Saturday, September 17, 2011

DSLR For Beginners

1. Number one DSLR photography tip for beginners - Don't throw your camera manual away.
It will become your new best friend. Read it as often as possible, especially in the first couple of months after purchasing your DSLR camera. Always store it somewhere handy. For example in your camera bag.

2. Buy a UV filter for each lens you own. It's easier to replace a scratched lens filter than it is to replace your actual lens.


3. Learn to use all your SLR camera settings. Even those you don't think you'd ever use. Practise changing settings like ISO, aperture and shutter speed, so you know them like the back of your hand. A moving animal won't sit and pose until you work out your settings.

4. In addition to UV filters, other important pieces of equipment should include a sturdy tripod and a remote release. They both come in handy for taking photographs that require long shutter speeds. For example night photography or slow motion water.

5. You can never have enough SLR / DSLR photography magazines and books to learn from. The best ones will explain what camera settings were used, along with each photograph displayed.

6. Don't touch or blow on the mirror inside your camera body when you have the lens off. If you damage the sensor, you may as well buy another camera body, because that's how much it will cost to fix. If you notice spots appearing in your photos, buy a cleaning kit or dust blower from your local camera store. Many now have an inhouse cleaning service which is always a good alternative.




7. Don't change your lens outside if it's windy. Put the main lens on your camera before you leave the house. If you need to change the lens outside, face the camera body downwards. Dust can't fall upward onto the camera's sensor.

8. If at first you find your getting a lot of blurred photo's, change to a fast shutter speed. The faster the photograph is taken, the less chance there is of it being effected by camera shake. Holding the camera closer to your body or resting it on a nearby object is also a good tip. If you're taking nature shots, steady yourself by leaning against a tree.

9. When you buy a digital camera bag, think about the future. Many photographers on average own at least 3 lenses. Personally I own 2 camera bags. One holds a camera with a single lens. This is useful for times when I know I'll only be needing one lens. For example, if I'm going out to photograph landscapes I don't need to lug myself down with all 3 lenses. Or if I'm going out to photograph macro's, then I don't need to also carry my landscape lens. My second bag carries my camera and all three lenses. This one is useful for travelling purposes.

10. Learn what RAW file format is. Setting your digital camera to shoot in RAW is particularly useful for beginners to SLR photography. If you have your camera's white balance or picture style set wrong when you take a photograph, you can change this later on with a RAW editor on your computer. There will also be many times when you only get one chance to take the photograph. For example, a bird won't fly past time and time again until you have the cameras white balance set correctly for that specific scene.

11. The best way to learn what your SLR camera can do, is through experimentation. If your taking a photograph of running water, try both fast and slow shutter speeds to see for yourself what the difference is. Or if your photographing a beautiful landscape, try different aperture settings. You'll be surprised at how many photo's you can get from shooting the same scenery with different settings.

12. Always press the shutter button half way down to prefocus before going all the way and taking the photograph. This is one of the most useful DSLR photography tips I share with all beginners like me, as it will usually result in clearer photo's every time. It is also especially useful when you can anticipate where a subject is going to be positioned before it gets there. You can prefocus on that spot by pressing and holding the shutter button half way, then as it comes into view, press the rest of the way down.

Sunday, July 17, 2011

My Bakery Shop 'D Bread Station (Segamat)'

           When I think it over and over again, I could not believe it. I've opened a shop..a bakery shop. So many effort I put in it. Far beyond that, I travel every week from Sabah to Johore just to make sure that everything is going smoothly and as I planned. Of course I have my sister who I can trust to manage this shop. Without her help, my bakery shop would be nothing. People around Segamat already know D Bread Station and they keep coming. This will be my future financial, my ups and downs....everything I have risked...here in my bakery shop 'D Bread Station'.


          Please view and 'eat' my mouth filling bread photos.....

Apple Bun

                                Cheese Bun









 Cheese Stick Pastry

 Coffee Bun








Garlic Bun





                            Nacho Chicken Sausage





 Raisin Bun

My shop address is:
No. 21 Ground Floor Jalan Genuang Perdana
Taman Genuang Perdana
85000 Segamat 
Johor
Hadi: 0172364318
Ain: 0177806918

Or you can visit my Facebook page at:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/D-Bread-Station-Segamat/197912286919499#!/

P/S: Please 'like' my page.... =)

New Firmware For Canon EOS 7D and DPP update

          DSLRs are always evolving, but rest assured that your investment in Canon is always kept up to date with the latest updates and fixes. Bugs and fixes constantly occur due to the millions of possibilities when it comes to memory cards, lenses, operating conditions etc. Lately, Canon has posted a firmware update for its EOS 7D digital SLR. Firmware v1.2.5 fixes bugs relating to stilts and video recording with specific CF cards and images stabilization with specific lenses in custom setting mode. The latest version also improves read/write speeds when using UDMA 7 compatible CF cards.
          Canon has also released an updated version of its Digital Photo Professional raw conversion software. Version 3.10.1 extends support to the EOS 600D and EOS 1000D DSLRs. The update also fixes a number of bugs and offers lens abberation correction support to additional Canon lenses.
          The firmware and DPP revision are available for immediate download from Canon's website at:



Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Nature Photography

            Hi guys. We meet again in this blog. It's been awhile that I didn't post any article lately. As we know, February already passed and here comes March. What I always think in my mind is how am I going to change my hobby into a profession. Meaning that, I want to earn some money from my photos. Hmmm...I don't think that I'm qualified to be a photographer because all my photos are not on a level which is same with the professional. Maybe I should polish my skills more and more. Actually, it is not the camera that makes the pictures valuable but the photographer who makes his pictures to be something different and great. So, this time I put 'Nature Photography' as my task. Perhaps some of you can comment on my photos.

Nature Photography

I was in the Kinabalu Park when I shot these photos. I like the colors of each flower because it portrays freedom. The composition is the key to beautify them.

Canon EOS 1000D with Canon 18-55mm at 35mm; ISO-400; 1/200sec at f/5.6
Canon EOS 1000D with Canon 18-55mm at 39mm; ISO-200; 1/13sec at f/7.1
Canon EOS 1000D with Canon 18-55mm at 41mm; ISO-100; 1/100sec at f/5
Canon EOS 1000D with Canon 18-55mm at 55mm; ISO-400; 1/200sec at f/5.6

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Let's Donate for them

 
     
             Whenever I watched these videos, my eyes pouring like water. I feel so sad that this happened to them. For about 2000 people died and the remaining still missing.What should we do friends?I think that we should donate them. I've already collected $10 in my Paypal account, from my friends who were agreed with my idea of collecting until $1000 and give the money to the NGOs.So that, they will channel the money to the right people.If you are willing to donate, just go to my Paypal account abdulricks85@yahoo.com. If you don't want to donate, just click the ads in my blog.Each click will go to my google adsense account. At least, we are contributing something to them who needed our help.


***I will give the donated money from my Paypal account to MERCY Malaysia who is actively helping the Japanese victims there.



Monday, March 14, 2011

How to photomerge your images?

            Have you ever try photomerge in Adobe Photoshop CS5? I find it interesting if you want to combine your photos.Here is how I do it.
1. Open Adobe Photoshop CS5 and open the photos that you want to merge.For an example:
2. Then,go to Automate> Photomerge...
3. Click on 'Add Open Files'. Other than that, just let 'Auto' and tick on 'Blend Image Together'.
4. Wait and Photomerge is completed.
5. Crop your photo by selecting image> crop
6. Here is the result.
*****Important: all the focal length for each photos must be same by using continuous shoot. 
So,why wait?You will have incredible photos after merging it.Just try it.Have fun. =)
These are some photos that I have photomerged.

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

As I was walking....


This image was taken when I was in Port Dickson. I like this picture as it showed that we are getting older as the tree and the old man in the image.
Canon EOS 1000D with Tamron 70-300mm at 300mm; ISO-200; 1/250sec at f/8


This image was tempting when I shot it. I've done this as my training. My task was to take some pictures after 10 minutes walking from home. These are the images I have captured.
Canon EOS 1000D with Tamron 70-300mm at 300mm; ISO-400; 1/200sec at f/5.6
 
Canon EOS 1000D with Tamron 70-300mm at 200mm; ISO-400; 1/250sec at f/4.5

As I was walking in the zoo, I found out that these animals were pleasing my eyes. I took out my camera and captured them.


Canon EOS 1000D with Canon 18-55mm at 55mm; ISO-800; 1/20sec at f/7.1


Canon EOS 1000D with Canon 18-55mm at 50mm; ISO-400; 1/25sec at f/5


Canon EOS 1000D with Tamron 70-300mm at 300mm; ISO-400; 1/160sec at f/5.6


 
Canon EOS 1000D with Canon 18-55mm at 46mm; ISO-400; 1/50sec at f/5

Monday, February 28, 2011

What I can see if I put a black background?

This image was shot when I was waiting my flight last week for about 4 hours. Actually, I am attracted with the red colour of the word 'Airasia'. I try to imagine if I put a black background. How is it going to effect on my picture. 
Canon EOS 1000D with Tamron 70-300mm; ISO 400; 1/100sec at f/4.0

Here are another images below. I try to shoot a light trail picture. This was my first attempt after reading Digital Camera Issue 62. I would like to try it on another time by doing words perhaps.



 
Canon EOS 1000D with Canon 18-55mm; ISO 100; 10sec at f/22


Sunday, February 20, 2011

My Baby 'Diana'


At last, after taking all day long looking for a car, I had chosen Isuzu D-max as my new car. 
Actually, it is quite difficult to make a decision as I have to compare this car with Toyota Hilux and Mitsubishi Triton. Anyway, I made a right decision. Why I like Isuzu D-max.? Because of low fuel consumption and service deal.


Other than that, the car feels much  more stable when taking corners.What I don't like about this car is the uncomfortable rear seats.

Maybe I have to accept that, no such things in this world that is all perfect.Right?? Just navigate the pictures and comment on my new baby.By the way, I called her 'DIANA'..so cute...

    Saturday, February 5, 2011

    Saturday's Outing at Sandakan

     I'm trying to do the HDR effect....but, just OK I think..
     My Buddy,Soddiq..
     I've taken this view from Trig Hill at Sandakan tower..
     Aizat...he looks so funny...
    I really like this picture..

    Unforgettable Birthday Party

     We drove along the way to KFC at Ranau

     The cake was sponsored by someone...ehem..ehem..
    Birthday Girl!!! She looks lovely..haha..
     The cake...very tempting..



    Thanks to a person ***** who had sponsored us this party....