For the Self Righteous Photographer.

Posted on December 29, 2012 by Editor AL

Anti social

So You Think You are the best photographer around town. You think the whole photography industry revolved around you. Always remember, just when you think you are “there”, high & almighty, likely someone else had already reached there long ago. Being self righteous will not bring you beyond where you are. And to smear your character further, your childish & immature mindset resulted you being a total brat without basic respect for others. To create more ripples, you even incited a boycott for certain photographers, for certain photo studios or for certain groups just because of your pettiness.

Well, people may be swayed by you for that moment, but for your baseless claims, you resulted in many photographers being deprived of a chance to hon their skills further. You changed impressions of others – do not forget, once people finally see the truth, those that you incited will eventually sees who you are really are. The local photography circle/ industry is small, everyone knows everyone – better to watch your back than stab others’ back.

You could be next.

Posted in Photography Quotes, Uncategorized | Tagged | Leave a comment

Photographers Who Comment for the Sake of Commenting

Posted on December 29, 2012 by Editor AL

Dislike

Apart from those Photographers who are out to earn “LIKEs” on FB instead of money, there are some
who are out to “DISLIKE” – this is the group of Photographers that we all detest. Everyone is entitled
to their own opinion, but this is the group that are out to criticize you for the sake of criticizing based
on their own standards.

Instead of sharing how you can improve your photo, they will find all kinds of fault on your photo and
just want to put you down. A few forums actually displays such behavior. Don’t be too self-righteous,
comment when you want to help others, not comment to “Kill” them, the industry is already very tough.

Posted in Photography Quotes, Uncategorized | Tagged | Leave a comment

The NEW Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM – Test Shots

Posted on December 21, 2012 by Editor AL

_DSC3829

I was lucky enough to get the review unit for the latest Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM (EF Mount) from the local
distributor (Sigma Marketing Singapore) for a test run and a review. This is like the biggest thing now as every other
photographer – from amateurs to professionals – are all talking about this latest wonder from Sigma.

First impressions – the lens does not feel or even look like a Sigma lens! The new metal coating on the lens body
simply reminds me of those Leica lenses and the focusing rings are nice to the hand’s touch. The Sigma 35mm F1.4
DG HSM has a very solid feel and the layout of the lens are purposeful for ease of use and the lens is
considered quite compact and light (665g) too. This is not just a  “Love at First Sight” DSLR lens, the specs are
amazing too.

Featuring Aspherical glass on the 1st and last element, FLD glass (Low Dispersion Glass) on
the 2nd element, SLD Glass on 6th, 8th, 10th & 11th element, this lens is like a “Leica-Spec + Carl Zeiss-build”
combination. Everything about this lens just seems so well sorted and thought of.

_DSC3828

So does this lens really deserves the rave? I took it out on a short walk and tried it out. My wife took
my Canon 5D MarkII for the weekend so I decided to have it mounted on my Canon EOS 1D MarkIV.
So with the given crop factor of x1.3 on this Canon APS-H sensor, effectively I get a very useable 45.5mm
for a walkabout. I will now let the photos do the talking, commentaries after the jump.

ALNL7132
Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM at 1/500, F4, ISO 320 EV -3.

ALNL7145
Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM at 1/100, F2.8, ISO 400 EV +1.

ALNL7147
Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM at 1/80, F1.4, ISO 400 EV -1.

ALNL7161
Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM at 1/125, F2, ISO 400 EV -2.

ALNL7168
Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM at 1/100, F2, ISO 400 EV0.

ALNL7172
Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM at 1/80, F1.4, ISO 400 EV +1.

ALNL7176
Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM at 1/80, F1.4, ISO 400 EV +1.

ALNL7198
Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM at 1/60, F5.6, ISO 400 EV +3.

From the above photos, I see amazing colors, sharpness and beautiful bokeh, all from the new Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM. All the above photos are not edited except straightening and cropping with the camera set to standard for every settings. To certain extent, I feel this lens is just as good as the “other 35mm F1.4” lenses by manufacturers but asking
price is much lower. This is welcoming to those whose wants a quality lens but do not wish to spend too much on it.

On overall, this lens is certainly worth buying if you had not own a 35mm range lens. And trust me, this
is no longer the same Sigma lens that you might expect, this is something totally new, totally refreshing and
totally make sense if you ever got a chance to lay your hands on one of this lens. As the Flagship Sigma lens,
the 35mm F1.4 DG HSM had set a new & high standard for the future updates of it’s lenses product line.
We will be watching Sigma’s development closely.

Some quick specs:
– 35mm Focal Length (52.5mm on Nikon, Sony, Pentax APS-C bodies, 45.5mm on Canon APS-H/ 56mm on Canon APS-C bodies)
– Aperture F1.4-F16.
– Minimum Focusing Distance 30cm
– Filter Size 67mm
– Retail Box includes the Lens, Hood, caps, Manuel & Pouch.
– Sigma A Lens* (See Below)

For more information or specifications on this lens click here.

Thank You Sigma Marketing Singapore for making this review possible & not to forget our Project Photographer Julian Tan.
-Editor.

IMPORTANT NOTE:
** Sigma had re-organized their whole lens line into 3 category.
They are “C” Lens, “A” Lens & “S” Lens.

C Lens = Contemporary Lens Line
c02_c_img
Featuring the very latest technology, and combining optical performance with compactness, Sigma’s high-performance Contemporary line covers a wide range of needs. Lenses in this category are Standard zoom lenses, telephoto zoom lenses, high-magnification zoom lenses.

A Lens = Art Lens Line
c02_a_img
Designed with a focus on sophisticated optical performance and abundant expressive power, Sigma’s Art line delivers high-level artistic expression. Lenses in this category are Large-aperture prime lenses, wide-angle lenses, ultra-wide-angle lenses, macro lenses, fisheye lenses.

S Lens – Sports Lens Line
c02_s_img
While offering sophisticated optical performance and expressiveness, Sigma Sports line lenses deliver high action-capture performance, enabling photographers to get exactly the shots they want. Lenses in this category are Telephoto lenses, telephoto zoom lenses, super telephoto lenses, super telephoto zoom lenses.

SIGMA-NEW-LOGO
Sigma Marketing Singapore Pte Ltd. is a subsidiary of Sigma Japan Corporation.

For more information, please visit http://www.sigma-global.com

Posted in Brand: Canon, Brand: Sigma, Group Test & Reviews, Photography Articles & Videos, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 10 Comments

Attention Seeking Photographers

Posted on December 18, 2012 by Editor AL

Suicide

There Are Tons of Photographers. Anyone with a DSLR calls themselves a Photographer. But What Kind? There are Photographers who are out looking for “Audience”. As Photographers, We All love audience, so that we know what works and what not, and where we can further hone our skills and to better improve our works.

But there are people who are just out for attention. There are people who think too highly of themselves. There are people who just wants that few miserable minutes of Fame. There are just people who wants people to LIKE their photo. This is Self-Inflicted Suicide by Any Photographic Standards.
Posted in Photography Quotes, Uncategorized | Tagged | Leave a comment

The New Sigma APO Macro 180mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM

Posted on December 18, 2012 by Editor AL

IMG_8177

Comparisons were never (really) fair when it comes to photography gears. But when it comes to updating
old models, manufacturers will always release another “better” version of the previous version, isn’t that
all sounds too familiar to you? Earlier this year, Sigma Corporation released an updated version of its
180mm F3.5 Macro and had it replaced with a totally brand new 180mm F2.8 Macro. I was given a weekend
to “play” with this lens by the local distributor APDS and I totally love it. Why?

First Impressions – This is lens is huge. When I brought it out for a class, my students were thinking I was trying
to shoot birds. With the hood in position, the 180mm is Goliath by any standards. I was issued with a Canon-EF Mount version so I brought it out with my Canon EOS 1D MarkIV. The Lens + the body, it is heavy. I will recommend the use of
of monopod or tripod with this set up. The lens exterior had been given a major rework, it’s a like a lens built from
scratch and nothing resembles the previous F3.5 version. The new coating on the lens body feels very much like
something out of a Carl Zeiss box, sleek & elegant and the focusing is smooth as cream.

IMG_8179
Picture: The Sigma APO Macro 180mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM on a Canon EOS 1D Mark IV

Remembering the previous Sigma 180mm F3.5 Macro, this lens is not just a replacement, it is a brand
new lens by itself. Reading up, the lens elements is now arranged in a different configuration, 3 FLD glass
(FLD which stands for SIGMA’s new proprietary “F” Low Dispersion, and has the same optical performance
as Fluorite glass – commonly found in Canon L-Series lenses) along with the various floating lens group
that gives super fast focusing (HSM) and tack sharp photos as this lens also comes with the company’s
Super Multi-Layer Coating on the lens elements.

It has a closer focusing distance of 47cm, the latest version of Sigma’s optical stabilizer (OS) that promises a 4 stop slower shooting speed and the 9 blades aperture gives smooth bokehs. I shall not bore you further with the technical
specifications and let’s look at the photos from this 180mm Macro.

ALNL7118FB ALNL7035FB ALNL7058FB ALNL7080FB ALNL7089FB ALNL7101FB

Well, I love the colors and the sharpness of this lens. A few of my students asked me how I feel about using
this 180mm F2.8 Macro as compare to the Canon’s EF-180,mmF3.5L USM and my answer is simple –
it’s a different lens now.

ALNL7107FB

Previously when the public compared the older Sigma 180mm F3.5 with Canon’s
equivalent, Sigma’s version was unfairly noted as a “quick-put-together” to lure consumers away from
Canon’s version with it’s almost similar specifications and with a lower price tag.
But the new Sigma APO Macro 180mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM is a new breed, so it will be unfair again to
compare to other lenses of this range. Everything else about this lens from its solid exterior construction
to its inner elements just simply announce “This is the NEW Generation of Sigma Optics”.

ALNL7115FB

Like every gear I reviewed, it cannot be a 100% buy for me. As a “Closet Gear Head” myself, i have touched
hundreds of Lenses and the “Feel” is very important to me. Although I like this lens very much, I do have
complaints, the weight can really tires a person out – that was why earlier I recommend the use of a tripod
or monopod with this lens. And hey, apart from the weight issue, everything about this lens just screams
“Buy”!

Some Quick Specs here:
– Focal Range 180mm (270mm on Nikon, Sony-Minolta, APS-C bodies & 288mm on Canon APS-C bodies)
– Filter Size 86mm
– Inside the retail box, you get the Lens, a nicely cushioned pouch, instructions, hood, tripod ring & warranty papers.
– Aperture F2.8 to F22
– Magnification 1:1
– Minimum focusing distance 47cm.

For the full specifications and more information on this wonder-macro lens, click here.
For Purchase information and local enquiries, please click here. (Singapore & Malaysia)

Special Thanks to Sigma Marketing Singapore for allowing this review to happen.

SIGMA-NEW-LOGO
Sigma Marketing Singapore Pte Ltd. is a subsidiary of Sigma Japan Corporation.

IMPORTANT NOTE:
** Sigma had re-organized their whole lens line into 3 category.
They are “C” Lens, “A” Lens & “S” Lens.

C Lens = Contemporary Lens Line
c02_c_img
Featuring the very latest technology, and combining optical performance with compactness, Sigma’s high-performance Contemporary line covers a wide range of needs. Lenses in this category are Standard zoom lenses, telephoto zoom lenses, high-magnification zoom lenses.

A Lens = Art Lens Line
c02_a_img
Designed with a focus on sophisticated optical performance and abundant expressive power, Sigma’s Art line delivers high-level artistic expression. Lenses in this category are Large-aperture prime lenses, wide-angle lenses, ultra-wide-angle lenses, macro lenses, fisheye lenses.

S Lens – Sports Lens Line
c02_s_img
While offering sophisticated optical performance and expressiveness, Sigma Sports line lenses deliver high action-capture performance, enabling photographers to get exactly the shots they want. Lenses in this category are Telephoto lenses, telephoto zoom lenses, super telephoto lenses, super telephoto zoom lenses.

SIGMA-NEW-LOGO
Sigma Marketing Singapore Pte Ltd. is a subsidiary of Sigma Japan Corporation.

For more information, please visit http://www.sigma-global.com

Posted in Brand: Canon, Brand: Sigma, Group Test & Reviews, Photography Articles & Videos, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

SJS January 2013 Events

Posted on December 17, 2012 by Editor AL

For those who are interested to join Shutter Journey (Singapore) Photography Group Events.
All January 2013 events will be duplicated here as an overview with all the event links (to Facebook for RSVP & Information) for the month.

Please Read the Event Information CAREFULLY & Requirements before you RSVP.
———————————————————————————————————————————
SJS Double Happiness 2013 Part 1 (Compact)
Event Info:
SJS’s Favorite Signature Event is Back! Double Happpiness 2013 will have a different format altogether.Both Double Happiness (Part 1 & 2) will be made Limited Series for the first time.

Capture the Chinese New Years Festivities with ONLY your compact camera. (Micro 4/3 Not Allowed too). Come join us for a Colorful Afternoon shooting the spirit of CNY 2013!

Where: Chinatown
Meet: Stage Near Budhha Relic Temple.(Kreta Ayer Hawker Centre)
When: 06th Jan 2013 (Sunday)
Meeting Time: 02.15pm (Briefing & Group Photo)
Attire: Anything.
Gear: ONLY Compact Digital Camera & MF or Film.
*Micro 4/3 & DSLRs NOT Allowed.
*Tripod & Flash not recommended.
RSVP at: http://www.facebook.com/events/424882750910784/
———————————————————————————————————————
SJS Double Happiness 2013 Part 2 (PRIME)
Event Info:
SJS’s Favorite Signature Event is Back! Double Happpiness 2013 will have a different format altogether.Both Double Happiness (Part 1 & 2) will be made Limited Series for the first time.

Capture the Chinese New Years Festivities with ONLY your PRIME LENSES. It’s Happy Bokelicious Time!
Come join us for a Colorful NIGHT shooting the spirit of CNY 2013!

Where: Chinatown
Meet: Stage Near Budhha Relic Temple.(Kreta Ayer Hawker Centre)
When: 09th Jan 2013 (Wednesday)
Meeting Time: 07.30pm (Briefing & Group Photo)
Attire: Anything.
Gear: ONLY PRIME LENSES ALLOWED.
*Tripod & Flash not allowed.
RSVP at: http://www.facebook.com/events/255335414596125/

———————————————————————————————————————————
SJS Double Happiness (BONUS Shoot)
Event Info:
SJS’s Favorite Signature Event is Back! Double Happpiness 2013 will have a different format altogether.Both Double Happiness (Part 1 & 2) will be made Limited Series for the first time. However for this year, we are adding an additional BONUS Shoot under the Double Happiness Series to make it a Triple Happiness! It’s a free for all shoot, do whatever genre you like, use whatever you like, just have fun before the CNY!

Come join us for a Colorful NIGHT shooting the spirit of CNY 2013 at Clarke Quay!

Where: Clarke Quay
Meet: Liang Court McDonald’s
When: 16th Jan 2013 (Wednesday)
Meeting Time: 07.30pm (Briefing & Group Photo)
Attire: RED or PINK Clothing ONLY.
Gear: ANYTHING.
RSVP at: http://www.facebook.com/events/520738141277298/

———————————————————————————————-

OK Folks, That’s all for the month of January 2013. Happy Advanced Chinese New Year from All of us at SJS! Huat Ah!

We hope you can follow the below steps to keep yourself updated of all the events in future.

1) Add us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/singapore.shutterjourneyphotographygroup
then Click “Subscribe” from the drop down menu to get notification on updates and event announcement.

2) Click “Like” & “Follow” on this website from the menu on the top to receive new post updates.

You will never miss another event again.
Till then, Happy Shooting Everyone~!

Allan Lee & Yu Ling
Mad Photographers.

Posted in Photography Courses & Events, Uncategorized | Tagged | Leave a comment

SPARK 1-2-3 (Lensbaby SPARK)

Posted on December 17, 2012 by Editor AL

_DSC3608
Photo: Nikon D3s with Lensbaby SPARK, Nikon D2Hs & Nikon D1x. Photo by Julian Tan.

I am pretty remote to Lensbaby’s range of products. But in my recent quest for more creative options for my photography works, I went online and searched for “Creative Optics” and pages and pages of Lensbaby lenses showed up on the searched page. Then something caught my eyes, a new Lensbaby named as “SPARK”.

Launched only just months ago (18th Sep 2012), this lens promises “fun & creative” options (quote: Craig Strong, Lensbaby Chief Creative Officer & Co-Founder). Without further hesitation, I contacted the local distributor for Lensbaby, Cathay Photo Store Pte Ltd. After a short phone call, a review unit was arranged for me.

First impressions – the SPARK feels & looks like a MUSE. But upon careful scrutiny, SPARK is pretty much like a “little brother” of MUSE, but made simpler. I was handed a Nikon F-Mount version so I have to work my review along the Nikon bodies. After much thoughts, I decided to have the SPARK tested on a really old DX (cropped) sensor (Nikon D1x), a really low megapixel body (Nikon D2hs) and the high spec FX (Full frame) body (Nikon D3s). Thus giving this project a name “Project Lensbaby SPARK 1-2-3”.

I rounded up 3 other Photographers/ Editors to make this review interesting, they are;
– Yu Ling, Travel Editor & Event Photographer
– Anson Kwok, Guest Editor & Photographer
– Julian Tan, SJS Photographer for Documentation

_DSC3610
Photo: L-R, Anson Kwok, Yu Ling & Allan Lee. Photo by Julian Tan.

We picked a stormy Sunday afternoon and went out to Vivo City to test the SPARK. The overcast sky, the wet ground and almost colorless ambience really thrown us off tracks on how we should even do this. We briefly discussed and decided to just take stroll and we will capture whatever that comes our way and we are off.

Lensbaby SPARK on Nikon D1x by Allan Lee, Editor/SJS.
_DSC3616
Photo: Allan Lee. Photo by Julian Tan

DSC_0002
Photo by Allan LEE, Nikon D1x with Lensbaby Spark

 

DSC_0003
Photo by Allan LEE, Nikon D1x with Lensbaby Spark

 

DSC_0005
Photo by Allan LEE, Nikon D1x with Lensbaby Spark

_DSC3613
Photo: Allan Lee. Photo by Julian Tan

Lensbaby SPARK on Nikon D2hs by Yu Ling, Travel Editor/SJS.
_DSC3625
Photo: Yu Ling. Photo by Julian Tan

Low_ALN_7247
Photo by Yu Ling, Nikon D2hs with Lensbaby Spark.

Low_ALN_7251
Photo by Yu Ling, Nikon D2hs with Lensbaby Spark.

Low_ALN_7255
Photo by Yu Ling, Nikon D2hs with Lensbaby Spark.

_DSC3632
Photo: Yu Ling. Photo by Julian Tan

Lensbaby SPARK on Nikon D3s by Anson Kwok, Guest Editor/SJS.

_DSC3636
Photo: Anson Kwok. Photo by Julian Tan

_ADP7519
Photo by Anson Kwok, Nikon D3s with Lensbaby Spark.

_ADP7520
Photo by Anson Kwok, Nikon D3s with Lensbaby Spark.

_ADP7522
Photo by Anson Kwok, Nikon D3s with Lensbaby Spark.

_DSC3639
Photo: Anson Kwok. Photo by Julian Tan

———————————————————–

although a picture says a thousand words, we would like to share with our readers what we think, our Likes & Dislikes of the Lensbaby SPARK.

———————————————————–

Allan Lee’s Comments
_DSC3611
Photo: Allan Lee. Photo by Julian Tan

The SPARK offers a very creative way to find the “Sweet Spot” within a frame, however, for photographers who are new to Lensbaby, it may take a little while to get used to operating the lens. However when one gets accustomed to it, it is pretty easy to use it for a variety of photographic applications.

What I like:
– Humble price.
– Strange look of the Lens (and onlookers alike)
– Artistic blur that gives bokeh a whole new meaning.
– Good photo & color quality.
– Filter & Optics options. (Compatible with all Lensbaby Optics)
– Close focusing range. (Manufacturer claims 33cm, I tried 30cm & it works)

What I dislike:
– Tiny lens cap (easily misplaced)
– Focusing needs more effort.
– Plastic Mount.
———————————————————-

Yu Ling’s Comments
_DSC3620
I find the SPARK refreshing. Having no prior relations with Lensbaby’s lenses, the SPARK makes a great entry option to Lensbaby. I took a while to “find my way” around to use it, and once I get the drift, the SPARK is fun. It makes me wants to look at things & subjects in a different way that I usually see them, it is all very experimental to me when the SPARK is concerned.

What I like:
– Easy to operate (after getting used to it)
– Full control over the focusing area.
– Give subject new perspectives not possible with conventional lenses.
– Good price.
– Small & Compact.

What I dislike:
– Challenging for quick composition.
– The supplied fixed F5.6 aperture. (Will prefer F2.8)
–  Toy-like build.
———————————————————-

Anson Kwok’s Comments
_DSC3633
Photo: Anson Kwok. Photo by Julian Tan

This is my first experience with a Lensbaby product and the SPARK is a great “introductory” product for many people. On first look, the SPARK makes me wonder as I do not really know what to expect (of the photos). A quick research online prior to the review reveals photos that I had never seen before and yes, I like what I saw. Using the SPARK during the review was fun, and yes, I will buy one too.

What I like:
– Simple, Light & Compact construction.
– Open up new possibilities for my photography style.
– Very good price for hours & hours of fun.
– Selective focus all done manually.
– Sweet distortions on out of focus area.
– Can use other filters on the filter thread.

What I dislike:
– Lens looks like it cannot take abuse and & harsh weather.
– A little too plasticky for my liking.
– Lens cap design, nothing wrong with it, I just don’t like it.
———————————————————

Some quick information about SPARK:
– In the box, you will receive the SPARK, Instructions & a Pouch.
– 50mm (75mm on Nikon cropped bodies (DX) & 80mm on Canon cropped bodies.
– Fixed Aperture of F5.6
– Manual Lens.
– Glass Doublets Optics & Multi coated.
– Focusing range from 33cm
– All Lensbaby Optics will fit into SPARK but, some optic are a little too heavy for the SPARK to handle like the Sweet35, Edge80 & Fisheye Optics. Your SPARK will be dangling downwards like. . . . Forget it.

For More Information or Specifications on Lensbaby SPARK, visit http://www.cathayphoto.com.sg/node/317
or http://store.lensbaby.com/products/spark/

_DSC3665
Photo: Group Photo by Julian Tan.

Thanks to Yu Ling, Anson Kwok & Julian Tan for making this project possible,
and Special Thanks to Cathay Photo Store Pte Ltd for allowing this project to happen.
———————————————————

About Cathay Photo Store Pte Ltd
1Cathay_Logo_2C
Established in 1959, Cathay Photo since its very beginning has been driven by the objectives of providing the best photographic equipment, pricing and service to our customers. These objectives have ensured its continued growth from just two humble showcases occupying a quarter of a shop-front to its present five retail outlets, an administrative / distribution office and a warehouse.

It is constantly on the lookout for the latest gadgets and solutions to add to its line-up of over 60 internationally renowned brands, and recognizing the growing presence and popularity of HD video, due largely to the introduction of DSLR cameras with HD video capabilities, it made its foray into the Pro Video market, expanding its offering to products from brands such as Steadicam, Zacuto, Kessler Crane and Genus to name a few.

Having served the photography industry for over 50 years, and backed by its proud heritage, Cathay Photo is without doubt the preferred photographic retailer in Singapore today.
———————————————————

About Lensbaby
Print
Lensbaby is a Portland, Oregon based manufacturer of award-winning Creative Effects SLR & mirrorless camera lenses. Lensbaby was launched in February 2004 by Craig Strong, a professional photographer and the inventor of the patented Lensbaby Creative Effects SLR lens system. Lensbaby sells to photographers all over the world through its website, http://www.lensbaby.com, by direct calls, at trade shows, in leading photo retailers, and through a growing global network of international distributors.


Posted in Brand: Nikon, Brand: Others (Cosina, Carl Zeiss, Leica, Mamiya, Samyang, Vivitar, Zenitar,etc), Featured Photographers, Featured Photography Merchants, Group Test & Reviews, Photography Articles & Videos, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Respect Your Photographer

Posted on December 17, 2012 by Editor AL

IMG_3732

Posted in Photography Quotes, Uncategorized | Tagged | Leave a comment

Photography Industry – A Weird One.

Posted on December 16, 2012 by Editor AL

Weirdo

A lot had been said about the photography industry.
Although this is one of the very few industries who has a cross breeds ofProfessionals to Beginners-on-Leisure, this art form is definitely a very, very messy place.
There is certainly nothing wrong with the industry by itself, it’s the people in it.
How many weird photographers have you met?

Posted in Photography Quotes, Uncategorized | Tagged | Leave a comment

Pentax Tattoo?

Posted on December 16, 2012 by Editor AL

IMG_5108

Posted in Photography Quotes, Uncategorized | Tagged | Leave a comment

Brand Fans.

Posted on December 15, 2012 by Editor AL

Stoned

Fan Wars are a norm when it comes to camera systems. Well who wouldn’t swear by their own equipment
after spending like tens of thousands on it?

Like many seasoned photographers had said, it’s the person using these equipments that gives
varying results, never the equipment. For they are just, equipments.

It’s the photographer who will decides whether an awesome photo or a crappy photo will be
recorded.

Enuff said.

Posted in Photography Quotes, Uncategorized | Tagged | Leave a comment

Be A Grateful Photographer – Karma is Watching.

Posted on December 15, 2012 by Editor AL

Ungrateful

Many times in life, we have had people who made a difference in our lives. Where Photography is concerned,
there’s a special relationship among the circle which is pretty hard to duplicate elsewhere, the relationship
of constant mentoring, the guidance or a teacher to a entrant to the industry.  It is tough maintaining such
a relationship when the person you are mentoring will be your competitor one day. It’s what people
calls the “Love-Hate” relationship.

As an educator myself, I always believed in teaching everything I know to my students. Although I hope that each and every one of them will learn and be successful and to even be better than me one day, I am sure this is not what many photography instructors out there are thinking. They are afraid to be overtaken – by their own “product”. Contradictory?

And of course, as a student once myself, I respect every single person, Masters & fellow professionals that I had learned something from. This is akin to remembering where you came from, where you learned the trade and without these people, I wouldn’t be where I am today.

But sadly, there are too many suckers out there who will enter your life, learn from you, pick up skills from you and then leaves you, which is totally acceptable at this stage – but when these people started to bad mouth you and even slander you without factual facts, that is the last straw. These people ought to be dealt with, not by me, but Karma.

So be nice to your students & teachers alike. You never when Karma will decide to pay you a surprise visit.

Posted in Photography Quotes, Uncategorized | Tagged | Leave a comment

Losing Focus in Life?

Posted on December 15, 2012 by Editor AL

IMG_5109

Posted in Photography Quotes, Uncategorized | Tagged | Leave a comment

Photographers Who Undercharged Others.

Posted on December 14, 2012 by Editor AL

Hunger

To the REAL Professional Photographers:
Dear Brothers & Sisters, Sell your Standards and not your services. A Price war will not
do us any good or help the photography industry in any way. Our unique styles makes us
successful, our individual perspectives are loved by our customers so that they are willing
to pay us our fees. Each of us has bills to pay, gears to maintain and I know exactly how it
feels when you are 2 pay cheques from to living out on the street. Hang on there everyone.

To the “Professional” Photographers:
Dear Friends, it is fun and sometimes cool to make some extra cash with your top-of-the-line
camera & lenses. I am not discouraging you from learning or gaining more experiences by
taking on jobs & assignments, but please charge reasonably. If you are a super good
photographer and charges on $500 for a full day wedding assignment, what would the market
think of the Professional Photographers who charges $2,800 for the same job?

Go Figure everyone.

Posted in Photography Quotes, Uncategorized | Tagged | Leave a comment

Macro Photographers’ Wish

Posted on December 14, 2012 by Editor AL

Found this on http://www.facebook.com/FFotograf.

Well, I am sure most Macro Photographers would have felt like this before.

🙂

IMG_3914

Posted in Photography Articles & Videos, Photography Quotes, Uncategorized | Tagged | Leave a comment

What Photographers Really Are.

Posted on December 13, 2012 by Editor AL

IMG_3083

Posted in Photography Articles & Videos, Photography Quotes, Uncategorized | Tagged | Leave a comment

Light (Photo) Contest by EOS World

Posted on December 12, 2012 by Editor AL

lightscontest_banner

Christmas lights are beautiful to behold and even prettier to photograph. Although there are challenges with shooting in low light, it also offers tremendous creative opportunities. Capture the magical atmosphere created by the light installations during this festive season and let the colours and splendour get you in the Christmas mood.

Submit 1-3 photos that best captures “lights” accompanied with a caption that tells us what is happening in the photo/where it was taken (maximum 30 words).

The most well composed, interesting or exciting photo will stand the chance to win an EF 50mm f/1.8 II lens worth $159!

It’s really simple to participate, just follow the Photo Submission Steps below.

Photo Submission Steps:

Step 1: Register as member of EOS World http://www.canon.com.sg/eosworld/user/register (if you are already a registered EOS World user, please skip down to Step 3)

Step 2: Activate your account from your email

Step 3: Create a Lightbox (Gallery) and upload the photos (Maximum 3 Photos) – Name your Lightbox as “Light Photo Contest” – Give your photo/s a title – All entries to be accompanied by description (maximum 30 words)

Step 4: Go back to the contest page and click “Submit Entry”

Step 5: Select the photos from your LightBox and click “Submit” Minimum File size: 1MB (per image) Maximum File size: 8MB (per image)

Good luck!

For more information, please visit www.canon.com.sg/eosworld.

Posted in Brand: Canon, Photography Contests, Uncategorized | Tagged | Leave a comment

My Neighbourhood Gems Series: Portraits of People Around Us

Posted on December 12, 2012 by Editor AL

edmPic-POPAU-L

My Neighbourhood Gems Series: Portraits of People Around Us
To be held at Yuhua CC on 19 January 2013, 1.30pm to 8.30pm, this event begins with a sharing session by fine art travel photographer Triston Yeo. Then take to the streets of Jurong to take your best shot that captures the heart and soul of the neighbourhood. Over SGD $1,900 worth of cash and lucky draw prizes up for grabs!

Register here.

About the Contest:
Organised by the People’s Association PMET Division together with Jurong GRC & Yuhua SMC, with Canon Singapore as Principal Sponsor, ‘My Neighbourhood Gems – Fun, Flash and Festive’ online photo contest is a lead up to ‘My Neighbourhood Gems Series: Portraits of People Around Us’ photo journey on 19 January 2013 at Yuhua Community Club. The online photo contest aims to foster residents’ pride and ownership, and to provide a platform for photography enthusiasts of all levels to come together as a community to make friends, share ideas/activities.

For details on contest themes, please click here. Rules & Regulations here.

ABOUT PMET DIVISION
The People’s Association (PA) PMET Division was set up in March 2011 to enhance PA’s efforts to widen and deepen the engagement of PMETs (Professionals, Managers, Executives, Technicians). One of our key roles is to develop and organize programmes to bring PMETs of different backgrounds together, and to build an active community of PMETs contributing to PMETs and to others, in order to achieve Community Vision 2015 that of a Great Home and A Caring Community with a strong “Heart” component. Check out http://www.facebook.com/PMETNetwork for more details!

Posted in Photography Contests, Uncategorized | Tagged | Leave a comment

Neighbourhood Through My Lens Online Photo Contest

Posted on December 12, 2012 by Editor AL

aboutImage
Neighbourhood Through My Lens Online Photo Contest – Stand to win SGD 2,000 worth of cash prizes!
Simply snap the festivities around Jurong district, whether a celebratory event among residents or a scene that epitomises the festive mood, and submit to us under the “Fun, Flash, Festive” category. Capture how Jurong is greening its estates and you could participate in our “Green Prints” contest too! Two fabulous opportunities to walk away a winner!

About the Contest:
Organised by the People’s Association PMET Division together with Jurong GRC & Yuhua SMC, with Canon Singapore as Principal Sponsor, ‘My Neighbourhood Gems – Fun, Flash and Festive’ online photo contest is a lead up to ‘My Neighbourhood Gems Series: Portraits of People Around Us’ photo journey on 19 January 2013 at Yuhua Community Club. The online photo contest aims to foster residents’ pride and ownership, and to provide a platform for photography enthusiasts of all levels to come together as a community to make friends, share ideas/activities.

For details on contest themes, please click here. Rules & Regulations here.

ABOUT JURONG
The Jurong Group Representation Constituency (GRC) is one of the largest constituencies in Singapore and home to landmark attractions like Jurong Bird Park, Singapore Science Centre, Chinese and Japanese Gardens, as well as a wealth of new developments such as JCube. During festive periods, Jurong GRC and Yuhua SMC actively embrace the spirit of the season through decorations and activities in shopping malls, schools, community clubs and places of interest, transforming the region into a vibrant scene of festive celebration.

ABOUT PMET DIVISION
The People’s Association (PA) PMET Division was set up in March 2011 to enhance PA’s efforts to widen and deepen the engagement of PMETs (Professionals, Managers, Executives, Technicians). One of our key roles is to develop and organize programmes to bring PMETs of different backgrounds together, and to build an active community of PMETs contributing to PMETs and to others, in order to achieve Community Vision 2015 that of a Great Home and A Caring Community with a strong “Heart” component. Check out http://www.facebook.com/PMETNetwork for more details!

Posted in Photography Contests, Uncategorized | Tagged | 1 Comment

RDP Showcase the new AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/4G ED VR

Posted on December 12, 2012 by Editor AL

Facebook_nikon_70_200_copy

Join Red Dot Photo for a session of sharing with the latest Nikkor 70-200 f/4 ED VR lens at their studio.

Compare it side by side the veteran Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 ED VR! Bring your memory cards and get up close and personal with both lenses and the latest Nikon cameras D800 and D600!

Hear it from Richard Chen, noted local fashion photographer on the use of the lens in a fashion shoot environment. Take notes from Clarence Tan, who has used both the f/4 and f/2.8 varieties at the World Indoor Archery championship recently on how the lenses compare!

To top it all, enjoy free food and drinks during this session!

Why hesitate, show up on 15 December 2012 at 10.30am (1st session) and 2.00pm (2nd session)

Slots are limited so head right over to this thread to sign up today!

Proudly Brought to you by:
RDP Logo

Posted in Brand: Nikon, Brand: Others (Cosina, Carl Zeiss, Leica, Mamiya, Samyang, Vivitar, Zenitar,etc), Featured Photography Merchants, Photography Courses & Events, Uncategorized | Tagged , | Leave a comment