Photography shooting #1 ;

 

On the same day itself,

I had a photography shooting, which was rather unofficial, with a photography friend of mine! :D

Mind you, I'll be mentioning the word "photography" for many times, and THIS is a pretty long post with many large photos and rants words, HENCE, please bear in mind that if you do not wish to read, you know what to do. Don't say that you have not been warned!

Actually, my intention was to travel alone, lazy-walking around the college, looking for nice photography spots.

At first, I didn't know that Yuqing wanted to follow me lazy-walking while photgraphing because she was having her society meeting right after the class, so I thought she wasn't going to accompany me as she was busy? :( I'm so sorry, babe!

Perhaps next time? :) We have 10 more months to stay at this college, so worry not! :)

Since my friend, (from the photography society) is interested to join me for the shooting, I was glad that maybe we can share our expeiences and our deep understanding, as well as knowledge in the world of photography.

:)

The shooting started off at a place full of bricks! and green trees! It is the place where I had my first few orientations at college, where I still remember clearly that Mr. Keong gave his motivational speech in that huge lecture hall. Totally unforgettable.

Now before I proceed to the photos, let me introduce YOU my photography friend. 

Nod nod? :D

JENG JENG JENG! *drum rolls

There you go. :)

At first, we were clueless on what to snap. Soon, he came out with a nice idea, about closing our eyes for a few seconds to imagine the image that we want to snap.

Here (below) is my shot, using my Nikon Coolpix s8000.

and his brilliant shots, using his Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ5 point-and-shoot camera.

His shots are amazing, aren't they? According to  http://www.flickr.com/cameras/panasonic/dmc-fz5/, the megapixels for this camera is only 5. (just like my current cell phone) o__o But look at the photos!

I- myself love how detail the object is in every inch of the photo. (kalah, handphone aku.) xD

Later on, we exchanged our cameras, to try photographing with a different viewfinder.

His snapshots, using my camera. :)

I was very impressed by his works, needless to say. It's horribly cool to see such beautiful photos being produced by just a simple multifunction-compact-camera like mine. In all honesty, I neh-neh-neh-never know that my camera can snap pretty photos like that. Never know that. *shakes head

As we proceed, we went around the building, trying to find for inspiration. Being the typical, blur me, I asked a lot. Like really really a lot. My non-stop-questions were mainly about the Rule of Thirds, the ISO senstivity, macro features and composition of the photos. He's the experienced one here, if I don't ask him, who shall I ask, right? :P

Thankfully, he is not annoyed by my ???question??? marks???. 

I HOPE? :/

I can't seem to find things/views/objects to snap when I walk around that particular area.

Nothing popped out into my mind, no idea, no creativity, no inspiration,  

NOTHING.

Certainly, I saw interesting textures, vivid colours besides cool plants. Butbutbut I just didn't know how to compose each and every of them nicely through my camera lens.

To snap a good photo, you need to find the ANGLE. The best angle of the object, of the model, or the scene. Usually, I snap randomly and press my shutters release button for at least a hundred times just to get a nice shot of the fascinating subject. :3

There was this senior, who's my brother's buddy, a married man, who is good in photography as well. At Hangzhou, China, he was the one who tutor me about the White Balance settings, ISO sensitivity, and the shutter speed- aperture control. He noticed something in me when he was observing me snapping photos with my Nikon camera. He said,

"You tend to press the shutter release button at random. When I look at your photos, you don't have a specific or definite object. I often see blur and confusion. I don't know what you want me to see."

I hesitated and thought.

It's true.

"Some of your shots are brilliant. But YOU must know what you want to snap. Like me, I snap things that I think is rare, and unique. Something that gives me the mind-blowing feeling whenever I look at it. So, try searching for the object that you want to snap, not any random shots that brings no meaning behind it."

I analyzed his words.

It's true once again.

Then, I came to relate that with my life. Every of his sentence exactly was describing the life I'm having now. My future seems to be in a confusion. I don't know what I want, I don't know what I want to achieve, I don't know what I want to be. I chose psychology because I'm a people person, but there are a lot of discouragement, and unsupportive views, which caused me to sit down and think again.

Brother suggested me to do jobs related with environment? The usage of renewable sources to save natural resources -stuff like that? *sigh

(soft patting self)

Shots from my senior at Putrajaya. :)

I really really need to find my aim no matter in photos or my future, this time. No more slow pause, PK!

.......

Back to photography,

I fancy him to be my senior. The him -refer to my brother's buddy (just incase you forget. :P)

He did not laugh at my mistakes, he corrected me by giving loads of advices instead. He never stop encouraging me to snap as much as I can (he lend me his D40 btw) eventhough I was given a sour face by *coughsbrocoughs*. He patiently taught me to shoot all kinds of photos -reflection, people, silhouette, low-light, and scenery. It was really a nice experience, to hang out with my brother's friends. They gave me uncountable laughter, fun and knowledges. I was grateful to get some training from another senior photographer, eventhough I'm just a slow slow slow-like-snail learner.

Just a few days before we came back together from China, he told me,

      "You like close-up photos, don't you? Anyway, it's a good start! You are a quick learner! I see a lot of improvement in you, keep it up!"

:')

Two shots above were taken by Mr. Ho (my photography friend) :)

First photo was simple! YETTTT, there's something in this photo that gives me a kind of nice feeling. Those photography kind-of-feeling, you get me? ;D

As in for the second shot, it is enough perfect. I brought my miniNikoncamera neckclace, so he snapped this common photo (that you can see almost everywhere at tumblr, flickr or weheartit.com) using his Panasonic Lumix! 

Are you awesomized by that photo already? 

Take that! Haha :D

I am very proud to see the minicamera that I'm holding. :D Feel even extra extra proud when there's a Nikon word, there. :D

...

To kill my puzzled face,

I was given five choices : Objects. Texture. People. Plant. Sky.

This challenge was accepted with a wide smile of mine. Talking to self,

"Objects. Texture. People. Plant. Sky."

I look at the objects around me. No.

I look at the texture. Bricks, stones, straps. No.

I look at the people. No. no. no.

Sky? The cloud ain't pretty. So a big fat NO!

Of all the messy-grassy location, I spot a quite interesting mini plant flower. A flower called "Niu Fen" according to my photography friend. (direct translation : Cow's Dung)

Funny name, isn't it?

His comment on this photo : Eeeek! So pretty.

I literally gave him my best LOL-ed face, I tell you. *laughs

These cameras above were our tools through the entire photography shooting.

Now you must believe that, not every good shots come from Digital Single Lens Relflex cameras. :)

These are a few of my favourites. :) I know, I never is good in being people's model. My face ain't pretty nor photogenic! I was blurred in these two shots, so it's definitely alright for me :P.

:D

This photo - was taken originally from Nikon camera of mine by him WITHOUT a single photo editing at all.

Focus. Blur background. Bright colour. Rules of third.

Another thumbs up photo! :D Good job, dude.

Again, he made me believed that good shots do not come from the camera, they come from a skillful, experienced photographer. :)

Overall, it was an abrupt photography outing. I'm sure that we'll do this again, at different spots maybe? :)

This photography dude-friend of mine taught me manymanymany new terms, things that I should know in photography. Rules of thirds, ISO sentivity, macro features (that I never know!), the widescreen selections, the colour adjustment settings, angles and composition.

Banyak kan, banyak kan? :)

*extreme delighted  face* 

Yet again, I thank god for granting my wish for a perfect weather without any single drop of rain. I thank my photography friend who is willing to join me for the shooting, who is willing to help out anytime when I'm in difficulties.

"I told you that you will gain dissapointment and learn nothing from me but it was the opposite. Right? Now you should believe me." :)

Well, I was very satisfied with my works that day, eventhough I just started to learn. As goes by the saying : Every pro starts low! Hahahahaha :D

Hopefully, I'll see improvement in myself soon.

In my next photography outing (at college), another photography friend of mine, named Qiyao might join us!

*cheers*

Another great photographer whom I can learn from. :)

To sum up my feelings from above, I enjoyed myself being a photographer and

it was an amaaaaaazing day!

:D