10 Ways to Get the Sharpest Possible Photograph

I found the article by Scott Bourne very useful to produce the sharpest possible photo. I reproduced the first two headings of his post and please visit his publication for the full article.

1. Shoot in great light.
2. Find the sweet spot for each lens.

Etc... Please visit his publication for full details. You will not be disappointed!

Harry and Rachel, Two shall become one

These are some of the photos of Harry and Rachel's big day!
Rachel, she is so sweet! ...
Aren't they cute?
Rachel and father ...
Lighting up the "unity candle".
Rachel's niece...
Rachel and Harry

Landscape Photography - Eastwood Valley

These are some photos taken at Eastwood Valley Country Club and Golf Course. Please tell me which one you like...
No. 1
Camera: Hasselblad H3D ISO 50 80mm
No. 2
Camera: Hasselblad H3D ISO 50 80mm
No. 3
Camera: Hasselblad H3D ISO 50 80mm
No. 4
Camera: Hasselblad H3D ISO 50 80mm
No. 5 Nikon D3 F/2.8 1/8Sec 24mm
No. 6
Camera: Nikon D3 f/2.8 0.62 sec 24mm
No. 7
Camera: Nikon D3 f/2.8 1/3sec 24mm
No. 8
Camera: Nikon D3 f/2.8 1/5sec 24mm EV -0.7
No. 10
Camera: Nikon D3 f/2.8 1/2sec 24mm EV -0.7
No. 11
Camera: Nikon D3 f/2.8 1.3sec 24mm EV -0.7
No. 12
Camera: Nikon D3 f/2.8 0.62sec 24mm EV -0.7
No. 13
Camera: Nikon D3 f/2.8 1/2sec 24mm EV -0.7
No. 14
Camera: Nikon D3 f/13 10sec 24mm EV -0.7 ISO 100
No. 15
Camera: Nikon D3 f/13 8sec 24mm EV +0.3 ISO 100
No. 16
Camera: Nikon D3 f/13 8sec 24mm EV 0.3 ISO 100
No. 17
Camera: Nikon D3 f/13 10sec 24mm EV -0.7 ISO 100
No. 18
Camera: Nikon D3 f/13 8sec 29mm EV -0.7 ISO 100

Lilies through hires camera

I have the opportunity to take some lilies through my high resolution 39M pixels camera.
They are reduced in size for easy viewing. Actual jpg file is about 24Mbytes. Raw format is 50+ MBytes. So, what can you see...
I cropped the picture above to show just the bee. Unfortunately the bee was fast moving and it appears to be slightly blur. Click on the photo to show the actual size.
A cluster of lilies ... This lot was in the middle of the pond. I crop out the center flower to show actual pixel size...
Click to show the actual size. I cropped the flower to 800 pixel.

Chong Ing and Mindy Lo Wedding

Date: 12-Sept-2009
Holy Matrimony of Chong Ing and Mindy Lo at Grace Methodist Church, Miri.
More pictures can be found on my facebook.
Mindy the bride...
... her father brought her in...
... our song leader, Rachael.
... for the parents!
... after solemnization of the wedding, he kissed her...
... after solemnization of the wedding and blessing.
aren't they lovely!
Group photo with small group members and pastors.
Pastor Law and pastor Connie.
...some romantic moment!
... ah!

New Nikon Compact with built-in Projector

Believe it or not, Nikon, the innovative Japanese camera maker finally put a projector in the camera itself!

The Nikon Coolpix S1000PJ has a whole string advance features.

• 
  
  Sharper results with five advanced Nikon image stabilizing features
• Nikon’s Smart Portrait System with Skin Softening
• Intelligent automated shooting modes that promote carefree shooting
• Quick Retouch
• 2.7-in. high-resolution LCD monitor with anti-reflection coated cover
• 16 handy scene modes for optimized shooting in various settings
• D-Lighting
• Active Zoom
• Auto Sort and Favorite Pictures functions
• Four movie modes with sound
• Time zone function for easy setting of multiple locations
• Approx. 36 MB of internal memory
• Hi-Speed USB connectivity
• Projector:
• Brightness : up to 10 lumens (Measurement, measuring conditions and method of notation all comply with ISO 21118.)
• Image size : 5 to 40 in
• Throw distance : approx. 26cm to 2m (10 in. to 6 ft. 6 in.)
• Endurance (battery life)*5 : approx. 1 hour
• Resolution (output) : VGA equivalent

Price: ??? I have no idea.
You know what I am going to use the projector for? Probably as a torch light! So make sure that you have a "white image" in the memory stick! I hope you understand what I mean.

White Balance

I seldom take my photo in Raw format but there are occassions where it is good to have it in raw. The main reason why I don't want raw is because of the file size and also, I don't really see the needs of it. We can argue about this but again, what is the point? I am too busy to tweak photos. I prefer the final result coming from the camera rather than the digital darkroom. So, one area I have to ensure proper setting is the white balance.
Looking at the following two photos, it is a little difficult to decide which is a nicer photo.
With raw format, I can always tweak it if I change my mind. But I don't bother. This photo, I set it to "Auto" white balance.

This one, the white balance is set to "cloudy". See, one is bright red and another is more bluish. Which one is nicer? I know that there is a difference in opinion. No one is right.

I heard one pro who said that he can't understand why we paid for advance technology and yet we want to perform manual adjustment/setting. Just set everything to "Auto" but you do need to ensure that the correct "Auto" is selected.

39MP - what can you see

I experiment with medium format camera today with a resolution of 39MP. So, exactly what can one sees other than a huge File? The full resolution picture is reduced to this...
... 1024 pixels across. This is reduced (resized) on purpose as I don't want to waste my limited free space on blogspot. (Click on the above picture to see a bigger image).
... the edge of the wall which I cut it out to show full resolution. Click on the image to see the full size. Your comments are most welcomed.

White balance

When I was using film in the good old days, I don't remember struggling with white balance. In fact, it was unheard of. Perhaps it was because we use black and white film most of the time. Even when we use colour film, white balance wasn't a concern or are we just totally ignorant about it?! With digital photography, we have to know something about white balance.
In this picture, I let my camera handle white balance automatically. However, under the strong sodium light, the white balance went crazy! So, if you cannot get it right and you don't like the colour, make it into black and white.

On my Nikon D3, it is possible to preset white balance very easily. I just need to press the WB button, toggle it to PRE, use a piece of white paper and snap a shot under the light... and it is done! And the above is the result. Suddenly all the colour appears!
However, in certain condition, the automatic WB on the camera is pretty accurate as in this picture.
To be continued...

Photoshoot at UK Fun Fair

Taking night photo at the recent UK Fun Fair located at Boulevard Miri car park can be a big challenge if you don't have a fast camera. This was because all the games were either rotating or shaking at a rather fast speed. I hope you enjoy the following photos...
Nikon D3 24-70mm F/2.8G lens, 24mm, 1/80 sec fF4.5 EV:+0.3 ISO 2000 No flash.
Nikon D3 24-70mm F/2.8G lens, 28mm, 1/250 sec F2.8 EV:+1 ISO 25,000 No flash
This photo is perhaps the most difficult to take. I have to compromise noise for higher speed. Many shots were taken to determine the speed in order to freeze the action.
"Mum, please get me on" is as if what this boy had to say.
Nikon D3 24-70mm F/2.8G lens, 70mm, 1/60 sec F2.8 ISO 25,00 No flash
Nikon D3 24-70mm F/2.8G lens, 56mm, 1/200 sec F2.8 EV:+1 ISO 1400 No flash
This is another rather difficult shot due to poor light.
Tip: In order to take a clear photo of your child(ren), make sure that the camera focusing is set to single point and point the tracking point on the face of your child. Make sure that focusing is on "C - continuous) mode.