The View of Mechanicals Eye

Monochrome Collection

2010-07-24T21:18:00.000-07:00

some of my monochrome collection, taken all this year...I love black and white photographs..

Always

2010-06-20T07:06:00.001-07:00

a view from my house, around 7pm. The sun always been block by the mountain (Serapi Mountain) before the twilight end..and this view always repeated unless it is raining..and it always like this..always

Sikog's Waterfall

2010-06-13T05:57:00.000-07:00

on 12th Jun 2010, I attend my friend secondary school reunion. hey, they all were nature lover hehe.. So, they "reunited" at Sikog's Waterfall. Im pretty sure you never heard about this waterfall.

Sikog Village is about 1 hour travel from Kuching. This waterfall locate 20 minute walking from the village. The waterfall is not a official tourism spot. We only knew because one of my friend live at Sikog village.

This waterfall was very beautiful.

this person is the "tarzan" of Sikog's waterfall~ he guide us to the waterfall..

And the last photo before we head back to the village. I used to take a lot of slow shutter effect on water flow, but this one seem to be the best one^^

tQ all to join the reunion! next time we "reunited" again keyh^^

Damai Puri Poolside

2010-06-08T21:24:00.000-07:00

Sunset view from Damai Puri's Poolside... I feel that this photo was taken by me for the 5th time, as my tripod are no longer stable..wind blow give a shake to the camera's body..so I lowered the tripod and give the best stable position for this photo~

f/11, 20" sec, 100 ISO in Av mode..plus windshield and tripod~

there was tourist try to talk to me about the photography..but I suddenly "freeze" and can talk well, not even taking a photo of her (she expect that from me, as I hold a camera)..oh my..Im not very good with girls...

My First Wedding Photoshoot

2010-06-05T09:57:00.000-07:00

My very first wedding photo shoot ever. One thing that I learn in this wedding photography:

your skills, your good gear promise you nothing,if not came with communication skills too~

Couple Photoshoot

2010-06-04T23:49:00.000-07:00

last week I attend "photo freak group" portraiture shooting, couple theme. The "couple" were my juniors, and there were also 9 photographer attend the activity.

And these were photo group~

Thanks to Mr. Bujang and Cikgu Zul for attending this outing~ tQ2

Long Time No See

2010-06-03T18:56:00.000-07:00

Long time no see blog buddy! I think Im to busy to blogging..hm..but, I still active in photography~ yeah that is why I still want to post my photo to the blog~

these were my latest photo at Flickr.com. I post only selected photos. I love to snap, love to steal a piece of world, and hold it as picture::::

Hunting

2010-05-05T20:14:00.001-07:00

Another Story Telling.....

Monochrome : Reflection

2010-04-06T04:13:00.000-07:00

Mono with HDR, reflection of water spot.

My fav photo, snap with my soul....

A limited view of my eyes

2010-03-19T06:45:00.000-07:00

I try to practice with my 50mm 1.8 lens and take it along, and use it most of the time~ I love this lens so much!

but I also try some old lens, 75mm-300m...

but btw, I just showing my art to others~ hope you enjoy it~ tQ

Last Chinese New Year Holiday Outing

2010-02-20T17:37:00.000-08:00

Last Chinese New Year Holiday Outing

I meet my old friend in the form 6 reunion (a girl, tall girl and you know what is tall girl for camera?)

yes, I got my 1st model for the upcoming outing.

I try my 50mm F/1.8 for the photoshoot..I guess this is some example of 50mm result:

all of the photos in 1.8 f stop, focus manually.
I guess this what I can post for this 3 month post.

Canon 50mm f/1.8 Lens

2010-01-19T20:56:00.000-08:00

I recently brought my new fixed lens, a 50mm Canon portrait lens stoop until 1.8, make this lens very sharp and bright image produce. I also got no problems in taking night photos at 1.8 stop.

It only cost me about RM 330 (Copal Camera Shop, this time I try not to buy online). But this lens only came with lens caps (front and back). No hoods, no case and filter.

The photos? Very satisfy my portraits photography. the bokeh, the fokus and the sharpness is the best at 1.8.

But even it state 50mm lens, one of my friend told me that the 500mm is not the exact length. It must be time 1.5 due to something system called APC (I not sure the APC things but I will figure it out soon).

The photo from the lens? I will post It later to the blog. I quite busy as I start my study season as Chemical Engineer.

So try out the lens! It sure make you looks Pro!

Cheapest Macro Style for Beginners

2010-01-06T06:48:00.000-08:00

Macro or Micro?

It has different meaning, but just what I know

Macro = Very close up

Micro = thing like cells, atoms, germs, etc.

ok?

Sure some of beginner like to have their own Macro Photo right?
Almost everything is suitable for macro's subject. Just name it.
For beginner, to do some macro photography, you need to study the macro well.

"Hey, they only gives me Kit Lens. So how?"

In this case, I dont suggest you to but macro lens ( I guess you wont, it is far to expensive )
Due to that, I suggest you to buy "Macro Filter"

Depending on the diameter of your lens (basically, the Kit lens' diameter was 58mm), you can equip it to your lens (just like your UV lens)
It only cost you $30 (RM 100++) to obtain such macro photo.

"Wow! great! but, how does it work?"

Equip it to your lens, then focus it to the subject closely (I mean, VERY close) and you will see the filter actually work like magnifying glass.To focus it, you will not use the AF, switch it to Manual, and focus it by moving the camera forward or backward until you spot the right focus on subject. (very, I mean VERY tricky)

I recommend that:

1. Use flash, this will increase the speed of shutter and avoid "blur shake" effect.
2. Use tripod, for more stable position.
3. Use small aperture (f/11) for avoid too much DOF (depth of field)

Hey, I just spot some of the filter for kit lens at lelong.com.my!

HERE! (for kit lens)

the magnify power depending on the filter it self (+3,+6,+10)

And this is some macro photo that I made using my own macro filter :

and my fav one :

So? It is very good investment for you own photography! Try it and share it to the world.

Panning. The Amatuer Guideline

2010-01-02T00:51:00.000-08:00

Sure you wondering, what else you can do with your new DSLR. Maybe some of the DSLR seniors already know everything about it (which mean DON'T CONTINUE reading this tips if you are PRO).

After you can control your Manual Mode well, try "Panning" photography (or effect..whatever^~^)

Panning is the idea where you point the focus to the subject (basically a moving object) and keep the other subject (the background) blur. This is can only be done with DSLR camera.

This is some of panning photo example.

To shorten this blog's fill, follow this guideline to obtain such photo :

SETTING PART

1. Get the original reading of your f (aperture) and your shutter. This can be done as you set the camera in program mode.If you got high shutter speed here, make sure you turn the ISO to the lowest possible.

2. Set your mode to Aperture Priority. (for beginner, this mode is suggest). This mode give you automatic shutter speed setting, which you manipulate your aperture to get desire shutter speed.

3. Turn your aperture to small (example, f8 or f 10, depending on the light power source). Set the aperture to small and you must get the shutter speed around 1/13 second to 1/20, depending on the speed of the subject.

4.Set your shoot mode to continuous mode. This enable you to shoot 3 or 5 shoot per second (hold the shutter, and it depend on camera's ability)..

5. Turn your focus mode to manual (recommended for beginner)

SHOOTING PART

1. Get ready to focus the subject (example, a moving car) at the initial point (point where it start to move)

2. (VERY IMPORTANT PART) after focus it clearly, press and hold the shutter. From VIEWFINDER, FOLLOW THE MOVEMENT OF THE CAR with your camera. It other word, your camera need to follow the car while you shoot it. "Position yourself in a place where your view of the subject will not be obstructed by anyone or anything else. Also consider the background of your shot. While it will be blurred if there are distracting shapes or colors it could prove to be distracting. Single coloured or plain backgrounds tend to work best".

3. Then try it again if you get the result that is not very satisfy. Try different shutter speed (if it too clear, turn down and vice versa)

thats it! ^~^ good luck!

TRIPOD's USES! STUDY your ISO and Shutter speed Behavior

2009-12-29T08:39:00.000-08:00

When you finish sign your receipt of your DSLR at the shop, then, somebody in the shop help you pack the DSLR set..

You got camera body..

Lens..

Bag..

tripod...WHAT? a "BIG LONG UGLY-TO-WALK-AROUND" TRIPOD?

tripod? why?

let skip it for a while...

Always happening to amateur, asking an advice and opinion from "professionals" or "good" photographers is the must. Starting from "Waa..how to you do this..." or some amateur want to show their skills a bit, they will ask "waa... what ISO/Shutter speed/aperture do you set"..hehe

Whatever the question is, the pro probably answered the question with simple word such as "uhu, just focus on the subject"

OR

they will just say "use TRIPOD"........................tripod????????????????????

Ok back to the story

TRIPOD

Why we use tripod?

First thing come in your head is, "off course, to shoot my own photo!".. because dslr's kit lens somehow can't focus your own face when you try to take your own photo. (not very wide as your phone camera = 6mm)

That it?

NO..maybe the tripod physical function only for yourself portrait photo, but actually it help your DSLR camera to take photo that sharper than your handheld snap.
Confuse?

ok, basically, tripod use to hold your camera. This is because :

when your shutter turn slow in low light condition, your handheld snap may blur your photo because in slow shutter speed, if the body receive even small shake (commonly due to breathing and the hand shake itself), the image will definitely experience "Overall Blur".
So this tripod give you very steady position and hold your camera still without any shake while your shutter doing it work (accept if their any earth shake).

You might want to know this: Why my shutter are very slow in dark?

Shutter speed is design to limit the light to entered the sensor. It act "open up" and "close down".

When the body receive good light (ambient light) from environment, the shutter will speed up because it don't want to allow to many light enter the sensor and avoid it to be too bright (we call it "overexposure").

(high speed shutter speed, about 1/1250 second)

When it get low light environment, the shutter will decrease it own speed to allow light enter more to sensor, so that the the image will not experience low exposure(underexposure).

(very slow! about 30 second!)

The slow shutter part is where we use the tripod!
also, when you use low ISO (low ISO give you nice and small amount of noise, but slow down the shutter), tri to use the TRIPOD if possible~

End of story? Not yet!

Now I will show you SOME (some only..there actually a lot) Shoot that really need TRIPOD :

Light Graffiti

light graffiti is an idea of slowing the shutter speed to make the moving light source to look continuously "draw"

What? How?

Simply use your Manual mode at your DSLR dial. Then, set your shutter speed to the slowest speed, the the "BULB" status will be appear. BULB speed is where you can control your shutter as long as you hold the shutter button.
Increase your aperture a bit (5 to 7 is good stop, may use different for different light source power)

then use TRIPOD for avoiding long exposure (long exposure mean the shutter open and the sensor expose for some time).

Starting from the shutter been press and hold, your friend start to draw anything with the light. Basically, this kind of effect your bright torch light. Release the shutter after the drawing is done.

Blurry Water (don't know the right term for this one)

Also with same concept like the graffiti does. This effect's idea is to manipulate the shutter speed to slow speed so that the moving subject (the waterfall) will be blur and the the still subject (the Hermit, stone and the plant) will stay in focus (freeze).

HOW?!

Just stand your DSLR on the tripod, Set very law ISO, and set your aperture to small (for example f/18, dont be confuse!)

I suggest you use aperture priority mode on this one (because it adjust the shutter speed automatically for you)

the Shoot^~^ (make sure your spot is suitable, for example, waterfall, fountain etc..)

And many more! (support this post any I may post you another photo using tripod^~^ and tips to do it^~^)

Other Example Shoot using TRIPOD that you might want to research by yourself :

#Panorama
#HDR
#Sequence (I post it later^~^)
#Macro
#Light trail

and you may research on

#Strobist

ok hope it help you a bit^~^

DSRL Amature MONEY MAKING! What,Why,How and...

2009-12-27T08:39:00.000-08:00

It is very famous gadget, sometime people call it "my baby" (but not me), and others maybe just get it and use it without any happy expression (professional maybe).

Whatever it is, getting your first DSLR camera is not very easy, especially on budget. This is very serious toy to own. Money saving is the most painful part to own this baby. I also got one, and you know what, after you buy it, soon you will realize that you need to spend more to "feed" your baby...What?? Yup that is true. Most of the DSLR supplier will give you a basic equipment such as DSLR body, kit lens (commonly you will got 18-55mm kit lens), beg, tripod, battery grip (if you lucky enough) and maybe an extra battery (very rare).

So, after you study your toy seriously, then you know you got to invest some other equipment to the camera such as external flash, extra battery, new lens (depending on your style, and this could be very expensive) and other equipment.

Then you will definitely ask yourself...WHY DO I HAD TO SPENT MORE MONEY TO THIS SHIT!!!

Hehe, so now, I guess now you know why most of the professionals end their freelanced career to "Wedding Photography". Yup, they need to EARN MONEY, for their so-called baby and also for their own to.

WHERE SHOULD I START?

To get wedding photo shoot with your "low experience with basic kits and lack of confident and influent" is almost IMPOSSIBLE.
So the idea is first you need to get some people to know you as a good photographer

Start with BIRTHDAY PARTY!
Yup, this is very good for a start.But be careful, this kind of party usually done in indoor. Indoor means low sunlight, and it give you very slow shutter speed where you need to increase ISO level..And basically the photographer know what happen if they put ISO level to high.

Basically they pay you below RM100 for this event.

Too hard?

Here the tips:

Try to make the diffuser for your pop up flash (using tissue or paper or white film casing), so that you get better flash shoot (almost unnoticeable).

After that, use LOW ISO to reduce the noise effect.

try to use manual mode!
this part is very tricky where you need to adjust the shutter speed in constant aperture value and ISO with pop up flash turn on. The idea is to adjust the shutter speed to the right speed to get prefect light-entered to the photo.

This is the example of the photo using this method (with pop up flash, shutter about 1/13, ISO 200, f/4.5) the flash shoot almost unnoticeable

Now you get an BIRTHDAY PHOTO SHOOT. Next thing you need to create your portfolio.

Try to edit the photos nicely with Photoshop (don't manipulate it 100%, touch up is recommended) and print it as your portfolio! This is for your customer's reference and yours as well.

After the birthday party, try COUPLE/FRIEND GROUP photo shoot.

This event enable you earn up to RM200 below (it also depending on your photo editing's skill) hey, show your port folio!

This also an easy way to gain money, as your friend with their couple need a best photo for their own (pre wedding photo shoot maybe?).

(example of edited outdoor photo)

So in this task, you need to know the best spot in your city and also bring along your extra battery, charger perhaps, and also your lens hood. It is very important to avoid glare to enter the lens.

Mostly it will be done outdoor, such as at city, beach, park etc...and give you advantage on lighting..make sure use Low ISO possible.

Shooting outdoor may have problem with shadow. If your shoot the subject pose behind the sun (light source) it gives you shadow (silhouette). So to clear your subject, you need to use your flash even though your are outdoor.

(Silhouette..not really a Silhouette..)

WHAT ELSE I CAN DO AFTER THOSE BDAY PARTY AND OUTDOOR SHOOT?

try Convocation shoot! It pay you about RM 150 to RM 300 (base on your confident, also your print)

Same concept as the previous outdoor photo shoot, just make sure you not spoiled once-in-their-lifetime photo shooting^^

WHAT ELSE?

Now, after you earn your money, you enjoy your shoot, you know your equipment or your baby well...then

you need to buy a better equipment for the rest of photo shooting

Then? In this level, you already in "best photography"..and can now try to shoot wedding event! as you know alot of indoor and outdoor from your previous photo shoot outing^^

Equipment?

Try this

wide angle lense (about 10-20mm lens for short range an wide covered frame)
Flashgun (for nice bounce flash hit and enable you to use low ISO)

and off course, if you have enough money..invest new DSLR BODY..and shoot again, again, and again....the you will deserve "PRO-PHOTOGRAPHER"...with a lot of $$$$$ hehe~

Let start today!

(some of idea came from other professional's tips..credit to him^~^)

Wedding Photo Shoot? Things you need to bring and do

2009-12-25T10:06:00.000-08:00

One of my wedding photo taken in this month, Yup, December also known as "Malihah Wedding Season"..Asia perhaps..

I rarely attend Malay Wedding ceremony for taking photo for my family display. Hey, I never knew that taking photo in event such as wedding ceremony could be very hard. Well it is "major-ly" because you are not the official photographer for the event.

So the first prob is YOU DISTURB THE OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPHERS DO THEIR WORK. Hehe..

Photo that you saw up there, make the photographers mad at me..hehe, funny yet I disturb their work.

Second problem? The flashgun.
Hurm, I wonder where I can get the cheapest flashgun in town near. I use only pop up flash which gives direct hit of light to the subject, make it to bright. On the other hand, the flashgun give bounce light from the flash, to celling then to the subject, give it very nice unnoticeable light source.It also help you a lot in shooting with low ISO.

Then, the memory card.
Wow, now I get it! that is why we need "very expensive memory card even you can buy cheaper one"..we talked about speed transfer. Sometime, the camera give you "busy mode" when it use slow memory card, which is disable you to shoot continuously in order to get possible nice shoot. So I learn my lesson.

Hurm, what else..
Of course the battery..some time you forget to charge your battery for sudden call of photography task such as the wedding event. So, good thing you got spare battery for emergency use. (also if you far away from electric source)

About the equipment, I suggest you to own this thing before the official wedding photographer laugh at you:

Wide angle lens, like 10-20mm with big f stop (this is very expensive one)
Flashgun,such as Speedlite 580ex etc..
Hood! for outdoor~
and if you not an official photographer, which is too far away from the subject, I suggest you own 18-200mm lens...it work both short and long range.

and, again, just ignore the official photographers and say "I'm their relative"..hehehe

goodluck!

The Panning Series

2009-12-24T20:49:00.000-08:00

Panning Photography Series, taken in UK fun fair somewhere near Semariang, Kuching.
This panning work nicely because the machine rotate uniformly, which is easy to focus and aim the movement. I can't do light trail here because I'm not bring my tripod along.

All Facebook Users! Please Take Note That......

2009-12-24T12:04:00.000-08:00

this is one of my blog's post that import to Facebook Note System.

You may wonder why I'm active in this note writing, ahaks! It is from my blog, new blog about photography~

Pay a visit to my blog keyh? Give some comment, of follow or just visit it sometime^~^

you can visit it at

http://theviewofmechanicalseye.blogspot.com/

So I hope you enjoy the photos, updates, or even the blog's design (credit to my bro~)

your friend...friends??
~Mohd Faizall Ali a.k.a Mr. Bon

Too Early for Impact

2009-12-22T07:26:00.000-08:00

To Early for Impact by ~bonzdesign on deviant ART

This photo taken at the same PERMAI spot I went last week. This is very sharp freezing photo. (I guess the shutter around 1/800). For clear view, hit this photo and view it at my deviantART account. Dont forget to "watch" keyh?

PERMAI...The Nature Waves You a Peace Atmosphere

2009-12-21T07:29:00.000-08:00

Last week I went to PERMAI, Santubong Sarawak with my freind, Hidayat. Entry fee? RM 5.00 per person.

This Is the second time I went to PERMAI.

What?Why?Where?

Permai is one of the best picnic/beach spot at Sarawak. Locate at near Well Know "Kampung Budaya", this Permai picnic spot very suitable for those how love beach atmosphere. The wind, the mountain, the scene, it very nice.

Come pay a visit

PERMAI...The Nature Wave you a calling atmosphere

some of my work that I cant post recently

2009-12-15T08:42:00.000-08:00

Enjoy!

Conceptual Art

2009-11-25T03:37:00.000-08:00

I thinking about conceptual art or photography that taken everything as a subject. A bit of editing make it very stylish. I will learn it more.

After Rain

2009-11-22T06:37:00.000-08:00

A snapshot from a motorbike. The sky colored by the twilight nicely!

Macro:: Malaysia Ringgit 20 cent

2009-11-17T03:40:00.000-08:00

one of the deficient of Malaysia's economy...Most than 1/200 of the national money been "throw away" from the market system because we just ignore the cent...

Dark Vine's Macro

2009-10-31T20:12:00.000-07:00

I try to take some conceptual photo but end up to this thing...

Morning Rain Macro

2009-10-28T00:58:00.000-07:00

taken at 7 am after the morning rain.

7 am Macro

2009-10-25T20:10:00.000-07:00

I don't why it gain my interest to take closeup photo.

Gunung Serapi

2009-10-25T19:26:00.000-07:00

The View from my home. The closest view I can get...

Lydia's Place

2009-10-25T03:58:00.000-07:00

Manipulation make thing turn to twilight...Love this photo.

Moring Sun Spread Up Her Walls

2009-10-16T05:38:00.000-07:00

She whispers into my ear

Soft but I can hear

She wakes and stares at me so animatedly

quite laughter in her eyes

Echoes in my mind

Fairy daisies on her door

Rumpled bed, And filtered Cigarettes

The morning sun sprayed on her walls

Naked limbs.

In the shower she sings

I smile and lay in dreams again

And again.

Step On Sand

2009-10-16T05:10:00.000-07:00

12 o'clock step at local beach. What can you feel when you alone at the middle of sea shore? blues...

The Sakura Warrior

2009-10-16T05:03:00.000-07:00

This gear gives me best acoustic solo sound...

Guess Where Am I Standing?

2009-10-03T04:25:00.000-07:00

Very risky snapshot, but I worth for the photo!

The Past Lay Of Emperor's Order

2009-10-03T04:18:00.000-07:00

Look creepy, taken somewhere on my trip to Sematan. Erm, nice color.

Lucky Round

2009-10-03T04:10:00.000-07:00

Take at the same spot. This "Fun Fair" look like too old and lame.

It Fun, But Not Fair

2009-10-03T03:56:00.000-07:00

It use to be best place to scream! But no fun at all...

Light Strike

2009-09-26T10:02:00.000-07:00

I love this photo! The light effect was perfect. Taken at "Wisma Satok" ground floor sale booth, viewed from level 2.

Here Always Spring Season

2009-09-25T05:21:00.000-07:00

The Spring Mall I talking about..

Coffee Bean House

2009-09-25T05:08:00.000-07:00

yup! This one inside Sarawak Plaza..I like the vanilla flavor..Very sweet^~^

Those 3

2009-09-25T05:03:00.001-07:00

Taken at "Tun Jugah" mall, waiting for dinner at Chicken Hartz opposite the mall~

Red Sign of Pub

2009-09-25T04:54:00.000-07:00

I'm parking car near the pub entrance. This neon tube sign also very attractive, and very efficient for pub business perhaps. Hehehe...P/s:: no money to club~ I pass~

Twilight Art

2009-09-25T02:54:00.000-07:00

Some kind of messy because the tripod not holding the camera tightly. But anyway, this is my favorite photo.

Two Young

2009-09-25T02:49:00.001-07:00

Young model of mine. Both this cute girls were my niece. I take a bunch of shot of these two because they very love it.

Floating Advertisement

2009-09-25T02:39:00.000-07:00

Lovely...I spot this floating advertisement at one of the famous mall at Kuching Sarawak, The Spring..I love the design of the advertisement! Colorful and very noticeable!

My Gear...

2009-09-25T02:18:00.000-07:00

Yup, this one is the first, perhaps the first camera owned by me. Canon 400D with EF Canon 38 - 76mm lens, make me enable to study the way of professional..So much thing to learn, so much thing to do, yet so little time.

I start my journey as photographer now...and I try to be the best of the best..