Penang 09

Here are some shots from my weekend stay in Penang. It changed a bit since my last visit 4 years ago. Now there is a huge shopping center at Queensbay. For seafood, forget about crossing the bridge and going to Bkt. Tambun. There is one on the island itself which is even better. Forgot where is the place, but it is located near the Penang Hill.

Going up Penang Hill is a hassle. Perhaps the effect after my trip to Mount Takao in Tokyo. The trains at Mt. Takao are brand new, fast and air conditioned. But the trains here are old, slow and stuffy; with only fans providing ventilation to suffering passengers stuffed in overcrowded cars. The wait for the train is long too.

Anyway, big thank you to Jonsern for being a great host.

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Portrait Photography: My Nightmare

I visited my friend Jonsern in Penang. He organized a portrait photography weekend for me apart from the usual eating and sight-seeing trip. I've never shoot portraitures seriously and I thought it would be a great idea to move out from my comfort zone of landscape photography and learn some new skills. Armed with the new 50mm f1.8 lens, I was eager and all ready for it.

Continuing my story from the previous post below, I said it was a blessing in disguise that I did not get the 35mm f1.8 lens; which is double the price of my 50mm. And this is the reason why. I first started shooting pictures with my prosumer camera with a whopping 12x optical zoom. After depending and living so long on zoom lenses, it's like a drug now which I cannot shake off. Zoom lenses are so convenient that I hardly need to move me feet when taking pictures. My composition skill and perspective are all rotten because of this. Moving on to DSLR, now I have the benefit of using prime lenses; like my new 50mm lens. Using prime lens for the first time in my first serious portrait photography, unfortunately it turned out to be a nightmare. I couldn't even compose the subject into the frame properly. Many shots turned out to be out of focus too. Feeling so frustrated, I changed back to my zoom lens in the latter session. The pictures are better, but still not outstanding. I come to the conclusion that I suck big time in portrait photography. I will stick to my landscape photography. I feel very sorry to the models for taking such bad pictures for them. Well, luckily I got the cheaper 50mm lens instead of the 35mm. Else, I will be crying over a wasted lens left collecting dust in the cabinet.

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Bokeh Time

I got myself a bokeh lens; Nikkor AF 50mm f1.8 D. Was supposed to get the 35mm f1.8 lens but it's out of stock. It was actually a blessing in disguise which I will reveal the reason why in my next post. Below are some sample pictures taken from my new lens. Most pictures are blur or out of focus due to my inexperience in handling prime lens and without a tripod as well.

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Sakura Trip: Tokyo, Hakone, Takao

Ah, it's that time of the year again where I perform my annual backpacking trip ritual. This year, without doubt I chose Tokyo to see the cherry blossom (sakura); which I've missed it last year.

I took the much coveted flight to Tokyo on the Airbus A380 super jumbo. This has got to be the best aircraft ever built. My entire flight was super quiet and so comfortable. And it has the best suspension systems I must say. During taxiing, take off or landing, I could not feel any bumps or jerks at all.

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Tokyo Edo Museum is a very good place to start for a gaijin (foreigner) first-timer in Japan. This museum tells stories from ancient emperor/samurai era and how Japan rises from the ashes of A-bomb to become an ultra modern country. Next to the museum is the Sumo hall. One can catch sumo wrestlers in action at certain days of the week.

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I walked the streets of Akihabara and Shinjuku in the evening on my first day. Big mistake! It was freaking winter temperature even though it's spring. It was already 3deg celcius at 7pm. I was a frozen pig that night even under the blanket.

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I joined the Hatobus tour on my second day to save me the hassle of transport. The tour brought me to Meiji Jingu shrine, Imperial Palace, Sensoji temple in Asakusa, cruise down Tokyo Bay and Odaiba man-made island.

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To get the best view of Tokyo Tower and also the night city view, you have to be at Roppongi area. Head west of Tokyo Tower and find the Roppongi Hills Mori tower. Go to the 52nd floor at night and enjoy a 360deg view of Tokyo lights.

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It must be my lucky day. Mori tower has an ongoing display of Ferrari cars on their 52nd floor observatory tower. They even have the Enzo and the sexy SP1 on display!!!

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From Shinjuku station, I walked to the west side, full of skyscrapers. I got a very nice day view of Tokyo city from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government building. Both their North and South observatory towers are free in admission. One can see Mt. Fuji from here on a clear day. On the east side of Shinjuku station is the shopping district. The back alleys are a little shady; housing numerous "love" hotels and stuffs like that. It's perfectly OK to walk during the day before it turns into red light district at night.

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Shinjuku Gyoen park is my playground. This huge park has the best cheery trees around. Not only that, the park also has the best landscape and many other flower/tree species. Boy, I utilized my time and D90 to the max in this park.

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Another great place to view the sakura is Chidorigafuchi (Imperial Palace moat). Sakura trees line both sides of the moat and you can even row a boat there. Opposite the moat is the Yasukuni shrine, where they had a big festival there on my visit.

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The busy and famous zig-zag crossing at Shibuya; definitely not the place for me. It's a sea of people out there. And the shopping price tag is out of my wallet range. Teenagers dressed up as anime characters and gothic styles gather in Harajuku. Nearby is the Yoyogi park. Not really a nice place to see the cherry blossom in my opinion.

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I took some time off from the city and headed to Hakone. It is such a beautiful place and offers so many attractions. If only I knew it, I would have planned more days.

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My last few days were spent at Ueno park and Mt. Takao. Ueno is the next best place to see cherry blossom after Shinjuku Gyoen park. It has got the ancient feel. The park has got some really old cherry trees lined up on both sides of the walkway. Nearby attractions are some museums and zoo. Do take note about the crowd on a good sunny day. The queue was so long that it backed all the way from the park to the train station. Climb Mt. Takao on a good day and you'll get to see Mt. Fuji and the city view.

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Well, that wraps up my yet another exciting and wonderful trip. I love Tokyo, and I definitely left my heart there for someone special.

Singapore Street/Night Photography

I was bored. And my D90 is collecting dust. I've tried very hard to get friends to visit places but they chose to hook on the internet at home or drink away their life instead. I have the urge for photography and so I screw the group outing and went lone ranger. I decided to walk the streets of Singapore to hone my skills in street+night photography. Feeling charitable and environmental conscious, I headed down to the WWF office and got myself an Earth Hour t-shirt. From there, I walked the Chinatown, Clarke Quay, the Esplanade and the Flyer. I was surprised to find so many interesting elements and subjects on the streets to be photographed. And all these small little details can really turn up a masterpiece in pictures. I really learned a lot and glad I went out for this. I've mastered a few tricks on my new camera which will be very useful for my Japan trip tomorrow. I'm all ready and looking forward to that.

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Earth Hour

How YOU can support Earth Hour in 2009

At 8:30pm on 28 March 2009, individuals, communities, towns and cities across the world will turn off their lights for one hour sending the powerful global message that working together we can make a difference, and that our voices will be heard on climate change. There are many ways individuals can support Earth Hour 2009, from turning out the lights in buildings on the night, sharing what you know about Earth Hour with others, and uniting friends, family, partners, neighbours, employers in the fight against climate change.

If you would like further information on how you can help, or organise Earth Hour in your town or city, visit the Earth Hour website at www.earthhour.org

Never Saw Blue (Like That Before)

Lately there have been many thunderstorms in Singapore. Zeus must have been offended for he unleashed his fury in the form of spectacular lightning and thunder. The Merlion of Singapore was not spared for he too was hit by Zeus' thunderbolt, leaving him with a bald patch on the head.

Today's thunderstorm was furious. I managed to capture the action while Zeus is unleashing his anger. The shot did not turn out well though. I'm disappointed. I've got a score to settle with you, Zeus. Same time same place tomorrow. Your bolt against my 105mm rifle.



After the rain, the sky was perfect clear and blue. Thanks for clearing up the haze.
Today we took a walk up the street,
We picked a flower and climbed a hill above the lake
Secret thoughts, u said aloud,
We watched the faces in the clouds
Until the clouds have blown away
Were we ever somewhere else u know
It's hard to say

I never saw a blue like that before
Across the sky, around the world
You're giving me all u have and more
No one else has ever shown me how
To see the world the way I see it now, oh I
I never saw a blue like that...Hayley Westenra

Power Play

I was browsing through my picture galleries and I stumbled upon these great pictures which I took using my friend's Canon 450D on a f1.8 lens. I've posted the pictures before in my previous entry but it did not look good. After some cropping and touching up, I'm surprised how good these pictures turned out. My first attempt at bokeh and I immediately fell in love with this art.

"With great power comes great responsibility". Those who know how to "chor dai dee" will know this man is holding powerful cards. But I think he lost that card game. Haha.