Taking lots of photos...

Harrison - Kyla - Kaelynn's 1st Birthday-12, originally uploaded by Mervin Chiang.

I've had a holiday back in Singapore and over the past month I have had a great time taking photos. Let's see... I took:

1. Mikaela's 2nd Birthday
2. Desmond's Bachelor party
3. Desmond's pre-wedding outdoor shoot
4. Desmond's wedding
5. Callum's 1st Birthday
6. Chi's job to do a couple's outdoor shoot (First paid gig!!)
7. Harry, Kyla and Kaelynn's 1st Birthday

Wow 7 great photography treats! Hence the photo :P

I learnt heaps and will try to post learnings so I don't forget them soon.

Panasonic Lumix GF1

Desmond and Estella's Party-47, originally uploaded by Mervin Chiang.

Tried out Desmond's micro four thirds camera at his wedding bachelor and hens night party at Singapore Power House - Dragonfly. I initially wanted to bring all my gear to try out concert photography but was convinced not to as it's too bulky :-P

Good thing too. Got to try out a new camera. The series wasn't that bad. ISO suffered a bit. Although the camera can go to 3200, 1600 is the max I would go at it. Also without a flashgun, I felt a little handicapped. I used the built in flash in some occasions.

Portrait Experiments

Portraits-4, originally uploaded by Mervin Chiang.

I just decided one day to experiment with my 'O Ring flash attachment in combination with the f/1.4 50mm prime lens with a fish eye attachment on the front. My idea was to get the "Lie to Me" TV series show's portrait shots effect. You know the ones on the wall of the Lightman Group's office. They had white light and the face was very illuminated.

So... The general idea was (based on memory now):
1. O Ring attachment strapped onto my 430ex Flash gun on the camera
2. Fish eye attachment on the prime lens brings the lens to an approximate 40mm mark
3. f/1.4 becomes unusable with this attachment. I set AV to f/2.0 (f/2.2 is better on controlling the "blurness")
4. EV -1
5. Flash set to +0.5 (... I think... or at 0... this is to compensate for the flash going through mirrors and getting absorbed)

This set up is overall quite effective for close up portraits. Not sure if it'll work as well for half body or full body. I don't think so, unless there was a softbox to boost light. Also depends if done in studio or using natural light through window.

Another brainwave was to use my iPad's studio light settings... I got an app the emulates a softbox :-P Will post if I successfully pull if off with iPad as the side-light source...

Conference Event Photography

ProcessDays 2010-44, originally uploaded by Mervin Chiang.

My biggest nemesis. Taking indoor events are my greatest struggle. I did ProcessDays 2010 this year as a back up photographer and I was somewhat happy with myself. However, the colors were still off and in some cases the lights weren't as good as well.

This shot was my favourite. I borrowed the pro photographer's light box on the left and I used an "assistant" holding a diffused flash on the top right and I fired of the shot remotely. I later used lightroom to make it B&W.

A few lessons learnt during and after the event (thanks Chi!):
1. I like to use AV set to -2 when flash is diffused and bounced off a card at an angle forward. This is for places where ceilings are too high.
2. Chi suggested to bounce off walls. Seemed to be better on the shadows made. Will try next time.
3. Learnt something about the light boxes too. The pro photographer was using a grid looking attachment on the front. Apparently with that it makes a punchier portrait.
4. Multiple colors in the venue does crazy things to the white balance :(
5. Set drive mode to high and always take at least 3 to avoid blinking and funny gestures of the people.

I'll keep trying...

Macro Photography

Assorted and Kat's Uncle's Visit 042, originally uploaded by Mervin Chiang.

I just ordered from eBay a macro flash "O" ring that fits my 430ex II. So basically my "cheapo" macro setup are all compatible attachments:

1. Canon 50mm f/1.8 USM with a macro filter attachment (doubled with a wide-angle add-on for normal use to make an effective range of 40mm - much better for portraits)
2. Flashgun extension that channels light from my 430ex through the "pipes" to an "O" ring extension that latches to the front of the lens.
3. My monfrotto tripod.

The flash is still on its way, but its a good $40 as compared to $300 that I'd normally have to fork out.

Will take some close ups soon.

Taking & Making the "Bak Zhang"

Lightroom and Bak Zhang-3, originally uploaded by Mervin Chiang.

I couldn't think of anywhere else to put my notes on this one so I decided to put this here. It is not entirely non photography related. I did learn one thing:

The low lamp of our dining table actually makes quite a good "studio-styled" lighting.

Ok back to the Bak Zhang. I learnt this from my grandma 3 times in the past and have always been too lazy to make it. Today I had a craving and decided to make it. This one is unique and only my grandma makes it this way. That is why I had to do it myself and cannot buy it... So here are my notes to myself so I don't forget if I decided to do it again:

1. Must soak the glutinous rice overnight with salt.
2. Then drain and mix with "more" oil and sesame oil, salt and also five spice
3. Marinate the fatty pork (belly) with five spice, salt, sesame oil and soya sauce.
4. Green bean, with five spice and salt
5. Chestnut
6. Salted egg yolk
7. Bak Zhang leaf and string (bamboo leaf I think)
8. Boil for 3-4hrs (More salt in the pot - more than 2 teaspoons of salt)

How to wrap here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-bC4ot5Uec&feature=PlayList&p=FDDBF1BEDC211038&playnext_from=PL&playnext=1&index=23

Black & White + 1:1 frame formats

Family's Melbourne Trip - CityScape-6, originally uploaded by Mervin Chiang.

I started a little mini series to take shots of cities and citiscapes in monochrome and mainly black and white. This one was taken on a rainy Melbourne morning to try and capture the Melbourne city mood going to work. I also tried to experiment with the "square" format 1:1.

Lessons on B&W:
1. Never use the preset black and white on the camera. Always do the change in post processing.
2. I did this with a blue filter on to add the dynamics...

And it got featured in Redbubble.com!

http://www.redbubble.com/people/brokenvase/art/5460297-1-i-take-the-train-to-work