2009-05-29

Lok Kawi Wildlife Park Animal Pictures...



Cheerss...

Continuing from my previous post on my outing to the wild life park in Lok Kawi recently, here's the highlights of some of the animals that can be found there.


In deep slumber...Too bad all the tigers were sleeping like this one. Kalapik ba...Hahaha


Mama's calling...It's great to be able to get a close up picture as this one with the elephants.


Eagle's pride...Standing outside the eagle's cage, I took this picture while trying to blur the cage in front.


Head and tail... Just cropped it from the original picture to this composition.

The above are just the selected ones from several pictures that I snapped that day as I only had my 18-55mm IS standard kit lens on. Snapped only a few since nothing much I can do if taking pictures from afar. Frankly for this kind of photography, it's best to use a zoom lens. Too bad I already sold my 55-250mm IS zoom lens, so I had to make the best out of it. Got a chance to try my Canon friend's Tamron 55-200mm lens, but it's not as good as my old zoom lens. It's without VC (vibration control) feature, so my pictures were not really sharp with it. Not blaming the lens, I guess I'm simply so used to the IS (image stabilization) feature on all my lenses. One needs to have steady hands to hold the non IS/VC zoom lens due to its weight while in action. But still the outing was great. Sharing ideas and tips from friends were the best part of it.

I guess my other Nikon friends were enjoying their time more there with their zoom lenses, especially my friend who just bought his Nikon D5000. The outing was his idea to get us together to try out his brand new DLSR camera. The next week, he bought himself a new zoom lens. Once you are in, photography really can be addictive and that can only means more money starts pouring out...Hahaha. Matai la gila sudah ni dia bilang...Hahaha.

I'm also is getting excited all over again and looking forward to buying new gears soon for our next outing...or perhaps an upgrade?...mmm

2009-05-28

The Journey So Far...



Buying the 1000D has been a good learning experience for me. Going from just plain point and shoot camera to DSLR camera has really opened up a new world to me. DSLR realm is really about unlimited possibilities with only the sky as the limit..Hahaha. Well, literally speaking, I can reach the moon through the zoom lens, so I think it still limitless when it comes to photography. If anything, it’s all depend on your creativity and imagination on using the tools at hand. As the saying goes, it’s the man behind the camera that matters.

Speaking about the man, I’m still learning the curves with my entry level DSLR camera. It’s a mixture of satisfaction and frustration throughout the learning process and I still have a long way to go. Brought it along for several outings and the pictures have been mixture of sharp and blurry images here and there. I think it’s acceptable for any newbie, as it’s all about trial and error whenever handling one of these toys. By that time, I already bought the 55-250mm IS and 50mm f/1.8 II lens to add to my collection. The prime lens is sharp and I have no problem with it. The zoom lens is just an extension to my 18-55mm IS standard kit lens so the built and picture quality is more or less the same.

Earlier on, the basic manual book does come in handy as a starter to learn about the camera functions and settings. On paper, everything looks simple and easy with all the dedicated buttons and settings for whatever you wanted it to do. Reading magazines and surfing through the many photography community and forums online have given me more knowledge and confidence on what my beginner’s DSLR camera can do. Yet it felt so miserably agonizing at most of the times when getting some poor quality pictures when you expected otherwise with all the settings correctly done. Not satisfied with it, I was in dilemma as whether to keep it or moved on to a higher spec and different brand, the Nikon D90. At one time, convinced that it wasn’t good enough, I posted it for sale online.

Well, I actually got a buyer, but the deal turned sour when he backed off the last minute. The reason being he claimed due to the sudden drop in camera and lens prices, he could get a better camera and lens package with the same price that we agreed upon before. Just not meant to be I think. As bad as it sound, the guy did come back for the bargain again but only after I already sold my Canon 55-250mm IS to a lucky lady. Lucky her, pity him because my offer was really good for the entire three lens combo (after more discount la).

After that, someone did offer to buy the body only but the price was too low so I decided to keep it though I was thinking to buy the 40D body as an alternative after the sale. It’s an old model yet it’s a semi-pro model, better than the 1000D (on spec wise). But nothing materialized also and everything went slow motion for me with my photography quest until my other closest friends started getting interested in photography also. They are into Nikon D90 and D5000. It’s a great feeling having your closest friends also sharing the same interest as you and the recent outing has rekindled my old flame for photography. I’m getting excited again and I’m planning to endure this journey this time with a clearer mindset.

I know what I was lacking in the past and what I’ve been missing all this time fooling around about the small petty stuffs. Photography should be fun and unrestricted. It doesn’t really matter what brand or model that you have in taking the pictures, it’s what you are doing with your camera to get the desired pictures that counts. Again, it’s the man behind that matters. So, stop complaining, go out and start shooting la!...Hahaha.

I guess I’ll be keeping the 1000D for a while until I feel restricted by its limitations and move on to higher level once my need is there. One thing that I learned also is that buying an expensive camera body doesn’t always guarantee sharp pictures. It’s the lens that matters the most. An expensive Canon L lens on my 1000D body would be something interesting to behold with.. That would be the ultimate setting for it..For now, I guess I have to buy myself a new 55-250mm IS again … Matai start gila balik suda ni…Hahaha.

2009-05-24

Lok Kawi Wildlife Park Outing






Cheerss...

Just a quick update...

Today I went to the Lok Kawi Wildlife Park for photography outing with my friends. First time being to the place actually (for me only la I think) and I almost lost on my way there if not thanks to the big 'guiding' signboards along the road.

In short, we had great fun taking pictures of the animals inside the park under the hot sun for almost half of the day !..Hahaha. But it was worth it.

Will update on the animals pictures on the next post. Till then...

2009-05-23

Vulcan...



Cheerss...



Though I don't own one yet, like most boys out there, I like big bikes especially the cruiser type. It's not that I'm a speed junkie but I just like the idea of cruising on a big bike while going through the winding road of KK-Ranau on my way back to kampung during the weekdays. On a perfect sunny day, with just me and my ride, added some more with the wind blowing as I cruises along the road, the feeling then would have been really great.... Hahaha. Angan-angan la dulu ni. But, yes one of these days, once everything settle down, I would surely buy one and among my favourites is vulcan... Vrooommm...See ya!

2009-05-21

Contagious Hobby...



Cheerss...

Its funny but I think that photography can be contagious also macam tu virus..hehe. It seems everyone of my friends is eager to jump into the DSLR realm. About 2 months ago a friend of mine bought his D90 and just 1 week ago another friend just bought the Nikon 5000D...and here i am still with my beginner's 1000D..huhu. More news, in a couple of months, another friend is also expected to join in the club...Hahaha. Gila!!...

Well, I got attracted to photography in the first place due to my interest in blogging as well as I needed a new fresh hobby to escape from my hectic working life..or was it because i saw my friend owning one earlier before also?... Hahaha. Macam sia pun kena jangkitan juga ni mangkali...Hahaha.

2009-05-15

Sleepy Head...






Just to sum up this whole week, I've been a lazy sleepy head with 'I don't know what blissful dreams' at night...Hahaha.

Not because of booze, but because of my big appetite lately. I don't know why but I've been eating quite a lot during dinner time since a few weeks ago and it's affecting my productivity at night.

In my line of work, I usually have to continue doing my design work at home during night time. But ever since I'm always over full almost every night, I cannot help myself from falling into deep slumber on the sofa even with the TV in front of me...causing me to miss watching CSI and my other favourite TV series the whole week...Hahaha. Worse, It seems some of my planned works also have to be dragged to next week since I couldn't commit to them in time.. :(

Anyway, I know it's bad for my working routine but I could not help myself to at least continue this blissful feeling only for this weekend with my few cans of beers ( 1 crate actually) waiting for me in my room since Wednesday... Aramai Tiee..Hahaha

2009-05-01

Doing my part ...

Cheerss..

This post is long overdue but anyway here goes,...I was on a short trip back to Ranau last Saturday actually. It’ s not the end of month yet but I just couldn't postpone it till early next month, since its regarding a meeting with the church committee members about this new church building that they wanted to build. It’s not the 1st time I’ve done similar jobs before, only this time it’s a bit special since its for the community in which we lived in.

The weather was good, all bright and shiny when I started my journey back to Ranau from Tamparuli around 8.00am after having my breakfast. I had my usual mee sup sasau at my favorite Chinese shop there...Sadap Orr... Hahaha. On my way up, I stopped for a while to take some shots of a nearby church building just after the big roundabout. It's rather a small building as compared to others I've seen, compact but beautifully designed. It has nice proportion to its overall design with interesting small detailing that makes it pleasing to the eyes. If I’m not mistaken it was designed by one of my ex bosses when I first started working at Chan & Shahriman Architect firm years ago. Sadly, he passed away a few years back due to brain tumor I think. Anyway, it’s just about the same size as the one I’m working on so it will be a good reference to me.


my inspiration

Made another stop along the way, just to enjoy the good scenery under the good weather and with camera at hands I just took some shots of whatever I found interesting while I was at halfway of this massive retaining wall. Panat & bergagar jugala kaki sia naik tu tangga naik atas or... Hahaha. I found out that I'm gayat juga rupanya whenever it comes to high places. I had very unforgettable experience about this place as when the 1st landslide happened, me and my friend had to sleep in my car the whole night there. We were supposed to be back in Ranau to attend a friend's birthday party but ended up stucked with the rest of other cars around us. We couldn't even drive back to KK, so we had no choice but to endure the cold night with only my towel as my blanket... Hahaha. Besok pagi terus balik KK. So, when the 2nd landslide happened again, I just returned back to KK. Jarah suda ba pasal tunggu-tunggu ni.... Hahaha.


notice all the pointing pipes.. macam tu fortress pula with guns blazing...Hehehe


The staircase to the heaven ka ni?... Hehehe


Being at this position.. Feels like I believe I can fly...Hehehe

I arrived in Ranau around 10.30am and waited at my friend’s cyber station before joining in the committee meeting after the church service has ended. It was a brief meeting just to update the latest status on the proposal and land as well as some design amendment to my draft proposal. Looks like it’s a green light to proceed with the actual final design and I’m expected to come out with the final design soon for proper council submission and approval. Maybe, I’ll be posting the final design here once it’s done…:)

We spent some time looking around the actual site before heading back to the town for lunch together and finally returning home. Before going back to KK, I spent some time at home looking into another small project. Recently all the drainage system within our housing area are being upgraded to concrete drain. So taking this opportunity we asked the contractor to shift our access road to a new location, in order for me and my father to implement our plan to do some extension to the existing car porch as well as building a proper fence around the house. By doing so, it will help to keep people from taking 'short cuts' through our compounds and allowing more cars to be parked properly inside under the shed. Hope this one goes well too...

P/S : Inda la buntut my vi sia asyik terkeluar ja dari car porch every time sia balik Ranau…Hahaha.