Jungle_Tales

Place your subject off-center

Rather than placing your main subject in the middle of the screen, place it
to one side and ensure something interesting is in the background that fills the
remainder of the image.

This can be especially effective if the background has the same theme. For
example, if photographing a child opening a Christmas present, frame them to one
side and have the Christmas Tree with unopened presents filling the rest of the
image.

There are a few guidelines that cam help you place your subject in the frame.

 

The Rule of Thirds

One of the most popular rules in photography is the
"Rule of Thirds". It is a simple rule that can add dynamism to your photos.
Simply, divide the image into thirds both horizontally and vertically. When
composing your shot, place important elements either along these lines, or where
the lines intersect - NOT at the centre of the frame.

For example, place a subject’s eyes where the top line is, or place your
subject on the place in the image where two of these lines intersect.

It’s a very simple rule to follow and will result in a nicely balanced, easy
on the eye picture. It also helps get rid of the ‘tiny subject and large amount
of space’ tendency because you need to position items relative to the edges of
the frame.

Having said this, the Rule of Thirds is also one of the rules you’ll want to
break often! This is fine - the Rule of Thirds is more of a guideline and
sometimes you will find a better image when you break the rule.

Next time : Some tricks to get winning shots involving one of the most
troublesome subjects - children!

by David Peterson

Use Optical rather than Digital Zoom

Cameras are marketed with both an Optical Zoom and Digital Zoom capability.

If you’ve used a film camera, you’ll be used to optical zoom. Optical zoom
uses the lens of the camera (the optics) to bring the subject closer. Digital
zoom uses clever software to digitally enlarge a portion of the image - thus
simulating optical zoom.

So, which is better? Definitely Optical zoom. Here’s why.

Digital zoom is not really ‘zoom’ in the strictest definition of the term.
Digital zoom just enlarges the image. Eg it takes a portion of the image and
enlarges it back to full size. You lose quality because of the enlargement
process so photos that have been taken with digital zoom won’t look as good as
those without.

You can perform the same result using image editing software on your
computer. In fact, it can be better to crop and enlarge using your image
software in your computer as you can decide exactly what part of the image to
enlarge, and how much to enlarge by.

So when taking shots, use optical zoom only. If you need to zoom in further,
use your editing software to select the best part of the image to keep. Ensure
your camera warns you when it’s switching to digital zoom from optical zoom, or
use your settings to disable digital zoom entirely.

Why is clarity important? The more clarity you have in your image, the larger
the printed size can be without the image appearing fuzzy, or blocky. If you
want to keep clarity in your images, use the optical zoom whenever possible, and
avoid the digital zoom.

How do you use Optical Zoom? When you zoom in using your camera, it will use
Optical zoom first and then use Digital zoom. You can usually set your camera to
notify you when it starts to use the Digital zoom, or tell it to not use digital
zoom at all. Consult your manual for details.

Next time : A little known secret, used all the time by professionals,
that result in a pleasing, nicely balanced photo.

by David Peterson

was browsing thru the net the other day and found something interesting…. for those who love photography, here r some secrets that might help giving u guys some idea’s.

Move In Closer

Almost any shot will look better if you take two or three steps closer to
your subject. Filling the frame entirely with your subject will make a terrific
difference to your photos.

Alternatively, instead of moving closer, use the Optical or Digital Zoom of
your camera to get a close up shot.

When taking shots of family and friends, most people place the subject’s full
body in the frame, or place head and arms in the shot. Instead, fill the frame
with your subject’s FACE only - particularly if they are smiling or are in a
moment of reflection.

Why does this work? With less clutter in the image, there’s less to draw the
eye away from the main subject of your photo. Also, human faces (particularly
children’s faces) are something we all feel pleasure looking at.

If you can’t get close enough when you’re taking the shot, you can zoom in
later using photo editing software - crop out everything except the subject’s
face and see what a difference it makes.

When using the viewfinder for close shots, be careful of Parallax. Because
the viewfinder is not at the same position as the camera’s lens, centering the
subject in the viewfinder may mean it is not centered for the lens resulting in
an off-center final picture. Most digital cameras now come with an inbuilt LCD
screen. You can eliminate this problem by using the LCD - which shows you what
the lens sees - rather than the viewfinder.

Next time : A secret to help you move closer without sacrificing
picture quality.

by David Peterson

More tips to come ……

Am really bored today waiting for the new semester to come. Doing nothing much at home, busaann dan sangap yang teramat sangat.

Somebody foward me this game. It is really interesting. Got me glued to the PC the whole day.

The rules are simple try to find 13 items in the room. Every item found is connected to each other. Until you find all items then you can get out of the Crimson Room. If you managed to escape from the Crimson Room, try your luck in the Veridian Room. It is much more challeging. Have Fun ….

check this game out ..

Tell me what u think about it ……

 

 

Mesmerize, -ise
to hypnotized: The child was mesmerized(=facinated) by the television screen. ‘mesmerism n.

I was mesmerized by the beauty  of nature.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

29 April 05

 9.00
pm
Lokasi Kedai Sup sebelah LRT
Taman Melati. Menunggu peserta2 xPDc melaporkan diri.

Botak, Adelin, Pisha, Bett,
Eppot, Kak Ina, Chipoi, Nieta, Nowa, Pogo, Budien, Din, Zul, Abah Reen, Ziezie,
Teh, Apies, Lan dan Guide Epol

Turut serta hadir memberi
sokongan Adek, Nina, Nije (suspected denggi), Chedin n Kinah serta anak2, Nazly,
Abang Yus Ikan Bilis.

Bett mengedarkan T-Shirt yg
di order .. Cun dan terlebih saiz

Transportation;
Abah Reen drive van bersama
krew Apies, Budien n teh.
Eppot
drive satria bersama krew Botak, Adelin n Chipoi.
Pisha
drive Wira bersama krew Kak Ina, Bett
Pogo
drive proton merah bersama krew Guide Epol, Nowa dan Nieta.
Din
drive wira bersama krew Zul, Ziezie n Lan.

11.15
pm

Bertolak dari Tmn Melati.

01.00
am
Sampai di rumah abang Yan.
Guys tido kat surau, girls tido kat rumah abang Yan.

30 April 05

8.00 am
Breakfast donut dan nasi
lemak beserta karipap.

8.45 am
Bertolak ke Lata Berembun menaiki 2 buah 4 WD.

Berembun
waterfalls are located in Pahang on the slopes of Gunung Benom. For the last 2
km of the access road you need a 4WD or you must walk.

 Dalam perjalanan ke sana,
kami melalui kawasan pekan yg rata2 penduduknya menjalankan aktiviti pertanian
seperti menanam koko,

Botak “ dulu masa
kecik-kecik kat kampong aku jemur koko mcm ni laaa….”

Bila start masuk trek off
road .. pemandangan kiri kanan penoh dengan ladang kelapa sawit, diikuti dengan
pokok-pokok getah kemudian tanaman pisang montel dilereng-lereng bukit.

Botak “ dulu masa aku
kecik-kecik kat kampong aku tanam pokok pisang” moekekeke tak  abes-abes ngan masa kecik2 dia…

bau diesel yang menusuk
hidung membuatkan director Bett mabok2 dan Pisha mamai2.
Dalam setengah jam perjalanan Kak Ina bersuara “ Reen kat mana pajero terbalik? "

Abah Reen pon memberi
isyarat tangan “ Kat depan tu ..”

Sampai di satu lopak mak aii
dalam nyer cammana nak lepas nie. Tiba-tiba 4WD menggelongsor. Apalagi menjerit
laa …. (don’t worry 4 wheel handled by pro’s)

9.45 am
Air terjun Lata Berembun
menambat hati kami.
Setelah semuanya bersedia
pendakian dimulakan.

Aksi stunt yang pertama
adalah dari teh, tengah cross sungai boleh pulak dia tergolek nasib baik Chipoi
jadik heroin sekejap dapat tangkap cover bag teh. Bravo ….

Aksi stunt lelaki pula
dipegang oleh Din Baik….bloop bloopp…… tergolek jugak dalam air.

1.30 pm
Lunch kat trek sesat. Menu –
nasi impit, roti n daging burger, tempe goreng (sumbangan Teh). Kali kedua sesat di trek.
Condition trek memang teruk. Pokok tumbang sana sini. Budien, Zul,
Ziezie dan Din mengambil kontrak menebas pokok-pokok berduri. Nampak macam dah
lama orang tak lalu trek nie. Bukit pulak panjang tak hengat. 
3.40 pm
Sampai di last water point.

Kepenatan yang teramat
sangat. Semuanya kelihatan gembira kerana sampai di last waterpoint. That means
we are on the right track.

The weather so far is on our side. Semua mengeluarkan botol air
masing-masing stok air untuk dua hari. Waterpoint kechik jer kat bawah batu.

5.15 pm
Mendaki ke kem Bulat.
Naik, naik dan naik lagi …..Bebagai-bagai jenis lumut terdampar dikiri kanan trek. Looks like it is
still untouched …

7.15 pm
Sampai di Kem Bulat ataupon
lebih tepat sebenornya Puncak Bulat.
Hajat untuk sampai di kem
Bulat sebelum matahari terbenam tercapai.

 Dialog 15 min sebelum kem Bulat,
                         Adelin “ Budien Maghrib
pukul berapa? (alasan nak take 5) ”
                         Budien “ Depan tu kiter
berenti ek? ”

Tapi tak berenti gak ..

Makan malam, Menu – Nasi
putih, sup soon, ayam masak merah, ikan masin bulus ayam, sambal cencalok. Tonite’s Chef adalah
gabungan KHG n MDC Botak dan Puan Rosnita. Memasak sambil layan AIM melalui
radio yang Nowa bawak.

1 April 05

8.30 am

Breakfast, today’s menu
nasi goreng Kem Bulat prepared by Nieta and Chipoi.

10.00 am
Mula Mendaki ke puncak
Layan view batu-batu, pokok
atas batu dan batu dan batu lagik. Nampak tapak kaki harimau
kumbang.
Berjalan diatas akar-akar
pokok, kiri kanan gaung.

                                                                      2 jam sebelum sampai puncak:

Terdengar suara-suara
gumbira kepangokkan sambil menyanyi tiba-tiba ..
                    “Tolong senyap boleh tak!!!”
Budien tensi kepangokkan menebas trek …
                    “Wei .. senyap wei .. Budien
penat tu” Kak Ina

                                                                    15 minit sebelum sampai
puncak:

                                Chipoi “ Bila nak sampai nie
Kak Ina? “
                                Kak Ina “ Lepas batu besar
nie sampai la”
                                (Berapa banyak batu da … )

Along the way to the top ader la dalam 20 something batu-batu besar kiri
kanan.

Guide Epol take over Budien
yang dah penat menebas duri2. Baru la dengar suara Epol dari jauh sayup-sayup
menyanyi … “Perjalanan ini terasa amat menyedihkan ……”

3.15 pm

Kemuncak Gunung Benom

Pembubaran Kelab Jiwa Luka.
Abah Reen dengan tersenyum simpul akhirnya dapat memenuhi impiannya untuk
menawan Gunung Benum setelah dua kali kecewa. View tak nampak aper sangat
sebab berkabus.

Campsite di puncak nampaknya
lagi besar dari Kem Bulat, punca air tiada. Hanya terdapat botol-botol air yg dikerat
untuk menadah air hujan. Bett dan Pogo amik kesempatan untuk membuang tohi di
puncak Benom.

Sessi bergambar. (bukan senang nak naik . rugi kalau tak bergambo)

4.20 pm
Balik ke Kem Bulat.

6.20 pm
Sampai di Kem Bulat. Orang
last sampai

7.15 pm
Dinner
menu – Nasi putih, masak
lemak ikan masin campur nenas, papadom, ikan bilis goreng bawang.

 Tengah prepare dinner tiba2
hujan turun. Tapi tak lebat sangat and sekejap2 sekejap jer. Di saat ini lah
Nieta (makcik kantin) mendapat idea untuk mencipta gore-tex baru material
plastic sampah.

Rumah urut dibuka.
Masing-masing sibuk merawat luka-luka, terseliuh, terkehel dan lain-lain. Lan
(Stokis Makjun) sibuk mempromosikan produk nyer.

2 April 05

8.30 am
Bangun…bangun…bangun

Breakfast
Today’s Chef is Budien, Menu
– Nasi Lemak [nyum…..nyum (sound effect engineer Pisha)]

10.20am
Turun ke last waterpoint

11.15 pm
Last waterpoint (take 5)

12.55 pm
Sampai di sungai berbatu. Nowa sibuk
mengunakan skillnye mengambil gambar. Lunch
maggie jer …. Tukang masak dah penat …

2.30 pm
bertolak ke Lata Berembun

3.15 pm
sampai di Lata Berembun

Masing-masing
sibuk membersihkan diri, mandi-manda setelah 2 hari tak mandi. Botak
menunjukkan skillnya terjun tiruk.

5.00 pm
4WD sampai.

6.15 pm
bertolak ke Kg Lembah Klau. Sebelum bertolak
balik, Bett pulak kecoh beg duit dia ilang…..puas dicari-cari rupa-rupanya kat
dlm periuk…apa la Bett ni..kalut sungguh.tu la asik sebut peghoyok jer…sampai
letak beg duit pon dalam peghoyok (periuk dalam loghat perak)

7.30 pm
bertolak balik ke KL ..   

8.00 pm
Dinner di Bentong

11.00 pm
Sampai di Taman Melati.

Tamat sudah satu perjalanan.

Kepulangan kami disambut oleh Padel aka Jambu Botak,Amoi, Lipan beserta
anaknye Danish … ye ye mama balik ……… hehehhehehe

Sila dapatkan VCD XpDC Mount Benom daripada Teh Fartonah (penjual cd pirate) sementara stock masih ada …

 

Evrything is packed ready to go.

Destination : Lumut.
Event: Malakoff Duathlon Race.

Pick Tasha and Yana up, went for
lunch first then leave KL at about 3 pm.
The rest of the gang should be there already to register n stuff. Botak is not
feeling well this few days.
This might affect his performance.

Arrived at Lumut around 7 something. Meet the gang for a the
tarik at this nasi kandar shop behind KFC (they have really nice cheese Nan)
borak2 kejap then of to the hotel (Hotel Putra) unpacked. Turun bawah kejap
ambik gambar at the Water Front.

Yana “ Jom kiter pose
Berek 1” …. Salute….

After that, freshen up and of we go for dinner at Teluk
Rubiah. Along the way there’s signs showing 3 km run .. alamak apasal nampak
jauh sangat. Thanks to Isekb for the lovely dinner …. Kenyang bangett….

6.00 am the alarm
clock rings, the two sister’s are still sleeping. Syok nyer kalau bole sambung
tido. In my running shoe’s already. Open the door “Hujan …..”. Didn’t see any
of the racers. May be they are thinking what I’m thinking … “go back to sleep”.
But its too late

Yana has conquered the bed ….. Tasha
still sleeping …

Went up to room 306, Adek n Eppot already awake. Took of my
shoes and ambush their bed instead. Kak Ina and Cha’ aka support team is still
slepping. Went to the boys room, everybody is ready off to start line.

One by one category has been flag off. Its time for the
sprint category. Me and Adek at the starting line eyeing other participants.
Being interviewed by the cameraman Jon “Do u guys think u can win?” we both
answer “ aaaaaaaaa ….” And laugh together.

The race starts …….

Few seconds after that somebody at the back was shouting …
“adik adik .. kawan adek jatuh kat belakang”. As I turn back …AdeK was not at
the back … what happened??

As I was running banyak la pulak kena potong. Halfway of the
3km run I was cut by Kak Faizah .. alamak nie tak bole jadi. Try to keep up
with her pace. But was left behind. As the first 3km run finished … into the
transition, pick up the bike at the same time trying to swallow the power gel
…off we go cycling 10 km. Flat road makes it much harder as you have to kayuh
consistently. Far in front I saw someone in the sprint category, apalagi kejar
la …. Made it at the first half of the cycle. Still a long way to go.second
half of the ride is still torturing as the first. One of the cyclist “Can you
keep up?” Apalagi ngekor la kat
belakang. But he’s using a road bike. Trying my best to keep didn’t
realise I just cut another sprinter …
WooHoOoo .. Baru la bersemangat sikit.

Made it to the transition, left the bike. Trying to finish
another half of the power gel.Another 3km run. As I was running saw another
sprinter struggling to finish the race. I set my mine “if only I could cut
her…” and I did. About 1.7m saw another sprinter about 100m infront of me. Did
the same thing and achieve my goal. All the morning runs and the afternoon
cycling did paid off.

As I was running to the finish line, by the side of the road
my cousins (oo they are up) tengah jerit “Gombak Clan, Gombak Clan” … waakakaka
.. terharu pulak ader supporter nih. Anyway it wasa good satisfying race.

Ooo before I forgot, what really happened to Adek?? Someone
from the back accidentally tripped her. She fell, bergeser kulit kat jalan
raya. Almost give up tapi semua orang suruh dia bagun lari ….. everybody is
being so supportive .. terharu nyer.

Went back to the hotel, Checked out, went for lunch at this
kedai nasi kandar. Tasha was hoping to have the cheese nan but was dissapoited
as they only serve it for braekfast and evening.The rest of the food was
delicious n quite cheap.

After all of the shopping, sightseeing and stuff we all went
back home. KL

Thanks to all those who came to support Tasha,

Yana,
Kak Ina, Cha’, Maznie and the supporting aunty (Mama Pisha).