Taking a break

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A bit busy lately and its monsoon. Just need to take a break and just write once a while.

29 Dec 2006

Selamat berpuasa sewaktu jamaah haji wukuf di Arafah dan selamat berkorban dan menyambut Hari Raya Korban dan Hari-Hari Tasyrik. Semoga Allah memberkati kita semua dengan Taufik, Hidayah dan RahmatNya.

dan

Selamat Pengantin Baru kepada Norazlina dan Mohamad Afif.

dan

Tahniah kepada Aliah dan Husna atas keputusan cemerlang PMR

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The Wedding montage (the akad) of Dr Norazlina and Dr Mohamad Afif

on 9 December 2006. We only took a few photos because we had to rush home to send DITH to work.

Here is the wedding montage that I prepared a few weeks ago.
Thanks to Pycno for the great song.

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Macro with BR 2A - Insects

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I was requested by friends and siblings to photograph insects or other crawlers. Taking pictures of ants was quite difficult and tiring. First, I had to get the right distance, then to locate the moving subject through the lens or wait until it found something to make it stayed stationary. Then the focusing part by moving the camera forward and backward hoping for no shake when squeezing the button. The exposure had to be set manually but it did not matter much as I could adjust it with thw RAW editor tool.

I found the ants in my garden yesterday morning. I had to be early before the morning breeze got stronger.

The white wall will definitely confuses light meters

As I was searching for tiny flowers 2 days ago, I came upon a few insects. The moths were more cooperative than the active ants.

The picture above was taken at a nearby stream. It was difficult to get nearer and I had to focus at 60mm causing the flower buds to be clearly visible. Opening the aperture wider? The DOF will drop drastically causing part of the moth blurred unless they were in the same plane.

Still at the stream with a different moth. This time, there was no wind.

Limiting factors to be considered beside the equipments:

1. A moving subject
2. Wind
3. Lighting
4. Terrain

Hope Sarah (Mynn) can appreciate the insects.

UPDATE

Above was taken on my first day using BR2A with Nikon50mm F1.8. Notice the narrow DOF.

The above was taken at my mini A&E Studio using a mobile surgical lamp, a black pierre cardin wallet box(gift from KKL, thanks a million) and a white pateint folder as a reflector.

I edited using Nikon editor alone, decreasing the exposure value to correct the overexposed area from the light source, increasing the contrast, decreasing the brightness(ensuring I could still see year 1976), correcting the color balance by adding blue, decreasing red and green. It is not that good but it will do by not having photoshop(office) and with limited knowledge.
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ED Mini Studio

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Some weed flower

The above at 100%

As it was a bit calm yesterday evening, i just went for a brief walk around the hospital compound with 'my assistant'. "Yang ni ok, lawa bunganya."

Another weed flower

I tried a few shots but failed since it was windy. "Kita petik dan bawa balik. Mana tau cahaya di bilik mencukupi." I told 'my assistant.

Some more weed flower

I saw a few insects and managed to get a few snaps of the uncooperative creatures..

Grass flower

I just got an idea after reaching my department. Hmm... why not use the mobile surgical lights to illuminate my subjects. Ihave the flowers, leaves for the background. The lamp was on the right. No reflectors used, maybe next time.

Equipment:

1. A D50 body

2. Nikon35-70mm F3.3

3. BR 2A reverse ring

4. Mobile surgical lamp

5. Flowers ranging from tiny to medium button size

Maybe this will answer a friend who asked for tips on using flash indoors. I dont have any external flashgun at the moment and not in my list if I have an extra cash. My priority will be a macro lens, Tamron SP90 maybe. As mentioned above is my indoor lightings(dont forget the reflectors and screens/cloth for background).
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Bunga rumpai lagi
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More on Macro

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I need to answer mama sarah's questions. Maybe she will rush to the online shopping and get mynn a reverse ring or some extension tubes to be used with the 50mm prime.

The forgotten daun mempelam kering di halaman rumah

I am still in macro mode/mood. After viewing the second and third photo, a colleague asked me, "Bila pergi scuba?". I laughed and answered.

"Tumbuhan di halaman rumah je."

Apa benda pulak ni=Bunga 'pokok pagar', hedge at our house

Huh=Bunga rumput liar di halaman rumah

The art work was simple, i just darkened them with levels(nak kata artwork pun segan sebab simple sangat...hehehe).

Another weed at our lawn

Still from our lawn

Lawn kami penuh dengan rumpai nampaknya

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Lagi satu dari halaman

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For the last 4 images, I use Nikon Editor to convert from RAW to JPEGwith contrast, exposure and sharpening adjustment.

The images are a bit blur because of 3 reasons;

1. No macro lens, just a reverse ring - limited budget
2. Hand held - I dont have any tripod, loaned to momad
3. Breeze - our lawn is a bit windy, breeze from South China Sea.

I thank God for giving me a pair of steady hands and guide me with newly found techniques to minize hand shake.
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I Love Macro and this Cheapo Picasa

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Just a flower. Bunga apa ye?

Just trying out my BR 2A with the 35-70 mm lens, converted to JPEG with Nikon Editor and touchup with Picasa, a free programme from Google. These are the end product.

Apa ni?

Both shots were taken during my off hours at the hospital today.

Ok juga program percuma ni

I am now at home. My off day. Just got back from our morning stroll at the beach. Here are some of the shots taken today.

A simple composition

The forgotten

Apa benda pulak ni

Huh?

I just love my newly found macro techniques and alterations that can be made. Seronok betul.
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BR 2A for Macro

A BR 2A reverse ring

Friends have been unboxing new appendanges for their new toys, their cameras. To the front, back, bottom etc. i got my BR 2A about a week ago, trying to find which lens it is most suitable to use with. Writings on the BR 2A with the 50 mm lens can be found in most forum.

Bunga kuning

Bunga putih

I have this relative old 35-70mm from my 'biras' Redza. After trying a few shots, i just know that this the right lens for my new BR 2A. I am now on my way to Macro in style, a cheap way that dith will approve.

Bunga Halia Bara

The best I can do with a 'free' Nikon 35-70 F3.3/4.5 AF with a BR 2A in reverse attachment. I wish I have a dedicated macro lens to have a better results.

It was taken late evening (notice the narrow DOF)

I added 2 pictures taken at my working place today. Actually it is not easy to take macro with the reverse lens. It has lots of limitations. With the 50mm lens the focal point is fixed and have to be set at infernity. One has to move forward and backward to focus. Surprisingly with 35-70 mm lens, manual focusing is able. The DOF is too narrow especially at 35 and 50. The aperture needs to be opened or the ISO increased to get the shutter speed fast especially in limited lighting.

The flower was lighted by late evening sun

With this 1 week experience, i think i should get a macro( ;) ) or invest on a remote shutter release with the camera set on a tripod which is cheaper, use an old flash gun whatever the made and fire manually.

Acheh Tsunami videoclip- revised

Modifications after the comments. This is the final edition before my next videoclip/montage project.




I am still busy with 'berkhatan project' and calls since the other doctor is still on leave.

Thank you for the comments.

Acheh Tsunami - almost 2 years passed

It wil be 2 year this coming 26 disember for the tsunami disaster in Acheh. i prepared this clip for our hospital annual dinner video presentation. the aim is to have a proper more permanent disaster/calamity fund.







Thanks for the good wishes.

I spent most of my time from last week recuperating from fever, working and doing circumcisions (since its the end of the year school holiday) and preparing a videoclip. This is a simplified partial ly edited version. i'll send the final full copy to mr and mrs moss this coming saturday. ;)

Flowers

Bunga Cina (original)

Teratai (Water Lily)

An Nanas

Bunga Raya (Hibiscus)

Saw a few blooming flowers during this monsoon. Eventhough the weather was heavy with cloud, I was still temped to take a few shots. Actually a bit relaxing day.

Roza stubborn, terantuk jari dan bengkak, nak juga letak minyak afiat dia. sepatutnya guna ais untuk surutkan bengkak. Senyum pulak

The world is Black and White

All the images used are from Mynn.

Sorry Mynn for using your photos. Huh... this CRT screen is not as good as the LCD that i had used earlier.... darker.

Visiting Terengganu

The crabs

We planned for this trip more than a week ago, to visit Kenakelayan, OK, Mak Lang, Lolo and Ijan. Initially we wanted to bring the whole family but then we got to know that Maman's exam continues this week and Aliah decided not to go. Thus only Dith and I took the journey.

At Kemasik beach(drizzling)

We left Kuantan, Beserah exactly at about 11.00 am. We callaed KKL for a change of plan that is to visit Mak Lang, after that KKL/OK and then Lolo's family. We arrived early and decided to stop at Kesasik. Kemasik's beach is beautiful most of the time of the year. When we arrived, the weather was gloomy and later it rained. We knocked at Mak Lang's door in Kerteh at 12.30 pm as promised. It was a beautiful mansion with a nice garden. Mak Lang served us a delicious lunch and what I liked best was her delectable gulai lemak ikan. Pak Lang took us for the house tour and told us of his future plan for the mansion. Thanks for being a good host.

Assalamualaikum Mak Lang!

Ready for work with the security tag

We then proceeded to Dungun to Kenakelayan and OK's bungalow. We passed Paka and saw one of the exhaust tower burning excessively. We were told later that the loss was equivalent to a mercedes per hour.

Burning Mercedeses at Paka

It rained when we arrived at KKL's place and we had lots of stories to share including Altantuya's murder, 'the sucker flag', bungled-up streamyx, online games. Maybe this is the last time we visit them at their Dungun house as they will be moving to Kuantan early next year to their new house at Bukit Istana(Tengku Mahkota of Pahang neighbourhood).

We then drove back to Paka to visit Lolo and Ijan. We had murtabak, harissa and mangoes for tea. We later went to their beach house at Kampung Tebing Tebah. The place was beautiful. I love the scenery and their guest house. They planned to build their house there and it's supposed to be completed next year.

Beach house: View from the gazebo


A boat docked for repairs


The Beach house at background

We then rushed back to Kerteh and we were 1 hour late for our dinner date with OK-KKL. Thousands apologies to KKL and OK. We had our dinner together at restoren ikan bakar at KKL and OK's expenses. The food was excellent. It was the best ketam goreng berlada I had ever tasted especially 'the sepit'. Thanks a million for the fine dinner.

Pari bakar

Sotong bakar

Oyster bakar

The claw cracker

'Happy nye!'

Our trip home was not that good, heavy traffic and our car started to give abnormal sounds when we passed Kemaman. We stopped past Geliga and called AAM to tow us back to Kuantan. We arrived at Beserah around 1.40 am, sleepy and exhausted.

The 'ketam' waste; Milik siapakah sisa ini (melodi lagu Sudirman)

Alhamdulillah we arrived home in one piece. Thanks to all our hosts for the their hospitallity and may Allah reward them better.