tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24724905858282850152024-03-13T14:09:01.678+11:00~ tranquil niche ~<br><br>... there is light beyond the shore ...Nay Lin Soehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02225119003427471294noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2472490585828285015.post-57754495215385657272011-12-13T20:53:00.000+11:002011-12-13T20:57:20.270+11:00the wish-list<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nlsoe/4196811129/sizes/l" title="wish list by tranquil-niche.com, on Flickr"><img alt="wish list" src="http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4009/4196811129_446af53f1d_b.jpg" width="98%" /></a>
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This is in fact part of small bushes grown in front of a Victorian house on Grattan St, Melbourne. The dark background is the side-wall of the house in white, made invisible in the contrast with the bright foreground. I was walking pass; saw the morning-sun-lit courtyard and made a very quick capture impromptu. This picture was dedicated to my birthday in 2009. Today, my memory somehow swells with it again.<br />
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As special as it seems, the origin of this picture--how I came to take it as it looks--is indiscernible even to me. Then, or now. I spent very little time composing, yet what I saw in it afterward triggered a sudden surge of hankering in me. It was perhaps a deeply personal experience. It was, and is, the (Birthday) wish-list.<br />
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As the picture itself, many of the precious moments in life are in fact <i>unplanned</i> and <i>ordinary</i>. Yet they cast long shadows in our lives and furnish our minds with cherished memories. <br />
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To err is simply human. If in the very least each of us took responsibilities for our own actions--especially the 'wrong' ones--instead of <i>blaming others</i>, the collective of individuals would be a lot more at peace under the sunlight. More importantly, we would be more at peace with <i>ourselves</i>.<br />
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Would that be too much to ask for in a wish-list?<br />
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Location: <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?q=-37.801057,144.969283&num=1&vpsrc=0&t=m&z=18">Grattan St</a>, Melbourne, Australia<br />
Exposure: 1/320s, f/8.0, ISO 200<br />
Focal Length: 200mm (APS-C)<br />
Flash: No<br />
Filter: N/ANay Lin Soehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02225119003427471294noreply@blogger.com07-13 Grattan St, Carlton VIC 3053, Australia-37.8010109 144.9692905-37.8025794 144.966823 -37.799442400000004 144.971758tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2472490585828285015.post-40216066624437550322011-10-31T20:23:00.000+11:002011-11-02T00:34:57.441+11:00fragments of the golden past<div align="center">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nlsoe/3844843069/sizes/l" title="fragments of the golden past by tranquil-niche, on Flickr"><img alt="fragments of the golden past" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2535/3844843069_1114d7d805_b.jpg" width="98%" /></a>
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When my Uncle Thet offered to drive us to Ayutthaya, I was filled with excitement. For, the capital of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayutthaya_Kingdom">Ayutthaya Kingdom (1350-1767)</a> or Siam is close to my heart, not least because I remain a close follower of Asian history. I was going to have a chance to explore this <a href="http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/576">UNESCO site</a> first hand!</div>
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<a name='more'></a><span style="font-size: small;"><b> </b></span><span style="color: cyan; font-size: small;"><b> </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><b>Reminiscence </b></span></div>
The founding of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayutthaya_%28city%29">city</a> in 1350 ushered in an era in which Siam's position in the mainland South East Asia was consolidated. Their influence rose in the region, especially in the north and the east. Commerce and arts flourished. Unfortunately, this profound city of the Sound East was also under military threat for the better part of its period from their powerful neighbour from the west, Burma.<br />
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The famous city fell for the first time to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Map_of_Toungoo_Kingdom_1572.jpg">empire</a> of Burmese King <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bayinnaung">Bayinnaung</a> in 1564, who put a royalty of Siam on the throne as a vassal. Curiously though, Bayinnaung remains a popular figure among Thais to this day, as characterized by the famous Thai historical fiction "ผู้ชนะสิบทิศ" or "Puchana Sib Tid" (<a href="http://wn.com/Bayinnaung">media snapshot</a>). Ayutthaya regained its independence soon after the passing of Bayinnaung, and resumed the state of intermittent conflicts with its powerful neighbour.<br />
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The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burmese%E2%80%93Siamese_War_%281765%E2%80%931767%29">Burmese-Siamese war (1765-1767)</a> was terminal for Ayutthaya, both as a city and as a kingdom as a whole. The city was reduced to rubble by the invading Burmese forces this time whose intent was a complete annihilation. With its capital in ruin and the territory taken, the Ayutthaya Kingdom as had been known hitherto was no longer. Nor would it ever rise again in history. (The subsequently resurgent Siam based its capital in the present capital Bangkok instead, with the dynasty, whose <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhumibol_Adulyadej">lastest king</a> still sits on the throne of Thailand today.)<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b style="color: cyan;">The Wat </b></span></div>
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wat_Chaiwatthanaram">Wat Chaiwatthanaram</a> as pictured is one of the prominent landmarks of the city since its completion in 1630. The style is distinctly <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angkor_wat">khmer</a>. It is where the royalties performed religious ceremonies during the Ayutthaya period. The temple also went into ruins with the fall of Ayutthaya in 1767.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b style="color: cyan;">My visit</b></span></div>
All these, I got to know only retrospectively since I was not prepared for a trip to Ayutthaya which came impromptu. I recorded whatever my good uncle was kind enough to take us to, and did the reading afterward. The pictures I took were important for my record such as this one.<br />
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The time was an unflattering midday, and the subject back-lit. I used a 3-stop graduated ND filter to darken the sky. Even that was not quite enough to control the sky, so I did highlight-recovery in the post-processing (which might dilute the look of realism a bit?).<br />
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Whenever I look at this image, it brings some unknown historical imaginations in my mind. I wish to visit this glorious spot once again for a more thorough exploration. The <a href="http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2097023,00.html">current flooding</a> in the region may sadly affect the local economy, but I believe it cannot rob the ancient temple off its significance in Siam's illustrious past.<br />
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To the victims of the flood...!<br />
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Location: <a href="http://maps.google.com.sg/maps?q=Wat+Chaiwatthanaram,+Ban+Pom,+Phra+Nakhon+Si+Ayutthaya,+13000,+Thailand&hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=14.342677,100.542755&spn=0.005561,0.014656&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&geocode=FVfb2gAdcyX-BQ&hnear=Wat+Chaiwatthanaram,+%E0%B8%A7%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%94%E0%B9%84%E0%B8%8A%E0%B8%A2%E0%B8%A7%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%92%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A1,+Ban+Pom,+Ayutthaya,+Phra+Nakhon+Si+Ayutthaya+13000,+Thailand&t=h&z=17&vpsrc=6">Ayutthaya</a>, Thailand<br />
Camera: Nikon D300<br />
Lens: Nikkor 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 VR<br />
ISO: 200<br />
Exposure: 1/800s<br />
Aperture: f/5.6<br />
Focal Length: 18mm<br />
Filter: Gradual gray ND8<br />
Flash: No<br />
Tripod: NoNay Lin Soehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02225119003427471294noreply@blogger.com1Wat Chaiwatthanaram, Ayutthaya, Thailand14.3429994 100.54181114.3391534 100.5368755 14.3468454 100.5467465tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2472490585828285015.post-76134534287434408602011-10-28T02:36:00.001+11:002011-10-31T20:36:41.951+11:00I have a dream<div align="center">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nlsoe/6098849844/sizes/l" title="I have a dream by tranquil-niche, on Flickr"><img alt="I have a dream" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6205/6098849844_be43ae0446_b.jpg" width="98%" /></a> </div>
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Life has taken its turn. I have had a rough ride along. So much so that I was self-deprived of all sorts of writing (or visualization for that matter) for nearly a year. However, dust always settles in due course. For better, or for worse. After all, isn’t the beauty not in never falling, but in getting up after every fall?<br />
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Be the master what it may—chance or destiny. How the fog came down <i>just</i> as we were arriving at the spot early morning! Covering the whole top of the hill and arresting all forms of sunray, I was in the midst of an incredibly swift change in this mountain atmosphere of Malaysia. All gloom and windy. And then slowly, and very subtly, tiny specks of light emerged.<br />
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In no time, rays have perforated the veil of fog. Escaping onto this very land, they have begun to illuminate the little path once again, leaving scattered patches of the Earth revelling in their cosmic glory. Soon, the whole land will be aglow, revealing every stretch of what is beyond till the edges of distant horizons.<br />
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Location: <a href="http://maps.google.com.sg/maps?q=4.513281,101.41556&num=1&vpsrc=0&gl=sg&t=m&z=15" target="_blank">near Brinchang</a>, <a href="http://www.cameronhighlands.com/" target="_blank">Cameron Highlands</a> <br />
Camera: Nikon D300 <br />
Lens: Nikkor 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 VR <br />
ISO: 400 <br />
Exposure: 1/8s <br />
Aperture: f/8.0 <br />
Focal Length: 18mm <br />
Filter: N/A <br />
Flash: No <br />
Tripod: YesNay Lin Soehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02225119003427471294noreply@blogger.com0Cameron Highlands, near Brinchang, Pahang, Malaysia4.5133666309043061 101.410675048828124.5094091309043058 101.40573954882812 4.5173241309043064 101.41561054882813tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2472490585828285015.post-31111842690186366992011-01-03T01:21:00.001+11:002011-10-31T11:51:57.538+11:00silence<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nlsoe/3950441190/sizes/l" title="silence by tranquil-niche, on Flickr"><img alt="silence" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3513/3950441190_7bca6eb1d4_b.jpg" width="66%" /></a></div>
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After nearly 13 years, the old wooden Buddha statue on the shelf in front of my writing-desk is one of the few remaining remainders that I once walked on that native land, Myanmar. A souvenir from my cousin, I have kept it with me throughout the years. What beckoned me, I know not; but it was to this statue I looked at when I thought of creating a simple close-up picture in my room.<br />
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The solemn subject and the contemplative mood of the moment overwhelmingly dictated the style, and I decided to settle with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Low-key_lighting">low key lighting</a>. My writing-desk served as a good platform and the reading-lamp the sole source of lighting. I chose the lamp to be at 10 o'clock direction from the Buddha, since the 2 o'clock would have got the out-stretched hand casting a long shadow on the lap.<br />
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I set the camera on the tripod. To get the background that was being illuminated by the ambient light of the reading-lamp disappeared, a high contrast reading on the camera shooting setting as well as a somewhat precise exposure was required. I took about 4 shots and this is the one I was most satisfied with.<br />
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A much needed antidote for the peace, that has been a long time in coming. Cheers to 2011! <br />
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Location: N/A (well... on my writing desk)<br />
Camera: Nikon D300<br />
Lens: Nikkor 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 VR<br />
ISO: 200<br />
Exposure: 0.3s<br />
Aperture: f/10<br />
Focal Length: 105 mm<br />
Filter: N/A<br />
Flash: No<br />
Tripod: YesNay Lin Soehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02225119003427471294noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2472490585828285015.post-31804530838644568632010-07-22T00:38:00.005+10:002010-07-22T10:57:28.272+10:00the Cathedral<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nlsoe/3436262307/sizes/l" title="the cathedral by tranquil-niche, on Flickr"><img alt="the cathedral" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3623/3436262307_aa597f74ab_b_d.jpg" width="98%" /></a></div><br />
For me, photography is not science; not an end that can be reached by any formulated path. Sure, there is the use of technology & how it is set up in accordance with the laws of Physics which is technique. But the significantly larger portion of the creation owes to the artistic style--how the photographer envisions the scene & the subsequent pursuit of the appropriate time, the point of view & indeed the technique to enact this vision.<br />
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As such, I cannot fathom being secretive when it comes to discussing techniques. A few pros might cite the term trade secret. To that, I counter that what makes a photo special is the unique artistic style ingrained, so why worry about as minute a thing as the technique? As for the amateurs, I see no concern that is remotely sensible. (But then, I admit, there are many things I don't understand in this world.)<br />
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On the other hand, if there are any readers who have got something to take home from the techniques shared by a photographer, these readers could adopt them to open up new creative windows, often resulting in photographs of the places & the things that the original photographer would not possibly reach or indeed has imagined. To me, I consider any sharing photographer courteous when he/she has the pictures accompanied by notes as to the methods as well as the technical data.<br />
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Which has paved way to my original intent of reflecting on the photo of the Cathedral. One thing I personally never make light of in taking pictures is the importance of looking for good objects. <a href="http://photography.nationalgeographic.com/photography/photo-tips/photo-research-richardson/">If one wants a good picture, one should be at a good place</a>. Simple as that. I would not have a picture of a magnificent canyon while shooting in my room.<br />
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A good place the Cathedral is, as this pile of boulder is called, standing in the Mt Buffalo National Park in Victoria, about 3-hour drive from Melbourne. In winter, the ground and the Cathedral will be covered in snow which itself is a different photographic beauty. When I first visited it, it was a little after the autumn noon. I trekked up & down on the nearby hill looking for a good spot. A vantage point is required since it is fairly massive. (The sense of scale could be obtained using the road in the lower-right edge of the frame.)<br />
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After determining a good spot, I decided to come back when the light would be more favourable. As it was, I felt the sense of looking at a barren scene--cloudless sky, bare autumn trees & deeply-shadowed boulders. I envisioned a scene lively with colours and rich with details. It was just before sunset when I returned. Timing was crucial since I had noted that it took 45 minutes of walk to reach the spot.<br />
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As luck had it, I had hit a right moment. Indeed the setting sun had brought an arsenal of warm colours, casting red on the Western face of the huge boulders. The soft light allows the eye to flow from one geological feature to another without the distraction of bright light or deep shadows. At the centre, the Cathedral stood tall, glorified with the glow. From where I stood, the skeletons of bare trees what look like dry grass at the bottom edge, complement the massive form they appear to be 'cushioning'.<br />
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Every minute the colours were changing and I took a few shots on tripod. For this one I increased the colour temperature & the hue to accentuate the red & pink glow. In a matter of 10 minutes or so, all that had been was gone; the gray curtain fell, and the way back was rather low in visibility. <br />
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When at a good spot at a good time, it is harder to get a bad picture.<br />
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Location: <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=cathedral,+mount+buffalo+national+park,+vic,+australia&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=49.176833,79.013672&ie=UTF8&hq=cathedral,&hnear=Mount+Buffalo+National+Park,+Victoria,+Australia&ll=-36.788391,146.682587&spn=0.783058,1.757813&z=10">Mt Buffalo National Park</a>, VIC, Australia<br />
Camera: Nikon D300<br />
Lens: Nikkor 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 VR<br />
ISO: 200<br />
Exposure: 1/25s<br />
Aperture: f/5.6<br />
Focal Length: 32mm<br />
Filter: N/A<br />
Flash: No<br />
Tripod: YesNay Lin Soehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02225119003427471294noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2472490585828285015.post-27566105300337341932010-05-21T11:12:00.005+10:002010-05-26T12:41:37.689+10:00less is more<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nlsoe/4520330186/sizes/l" title="grazers by tranquil-niche, on Flickr"><img alt="grazers" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4017/4520330186_90f9ddecb9_b.jpg" width="98%" /></a><br />
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I have got a fascination with simplicity, and I remain a seeker of it among the complexity (in visual elements as well as inside me). In this southern part of Australia, the countryside --adorn with bright green pastures on undulating hills, often dotted by grazing livestocks--permeates simplicity & peace.<br />
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Yet, in practice, simplicity usually evades my untrained eyes, even in the simplest rural scenes. Put in too much, and it's no longer simple. Isolate too much and the scene loses its context.<br />
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Where skill does not flatter, luck always comes to my rescue. I just happened to have spotted these grazing cattles from far, as I was taking a short break from ride. The bright sunny afternoon had a favourable touch on the greenery. The black cattles made a strong impact with contrast.<br />
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Simplicity bell rang inside me and I tried out a few compositions. At the end, I ended up choosing this shot at 200mm focal length, with others having the cattles too small in size. But luck was not with me all the way. Due to time constraint, I took this handheld and the picture consequently suffers a very minute handshake. <br />
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<div style="text-align: left;">Location: Countryside Tasmania, Australia</div><div style="text-align: left;">Camera: Nikon D300</div><div style="text-align: left;">Lens: Nikkor 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 VR</div>ISO: 200<br />
Exposure: 1/60s<br />
Aperture: f/8.0<br />
Focal Length: 200mm<br />
Filter: N/A<br />
Flash: No<br />
Tripod: NoNay Lin Soehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02225119003427471294noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2472490585828285015.post-10673571547035111042010-02-25T14:11:00.002+11:002010-05-25T19:16:56.899+10:00prehistoric<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nlsoe/3978548949/sizes/l/" title="Prehistoric by tranquil_niche, on Flickr"><img alt="Prehistoric" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2642/3978548949_4226aa7efe_b.jpg" width="98%" /></a></div><br />
This is one part of the cross-promontory walk taken in Wilson's Prom. The 19-km-return hiking starts from <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Mt+oberon+car+park&sll=-39.028252,146.421661&sspn=0.380323,0.617294&ie=UTF8&cd=1&hq=Mt+oberon+car+park&hnear=&ll=-39.059183,146.385269&spn=0.183413,0.308647&t=p&z=12">Mt Oberon carpark</a> in the West to <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Sealers+Cove&sll=-39.059183,146.385269&sspn=0.183413,0.308647&ie=UTF8&hq=Sealers+Cove&split=1&hnear=&ll=-39.068513,146.416168&spn=0.190053,0.308647&t=p&z=12&iwloc=A">Sealers Cove</a> on the East coast, involving moderate climbing. As we approached Sealers Cove from the West, the slopes suddenly gave way to a long level path, defined by neatly-laid wooden steps. It wound among tall trees, a couple of little ponds & this <i>spot of intrigue</i> before eventually hitting the coastline. <br />
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There was no direct sunlight; the strong sun-rays of the noon were contained by the trees about us. The resulting illumination of the foliage was exotic--there was a feel of green to it, but mixed with a touch of yellow. As opposed to the lighting from above along the earlier stretch of the hike, the light here was amiably diffused yet still very bright, permeating among the multitude of leaves without casting distinct shadows.<br />
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The trees were not unlike what we had seen earlier but here they stood more densely, conveying the mood of confinement without the visible sky. Fallen leaves covered the ground. Here & there, there were remnants of fallen trunks, half-standing trees & little plants. Truly there was hardly anything out of ordinary at this spot. Yet as the saying goes, the whole is more than the sum of its parts. The putting together of these simple things, for me, became a scene of some time immemorial where different looking creatures walked, as imagined by artists.<br />
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As much as the scene was fascinating, I found myself being unable to replicate the essence of it in a picture. The few shots I took initially didn't look so bad in themselves, but all lacked the mood of antiquity that I felt in the whole. So I decided to include more by creating a whole with parts--3 shorts stitched into a panoramic. Better, yet still it wouldn't quite do, but the 10 minutes I had given myself at this spot was up, as we were following a tight schedule.<br />
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Location: <a href="http://www.parkweb.vic.gov.au/1park_display.cfm?park=217">Wilson's Promontory</a>, Victoria, Australia<br />
Camera: Nikon D300<br />
Lens: Nikkor 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 VR<br />
ISO: 200<br />
Exposure: 1/10s<br />
Aperture: f/3.5<br />
Focal Length: 18mm (3 photos)<br />
Filter: N/A<br />
Flash: No<br />
Tripod: NoNay Lin Soehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02225119003427471294noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2472490585828285015.post-55261224918402899942010-01-27T21:38:00.000+11:002010-06-01T12:14:54.510+10:00bathe in gold<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nlsoe/3895886499/sizes/l" title="bathe in gold by tranquil-niche, on Flickr"><img alt="bathe in gold" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2601/3895886499_27a3e658bb_b.jpg" width="98%" /></a><br />
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There is specific time of a day when the quality of the light is just pleasant. At early and late hours of the day time, the colour of the sun-rays is mellow, rich in warm hues--pink, orange, gold--void completely of any harshness that is associated with the mid-day light. Golden hours; thus do I think of them.<br />
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When the light is 'right' and the scene is there, there is very little chance anyone will miss a good shot with a minimal effort. Such was my luck when I encountered these yachts in Williamstown. All I had to care about was to put on a gradual gray ND8 filter (to bring the lightness of the sky and the water much closer). And voila, do I like the gold tones!<br />
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If there was one thing I could wish for, I'd only wish I could rise 10m above ground so that the whole expanse of the yachts would stretch in front, leading to the distant <a href="http://www.westgatebridge.org/">Westgate Bridge</a>, that is now barely visible in the background in this picture. I'd love the depth of that picture.<br />
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Location: <a href="http://www.williamstowninfo.com.au/">Williamstown</a>, Melbourne, Australia<br />
Camera: Nikon D300<br />
Lens: Nikkor 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 VR<br />
ISO: 200<br />
Exposure: 1/50s<br />
Aperture: f/5.6<br />
Focal Length: 50mm <br />
Filter: Gradual gray ND8<br />
Flash: No<br />
Tripod: NoNay Lin Soehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02225119003427471294noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2472490585828285015.post-89804979513227109122010-01-22T13:41:00.004+11:002010-05-26T12:40:46.449+10:00Earthly Mother<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nlsoe/4281476898/sizes/l" title="Earthly Mother by tranquil-niche, on Flickr"><img alt="Earthly Mother" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2763/4281476898_24f93fb396_b.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="98%" /></a><br />
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I quite enjoy trekking <a href="http://maps.google.com.au/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=dandenong+ranges+national+park&sll=-37.832312,145.358327&sspn=0.049758,0.111494&gl=au&g=Mount+Dandenong+VIC&ie=UTF8&hq=dandenong+ranges+national+park&hnear=Dandenong+Ranges+National+Park,+Victoria&ll=-37.851408,145.378647&spn=0.096101,0.222988&z=13">around Dandenong Ranges National Park</a> frequently. Little falls, sun-lit gullies, fern trees, cool air, winding paths--and above all, being around the mountains--all reaffirm my sense of connection with the motherly nature. In all my crisscrossing of these hills, the one place I kept missing, until recently, to stop by was <i>William Ricketts Sanctuary</i>--a quiet refuge of sculptures perpetually attesting one man's love of the Nature.<br />
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The one man, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Ricketts">William Ricketts</a>, lived to spread the message that "life is love". In whichever words could be better than his own: <i>Each one of us is a transformer of Divine Power and when love finds form in sculpture and music we are richly blessed because through such we can reach God. The only way to retain love for oneself is to give it abundantly to others, so your brother William Ricketts hopes you will share and enjoy all these things with me.</i><br />
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There is a feel of mysticism & spirituality in Ricketts' <a href="http://www.flickriver.com/photos/nlsoe/sets/72157623101992223/">creations</a>. Not incongruous with the surrounding mountains if I may add. Among many, the <i>Earthly Mother</i>, sits in a raised cloister. By design or nature, the lighting from the sky falls on the Mother like a spotlight, with the surrounding dimly shrouded in boughs and branches. The ongoing precipitation during my visit added a touch of another source of life--water. Water embracing the Earthly Mother!<br />
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The atmosphere was catching, so much so that I ended up forgetting to mind the precarious situation of using the camera under the drizzle. (It still works.) I was mindful of selecting an apporpriate height. I wanted the ferns behind the Mother to stand out (they look ornamental to me), without dominating the scene. The place itself has added a vignetting to the scene which goes well with the mood I think. As I felt the urge to preserve the mystic atmosphere, I chose to underexpose slightly.<br />
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Location: <a href="http://www.parkweb.vic.gov.au/1park_display.cfm?park=216">William Ricketts Sanctuary</a>, Melbourne, Australia<br />
Camera: Nikon D300<br />
Lens: Nikkor 12-24mm f/4 <br />
ISO: 400<br />
Exposure: 1/40s<br />
Aperture: f/4<br />
Focal Length: 12mm <br />
Filter: N/A<br />
Flash: No<br />
Tripod: NoNay Lin Soehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02225119003427471294noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2472490585828285015.post-80240247268170725082010-01-11T16:55:00.002+11:002010-05-26T12:40:16.245+10:00Wallace's Hut<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nlsoe/3440843160/sizes/l" title="Wallace's Hut by tranquil-niche, on Flickr"><img alt="Wallace's Hut" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3342/3440843160_670739163e_b.jpg" width="98%" /></a><br />
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One historical spot around the Alpine National Park in Victoria is <a href="http://www.parkweb.vic.gov.au/1process_details.cfm?place=164">Wallace's Hut</a>. Built in 1889, it has just turned 120 years. Originally meant to be a refuge for the mining workers in the region, the Hut now stands a heritage site with historical notes. Visitors are to follow strict codes of conduct in order to preserve the originality.<br />
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The 'rusty' spots such as this have never failed to attract me. Fortunate that I got to take a picture of it. Such a remote spot. Unfortunate that the time of the day wasn't exactly conducive to good lighting. The mid-afternoon sun had moved to cast strong shadows on various spots while keeping the rest of the field brightly-lit. The contrasty scene was just harsh. I knew then that I would not get that picture of 'fresh' look I had had in mind--a little hut under soft & warm light surrounded by a forest. Now, whatever I could get.<br />
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I quite liked the spot I stood at. From where I looked, the Hut was nicely framed between the branch & the rocks. The disturbance though was the overly-lit rocks that were impeding a good look at the Hut behind. (Yes, the time of the day again!) I took out my GND8 filter and put the darker side at the bottom. Now only, the rocks as well as the green lawn behind had toned down their luminosity to allow the Hut to shine. The 'fresh' look that I had wanted never came to show though.<br />
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Location: <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Wallace%27s+Hut&hl=en&cd=1&ei=GbBKS8y8IpLkoATg0eHtBA&sig2=Y4ZrV6rT46GVMraztxa5Kg&sll=-36.869734,147.279282&sspn=0.403199,0.891953&ie=UTF8&view=map&cid=12588213757021604519&ved=0CBcQpQY&hq=Wallace%27s+Hut&hnear=&ll=-36.79334,147.350693&spn=0.403602,0.891953&z=11&iwloc=A">near Fallscreek</a>, <a href="http://www.visitvictoria.com/displayobject.cfm/objectid.00034C30-86B8-1ED6-869180C476A90000/">Victoria High Country</a>, VIC, Australia<br />
Camera: Nikon D300<br />
Lens: Nikkor 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 VR<br />
ISO: 200<br />
Exposure: 1/50s<br />
Aperture: f/8<br />
Focal Length: 18mm <br />
Filter: GND8<br />
Flash: No<br />
Tripod: NoNay Lin Soehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02225119003427471294noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2472490585828285015.post-21944719014657517252010-01-07T15:31:00.002+11:002011-10-31T11:50:00.271+11:00stay with me<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nlsoe/3537977803/sizes/l" title="stay with me by tranquil-niche, on Flickr"><img alt="stay with me" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2270/3537977803_eef5015f07_b.jpg" width="98%" /></a></div>
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It was purely accidental. Or at least a part of it was. It started with my fascination to take a picture of twin items next to each other, suggesting one of them to be more prominent than the other. My plan to accomplish this was to find two items of the same kind standing side by side, one of them <i>slightly</i> further away from the lens. With an appropriate depth of field, one should be in focus and the other blurry while appearing almost of the same size.<br />
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There, I found these 2 wild flowers on the University Square's lawn. With one hanging not a lot further behind than the other, I thought I would need to select a razor-thin DOF (say f/1.8). However, practically anything less than f/5.6 makes the 'secondary' flower too blurred for my liking. One contributing factor was the close focusing distance. Thus, with all intent and purpose, I got what I was looking for--the primary-and-secondary shot.<br />
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But then, upon reviewing the shot on the computer later, I got a <i>further</i> idea. A further feeling if one may. I feel a story. A conversation involving a speaker and a listener:<i> </i><br />
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<i>The speaker has come from far overcoming many things, finally crossing a small bridge that stems into the frame from the left. At the dead-end tip of the bridge, the speaker now stands; apparently furthest can it reach. There, the speaker tilts (to the right), reaching out. It has found the intended listener. Beckoning, the speaker has one last to do. To say. To say such words that fill the title of the picture.</i><br />
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Location: <a href="http://www.unimelb.edu.au/">University of Melbourne</a>, Australia<br />
Camera: Nikon D300<br />
Lens: Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D<br />
ISO: 200<br />
Exposure: 1/250s<br />
Aperture: f/5.6<br />
Focal Length: 50mm <br />
Filter: N/A<br />
Flash: No<br />
Tripod: NoNay Lin Soehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02225119003427471294noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2472490585828285015.post-27487564623906354102009-12-11T17:27:00.004+11:002010-06-01T12:20:09.340+10:00misty morning<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nlsoe/2183868347/sizes/l" title="misty morning by tranquil-niche, on Flickr"><img alt="misty morning" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2184/2183868347_783b42bd96_b.jpg" width="98%" /></a><br />
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Once in a while, most of us visit places for the first time to explore; to see what they are like. But at times, we stop for a moment in our life, get out of our daily routines & make it a point to get back to faraway places that we've once been to. Merely out of a desire to see it again.<br />
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My indescribable sentiment for such lies in, among a few others, Shan State of Myanmar. Mountains, mist, cool weather, people & all the longing feeling. And Shan State it was, that I went back to at the first opportunity after 14 years. Upon leaving <a href="http://www.tranquil-niche.com/2009/10/overlooking.html">Taunggyi</a>, I went to stay at a nearby town, Kalaw, for a couple of days. <br />
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The lovely little town sits among hills. The houses are usually small, yet neat. Most streets wind through hillsides & slopes, lined with pine trees. The white & yellow pagodas lie here & there at various reaches of the streets, wherein stay the devotion of the simple-minded & religious locals. In early mornings, this landscape will be covered with layers of mist, until the sun rays disperse them to glisten the dew drops hanging at the tip of pine needles.<br />
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Often, it is not the aesthetic, but the content of the picture that is sought. In other words, it is artistry with deliberation vs spontaneously catching what is at the moment. In my effort to reach a hilltop at an early morning hour at the annoyance of my accompany, this portrayal of a misty morning would fall a bit more closely to the latter. A visual memory. <br />
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Indeed, 'tranquil' was picked before I thought of 'niche' to pair it with (hence <i>tranquil niche</i>). Had there been a source of inspiration that triggered my first & foremost fascination with the word 'tranquil' to express myself, it would have been the quiet & peaceful scapes of Shan. If ever there were one place in Myanmar that I would choose to live my life in all peacefulness, that would be Kalaw. A little house at a hill-top would be not at all inappropriate.<br />
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Location: <a href="http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/irax/rtw_2005/1125126660/tpod.html">Kalaw</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myanmar">Myanmar</a><br />
Camera: Canon EOS 30D<br />
Lens: Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS<br />
ISO: 100<br />
Exposure: 1/100s<br />
Aperture: f/10<br />
Focal Length: 38mm <br />
Filter: N/A<br />
Flash: No<br />
Tripod: NoNay Lin Soehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02225119003427471294noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2472490585828285015.post-40721448812551123232009-11-26T17:23:00.004+11:002010-06-01T12:20:09.343+10:00let there be light<div align="center"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nlsoe/3870137669/sizes/l" title="let there be light by tranquil-niche, on Flickr"><img alt="let there be light" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2619/3870137669_7cf956a283_b.jpg" width="98%" /></a><br />
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When I traveled in Victoria's High Country during one <a href="http://www.tranquil-niche.com/2009/10/alpine-autumn-colours.html">autumn</a>, I was finally going to have a chance to capture 'mountain light'. In the mountains, the atmosphere is different. There is haze & mist, casting colours & softness in light rays. Peaks are illuminated by the setting & rising sun, while deep shadows are cast in valleys.<br />
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When I got at this spot in Mt Buffalo National Park in an early morning, the sun had emerged beyond the barriers of the mountains, contrary to what I had planned. Fortunately or unfortunately, it wasn't a clear morning. There were layers of clouds in the sky, behind which the sun was hidden. While I was indulging in a small disappointment, a different kind of revelation came. Out of the dark cloudscape, some rays of light escaped to the land below, as though there had been a sudden heavenly opening through which the rays had finally been let go for a purpose. The illumination was selective and its path rich with warm colours. <br />
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I was pleasantly taken. I looked through the viewfinder and zoomed in a little to fill the frame with the section of the vast landscape in front of me, including the top of the nearest mountain as a foreground. I put the gradual gray ND8 to balance the dynamic range. Selecting an exposure became an agony for me. I knew that the final image would be done with only one shot (not being an ardent fan of HDR), yet some selective parts such as the foreground would be just too dark it I was to maintain the ray distinct. The valleys were to be dark, but not pitch black as they were going to appear.<br />
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I only did what I knew how to do, never been quite in this kind of 'spraying of light'. For all my efforts to get a reasonable exposure, a proper post-processing was inevitable. I've heard that in Photoshop, using layers & blending properties would solve this kind of dynamic range issue. I just don't happen to know how to do this. The result of my retouching using Capture NX had to settle with some dark spots, though the ray was saved!<br />
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Indeed it was largely a guess-work on my part. I was never sure if I would get anything pleasant to be looked at. If there is at all a grain of artistry in the final output, that would be a day I could always look back as luck being on my side. I must confess though that all the composition & the exposure decisions I made were solely driven by the desire to preserve the ray (almost at any cost). So much so that whether this has cost the various other elements in the frame would remain subjectively debatable. Where I stand on this, should be transparent enough (however technically-naive this may seem to the learned ones). <br />
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Location: <a href="http://www.visitalpinevictoria.com.au/pages/mount-buffalo-national-park-victoria-australia/">Mt Buffalo National Park</a>, VIC, Australia<br />
Camera: Nikon D300<br />
Lens: Nikkor 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 VR<br />
ISO: 200<br />
Exposure: 1/20s<br />
Aperture: f/8.0<br />
Focal Length: 40mm <br />
Filter: Gradual ND8<br />
Flash: No<br />
Tripod: YesNay Lin Soehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02225119003427471294noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2472490585828285015.post-52328239526602691202009-11-21T05:27:00.004+11:002010-06-01T12:14:54.513+10:00old rail<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nlsoe/3962690200/sizes/l" title="boat rail by tranquil-niche, on Flickr"><img alt="boat rail" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2544/3962690200_f26874f7be_b.jpg" width="98%" /></a><br />
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I remember I was once seeking an <i>old port</i>. I wanted to add a rusty touch to a seascape in dim light. However, my reach to places around is limited, especially at night since I do not own a car--one reason why I haven't fully explored all the beaches around Melbourne. That day, I happened to be at St Kilda. After sunset, I came by this, and decided to settle (for now) my quest with it.<br />
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In fact, it is neither a port nor a rusty. It's simply a rail on which smaller boats are put to water. Whether it is still in use, I know not. But <i>it kind of looked old</i>. I first took aim for a shot right at the upper end of the rail, pointing to the other end. The converging rail-lines lead the eyes, but not quite showing the length of the rail. So I moved left (after going right), and there the old rail at full length!<br />
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For exposure, the rail is quite dark compared to the bright lights from the Jetty & the distant line of boats. So I used a gradual gray ND8, darkening the upper frame. (It has its use at night too, it turned out.) The filter caused some purple flares near the top edge (in the left half), but ones I could live with. The f/3.5 I used, coupled with the widest 18mm, is a torture to the lens, i.e. to ask it to give its worst performance. All these, because I didn't want to increase the ISO. Yet, I'm quite content with the result.<br />
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Location: <a href="http://www.melbourne.com.au/stkilda.htm">St Kilda</a>, Melbourne, Australia<br />
Camera: Nikon D300<br />
Lens: Nikkor 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 VR<br />
ISO: 200<br />
Exposure: 30s<br />
Aperture: f/3.5<br />
Focal Length: 18mm <br />
Filter: Gradual ND8<br />
Flash: No<br />
Tripod: YesNay Lin Soehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02225119003427471294noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2472490585828285015.post-39642873868816630112009-11-15T16:22:00.001+11:002010-05-26T12:40:16.247+10:00eternal flame<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nlsoe/3625251452/sizes/l" title="Eternal Flame by tranquil-niche, on Flickr"><img alt="Eternal Flame" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2476/3625251452_d261d681b7_b.jpg" width="98%" /></a><br />
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If you travel around Australia, you will see <i>War Memorials</i> in almost every city & bigger town. For the Australians, those fallen in wars have a permanent place in their hearts: <i>lest we forget, these fellows died defending what we are & have today</i>. The <i>War Shrines</i> in capital cities, like this one in Melbourne, are stately, majestic & solemn--a testament to the profound fondness attributed to the fallens.<br />
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The Melbourne's <i>Shrine of Remembrance </i>was initially built to commemorate the Australian soldiers who died in World War I. The time of the armistice, at the 11th hour on the 11th of November, is chosen and memorial ceremony is held yearly. The Shrine has progressively been modified to accommodate those from WWII, Korean, Vietnam & First Gulf Wars. The original 11-11-11 ceremonial tradition however is still upheld.<br />
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Outside the shrine, the <i>Eternal Flame</i> burns. As the name suggests, the flame has not been put out since its very first flicker; nor will it be--an exquisite allusion to the perpetual memory. Strangely, it is the Flame that attracted me to the Shrine. I wanted to capture the Flame. However not only by itself, but in the context of the Shrine.<br />
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After walking around, I found this convenient spot. I would have liked to have a higher vantage point: the 18-mm focal length didn't allow me to go closer, yet I wanted the flame to appear totally unobstructed from the rim of the hand-grill. However, I couldn't stand higher than tip-toeing already. I would also have wanted the corner of the platform sticking into the frame on the right edge disappear, but recomposing to exclude it would have altered the balance, I felt. So this is how I decided to settle eventually.<br />
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I used an Gradual ND8 filter to bring the brightness of the sky & that of the foreground closer. The clouds do stand out as a result, but perhaps the filter was one-stop too strong (GND4 might have been better), for the marbles of the Shrine appear slightly dimmer than those at the base of the Flame.<br />
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Location: <a href="http://www.shrine.org.au/">Shrine of Remembrance</a>, Melbourne, Australia<br />
Camera: Nikon D300<br />
Lens: Nikkor 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 VR<br />
ISO: 250<br />
Exposure: 1/80s<br />
Aperture: f/8<br />
Focal Length: 18mm <br />
Filter: Gradual ND8<br />
Flash: No<br />
Tripod: NoNay Lin Soehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02225119003427471294noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2472490585828285015.post-62707599231790408542009-11-11T21:30:00.004+11:002011-10-31T11:49:04.609+11:00peace be with you<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nlsoe/4088075603/sizes/l" title="back no more by tranquil-niche, on Flickr"><img alt="back no more" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3570/4088075603_12872362fb_b.jpg" width="98%" /></a></div>
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I usually like to make small items stand taller in pictures. More often than not, I would lie down next to small things on ground, rather than shooting downward. It gives a totally different perspective--what they would appear to be if we were to stand <i>face to face</i> with them--as well as the stature denied to them in their daily encounter with <i>us</i>.<br />
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This picture was taken for a reason. I wanted to see how sharp the lens is at the telephoto end--200mm. A shutter speed fast enough is the counterweight to the loss of sharpness due to the subject's movement as well as hand-shake. Generally, with a fairly steady subject, the rule of thumb for hand-held shooting is the speed being at least as fast as <i>1/focal length</i> second. That is to say, for instance, 200mm shot should be done with at least as fast as 1/200s. Here, with VR on, I settled for 1/125s.<br />
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With the motion blur at the minimum (I hope), the result I think is decent. I have done a bit of cropping in the post-processing. The resulting 'bigger' image exhibited more noise (from ISO 400), especially in the background blur (<i>bokeh</i>) area, so I applied a small amount of noise reduction on it.<br />
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Location: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlton_Gardens,_Melbourne">Carlton Gardens</a>, Melbourne, VIC, Australia<br />
Camera: Nikon D300<br />
Lens: Nikkor 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 VR<br />
ISO: 400<br />
Exposure: 1/125s<br />
Aperture: f/5.6<br />
Focal Length: 200mm <br />
Filter: N/A<br />
Flash: No<br />
Tripod: NoNay Lin Soehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02225119003427471294noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2472490585828285015.post-51691740567796078852009-11-05T16:26:00.003+11:002010-05-26T12:40:16.249+10:00St Paul's Cathedral<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nlsoe/3735353508/sizes/l" title="St Paul's Cathedral by tranquil_niche, on Flickr"><img alt="St Paul's Cathedral" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3613/3735353508_7ebfabb627_b.jpg" width="66%" /></a><br />
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St Paul's Cathedral is the seat of the Anglican Archbishop of Melbourne. It has been one of the places that captured my eyes immediately upon my first arrival in Melbourne. Magnificent as the exterior is, I had since wanted to have some interior shots of this one of the landmarks of Melbourne. My somewhat elusive opportunity came on <a href="http://melbourneopenhouse.org/">Melbourne Open House 2009</a> day.<br />
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Along with many other public buildings, the Cathedral was open for admiration & photography on the day. Long queues were a common sight. After some half an hour waiting, I finally got a chance to step inside. The holy place was awe-inspiring. <br />
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My principal objective was to have a length-wise shot. A common practice would have been to stand at the entrance and point the camera toward the sanctuary, opposite to what I have done here. I would have liked that too, but it was a busy day. The visitor crowd was dispersed to virtually everywhere and I couldn't observe a single moment when the main aisle was relatively empty.<br />
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So I had to come to the opposite end and did the other way around. After all, that was also another length-wise shot, wasn't it? As usual, I was focal-length-limited. The widest 18mm I had wasn't enough for the angle of view I desired to capture the height. I had to resort to stitching from 4 shots. Slow shutter speed but no time for tripod and the requirement of proper alignment for stitching. All these I somehow managed by holding my breath at each time of exposure.<br />
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Location: <a href="http://www.stpaulscathedral.org.au/">St Paul's Cathedral</a>, Melbourne, Australia<br />
Camera: Nikon D300<br />
Lens: Nikkor 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 VR<br />
ISO: 200<br />
Exposure: 1/8s<br />
Aperture: f/3.5<br />
Focal Length: 18mm (4 pictures)<br />
Filter: N/A<br />
Flash: No<br />
Tripod: NoNay Lin Soehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02225119003427471294noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2472490585828285015.post-9238611571626096992009-11-01T18:25:00.005+11:002011-10-31T11:54:44.221+11:00leaflet<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nlsoe/3407179998/" title="leaflet by tranquil_niche, on Flickr"><img alt="leaflet" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3592/3407179998_fa362228bd_b.jpg" width="98%" /></a></div>
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I had just got my first prime lens--50mm f/1.8D--and was very keen on seeing what this little cheap glass could do. 50mm on a camera with an APS-C sensor (like D300) translates to about 75mm in a normal format, and thus a moderate tele. As such, not exactly a typical landscape lens. It so happened that my initial test-subjects turned out to be, yes, leaves. <br />
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Leaves because first, I like them. Second, composed appropriately, I'd have a chance to see the quality of the background blur (or <i>bokeh</i>) from this wide f/1.8. Out of many leaves scattered around the University Square, I came to this singleton on a bench.<br />
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My initial thought of carrying out the capturing with f/1.8 didn't exactly materialize. So narrow was the depth of field at f/1.8 that even the nearest and the furthest parts of the leaf could not stay in 'focus' at the same time. Wonderful as it was, the presentation aspect of the picture was rather weak, in my taste.<br />
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Stopping down to f/5.6, the whole leaf came to stay in focus, just. Remarkable how the texture on the wood comes from a blurred look to a sharp one, and then goes blur again. The green stands quite in contrast against the dark brown. <br />
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Location: <a href="http://www.unimelb.edu.au/">University of Melbourne</a>, Australia<br />
Camera: Nikon D300<br />
Lens: Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D<br />
ISO: 200<br />
Exposure: 1/125s<br />
Aperture: f/5.6<br />
Focal Length: 50mm <br />
Filter: N/A<br />
Flash: No<br />
Tripod: NoNay Lin Soehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02225119003427471294noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2472490585828285015.post-22151527393510290872009-10-30T17:52:00.003+11:002010-05-25T19:03:57.996+10:00creepy<div align="center"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nlsoe/3548705250/sizes/l" title="awaits you by tranquil_niche, on Flickr"><img alt="awaits you" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3081/3548705250_a1a9fb95f9_b.jpg" width="98%" /></a><br />
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I often pass by this part of the University when I go for jogging. Strictly speaking, this is one of the 11 residential colleges of the University, and as such does not offer any study program per se. Its main purpose is to provide accommodation with rich academic atmosphere (tutorials, mentoring) and extracurricular programs (sports & activities).<br />
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When talked about the architecture of the University, we cannot leave out the colleges. They have, among others, uniquely looking buildings, vast lawns, sport ground & tree-lines. This particular spot at Queen's college had captured my attention for a while. There is one relatively isolated building, a footpath, a few trees and an expansive lawn in its front, which combined together, create that feel of tranquility. <br />
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Last autumn, when I was moving about the campus to capture the autumn foliage, I decided to come here which by then had its lawn covered with fallen dry leaves, red in colour. As I wanted to emphasize the bed of dry leaves, I lowered the camera to a few inches above the ground. My initial intent was to convey a pensive mood reflecting the change and its cycle.<br />
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But when I looked at the picture on the screen, I began to entertain a different idea. There are fallen leaves. The trees are half-bare. And there is one isolated building with a few clouds in the backdrop. I tried converting to black & white, applying a red filter to lighten up the dry leaves. The resulting image had none of the original mood left. In its stead, there is a feeling of desolateness & eerie mood which I like a lot. <br />
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Location: <a href="http://www.queens.unimelb.edu.au/">Queen's College</a>, <a href="http://www.unimelb.edu.au/">University of Melbourne</a>, Australia<br />
Camera: Nikon D300<br />
Lens: Nikkor 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 VR<br />
ISO: 400<br />
Exposure: 1/50s<br />
Aperture: f/13<br />
Focal Length: 18mm <br />
Filter: N/A<br />
Flash: No<br />
Tripod: NoNay Lin Soehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02225119003427471294noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2472490585828285015.post-31840895878236645592009-10-18T21:44:00.003+11:002010-05-25T19:02:27.933+10:00alpine autumn colours<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nlsoe/3444101664/sizes/l" title="Alpine autumn colours by tranquil_niche, on Flickr"><img alt="Alpine autumn colours" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3574/3444101664_2980707ca3_b.jpg" width="98%" /></a><br />
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Autumn is time of colours. Once autumn reaches the alpine forests in the highlands of Victoria, the tall glamorous trees receive it fashionably, dressed in exotic red, yellow & orange. When morning sun-rays hit the surface of the leaves, they add colour-tints to the surrounding light, thereby illuminating the various small paths beneath the trees with exquisite shadings. <br />
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The alpine region is large, occupying the north-eastern part of VIC. In winter, most of it will be covered in snow. <a href="http://www.fallscreek.com.au/">Fallscreek</a>, <a href="http://www.mtbuller.com.au/">Mt Buller</a>, <a href="http://www.mthotham.com.au/">Mt Hotham</a> & <a href="http://www.mountbawbaw.com.au/">Mt Baw Baw</a> are just some of the popular skiing resorts. Before the snow comes, during autumn, the land is transformed by the sheer exquisite beauty of the colourful foliage worn by the alpine trees.<br />
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A moderate telephoto has compressed the tree lines, appearing dense. I had two shots--with & without the car. I think the car put some life into the scene, and thus picked the one with it. The road entering the frame from the right-bottom and turning <i>into </i>it before disappearing behind the trees, conveys a sense of inward-looking. <br />
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Location: Along <a href="http://maps.google.com.au/maps?hl=en&client=firefox-a&q=Happy+Valley+Rd,+VIC+3737+map&ie=UTF8&gl=au&ei=7ebaSojOPMGekQWTpZzJDg&ved=0CBIQ8gEwAA&hq=&hnear=Happy+Valley+Rd,+Rosewhite+VIC+3737&z=12">Happy Valley Rd</a>, <a href="http://www.visitvictoria.com/displayobject.cfm/objectid.00034C30-86B8-1ED6-869180C476A90000/">Victoria High Country</a>, VIC, Australia<br />
Camera: Nikon D300<br />
Lens: Nikkor 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 VR<br />
ISO: 200<br />
Exposure: 1/125s<br />
Aperture: f/8<br />
Focal Length: 120mm <br />
Filter: N/A<br />
Flash: No<br />
Tripod: NoNay Lin Soehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02225119003427471294noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2472490585828285015.post-37639875057970766322009-10-14T18:36:00.009+11:002010-06-01T12:20:09.345+10:00overlooking<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nlsoe/2183833377/" title="overlooking Shwe Nyaung by tranquil_niche, on Flickr"><img alt="overlooking Shwe Nyaung" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2389/2183833377_b6e827c4f6_b.jpg" width="98%" /></a><br />
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One of the scenes that always stays vivid in my memory is the misty view of Taunggyi City from a nearby hill. The capital of Shan State in Myanmar stands on top of a hill on Shan Plateau, being true to the literal meaning of its name--big mountain. For one traveling on road from the central plains of Myanmar, one has to first ascend Shan Plateau. A couple of hundred kms in on the Plateau, crossing undulating hills, one will get to the 'base' of Taunggyi, from where one follows a winding road to get atop, only to be ushered in at the windings' end by this enchanting little hill-top city.<br />
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Here from Mya Sein Taung (or Mt Mya Sein) which is a taller hill adjacent to the one on which Taunggyi sits, the view is always of a great serenity. The rising sun had just begun illuminating the hill-top with warm colours, fully embraced by the early January chill. Just beyond the hill, mist-covered Nyaung Shwe plain starts it stretch till it touches the base of massive ranges at the far end. <br />
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That was the first time I had ever touched mountain dew. Herein lies the misty scape, once traversed by the very two eyes. In their wake, laid were the footprints of yearning, infused with fragments of nostalgia. To Taunggyi with love...<br />
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Location: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taunggyi">Taunggyi</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myanmar">Myanmar</a><br />
Camera: Canon EOS 30D<br />
Lens: Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS<br />
ISO: 100<br />
Exposure: 1/500s<br />
Aperture: f/5.6<br />
Focal Length: 85mm <br />
Filter: N/A<br />
Flash: No<br />
Tripod: NoNay Lin Soehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02225119003427471294noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2472490585828285015.post-10050417193133587482009-10-09T23:35:00.021+11:002010-06-01T12:14:20.172+10:00simple<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nlsoe/3983686630/sizes/l" title="simple by tranquil_niche, on Flickr"><img alt="simple" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3490/3983686630_8667583531_b.jpg" width="98%" /></a><br />
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They say that Wilson's Promontory--or simply <i>The Prom</i> as the local people affectionately call--has a number of the most beautiful beaches in Victoria. This little promontory is the southernmost part of the main Australian Continent. Along the shoreline, mountains cut into the sea and create magnificent bays, such as Norman Bay above.<br />
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Beneath, there is squeaky sand. The field is broad and smooth. Behind, there are trees & hills. On left & right, there are mountains. Ahead, the endless sea, dotted with tiny islands. And above, the ever-blue sky.<br />
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No single picture does justice to the splendor of the land that lies about. Nor does this panorama of 3 photos. However, the panorama comes closer in delivering what any single photo would have fallen short of--the sense of continuation, inclusion & space.<br />
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Location: Norman Bay, <a href="http://www.parkweb.vic.gov.au/1park_display.cfm?park=217">Wilson's Promontory</a>, VIC, Australia<br />
Camera: Nikon D300<br />
Lens: Nikkor 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 VR<br />
ISO: 200<br />
Exposure: 1/60s<br />
Aperture: f/11<br />
Focal Length: 18mm (3 photos)<br />
Filter: N/A <br />
Flash: No<br />
Tripod: NoNay Lin Soehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02225119003427471294noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2472490585828285015.post-87402009845309769602009-09-30T01:46:00.012+10:002011-12-14T02:21:40.182+11:00castaway<div align="center">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nlsoe/3965133122/sizes/l" title="broken by tranquil_niche, on Flickr"><img alt="broken" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3418/3965133122_798a543cfa_b.jpg" width="80%" /></a></div>
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For me, <i>the </i>integral part of photo composition is arranging of subjects. No, I don't mean physically placing in order the subjects to be photographed. (Some are a little too heavy or strongly-footed to be moved, especially in a landscape.)<br />
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But, selecting a point from which things <i>appear</i> to occupy different parts of the frame. Closer ones are bigger. Ones with more light falling on them are brighter. Ones that are at the focus-point of the lens are sharper. And they all stand a better chance of being looked at (in the photo) before others. If there is a distinct path in a picture along which <i>most </i>viewers' eyes move involuntarily while savouring the visual elements, I would consider the picture at least neat, at most very appealing. <br />
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Here on St Kilda beach, the sun was setting. The light however wasn't not low enough for a long exposure shot to 'weave' the water. An ND8 filter with the smallest aperture gave me an ample 10s period. True to my liking, what water! I raised the colour temperature to accentuate the pink tones of the sunset.<br />
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Let's look. The broken branch is the entry point. That's where we <i>are </i>taken to begin. Because it's nearest & biggest. Then, most eyes will wander around the row of rocks and the surreal-looking water surrounding them in the mid-ground. And at last, many will end up gazing at the far-away line of boats and the sky behind them partially tinged with the setting sun. Some might repeat the order again.<br />
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Now, that is the path! Or, at least that's how I <i>wish </i>it to be.<br />
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Location: <a href="http://www.melbourne.com.au/stkilda.htm">St Kilda</a>, Melbourne, Australia<br />
Camera: Nikon D300<br />
Lens: Nikkor 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 VR<br />
ISO: 100<br />
Exposure: 10s<br />
Aperture: f/25<br />
Focal Length: 22mm<br />
Filter: ND8 <br />
Flash: No<br />
Tripod: YesNay Lin Soehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02225119003427471294noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2472490585828285015.post-50853362682197453782009-09-16T17:15:00.010+10:002010-05-26T12:40:16.251+10:00glowing landmark<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nlsoe/2184609534/" title="the glowing landmark by tranquil_niche, on Flickr"><img alt="the glowing landmark" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2092/2184609534_1a9a1f640d_b.jpg" width="98%" /></a><br />
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Shwedagon Pagoda is in Yangon, Myanmar. At 326 ft, it is considered to be the largest pagoda in the world. Depending on what is being looked for, large structures may demand a good vantage point to be seen from. While a close-up look (from the base of the structure) with a wide angle could infuse perspective & artistry, a telephoto shot from a good vantage point from some distance gives a big picture of how it stands (gigantically) among others on the surface of the Earth. Usually, a vantage point is higher or at least at half the height, at some distance.<br />
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I didn't plan for this. I came to have dinner at the apartment of my friend's. Then, there was this view seen from where we sat. The stage had been set. All that required was a camera and a tripod which I had at that time. The night time shifted all the focus to the pile of gold dazzling with the spotlights. I cropped top & bottom a bit to give it a (slight) panoramic feel.<br />
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Location: Yangon, Myanmar<br />
Camera: Canon EOS 30D<br />
Lens: Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS<br />
ISO: 100<br />
Exposure: 8s<br />
Aperture: f/5.6<br />
Focal Length: 85mm<br />
Filter: N/A<br />
Flash: No<br />
Tripod: YesNay Lin Soehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02225119003427471294noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2472490585828285015.post-14869050066487078602009-09-12T03:19:00.015+10:002010-06-01T12:14:20.177+10:00the rendezvous<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nlsoe/3261918389/" title="the rendezvous by tranquil_niche, on Flickr"><img alt="the rendezvous" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3345/3261918389_897b891732_b.jpg" width="98%" /></a><br />
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Balance matters. Even in photos. It is as if the subjects (those that are not part of the background) in a photo weighed proportionally to their apparent sizes. When we look at a photo, we hold it up in our mind and hang from the middle of the upper edge to see if the picture would tilt to either side, depending on the 'weights' of the subjects in it. Our intuition as regards things placed on a see-saw, further dictates that the further a subject is from the centre of the frame, the heavier it affects on the frame. If different-sized subjects are placed at appropriate spots, it is possible that the picture would not tilt to either side. By then, we would find ourselves looking at a well-balanced photo.<br />
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I was absorbing the early morning lights on this quiet beach in Anglesea. A light drizzle had just come. Rain clouds were still hanging from the sky. As they were beginning to disperse, the heavenly rays pierced through them, spraying the spot with warm lights. There, I came across the structure. Not sure what the intended use was. But someone did put a hat on the pole, and I found it pleasantly interesting. I was going to take a photo of it.<br />
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As I circled around for a good viewpoint, the car came to stop at a short distance. I decided to include the car in the photo frame I was going to create, in hope of giving some life to the desolate scene. From where I stood, the <i>apparent </i>sizes of the two--the structure & the car--were far from equal. Placing both on each half of the frame fairly & squarely would have tilted the photo to the left, I felt. So I put the smaller one--the car--closer to the right edge than the other one to the left edge. Now, the effective weights were about equal. <br />
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The colours & cloud formations in the sky were interesting. So was the texture of the ground on which the structure stands. So I opted to put the horizon in the centre to include the heaven & the ground equally. If it were up to me, I'd always have some clouds in the sky, even at sunrise. They give shapes to the otherwise plain sky. At first, I thought of illuminating the structure with flash. But seeing it as (almost) silhouette against the early morning sky with vibrant colours conveyed a greater sense of longing. So I left it as it was. A GND8 filter was used to keep the sky dark enough to be seen. Such warm colours!<br />
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Location: Anglesea, VIC, Australia<br />
Camera: Nikon D300<br />
Lens: Nikkor 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 VR<br />
ISO: 200<br />
Exposure: 1/50s<br />
Aperture: f/9<br />
Focal Length: 18mm<br />
Filter: GND8<br />
Flash: No <br />
Tripod: NoNay Lin Soehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02225119003427471294noreply@blogger.com0