Flash compensation

I am so dumb, now only I know that I can plus or minus the flash "strength" with this flash compensation on my D90. This is the price to pay to not reading the manual. This morning, I happened to flip the manual and saw this feature. Thus after reaching home from office, I took out my D90 and try it out.

The below 3 photos are taken at almost the same position with the same lighting. The settings at f/5.6, 1/15 shutter speed, ISO-2500, Exposure +0.7 with focal length 55mm

Fig: With flash compensation -3.0

Fig: With normal flash: Flash compensation 0.0

Fig: With flash compensation set to +1.0

Conclusion, I think next time I think if I wanna take photos that are dark a bit and I want a bit of flash, I can use this feature. I still thinking whether wanna get myself a flash or not. But I think I shall wait a while. Kinda pokkai already after purchasing this. Moreover CNY is around the corner. ^_^

Photography - Night Shot

UV filter is used mainly by photography as a form of protection for the lens. IMHO, a lot of photographers also know that if the UV filter that you use is not of high quality, the chances that you may get the 'flare factor' is high. I faced that problem in my first ever try of doing night shots. Though my shots are not great, this is just for all information. See the below images that have the so called 'flare factor'. The flare factor is marked with the bluish oval shape.

Fig: Though this photo is about the same as above, I did not what I have changed for the settings that had made the flare factor even more serious.

Fig: My first sharp sharp photo is marred by the flare factor... so $%@$

From what I read, the flare factor will happen if you zoom in at certain length with certain f stop. Below is another night shot that is not zoomed in at all, but does not present any 'flare factor'.

And now the below are the images that I re-take after I took off the UV filter off. I think I need to invest and buy a better UV filter. :)

Fig: Without UV filter but lower ISO

Fig: With higher ISO than the above photo. Which photo you like?

Fig: Or do you like this photo taken with lower ISO?

Fig: With higher ISO, do you like this photo?

All the night shots are very yellowish in my opinion. Should I called it yellowish or there is another term? ^ ^ Actually the real scene is not that "yellowish". I should say, there is a bit element of green color. The green color like missing from the photos. I still dunno how to take proper night shots. It means I have still more to learn. :)

Well, after so many months of hiatus that I have finally updated my blog, I guess now I have more motivation to update more frequently. I shall post all photos shall I have nice nice photos that I would like to share with others.

If any experts have advise to a noob like me, feel free to leave your valuable comments. ^_^

Photography - Close up shots

Below are some of my selected close up shots which I think still can be seen (见的人) in public. Anyway.... these are not selected, but are the wholesome which I have taken. hahahaha.... all those not nice I have deleted them.

Fig: The above is the only photo taken from 18-105mm lens.

Fig: The rest of the photos except the first one are taken with 18-55mm lens

A lot of my close up photos are not cleared. Blurred when zoom in. Guess my hand is not steady enough to hold the camera. Still need more practise and more understanding on different settings and fundamentals of good photographs.

Next post, I will post the night shots that I have taken. I will also show what is the 'flare factor' that most photographers talk about if the lens is installed with the UV filter (notably those cheap type).

Dinner at Bentendo - Japanese Pasta & Cafe'

Ever since I have purchased my first DSLR, I have always wanted to try to shoot the food photo. All my previous attempts using those normal compact digital camera went awry. All the photos are either not that sharp, or the quality was found wanting.

This time around, I found the chance to shoot it for the first time with a DSLR. A good friend of mine invited me to go for a dinner at Great World City. We did not know what to eat but end up dining at a restaurant called Bentendo. I ain't food expert. But what I can say is the food is okay but not astounding.

My First DSLR - Nikon D90

By now I think most of my friends know that I have purchased myself a brand new DSLR - Nikon D90. Honestly, I have been wanting to buy this camera for a very long time. As always the price tag keep on stopping me from buying it.

My wife has been very supporting to me. She kept on asking me to just buy it. Don't worry on the price tag as we still can afford it. Just treat this as a new hobby of mine. She said it is better for me to start taking interest in photography to be able to take good photos rather than letting me spending lots of time watching videos or playing computer games. Hahahahha.... ^ ^

So finally I purchased it. But fark!!! I bought at a shop near my place and later on I found out I had paid extra $150. If I had known it, I will just go to the other shop at Funan or Sim Lim. Never mind. I will take this as a lesson not to rush again in my purchase. Better check the price at the other shops by calling them.

As everybody knows, the D90 kit comes with a lens AF-S Nikkor 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6G. The lens is as below. However, I went to buy a second hand of another lense AF-S Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G. The photo as the second photo.

Fig 1: AF-S Nikkor 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6G

Fig 2: AF-S Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G

Well... You might see actually the range 18-55 is actually covered by my kit lens. Anyway, after I read a few review, a lot of people saying the 18-55mm lens is actually better than the 18-105mm. Plus this second hand lens was sold to me at $150 which is quite inexpensive in my opinion. Thus I went on to purchased it. Soon afterward, I tested the two lens. The results are quite evident why people likes 18-55mm. I think this can be considered everydays lens. You can use it on daily basis without much problem.

These two photos are taken as close up shot as close as I can. You will notice that the Fig 2 is smaller and not close enough while Fig 1 can be shot closely. Fig 1 is shot with 18-55mm lens while the Fig 2 is shot by 18-105mm lens. Well, at least after seeing this result, I did not regret on splurging on the new lens so fast (2 days after I bought my new camera) on a seemingly same type of lens. I love my second hand 18-55mm lens. I am thinking whether I should sell off my kit lens, 18-105mm lens or not. Hahahahaha~!!!

Disclaimer: If any experts happened to see my post on the two lens and found that actually my observation is not correct; I am more than happy to listen to the advise and clarifications.

Any regrets in life? Written by a palliative care worker

I received this via email from P2P who claimed she is an intuitive and sensitive Aquarian and compelled me to share this online. :)

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Five Regrets of the Dying
By Bronnie Ware, Platinum Quality Author

For many years I worked in palliative care. My patients were those who had gone home to die. Some incredibly special times were shared. I was with them for the last three to twelve weeks of their lives.

People grow a lot when they are faced with their own mortality. I learned never to underestimate someone's capacity for growth. Some changes were phenomenal. Each experienced a variety of emotions, as expected, denial, fear, anger, remorse, more denial and eventually acceptance. Every single patient found their peace before they departed though, every one of them.

When questioned about any regrets they had or anything they would do differently, common themes surfaced again and again. Here are the most common five:

1. I wish I'd had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.
This was the most common regret of all. When people realise that their life is almost over and look back clearly on it, it is easy to see how many dreams have gone unfulfilled. Most people have had not honoured even a half of their dreams and had to die knowing that it was due to choices they had made, or not made.

It is very important to try and honour at least some of your dreams along the way. From the moment that you lose your health, it is too late. Health brings a freedom very few realise, until they no longer have it.

2. I wish I didn't work so hard.
This came from every male patient that I nursed. They missed their children's youth and their partner's companionship. Women also spoke of this regret. But as most were from an older generation, many of the female patients had not been breadwinners. All of the men I nursed deeply regretted spending so much of their lives on the treadmill of a work existence.

By simplifying your lifestyle and making conscious choices along the way, it is possible to not need the income that you think you do. And by creating more space in your life, you become happier and more open to new opportunities, ones more suited to your new lifestyle.

3. I wish I'd had the courage to express my feelings.
Many people suppressed their feelings in order to keep peace with others. As a result, they settled for a mediocre existence and never became who they were truly capable of becoming. Many developed illnesses relating to the bitterness and resentment they carried as a result.

We cannot control the reactions of others. However, although people may initially react when you change the way you are by speaking honestly, in the end it raises the relationship to a whole new and healthier level. Either that or it releases the unhealthy relationship from your life. Either way, you win.

4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.
Often they would not truly realise the full benefits of old friends until their dying weeks and it was not always possible to track them down. Many had become so caught up in their own lives that they had let golden friendships slip by over the years. There were many deep regrets about not giving friendships the time and effort that they deserved. Everyone misses their friends when they are dying.

It is common for anyone in a busy lifestyle to let friendships slip. But when you are faced with your approaching death, the physical details of life fall away. People do want to get their financial affairs in order if possible. But it is not money or status that holds the true importance for them. They want to get things in order more for the benefit of those they love. Usually though, they are too ill and weary to ever manage this task. It is all comes down to love and relationships in the end. That is all that remains in the final weeks, love and relationships.

5. I wish that I had let myself be happier.

This is a surprisingly common one. Many did not realise until the end that happiness is a choice. They had stayed stuck in old patterns and habits. The so-called 'comfort' of familiarity overflowed into their emotions, as well as their physical lives. Fear of change had them pretending to others, and to their selves, that they were content. When deep within, they longed to laugh properly and have silliness in their life again.

When you are on your deathbed, what others think of you is a long way from your mind. How wonderful to be able to let go and smile again, long before you are dying.

Life is a choice. It is YOUR life. Choose consciously, choose wisely, choose honestly. Choose happiness.

My tough daughter, Charmaine.... I love you!!!

An awful accident happened to my daughter. She was "attacked" by our pet (a very big dog). Actually not to say being attacked. I think the dog would like to play with my daughter. Anyway, in the end, my daughter was scratched pretty badly. I think she had undergone stitches up to more than 10 stitches. Can't imagine her crying during that time. My wife was crying when seeing my darling princess being stitched by the plastic surgeon.

My mother in law felt so guilty coz she blamed herself saying probably she did not fasten the front gate properly and thus my daughter who liked to stand near the gate might happen to push the door open. Upon seeing the gate open, I believed the dog came into the house and tried to play with my daughter. But alas.... dog is not as smart as human. The dog would not know that by putting its paw on my daughter would hurt her. :(

So the below was the photo after she underwent all the stitches during the first night.


And the photo below was the forth day when I went back from SG. We brought her for follow up to see whether there was any infection or not after the stitches. Thank God that there wasn't infections and my daughter was fit as a fiddle on second day onwards. You can see she was laughing and playing happily with me as if she was not injured at all. ~.~


I was so proud of her. During those days when I was at home with her, she never cried over the pain. She is very active already. She can climb here and there. Run here and there and full of laughter.

So she is my family sparkle jewel, my tough daughter. ^_^