Lifeless

I don’t know why but I like this photo. It’s a cut down tree and probably dead too. This junk is pilled up in a remaining shell of a tree or I don’t even know what to call it. But this lifelessness has its own beauty.

Camera Set to Manual (Flash off)
Lens: 70-300mm
Exposure: Manual
Focal Length: 300mm
Aperture: f/5.6
Shutter Speed: 1/1000
ISO: 200

Photoshop used for:
Levels correction
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Watermark

Twin Towers once again.

I was too tired to post it last night, I slept early. SO let me post it from office. I like this photo; only this one tree branch from the right side is not good, but can’t help it.

I will update the camera settings for the photo later today as I don’t have any software here to read the EXIF data. Till then, enjoy the photo.

Update:

Camera Set to Auto (Flash off)
Lens: 70-300mm
Exposure: Auto
Focal Length: 300mm
Aperture: f/7.1
Shutter Speed: 1/800
ISO: 200

Photoshop used for:
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Personal Note – Class 23-24.

I have always kept my blog and work separate and it is rare I will discuss the issues or achievements of professional life in this personal blog. But I deeply feel I owe this to Class 23-24 and with this personal (but public) note lest me say “Thank you” because I was touched and reassured not only professionally but on personal level.

I treat all my students with respect, as adults, responsible and sensible who need not to be reminded why they are here, and to strive for knowledge is in their own best interest. I keep (or try to keep) myself flexible and friendly so I can be reached without a hesitation and with ease if they need me. If they need clarifications, explanations, answers or even personal problems if I can be any help of. But… often after exams I have to question myself. Was it my fault?...

…Was I too friendly with them that they took it too leniently? Did they start to think getting marks is their birth right and it’s not something they have to earn by studying and working hard for assignments, projects and exams? If I was strict enough, if I had created that fear in them, would this result be any different? Was my approach flawed?

When marking for the five different classes and subjects I was beginning to question myself and it was then when Class 23-24’s result came to rescue. I was pleased with an average result of a whole class where around 65% students earned 70+ marks.

Thank you for being sincere with yourself and your studies. God bless you all.

Flower # 4.

This was so delicate and soft. Well nothing much to say today.

Camera Set to Auto (Flash off)
Lens: 70-300mm
Exposure: Auto
Focal Length: 300mm
Aperture: f/8
Shutter Speed: 1/1000
ISO: 200

Photoshop used for:
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Flower #3

This little fellow was very difficult to shoot, it was windy and this flower was continuously moving. I took dozen or more shots before I could capture it within the frame. Anyway, hope you all enjoy it. I love the bokeh.


Camera Set to Auto (Flash off)
Lens: 70-300mm
Exposure: Auto
Focal Length: 190mm
Aperture: f/8
Shutter Speed: 1/400
ISO: 200

Photoshop used for:
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Flower season.

These few days I will post some flowers I took around a week ago. So here it is, it’s the same flower different angle, I love the shallow depth of field here.

Camera Set to Auto (Flash off)
Lens: 70-300mm
Exposure: Auto
Focal Length: 300mm
Aperture: f/8
Shutter Speed: 1/320
ISO: 200

Photoshop used for:
Resize
Watermark

Flower

I have number of identical shots of this flower at different exposures, ISO and Shutter Speeds. My friend Sunny likes the ones with faster shutter speed and smaller ISO while I prefer the one’s which are brighter. “But those are over exposed” is what Sunny thinks. So I have stepped down a bit to what I might have posted earlier.


Camera Set to Manual (Flash off)
Lens: 70-300mm
Exposure: Manual
Focal Length: 300mm
Aperture: f/5.6
Shutter Speed: 1/1000
ISO: 200

Photoshop used for:
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Ms. Janice.

Finally she approved. She is Miss Perfectionist and it’s like chewing nuts and bolts if you are to convince her of something. Okay back to the photo, this one has bit of photoshoping (okay a little bit more than just a “bit”). First it was the worst lighting, it’s indoor with fluorescent lights which weren’t adequate for the shot, plus the lighting was behind the face and at top, creating unwanted shadows on face. Then there was this huge mess in the background which I removed. Nevertheless it’s a lovely photo.


Camera Set to Auto (Flash off)
Lens: 18-105mm
Exposure: Auto
Focal Length: 105mm
Aperture: f/5.6
Shutter Speed: 1/30
ISO: 1100

Photoshop used for:
Mess from background removed.
Levels correction and Shadow removing from the face
Touch-up
Resize
Watermark

Fai

One of my student.

This photo was taken around a week ago but as you know my internet is not that good and to keep a steady pace I normally post a photo a day. Plus with some of them it’s a common understanding I will post a photo or two; with others I have to ask first, that may take a time.

Camera Set to Auto (Flash off)
Lens: 18-105mm
Exposure: Auto
Focal Length: 105mm
Aperture: f/5.6
Shutter Speed: 1/30
ISO: 1000


Photoshop used for:
Crop
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Watermark

Titiwangsa Park the second

Another one from Titiwangsa Park. View of Twin Towers, Kuala Lumpur.

Camera Set to Auto (Flash off)
Lens: 18-105mm
Exposure: Auto
Focal Length: 75mm
Aperture: f/6.3
Shutter Speed: 1/160
ISO: 200


Photoshop used for:
Watermark
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Two things I am not pleased about.

1. Few days ago I had a problem with my blog, the permanent links of posts were giving a problem and they were not accessible anymore, they were changed to something else. After doing my investigation I found out my site was basically hacked. I have taken the necessary (but not all) steps to prevent it and hopefully everything is back to normal. If the problem still exists, I will have no choice but to cleanup a lot of things, I do have the backup of posts but I will loose the comments.

To all Wordpress users (self hosted), wordpress is lately under attack and your site might be vulnerable. Make sure to upgrade your wordpress to 2.8.4 as soon as possible.

2. Sooner or later I was expecting someone will interrupt me from taking photographs and that’s exactly what happened on Sunday. In Jusco, Mid Valley I was asked by a manager not to take photographs because its not allowed, fair enough, it’s your property and I am on your property so if you wish I will respect it. But it is always the attitude and the way they approach that pisses me off.

This reminds me of a discussion with Mr. Sunny about the Photographers Rights in Malaysia and where he seemed to be more liberal in favor of photographers I am bit conservative. I tried to search about the subject for Malaysia and I can’t seem to find any authentic information. This blogger here feels more like Sunny and believe the simple rule of thumb is, if you can see it, you can shoot it (provided there are no such matter of national security etc)

But those are all just personal opinions and perceptions, what about an authentic law? The actual rights of photographers? I tried to search but can’t seem to find anything, seems like Malaysia don’t really have any particular law regarding the photographers rights, instead I bumped into more depressing stories about how some photographers were harassed by authorities or even public.

So I am more inclined to accept the UK law but since the evolution of DSLR’s and recent terrorism around the world the law has changed and evolved in recent years. SO will the same law still be applicable here in Malaysia? I guess not, and more importantly, if one is confronted by an authority or any civilian can we argue based on that? Since there is no fine line drawn by the law itself.

I try to respect people and their privacy; I do take candid photos if I know the person. I don’t even specifically shoot a stranger in public place although even law (in other countries) allows you to. It is the act of harassment which is not allowed, and one can not say he or she was harassed just because s/he was photographed.

Anyway, it seems it’s just a start. Lets see, I wont be surprised if someone comes and harasses me.

I think the length of this post is evedent of my frustration about not having a proper guideline.

Titiwangsa

This one was taken in Titiwangsa Park (or however you spell it). While Mr. Sunny was photographing the lake view I took time to photograph him. I have some more photos from the park which are presentable and hopefully I will share them in sequence. Like I have mentioned before its hard to find the distraction free background and even in this photo there was a lot of junk, which with the help of Photoshop I have reduced but have tried to keep it natural.

This photo is not exactly as it came from the camera, I have cleaned some of the junk on the ground using Photoshop and I have adjusted some colors (e.g. more greenish reflection on water). Anyway, so here you go, enjoy.

Camera Set to Auto (Flash off)
Lens: 18-105mm
Exposure: Auto
Focal Length: 67mm
Aperture: f/10.0
Shutter Speed: 1/200
ISO: 200

Photoshop used for:
Cleaning a junk from background
Color correction in water and sky
Watermark
Resize

Another Night View

Another one of a night view, I love the colors and how bright they turn out though it was so dark. Plus I didn’t use a tripod, it’s a hand held photo.

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

Photoshop used for:
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Blog Updated.

Since I reinstalled everything I decided to add some new widgets and plugin’s since some of them were long asked from some of the readers (i.e. Helas has been crying about comment subscriptions) and some I just installed because I felt they might be good addition. Okay so here is a list to get you familiar with them.

1. Comment Subscription, so hopefully now you can subscribe to comments and you will get the email notifications.
2. Threaded Comments, now you can reply directly to a specific comment just under it, like a thread. So you can fight as much as you like
3. Star Ratings for Posts, now you can rate the posts as well, give them stars if you like. And in a way you can let me know I suck with low ratings.
4. Star Ratings for Comments, I have enabled ratings for comments as well, so you can rate not only posts but any comments posted on the blog.
5. My Photography, on the left sidebar you can see a new widget called My Photography, which hopefully will bring some color to this blog. It shows random photos from my flickr stream.
6. Tags and Tag Cloud, I have started to add Tag’s with posts (although this is something I am always skeptical about, because I am always confused about what to add as Tag) but anyway, so on right sidebar you can now see a Tag Cloud, which will display the Tags used and most common tags will be bigger.
7. Blog Rating Statistics, on right sidebar you can also see the statistics, they are basically part from Rating System, so I guess it will start displaying the overall ratings of the blog once you people start rating posts and comments.

Well I guess that was it, I hope I am not missing something out. Do you have any other suggestions?

I am back.

Yes I am back. For those who are wondering when did I left anyway? Well, I was disappeared, vanished from the face of the earth, oops, I meant Internet, just after sehri in morning.

Okay okay let me cut the drama short, actually one of my brother’s domain was having some problems and I was checking it out on our hosting service when I noticed this small linked text which reads “un-park” in front of my blog domain. I thought it says “un-parkED” and was wondering why my domain is un-parked? And how come its un-parked if its working fine? So I just clicked on it to see what it was and voila. Everything gone, I started receiving messages like entries deleted from Japan DNS servers, some European servers etc and finally “Successfully Un-Parked and Deleted” and I was like “WTF”. I ran to another tab of browser and typed in my blog address and nothing. It was gone. I went to File Managers and everything was gone. THIS CANT BE HAPPENING. THERE WAS NOT EVEN A CONFIRMATION EEEEEEEEeeeeee

Luckily, when I logged in I noticed my blog version was outdated and I updated it, and it notified me the database was backed-up just in case. I created a new account, parked it, installed the wordpress again and tried to export the database back to new blog, I started to receive some errors because my backed-up database was older version but finally I managed and my blog is back to life.

Phew….

Moral of story, don’t rely on systems, make regular backups of your files and posts.

Flower pot???

This little thing belongs to… I don’t know who, maybe Alyani. It’s a small flower pot or vase kinda thing; I don’t really know what it is used for. Anyway, so I just took it and start playing with it, tried some shot of it and here is one of them. It’s the window blinds in the background and I was thinking to make it the only light source as well but I cant turn of the lights of office, can I?

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

Photoshop used for:
Crop
Resize.

Sime Darby

I took this photo from my parking; the building called 'Sime Darby' is just next to my work place. I was interested in taking the flag, as it is the largest I have seen so far, but as I was taking my camera out I saw the train and thought of capturing the train as well, so I just clicked, hence you can see the photo is not well framed. But anyway, here it is.

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

Photoshop used for:
De-saturization of background
Resize
Watermark

KL Tower and Twin Towers 2

Okay let me post the photos in the sequence I have them in my computer and not in the priority I would like them to, I am lazy and I know then I will be lost which ones are already posted. Here is another view of KL Tower and Twin Towers in night, from far far away.

Camera Set to Auto (Flash off)
Lens: 18-105mm

Photoshop used for:
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KL Tower and Twin Towers

Now that I have started to look at things from completely different perspective I realized how un-aesthetical every corner of the city is. Everywhere you look is filled with poles, wires, billboards and God knows what. The ground will have dirt, cans, rubber bands etc etc.

Anyway, I did manage to take some presentable photos and since my internet is way too slow I will keep you guys entertained with one or two photos a day for a week or two.

Okay so here you go, a view of KL tower and KLCC in night. I am sorry it’s not crisp, as I wasn’t using tripod.

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

Photoshop used for:
Cropping (Just little bit from the bottom)
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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

Photoshop used for:
Croppong
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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.

Photoshop used for:
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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

Photoshop used for:
Rotate
Crop
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Watermark

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:
Resize
Watermark
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.

Happy Belated Birthday to me

Since it’s already July 26th

Happy Belated Birthday to me.

Normally I don’t celebrate birthdays; but this time I was with my family after a long time so we had a simple dinner after spending an evening together. I always like the food at Rasa Sayang, maybe because of the taste similarity like back home. Here are few photos for you guys.







Mango Lassi, which tastes more like a Mango Shake and hence I like it. (Although it’s not so thick)




Ice Lemon Tea for Dad




Errr I don’t know what it is called, my Brother ordered it




And two Chicken Biryani’s (I know I know, you will call it Nasi Chicken Biryani)




Two sets and Boneless Chicken Tikka




Garlic and Plain Naan’s




Chicken Murtaba (or how do you spell it?)


Oh and the Ice Creams, but when ice cream is on the table you don’t want to waste time in taking photos right?




Special thanks to every one from Pakistan who remembered my birthday and sent wishes via calls, SMS, emails, IM’s.

Thanks to Sunny for a special mention in his blog.

Thanks to all colleagues, students and friends who wished in their blogs, calls, SMS, IM’s.

And of course thanks to my family.

In short, thank you everyone.

Chances

It doesn’t matter if you are the master of the game, there are always good days and bad days, and – there are chances.

Here is the documented proof of what I mean.





The LEGENDARY SunnySideUp lost the game against me, yes I admit its just one game, but who knows such chances may occur in the tournament ;)

PS: Like someone mentioned, main thing is, playing under pressure ;)

Eid

Yesterday one of the student asked me when my Dad was going back to US. And I told her end of this month. She asked again, if he will be coming back for the Eid? And I said No.

I started to think when was the last time we celebrated Eid together just in case if that was her next question, but I couldn’t recall when. Five years?... Ten? …Fifteen maybe?... I don’t remember.

Hurmmmm….

Stereotyping? Racism? Or just Honesty?

I don’t know what to feel, disgusted or at least thankful to his/her honesty.

Here are few lines of message exchanging between me and a person I met on one of the social networking web site. (I don’t want to reveal the gender, race or country of the person, so let me refer to him/her as ABC)


ABC: Hi, Where are you from?

Me: Basically from Pakistan but working in Malaysia. What about you?

ABC: Sorry. I am not interested.

Me: Not interested in what?

ABC: Not interested to know people from Pakistan.

Me. Thanks for your honesty. God bless and have a lovely weekend. Bye