Category Archives: Tech

Sun Surveyor

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I have photographed Masjid Wilayah Persekutuan under different light since its opening in year 2000. Fascinated by the intricate architecture and how sunlight interacts with the interior arches and stairs, I always enjoy walking around the huge mosque to look at the shadow play.

It was only recently, that I was able to quickly calculate the exact position and declination of the sun with a mobile Android app from location. At one of my favourite angles, the app projected a perfect sweet spot but only in six month’s time. The sun’s relative angle in the sky changes over seasons.

I waited and that moment arrived two days ago. However, there remains one unpredictable variable; the weather. Resulting picture in the next post.

Overlaid screenshots from Sun Surveyor app’s 3D and 2D view of the sun’s position over Wilayah Mosque. Satellite Imagery copyright Google Map.

Olympus OM-D, ISO 200, f11, 1/800 sec.

Sun Surveyor

New Olympus Pen E-P5

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Note: This post on the E-P5 is spread across 3 pages. Click here to jump to Page 2.

Olympus today unveiled its new flagship PEN m43 camera. The PEN E-P5 is shaped after the original popular PEN series film cameras from the 60s and 70s. Under the hood of the latest digital reincarnation is a powerful slew of features. I won’t go into every aspect of its specification. You can see the specs here on Page 3. I will however highlight some of the features I like when I had a hands-on with it a few weeks ago.

The Trio: White, Black and Siver-Black (Not to exact scale)

How is it different from the OM-D (EM-5) then? Is the E-P5 even better than the OM-D? Answer here

Some of the notable features:

1) The Wi-Fi link connects with a QR code displayed on the camera’s LCD screen. This should be quicker and less messy than traditional wireless scanning and password pairing method. You download a free Olympus App to your Android or iOS device and scan the QR code to connect.

Note: For straight forward file transfer and sharing, I think the optional accessory Olympus PenPal PP-1 bluetooth device for Android is still quite viable and fast.

2) Wireless tethering with Live View on your phone. Not only that, you can focus with touch AF and trigger touch shutter release remotely, on the screen of your connected phone or tablet. A very useful feature although I suspect most users will be using it in conjunction with self pics. Beats setting the camera on tripod, clicking on self timer and running into position 🙂 Unfortunately remote Live View is available only in Full Auto mode and not in other exposure modes such as Video.

3) 1/8000 sec mechanical shutter means better opportunities to use a fast lens wide open (if needed) here in bright, tropical Malaysia. But don’t throw away your ND filter just yet.

4) Focus peaking as a focussing aid. Although I don’t use manual lenses much, many were clamouring for it.

5) Time lapse / interval shooting programmable function and auto in-camera assembly of jpgs (ala Nikon D800) into an AVI timelapse sequence (1280 x 720 avi).

6) Body is made from high quality textured metal finishing in one-piece wrap with no screws in sight.

7) Interchangeable body grips (that includes a seemingly odd wooden one which should be popular in Japan and USA). Other Olympus-branded leather accessories like straps and cases will also be available.

Mounted my Body Cap Lens on the E-P5 to appreciate its compactness

8) GPS logging in exif data when paired with a smartphone that has its GPS enabled.

9) OM-D’s already legendary 5-axis stabilization is carried over with refinements.

11) High quality optional VF-4 viewfinder with magnification similar to high-end full frame dSLR. It is relatively expensive though. See Price List here (Page 2).

12) A / B Flip Switch for dual control dials means effectively there are 4 dials (that can be programmed).

13) Battery is similar / backwards compatible with EM-5’s BLN-1.

14) A pop-up flash that I can use to trigger a remote Olympus wireless flash while keeping the hotshoe and port free for other accessories.

15) My wish came true; prime lenses from Olympus will be available in black instead of funny silver.

New Olympus E-P5 black with black 17mm and VF4

For Prices and More Pics, continue to Page 2. For Specs, go to Page 3.

Pages: 1 2 3

The Softener

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If I am in the studio, I will start with a Broncolor and a big soft lightbox over the food. Then I might add a secondary light or use a variety of light shapers to style the look. The food stylist, art director and the client will eventually be happy, hopefully.

What if I am eating inside a very dark market and need an impromptu photo for myself? I tore off the styro foam box cover and placed a small light behind it. I used a Manfrotto ML-240 in this case, but a phone’s LED light will do almost as well. The idea is to soften an artificial direct light source.

I was attracted to the chicken char siew rice because it is totally vegetarian. It is mock meat but it sure look and tastes like the real thing. See the close-up in the second pic below.

Olympus OM-D, ISO 200, f3.5, 1/30 sec.

The Softener

Char Siew is like the pork version of Tandoori Chicken, if you think about it. This char siew and chicken rice meal is the vegetarian version, probably made from soy and/or wheat gluten. It is found in the Hot Springs New Village market food court.

To show texture better and to give your food a more three-dimensional look, shoot from an angle of about 45 degree or below.  If possible, soften the light but you probably don’t want to diffuse the light until there are no highlights. Shadowless “light tent” shots are good for supermarket product catalogues but not ‘magazine-style’ food photos.

Since you are doing it for yourself, experiment and style it to your own taste. The fun is in learning how both natural and artificial light shape the food in front of you.

Olympus OM-D, ISO 2000, f6, 1/80 sec.