Good Distortions

With a wide angle lens, the vertical lines distort by diverging outwards when you hold the camera pointing down. You can use this effect to your advantage in your compositions. In this picture, I let the vertical candle and worshiper form a V-shape. The elements became an inverted triangle when the arm and joss sticks connect with the flame. Only problem with a wide angle lens is that almost everything falls into sharp focus. This is the time to use Snapseed’s Foggy Filter plus Vignetting selectively to feather the messy background. Photographed with the Olympus OM-D and Panasonic 7-14mm UWA lens at a Hungry Ghost festival prayers session in Hot Springs New Village just now.

Good Distortions

Dark Frame

Composing, framing or cropping for a square format is more challenging, actually. One way is to use a ‘frame’ as a compositional element to ‘de-square’ and make your picture more intriguing. In this picture, I used the overhanging leaves and hill slope as a frame for the family around the tombstone. Under-exposing created the silhouettes, evoking a sombre yet detached viewpoint.

Dark Frame

Journey Into My Mind

There is a magical world right in our own backyard, if only more people could see it. Ever so often, I hear shutterbugs complaining about photo opportunities here in Malaysia. Must journey to Morocco or Maldives they suggest. Those places are nice but open up your eyes and mind first, I say…

Journey Into My Mind

Journey Into My Mind

I drove by Bang-Sar (pronounced matsalleh-style) today and saw a dead tree. I ended  up with a background slide which I can later use in a PowerPoint presentation or video.  The picture started life as an ordinary scene of an ordinary neighbourhood, with maids walking obese dogs and all 🙂

The Tree

Whisper after me: "I See Dead Trees"

I thought the dark branches and dried leaves on this skeletal tree made a pretty silhouette, what with a hazy sun hiding behind it. Using a tele lens, I was able to pick out the sun and avoid that messy utility cable. An orange filter was used to warm up the scene and bring it to life.

Backyard Beauty

Backyard Beauty

Open your eyes and journey into your mind.  There is beauty in our own backyard…