SamsungImaging » Ca’em CutcUtcuT

Miniature WB500(HZ10W)

Caem — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 09:00:42 +0000

OH,MY, GOD!!

I’ve received THE cutest gift! It’s a WB500(HZ10w) Miniature sent from a friend who is really into cameras. The miniature sized 3CM in width and 1.5CM in length is probably the smallest camera in the world. It’s made of clay so it is very firm and doesn’t break even when you throw it. It would be a miracle if the camera actually worked, but too bad that it doesn’t.

Because the camera was too precious for only me to enjoy, I went out to a busy street. People showed various reactions to the miniature camera and I had a fun time. The European guy holding up the camera as if it were a real thing. He was taking a quick rest from his long travelling. He smiled awkwardly saying that he mistook the camera for a chocolate when he first saw it. Oh well…

WB1000(TL320) 1/180s l 2.8f l ISO100 l 1.00EV l 4.3mm

WB1000(TL320) 1/15s l 5.1f l ISO100 l 1.00EV l 10.7mm

WB1000(TL320) 1/180s l 2.8f l ISO100 l 0.00EV l 4.3mm

Russian friend who tried to use the camera as necklace and earring saying that it looked like an accessory. If I had a string, I surely have given it to her as a present.

My friend and I sat down at a restaurant for a short escape from the heat. And how busy I was trying to capture the small cute WB500 Miniature with my camera! I dropped it on the salad, on the ice to let it cool and even pretended to lift it up with a fork! But.. it’s not for eating…

WB1000(TL320) 1/180s l 3.0f l ISO100 l 0.00EV l 4.3mm

WB500 in the ICE

WB1000(TL320) 1/15s l 3.5f l ISO400 l -1.00EV l 4.9mm Manual WB

WB500(HZ10W) 1/45s l 3.5f l ISO400 l -2.00EV l 4.9mm Manual WB

I showed the Miniature also to kids to see their reaction. All of them instantly took the camera to their mouth..

WB1000(TL320) 1/90s l 3.0f l ISO200 l 0.00EV l 4.3mm Manual WB

Although the camera isn’t real, Ca’em carefully takes care of it. Eagerly looking forward to the next camera series, I will wrap up the camera with a dehumidifying agent and newspaper for long storage. The unexpected output of imagination enabled me to build pleasant memories with many people. Since I’ve seen the miniature version, what about venturing out a little bit more and build one that is 100X its original size and bigger than human beings? And 100X larger size photo to boot? Let me leave you now for some more wishful imagination~ :]

Photo, reads people

Caem — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 08:05:56 +0000

Dong-gang International Photo Festival

Last weekend, one cultural city held a photo exhibition under the theme of “Photo reads people”. With an unquenching thrist for portraits, I welcomed the opportunity, thinking that the exhibition may shed light on the ideal composition of a portrait. Hmmm. “Photo reads people.” Sounds quite profound. I was immediately attracted the moment I read the title. After 2 hours of drive, the city welcomed me with a light rain but the crowd of photo mania consoled me. Rain is not a problem if you are accompanied by people who share something in common with you. :] As true as it is that photos record people, it also records that particular time, thus inviting us to another world. That is why photos are so reminiscent of the old days. A few of the personal works of internationally renowed photographers decorated the wall, but I could only afford the miniscule version of the exhibition – the brochure. And photo taking was prohibited.

Magic – young photographers

Just as I was about to feel sorry about myself for having innocently expected the exhibition to be open to photo-taking, one area was allowed for photo taking. Works of young photographers with creative ideas immediately caught my attention. The photos below effectively express the thoughts of the young photographers, interpreted in unconventional, ‘out-of-the-box’ ways from various angles and views.

WB1000(TL320) 1/30s l 2.8f l ISO640 l 1.00EV l 4.3mm

WB1000(TL320) 1/6s l 5.6f l ISO100 l 0.00EV l 4.3mm

One of the most impressive work utilized a cube mirror to shed a new light to the object. Ca’em also dipped one foot, but, maybe because it was another’s work? My hands were too shaky that all the outcomes were blur.

Expression using a mirror

WB1000(TL320) 1s l 5.6f l ISO100 l 1.00EV l Manual WB l 4.3mm

WB1000(TL320) 1/6s l 3.6f l ISO100 l 0.00EV l 4.3mm

“The little girl who wishes to become superman – or superwoman, grows up to be a hero of justice guarding the Earth~”

Liberal expressions of one posture through different characters.

WB1000(TL320) 1/30s l 2.8f l ISO640 l 1.00EV l 4.3mm

WB1000(TL320) 1/20s l 2.8f l ISO800 l 1.00EV l 4.3mm

WB1000(TL320) 1/6s l 4.7f l ISO100 l 0.00EV l 6.3mm

WB1000(TL320) 1/20s l 2.8f l ISO800 l 1.00EV l Manual WB l 4.3mm

*** All of the photos above were taken at the Dong-gang International Photo Festival and used as reference for this posting ***

Because I didn’t use my own work for this posting, I didn’t write down the meta value. I hope that this posting inspires inquisitive amateur photographers looking for fresh and unique expression techniques. Ca’em personally has an impulse to try various shots using a mirror. See you next week.

How to get cool pictures in hot summmer

Caem — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 10:58:50 +0000

July. The so called ‘Holiday season’! Where do you want to go for vacation? When you return from vacation to your ordinary life, the flood of fatigue and work wait us. It is only time that can console us. Well, at least for Ca’em. Hehe. Vacation season! You will probably clicking away madly with your camera under the burning sun, but you always get disappointed if the results are not that satisfactory.

In fact, the scorching sunlight is not a welcomed guest for photo shooting. Then, what about a gray sky in a rainy day? Not a welcomed guest neither for vacation nor for outdoor shooting. This week, Ca’em plans to share tips on how to effectively take photos in extreme conditions. Let’s take a shot at clear and crisp photos that you can successfully take even when you don’t have an expensive DSLR. Pictures so cool that appear ready to freeze your eyes regardless of the camera. Let’s take a look at example pictures and a few tips on how to take clear pictures.

If you want clear pictures, you first need a clear and bright sky. Even with divine skills and perfect knowledge, if you are not lucky with the weather, you cannot get a nice picture. A blue sky is a good example of a clear landscape that you can easily find around you. The earth is hot due to the hot summer sun but the blue sky is ever bluer. In terms of the season, the sky is bluer in the dry autumn and winter, when the air carries less impurity compared to spring and summer. However, it is still boring to capture the blue sky alone. You have to have at least a good few white pieces of cloud to make it more interesting. A summer sky cleared up after the rain is indeed a gift from nature.

I have tatken those pictures when I’ve been Tokyo. See?? You must know that the important of weather.

Secondly, it is important to make it a habit to check the weather when you plan to take pictures. You can easily go online to check weather information real-time. You can obtain basic information such as the time of sun rise, sunset, as well as visibility and ceiling. You can check the ceiling info on Yahoo weather or The weather networks.

Lastly, set exposure to under and use saturation for more vivid blue color. Set the exposure 1 or 2 levels lower than the appropriate exposure. In other words, setting the mode a little darker as if lacking some exposure, produces good output. In general, objects are expressed darker when the exposure is a little insufficient. Considering that overexposure obscures the original color and whitens the picture, it is not difficult to understand that under exposure adds depth to the color.

As an exercise, Ca’em set the image size to 7M(3648*2056) and tried saturation and contrast to avoid overexposure from the strong sun reflection and to highlight the achromatic color object. The image size made the photo appear much fuller, quite different from what you get from full image size. Something like a full picture, closer to the object or capturing only the gist of a remote landscape. Sometimes, slimming down the photo is a good way to produce good outcome.

WB500(HZ10W) F7.5 l 1/125s l ISO200 l 0.00EV l saturation High

WB500(HZ10W), which supports 10.2 mega pixels, is a good choice to express the inherent colors of objects. However, quality pictures require some busy ass moving. Depending on the weather, the camera should be set up accordingly. Because WB500(HZ10W) supports wide angle lens, it has a dark lens. To complement this, adjust the saturation value under “effect” depending on the object. Set the exposure value to 0.0 under Program AE and adjust saturation value to High/Medium/Normal at effect. The outcome has been quite effective in conveying the original color of the object. Hmmmm.. is it because the object is yellow and green? The color constract is breathtaking. :)

WB500(HZ10W) F3.3 l 1/90s l ISO200 l 0.00EV l 4.3mm l saturation High

!!! One watch-out before going further! Serious underexposure risks making the object appear dark. Set the exposure to ‘under’ depending on the feel you want to get across or the surrounding environment, but still within the range of appropriate exposure. Meanwhile, you can also play around with the “auto bracketing”, which takes photos under the three settings of underexposure, appropriate and overexposure, and HDR (#Post13) that combines these three photos, so don’t be hesitant to try various exposures! However, I recommend using a tripod for AEB because it takes long time to store and hand shake is likely to occur…!!!

The pictures below are all shots using underexposure and saturation high. The wart dancing elegantly on the flower petal, a ship floating on a calm river.. These are all scenes you cannot see in the city. Vacation – a sweet escape from the busy reality. If you have yet to decide your vacation destination, a place with open skies would be nice. I truly recommend it to people looking for beautiful landscape and vivid pleasant memories in this hot hot summer. Before you depart, though, check your batteries and don’t forget to bring drinking water and a towel to block the sun! That’s it for today.

“ Same, same but different “

WB500(HZ10W) F3.3 l 1/6s l ISO200 l 0.00EV l 4.3mm l saturation High

DSLR F5.3 l 1/25s l ISO200 l 2.3EV l 46.0mm l contrast High

(Left)WB500(HZ10W) F7.5 l 1/175s l ISO100 l 0.00EV l 4.3mm l saturation +1

(Right)WB500(HZ10W) F7.5 l 1/175s l ISO100 l 0.00EV l 4.3mm l contrast -1

WB500(HZ10W) F7.5 l 1/180s l ISO200 l 1.0EV l 4.3mm l saturation High

WB500(HZ10W) F9.3 l 1/1500s l ISO400 l -1.0EV l 7.6mm l saturation High

WB500(HZ10W) F7.5 l 1/1500s l ISO400 l -1.0EV l 4.3mm l saturation High

“ Road to the SKY “

Liquefied Effect

Caem — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 05:27:05 +0000

What catches the eyes of the novice is inevitably different from a professional’s. When you are a novice, you tend to be fascinated by what is popular or beautiful. But as you accumulate the skills, you are gradually liberated from popularity or beauty. Following the footsteps of the professionals and pressing the shutter and flashing some lights, I have become a little more acquainted with the camera angle and now have different eyes to see objects. Things that went unnoticed in the past are clearly visible now. I guess this is the timing to naturally become friends with my camera?

Am I a little more mature now? HaHa :P

You may have noticed that Ca’em’s view on correction had changed from the last posting. And today is the last step, which is liquefied effect that can be easily done using Photoshop. How to do it? It is very simple that I feel embarrassed even to explain it. You simply need to use the liquefy tool in Filter to give the image an oil painting feel.

Origin Image – samsung WB500(HZ10W)

Go to Filter>Liquefy and you will find something like below.

Freely move around your mouse over it. Just one thing, the effect you give may vary depending on the shape of the object. Ca’em primarily used flower for liquefy mash. You guys can either enlarge or reduce the size of Brush from ‘Tool Options’. If the area of picture that you want to apply is large like the picture below, apply with size 70 or if the area is small, apply with size 30-50. Just apply the effect whatever you want. It help to release your stress a bit, I guess : )

Ca’em mostly used flowers for ‘Liquify mash’. To save the original image, gave the effect along the shape of the petal. When you finished with enough effect, click OK button for the last!! Then you are done with ‘Liquefy Image’

‘Complete’

Let’s give little more effect on this image. Select ‘Hue/saturation’ from right below menu layer and low the saturation. Apply to show only purple color.

Low the saturation by moving the cursor to the left.

Move,Move!!

To help your understanding, I attached this gif.file. Look here.

If you feel boring from the normal flower image, twist the picture by using ‘Liquefy Filter’ is one choice that you can make. This filter is usually applying for ‘reform’ or ‘image composition’, but not for ‘editing’. However, after apply this filter to a picture it looks more ‘arty’ than just normal picture.

Egoist Ca’em. I want to give “abstract” for the subtitle of this post.

This filter is a popular tool used to correct or combine pictures but not widely used for photo editing. Although it’s mostly used for correction, it is still quite arty if you apply it to a photo. Ca’em now into abstract objects??

When selecting the image to liquefy, photos with high saturation usually provide better results. Please be noted that photos with numerous colors take way longer to convert as much touching work is required.

White Explored

Purple Explored

Now that I look at the output image, it reminds me of decalcomania. You know, the identical drawing you get when you fold a drawing into half? So, during the last two weeks, we’ve looked at various photo editing functions available in Photoshop. I know I was way far from being perfect, but I do hope that my postings helped you to become more familiar with photo correction. So, that’s it for correction! Next time, I plan to share beautiful pictures with nature as lighting rather than artificial images. You can look forward to more mature photos of Ca’em!

The following are images taken with WB1000 – abstract images that can be expressed with a mini DSLR~ See ya! :)

WB1000(TL320) 2.8F l 1/750S l 200ISO shutter speed priority AE

WB1000(TL320) 4.0F l 1/20S l 200ISO negative effect

HDR: HIGH DYNAMIC RANGE PHOTOGRAPHY

Caem — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 10:13:12 +0000

Artificial flavoring of photos? The last posting sparked my interest in correction. =) It’s true that P&S cameras are not 100% effective in expressing the subjects. But no worries! In this digital era, you can easily use Photoshop or the Web for photo editing. Among the many photo editing programs, HDR caught Ca’em’s attention. HDR, in brief, is a photo that combines 3 photos at different exposure to fully express both the light and the dark areas. You can also use 5~7 photos, but more photos means more computer processing time. But if the program has high specifications, it can effectively handle 7 photos. Dynamic Photo HDR 4 is a professional program for HDR making, but Ca’em used Photoshop. Okay. Shall we give it a try?

1. Given the fact that the scene changes every second, set the mode at AV and shoot with exposure -2, 0 and +2. For better understanding, below are the 3 shots at different exposure.

2. Merge to HDR

In Photoshop, you can merge 3 photos using Merge to HDR. When you see a window like the one below, click on the browser to find the photo. Check the blue box at the bottom. You need to make sure that the camera stands still to get identical pictures. Using a tripod is a good idea. Checking the blue box helps to align the image for pictures that are not totally identical. FYI, HDR can accommodate CS2 and higher.

File> automate > Merge to HDR

3. Choose the 3 images and press OK. Photoshop will automatically calculate the exposure and create HDR.

4. Once the merging is complete, you can check the result in preview. However, this is not the end! Save the merged photo in TEST.file

5. Open the file and convert from 32bit to 16bit. The following HDR conversion window will pop up.

Image ->Mode ->16bits/channel

6. Under Method, Local adaptation is the most frequently used function.

Click on the left button on Toning curve and histogram to control the contrast during conversion. This is where Ca’em modifies the data to change the exposure. You can adjust the exposure for different areas and create an almost noise-free image.

Below is the finished work. Next to it is the original photo for comparison. You can clearly see the difference! I’ll share a few more images that I tested.

So, I’ve walked you through the basics of how to correct photos using Photoshop. I hope that beginners like me find this helpful in creating quality photos using HDR image. Wow! The creative work has left me with a headache. But, the result seems to have upgraded the faulty photo. I guess this is what correction is for? Heehee~

I brought some HDR Images had taken with WB1000(TL320) from flickr. It belongs to one of WB1000 user. His works are amazing. Go check his arts!! <Flickr photostream>

10 Top mistakes beginners can make

Caem — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 04:22:25 +0000

Starring in the Dark

Below is a short survey to check whether you are a beginner or not. Of the following sentences, please select the ones that describe you.

1. I am afraid of the moment I press the shutter.

2. The mysterious world of photography. It’s embarrassing to ask for a helping hand.

3. Camera always set at AWB mode.

4. Tripod? – a stranger to me.

5. Photography is all about far-out travel to marvelous places.

6. I don’t know how to use a flash.

7. Copying someone else’s photo is not something I do.

8. My camera is a latest product. But, what is wrong with the photos?

9. I think photos should not be corrected afterwards.

10. I am more into cameras than photos.

9 of Ten.. Perfect match!! Ca’em is totally loser!!

How many of the above sentences match you? If you nodded to 7 or more, you are definitely an amateur like me. You might refuse to accept this, but that’s what you are. When I first read this, I thought, “Wow! This is so me!”

Well, except the fact that I press away the shutter madly. HaHa :] Isn’t that the biggest benefit of digital cameras anyway? An animal leaves leather behind when dying and Ca’em will leave behind admirable photos. Click! *infinity <3<3<3<3<3<3<3

After spending three months taking pictures of various themes, Ca’em suddenly became curious as to how much progress Ca’em must have made in becoming a professional. But, the test left Ca’em more than disappointed. Some of the questions made perfect sense, but it turns out that Ca’em had major misunderstandings of photos.

First is that tripod is not a panacea. For instance, tripod is a MUST for night photography and for taking photos of running water, which requires low-speed shutter. However, tripod is of no use when taking pictures of birds, insects or when taking snapshots of people.

a. Here is a simple example. When taking pictures of night scene or light, tripod is desperately needed. Point-and-shoot cameras are light weighted, making it vulnerable to the smallest hand shake.

b. For moving subjects, you need to move around holding the camera.

Second, professionals are able to use the flash as they wish. Flash is more often used as fill light during the bright day time, rather than during the dark night. And optical flash is the most dreaded thing in portraits. However, flash plays very different roles for close up of nature. Want to take a good or unique picture? Then, you must become a master of flash. I always left the flash on off mode, but I have changed my mind about flash now. Then, how good is the flash function for compact cameras?

[Flash off] [Flash on]

Web surfing, photos in ads or pamphlets are a reservoir of great pictures. Have there been any corrections made to these photos? I used to think that correction is an act of blaspheme or disregard of camera. However, sophisticated cameras always state “Our original photography always takes into account correction that follows”. So, for better results, it is important to learn how to do correction. Invest in your computer as much as you have done to your camera. The picture below is a comparison of before vs. after using photo editing program. Do you think it is worth it?

WB500(HZ10W) 1/1000s l 9.3f l ISO 200 l 1.60EV (Before correction)

After correction

When I first came across WB500(HZ10W), I used to blame the camera for producing poor pictures. But, it was not the camera’s fault. It was the set up that was wrong. A shortcut to taking good pictures is to understand the set up value and the functions available rather than accusing the camera for poor outcome. Photography always havs plenty to teach Ca’em and today is not an exception. Today seems like a long day.

WB500(HZ10W) 1/1500s l 10.1f l ISO 200 l –1.60EV Auto WB

WB500(HZ10W) 1/550s l 10.8f l ISO 200 l –1.60EV Auto WB

WB500(HZ10W) 1/1000s l 7.5f l ISO 200 l –1.60EV

WB500(HZ10W) 1/500s l 7.5f l ISO 200 l –1.60EV

Gently blow Ca’em’s mind

Caem — Thu, 28 May 2009 09:12:29 +0000

I don’t think I would be the only one dancing joyfully to the spring breeze. True, the wind blows so hard sometimes, throwing me off balance. However, I am still able to find fun. Whether it be a pinwheel, wild flower or clothes, anything that dances to the beat of the wind is a fun subject for Ca’em. Ca’em slowly becoming a camera-holic… Is this a welcoming thing?? The cool breeze leaves a bright touch to my pictures since the ‘When spring comes to Ca’em’s camera’ posting. Today’s photos are more to refresh one’s eyes and hearts, rather than to share photo-taking technique. However, a gloomy sky awaited Ca’em instead of a bright subject. An early train ride to the destination encounters an unexpected storm warning. What an irony! The tripod hanging on my shoulder suddenly feels much heavier. Will I be able to use the tripod at all?

WB500(HZ10W) 1/45s l F7.5 l ISO 80 4.3mm(35mm equivalent 24mm)

WB500(HZ10W) 1/60s l F7.5 l ISO 80 4.3mm(35mm equivalent 24mm)

WB500(HZ10W) 1/1500s l F3.3 l ISO 80 4.3mm(35mm equivalent 24mm)

WB500(HZ10W) 1/1500s l F7.5 l ISO 200 4.3mm(35mm equivalent 24mm)

Turn!! Pinwheel!!

Although there was no blue sky because it was the morning right after the rain had stopped, the colorful pinwheels make the pictures vivid. One artist had named the countless pinwheels ‘Hill Of Wind’. FYI, it is the wind blowing from the north that moves the pinwheels, as if telling the story of how the Korean peninsula was split into two. The work ultimately hopes for good news with the wind. Hmmm… I had lamented that I was not lucky with weathers, but the dynamic pinwheel eased my upset mind.

Thank you for welcoming me, pinwheel!

The photo-taking session resembled a speed race of pinwheels. White, yellow, blue and red all turning joyfully! To capture the fast-turning pinwheels, I lowered the shutter speed. However, because of the amount of light being day time, I was not able to capture the subject successfully at night time setting (0.5s). Although I was not able to adjust the value of iris as freely as I would have liked to, I still tried to set up the best environment for WB500(HZ10W). At 1/60s setting, I tried to capture the shaking subject. This is similar to the subject of the last posting, but the trace left during day time gives a fun twist. With WB500(HZ10W), you can capture a fast-moving pinwheel!

A pleasant reminiscence – Everyone has memories of holding a pinwheel to the sky and running around. Running at full speed, trying to turn the pinwheel even when there was no wind. I hope the pictures today help to bring back those fun memories for a while. The sound made by thousands of pinwheels was similar to tens of thousands of crickets flying the sky. And here is the video. The scene was so spectacular that I wanted to share it with all of you.

Enjoy with your eyes! And ears!

WB500(HZ10W) 1/60s l F8.7 l ISO 80 6.5mm(35mm equivalent 36mm)

Rediscovery of my neighborhood

Caem — Fri, 22 May 2009 01:58:37 +0000

In the last posting, I shared tips on how to take breath-taking night photography. Today’s posting will be on light, one of the most important elements of night scene. Dark night sky, lights brightening the buildings, the busy rush hour traffic and the cars lined up on the asphalt road. Ca’em followed these lights. Once you fall in love with the night view, it’s impossible to get out of it! So, let me share tips on night photo shooting.

Following the light

As I mentioned in the last posting, shutter speed plays a crucial role in night photography. This is because night photos usually require long exposure. The longer the shutter speed, the larger the penetration of light, resulting in brighter photos. And lower the F value, higher the ISO and longer the shutter speed, brighter the picture. It’s a basic rule, but I get confused every time. Amnesia…? :’-l Night photos often use the shutter speed to control the exposure. And this particularly relates to today’s subject. Ca’em, make sure to keep the iris as small as possible because you’ve slowed down the shutter speed!!

WB500(HZ10w) 1.0s l 5.5f l ISO 100 l 16.4mm (35mm equivalent 91.0 mm)

WB500(HZ10w) 4.0s l 11.3f l ISO 80 l 12.2mm (35mm equivalent 68.0 mm)

About 500m away from the subject. I zoom from far and try to focus, but the picture keeps blurring. Why is that? Is there a correlation between shutter speed and the subject? If you know the answer, please let me know!

I tried both manual and program mode, but manual mode produces way more stable photos. In fact, program mode falls a little short of capturing the trace of light because it only supports up to 1s. But, as you know, WB500(HZ10W) supports up to 4s in manual mode. We saw in the last posting that 1.5s was appropriate for bridges, but this time, the value has to be set differently since it includes a moving subject. Set the shutter speed at 4s/ISO 100 and tighten the iris(12.7F) as much as possible. You can see that the different values result in different outcomes.

* If the street lights disturb setting the right exposure to light, use your hand or a book to block the light.

Mini DSLR WB1000 – Shutter speed priority

WB1000(TL320) 4.0s l 7.6f l ISO 100 l 18.9mm (35mm equivalent 105.0 mm)

I tried the shutter speed first mode in WB1000(TL320)will be launched soon. Maybe because I am used to WB500? WB1000 produced much brighter image even though it supports the same pixel as WB500(HZ10W)er, it effectively captured the original light emitted from the street lights that WB500(HZ10W) was not successful at doing. Mystery… Now, I am eager to try the new WB1000 on clear blue sky! Ca’em always eager to try new things!

As with every time, photo taking reminds me of the surrounding that I tend to take for granted. Today’s subject -the cathedral – is also something that I pass by everyday on my way back home from work. Ca’em, you need to become a little for appreciative! Supposedly one of the largest cathedrals in Asia, I failed to recognize how grand it was because it was so near. I guess this is a rediscovery of daily life? I think the photo will more successfully highlight the allure of the building if the picture is taken before the sun completely hides away. I promise to upload the same picture taken after sunset. Last is the B/W picture that Ca’em luvs!! You’ve gotta use classic mode for classic buildings. Haha :]

Yearning for my city

Caem — Wed, 13 May 2009 12:20:04 +0000

As promised in the last post “Tokyo Essay” (#7), let’s go over tips on how to take good night pictures. AND a little aspiration to share the breath-taking night view that my house commands. :) Honestly, night photography is tricky for beginners like Ca’em. Surfing the web, studying the professional photos made me feel as if I was also part of the professional circle, at least for a moment. However, the world of photos isn’t that easy. The result was as harsh as the dry wind from the river. :(

- 1st Trial -
WB500[HZ10W] 1/3s l F3.3 l ISO200 –1.00EV Program

WB500[HZ10W] 1/2s l F3.7 l ISO200 –0.30EV Program

After every shot, I monitored the LCD screen to check the quality. The night photo time seemed to be a success. B.U.T. The moment I downloaded the pictures onto the computer… The sense of betrayal! :-< My fleeting illusion of having become a professional must have heightened my expectations. Ca’em, you fool!

Yet another instance that brings home the importance of using tripod! The following pictures were taken using a tripod and release. I used manual and program mode to fully capture the fascinating night scene of the city.

- 2nd Trial –

Night scenery of the city with time -

Before Sunset 06:47 PM WB500[HZ10W] 1/60s l F7.5 l ISO 100 Manual AE

WB1000[TL320] 1/350s l F2.8 l ISO 80 Shutter speed priority AE

Evening Glow 07:43 PM WB500[HZ10W] 0.7s l F3.9 l ISO 100 Manual AE

Night view 08:03 PM WB500[HZ10W] 1.5s l F4.2 l ISO 100 Manual AE

Now, the detailed tips on how to take successful night photos.

For WB500(HZ10W), which Ca’em owns, set shooting mode to M, and F value at 3.0~6.0. Now, try various shutter speeds of 0.5s, 0.7s, 1s, 1.5s, 2s and so on. You will see that the different shutter speed results in different outcomes. Based on the results, you simply need to choose the right shutter speed. Ca’em mostly used 1.5s in manual mode with ISO 100 and center weight. Longer shutter speed means that much more light goes into the camera, resulting in a brighter picture. The lower the F value, the lower the ISO value and the longer the shutter speed, the brighter the picture. Night photos often use longer shutter speed to adjust the exposure.

WB500[HZ10W] 1.0s l F4.5 l ISO 100 l EV –1 Program AE

WB500[HZ10W] 1.5s l F4.5 l ISO 100 Manual Soft Effect

Night photography often relies on long exposure. And long exposure helps to give a way softer touch to the rough waves of the river. However, be extremely careful not to shake the camera while the shutter is open. It’s a short cut to ruining your picture! So.. those with no tripod.. Use the bench.. ;-) But nothing is better than tripod because you can freely adjust the angle as you wish.

The values indicated below the pictures are what Ca’em used during the shots, but does not mean it always works. Depending on the condition of the subject and amount of light, the set value is subject to change. After all, you need to try various pictures and find the optimal setting for your own camera.

Users of general compact cameras set the camera at auto mode for picture taking. Of course, full auto setting is much more convenient, but if you want to take nice pictures while you are at it, I recommend trying manual mode. With the WB500(HZ10W), you can manually adjust the shutter speed, so you can readily take quite nice pictures. I firmly believe that you can all do better than Ca’em, right? In the next posting, I will go over how to capture the trace of light using my old buddy WB500(HZ10W) and new buddy, WB1000(TL320) embedded with A/S/M full manual mode! See you then!

WB500[HZ10W] 4s l F 10.1 l ISO 100 Manual

Color Therapy

Caem — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 02:13:48 +0000

Digital, black and white photo – two words that seem to mismatch. There still are maniacs of black and white photos who stick to the analog way of professional photo taking. However, the rising tide of the conversion of traditional films to digital is attracting the attention of photo lovers to digital black and white pictures. Black and white photos, which inspire many people, are often said to be the first love of professional photographers. I think this is because black and white photos has something more than that meets the eyes. The charisma from the simple yet vividly contrasting brightness and darkness invites more shooting. Now, join me in enjoying black and white pictures!

WB500/HZ10W 1/60s l 7.5F l ISO 80 Manual

WB500/HZ10W 1/125s l 4.5F l ISO 80 Program

WB500/HZ10W 1/125s l 4.8F l ISO 100 Program

This is not a simple colorless black and white picture. A good picture requires countless techniques such as fining the right angle, contrast and amount of light. Using the outfocus function to blur the far-out subject makes the photo appear more graceful and classic. For this posting, Ca’em used a lot of program/manual mode. Keeping in mind the very importance of striking a smooth balance between black and white in order to make the photo appear much more natural, let’s take a look at tips on how to take good black and white pictures..

1. Landscapes are an inevitable subject for black and white pictures. When taking black and white pictures with WB500(HZ10W), select classic or W/B mode under frame effect. Classic and W/B mode may appear to have negligible difference, but Classic mode is much stronger in contrasting. In program mode, it is possible to actively use ISO and lens function. In general, set up ISO to 100 for stronger contrast.

2. When choosing the subject for black and white photos, you need to consider what will be highlighted when the color is stripped. The bark of a tree is a good example. I hope the picture below helps you to get a sense of what I am trying to say.

Ca’em is particularly fond of black and white mode. Oh! Before going further, a quick mention on the personality of people who like gray! Just like the color, which is a mixture of black and white, people who like gray are conservative and reserved. Interesting? Let’s dig a little deeper.

“Gray carries the softness that is absent in sharp white. At the same time, gray is free from the heavy burden that accompanies black and lacks energy. Gray is modest and is reminded when you don’t want to be disturbed. Many have a mild personality, with no strong opinions or expression of clear opinions.” In one word, they seem to be hidebound. HaHa. I would strongly recommend them to entertain their eyes and minds with color from time to time~

WB500/HZ10W 1/90s l 5.6F l ISO 200 MANUAL

WB500/HZ10W 1/60s l 5.7F l ISO 200 MANUAL

WB500/HZ10W 1/180s l 7.5F l ISO 100 Program

The black and white picture that inspired Ca’em today is based on the of Richard Olseniuss. A short note on the writer: Richard is a professional photographer with a particular affection for black and white photos and has won various prizes. You can visit his website (americanlandscapegallery) to check out his works.

The kind advice Richard gives based on his experience left Ca’em more interested in digital black and white photos. I guess a long road still lies ahead of Ca’em. A friend of mine, presented with a quick preview of my pictures, replied that the photos were largely lonely, but difficult to grasp the message. Oh, no… :’( Well… I was a bit out of my mind because of the freezing weather….

I guess the shortcut to becoming a real master of photography is to go through numerous trials and errors. What the writer emphasizes over and over again in this book is that you have to constantly challenge yourself and ask “What are you trying to say?” and make the best effort to get the message across. “Is the photo enough to convey the message?”. It is true that the title of a picture can sometimes convey a totally different feeling. Ca’em also strive to find a theme on the picture. Such a hard work. :-l Last, but not least, the one impressive sentence that shook Ca’em’s heart!! “The best camera for you is THE camera that you will be using.” An invaluable moment that brought home the true meaning of photo taking…

My Classic Camera

WB500(HZ10W) – An ordinary compact camera, but one that immediately caught my attention. Although it is true that my poor handling left many scenes much to be desired, I feel that the camera and I are becoming closer to one another day by day. Although today’s subject was black and white, the white dandelion standing in contrast to the green grass right after the rain appears whiter than ever, cheering me up! See ya~

Tokyo Essay – Night view in Tokyo

Caem — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 05:01:44 +0000

Already the 7^th posting! At the beginning, to be honest, I wasn’t quite sure if I could make it through the regular posting. Fortunately enough, I think I am doing quite well~ :-) As mentioned in the last posting, I planned to share editing tips to make interesting photos. However, due to an unexpected turn of events, I shifted the schedule a bit. Instead, let me take you through Tokyo through photos today. An unexpected trip! A little present in my ordinary life. Curious about what lies ahead? ( I hope ) Come on, join me in a little walk through Tokyo through the lens of WB500(HZ10W).

I boarded the plane looking forward to the white cherry blossoms decorating the whole Tokyo. But I guess I was a little late. Couldn’t see the much hoped for sun-shower either.. I guess I had my dreams to high… : ( The pompous cherry blossoms decorating the park were nowhere to be seen… Sad to see the flowers fade, people were trying to capture the last of the flowers before they shed, and so was Ca’em.

The sun, growing ever so brightly, seemed to emphasize my sad feelings! However, Tokyo had in store a different fun for me! I hopped on the subway to go to Odaiba, which offers a spectacular bird’s eyes view of Tokyo.

Families, couples and tourists were sitting on the terrace enjoying the sunset. One of the beauties of taking a camera with you is the ability to sympathize with those taking pictures, regardless of age. A gentleman taking pictures of the sunset. He shows his pictures and casually smiles at me. Seems like he knew that I was not Japanese. He thankfully volunteered to become the novice Ca’em’s teacher for a day, well, for a few minutes. The beautiful night scenery left me glued to the site for a good long time.

SAMSUNG WB500/HZ10W 0.7s l 5.8F l ISO 100 l 22.5mm

Without a tripod, Ca’em was forced to madly press away the camera button in a desperate effort to capture Tokyo’s night scene. Make sure you don’t repeat the same mistake…: ( Night photography is fun because you are able to play around with light. Set the shutter speed at 1/1.5s and draw a circle in anti clockwise direction with the camera to give a ring shape to the lights. You can also try shaking the camera to the sides. You can see that the subjects with wider width express better than the flat ones. Night photography is difficult to control with ordinary DSLR cameras because the light blurs at the slightest shake. The compact, yet imposing body of WB500(HZ10W) helps to alleviate the concern. Ca’em head over heels for WB500(HZ10Z)..? Maybe.. ;-)

SAMSUNG WB500/HZ10W 0.7s l 5.1F l ISO 80 l 12.2mm

SAMSUNG WB500/HZ10W 0.7s l 5.3F l ISO 100 l 14.2mm

The breath-taking night view of Tokyo continues well into Asakusa, one of the representative shrines in Japan. A short walk in the shrine after a late dinner. Bright lights lighting up the streets of Asakusa as if forgotten about time.

SAMSUNG WB500/HZ10W 1/15s l 3.7F l ISO 200 l 5.6mm (Program AE)

SAMSUNG WB500/HZ10W 1/15s l 4.5F l ISO 800 l 9.0mm (Program AE)

SAMSUNG WB500/HZ10W 1/15s l 3.3F l ISO 640 l 9.0mm (Program AE)

Lights put out around midnight.

1/8s l 3.3F l ISO 200 l 4.3mm Manual Mode

WB500(HZ10w) provides 7 different photo styles. Various effects help to add charm to the photos. To experiment the effects during night time, I tried out using pagoda as the subject. This time again, ‘Classic’ mode – colorless, but in vivid contrast with the night sky – scores. Which is your favorite?

I feel a little bad for excusing myself to go on a trip and not posting useful tips for night photography. But, night scene is not unique to Tokyo! I’ll deep dive into the subject next time.

Japan, the world of characters! Here are a few photos that provide a glimpse of the various different faces of Tokyo filled with unique illustrations in wayfinding signs, decks and building signs.

# Time itself seemed still there – Kawagoe

# The Cat Returns

# Step on Tokyo

So far, it’s Ca’em. See you next time ~!