Kinetic Rain

Imagine a water drop shape (estimate 95mm in diameter X 190mm tall), made from aluminum, coated in copper, suspended in a thin wire and vertically controlled by a servo motor to go up and down 7meters. Now imagine having 608 of this arranged in 16 rows X 38 columns and hooked up to a computer for a non-stop precision control movements. What you have is an amazing art piece that depicts motion and patterns called KINETIC RAIN.

The first time I saw it in Changi Airport Terminal 1, I was immediately drawn by its graceful movement, changing from one pattern to the other. It was fascinating to look at, from a smooth single plane it stretches out and breaks into multiple waves.

As a photographer, my mind is already looking for an angle of attack. The way I see it, the subject will be a good practice for two things: (1) focusing on moving target and (2) composition.

It was a good practice for focusing because the water drop shape is constantly moving. My estimate is that it moves between 30mm/sec to 300mm/sec depending on the pattern its forming. And since it occupies about 75 sqr meters, composition is quite challenging. One thing I learned from my previous landscape shots, it is not always a sweeping wide angle shot. Capturing portions or snipets of the landscape is also as effective and powerful. That was my plan, so like most of the subjects I worked on, I try to observed first, looking around and waiting for the patterns that interest me. And once I got the timing, I took a few test shots to dial in the settings and then fired away.

Ok.. enough with the talk. Out of 530 pics that I took 8 passed my standard and I think are worthy enough to share.

ENJOY THE PICS !



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<< Here I Come >>


<< 4 X 3 >>


<< Good Things come in Threes >>


<< First In Line >>


<< Come to Papa >>


<< Drops of Fire >>

Perfect Landing - Curiosity

Just want to shout out to all NASA people who worked on Mission Curiosity. Great work guys and gals!  Perfect Landing! Now can I see those pics... :)

NASA - Curiosity

Something interetsing happening this Sunday from NASA. Good luck guys. I hope Curiosity lands perfectly on Mars.

Here's a video from NASA detailing the landing process. You TECH GUYS will love this.

I LOVE YOU DAD!

Last March 2012, my dad was diagnosed with stage 4 liver cancer. Prior to this he has a very active schedule. Tuesday is his schedule to serve as a lay minister in our nearby parish - Sta.Clara de Montefalco Church. I remember he always tell me that as a lay minister you should always keep your commitments. He often makes joke about how eager lay ministers attend during the first day of 'Simbang Gabi' but slowly dwindles as it progress and again attends back on the last day so that they can say that they have completed the whole nine day mass (hehe). I can picture him wearing this white long sleeve polo with a necklace chain and a cross pendant which symbolizes their group as lay ministers. He is good in logistics and enjoys a good challenge in procuring and outsourcing materials needed for the group (such as medallions, flags, etc.). He is also a member of the Knights of Columbus which is also a group affiliated with the church. I never knew much about their activities.

And every Sunday, he does not miss the opportunity to play tennis with his buddies in a private owned court by the Lopa. Whenever we talked via skype, I always asked him how many games he played last Sunday and who won and what's the score. I can sense if he did not play well when he reply "My purpose really is to have an exercise and to sweat it out". Haha.. at the back of my mind, I tell myself he lost.. We would continue the conversation telling him that he should take it easy when he plays tennis. At age 76, he is still solid at the net and can return your shot with good volley shot. I always tell him not to ran after a ball which might make him loose balance. And I think he got my point as he always reply "those days have long gone where my reflexes are better. I just take sure and steady shots." I can sense that he really like his tennis friends based on the level tone he has during the conversation. Whenever there is an occasion, he never fails to contribute the group's favourite "lumpiang sariwa". And after playing, they go to coffee shop and restaurant were they spend the rest of the day exchanging stories and laughter.

Besides his tennis activity, he tends to our little food store ''carinderia" at home. I remember his schedule starts after lunch around 2pm up to 7pm. This is the time when my mom takes a break and he took over. I know that he gets bored with this task but its a role he had to fill in. Every Saturday after a family morning jogging in CCP, he goes to my house in Cavite. He basically maintains it, keeping it on a tip top shape.

He is an all-around dad and very dependable. His always there ready to help me and my brother including my mom.

On April 20,2012, he was pronounced dead around 7:20pm. It was the saddest day of my life. I lost my dad, my best friend, my mentor in life. I'm gonna miss him. Bye dad, I know you are in a better place now.

I LOVE YOU DAD!

Hey I'm Back !

It's been a while since I last posted a blog. My last post was last year...tsk.tsk.tsk. It's either I'm very busy or very lazy. I think I'm both. Hehe. But that doesn't mean my photography world stopped. In fact, I got a lot new things I want to share with you.

Let me start by saying that I fully dive-in to full frame dslr. I got my Nikon D700 last December and when i held it my first reaction was..hmmm, so this is how a pro camera feels.. IT FELT GREAT!!! especially with the battery grip. It feels very solid in my hands and rubber feels like it latches on my hand. Coming from a D90, it did not took long to get familiar with the controls and menu layouts. As for the exposure, I was surprise how accurate it is compared to D90 which tends to render slightly brighter. I'm a low key shooter, so I like shots that are little bit underexposed. And of course, the noiseless shot on higher ISO setting (6400) on a low light condition...it's just simply superb. I can go on and on...like 8fps, intervalometer, 9shot bracketing... But I'll just stop here.

Next I want to share some of the great photography resources I found through out my course of improving my shots.

'The Digital Photography Book' volume 1,2 and 3 by Scott Kelby.
If you are starting with photography and looking for a companion that will answer most of your question. This is the book for you. It won't bore you with long explanation but instead give it to you straight.
Check it out in Amazon.com

'Captured by the Light' by David Ziser.
This is a must for wedding photographers. The tips and techniques that David illustrates are just phenomenal. Do you wanna learn how to use an on camera flash like it's an off flash.. how about the technique in taking tack sharp group shots...what's the most flattering lighting set-up. This book is worth every cent.
 Check it out in Amazon.com

D'Town TV  http://kelbytv.com/dtowntv
It's a webcast for photography tips which started out for Nikon shooter but now evolved to a generic DSLR shooter. They have tons of tips and currently on their 75th episode. Check it out especially if you're a Nikon shooter.

Mostly Photos http://twit.tv/photo
This is another webcast hosted by Leo Laporte (The TechGuy) and Lisa Bettany. Every week they pull-out a great photographer and share their experiences. The best part I like is when they show the gears that they are using (then i hear whispers on my ears saying.. buy that.. buy that... hehe).

Featured Photographer: Dave Black

This guy is an accomplished photographer. A veteran sports photographer doing work for Sports Illustrated, Time, Newsweek, ESPN and others. I came across with Dave in Scott Kelby's blog and checked out his site http://www.daveblackphotography.com and oh boy... he has a lot of great and interesting shots. I was amazed on the angles and composition of his shot not to mention the crisp detail and vibrant colors. I was inspired by how he used speedlights in shaping the lights of his subjects. Go on and check his blog and you will know what I mean.

And lastly, what's a photo blog without pictures.. Here they are.. ENJOY !.

Sungei Buloh

It was a rainy afternoon when we were in Sungei Buloh. In fact, it was a heavy down pour, we had to wait for a couple of minutes and we passed the time by eating some ice cream and a sip of coffee in a nearby cafeteria. After the rain, off we go to mangrove boardwalk.

I've been practicing on my HDR post editing. Hope you liked the shots. Enjoy!

Some info on Sungei Buloh from Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sungei_Buloh_Wetland_Reserve)

The Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve (Chinese: 双溪布洛湿地保护区) is a nature reserve located in the Northwest area of Singapore. It is the first wetlands reserve to be gazetted in Singapore in the year 2002, and its global importance as a stop-over point for migratory birds was also recognised by the Wetlands International's inclusion of the reserve into the East Asian Australasian Shorebird Site Network. The reserve, with an area of 130 hectares, was listed as an ASEAN Heritage Park in 2003.

Chinese Garden & Jurong Lake Park

Last Friday was a perfect opportunity for a long overdue photoshoot with the Greenskeeters. We visited Jurong Lake Park and the nearby Chinese Garden.

Enjoy the shots!

Fire & Water

It was a boring weekend afternoon. Rain spoiled the fun in taking outdoor pictures. So, I had to improvised and let the creative mind take over.

Water drops and match sticks should do the trick.

Hope you enjoy the shots as much as I had fun taking them.

First Time in Pulau Ubin

Enjoyed the weekend with the Greenskeeters last Sunday in Pulau Ubin.

It's a small island situated in the north east of Singapore. A 15min boat ride from Changi village. According to my Greenskeeter friends this is once a granite quarrying area and is the last old kampong in Singapore.

We walked along the Coastal boardwalk at Chek Jawa and the weather was sunny and breezy. Me and my wide angle lens caught a good shot.

Look out for those shapes

Last Saturday, I was in Ansons Road area and noticed a small park near Tanjong Pagar MRT station. The shapes formed by the side bricks caught my eyes. Enjoy the shots.