Alyani.

Ms. Yani posing for my camera after me and Mr. Sunny spent 10 minutes convincing her.

Idea conceived by Mr. Sunny, Model Alyani, Cameraman Me.

Notice everything here is natural, no makeup, no touchups, no artificial light, all you see here is natural light from the window.

Camera set to auto (Flash off)
Lens: 18-105mm

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Happy Malaysian Independence Day

I was thinking today will be a good day to test my camera, especially in night and the fireworks; so I asked my brother to lets go see some crackers. He was reluctant because of heavy jam and H1N1 but finally I convinced him. And so we left, and right after got stuck in this huge jam at Jalan Bangsar because of road block. Long story short, although I had my tripod with me to test many different settings of camera when the firework starts, but we reached at Dataran Merdeka just a minute ago, so I decide not to set up a tripod.

I was ready with my camera and well, my watch ticked 12 AM, still nothing, 12:01… nothing. 12:02… nothing. Bikes started to make noise, people started to move but no fireworks. Seriously, nothing. What a waste, I was so disappointed. Though I did take some random photos of buildings near by and Lord I was happy, I mean without tripod, without any manual settings for shutter speed or aperture the pictures came as bright as day. I am sure if I used tripod and played around with different settings I can get awesome stuff. But I hated the fact that there is no proper skyline, no proper view of anything, the city is so congested with poles, wires, trees, buildings, billboards and God knows what.

Anyway, no firework photo for you, you can enjoy this little flag glued on our window. Happy Merdeka – Happy Independence Day to all Malaysians.

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Another attempt

My brother noticed this "thing" in our terrace and I ran to grab my camera. It's creepy; it moves its head to look at me and what the heck am I trying to do. I tried to get the focus using AutoFocus but I couldn't get it because it was too dark in there. Even with Manual it was almost impossible to focus it because I simply couldn't see anything on LiveView. After many random attempts this is the best I could come-up with.

Notice the photo has been rotated because it was actually on top of the sliding door and it was difficult to hold the camera that up, the interesting part is you can actually see the reflection of flash in its eyes.

Focus: Manual
Flash: On
Lens: 18-105mm

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Keys.

My second day with Nikon D90, I am still exploring and I am completely lost when I go manual, but I am experimenting. Here is one of the photos I shot in office today, I call it – keys. Be like a key, open the opportunities, open the concealed hearts and spread freedom and love. That's the message.

I would have preferred a background with consistency, either a shelf or the wall; I don't really like the Umbrella there but Ah well, it wasn't a planned shot, I was just playing around with my camera when my eye caught the frame.

Camera set to Auto (Flash Off)
Lens: 18-105mm
Focus: Auto

Photoshop used for:
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Slight correction in levels

Proud Owner of Nikon D90

As of today onwards, I am a proud owner of Nikon D90. Yes Nikon – The NIKON!!!

I used the word owner, not a photographer. There is so much to learn, even just the functions, I am overwhelmed, I am lost. Sigh.

While the battery is being charged and I figure it out how to use it here are few photos for you.

I am Sam

It's amazing how some movies can touch your heart no matter how many times you watch them. I have cried before, and I cried again when I was just flipping the TV channels and watched the last 40 min of movie called "I am Sam".

Sean Penn was nominated for a best actor in Oscars for this movie, and yeah, it was definitely career defining performance. He played the role of an Autistic (Mentally Challenge) father who fights to regain the custody of his 7 year old daughter with the help of his lawyer played by Michelle Pfeiffer.

Perhaps having an Autistic child in the family makes it more emotional – expressive – for me, and maybe the reason why I can relate to it so deeply.

Image from http://www.bsospirit.com"

Itty-Bitty Updates

I know, there haven’t been any updates on this blog, not because there aren’t any, but I haven’t been in my writing “Mode” (which as a matter of-fact – I rarely am these days). Anyway, so here you go (updates in no particular order)

• Bowling Tournament – As expected I didn’t win anything, nor was trying to. The objective was to have some fun and I had loads of it. Thanks to everyone, specially Mr. M for organizing, Ms. A for being a team mate (and not complaining about it) and of-course, all the participants. Just a day or two before the tournament I felt there weren’t many trophies so I made a little contribution to increase the number of trophies, but when the prizes were announced I felt there weren’t many people around to receive them. Bhaaaaa. Anyway.

• Dad went back to US. I am not sure when he will visit back, but on average it might be between 6 months to 2 years. There were many things which were left over, but there is always a next time.

• Marking of God knows how many classes is done, and I submitted the results. I wasn’t really happy with the results though. I already have a new pile of assignments to mark and soon there will be more exams. Sigh.

• I still haven’t watched Harry Potter, Angels and Demons and so many others.

• I finished X-Files, the complete Nine Seasons after finishing Star Trek: The Next Generation (Seven Seasons) and am looking forward for something new.

• I have started to drive here in Kuala Lumpur and I haven’t yet decided which one is better, driving or taking public transport.

• There is so much more, deep inside, some of which I don’t even know – if I know, what it is. Other, I do, but I wont be saying it anyway. The void, emptiness, meaninglessness; the misfit feelings, my concerns about the people I care and love, the wrong doings, the fate, and the things I should be doing and the long list continues.

• Oh and thank you, you know who you are.