Merry Christmas & Happy New Year Everyone!!

In Malaysia, we don't have 4 season if one want to feel Christmas mood, one can visit a shopping mall to "feel" it. Althought, all the tree and snow is artificial, I guess it is the best we can get (consider that one no need to struggle with winter). Below are some shot from Gurney Plaza, Penang: -

Santa is too busy : - )

However, he sent Santarina to give me a present. I should have know that Santa lost my wishlist.

She presented me something which is awesome - an iPod Nano. I was thrill to see it in "fresh". No matter how much review I read, I just can't imagine it amazing small size, guess Apple did it again and pick an appropiate name, Nano.

Although iPod is famous as a music player, I will still "qualified" it a photo gear as it have a function to display photo (in its tiny sharp LCD screen). After reading the manual, install the iTunes software(with breeze) while charging the iPod via USB cable.

I found it silly for Apple to sell a gadget with rechargable battery without a proper charger. Although it can be charge via USB cable, I found it silly to leave the computer on just for doing this task. Yes, one can buy the charger which cost RM120 (around USD30), which is categorized as "accessory". Crazy!!!!

Nevertheless, it is a great music player and gadget. No wonder, there is some much hype around it. It work flawlessly, esp the click wheel.

Christmas Wishlist

After acquired my D70s, it's seem like I got "poisoned" by the Darkside forces and start my shopping spree for photograhic gear. As it is close to year end, I decided to check on my progress:

1) Nikon D70s
2) Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G IF ED
3) 512 MB CF Card
4) CPL filter - 67 mm
5) Nikon SB-600
6) Sigma 70-300mm F4-5.6 II APO Macro Super
7) Diffuser for SB-600 (cheap plastic but more expensive than Tupperware)
8) Nikon Remote Control

and not forgeting my old gear consists of:

1) Sakura tripod (unable to support the D70s)
2) Apacer OTG CD-211
3) Konica KD-400 (transfer ownership to wifey)

Hoping Santa might be dropping by(I been good) and listed out my "wishlist"

Gear Justification
1) 40 - 60 G 2.5" HD - for Apacer OTG, my CF card is just barely enough for 1-2 hour session
2) Lowepro Bag Mini Trekker Classic AW (original Nikon bag is too small now)
2) Manfrotto 190 Tripod + Ballhead (current leg and head is shaking)
3) Nikon 50mm 1.8 Always hear good comment on this primer
4) Nikon AF-S 70-200mm VR f2.8 G IF ED - guess that I'm pressing my luck too much on this.

Did I hear "HOO HOO HOO ....."?

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!

A Photographer Perspective in Starwalk 11/12/2005

Starwalk is a 10km walk organize by Star Publication yearly. Do not mislead by the name, there isn't any "Star" or celebrities. There are only few serious athletics and majority of others joing for various type of reason (eg: Fun Sunday walk, lucky draw etc). As for me, one part is exercise for fun and another is rare photograpic opportunity.

This is my second time joining this event but I have "upgraded" my participation to "Men Open" from previous non-competition. It is not that I have been training hard since last edition, only that I wanted to have different experiences. My wife also " upgraded to Women Open". We are joined by 5 friends, the more the better.

The only dislike about the event is that I need to wake up at 05:30 : -( Took breakfast and prepare ourselves (wearing the sponsor T-shirt, mine from Milo and proudly display my competition no 480). Reach PISA around 06:30 and parked the car as slot available, ala Penang style. Everyone went to their respective reporting area, hand-in our reporting card and in turn receiving a yellow color hair band(as proof that one completed the course).

Initially, I plan to bring along D70s, 17-80mm lens and SB600. After some consideration(thinking wisely), decided just take the ever faithful P&S Konica KD-400. Don't think I'm fit enough to carry another 2.5 kg of equipement.

While waiting for the event to start, took a few photo of my wife + friend, also shots fo the crowd around me. Sharp at 07:00, the Cheif Minister fired the shot signalling the start. Those over excited started to run; some started walking slowly, some try to get a handshake from the VIP stand, one still talking on mobile phone. As for me, staring at the camera LCD in disbelief that my shots all failed to capture the starting moments : - ((


Life goes on, start my time and follow the crowd. Found that I'm unable to follow the pace of the pack as more people overtook me than other way round, and hurry myself just slightly.

NOT before long, I found myself overtook by the first women open "walker" (more like superhuman) within 15 mins. She took only 5 mins to catch-up as their category started 10 mins later. Shame shame, this time, I really up my pace as I'm more comfortale walking after some "get use to". Nevertherless, those ladies just keep going ahead of me : - (

It is a beautiful day, we have clear blue sky. Enjoy myself walking in the middle of the road and hunting around for interesting shots. My favorite subject is a father "handicap" by his cute daughter. Everyone try to cheer the little girl to walk but I guess 10 km is too much for her. She did try to walk on her own but when she got tired again, the father is there ready to give her a helping hand.

Around 07:40, the sun shines on us and make everyone feel warmer. Notice some news photographer taking some shots along the way. How envy... saw some pro lens and camera body, almost tempted to stop and have a chat with them.

At the half way mark, there was 2 booth setup by 100 Plus giving out drinks. Everyone took the chance to quench their thirst. However, there isn't a single waste bin for us to throw away the cups properly. As a results, street was little with thousand of cups. Let's hope the organizer is aware of this and put some waste bin along the way in the future. WE WANT WASTE BINS!!!

After refreshment, we received the second hair band (purple). Everyone seems to be revitalized and continue the route with sudden boost of energy. The next stage is my favorite part of the route, along Jalan Dr. Awang. It is mild hilly road with shades from well planted trees. This present a rare photographic opportunity shot of crowd covering the whole wdth of the road at top of the hill.

Take it easy downhill and saw PISA just around the corner. I have this feeling of back to "civilization" again after come out from "forest". Following the crowd and finally come to the finishing line. Opps... there was a long queue and have to line up. Suddenly got a phone call, it was from my wife. We asked each others location. Shocking news!!! She already crossed the finish line and I was there in queue taking photos around me. Guess my plan to take a shot of her crossing the finish line is ruined. In the end, my time was 1:33:48 : - )

Got my certificate of participation and lucky draw number, and met up my wife. After that, wait for another friend before proceed to PISA. There we took our refreshemnt, lots of booths was setup, Milo, Nestle, Sunquick, 100 Plus etc. Everyone just took the quench and exchange stories of their walk.

Later, went inside the stadium. There are performances and prizes giving events going on, however, the main attraction should be the Lucky Draw. Almost doze off while enjoying the air-con.

End 13:20.

Dirty laundry.

Hungry fellow - Macro

Accidentally saw this fellow munching away almost the whole tree. Rush home to take my camera and replace the kit lens with my newly acquires Sigma 70-300mm APO Macro Super II. Very glad that I finally got the opportunity to try out the Macro mode which it is capable of. Grab my tripod and dash back to the scene.

Setup everything and start shooting. Everyone was curious, seem like there was a beautiful supermodel, as the shutter just keep clicking.

However, found out the cheap Sakura tripod wasn't up to the task, the camera and lens are just too heavy. I just unable to setup properly and have to hand hend it most of the time. Final results wasn't as I expected but quite satisfied. Guess I need to bring forward my plan to get the Monfrotto tripod earlier than planned.

Here are 3 of them:

Shutter Count 1

After thinking and holding back for so long, I finally decided to do a blog (better late than never). Why I “press the release shutter”? The main reason is that I recently take a dive into photography, which resulted lots of photos “sitting” inside my PC, wasted.

As I’m not a pro which able to sell my shoots, it is better that I share them with others. Beside that, just might gain more as others can post comments, critics, suggestion etc to improve on my exposure to photography. The title say it all, Image Thru The Lens, this blog will mainly show photo and photography gears. I got the idea for the topic when I was reading Thom’s Hogan – Complete Guide to Nikon D70. It is actually Nikon flash system i-TTL (TTL meant Thru The Lens, however, not sure about the i, maybe Improve? Intelligent?).

Ops, I guess my first entry will not have any photo at all. Don’t know how to upload image yet and it is just a start… don’t worry.

PS: A special thanks to a friend for encourgement on setting up this.