Photography Blog Talk » Learning

Singapore Botanic Gardens

Cheng — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 03:39:08 +0000

Singapore Botanic Gardens(SBG) is always a good place for budding photographers. Today I would like to share a photograph of the Bandstand. Extract from the SBGwebsite : “A bandstand was erected in the early 1860s as a focal point of the original landscape design of Singapore Botanic Gardens. The present octagonal structure was built in 1930 and staged early evening performances by military bands for many years. Though no longer used for music, the Bandstand continues to be one of the best-known features of the Gardens.”

Singapore Botanic Gardens - Bandstand

Taken on bright day with a blue sky, I add on a circular polarizer to enhance the saturation of both the blue sky and green foilage.

Foundation Photography Course

Cheng — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 08:54:29 +0000

Are you still lost after reading all my tips and techniques guides?

If you have spent time and money on a DSLR, why not spend abit more on a photography course? I am happy to be your mentor by guiding you. Join my Foundation Photography Course and start to create amazing photos.

What do you get? 5 lessons including 2 field trips.

Lesson 1 The basic of photography

Knowing your camera equipment
Understanding Aperture, Shutter Speed and ISO
Understanding Focal length
Understanding Composition Rules
Homework Assignment

Lesson 2 Photography Techniques

Review of Homework assignment
Techniques in daylight photography
Techniques in low light photography
Techniques in travel photography

Lesson 3 Morning Field Trip

To practise some of the techniques learnt on lesson 2 at one of the parks in Singapore

Lesson 4 Review and Image Editing

Review photos taken in lesson 3
Basic Image management and editing demostration

Lesson 5 Night Field Trip
To practise some of the low light techniques learnt

What will it cost you : S$200 and your time
Pls send any inquiries to contact@photoblogtalk.com

Take Amazing Portraits

Handle Low Light Photography with ease!

Self Critique

Cheng — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 02:15:28 +0000

For those who are using a digital camera, what is the average number of shots you take when you go out for a day shoot? 50-100 maybe. How about if you go for a 10 days holiday tour ? 400-1000 maybe.

The question is what do you do with the shots you took? Some of us will simply upload them into the harddisk and never let them see daylight again. Some will upload the whole lot of shots into a photo sharing site like http://www.multiply.com .

However if you are serious about photography, then you will spend some time to do some self critique before selecting a small set for processing and uploading. So how do I do my self critique? Here are some of the stuff that goes through my mind when i review my photographs.

Does this photograph tell a story by itself? Otherwise you may have to write a few hundred words to explain why you take this photograph.
Does it convey a message? Is there a message of peacefulness? Devotion? Love? Endurance?
Will I hang this photograph on my wall or publish it in a book? This usually goes for my nature shots
Is it technically well executed? Did you control the sharpness or blurriness to the best effect? Did you exposed it correctly to the best effect?
Do I like this photograph?

Let me know what you think by leaving a comment.

My approach in photography

Nothing to Shoot?

Cheng — Mon, 26 May 2008 02:16:07 +0000

Question : Why didn’t you take photographs recently?
Typical Answer : Nothing to shoot.

Is this true? I would say this is common among us photographers who has been shooting for quite a few years.?When we first started on our hobby, we shoot almost anything and anywhere.? After a few years, we have the “been there, done that” feeling. Then the?camera and?lens started to gather dust at home. ?

How to fix this? A few suggestions :

Look in the papers for new events. The world is always changing. There is always different reasons to hold different events. Go shoot such events.
Go at different time to the same old location. Different timing in the day or night gives you different level of light.
Go with a different lens. Different lens give you different perspective. How about just shooting using ONLY 200mm focal length at the landscape or street scene. Challenge yourself.
Try a different kind of camera. eg Rangefinder, Holga
Go travelling
Go to a different park to shoot your landscape or nature shots.

GIve me any other suggestions.

Mini Lesson 1 – Aperture, Shutter speed and ISO

Cheng — Tue, 06 May 2008 02:03:59 +0000

Many photography newbies who just started photography seems to be confused by these 3 settings (Aperture, Shutter Speed and ISO). They tend to ask what settings was used when they see a photo they like. I used to do that too. It wasn’t too helpful as I realized there are simply too many photos around and there is no way I can remember all the settings.

Feeling helpless, I turned to the camera for help instead and used the P mode (program mode). I ended up just pressing the shutter button and nothing else. Well while usually the photographs turned out fine, there are times you feel that the camera is controlling you instead.

Just remember that the shutter speed, aperture and ISO are interlinked. Adjusting anyone of them will affect the others.

I like to think of Aperture as a “door” and shutter speed is how long you open the door. If you have open the door wide (using a big aperture like f2.8), then you only need to open the door for a short while to have enough light. So how big should we open the door? Well normally in a normal outdoor daylight, I would use f5 or f8. It works 80% of the time!

Okie til my next mini – lesson where I will talk about the other 20% of the time!

Lenswork Photo Magazine

Cheng — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 12:51:54 +0000

One of the way to improve your photography is to look at others works. You can do so by surfing websites , attending photo exhibitions , reading books or magazines.

While there is no lack of photo magazines on the shelf, most are techniques with lot of advertisements in them. Well they could be useful if you are just a beginner. If yo u are ready to move on, look for magazines that focus on the art. One recommendation is Lenswork . This magazine publishs every 2 months and focuses on Black and White works. The printing quality is superb.

You may download a preview version from their site.

Sunrise/Sunset locations in Singapore

Cheng — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 03:11:52 +0000

Sunset/sunrise photos are many photographers favorite subjects. Where are good spots for sunrise/sunset shots in tiny Singapore?

1. Labrador Park

2. Punggol Beach

3. Changi Board Walk/Beach

4. Sunset Way along Ulu Pandan

5. Clark Quay

6. Lim Chu Kang Jetty

7. Tuas

Any other suggestions?

Where to learn photography in Singapore?

Cheng — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 08:07:55 +0000

This is more for short courses available from photography clubs or schools in Singapore.

In no order of merit, here are a few places you can try to check out for short photography courses.

SAFRA Photoclub at SAFRA Mt Faber
Fees : $167.95 (PC Member) $ 187.25 (SAFRA Member) $ 206.50 (Guest)
Website : http://www.safraphotoclub.com
Photographic Society of Singapore(PSS)
Fees : $160/$260(Members/Non Members)
Website : http://www.pss1950.org
Objectifs
Fees : S$300
Website : http://www.objectifs.com.sg
Substation
Fees : $180
Website : http://www.substation.org/courses/basic_photography.html

Update : I am conducting foundation photography lessons too! See http://www.fotocourse.com for more details

Disclaimer : Information are gathered from websites, onlines forums and may not be updated. Do verify all the information including course fees and venue. Please use this list for reference only. It is not a list of recommended courses.