Finally *berani* to open a thread here.

I have only very recently started venturing more into photography so i'm going to need all the feedbacks/advices/criticism i can get.

Just click on the images for bigger size

My Gear (basic stuff only)
Canon EOS 400D
18-55mm standard kit lens
28-200mm zoom lens

Minor adjustment in PS included.

Let's start with Nature first.

My Garden Series











This post has been edited by simmytan: May 26 2007, 07:56 AM

This post has been edited by simmytan: May 20 2007, 09:47 PM

Exploring HDR images

Bracketed 3 differently exposed images and merged them together using Photomatix

i thought you mentioned somewhere you're using prosumer. anyway i like the last of the flower shot.

others were kinda dim. good try.

don't you feel your orchids are all underexposed? and the last of the flower series, before hdr, i think remove dead flowers would be better

You're right, before venturing into DSLR i was using prosumer all along. Now i still use both


I agree with the underexposed part, but funny thing is, i often shoot in different exposure, then compare side by side to see which one i like best and i like this one.

And 'bout the dead flower, i wanted it to be there ! lolz..(contrast between the blooming lively one and the dead one, recycle of life)

Hi there simmy I'm soon gonna be like you ... getting a dslr soon ... still researching alot ... hope you don't mind me coming in here to disturb u Good luck in the journey ~~ And i personally feel your pics are cool

should she be using flash then ? or adjust the brightness to +1 or something ?

hey there, thanks for looking, got any model in your mind yet?

I think he meant slightly higher exposed images, (i do take each picture in atleast 2 different exposure but i don't know why i always end up chooing the darker one)

Feel like the contrast and the mood is better

not necesarily use flash. take a look at the pictures in my gallery, none of it uses flash.

the thing one needs to understand are ISO settings, Shutter speed and Aperture. after that it's a matter of playing around with all these settings.

for her orchids, a few ways you could go about
1. lower the shutter speed.
2. go for highest aperture available
3. ISO? well yeah, technically you can but i'd seriously avoid going anywhere above ISO 400 unless i'm shooting some place that lacks decent lighting. my Petronas Twin Tower shots were done using ISO 1600.

in fact there's more ways than the above, if you are willing to make effort you could
1. time it at a brighter day and better light angle.
2. use a shiny / reflective surface to reflect light. it's hard for me to explain, if only i can translate what's on my magazine to explain this.

My Incredibly *Need alot of Guidance* low light pictures / night scenes

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Added on May 20, 2007, 10:41 pmMost of the flower picture taken were after rain, so the weather was slightly darker and gloomier as usual, so you have a suggestion as on what timing are suitable for this kind of shot?

This post has been edited by simmytan: May 21 2007, 08:02 AM

depends on your place la. sometimes lunch hour (noon) or late afternoon it can be nice.

noon might be too bright some times. as a photographer you have to learn to judge for yourself already.

i quite like the landscape sets.. overcast skies gives different mood, and underexposure adds more punch..

btw, how do u attach a picture from flickr and post here? mind sharing?

haha, mr diwant ar...i didn't attach from flickr and post it here one lar..i do manually 1, attach from photobucket and then link to my flickr lar

oic, tq very much.. (still having trouble with uploading!)

very nice pics... i only felt a few points was lacking...

the flower series has quite a lot of clutter in the background. Kind of distracting, making it hard for the subject to stand out other than the obvious DOV. Unfortunately some of the background clutter takes the focus away from the subject. For example, the red flowers in the background of picture 2 & the first picture of your second post.

I like the HDR series as don't come across it much... The second shot with moddy skies are really nice. Its a pity the telephone lines seem to spoil the picture for me. I would prefer a lower shooting point to get more horizon and at the same time still capture the sky as well. (I might also just convert to B&W,and add a grain effect, but of course that's just my preference)

Night scenes are handheld? but that aside, the composition doesn't seem to work well for me...

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Added on May 21, 2007, 12:20 ami think overcast days are best for flowers. In direct sunlight, the lighting could be too harsh and create shadows.

This post has been edited by wlcling: May 21 2007, 12:23 AM

Hello, thanks for looking and dropping by comments for me

As for the background of the flowers, i try to fully utilize what was there already (natural setting), but i will keep that in mind next time

The different shades of blue, white, and the bright yellow light of that sky picture makes the picture more intense compare wtih B&W (yes, this aspect has already been considered)

The night scene pictueres i've posted here are NOT handheld. All are taken with tripod As for the composition wise, i really love how they were composed, so do you mind telling me more specifically what was wrong for the composition of the images? Will be glad to know it

for flowers, i do hafta agree that its somewhat underexposed. i prefer to take mine early in the morning before harsh sunlight sets in. use spot metering and meter the flower, for bright flowers usually with a +1-2EV. reflectors,wireless flash or as goldfries said, a good lighting angle(which is usually in the morning o evening imho) try a tighter composition as well. dont centre everything. very static approach.

for the hdr pic, watch out for wires!

welcome to lyn photo galleries and do post more!

Thank you ! been taking alot and starts to wonder what people think about them so came here and post liao

Thank you for such specific guidance too ! Will keep that in mind on my next shoot

If you can shoot the flowers with highlights and shadows, it's nicer. Like clemong said, i'd still prefer morning

Nice Avatars

Finally your gallery is up.
GReat that you giving your new DSLR a work out.

Nice pictures but most of the flower shots are underexposed.

There'll be more coming weekend, its difficut to go out alone, normally i ask my hubby to drive around and just stop if i want to snap something

thanks for stopping by Andre ! you're my idol !

Thanks CompMac, i really gotta improve on that, look out for better exposed pictures ! lolz

anyway..nice pictures for new dslr user..
where is that tower anyway?

it's in Sibu, the town im living in now, that area is quite pretty, i'll take more pictures of it in morning time this coming weekend

no wonder like never saw it before..
sibu huh..good next month can go shoot there

seriously coming or not? Got MSN? DO let me know lar if you do, dying to meet ppl from KL now, miss the KL smell LOLZ

Simmy wants to meet andre tong only lol

yea..serious coming..
got work there next month..

walk walk work work see see shoot shoot

Shinchan, stop spreading rumours lolz. Well its great to make new friends esp those in this particular field. Can learn alot tau xi

roughly when? can arrange a meet up so i can take you around. Well we have great and cheap foods here.

cheap food ar..
lol..always go there worrying about exp food...

roughly middle june like that..hard to tell when as it still early

In Sibu you neednt worry, Foods are dirt cheap. Keep in touch 'till then

this shinchan must be jealous.

haha no la
but would like to see pics from andre

sibu huh.. i'm from kch but never been to sibu! heard the food's great though.. all the foochow food.. drools...

Those HDR photos really powerfull...
Me still haven't play with HDR before...
Keep them coming...

This post has been edited by lvyk: May 21 2007, 08:07 PM

Andre, shinchan does sound like jealous, is there anything going on between you 2? LOLZZZZZZZ kiddin kiddin


yea this is indeed a foochow town, let me know if you are coming anytime soon !


I took so many pictures intended for HDR usage but most of the end results didn't came out as i expected, for example, like this picture below

The effect is so strong and surreal but due to a shake (i didnt know what went wrong, i used a tripod, perhaps i didn't mount it right, it couldn't support the weight of my zoom lens), everything is blurred.



I am so gonna go back there and try again very soon !



This post has been edited by simmytan: May 21 2007, 09:11 PM

Continue here

A chinese temple nearby, they had some functions going on inside so they lit all the lights that particular night, normally they dont.

Click for bigger images

i like these very much.... exposure, composition all are good.
Don't look like a newbie photo at all.

OMG my idol just praise me !

i'm *speechless*...

Lao... ;P why not Simmy shoot Andre instead
that would be lovely

haha, then what about you shoot me shooting andre? LOLZ

And i shoot shinchan shooting you shooting me shooting shinchan shooting....

lao.. all topless ah?

shoot here n there..

Sibu Port : Boats and River @7am

Those black dots on the sky ARE NOT DUST, THEY ARE BIRDS FLYING HAPPILY ON THE SKY !








This post has been edited by simmytan: May 22 2007, 02:30 PM

nice sky on pic one.

clone out d dust,straighten the vertical line

wah lao so many dusts seen on 400d pics
where is the dust cleaning system?

those are birds flying on the sky my dear...


I stress one more time those are not dust....those are just birds flying on the sky...LOLz


And shinchan this is not somewhere you come to flame on 400D

This post has been edited by simmytan: May 22 2007, 02:25 PM

simmy's shooting skill nice ma...
i am really enjoy viewing your pics...
good job...
share more plz...

sorry
ur pic too small
cannot see..
u should have write caption there

wei yo, why you so mean to me geh? you make amateur wanna hide in a corner and cry liao

they are really small lar, you click for bigger pics to see lar, but they still look small lar

next time i just stand there and wait untill they go completely out of the scene liao


thanks for the kind words henry, i hope i will improve more soon

This post has been edited by simmytan: May 22 2007, 02:33 PM

nice sky there simmy...

before realise your "Those black dots on the sky ARE NOT DUST, THEY ARE BIRDS FLYING HAPPILY ON THE SKY !"

i really wipe my LCD monitor lol.. i tot dust on my screen.. =.=''

7am the sky already so bright. Really nice to view Sibu from your pictures!

By the way, 400D sensor cleansing is not that effective.

birds ar???

still should clone it out unless you're doing a poster print

Simmy, u quite impressive as an amatuer. Good composition and i believe u can do more. More pics from u then!

wah.. i like your pics...

wish that i can a good pics like yours....

The port pictures were great but I think the b&w picture does the blue sky no justice

Hahaha...alright alright...will clean it up !


Shhhh....Sibu looks better through my camera lens...LOLZ

yea ....will clean it up later tonight


Seriously? im so flattered, i have so much to learn , i just hope along the way, i don't get frustrated and give up LOLz


awwwwwwwww....made my day ! thank you for being so kind

hahaha,such a waste if u give up.

aiya..next time post bigger pic la..so small cannot c much details la

im so gam dong addy ! thank you very much clemong !


jian...can click on images for bigger pics lar...LOLZ, i don't want my thread to load so slow nia

good feeling, got femality feeling

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Added on May 23, 2007, 12:49 amgood feeling, got femality feeling

This post has been edited by tongyam: May 23 2007, 12:49 AM

Adding more here

Second one i made those birds remain, can see clearly they are birdies gua? got wings ! lolz

Click for even bigger images

Nice blue skies. Can't say the same for the river though.

haha, the river is damn dirty, BROWN color 1, you should've said *Nice brown river* LOLZ !

Your crop factor is not consistent. should've follow something like 6 by 4 or 4 by 6

i crop according to the way i like to see my pictures actually, so some pictures have different cropping size

it's a matter of taste + personal preference, i use a wider frame for printing if the cropping size is smaller/bigger or so on

Simmy. would like to see some self-potrait from you

time to set your dslr on timer

shinchan, do you think it's appropriate to pose em here? lolz

got, including self portraits, and some other scenery shots

why not appropriate?

well i figured, self portraits are something made for fun only, not up to the portrait standards here

those on your flikr looks pretty good

wah.. scary nice picture above.. give me a very calm feeling..

btw.. looking forward to ur portrait lor

good pics with pretty good landscape composition! (i.e, you don't have your horizon smack in the middle of the frame)

we all should support simmy more so more females will be inspired by her and will jump into the world of photography n create their own threads!!!

wait...are you the stalker standing infront of my door steps just now? LOLZ...KIDDIN KIDDIN


LOLZ, im looking to yours also, i would love to see self portraits of most photographers here as well, not just mine.


Thank you very much WL ! I will work even harder to improve


Actually there are alot of female photographers around now, compare with last time, even in LYN also quite a few now

Thanks for your kind words !!!! <<u can see how wide im smiling lolz

where's your pics since you ahve D200 already?

Many more conceptual stuffs to come

Here's the first, as usual, C & C are much appreciated.

If you want to see bigger sizes, add me as a contact on flickr. I don't want to overload my thread with oversized pic

A Poisonous Gift


Model : Me (i wish i can have someone to experience around with thou)
Photographer : Me

simmy...
nice self portrait...looks like some gothic rock album cover!
NICE!!!!
btw...how can u compose such great pics when u r the model and also the photog?

self timer + tripod + patience

hahaa....you don't say,....sometimes it can be so frustrating to hit the self timer, go back to position myself infront of the camera, after it snaps the picture, go back and see whether it looks good or not.....i can go on and on repeating those steps untill i capture what i want

and it's very essential to turn on the air cond in your room incase you get sweaty going back and forth, LOLZ

ahaaa...
forgot about self timer simmy...thx for reminding me...
and seriously....ur compo for self portrait...is very well planned...

go go go...shoot more self portraits...
gonna try ur technique on my own too!

why doing all by urself since u have a partner back at home??

should have gotten a nikon then.. wireless remote

haha, have fun !

well then, the picture wouldn't be taken ALL BY MYSELF right? im that sort of person that likes to experience on my own. at home, we do things seperately, he'd be hogging on pc playing online games i'll be taking opportunity to do my things

you're saying a rather decent model of nikon is it? or is it an extra add-on? newayz im happy with what i have now, planning to get a cable release thou

self portraiture is not what i want to do, im just familliarize myself with portraiture shots, might come in handy one day if i have the chance to shoot others

cable release is a must for macro and to an added plus if u're always using a tripod. my shots became much sharper after using one

i think all nikon dslrs support wireless remote/wireless cable release. pretty cool huh

U watch too much death note izzit?

i believe it is very difficult to frame yourself using a tripod and self timer, you must have done a lot of trial and errors...

but the red ink on the apple cannot outstands the read apple...

Lol, i do love that movie, but it's not even as close as haunting as deathnote lar

i used the apple to set up another scene...a rather bloody one, and the paint was all over it, couldnt clean it. And that was the only apple i kept in my fridge LOLz

yea i took possibly about 50-60 frames, only few pics survives, the rest i've deleted.

Another one from the series, converted in PS

Click on picture to see description.