Coffee Lover.

I am NOT a Starbucks coffee lover. My current favourite drink is dark mocha .Shall i name it just black coffee or locally known as "KOPI O".

Mobile Coffee kiosk in Kuching.

 A coffee kiosk can be a great way to make money as the coffee industry is big business and more and more people seem happy to spend money to get a quality cup of coffee.The great thing about a coffee kiosk is that it is small . One of the favorite drinks of people of Malaysia is coffee. Coffee is treated more as a sacred beverage than a mere drink by Malaysians. They begin their day with a cup of coffee and they even like to sleep at night sipping their coffee mugs.  Coffee is so much a part of the lives of Malaysians, that it is totally indispensable. Malaysians have invented different ways for the preparation of coffee. A typical Malaysian coffee is prepared by filtering hot water from cloth. Its unique, strong, and bitter taste is intensified by adding condescend milk to it. It is either drunk hot or iced. This form of preparation is very popular in rural areas of the country. This form of coffee in Malaysia is called 'KOPI'.

My To- Day Photography.

Oranges or Lemon Mandarin,

Tangerines and Mandarin oranges are two fruits which are shared generously with friends and family during Chinese New Year. Tangerines are symbolic of good luck and mandarin oranges are symbolic of wealth. Like so many Chinese symbols, these symbols have developed through a language pun, as the Chinese word for “tangerine” sounds like the word for “luck.” Similarly, the word for “mandarin oranges” in Cantonese is a homophone for “gold” and “wealth."

Oranges street vendor in Kota Samarahan,Sarawak.

Street Vendor .

Photo shot this morning (27.11.2011) .
Camera: Panasonic Lumix LX3.

Shooting the Night Sky .

Some people focus strictly on photographing the moon, or the remarkable beauty of sunrise and sunset. 

Some people like to capture dramatic moments of extreme weather or “sweet light” where the sky and objects on the ground attain a radiance or glow they don’t usually see.

Desa Ilmu 

Desa Ilmu

DEsa Ilmu.

Many other people want to capture just the stars, and there are many simple methods used to do so successfully. 

The basic settings for a camera to capture evening sky effects are ISO 50; f/stop is 2.8 to 3.5. 

If you choose to set the camera at ISO 100 the exposure times can be shorter. The f/stop settings are to allow the most starlight in as possible in order to record the many stars, and the smaller the f/stop or aperture is set the fewer the stars recorded.Before dark it is best to set up the camera on its tripod and make sure that the camera’s settings are appropriate to the event. Most of my photos above shooting with shutter speed of 15sec,30sec and 60sec.I am not an astrophotographer in any way, shape or form, nor do I have any expensive equipment. I simply read several tutorials, picked a dark spot on nearby my place and tried to do my best.

Ducati Multistrada Borneo Experience 2011

Have you ever dreamt of experiencing nature, wildlife, and virgin rainforests all on your Multistrada?
Now you have the opportunity to join other Ducatisti from Asia-Pacific regions on their Multistrada to explore the natural wonders of the world’s 3rd largest island
The island of Borneo is home to many unique and endangered species, such as the orangutan, proboscis monkey, the Borneo Rhino, the Pygmy Elephant, as well as the Green and Hawsbill Turtle.
Ducati Malaysia is hosting this event from November 25th-December 4th, 2011
Multistrada owners all over Asia-Pacific regions are invited to participate in this amazing experience.

Photo Credit to Ducati Malaysia.

PHOTO CREDIT TO SMF DAILY GRINDS.

 Click here for event details.
Full Story HERE ,



 

Tapang Tree.

Tapang Tree in Semban Village,Sarawak.

Tapang Tree in Semban Village,Sarawak.

The Koompassia excelsa tree is among the tallest trees in the world, and also one of the most prominent trees in the tropical rainforests of the Sunda Shelf. It is found in Sumatra, Borneo, South Thailand, and Peninsular Malaysia. The grey, whitish bark of the tree, large bole, and often handsome crown makes it stand out amongst the other trees (usually). It is known by different names in different regions – Mengaris in Brunei and Sabah, Tualang in Peninsular Malaysia, Sialang in Indonesia, and Tapang in Sarawak. The name tualang comes from the Malay words of tua – old, and helang – eagle. More info The Tualang Tree or Koompassia Excelsa
The tapang tree is a revered tree for the indigenous people of Sarawak. There is a taboo in Sarawak against cutting down the tapang treee. Only naturally felled tapang trees (usually by an unusal storm or a  landside which might be natural or even unnatural) can be used. Furthermore Ibans do not cut their tapang tree in their temuda (farm) because it is a valueable source of honey and a home for the Great Kenyalang or Hornbill. Hornbills on the other hand control the snake population in Sarawak and Borneo. Without the hornbills our habitat may become dangerous actually...(sources from Sarawakiana@2)..Thank You credit to Sarawakiana@2 & Jungle Dairy.

Photographing Dramatic Skies.

Skies can make for some truly stunning photos, and the best part is that they're always there.

Skies are one of my favourite subjects due to their sheer variety. They are packed full of interesting colours and textures, and can make for some truly awe-inspiring photos.
Better still, skies are always evolving. Changing weather conditions, cloud formations, and lighting ensure that there is always something unique and fresh to photograph.
However, it's not always easy to capture a dramatic sky in all its glory, and it can be disappointing when a seemingly fascinating sky scene results in a drab, flat, uninspiring photograph.Sky photography takes practice, but there are a number of techniques you can use to tip the balance in your favour, and give yourself a better chance of getting a shot that captures the impressive nature of the sky as you saw it.

Golden Sunset with dramatic skies.

This is by far the most influential factor when photographing dramatic skies. Nature provides a wide variety of colours and light quality each day, leaving you spoiled for choice.
Sunrise and sunset generally give the most dramatic skies - the combination of strong colours and low, directional lighting is perfect for creating a photo with bags of atmosphere. Conditions around these times of day also tend to change rapidly, allowing you to capture a wide range of photos in a short period of time.

Waiting for sunrise with dramatic skies.

 You can also get some great sky photos around midday, particularly on a sunny day when the sun really brings out the bright, vivid colours in the sky and surrounding landscape.When photographing the sky it is often our first instinct to look for a clear patch. But in reality this usually produces a boring photo - just an endless expanse of flat colour.Clouds add interesting shapes and textures to your photo, and help to break up the monotone flatness of the sky with changes in colour. They give the viewer something to actually look at in the scene, rather than just an empty, soulless sky.

Scenery from hotel room in Genting Highland.

 Using a wide angle lens, or zooming out, exaggerates the perspective in your scene, giving the impression that the clouds are rushing dramatically overhead.A wide angle will also allow you to capture more variation in light and colour, particularly at sunrise or sunset.
Your camera's white balance setting is critical in determining how the colours of your scene appear in the final photo. Choose the wrong setting and they will look completely different to how they did to you at the time.
Most cameras offer white balance presets - try using the sunset or daylight setting as a starting point, but experiment to see which produces the most dramatic and eye-catching result.

Attend Local Events and Practice Your Street Photography.

Local events such as festivals, parades, rally, demonstrations are some of the best way to practice and hone our skills as photographers, whether you are a an amateur, hobbyist, or a professional. Events are fun, exciting and can provide wonderful picture-taking opportunities.

Photograph by Awang "The Political Party Rally in Sarawak"

Photograph by Awang "Political Rally".

Photograph by Awang "Political Party Rally".

 Here are some helpful tips in photographing local events :
Do a Research : Find some of the events that are scheduled for that day. Second is of course local newspapers, magazines, local tv news.
Prepare your gear :  Making sure your gear is ready is a priority. In events I usually bring two camera bodies and two lenses, a wide angle lens and a telephoto lens. Check your batteries and make sure they are fully charged, make sure your memory cards are all formatted and in proper working condition.
DDay : Once you get to the event, just blend in, let everyone know that you are taking photograph. Now, to tell the story, you need to be observant, focus on participants, look for facial expressions, details, colors. You also need to learn to relax and not be overwhelm of the crowd and actions that are happening around you.
I hope you found this little tip helpful.