Author Archives: TV Smith

Mercedes GP Petronas F1 Team 2011 Challenger

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The new Mercedes GP Petronas Formula One Team 2011 Challenger made its debut in Malaysia last night. The MGP W02 was launched last week by Michael Schumacher at Cheste, near Valencia in Spain. Under the backdrop of the Petronas Twin Towers, the new car was unveiled by young drivers from Petronas’ talent development programme, witnessed by Tun Dr Mahathir and other VIPs…

Horizontal Vertical

A Horizontal Vertical

Thumbs Up

Thumbs Up

Wind Tunnel

Wind Tunnel

All pictures captured with the Olympus E-PL2 camera by TV Smith.

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The Art Of Art Filters

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Recent Olympus cameras are equipped with so-called Art Filters. They are actually special effect presets which users can use to create what Olympus calls “artistically impressive” images. While many will find this convenient, I personally prefer to add any effect in post using Photoshop or similar software as I can control the parameters.

Nevertheless, the ability to create and see the effects immediately on camera is a great time (and money) saving feature. Since I am still reviewing the Olympus E-PL2, I thought I should see what the art filters can achieve on the streets…

Chinese Temple - Diorama Filter

Chinese Temple - Diorama Filter

The Diorama Filter changes the focus selectively and it also alters the colour / contrast. Processing time seems to be the longest with this filter. It can take up to 7 seconds sometimes.

Friendly Stranger - No Filter

Friendly Stranger - No Filter

I was photographing the coffee shop across the street when this gentleman stopped right in front of the camera to ask about the pancake lens. He wanted to know if it retracts. To get out of Art Filter quickly for this shot, all I had to do was to rotate the mode dial from Art back to A (Aperture Priority).

Polite Vandal - Dramatic Tone Filter

Polite Vandal - Dramatic Tone Filter

This filter is my favourite art filter but toughest to use as it appears to be as unpredictable as KL’s graffiti artists.

Wooden Clogs - Dramatic Tone Filter

Wooden Clogs - Dramatic Tone Filter

Saw these clogs outside a Chinese astrology shop in Chinatown.

Happy Rabbit Year - Grainy Film Filter

Happy Rabbit Year - Grainy Film Filter

Certain subjects lend itself well to this monochrome filter. The back lane where Pasar Karat (aka Thieves Market) is located is just as sleazy after sunrise.

Lion Dance Trouper - iEhnance Picture Mode

Lion Dance Trouper - iEhnance Picture Mode

I prefer the iEhnance Picture Mode over the Pop Art Filter as the colours appear over-saturated with the latter. Use it sparingly, if you have to.

Old Sikh Temple - Pin Hole

Old Sikh Temple - Pin Hole Filter

The result appears more like corner vignetting than pin hole. I know because I built a working pin-hole camera when I was a kid. Now, I don’t have to spend a fortune on a full frame camera to get vignetting 🙂

Drive-by Shooting - Dramatic Tone Filter

Drive-by Shooting - Dramatic Tone Filter

I took this photo while waiting at the traffic lights. In this case, I turned up the saturation a bit. Does it not look like an album cover?

It's A Jungle Out There - Soft Focus Filter

It's A Jungle Out There - Soft Focus Filter

How many of you remember smearing some Vaseline on a glass filter to achieve a dreamy effect? Or placing a stocking over the lens so as to soften your girlfriend’s skin blemishes? I think this filter will be least appreciated as the current generation is brainwashed into thinking that sharp is always good.

Independence Square - Dramatic Tone Filter

Independence Square - Dramatic Tone Filter

Dramatic Tone Filter seems to work best with clouds and back-lit subjects. The filter made part of the flag pole disappear into the clouds. Drama Filter 🙂

See also:
Bird Park with the 75-300mm | Chinatown Temple with E-PL 2 | Dong Zen Flora Fest

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Dong Zen CNY Lantern & Flora Festival 2011

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Since it was already quite dark when I arrived at Jenjarom the other day, I decided to visit again yesterday afternoon. It was pouring all the animals of the Chinese zodiac that day but this time, with the scorching sun, those fabled Olympus colours came popping out.

The Lantern & Flora Festival drew a huge crowd to the Buddhist shrine. It was the perfect venue to continue my real-world evaluation of the new Olympus E-PL2 camera…

Olympus E-PL2, ISO 1600, f8, 1/80 sec

Olympus E-PL2, ISO 1600, f8, 1/80 sec

My Garmin GPS calculated the trajectory and the timing of the sunset precisely. But there is only a tiny time window when natural and artificial light blend perfectly. If it is too early, the sky will appear washed-out. A little later and the foreground with people will not be visible. Here, I also handheld a 0.7 wide attachment in front to give it a wider 24mm perspective.

Olympus E-PL2, ISO 1600, f8, 1/20 sec

Olympus E-PL2, ISO 1600, f8, 1/20 sec

I was glad I brought a monopod instead of a tripod. With so many people everywhere, it was nearly impossibe to park a tripod without someone kicking one of its legs accidentally. Since a monopod is not as rigid, I have to consciously stay above 1/15 sec in speed.

Olympus E-PL2, ISO 320, f8, 1/80 sec

Olympus E-PL2, ISO 320, f8, 1/80 sec

I like the light here. Everything else was under twilight except the Ferris Wheel. Because of its height, it was lit by the remaining rays from the setting sun. The clouds were twirling so fast I thought rain will break out again. Just like Thaipusam at Batu Caves, the fun fair makes an appearance at a religious venue.

Olympus E-PL2, ISO 200, f100, 1/800 sec

Olympus E-PL2, ISO 200, f10, 1/800 sec

Earlier in the day, the sun was so bright even the figurines were squinting :). It was difficult to see the LCD display and I predicted it needed a 0.7 EV trim down to prevent blown highlights on the faces. Funnily, face recognition works here as advertised.

Olympus E-PL2, ISO 200, f11, 1/60 sec

Olympus E-PL2, ISO 200, f11, 1/60 sec

With all the flowers, the butterflies of Jenjarom were feasting away. As usual, they are not very cooperative and will scoot off just when you are about to click. Patience, young grasshopper…

Olympus E-PL2, ISO 200, f11, 1/1000 sec

Olympus E-PL2, ISO 200, f11, 1/1000 sec

Vines, creepers and cables. With so many lights there, I guess it is an inevitable consequence that every tree has an electric wire coiling around its trunk. The Olympus pancake 17mm 2.8 is surprisingly sharp for a kit lens. Look at the tree bark on the foreground.

Olympus E-PL2, ISO 200, f2.8, 1/2000 sec

Olympus E-PL2, ISO 200, f2.8, 1/2000 sec

Lotus lamp and a pancake close-up. With a flickering flame, the trick was to switch to MF and focus on the wick. I also like the bokeh of the lens.

Some Niggles: The optional grid-lines on the screen are near useless as they are too faint and fine. The control wheel adjustments for exposure values can be altered too easily by accident. Fortunately, a lock can be applied but it makes any subsequent adjustment a two-press process.

See also:
Dong Zen CNY Rainy Light Show 2011 | Chinatown Temple with E-PL 2
The Art of Art Filters | Bird Park with the 75-300mm Lens

Getting There: MyCen Map to FGS Dong Zen Temple in Jenjarom

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