Landscape at Interchange

Assalamualaikum w.b.t.

After so looonnnngggg...... today I would like to share some photos that I felt of having impacts in some of us. Whoever travelling along the North-South Expressway would notice various landscape works along the highway. The landscapes are not only for creating beautiful surrounding but also helps in reducing fatigue in drivers who are travelling the route (some says). But sometimes we just take them for granted and do not even notice the trees and shrubs that helps our environment.

However, if we look into some details from different angle, we might see the beauty that was unnoticed before. Thus, I would like to share these photos for our view.....

Thank you.

Rotterdam: Before sunrise

Assalamualaikum w.b.t.

The view after sunset and before sunrise have combination of many elements which are complicated for human eyes as well as cameras. Combination of natural lights of the sky and the neon lights creating special effects to the landscape. With a right blends and techniques, we can create beautiful and stunning effects for photography.   

The following photographs were shot before sunrise during my stay in Rotterdam. The reflection of wet surfaces (after-rain effects) added some dramatic effects to the photographs. 

Photo 3 and 4 showing difference results of exposure. Photo 3 was taken with 1/5 second exposure while Photo 4 was taken with 6 seconds exposure. Notice the starry effects of the street lighting and light trails in Photo 4 as compared to Photo 3. 

Please enjoy the photo...

Exposure 1/5 seconds.

Exposure: 6 seconds

Thank you.

Rotterdam May 2013

Assalamualaikum w.b.t.

I attended Geospatial World Forum which was held at Beurs World Trade Center, Rotterdam, Netherland from 13 - 16 May 2013. Together with a friend who presented his project in the forum, we started our journey with a long flight from KLIA to Heathrow for transit, before flew to The Hague Airport, Rotterdam.

The chill weather registered from 6 - 11 Degree Celsius which is too cold for me who are used to warm weather of the Equator. I was made to understand that it was supposed to be warmer as the summer is just aroud the corner, but only God knows why. The mid-day temperature was a bit higher but still cold for me.

The photo below was taken during noon while me and my friend tried to find Halal Food for our lunch, around the center of Rotterdam city, not far from the Beurs WTC. After going through winter and spring, the trees still have not many leaves which make me wonder. The black silhoutte against the bright sky.

After several efforts finally we found a Kebab Take Away outlet within a walking distance from the hotel where we stay. However, we still miss 'nasi'.

    

Please enjoy the photo, thank you.

Sunset at Yong Peng

Assalamualaikum w.b.t.

I went down south to Yong Peng, Johor for a site visit and meeting with my colleague about 2 weeks ago. There is a site near Yong Peng that I wanted to photograph for a long time especially during the golden hour.  And I saw an opportunity to do so as the golden hour was just around the corner, I waited for a while before proceed to the site.

I reached the bridge crossing Sungai Bekok around 7 p.m. and the sun still smiling above the west horizon. The view was fantastic, the sky was clear with some clouds hovering near the west horizon and the sun sometimes hiding behind the clouds curtain.

Preparing the camera, ISO100 was set with aperture f/9 and exposure compensation -0.7 while the camera set the shutter speed. Metering was set near the sun. The following photos are some of the photographs taken that day....

Please enjoy the photos....       

We can see the light rays penetrating the clouds and some reflection from the heavy vehicle add in  a little bit of drama in the photograph....

View of Sungai Bekok, the clear and calm water reflecting the yellowish evening sky...

As the sun started to touch the horizon, reddish colour appeared.....

This photograph was taken during my way back towards Air Hitam. After a while, when the sun hidden behind the horizon, I noticed reddish glare appeared behind the trees. In a glance, we may think there was fire behind the trees....

Thank you.

Reflection: Tasik Biru

Assalamu'alaikum w.b.t.

 

It was a long time since my last entry as I am a bit busy recently. However, I will try to make a room for updating this blog whenever possible.

 

Today, I would like to share some photos of Tasik Biru or Blue Lake, located at Kundang, Rawang. The following is the excerpt from Wikipedia

 

'Tasik Biru Seri Kundang is a lake located at Seri Kundang, Rawang, Selangor. It is an ex-mining lake that used to be developed long time ago during the British period. During its olden days, the lake was used to be the biggest mining area in Rawang district, and one of the biggest in Selangor as well. It is about 25 km to the north from Kuala Lumpur.

 

After the colonial time, Tasik Biru is set to be a water sports and recreation centre for the local and foreign tourists. The area surrounding the lake, encompassing about 32 hectares (80 acres) would be upgraded with a recreation area and a jogging track around the lake'

 

Wow!! It seems that this Tasik Biru is one of the famous spots in Malaysia! However, now Tasik Biru is being developed and we can see housing estate starts to emerge near the surrounding.

 

The photos below were captured from 17 storey apartment building, standing tall beside the lake. The sky was a bit cloudy but still good for photography. The calm weather and absence of water activities in the lake enable us to see good reflection on the surface of water. Maybe this is how the lake got its name.

 

Anyway, please enjoy the photos.  

 

Beautiful bungalow house beside Tasik Biru..

Calm weather cause good reflection of the sky

Another serene view....

 

 

Thank you.

 

Photo review

Assalamualaikum w.b.t.

 

Today, I would like to share on some photos and the review of them. This review is solely based on my understanding and my own opinion. Others may view them differently and have their own comments.  

 

The following photos of my nephew were taken several weeks ago while he was playing at varandah of the house (I was not able to shoot the other children as they were actively running here and there...).

 

Background 

 

We usually forgot to consider the background while taking photographs especially in having candid shots.

  

This close-up photo was taken such that the subject to fill the frame. The subject was placed at the center, defying the rule of third. The eyes was looking toward outside of the picture making the viewer to wonder what was he looking at?  

 

Aperture f/5.6 was used to get shallow Depth of Field in order for the subject to stand out from the surrounding. However, the flaw was in the background. The square, dark crystal glass on the wall seems 'protruding from his head'. I should have move to the right a bit and 'separating' the cristal glass from his head. :)  

 

Companion

Still with Irfan Naim as the subject, but the frame is zoomed out a bit to have bigger view of the surrounding area. Now, the viewer can see other subject on the scene. Looking at the Rule of Third, both subjects were placed near to the 'points of interest'. It seems that Irfan Naim was pictured with his Lego set at the porch.

 

But still with flaw in the background where the cristal glass seem 'attached' to the main subject. However, the impact might be less. And, there was no interection between the main subject and his Lego Set.  

 

Activities

Timing is important in taking candid photograph. Waited a bit longer and after a while he ignored my existance and continue with his activities.

  

The following photo shows the activities and interection of the subject (Irfan Naim) and his Lego Set. These make the photo seems 'alive'.

Thank you.

"Water Fall"

Assalamualaikum w.b.t.

 

Many of us might have came accrossed photographs of waterfall with a nice smooth water flowing among the boulders. But how to capture the photo with the smooth water flowing effect? Today I would like to share my 2 cents experience on capturing those effects.

 

My visit to Japanese Garden at Bukit Tinggi had given me the opportunity to explore and experiment with photography. Lucky that I brought along my tripod during the visit.

 

The Japanese Garden is a garden with nice views, located about 3000m above sea level with cold weather. I was made to undestand that it was raining nearly everyday. A small stream flows through the garden, in between boulders and hard rocks, creating small waterfalls. Visitors have to walk through the garden to experience the beautiful scenary.

 

We came accross a small bridge crossing the stream with nice waterfall at upstream. Setting my EOS1000D on a tripod, I set the aperture to the smallest (f/22), lowest ISO that my camera have (ISO100), shutter 1/2 sec. and auto white balance. And the result... tadaaa....! :)

 

I wish that I have a Natural Density filter in order for me to get longer shutter exposure. Without the ND filter, shutter exposure time is limited. Longer than that, the image will be over exposed. For the time being, I satisfied with what I have.        

   

 

 

Waterfall view....
 

Thank you.