is about half of that if we buy it at the franchise kopitiam.

So finally, the hunt is over, we been to the original Kopitiam but that is just about it. Most of the picture might not look interesting because i was kinda tired from walking around the town, and i actually receive a sunburn due to overexpose myself to the sun. :P

There is another series coming up, and that one covers the Ipoh Central Market. The next series was taken along with a friend of mine from Johor Bahru but that one have to be put on hold for now. So, if anyone wanted to come to Ipoh just to try the White Coffee, i suggest you guys better do it right with a GPS System, we have been chimping with the map and causing us to take a wrong turn and the lack of road sign around Ipoh isn't helping either.

Next Series : Ipoh Central Market

Third Year Mid Semester Conclusion

2011-08-30T18:57:00.002+08:00

I am in my Third Year now in my Architecture study and being a senior in this course really took us back during our first year, all the stuff that we learn from our early year is totally utilize in order complete a project and not to mention, to create a proper design proposal according to the project brief.

And after a few short months, our mid-semester holiday is finally here, and this year, its a bit special. One of the Malaysia most celebrated holiday is of course the 'Hari Raya' where the Muslim will celebrate for a month after their 1 month of fasting. After the first day of Raya, our national independence day is celebrated on the second day of Raya which is on the 31st of August so its like celebrating 2 epic celebration in a week!!!

During the last week before mid-semester holiday, most students of different course have started packing their stuff and dancing by playing the 'Hari Raya' song, but for the architecture students, especially those in third year, spent their entire week in the studio or room with their hand holding a pencil or a computer mouse. :P (most of them are zombified...)

There is a lots of cool project that we done this early semester, some of it involves making a simple 22 storey building that shows its water supply system and also a photography exhibition/portfolio for those who are taking photography class.

So, what the hell did i plan to do for this mid-semester Holiday?. I have been to the south end of the peninsular Malaysia, primarily on Seremban, Malacca and J.Bahru but i haven't yet visit the North side of Peninsular Malaysia and i have been dying to visit Penang since last year, colonial design shoplot and those heritage building is a must visit for an architecture student in my opinion so i would be in Penang and Ipoh this coming week. :D

Morning Shooting Session of a Kawasaki Superbike

2011-07-04T18:24:00.001+08:00

I woke up early that morning just to shoot this awesome looking kawasaki!!!

How does it look, comparable to those taken in motorcycle magazine and advertising???

This is Kawasaki latest 1000cc model superbikes, Kawasaki ZX-10R 2011 model. Its a beautifully designed motorcycle and with the original Kawasaki Green, this motorcycle would surely turn many heads around when it hit the town. I was helping my friend to shoot his brother motorcycle and the location was not far from his house. Being tired from yesterday event, i was not really focused for the early shooting session but nevertheless, as the sun rises, it turns out to be interesting and the shapes and lines of the motorcycle shines through the camera viewfinder.

Being a Motorcycle fan, i couldn't help but to admire the design of the motorcycle, the curvy and sexy line of the motorcycle fairing all the way to nicely design exhaust system, compare to my 125cc motorcycle, this is actually a engineering marvel. Getting the motorcycle around those corner at high speed is surely a great feat itself, please reminded that this motorcycle is pretty heavy and capable of hitting 320km/h is really crazy. :D

As the shooting session goes, the incoming traffic does disturb our shooting session, every time there is an incoming traffic, we have to move the light stand away to avoid from being hit. This is probably the reason why the lighting is not consistent through all the series. :P

The processing was simple as i desaturate the background to allow the Kawasaki green to pop out of the frame, causing instant brand recognition plus i increase the contrast of the whole picture to provide dynamic looking picture while enhancing the line of the motorcycle itself. I wonder if i accidentally change the green hue while processing but my friend confirm me that it look fine on his calibrated screen.

This is my latest effort on motorcycle shooting, lots of stuff to learn and change, i was thinking if there is someone who is wearing a full leather racing suits, the entire series would look better. Thanks to Mr Usman for getting ready all the equipment and motorcycle. xD

When i get back to Labuan this Christmas, hopefully i could do a series of Superbikes doing street racing here in Labuan. That is if all of them are willing to prepare themselves and their bike to such demand. :D

A couple of roll on an Old Seagull TLR

2011-06-08T14:58:00.004+08:00

Whenever people saw a retro looking camera, most of their thought would be like “Ohh, some people are still using those kind of camera…” or for those people in their 50’s “Ahhh, those kind of camera still exist huh, reminds me when I was young…” or something like that. People perception to this kind of technology in this modern world would simply consider it as an obsolete, considering the latest advancement in the digital camera industry, film emulsion and its chemical is consider as a tedious process compare to the workflow use in digital media.

As someone who is grew up during the era where Playstation 2 was considered in every boys wishlist, I have always have this fascination on the film developing process during the 1990’s. Most of my childhood memory were capture in one of those Consumer Grade Kodak film and observing those developed film with those inverted color image on it seems rather interesting.

I have enjoyed using film for a while since last year thanks to a certain someone who lend me his Olympus OM-10, and from there, I finally get to experience the hardship of some of the master photographer in order to capture some of the world most important picture and event in the history of mankind, such as the moment when man first land on the moon to the time where rock n roll were consider as a lifestyle. Capturing such moment on a rather unpredictable media is really ‘unpredictable’, you never know what would happen on the final picture.

So when my friend offer me to use his camera, an Old China Brand Seagull TLR camera, I couldn’t say no and I Immediately order a couple of roll of those China Brand Black and White Film. The camera use a 120 sized film and there is no lab around my area that could develop the film so instead, I choose a black and white film since I could send it to someone who is willing to develop and scan it. It’s a tedious process, I know, but the enjoyment of using such technology is rather exciting compare to those fast and complicated digital cameras.

The camera is cool looking, with a bit of carbon fiber textured decal covered around it, and although it stuck on some part, overall it’s a working camera. Loading the film was challenging of course, and those 12 frame for each roll make it even worse, I am so used to digital camera that somehow using this kind of camera reminds me to take good care of the lighting and exposure.

However, my initial result with the camera is not really that impressive, its not the camera but more to the film that I was using. Somehow the prints from the film paper backing were transferred to the emulsion causing the negative to become a bit grainy and appeared as if it was double expose. However I notice that most of my pictures were in focus with some impressive bokeh and thin Depth Of Field. Although the initial result is not that great, I already finished 4 rolls of Kodak Tri-X 400 (Yeah, and this time its Japanese Film) and hopefully the result would be better than I expected.

Hmm, I heard the Rolleiflex is another fine camera to be used for daily shooting. Just look at this dude works on Rolleiflex - Shinya Arimoto's Flickr Pages.

A week with Nikon F80

2011-04-03T17:16:00.003+08:00

   My Nikon D60 was broke last Febuary and i suspect the shutter or the electronic is the culprit. So, for me this could be a good thing as i could focus more on my architecture study and find it interesting to sketch some of my idea into my Sketchbook, currently designing a Sustainable building which would consist of commercial and office building somewhere around Labuan. Its not a real project but rather an experimental design scheme in preparation for my third year this July.

   Well, sometimes i do wish i could own a small camera such as a Canon G12, Olympus XA, Olympus Pen EES or even a Ricoh GR1s. I don't have the money to buy any of those and somehow i feel sort of 'lonely' without my Nikon D60. I plan to send it to Nikon Service centre at KL this May but until then, i am left with no camera for a certain period of time.

   A friend of mine is kind enough to lend me his trusted Nikon F60, and soon i thought this is cool, it works the same as my Nikon D60, except for the noisy autofocus. The camera is equipped with my favourite lens, the 28mm Nikkor f/2.8.

A self portrait with the camera (although the flash overpower the whole picture) is a great way to start using a new camera, for me, its the proof that i have been using the camera. :D

As usual, i don't really have much stuff to shoot in weekdays so i take mostly what available around my house and as usual, its a picture of those little kids playing in front of my house. :P Needless to say, the camera perform well and the only problem for the picture is it turn bluish; as expected from the cloudy weather.

As you can see, the camera autofocus still could track the subject properly and if anyone complaining about the autofocus system of the old F80; the only issue would be the noise from the old Nikkor lens which is motor driven from the camera instead the new SWM system in most Nikkor G lenses.

I use 2 rolls of the expired Kodak T400CN and most of it happen to be rubbish as the contrast is poor and most of the picture turns out to be unusable (another downfall of using such unpredictable medium). However, this picture turns out to be great and look similar to a rocket that was about to launch. :D

Here is a perfect example of the capability of the camera and lens combine, the exposure and focus were just right producing a rather awesome color rendition with nice texture on the picture. This camera belong to a friend of mine who recently acquired the camera and has already put it through some serious landscape shooting session that morning.

The result from the camera is amazing, i have no doubt that most photographer during that time have use the camera to capture some award winning picture and if someone happen to have a sort of camera like this, try putting a roll of film through it.

P/S : I STILL PREFER USING AN OLYMPUS OM-1n OR SOME SORT......

Project Labuan 01

2011-03-16T12:47:00.008+08:00

As promised, this is my second entry on my Project Labuan.

Labuan is populated with at least 80'000 people and consist of Chinese, Malay, India and Kadazan dusun, or even more. And being an industrial island, most of the people migrate from Peninsular Malaysia, Sarawak and Sabah just to get a job opportunity at some of the oil and gas company. But still, there is still some people who rely on the profit from the ocean to support their daily needs and some of them worked for the goverment as a teacher or a goverment official.

The variety of culture and people is a trademark of Malaysia and it certainly obvious even in Labuan, the Pearl Of Borneo;

And again, there is still more, i try to capture some of the intimate picture of Labuan especially with the local people, Labuan is suppose to be a tourist spot but i don't think the government is doing anything right but the number of hotel and homestay are increasing and most of them should be completed by next year. :D

Project Labuan

2011-03-06T15:01:00.005+08:00

Wow, i have been out from this blog for quiet some times huh. I was busy with my Industrial training and recently my Nikon D60 is broke so i left with nothing really. :P

I have been living in W/P Labuan for almost 7 years since i first arrive here in 2004. L

abuan is a small tiny island in the middle of Sarawak and Sabah and of course, its a part of Malaysia. :D

The island is unique in its own way and has a long history from the World War 2 as the island were occupied by the British and later Japanese before being taken

over again by the British after the World War 2 ends.

This is my personal project where i try to capture the 'hidden' side of the Labuan either by the means of Landscape and People. Labuan have a lot to offer other than the War Memorial as it also host International Sea Sport every year and also have a great Diving

Spot as well. :D

Here is a part of the picture from the Project Labuan, a series of Landscape, Street, and Portrait alike;

Still, this is just some part of it, i plan to take a lot more than just Landscape and gradually interviewing some of the old people from selected village as a part of my documentation but that i require a lots of times and dedication as not only i am currently studying Architecture (which is an interesting field!!! xD) but also have something else to finished and use some of my money for.

Wait for another entry though as this time i will be showing 'People' from the project. :D Stay tuned.

Street Photography on Petaling Street

2010-12-20T09:53:00.016+08:00

Petaling Street is one of the busiest street at Kuala Lumpur, it is located right in middle of Chinatown and is popular hangout place for foreign tourist to have a beer while enjoying a Chinese Cuisine. Despite being famous with the tourist. For the local, this place is consider as one of the red light district.

It was said that the place was run by a gangster and there is some cases where there would be some people being beaten up for no reason right in the middle of the street but this didn't affect the popularity of that place.

Pirated DVD's, cheap Counterfeit handbag and clothes are just some of the item that are being sale along the Petaling Street.

The Street life along the Petaling

Street.

A guy adding and adjusting the position of the bag and a passerby.

Life moves fast along Petaling Street.

You could meet many different people each with different purpose.

Petaling Street is even more alive at night than it was during the day. Her

e you can see lot of people hanging out especially those Jet Lagged European

enjoying their beer with their companion.

At night, the entire place are lighted with either a fluorescent or a normal bulb but either way, this make taking picture even more exciting but still, be careful not to go through a dark alley along Petaling Street. Just to be safe. :)

Not only cheap fashion accessories are being on sale here, fruits and roasted chestnut were also being on sale here along with some Classic Chinese delicacies.

Here is an example on what is on sale along Petaling Street, there is a lots of people around the area regardless day or night and surely makes an interesting place for Street Photographer.

Among the stuff being on sale here, i surely love this place, its a tourist hotspot and most people are so used to their picture being taken by camera. But still, if they don't want their picture to be taken, please don't insist any further. It probably going to save a lot more time to argue about your rights as this ain't no London. :)

But this is my third time visiting this place, and when people says that this place is a very dangerous place for street photographer, i disagree. (This was a hipshot, taken when i was having a conversation with a friend of mine.)

People are still human, just like us. They are a normal people with family to feed and love just like most of us. But rules of thumb, regardless where you are, please take some precaution whenever you decide to hit the street. :D

Petaling Street is a must visit place for anyone visiting Kuala Lumpur, i totally recommend it. Another place to visit it Jalan Alor, but more on that place later if i got enough picture to compile it into a post in the future.

The Travelling Trip 35

2010-12-16T23:24:00.005+08:00

I was invited one day by a friend of mine to join this Group project where they send a single Olympus Trip 35 around the world!!!. The group 'The Traveling Trip', started out with a few number of member, which is only about 28 member from various part of the world. The destination has been from Argentina, America, Hong Kong and now at Malaysia. The next destination is going to be to Spain, france, United Kingdom, New Zea

land, Australia and finally Canada. :D

Being one of the representative for Malaysia, it is quiet cool as i was eager to get my hand on the trip and actually seing the outcome of this project into a Pho

tobook. :D

After going through 3 different country and 5 different people, i must say the Trip 35 is still in a good condition. :D With an Argentina Flag underneath the base o

f the camera. ^____^

The package arrive safely in a rather thickly covered, double layer envelope with wrapping bubble around the camera. :D I have to actually, push my pocket knife through it. :D

The camera is in a very good condition, with a cute small Argentina Flag under the base of the camera. :D Its a mint condition Olympus Trip 35, i wonder if i could own one after this. :)

But still, since i address the package to my office where i was under internship, the camera attract lots of attention to itself. The classic shape and curve is simply retro for us in the office, mind you, being an aspiring architect we must look through many different design and idea to suits with the client requirement. :D

Well, work is work i quess, a little attraction doesn't really bother everyone right? :P

So, that evening i load it up with a DNP 100 color film, hopefully t

he result would be alright. :D

Olympus Trip 35, ready to rock, see you guys after Christmas. :D

Chasing the Kitten

2010-12-05T10:31:00.004+08:00

I just woke up this evening and realize that i am to lazy to ride my motorcycle to the beach so instead, i look for a potential subject around my house.

My entry this time is about this small little kitten, basically, it always visit our kitchen begging for some leftover but still, the kitten is not used to my presence so whenever it see's me, she fled.

So what i do the entire evening is actually trying to take a picture of this kitten, it was getting dark so i need to be quick or else, my camera could not cope with the low light condition. Unless i use a Nikon D3. :D

After she fled, the little kitten decide to take a refuge between the tall grass around the area, well, its not exactly hiding if someone can see you. :P

And then it decide to go to her mommy. :P The mommy seems angry though, just imagine if the mommy suddenly lecture me on photography ethic and stating that my action is really disturbing her family privacy. 0_____0

Before The Industrial Training...

2010-11-28T21:53:00.008+08:00

I haven't been updating for some times, its because i am enjoying my holiday here back at my hometown after my long tiring stint during my study, i simply lost the urge to post something in my blog but i do update my flickr. :D

My life as an Architecture Student has really draining all my energy that i have and a holiday have never felt so great. I am back at my hometown now, and going to stay here until April next year as i will undergo my industrial training at one of the Architecture firm at Labuan.

_________________________________________________________________

So what have i done before going back to W/P Labuan, Malaysia???.

I stay at one of the bagpacker lodge at Petaling Street for 2 nights and did some street photography along the way. Staying at KL is really enjoyable with the mix

feeling from this part of KL, the Chinatown here is very much alive with the Chinese culture, foreign tourist and other races be it a Malay or an Indian. :)

Life is short, do something more... :P The next time i visit Petaling Street, i will bring a tripod as well. :D Going to nail a picture with lots of movement like shown on the picture. :)

The uncle is very kind actually, i didn't notice his leg until i review it back on the screen, i feel bad of taking his picture. I was so focused on his face that i didn't bother to look around, this was one of the quick snapshot that i took so that i didn't irritate the people around. Some of the thing that i really don't want to shoot is a picture of a disable people, they have gone through a tough time and taking their picture of being helpless is really rude. He was smiling at me

when i pointed my camera and i hardly realize that he was disable. :(

The Petaling Street is very busy and usually swarm with many kinds of people and in certain times, mostly were foreign tourist, staying at some of the Bacpacker lodge available around that area. :D

And there is so many thing to see around KL, just name it and you might just find it. My favourite place would always be the KLCC, the majestic Malaysia landmark. Of course, i go there not only to admire the design but also looking out for some decisive moment lurking around the area as most people were either relaxing or just plain doing some business. :P The picture there was taken from one of the stairs leading to the outside of KLCC.

The main place that i must visit everytime i go to KLCC is the Kinokuniya bookstores, i could just spend more than an hour browsing through all the books and if possible, buying some of them, its just a great place to be. And on that day, i was actually going to meet a friend of mine that i got to know through flickr. He have been helping me a lot on film photography and not only he is a good man but also a good photographer. :)

On the picture there, i am actually admiring the result of the slide film taken using

his Rolleicord and the size of the film is really something. 0_____0'

And what is the point on showing the negative's without showing the real deal?. This is one of the classic, a Rolleicord brand TLR. Forgot the exact detail of the model but who cares, this thing is a monster and it attract lots of people when were outside the KLCC. This thing is a Star!!. :-)

The next thing that i do was spending my night reading some Photography Magazine and a Complete Encyclopedia of the Incredible Hulk. The next day is the day of my flight so, of course, i am on my way back to W/P Labuan.

So, what happen back here at Labuan?

Lol, what else, enjoying my life with my family at my own house and room and with a small cute motorcycle to travel around the small island.

And NO, this motorcycle is not for SALE!!! :)

Mid Semester break is coming...

2010-08-29T15:58:00.006+08:00

I haven't done anything productive except finishing my assignment and project, my third semester here as an architecture student have been tougher than previous semester which is why my camera is getting dusty inside my locker. :(

My design for kitchen layout this semester.

My Polytech has recently provide a WiFi connection throughout the campus area and it easily reach my dormitory which allow me to update frequently on the internet but still, with the extra workload, it hardly ever been enjoyable but hey, at least i finish it on time right?.

I have been looking at the price list from Canonfoto and als

o myflipix since i was considering of compiling some of my work into a 40 pages of full color book bu

t my budget is way off. :P

Until this company decided to do a 50% promotion on their product : http://www.photobookmart.com.my/index.html

So basically, their service is very reliable, i call them everytime i

got problem regarding technical issue and they seem to be able to solve all my problem during my entire time using their service and software, so yeah, they have a good customer service.

It took me 2 hour to arrange the picture, the problem is not with the software but rather with the collection of the picture that i have. :P. Having 200++ favourite picture is a problem especially when you need to choose which one is going to be printed on the 40 pages of softcover book.

Later, a week after depositing the payment, i receive this!!!

Yes, the front cover is taken at Danga Bay, JB. :D With my shoes in it. :D

The printing quality is superb but i think it will look much sharper on different paper. :D Both picture were taken at Melaka and Ampang, KL.

For me, the best way to let other see your work is by printing it, there is nothing that can be compared with when viewing a picture through book or hardcopy and ever wonder why Books has never been obsolete even after so many century?

Another suprise is when i receive a comment on my Facebook wall, a friend saying my picture got into a magazine, and actually selected as the winner for this month issue, i say, he must be joking but after receiving numerous SMS from my friend, its confirmed, after 2 years of submitting picture to that magazine, one of my picture actually won the tittle of hotshot of the month!!!. :D Many thanks to my teacher, my father, ex-dcm editor and other photographer from Velocity forum for your guidance throughout this year. Thank You so much.... :D

I was thinking about buying 2 of this, one for other to see, and one to hang on the wall.....was thinking about laminating it though. :P

Mid 2010 conclusion

2010-06-05T23:13:00.006+08:00

Its been a long time since i have been actually posting anything to this blog of mine, i have been busy with assignment and all and the absence of an internet line around my campus make it even worse!!!.

This year is the start of my second semester as an architecture student. Its been tough for me and my classmate to endure such dramatic changes in the new subject as well in the new syllabus.

To start the new semester, i was actually involves in a bus accident somewhere before Sabak Bernam, Selangor and suffer deep cut on my right wrist. Despite such injury after the accident, i look for my camera and start snapping until my hand feels numb. The recovery took pretty long time and the doctor says it probably need a year or so and told me that i was lucky that it didn't cut any important nerves on my wrist or else; i probably could not use a camera or a pencil for the rest of my life!!! 0___0

Good thing that the glass didn't cut any of my important nerves of blood vessel, this one is still consider serious and even until now, i still feel the 'absence' kind of feeling especially when i try to move my wrist. :P

My course prove to be okay, and by okay its actually getting harder and tougher but there is nothing that i can't overcome, whining and complaining is only going to make you weaker than you already are.

I learn many new stuff about designing, about the history of Architecture especially my favourite movement of all else, the High Tech!!!.

This is our class trip to Seremban though, having so much time although the assignment does seems to be a bit ridiculous for some. :P

You can imagine how stressed my class is and this is just after we submit our Second Project for Art and Design. :P

The thing about architecture study is that, we learn a wide range of stuff, simply put we are not learning to be a specialist but more like a combination of engineer, designer, carpenter, and even ecologist into one. 0___0' but we are not specialize in each course though. :P

To top it off, it seems my decision on choosing Polytechnic at Peninsular Malaysia over Matriculation at Labuan is worth it, since i was able to travel around new places without any objection from my parents. :D

I have been to KL, Seremban, Ipoh, Teluk Intan, Sungai Besar, Melaka, Johor Bahru and even Klang!!! So, who knows whats next right??? Terenganu, Penang or Kedah? :D Wow...

This was taken at Jonker Street Melaka, the picture tell you everything. :D

This is was taken at Danga Bay, Johor Bahru.

So, thats my conclusion for my mid 2010, i just can't wait for what kind of adventure there is (lol, sounds like i am going to the jungle), and planning to go to the Independence Day 2o1o at KL. :D

Almost a year past by......

2009-11-30T13:11:00.003+08:00

I didn't have much time lately to update my blog, the wireless internet connection at my Dorm has been cut off by the Pengarah and leave us nothing more than to rely on other people broadband.

2009 seems to be one of the most treacherous and most satisfying of all the year that i can remember. Just to recall everyone memory, this year is the year where i didn't start the early week wearing a school uniform. I just done with SPM!!!.

This year also is the first time where i work with someone place in an organize way, instead of group working xD.

I work part time at Parkson as a brand promoter for one month, found someone special along the way too. After that, i quit my job and work as a tutor instead at a tuition centre, i am not that good with teaching too...poor kids.

And the most giant of all decision of this year is, to choose whether to study at Labuan Matriculation under science something something or At Politeknik Sultan Idris Shah, Sabak Bernam under Diploma in Architecture.

........................................................

Next year, i was thinking of exploring the whole peninsular Malaysia such as Kedah, Penang, Terengganu, Pahang, Melaka and Johor.

Since i am thousand miles away from my hometown, might take this chance to explore a bit around Malaysia, the problem is that i dont have another friend that have similar interest like me.

My passion on Photography is all about capturing the very moment around me, my friend, my family, my study, my work, my life!!!.

So, it is not much of a mystery to see me wandering around with a camera. :P

And to make it a bit special, i will use film as much as possible too, don't blame me, blame the guy that introduce me to film photography.... :))

Life is meant to be enjoy, and so does study, so far, i enjoy the course that i'm taking and also the life that i have been going through. I pray for my best next year, wish me luck.

New life

2009-07-22T21:21:00.003+08:00

I will be out from posting any new entry for a while until i got my film negative scanned. This is what i have to go through for being a film user...

The bad thing about film photography is that, its to slow. Here, i try to shot the Pro's and Con's of film photography as it being compare to Digital photography.

Again, this is my personal view okay. Nothing else;

5 + 2 Good Thing About Film (My personal view)

1) No screen at the back of film camera.

When people want to view the result, you can always show the back of the camera which is basically 'screenless' and then give an excuse like "Tunggu ini FILM kena cuci dulu,..." :P

But, sometimes, this is a bad thing as well.

2) Most film camera is smaller than modern DSLR (except the olympus E-P1 lah)

Despite having the large sensor size, the design is much smaller than the like of Nikon D60 or even the Olympus E-420. Why? Because it use film mahh, so hard to explain meh? :))

3) Style and colour is really depends on the film used!!!

This add some charecteristic or distinctive style depend on what the photographer want to achieve.

Velvia for those ultra vivid color that even Digital camera have hard time to match or the highly distinctive style/effect from pushed Kodak Tri-X film.

4) Great tonality, something that i hardly get from my father Nikon D60.

Maybe its because of my damn lousy picture taking skill, but i hardly able to recreate the color and tonality of the scanned negative onto my digital picture file.

5) Its actually, pretty cheap... >_<

Maybe, but film camera is selling for Rm500 or lower depend on the condition, and mine is about Rm480 (which i am yet to pay :P).

Some more, the old lens like the Old Zuiko lens and those old Nikon F mount lens, can be used on newer DSLR like the Olympus E-P1 and even the Nikon D3.

Still, film and processing is one thing, but in a long run, i think it can exceed the cost of buying a new beginner DSLR.

But usually, beginner photographer will get a new more expensive item like a new lens or rarely-going-to-be-use flashgun or they just sale the camera and plan to buy a new and more expensive DSLR... :P

6) Girls like Shiny film camera, the bigger it is, the better!!! (^^)

7) Old SLR is very tough, and doesnt need much of a battery to perform...you even use it to hammer a tent....

5 - 1 Bad thing about FILM photography. (My Personal experience)

1) The waiting is killing me!!!

When you use a digital camera, the image can be viewed instantly (RAW file took 2 second okay :P) but on film, the result is somehow a combination of many complex and complicated process.

To actually 'view' the result, you first need to develop it, to view it on the computer screen without relying on the use of table lamp and a loupe, you need to scanned the negative or slide film, to scan the film, you first need to have a scanner which is somehow hard to find or rather expensive especially the high end model...

What???

2) Its to sensitive, just like girls!!!

I am a very honest person sometimes, i enjoy irritates people by saying something true about them, people call it insult and all but its a reality.

Girls didn't like when i complain about how long they took to prepare themselves, or how long they spend on the woman toilet just to 'wash' their face... :P

Okay, anyway, film is like that, once you 'did' it, you can't turn you back around it. You need to be careful about your composition, you need to think ahead of your result that you expect to take.

There is no 'reset' or 'delete' button at the back of the film camera, you need to burn some $$$ to view the result. But this can actually be a good thing you know... :P

3) Where is my fucking picture???

Mind the harsh word, sometimes, its like that.

People want their picture As Soon As Possible, to upload to their facebook or friendster, but for film user, its probably a nightmare, especially when time (and money xP) constrain.

Unless, they have those large film processing machine, they might have to use vitamin C and instant Coofee to develop their film :))

I used to get this kind of 'complain' from the girls...

4) Film accessories and supply is dying....

I heard a lots of news coming from Kodak and Fujifilm online, discontinued one film after another.

It might sounds 'okaylah' for some digital user, but for a fan of film photography like me, its actually, just like waiting for the doomsday to arrive...

Chemical is hard to find here at Malaysia, most camera store focused more toward digital media and despite having the machine inside their store, they hardly know the chemical that involves during the processing or even on how to handle the film.

But some store only lah... :P

_________________________________________________________

Enough say, film photography is somehow dying despite some effort was done by local enthusiast around the world. The demand is still slow somehow.

Film can actually produce a very good result on portraiture, especially on the 'bokeh'.

Film is actually not that hard or complicated compare to digital media.

'Film photography is hard but not complicated - Digital photography is easy but very complicated.'

Catch my drift??? :P

My last day at Labuan....

2009-07-03T23:09:00.003+08:00

Its been 6 years, since i first arrive at Labuan, taking a short trip from Kota Kinabalu airport to Labuan FT.

For the rest of my 7 years period, i spend all my form 1 until 5 education here at Labuan, same place same school for the next 5 years there.

A whole lots of new stuff that i learn through the whole 6 it, from my first love, to my first (painful) rejection, to the whole Internet stuff and meeting new friend.

Labuan is the place where i learn to be mature, no more childish stuff... >_<

Some wonderful place and culture i learn, so many thing that i can only relate Labuan for its authenticity. I learn on how to communicate properly here, enjoying English rather than Malay, and among many other thing, this is where i actually started to indulge myself in photography ~ seriously.

Thanks to one of my physic teacher, who lend me his ultra expensive DSLR back home, not once not twice but 3 times and not including his reliable compact camera...

Its my turning point, the whole photography stuff was entirely self taught....

Which force me to rely on online stuff, researching and learning, all for the sake of photography and soon afterward, i am drawn to friendster, blogspot, online forum community and eventually Yahoo Messenger. (^^)

There is a lot of people that influence on the way i manage through my life today, from a girl at Kuching to a big franchise manager... i love meeting new people. :D

There is plenty of a reason for me on why i love this place so much, not only because of the CHEAP chocolate and duty-free alcohol beverages, its because i am a to attached with it!!!

In term of photography, i meet a lots of photographer from Sabah to KL, and occasionally, from the local area.

Some of them are great, and some of them are just pretty snobbish (allthough they were knowledgeable.) they prefer holding some grudge rather than settling them, which i curse him for being such mean to me :P

Sad to say that i am leaving Labuan, not only leaving that place, but also being far away from my family.

Sigh~ lifes must go on, i can just stay at one place hoping that someone or something can move me to somewhere else. :P

Lots of my friend has going further, some of them has gone to the university, some of them were at Matriculation and some of them is still a bit cloudy on what to choose, best of luck to all of them.... :3
Friendship is very important, and i can only recall from my memory and of course, from my picture, thats why photography is part of my soul...

And this past recent month, i have been through a lot of part time job, learning from something and someone, observing and making a connection with new friend. I meet a lot of kids, i teach them, not to only to improve in their grade but also on their attitude and beliefs.... Kid ~~ they are cute, they can be serious, and naughty, but all of us have once become a child...a cute moment that some of us wish we can return to that.

To all the student in my class at Modern Arithmetic Centre Labuan, wish you all the best, especially to those who are going to take UPSR this year. :P ~~~BM cannot fail!!!!

Anyway, i am sure going to miss LABUAN!!! A DUTY FREE ISLAND LIKE NO OTHER!!! - okay, maybe i overexagerate it...but you catch my drift.... :P

Thinking about it again, i am going back here next time, the only thing that i going to miss badly is the all cheap alcholic beverage...where the hell can you find a Carlsberg or Guiness beer for Rm1.40??? ;)

So far, i need to find out some more...

2009-06-17T23:27:00.002+08:00

I am really sure that i wanted to go on full fledge with film photography, but it ain't cheap!!!

Film itself already cost RM15 or less per roll and developing cost RM4 per roll plus scan it would be RM8 as well, per roll. So overall, film photography is not a 'cheap' hobby. :P

Still, i know the overall cost, and i know what it can do with my pocket but this is something i really keen to try and learn as somehow i think it can improve my photography.

Overall, i am pleased with the result from my film tryout,

So far, i have try 9 rolls of films on my Olympus OM-10. But mostly it was from Kodak, Fujifilm and Ilford.

Now, i am planning to invest in a new lens for the Olympus OM-10. I decided that it would be the 135mm Zuiko f/2.8 which cost Rm400. Then again, i need to buy some more film but i got an expired Ilford XP2 which will come in handy for the next few month.

For the next few month, i try to collect some money to start my very own film processing kit.

Mainly consisting of film, chemical and various tools and equipment.

So far, by asking and questioning (bothering some people actually), i manage to get the list i need to start developing a Black and White film.

1) Changing bag : RM80+
2) Developer : Either in powder form or liquid, estimated price is Rm120.
3) Fixer : RM100+
4) Wetting Agent : Price unknown.
5) A set of measuring cylinder or anything that measure liquid : RM25+
6) Thermometer Digital/Analoq : Rm30+
7) Processing tank that with reel which can develop 3 rolls of film : RM120+
8) Stop Bath solution - Might not need this one.
9) Clearing agent - Might not need this one as well.

Did i miss something???

Overall, the cost might reach RM700+ in a long run, maybe but this one is just an estimation, i think the price will be lower than this.

Interesting though, Digital only cost less than this?

1) A computer, desktop or laptop - RM2500 or less.
2) 4GB SD card - Rm110
3) Card reader - Rm25 or less.
4) 1 frame of picture - Worth 10MB or less and virtually free!!!

See, it is cheaper, in film, 1 frame of picture cost RM1.20 worrr :))

Second try on using Film SLR.

2009-06-15T21:32:00.003+08:00

My first try in my life on using a SLR was when one of my friend told me that he got his father Nikon SLR, asking me whether or not that i can check to see if the thing is still working.

Excited and all, i go along with him to his house and only to found out it is a Nikon Fm-10!!!

For me, it look cool and the manual film winder and all is somehow very fascinating, and the how the ISO and Shutter speed being set is also rather unique to me. Last time i use my teacher Nikon D80, all i need is to press a button and choose my ISO on the screen.

i shot using the camera and have it scanned but the result is not that pleasing, but that was 1 year ago at 2008 during Hari Raya festival.

Long after that, i finish my SPM and looking forward on the offering given by the college.

Matriculation, Form 6, Politeknik and some other expensive private college. :P

I am taking the Politeknik offering where i will be going to Sabak Bernam this 4 July. The thing is, i am very sure that i will not bringing along a DSLR there, i am not yet familiar with the whole places yet. Stuck in an island for 6 years is more than enough to explain about my unfamiliarity of that place.

This is the reason on why i am looking for a cheap film SLR to record the moment, i can rely on my handphone :P fucking shit when i am going to print it on a A4 paper.

So, i was going for internet shopping like usual, at Photomalaysia.com and stumble across this thread. saying -> Olympus Trip for Sale <- RM200 each!!!

I ask my friend through the forum whether or not this is worth it, asking my friend via Yahoo Messenger, flickrmail, SMS and WWW.

All of them give me a positive respond while some of them say, "Are You CRAZY???" :))

Enough say, the film camera is the most mintish 'film' camera i have ever seen being sale on the forum 'Buy and Sale' section, seriously!!!

For Rm200 i expect it is really worth it, since that is not much considering 4 rolls of film is only Rm40 or less.

Its fully auto camera with Program mode too. :D (ohh, and a dedicated hotshoe too)

But, after 1 roll of film has been used up, i go to the photo labs and have the film develop. Instead of this inverse color on the film, i got a non-expose film!!! Shit, i pay RM4 for this???

I thought i am not using the camera properly, so i call the seller asking for some tips on how to work with this stuff, he is kind and all and even giving me advice while driving. 0_0'

Still, i work through the PDF manual and got nothing, and only to find out that the aperture blade is stuck after the flickr community giving me some tips on how to know whether or not the Olympus Trip 35 has a stuck aperture blade.

The seller is kind enough to refund my money and actually, this is the part on how i got the Olympus OM-10 begin to start. I don't wanna to type about it more. Simply enough i am lucky that i buy the Olympus Trip 35 at the first place. At least i got to know someone. :P

By the way, all of the picture here was taken using Olympus OM-10 with 50mm Zuiko f/1.8, manual focusing of course. Film is mixed between Fujifilm Superia 200 and Kodak GOLD 200.

More of it in my Flickr, and i hope you guys can leave a word about my picture here. Comment and Critique are welcomed!!! (^^)

I shoot film...

2009-06-07T00:01:00.004+08:00

"A portraiture dedicated to Mr jusni Nasirun - Taken using Olympus OM-1o, DNP Centuria 200, f/11, 1/60s."

As long as i can remember, my family has been using film since i was little, but i learned about photography through digital which is a very different medium compare to the like of light sensitive film strip.

Film is a bit expensive when you adding up all those cost for developing and scanning but i consider it as a way to prevent snapping excessive useless picture, which is in a way repetitive and wasting the some megabytes out a hardrive.

Don't misunderstood me for being purist in such ideal way, there is many way to prevent this 'blind' shooting syndrome, but i choose film medium instead for many~many reason.

Here are some of the reason, might be stupid to some, but seriously, i have been thinking about this for the whole~long time!!!;

1) I will be going on a further study at the Peninsular Malaysia, most likely around Sabak Bernam. I don't know how the location the climate, the room, my roommate and the surrounding.

Bringing a Rm2K worth of equipment to that place seems to be a very stupid idea, and i probably will not have much time spending more time on the camera as well, since i am going there to study not for a photography expedition. :P

Instead, why not bringing along a Rm350 worth of retro antique camera, which is 20 years older than me!!!

This is Olympus Trip 35, first introduced in 1967 and was discontinued at 1984 after being sale worldwide for about 10 million unit. which speak less to tell its popularity of this early 60's technology. From the legendary Zuiko lens, to its selenium cell powered metering and numerous mind-boggling algorithm. And it is fully auto in term of exposure plus it doesn't use any batteries as a power source, except the focusing though which use zone focusing. I bought this one for Rm210 but have to return it to the owner since it happen to have a stuck aperture blade, and the original owner kindly refund my money.

2) "What does it feels like taking a picture using the most unpredictable medium on a daily photography basis?..."

and

"Why the hell that some Magnum and NGEO photographer still shooting using film camera? Whats so good about it?..."
.......................................................................................................................................................................

Have you ever ask such question?.

In the day of modern digital photography, most newly beginner (like me) that has never touch a DSLR before has the tendency to be confuse on what to do with all the word jargon and other thinggymanjinggy such as ISO, Live view, VR, IS, SteadyShot, AiS, NX, OOF, Multi coated spectrum thingy, four-third, APS-C, APS-H, full frame, ETC ETC...do i need to add more?. :D

Its not their fault, if they were asking me about that stuff, i would be glad in explaining those stuff to them.

Simply put, in digital media, to learn the basic is the same as cracking the peanut open and nailing the shot is very damn easy as it is basically free to try out numerous stunts on a picture, unlike the old days, getting the right shot require all the precision stuff like the light meter and using numerous different filter. Wasted film is equal to BURNED $$$...

Enough say, my DSLR didn't make me feel as if i was taking the picture, instead, i feel like its the software that took the picture. I know, its stupid to blame the software as me myself has been taking crappy picture all time long..

...but the thing about manual analog camera is that i feel like i am in full control. From the exposure, to the focusing and all down to the shutter button. Its really good to be the boss, instead of blaming the camera autofocus and bad noise handling, i can only blame myself...

Sometimes, there is a good thing on using 'antique' camera, it taught me a new thing to learn and improve in the next future.

Hopefully, to be able to take stunning and memorable picture along the way. :)

Speaking about manual analog SLR....

This is my pre-owned, Olympus OM-10, i dont know the date of this camera being produce but i know some stuff about the history though from World Wide Web. :P It was introduce on 1979, as the first consumer level SLR from Olympus, cheap and affordable with pretty much the same tech as its older brother the OM-1n, although not on par with the pro unit though. It has aperture priority mode along but it can be use manually when attach with the optional manual adapter which comes seperately, and also, in many reason on why most amatuer photographer dislike this camera since it has this odd way to set the shutter speed and some numerous claim and bugs which some people say it making Olympus to introduce its next succesor, the OM-20. Despite that, i have seen numerous testimonial about Professional photograher using this camera for their assignment from the Antartica to the Sahara Desert, it proves to be stong and reliable. I got this camera for Rm480, and it is in mintish condition though...

3) I could not recreate the color from a film camera, something that i have been amaze since i am still little.

Photoshop can probably recreate or show a better color than what a film negative can but i am not that good in Photoshop and i don't like spending to much time on Photoshop either.

Maybe, with film, i can reduce my need for photoshop...

4) Where the hell that you can get a combo of 50mm Zuiko lens with aperture starting at 1.8 for about Rm200???

135mm Zuiko f/2.8, Rm450 or less!!!!! WOOT!!!

5) I just love the mechanical stuff involves in the camera, the film winder, the noisy mirror... :P

Next time, i list the Black Olympus Trip 35, Nikon F3, Olympus OM-1n, and perhaps a Leica???

6) I love inserting the film roll into the camera, make me feels like SWAT unit realoading its ammo.

7) I need to learn from a full frame camera, so i can prepare on the BIG stuff next time in the future... :P

8) The viewfinder is fucking big!!!

9) Its smaller than what modern DSLR can provide, except the Olympus E series lah...

10) I am a gearhead, so with some $$$ i can collect this antique stuff before the price shoot the roof!!!

Before i close this topic, here is some of the picture taken using the Olympus OM-10 on different film negative.

Sorry for those pixel peeper, this is not taken on digital sensor, so instead of Noise, all you see is a smooth grain!!! XD

My first try on SONY a200 and its lens..

2009-05-18T21:53:00.007+08:00

Some guy really seems to be pissed off when i stated that Sony make a stupid move on giving a bad performer lens despite having the best focal range which is 18-70 compare to the like of Canon and Nikon which is 18-55mm range.

When my friend got the a200, it was about 2-4 week after its announcement and i got my hand to it for sometimes as well... :D and it was at 2007 i think where i am still 16 years old :))

Actually, i tried the a200 long before my father got the Nikon D60 (1 year or more to be precise), and after few month testing my friends DSLR, i start to accustomed with the control and its limitation. Soon, i start to compare it with my teacher D80 with 18-135 lens that i use 4 month after my friend got his camera and wonder what i did wrong when i am using the Sony a200 as i cant get a crisp sharp detail out of it, despite my best effort to sharpen it in photoshop!!!.

And NO, i doubt its due to my skill as i already master the proper way to lock the focus.

Usually, i can't take the picture file that was taken by me back home, but after i got my motorcycle, i manage to get some file which is barely up to my standard. And the result when i am comparing with my father Nikon D60 is really disappointing.

Why??? The camera body is good with a responsive focus detection and great color reproduction but couple with a bad lens???

Usually, i view the picture that was taken by my friend and it turns out rather soft when view up close.

Of course, it maybe due to my friend fault or my eyes but it is really a disappointment.

The camera itself is good, good control layout, good autofocus, great color reproduction and great auto WB as well. Actually, if only it got slight slimmer body and better kit lens, its a pity though but i know that Sony will make a improvement on this model since Sony is the one that make PS1 right??? :D

Okay, enough of the crappy text, here is some of the picture taken using the SONY a200 ':D

This was taken during my first outing with some local Labuan photographer, me and the guy on the picture is the only one that havent got a camera or DSLR, camera phone got lahh...

Actually, to get a 'sharp' result out of the Sony lens is to choose a smaller slower F/stop which is at f/9 or f/11.

F/5.6? It is to soft compare to my father Nikon D60 kit lens.

If anyone wonder if this was taken either using NIkon D3 or what, you can try to view it on my flickr and check the EXIF data.

This picture here was taken at either f/8 or f/11, but still, the DOF is not enough and the detail and sharpness is way below par <_<

IF ANYONE THINK THAT I AM BLUFFING!!! CHECK THIS OUT!!!

After i confirm it myself that the Sony Kit lens is producing slight soft picture, i stumble across this review on DPReview only to be shock by the test result....

DPReview test on the lens.

And try to compare it to the Canon and Nikon offering, obviously Sony need to change this soon. And the top performer for a kit lens is the Olympus. As expected from the Zuiko's lens :D

But, its all about the lens lah, my hope is that Sony will giving a better lens performer than this, and truly, Sony has unveil a new kit lens to replace the old 18-70mm and also an improvement over their almost good a200 :D.... GOOD JOB SONY...
I am glad that Sony hear the overall response from the consumer around the world, and their effort on making it one of the best for new owner is a welcoming feature. :3

I read some of the article at DPReview and i try to give you the link.

DPReview - SONY unveil new camera series

and

ALPHAMOUNT - Preview on the new a230, a330 and the a380.

Still, that is only the body problem that has been resolved, but check out the new SAM lens :))

Its says that it is SAM, i forgot the real term for that but, i am glad that Sony is taking the right step on introducing a new well perform lens. But, i wait for someone review on the lens though or when i try it myself (^^)

Hmm, despite my ranting on this post, my actual complain is the Sony a200 bundle kit lens okay??? Not the camera - Sony a200, as i already prove on the 2 picture taken by me!!!

There might be a typo there and there, but correct me though, thanks (^^)

Another friend, leaving Labuan...

2009-04-22T22:04:00.002+08:00

As you guys know, i already just finished SPM and currently working part-time as a tuition teacher to earn some money either for my personal need or for my future expense.

Anyway, this write-ups is going to be long, and a bit emotional~maybe XD

I lost contact some of my friend already, although sometimes i stumble across them at the financial park (do note that the Labuan Financial Park is actually suppose to be the one and only shopping and hangout place :P, sad isn't it...) as the place where i work is actually there.

I was able to caught some of them about how are they and what are they gonna do in the future. Pretty much the same as expected but this is about the future we are talking, not just what are we gonna do tomorrow but also what will happen to us???

I tell ya', sometimes its our parents that actually being to much of a worried, i don't blame them but sometimes this kind of a pressure isn't going to work to someone who is not that mentally strengthen with no firm bases or believe/principal.

I got my own goal and target, but i am not gonna share to just anyone about it, let just say its something that i good at and planning accordingly.

============================================================================

Hmm, right after 2-3 weeks after our result come out, one of my friend call up to me telling me that we should have some kind of meet-up with the rest of the gang, by meaning 'gang' i mean classmate, not the Mafia or Ah Long kind of 'gang' ahh....

"Lu panggil kita olang punya member, kita buat gathering mau pukul itu olang..."... hahahahaha

Anyway, she said that it is better to hang-out at some place and have a picture snapping session for the sake of our own memory, i kinda agree with it but i can't confirm when or where since i will be working everyday without a day off.

Obviously, the reason for me being call to join with the 'Girls group' is because i use a DSLR and most of them know that i can take some nice picture, i think.....

Another reason for this is because most of my 'Male' friend is either on a PLKN, on another states, busy working, or just scratching their balls at home.... <_<.>for the meet-up is to say fare well to one of my best friends since form 1 as she will be going to Kota Kinabalu to study in Healthcare diploma, lucky girl though, wish her luck. (^^)

This is my friend, Azyerah.

I know her since i was in form 1, simply put we can get along pretty well till now. She is the one who is telling me that she will be going for furthers study.

She told me that some of our friend would be joining along, thats find by me, the more the merrier right?... ^_^

After that, there is still something to be settle with, can i take the day off???....

Lucky that i have to re-checked my motorcycle and it was sunday, so basically i told my boss that i need to go to the Church and servicing my motorcycle after that, and she give's me the green light. Thanks Boss... ^_^

Still, i confirm the place where we going to meet and the time, and for that, i choose the Japan Surrender Point at Layang-layangan, Labuan.

Its a historical place where part of the World War 2 history is mixed up with that place, to be precise, with the whole Japanese Strategy to suprise attack the pearl harbour.

First, we do this many stuff, we got 'baked' under the hot 4 o'clock sun while trying my best to view my setting, fuck, that D60 set-up menu is using that shit LCD screen :P....

Due to that, lcuky that i can read through histogram but i don't know what is the focusing mode or ISO that i am using =.='

Still, i ask them to do this and this but simply, they just laugh at me, well, i also laugh lah, coz, i put such demand that i think only a true model could pull it off. Most of them is only a 'Plain jane' that only know how to pose in front of their camera phone :D. Can't blame on them also....

Well, it is quiet funny, a guy holding a sissy camera lying on the floor is actually kinda amusing, not until that its you that going to do the same, i was trying many angle, dirtying my shirt and pants, and also my camera neck strap... :P

Then, there goes our funny and kinda weird photo shooting session....

Hmm, is that aunty looking at me with this curious look??? <_<>_>

After 45 minute under the sun, one of my friend decided to take a break as teh sun is to hot and making all of us thirsty. Lucky that there is some stall selling some food there....

Well, as a gentleman i am, i show up there meeting them up, bringing nothing but IC and Driving license, with no Money (except some 50 cent and 20 cent larr... =.=) and i ended up asking them to 'belanja' me on the ABC (Ais Batu Campur :P).

And also, on the tasty Chicken Chop... :P

And and......OK lah, i am poor OK, that stupid bank closed at Saturday and sunday and i have no ATM card as i am under 18 years old :P.....

After that, i decided to use one of those giant tree with nice quirky woody texture on it to make some nice photo group picture, its simple really as the tree is not that high...

10 metre only, where got high??? :D

Anyway, the processing (or editing) is really simple one and i am willing to tell if someone is asking about it, don't worry, i am not that 'kedekut' you know....

This was taken on top of the errr.....memorial thingy, i think~~~ <_<

Its open to the public since i didnt see any warning sign.

Err..... i retype some of it later, need to sleep =.="

My first street photography at Labuan!!!

2009-04-06T19:11:00.004+08:00

Hmm, i am 17 years old now, and soon to be 18 this 8 December.

Thinking about, i have been living at Labuan for over 5 years now and there is no dedicated picture that screams LABUAN at my picture on flickr.

Makes me wonder, why didn't i take a picture of the people at the street?.

For the simple reason is, Labuan is to small...

Don't misunderstood it, by meaning small i mean that you will have more chance of encounter the people that you recently meet or accidentally 'hit' in anywhere at Labuan. Seriously...

Labuan is so freaking small, that all the people at Labuan treat the Financial park as 1Borneo or Mid Valley!!!....

By the way, compare to Mid Valley and 1Borneo at KK, the Financial Park Labuan is only 1/20 or 1/30 of both of the Shopping complex.

OK, enough of this crap...time for some ugly picture and badly compose one from me.

Here it goes...

I have been planning to do one, but never got out of the bed early, ever since my SPM is over, i usually sleep at either 12 or 2 o'clock.

I done my best and for that picture, it already 11 o'clock. It was quiet hot and obviously the sun was not on my side.

The sun was a t the back of my intended subject. :P

Some people mistaken the GUY on the picture there as a Woman!! ^_^

I don't know wheter is it my fault or the guy on the picture...damn....

Anyway, they were building an extension of one of the Labuan supermarket call, Labuan Supermarket.... ~What???~

Street photography is actually easy in theory, but hard practically...for that, rather than wasting my time to explain it, its better for you to try it yourself.... (^^)

One thing that may put off some of people to hesitate whether or not to pull out the camera or not is when someone or everyone is noticing you!!!...

Yes, i got that a lot and obviously, i try my best to pull out the camera since, i have wasted a lot of $$$ to ride the motorcycle down town. OK lah, RM5 might not be that much lahhh.... xP

I was taking some picture of the contruction worker in front of my favourite book store, and happen to see this cool looking pattern from the light, there is not much from it because soon my battery die's. Damn it, as if i just got into photography for 3 days... :P

Soon, after 8 frame was taken minus 3 that was deleted, someone ask what the heck that i am doing...

Obviously, if he/she being ask by this guy, he/she would probably shaking the hell out from holding their lens that since it was so unexpected even the best image stablizer cannot compesate it... (^^)

Maybe i over exagerate it, nehh, he was a good guy, he didn't give me any smile at me when he ask me this question..
Guy - "Kita buat apa ambil gambar nii huh???..."
Me - "Err....nada, saja..."
Me - "Kira mau ambil gambar orang buat contruction bah..."
Guy - "Ohh.." Sudden smile appear...
Me - "Haha, saja ambil, tinggal di Labuan tapi nda pernah ambil gambar dekat-dekat labuan nii..."
Guy -"Kita orang mana ahh???"

Hmm...WTF??? How do i suppose to answer this???

Me - "Aku nii lama juga sudah tinggal disini, skrg tunggu result dari Matrikulasi saja..."

I hope he somehow understand what the hell that i was trying to tell him, i speak it so fast!!!

Guy - "ohh, jadi kita nii student lahh, dekat mana ahh? UMS??.."

My god, did he even understand what the heck that i was trying to say???

Anyway, if i type all the thing i say with him, i am afraid you guys will be bored with it and skip the whole write-up and just scroll through the picture...

He is a local Sabahan and working at Labuan, don't know lah, he didn't tell me in detail...

So, i decided to snap his picture, and that picture was taken using kit lens at 18mm!!! How close is that!!!

Hmm, how about my second time and third time tryout??? Before that, laugh at my cool looking self-portraiture...

Damn, i can hear someone laughing or is that someone gonna Puke???

Square is Hip???

2009-03-27T21:01:00.002+08:00

I have seen numerous picture that is square in its format, some of it can be achieve using photoshop and some of it is due to the film format (i think...)

I never consider this format for my photography before, allthough i have been trying to apply it and test it with some of my picture. It works very well if you know which picture and angle is. It might not work in every scenario but given the time, it will...

This was my first try using square crop, now i know why some people like it, it allow the viewer to focus on the subject, now i see...

Then again, after that picture, i never again crop my picture in square, until some guy at DCM forum told me that that picture might look good in square crop.

I try it on a similar picture and was suprised with it....

See the effect? with the added black border, i think it make the viewer focus on my sister face...

Just one more thing, it seems that everytime i took a self portrait, something came up... :P

Will be out from internet...

2009-03-19T19:58:00.004+08:00

I got my part time job as a part time tuition teacher, it isnt sound that cool, tough, or making me any good in education and knowledge, i just wanted to tell you guys about this because i got limited time with the camera and internet, expect something slow from me, if i do got some new picture, it will be at my flickr first...

www.flickr.com/photos/kinoz

Thanks for noticing....

New perspective after SPM!!!

2009-03-15T00:48:00.003+08:00

Well, what do you know, i nearly fail though...

My SPM is rather OK, i got 3A 5B 1C and 1D. I am not very proud of it, but just hope i can at least can get into UTM.

Some dude remind me of blog here, almost forgot. He also got a blog and we happen to be in the same age, and yes, he is a photographer to and just won some photography competition and got a consolation prize, congrats yo you man.

http://wensenphotography.wordpress.com/

Anyway, i am someone who is rather lazy and care free person, although i admit that i didn't notice my attitude but i prefer doing things in the nicked of time. The same goes for my SPM preparation, 1 month before the first paper, i just started to bother with the revision book especially in physic and chemistry and fucking hell that i regret that i didnt start this ealier, because, it was damn easy to understand (at least, provided i ws given another year though XD)

But still, i manage to get B for it, while some other friends who have been paying attention to the class got C, ohh man, i am good... :P

But, the sad thing is, my Additional Math got D. But the weird thing is, my Modern maths got A!!!. So does my english, i got A as well, hmm, maybe the examiner is impress by my artistic writing... hahaha....

Just so that you guys were not bored reading my crappy text, here, i add some picture...
Fair enough, now continue reading my crappy text!!!

OK, just to be honest, i was nervous with the outcome but all well ends well...XP

People say my picture got selected into DCM magazine hotshots category, i am yet to confirm this but at least less than 10 people are congratulating me for getting selected into this month Hotshots~~~but i never even saw my picture there yet, DCM arrive to Labuan quiet slow you know...

Hmm, who knows, first time sending some picture, 'terus kena...'....

Haha, maybe not many people are sending their picture for this month hotshots consideration...

SPM result comes out tomorrow...

2009-03-11T19:41:00.003+08:00

I can't type this blog post properly, confessing how nervous i am with the future outcome is really not a good idea especially when the judgment day is tomorrow.

Sweating and all, this is the first time i ever felt like while surfing the net, feeling guilty and all, i just don't know why.

My PMR result is barely OK, only 6A's and 1B, but surely i could not maintain the success right???

I already do my best for the SPM paper and now i could only hope for the best and pray that i get a decent grade at least.

Lots of people wishing me luck recently, i appreciate it but i cannot hide my anxiousness for the result though. Thank you all for the good wishes, especially from flickr and the photography forum, some of them even kind enough to send me an e-mail despite they were from india and australia. (^^) Thanks for being so considerate to a stranger like me... (^^)

Zaza - Somehow, i find that she is an interesting subject...

2009-03-10T20:47:00.002+08:00

If you have been looking at my Flickr photostream, other than a picture of my little sister, this girl picture have also been been one of my favourite.

Simply put, unlike most babies, she didn't tends to run away and all or hiding away from stranger (who sometimes holding a DSLR...). She also have this expressive expression, i don't know how to describe it but i think you got it right?.

Well, just 4 days before, i was trying to use the 55-200mm nikkor to shot a picture of a children. Its not a good idea since 55-200 doesn't give much of a wide perspective but it is useful to get close to the subject.

I half an hour with the camera in front of my house, give me this picture...

The autofocus on the Nikon D60 is good but sometimes it can get confuse especially in low light, but in this case, it just confused with the wire gate in front of my lens. I try my best to get the AF point pointed at her eyes but it just focused on the gate and unable to lock it focus on the eye. This is not my fault but its due to the camera limitation it self....

So what should i do???...

Best choice is to use the manual focus, but is it a good idea?, the viewfinder on the Nikon D60 isn't that BIG or BRIGHT to make manual focus any easier, but i think, this is not the problem. I think if i want the picture, i should complaining right?.

So, i took at least 15 picture each with different focus and and angle, lucky i took that many picture, from 15 picture, only this one comes out rather sharp. Still it look soft isnt it?

It is due to the slight Out Of focus wire gate in front of the lens hence, the soft looking texture.

But this is not the case, the day after that, i took another picture of her, this time, using Nikon D60 kit lens...

Yes, i think its to contrasy but well, if you think otherwise or any suggestion on how to make the picture look better, do tell me...

She was resting after a while playing outside, and well, like always, wondering with my presence. But this never let me down to take his picture. Her expression and look is all worth it to capture, and after 150+ picture. Only some of it look interesting.

Again, i got similar picture on this series, but this time, in color...

This is not from the same picture, as you can see, the angle is different.

So, any comment or critique? And which one is better? The color or the B&W version?

Another day - at sunday to be precise...

2009-03-03T14:45:00.002+08:00

I was planning to take a picture around Labuan beach and scenery, but then before i even can take one, the battery die's!!!

Damn it, not only that i don't have a proper camera bag, but i also didn't have another spare battery (^^). So, my plan is to buy a Kata DR-765 backpack, another spare battery for the Nikon D60 and also perhaps, the new AF-S 35mm f/1.8 DX lens...

But, before the battery gives up on me, i manage to get some nice picture though...

The light coming from the sunrise has create nice soft yellowish glow that lighted the fallen leaf nicely, producing nice lighting, i was at my friend house, which i was coming without telling. Yeah, how rude. But, they understand me, so his mother invite me to come inside, but do i need to let go this opportunity away?, NO, i decided to experiment a bit, so i place some slipper but then i decided to use my motorcycle as a subject. I know it is not that cool but the color is really nice!!!....so C&C is welcome...

I have been to my friends house numerous time already, and i know that his front yard is a very nice location, so i decided to trying out so many angle, low high, to low, or just plain stupid, and i like this one though, yeah, again, it won't win any photography award but i still like it...

After capturing at least 50+ picture, i decided to get inside, since many people notice or rather wondering on what the hell am i doing. So, when i gone inside, i notice my friend little sister. I forgot her real name but i call her Anis, i know her since she can even walk (^^), now all grown up too...

I was enjoying the TV while waiting for my friend, and i notice that she was eating some instant noodle, but, with added plus, a nice light hitting her face, while the background is dark.

So i metered her face, and underexpose it by 1 stop and snap it away, and here i notice that Nikon D60 focusing detection isn't that good either, especially in dark or dim lighted area, but heck, i still manage to get at least 5 good picture...

After that, well, my battery dries up and our so much of photography trip turns out to be a casual sight seing :P....

The top 5 people that i really want to meet...

2009-02-28T00:30:00.002+08:00

OK, i have been thinking for a while, who are the person that i really want to meet before they die or otherwise.

1) Rowan Atkinson aka Mr Bean
2) Michael jackson
3) Tun Sri Dr Mahathir Mohamad
4) Celine Dion
5) Philip Chong

Well, this the Top 5 people that i really want to meet and take a portrait of them while asking some of the question that i have been seeking for their answer.

All of them has to do with my life, as an inspiration and aspiration.

Remembering my past...

2009-02-16T13:30:00.002+08:00

Well, its my day off today, so i try to add something new on my blog though...

So, i happen to venture on my photostream at Flickr and happen to saw my old picture that was taken using my old Sony W1. Its a well capable compact camera and it has been with me for about 3 month where i learn about composition and manual exposure from it, apart from most compact camera, my Sony W1 has manual exposure, cool ehh?
Composition is something that i wanted to improve on my skill, its something that i always wanted to do, understanding the essence of my passion toward photography has develop my skill throughout. I never blame my camera on my bad composition or angle, as it has to do with me itself.

Unless we were talking about dynamic range and only then it has something to do with technical stuff, i hate when people are saying to me "Stop blaming your shortcoming from not having a camera as an excuse for unable to capture a good picture..". This fool suffers from not knowing who i am and my life condition throughout and only capable to say that since they never try to borrow someone else camera at the first place...

Well, i seen so many people that actually copying some of the world best photographer quote such from Cartier Brenson and some other photographer. The thing is, most fo them wanted to become like them but to be honest, you can't, they become good at their work because their sticking to who are they instead of copying or immitating other people's work. The only way to become just like one of them is by be yourself...

For me, photography is about capturing the essence of life itself, your surrounding and stuff, mood and emotions, thats why i prefer capturing a portraiture, showing some life and mood on such thing. Maybe thats why i prefer Black and White picture as well (^^).

I don't like capturing a picture of an event or even to cover such massive event, i prefer to walk around town or places capturing life as it is (^^) unless the event is cultural, thats more like it, so long it was not about singing person on stage and stuff, i prefer not to...

Well, when i use my old compact camera, i was able to find many photo oppurtunity, i able to catch my friend in action during classes (don't tell my teacher :P) and i hope it can be better if i got my own DSLR soon... anyone knows when the SPM result is coming out?

I really miss my old malfunction noisy picture quality Sony W1.... all the picture in this post was taken using 5 megapixel old 2004 sony compact camera...WOW, i miss my old camera!!!

P/S : To improve in photography, all you need is to become creative...

Well, someone inspired me to do this???

2009-02-05T23:27:00.003+08:00

OK, i want to tell this thing truthfully so you can get an idea how i am (^^)

http://hikarireika.blogspot.com - She is responsible.... Sara, i just join you hahaha...

1. What is your best friend’s grandma’s name?
Hmm, their were the same really... (^^) No such thing as weird...

2. Where is the weirdest place you have a mole?
Err, my ear....

3. Who was the hottest teacher you ever had?
They all look the same to me.... (^^)

4. Have you ever made out in a movie theater?
Made out? LOL.....

5. What body part do you wash first?
My left bicep and tricep area....

6. Do you hover over the toilet in public bathrooms?
Err....i think so....

7. What’s the strangest talent you have?
I can throw a slipper at great distance with remarkable accuracy and speed, its otherwise on throwing a stone... seriously....

8. Do you have an innie or an outtie?
What is this???

9. What’s your favorite flavored pringle?
Cheese and Onion flavour!!!

10. Have you ever been tied up? Do you want to be?
Yes, by a sexy supermodel (^^)...nehh, i tied her...

11. What was the last thing you ever got grounded for?
That is something that i know from hollywood movie, usually i just got beaten up or got scold only lehh...

12. Do you parallel park or drive around the block?
I use motorcycle.... (^^)

13. Have you ever had two dates in one night?
Hmm....nope....i am not Bruce Wayne....

14. How many times have you been cussed out?
Err....can't remember...

15. Which shoe do you put on first?
I think most of the time is right, or is it left... err... =.=

16. In one word, describe your butt.
Ass???

17. Have you ever been to a gay bar?
Is there such thing? Eeuww....

18. Girls: Out of Madonna, Aunt Bee, Oprah Winfrey, and Paris Hilton, who are you most like?
Paris Hilton......hahahahaha

19. Is there one thing all of your love interests have had in common?
They were cute....

20. Did you French kiss before you were 16?
French???

21. Have you ever been cow-tipping or snipe-hunting?
Snipe hunting, only at the arcade hahaha....

22. Who is the last person you usually think about before you fall asleep?
Hmmm....usually its my dream camera, motorcycle and perhaps anyone....

23. Have you ever had a poem written about you?
Non that i know...Kelvin is a very popular name you know...

24. You’re in a public bathroom and there’s no toilet paper. What do you do?
This is dumb, if there is no toilet paper, dont use the toilet, unless they have at least a water hose that have water supply...

25. How did you get one of your scars?
I got plenty of scar, most of it is on my knee, elbow, knuckle, ankle, and the shin bone....

Err, most of it is from a bicycle accident, a very very fast and hard one, knuckle? I punch someone face and accidentally hit his teeth...

26. What was your childhood nickname?
Kino....

27. When is the last time you played the air guitar?
I don;t do music, except Karaoke...

28. Have you ever peeked into the opposite sex’s locker room?
Hmm, i wish hahahhaha....

29. What’s the weirdest thing you’ve done while driving?
Err, i don't drive...

30. Have you ever bitten your toenails?
I try it, at least three time...its not that fun...i was young at that time, curious...

31. How do you eat your cookies?
If i am hungry, i eat it faster before you can finish reading this sentence...

If not, it took me about the same time to finish typing this blog...

32. When working out at the gym, do you wear a belt?
Nehh, i dont need it, i didnt lifting any heavy stuff...

33. Name something you do when you’re alone that you wouldn’t do in front of anyone.
LOL, what do you do that you dont want everyone to look at?

34. Girls: Do you shave your toes? Guys: Do you shave your chest?
i got no hair chest hahahaha...

35. Have you ever played doctor and nurse or a similar game?
Yup, when i was really young...

36. How many drinks does it take before you get drunk?
Depend on the alchohol level, if it was beer, hmm, 5 tin an hour didnt affect me that much...

37. Have you ever sniffed an animal’s butt? What kind?
I am crazy sometime, but i am a human...

38. How often do you clean out your ears?
4 times a week...

39. Do you scrunch or fold your toilet paper?
Scrunch lah..why folded???

40. About how many times a day do you pick a wedgie?
Is that a food?

41. Do you have any strange phobias?
Hmm, non that i can think of....afraid to overtake a slow car???

42. Have you ever stuck a foreign object up your nose?
Yes, some of it was pencil, pen, err..chopstick, err....hmmm....earphone???

43. What is the stupidest thing you’ve ever done at a bar or a party?
Hmm, i am famous, everything i do is cool...hahahaha...kidding ahh...

44. Have you ever been dared to do something you totally regretted?
Yes, punching other classroom window, and got send to the principal office 24 minute after that...

45. Have you ever called your love interest by an ex’s name?
Ex??? Non that i know...

46. Have you ever gotten caught farting while on a date? Was it the smell or the sound that got you busted? Was it the last date?
Hmm, funny question...

47. Have you ever played naked twister?
Hmm, with hot supermodel...i hope so... err...what? they naked not me hahaha...

48. Have you ever been drunk at work?
Never...

49. Have you ever found your date’s/lover’s brother or sister more attractive?
I got no such interest...

50. Do you want to bring sexy back?
What is sexy back???

Camera - Just saying...

2009-02-01T20:08:00.003+08:00

I have been interested in photography for more than a year, and yet, i haven't got my own camera, i don't blame it, i am still a student and hanging on for my parent for shelter and pocket money (^^).

Tomorrow i start working at Parkson as one of the promoter maybe, so i can get my money to buy my own camera, just hope i can make it though...

Allright, this is just some word from me.

Many people thought that i got my own camera and able to process al those picture file via photoshop with ease without any restriction like everyone else, in my case, most of them were wrong.

Unlike most people that improve their learning curve by owning a DSLR, i started out at 2007 by only using Nokia N70 camera, just to improve my composition and later on using a old 2004 model sony compact camera which even my father didn't allow me to use it quiet freely. Up until now, i still have to borrow his camera or at least get a permission so whenever i got my hand on his Nikon D60, i try to make use of it. MAybe that's why i ended up with nice picture.

Then again, unlike those using film camera, all you need is to send your picture to a 'shop' and being process, nowadays it require a software and thats mean you need at least a laptop or a normal desktop computer.

I didn't get the freedom to process and using any camera, thats why i am irritated when someone actually 'teaching' me that i should stop blaming on my equipment or 'dont' use to much of a photoshop. Little do they know that some professional photographer that they worshipped is actually using photoshop quiet intensively on their work as well.

My father buy his camera for a sole reason of saying that he got 'poisoned' by his friend (terpengaruh dengan kawan ahh), he laern how to use it, getting some tips from his friend and yet, the camera isn't being use for an excuse saying it will broke easily if he use it to much.

If this is the case, why buy it?, and when i am getting more and more interesting picture to be process through adobe RAW, he keeps on saying that "It's not that pretty..." or "As if you were entering a competition..." or perhaps "You just broke it...and the dust will enter when you change the lens...".

This kind of word is the reason on why i really need to own my camera, less restriction and that's mean more creativity to flow right?....

Alright, just to show some picture since you do read it right?

EDIT : Forgot that the image there is wrong, allready change it...

Sleep?

2009-02-01T17:00:00.003+08:00

During Chinese New year celebration, there were many of my relative drops by at my father kampung.

Right after the Chinese New Year celebration has ended, the house become a bit quiet. I notice that my grandfather was tired and always sleeping on the couch, so i happen to read a magazine next to him and i notice the light falling on his face showing the wrinkle and skin detail on his face perfectly.

I underexpose the exposure a bit to capture the the line.

Nikon D60 using 55-200mm lens, manual mode.

There's more picture from my Chinese New Year celebration, but this have to do for now (^^). Do tell about this picture, it seems there is something wrong...

Chinese New Year is Over

2009-01-31T14:51:00.002+08:00

Chinese New Year celebration is over, and sorry for the MIA...

Will be back posting new picture and article since i got some serious good looking picture and will be processed after my father rig up the new desktop, which mean i didnt have to use his laptop to edit all my RAW file and allow me more time to manage my blog and flickr (^^)

Do keep in touch - just back from KK....

My Best in 2008

2009-01-23T00:18:00.004+08:00

2008 is one of a hectic year, that year mark my last year as a student of SMK Pantai and also one of the turning point in my life, SPM is at that year as well.

I meet lots of new people, some with different life and story to tell and this took me back to my old time where i was someone different, naughty and obviously arrogant and still is now (^^).

But, i find many friends now and it probably start last year, something that has change my life forever and no, i interested in photography at 2006.

Its probably my time when i actually following the F1 IN SCHOOL Program at KK. I got expose to internet and also online chatting, something that is kinda first for me...thanks to someone.

2006 was my first time to actually hold a DSLR, and for me, photography is about Capturing The Moment That You May Forget... - Its not a hobby to me, its my duty actually (^^), fully fledge with handphone camera and capturing my friend action be it in classroom and during picninc - it will stay with me until i meet them again...

Heck, i always interested in photography since i was young, looking at the cover of National Geography all the time when i spend my friday in the Public Library at Keningau. And my goal to perfecting my skill more than ever than my surrounding peer's....

And 2008 is my best yet, look forward to 2009, and i hope i can own my very first camera. (^^) Cheers... - Kelvin Ah Kian

About My Motorcycle - Yamaha 125zr

2009-01-20T23:01:00.011+08:00

Yamaha 125zr, well known in Malaysia as the God Of All Kapchai Motorcycle.

Using a 2 stroke 125cc engine that capable of producing about 17 horsepower (yeah, its no match for a motoGP bike but the engine is more than enough for street use considering it is mounted on a light weight chassis) to send the motorcycle to a top speed of 170KM/H (105MP/H only).

I try to maxxed it on the street around Bukit Kubong, Labuan and it only reach 165KM/H (Probably due to my slight bigger sprocket). Don't worry, that place is safe and i was alone at that time, and don't call me as a Mat Rempit cause i am not, and i ride the motorcycle way safer than them~despite my average speed on the highway is 140KM/H where most Mat Rempit that were using their tuned up EX-5 were hardly able to keep up with me :P.

Enough with all this, i tell you the story on how and why i got this motorcycle.....

When i got my L license, i use my father Yamaha 135LC, a well capable ultra fast superb machine that is rarely used by my father at that time.

He didn't like the way i use his motorcycle or the way i treat it, so he decided to buy me a new one. He keep's on joking that he will buy me a Honda EX-5 or the old used Honda C70. All i can do is just this :P....

"Hei, ku belikan kau karang itu motor buruk...Honda EX-5 lah?...macam mana???..."

"Err....kalau Kawasaki Ninja ok kah?..."

"Dari mana kau mau dapat tuu duit???"....

.................Awkward silence..................

"Jadi....apa-apa ja lah..."

I just gave up and give the whole decision to him since, well, i do not have any money of my own. It's pointless to argue about it as well....

So, one day, one of his friend, Abang Nasri, bring his motorcycle to our house just to chat with my father, i know he wanted to sell his bike but i don't know that my father intend to buy it.

He ask me to look at the motorcycle condition, and God that it is in good condition. For a motorcycle that has clocked a mileage of 14+++ Kilometer, this one look as if it has just done 4000 kilometer and only need some cleaning.

Cut it short, the next day, after i back from the town, i noticwe this extra red white color motorcycle at my house porch, to my surprise, this time it was squeaky clean and the some of the body part being take off.

(Sorry about the color on the picture, i overdone it in photoshop.)

I ask my dad when i arrive at the front house...

"Knapa di sini nii???.."

"Suka hati sayalah, knapa, kau nda mau?..."

"Siapa punya?.."

"Kau, knapa, kau nda mau???..."

....A sudden grin appear on my face....

"Ahh, betul bah?..."

"Tidaklah, saya tipu ja, si nasri saja mau letak di sini.."

"jadi kita kasi bersih sama cat tu body buat apa???.."

.....SILENCE.....

Well, that's the story on how i got the motorcycle, thanks to my dad though, for trusting me on having such sweet ride.

Now to the motorcycle review....

I use my father Yamaha 135LC for about 4 month and i understand the handling and the limit of the motorcycle so i am more than sure that i can give an appropriate review/comparison. Just for an update, i also have been using the 125zr for about 4 month now.

The Yamaha 135LC is a brand new 4 stroke 'kapchai' in Malaysia (it is not the bike on that picture) and really famous for any new buyers looking for a easy mode of transportation while still maintaining the style and performance.

Cosmetic -
Compare to Yamaha 125zr (My model is quiet old), the Yamaha 125zr does seems small and 'thin' compare to the slight beefy and futuristic body panel of the Yamaha 135LC. The difference between this 2 model is quiet obvious when one viewed both of the motorcycle from the front where the 135LC famous intercooler system (Radiator) is very obvious and so does the the difference between the wheel mud skip.

Handling -
For me, i always thought the 135LC handling is the best for a kapchai compare to EX-5 or the modenas krisstar, the ride seems to be effortless and the power is easy to reach especially during acceleration. The grip and the response during sharp cornering is great.

All this were soon dispell when i actually test run this motorcycle in the morning where i actually learn to master the slight different tuned clutch tension (most Mat Rempit call it 'Clutch Mati'). With those kind of set-up, it is easy and quick to change the gear but when you actually try to balance it, it is easy to either overrev or immediately kills the engine, for a newbie with this kind of setup? Yeah, i always accidentally killed the engine when i get into the first gear. :P

The Yamaha 125zr has this high sensation feeling probably due to the sound of the engine where a 2 stroke engine is really different in term of the structure and geometry compare to 4 stroke engine, the loud 'tung~tung' characteristic of the sound coming from the exhaust will excite anyone who riding it, not for my neighbor it ain't.. "aunty, saya bukan mau racing lahh...sorry..." :P....

Alright, i will write my first experience with the 125zr - King Of Kapchai. On the street...

The sound is more than enough to attract unwanted attraction, be it my friend or those stupid looking Mat Rempit with their tuned bike (i dont like the way they look at me, and no, i dont want to challenge them either, my motorcycle is slow what? (^^)).

And off i go to one of Labuan famous landmark, the Chimney, before i arrive near the Chimney, there is a long straight clear street where i think i can push the motorcycle to its limit...without even realize at that time, i already clocked the speed meter for about 120KM/H!!!

It was so easy to reach that speed where my father 135LC would have been strugling at the fourth gear (135LC got only 4 gear speed). I keep the speed steady and when i about to arrive to a steep hill, the 125 obviously is quiet 'slow' when climbing the hill, this is not due to the 2 stroke engine where as many dumbass saying "itu 2 stroke memang begitu, mana boleh lawan 4 stroke..".

I am very confident that this is not because of the engine horsepower or design but more due to the setting that the factory has made to the engine.

125zr is design as a racing cub motorcycle for the road so the engine maximum horsepower bandwidth is around 5500RPM - 9000RPM where the horse power is at it's peak, this is very noticeable especially for a 125zr owner.

Compare to the 135LC 4 stroke engine where its bandwidth is somewhere near 2500RPM-5000RPM, making 135LC a quick starter and also make it quicker when riding uphill at 100KMH average.
~
~
After the hill has been passed, there is a long winding road where most of the corner is blind and there is not many car as compare to the main street, and here where the 125zr really show's what is got.

The motorcycle corner like a racing machine (i never ride on one of the SBK so this is my best ride ever), i mean the grip and stability it self is very good or must i say, superb, there is no such thing as unsure when you corner this baby on the street and the footrest on my left leg hit the asphalt for a moment and damn that was scary, i can see some spark flying as well.

The ride handling must have to do with the engine as 2 stroke engine is producing it's energy at different frequency than a 4 stroke engine, hence, the cornering stability...

The handling is very stable compare to 135LC where 135LC feel really voque (Licak or Ringan), my father even tried this bike and he say, "The faster you go, the stable it become..." this is indeed a good as you need to feel very confident when you riding a 2 wheeled machine on such speed...especially one without an airbag!!! (^^)

Riding on 125zr is really fun since the motorcycle is really small and light yet, the performance is first class despite its small engine. And you cannot ride this thing slowly as it is very tempting to overrev the engine!!! xD

*1-All picture that was taken here is all right reserved to Kelvin Ah Kian@COPYRIGHT-
*2-All picture that was taken using Nikon D60 with 18-55mm kit lens and 55-200mm lens-

Updated!!!

2009-01-20T14:31:00.002+08:00

Well, finally i can upload a high resolution picture to my blog, thanks to flickr, now i am able to put a high quality picture to my blog here.

The other picture that is has slight low resolution is the one that i haven't yet upload to flickr :).

Sorry for the inconvinient...

2009-01-20T00:59:00.004+08:00

Sorry for the constant changes on my blog, please bear with me as i am still unaccustomed with Blogspot function and layout. Sorry for the low-resolution picture, will update a slight higher resolution picture next time.

Thanks to Reika for being able to withstand my noobness through MSN. Cannot done it without you.

Canon camera - First time holding canon system.

2009-01-19T13:17:00.010+08:00

I never handle a canon camera before, even if i do, it never give me a full impression on their system.

Just recently during our trip to Kuching, Sarawak. There were ICT fair being held in front of the income tax building, a parking lot to be precise (^^). Lots of stuff and they happen to be showing a line of EOS camera system, such as 40D, 450D and the new 1000D.

I spent the next 45 minute at the canon booth trying out with the system, despite the camera is being chained, they allow the visitor to try out the camera where they include a memory card and a full charged battery just for the promotion.

Since i am new at handling a Canon EOS button and menu layout, i ask one of the canon promoter to tell me which is which especially with the 40D. Heck, i am giving my own opinion base on my 45 minute trying out those camera though, it's not definitive but it is merely a first impression only :D.

My own impression when handling those camera:

Canon 1000D : When i saw this camera on the canon booth table, i was so excited that i actually ran toward it. To actually heard the personal opinion from the DCM editor and the other existing 1000D user, i wanted to find out how well is the camera so badly since it was dubbed as the most worth it beginner DSLR.

To my shock, it was so light it reminds me of Sony Playstation 2 joystick :P it was so light and it is no wonder why some Nikonian actually teasing the camera for being a 'toy camera'. :P

But, that was just the 'feel' and i doubt it will affect the picture quality (yes, the light weight will benefit me). The focus system response is very good compare to my father Nikon D60 (Nikon D60 is Canon 1000D main rival) and it was able to lock it's focus in such condition where the D60 will hesitate to even lock it's focus. This must have to do with the absent of Nikon D60 internal focusing motor compare to 1000D. All in all, in term of performance, 1000D can easily out thrown the D60 but this is just my first impression, i zoom in to those picture taken using 1000D and i find it really sharp. And to actually changing it's seting is realtively faster than Nikon D60 as well, because canon give a dedicated button for the ISO and White balance...

No comment on picture quality though. Such as Noise and whatever those gearheaded might interested in...

Canon 450D : Another one of the Canon EOS camera, ought to replace the famous Canon 400D with its newer function and feature such as newer processor, higher megapixel sensor and the newly added live view.

the 'feel' is still about the same with the 1000D, light yet has some luxury touch to it (must be the added faux leather on the grip, giving it worthy of a camera), overall, the focusing and the viewfinder is very interesting, it faster and bigger as well compare to 1000D.

The price is also pretty cheap for a camera with such feature, one can get it for RM2400 - street price.

Canon 40D : The second time i have been holding this camera though, and one of my favorite, i was wondering what is the street price for this camera though.

Anyway, i got no such complain over this thing, very well made and seriously much better than Nikon D80 (i know it is not fair to compare Nikon Amateur camera to a semi-pro camera, but i can't compare it to D300 right?, as both of the camera is equal to me). The camera is solid yet quiet light, which is a good thing if you going on a assignment. One thing that worthy to highlight is the camera capability to track the subject movement during the servo focusing mode where i actually trying to do a panning with some of the people at the fair and the 40D was able to give a precise focus where my father Nikon D60 or the 450D has some trouble on doing so.

All in all, the screen is BIG but somehow the picture look slightly soft, probably due to the screen lack of resolution as oppose to Nikon D300 screen resolution.

If i am going for a new camera, 40D is on my list compare to Nikon D300, seriously.

New Year Outing With My Long Lost Senior - With some friend (^^)

2009-01-18T19:48:00.014+08:00

I have been planning for an outing with my old senior back in high school and we did it successfully at 1/1/2009, wow, and i got plenty of New Year wishes be it in Flickr or via SMS (^^).

I just know that he is actually interested in photography when he suddenly popping out at some of my favorite photography forum, and currently using Nikon D300 with some flashgun of his own. We decided to go for an outing that day and i call some of my friend along since we haven't met yet ever since my SPM is over.

For the outing, i am sure i cannot bring my father acmera out since he rarely allow me to but i already told him that my senior will be coming to Labuan and doing some photo session together.

To my luck, he actually allow me to bring it when Izzat bring his Ford Escape and so does one of my friend which were riding some noisy motorcycle (^^). All in all, he allowed me and that is a good thing, and he allow this on one condition, use the camera carefully.... seems OK to me (^^).

Chong - He teach me on how to use the Nikon Famed CLS function since he is keen toward flash photography using his SB-900. Despite his best effort on teaching me, i still haven't yet master the full unit system. Those picture that is black with some tint is my try using his camera since my father camera NIkon D60 was unable to use the SB-900 wireless capability

Thanks to Chong for your time in Labuan, looking forward to meet you again (^^).

Thanks to Azyerah, Nabihah, Amirul and Izzat as well for willing to come and meet up again.

The gang, before picture taking session start (and also to wait for the lighting) why not enjoy the scenery and nice blowing wind? (^^)

Nabihah, also one of my best friend since 2004, thanks for willing to join us as a model (^^), Nikon D60 using kit lens, some how i process the picture to look like DAve Hill effect???

This is my Senior though, SIfu of Nikon D300 hahahaha...thanks for your time buddy!!!

This is Azyerah, one of my best friend since form 1 when i first come to Labuan.

Taken using NIkon D300 using 18-200 nikkor and SB-900, wireless flash system.

First series - Children around my neighbourhood

2009-01-18T00:49:00.011+08:00

Well, i am living in the same household for quiet sometime, 5 years to be exact.

Ever since i get a hold on my father's camera this month, i have been dying to bring the camera out taking a picture of the children playing in front of the house. Since i am waiting for my SPM result to come out somewhere this march, i have nothing much to do except doing some house chore and probably working out.

This is Some of the picture for my project called 'Faces around my neighborhood.' - And this is just a series of it, wait till i can get some of the RAW file to be process into my father laptop.

All of this picture is taken using Nikon D60 with it's kit lens, all of this was taken on manual mode.