Introducing the Monster
Finally got my first lens! :-)
This new toy (we shall call it vr-zai), costed me S$1070.
I was contemplating whether to get this or not, as I need to spend quite a huge sum of money this month for my Bali trip. Went ahead to get it in the end with the super-flexible installment plan provided by *Low Bank Berhad*, the.... Montly-pay-as-you-wish installment plan :D
AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II
HDR Imaging: Attempt #1
I decided to use Photomatix Pro (trial version) for my first experiment. HDR stands for High Dynamic Range.
From wikipedia:
HDR imaging is a set of techniques that allow a greater dynamic range of luminances between the lightest and darkest areas of an image than standard digital imaging techniques or photographic methods
Where do I begin?
Before I can use Photomatix to produce a HDR photograph, I would need at least 3 photographs of the same scene. The 3 photographs will vary in their exposure settings. As such, I would need to produce one photograph with the highest exposure (very bright), normal exposure and lowest exposure (very dark). I can do this by setting the Auto-exposure Bracketing function on D-zai to capture +-2EV in 3 continuous shots. One would have to manually do this with a DSLR that does not have the Auto-exposure Bracketing function - set to 0EV, capture first shot; set to +2EV, capture second shot; set to -2EV, capture the last shot; and finally depend on the software to align the images.
The preparation:
Sample output (stamped with 'Photomatix' as I am using the trial version):
Not quite satisfied with both these resulting images. I'll need to fiddle with this more!
Oh, and while doing photo editing, I constantly find it a little difficult performing the task on a 15.4" monitor haha. I need a bigger, bigger screen :D
Obsessed with capturing Raw images
During the recent StanChart Marathon, I turned on the RAW + JPEG image capture setting on my D-zai. This was my first time capturing in RAW and actually started looking at post-processing them.
I could instantly see how flexible post-processing was with RAW files. I only chose to process selected images as it is quite time consuming - from editing to converting the RAW files to JPEG. By turning this setting on, my 8GB card can only store approximately 350 RAW + FINE JPEG images as opposed to 1000 FINE JPEG images.
Left: original image, right: post-processed image
Top: original image, bottom: post-processed image
I used to despise photographs post-processing. I used to think.. why can't photographers capture images with the same quality as after post-processing. I have come to understand myself that this is an alternative, to let you be more creative with your images. However, this cannot be done without the ability to capture at the right angle. I need to improve my composition skill in order to obtain more options during post-processing.
I guess I would want to capture images in RAW format during important events, during when I would not want to miss the opportunity to transform great captures to excellent photographs.
I am going to experiment on HDR photography next! However, it will be pretty limited because HDR imaging software doesn't come as freeware :(
Go! Go! Go!
I've finally got a faster, faster PC today! Yeah! It's time to work effectively and start showing some of my prowess! Haha, just kidding.
On the other hand, this is what I've got from a photography forum:
If one is on a budget one needs patience and needs to be happy with whatever gear one already owns. You can make excellent pictures with it (you already showed us some examples!)
加油!
Museum #1: SAM
There are altogether more than 50 museums in Singapore and I have visited only two thus far. The first museum that I visited was Images of Singapore in Sentosa Island with mom back in May this year. Now, one more museum will be crossed out from the list and it's the Singapore Art Museum located in City Hall. We were happily looking forward to pay the $8 guided-tour entrance fee but was more delighted to find that it was free for that day as there was maintenance work in one or two showrooms.
Check out this brochure I found at the ticketing counter in SAM. It lists the 52 public artworks in Singapore. I have a new goal now, which is to capture all the 52 artworks scattered around Singapore! Hehe.. I hope there is no complain from the person who must accompany me to do this :D
Snowman, checked!
Living World, checked! 2/52..
Into the museum.. we found pieces that we didn't understand at one glance, paintings that we won't ever understand no matter how long we stood there, sculptures that we didn't know whether to look from front, back, left, right or top and photographs that had a sense of humor in them and ones we could easily understand at one glance. Haha.. it's not a tease, but all the artworks were seriously amazing and some were very creative pieces.
He's trying to mimic the big guy..
Stopped at Coffee Nation for coffee before heading back
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