PHOTOGRAPHY.
iPhone 13 Pro Max. Bell Tower, Xi'an at night.
iPhone 13 Pro Max by Ms Judy Quek - sharp night photo of the famous Bell Tower. This photo is better than expensive DSLR camera shots. One shot only.
For a better photo, try NOT to shoot with too many vehicles passing by. No buses. Best is to rest your camera or hand on the railing to stabilise your shot. If you know how, use slow shutterspeed to blur out the passing vehicles but you will need a tripod. Take at least 3 shots
Bell Tower, Xi’an,
China. iPhone 13 Pro Max. One shot only by Ms Judy Quek. Steady hand.
Photo is good as a personal photo. I advise taking at least 3 shots
and show much less traffic. Try NOT to get the buses whizzing past
the Bell Tower as they are big distractions.
Not a favoured
photo for stock photography. For stock photography, no vehicular
or human traffic is best. Or use slow shutter speed using the DSLR
camera to blur out the vehicles!
PHOTOGRAPHY
TIPS. Emperor Qinshihuang Mausoleum Site Museum. Photoshop is needed
to edit out the loud speaker placed on the sculpture and a "fire
extinguisher" at the base of the sculpture. Otherwise the image
is not good as a stock photo or for viewing.
The presence of
the loud speaker is a practice by some vendors to blast their taped
product sales in this tourist attraction site!
CHINA - 1 MAR 2024:
Xi'An. Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum is one of
the greatest archeological finds. It is the 8th Wonder of The World.
The full site is split into two areas 1.) Terracotta Army Museum 兵马俑 - 3 pits to visit. Less crowd as today is off-season just after the Chinese New Year which lasts 15 days.
2.) Qin Shi Huang's Mausoleum Site Park (Lishan Garden). No time to visit all the areas. I post this photo of the sculpture with the name.
My comment is that the authorities should not place a loud speaker and a "fire extinguisher" onto the sculpture as such objects have no place in a good tourist site management and definitely not welcome in photography!
The sculpture is well maintained. I rate it as 4 stars owing to the presence of the loud speaker and the "fire extinguisher". See two photos. The 2nd one has the items photoshopped away!
PHOTOGRAPHY. Beijing Capital
International Airport at 6am.
29 Feb 2024: Arrival Hall. Beijing Capital International Airport
at 6am.
I took Air China from Singapore to Beijing, arriving
at 6am. Long walk to the Immigration but there are
travellators.
Immigration for foreigners - requirement of
finger prints of four fingers, then two thumbs in addition to facial
scanning.
My immigration staff - a woman in her 40s was
courteous and helpful.
The Arrival Hall looks very well
designed and spacious. Multiple lights, tall columns, lined ceilings
and converging lines make a great photo taken by Canon R5, 24mm.
Aperture priority, 1/40 sec, f/11, ISO 12,800.
PHOTOGRAPHY
TIP: Include two walking figures in the photo to give a sense
of the scale of this Airport. Photo is attached.
5-stars for a
beautifully designed, clean and spacious airport arrival
hall.
5655.
ADVICES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. Practice, research and make perfect
photos.
PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS: Moving cyclists in Yangon. iPhone 14
image not sharp. What to do?
Recreational
cyclists in Yangon, Feb 2024. iPhone 14. Image of cyclist nearest to
viewer is not sharp at 100% view. Therefore, it is a learning
experience for the young male photographer.
He
should have taken multiple shots, hoping to get one sharp image. Is
there a “burst mode” in iPhone 14? Ask the iPhone dealer for
advice or research on the internet.
In my Canon R5,
1.
there is the "burst mode" in AV Mode, whereby I press the
shutter and take several shots. I focus on the face of the leading
cyclist (one nearest to me). Then I hope to get one sharp image out
of the 3 or more shots.
2. I use TV Mode which is
shutter priority. I focus on the face of the leading cyclist and
click several shots. This camera has the single point focus (onto the
face of the cyclist) and usually I get a few sharp images.
For
iPhone 14, it should have similar functions which require more
learning! Most people cannot be bothered! Practise every day,
take at least one shot, find out why your shot is not sharp or good.
Your skills will improve within one year!
Take the staircase
to strength your leg muscle mass, preventing sarcopenia but
almost all able-bodied persons use the escalators
Take the
staircase, not the escalators to strengthen your leg muscles
Sarcopenia
is a condition characterized by loss of muscle mass, strength, and
function in older adults.
Signs and symptoms include weakness, fatigue, loss of energy, balance
problems, and trouble walking and standing.
BE KIND TO PETS VET STORIES IN A
KINDLE. A window of opportunity for a vet
A window of opportunity Dr Sing Kong Yuen, BVMS (Glasgow) 25
Feb 2024 write up
I
met a divorcee at a dinner party on the 15th day of Chinese New Year.
A communicative grey-haired woman around 80 years old who loved to
cook. She spoke about her retired pastor friend who had 2 Corgis and
various dogs over the years. Her son showed me a photo of kissing one
in her presence in her house. "If you kiss her dogs, you are her
good friend!" I had asked to see the pastor and the son obliged.
One
night, she had to help her friend by driving her sick dog to a vet in
Toa Payoh. She couldn’t remember the vet who asked if she could
assist in the anaesthesia of the dog. It was operated and a large
tumor was found inside. She could not remember the vet. "It
could be me," I said. "Possibly, I thought so," she
replied. "Anyway, the dog was euthanased as the tumour in the
stomach was inoperable."
"The clinic in Toa Payoh
had a block number different from the usual HDB block numbering,"
she said. HDB (Housing Board) flats are public housing and their
block numbers were 3 digits during her time, while the industrial
blocks show 4 digits.
“Was
it in an industrial park?” I asked. “Yes, yes! “ she replied
but forgot about the date or year as it was so long ago. I couldn't
recall this episode too.
I practise in an industrial park,
Block 1002 Toa Payoh Lor 8 for some decades. "I thought you
might be this vet," she was unsure. "In any case, the dog
was euthanased as the stomach tumour was inoperable."
I
must be her vet as there was only one vet clinic in Toa Payoh at that
time. I used to take late night emergency calls and do operations
with the help of the client if my assistant was unavailable in the
1980s.
I
performed many emergency Caesarean sections in the dog for breeders
in the Pasir Ris dog farms as I was their vet - vaccinating the
puppies at $10 per pup and doing Caesarean sections at any time at
$300 a case at any time of the day or night, weekend or public
holidays.
Their usual vet had been suspended for selling
vaccines to bring back to the farm. This was not permitted and only
two vets did this. He was the one caught by the
authorities.
Suddenly, the dog breeders had to pay
market rates for Caesarean sections amounting to $1,000 - $3,000 per
operation.
My young lady assistant who was a bright-eyed
robust fair lady in her 30s and well known in the dog breeding world,
introduced me to one top breeder who needed an emergency Caesarean
section.
This was how I got my window of opportunity.
The
cheap C-sections honed my surgical and anesthetic skills operating
past midnight with the breeder who would rush in to take over the
neonate after I extracted it and broke its amniotic sac. He would
open the operating room door and take over the newborn who could be
crying or silent. He would then unclamp the forceps and tie the
umbilical cord with thread. He would swing the pup if it was
distressed or suck the mucus from the nose. After the operation, I
would check the puppies.
The
silence of the black night in an isolated industrial park vet clinic
was broken by the loud cries of the healthy pups was an experience of
the beginning of living for the creatures.
Nowadays there are vet emergency clinics and no vets will
want to get sued for operating without the full backup of staff and
equipment.
In
real life, the window of opportunity will open briefly and it is up
to you to be aware of the moment which may never repeat itself.
NOTE:
COMMUNICATIVE - willing, eager, or able to talk or impart
information.
Section 7D of the citizenship law bars overseas citizens of India (OCI) from conducting research, journalism, mountaineering, missionary work or visiting "protected" areas without a permit.
The government can remove the OCI status of individuals if they "express dissaffection towards the Constitution...or in the interest of sovereignty of India, security of state or in public interest."
India created the OCI in 2005 under the Citizenship Act, 1955, to allow foreign citizens of Indian origin or foreigners married to Indian citizens to enter India without a visa, and to reside, work and hold property, among other benefits. OCIs have no voting rights. More than 4.5 million people across the world are OCIs.
If the OCI card is cancelled, one is blacklisted in India. Banned from travelling to India. Many in the Indian diaspora fear state action against their families in India or hope that their status would be reinstated it they stay silent. If they speak out on social media, they request anonymity to prevent reprisals.
A message of thanks to Mr Peter Leow who was kind enough to remember me and send me an interesting photo from iPhone 15 Pro Max.
I have written an article under ADVICES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE, using his photo as an example.
The article is as follows:
ADVICES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE - A window of opportunity opens briefly
Dr Sing Kong Yuen, BVMS (Glasgow).
ADVICES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE - A window of opportunity opens briefly. Dr Sing Kong Yuen, BVMS (Glasgow).
25 Feb 2024.
Merdeka 118 is 118 storeys high.At 678.9 meters tall, theMerdeka 118is currently the tallest skyscraper in Malaysia, but it is the 2nd tallest building in the world.
The building has been architecturally topped out in 2022 and finally completed in November 2023. I share my accountant, Mr Peter Leow's interesting photo of Merdeka 118 building in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, taken from another hotel at around 8am on 17 Feb 2024.
The photo from his iPhone 15 Max is interesting as it has clouds and golden streak in the sky directing the viewer towards the 118-storey skyscraper. Hundreds of photos of Merdeka 118 in the internet sites, but most are average. I rate his photo as 5-stars.
Capturing such a photo depends on luck and your initiative as timing is very important. If you wait till you have breakfast, you will miss the opportunity to create this beautiful visual with your smartphone.
In photography, as in real life, the window of opportunity will open briefly and it is up to you to be aware of the moment which may never repeat itself.
PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS: iPhone 15's excellent image of city views –
Merdeka 118
17 Feb 2024, 8am. City views
Merdeka 118 in Kuala Lumpur is the 2nd highest building and
structure in the world.
Merdeka 118 is 118 storeys high.At 678.9 meters tall, theMerdeka 118is currently the tallest skyscraper in Malaysia, but it is the 2nd tallest building in the world.
The building has been architecturally topped out in 2022 and finally completed in November 2023. I share my accountant, Mr Peter Leow's interesting photo of Merdeka 118 building in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, taken from another hotel at around 8am on 17 Feb 2024.
iPhone 15 Pro Max.6.9mm, 1/210sec, f/1.8, ISO 64 captures great cityview photos from another hotel.
25 Feb 2024. Hundreds of photos of Merdeka 118 in the internet sites, but most are average.
I share somebody's interesting photo of Merdeka 118 building in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, taken from another hotel at around 8am. The photo from iPhone 15 Max is interesting as it has clouds and golden streak in the sky directing the viewer towards the 118-storey skyscraper. I rate his photo as 5-stars.
Capturing such a photo depends on luck and your initative as timing is very important. If you wait till you have breakfast, you will miss the opportunity to create beautiful visuals with your smartphone.
In photography, as in real life, the window of opportunity will open briefly and it is up to you to be aware of the moment which may never repeat itself.
MANUAL MODE. To get a great Moon
shot and little else, set your camera to ISO 100 or ISO 200 and the
aperture to between f/5.6 and f/11, and adjust your shutter speed to
between 1/125sec and 1/250sec. The exact settings will vary depending on
your camera and the brightness of the Moon, which depends on its exact
phase, but these base settings will get you started.
The Moon is a moving target; the combination of Moon's 2,288
miles-per-hour orbit and Earth's 1,000 miles-per-hour rotation makes our
satellite a fast-moving target. However, it's usually bright enough for
a relatively fast shutter speed to yield good results.
How to focus on the Moon
Although
you can autofocus on the Moon as it rises, or as it becomes visible
just before sunset, it's a good idea to focus manually. With your lens
set to manual focus, set the the focusing ring to infinity. It takes
some practice since most cameras can focus beyond infinity, and finding
the exact point that works for your lens takes trial and error.
Take
some test shots and zoom in on the result on your camera's LCD screen
to see which one works best. Don't skip this step; only once you've done
it correctly will your Moon photos be reliably sharp.
How to expose for the Moon
It's
a common mistake to overexpose the moon but it's actually much brighter
than you think. However, if you want to photograph the foreground and
not just the moon by itself you will need to make sure your exposure
works for both or use bracketing to take multiple shots with different
exposures.
To get a great Moon
shot and little else, set your camera to ISO 100 or ISO 200 and the
aperture to between f/5.6 and f/11, and adjust your shutter speed to
between 1/125sec and 1/250sec. The exact settings will vary depending on
your camera and the brightness of the Moon, which depends on its exact
phase, but these base settings will get you started.
Taking
a landscape photograph that includes the Moon is more difficult because
during that 'blue hour' after sunset the Moon is already too bright.
So, if you take a longer exposure for the landscape, you'll overexpose
the Moon, and if you expose for the Moon, the landscape with be
under-exposed. So what do you do?
The
answer is either to photograph the Moon just before sunset when the
light levels are higher (they drop-off so quickly at the point of
sunset), or to take two exposures and combine them in photo-editing
software. The latter approach, however, often looks fake. Another way is
to expose for the Moon, and use a flash to light the foreground.
When to photograph the Moon
The
full moon is probably the lunar event that most photographers will want
to photograph first - but it is actually one of the most difficult due
to the glare that this creates and July's supermoon is the biggest and
brightest of them all. Some of the most impressive shots of the full
moon are those where it is seen behind a building or a natural structure
– which makes the moon look much larger than it does to the naked eye.
If
you want less of a cliche, go for other phases of the Moon when you can
see a line between the light and dark sides. This is called the
terminator line, which is when the craters on the Moon throw shadows,
particularly near its South Pole. You can see this most nights, but
perhaps the most precious kind of Moon is visible only on the few days
on either side of New Moon. At this time, you'll also see a waxing or
waning Crescent Moon close to the horizon, and it comes with the bonus
of Earthshine.
How to capture Earthshine on the Moon
Although 50% of the Moon is
constantly being illuminated by the Sun, there are a few days each month
when the Earth gets involved – and it's a beautiful event to capture.
Earthshine
is a dull glow to the unlit area of the Moon that's the result of
sunlight reflecting off Earth's surface and onto the lunar surface. Its
subtle and mesmerizing, and easy to capture if you time it right.
Set
up for the first (or, more likely, the second) sunset after New Moon.
Using a lens with as long a focal length lens as possible, and with your
camera on a tripod, dial in a sensitivity of ISO 400, an aperture of
f/2.8 (or as wide as your lens aperture will go), and open the shutter
for between one and four seconds.
In fact, Earthshine is always
being reflected onto the Moon to some extent, but it's only around New
Moon that the crescent of sunlight is small enough for the camera to
expose for both the lit and unlit areas.
This
is also a good time to combine Moon photography with night-sky
photography because the Moon will set soon after you've photographed it.
You can then go looking for stars and the Milky Way.
How to capture a moonrise or moonset
There are two exceptions to the advice to avoid photographing the Full Moon.
The first is when there's a total lunar eclipse,
and the second is when a Full Moon as it rises or sets, as it's a great
alternative to a sunset. The sight of a Full Moon peeking above the
horizon and turning from deep orange to pale yellow to bright white
during twilight is a spectacular sight. It also presents an opportunity
to get the Moon in the context of a beautiful landscape.
The
colourful spectacle lasts mere minutes and is easy to miss, but, like
everything else in the night sky, a rising Full Moon is predictable down
to the second. Simply find out exactly on what day the next Full Moon
is going to be where you are, and exactly what time sunset is on that
date, then look to the east for the moonrise. Start-off with your camera
set to ISO 100, f10 and 1/125.
If you've ever seen photos of
someone or something silhouetted against a seemingly giant Moon, perhaps
while standing on top of a hill, they were taken during a moonrise.
They were also ruthlessly planned; The Photographer's Ephemerisand PhotoPills apps are ideal for this kind of project.
To
make the Moon look so large in the background, photographers need to
use superzoom telephoto lenses of at least 1,000mm while being
positioned a mile or so away from the all-important foreground subject
that introduces that sense of scale.
Composites, moon-stacks and super moons
It's possible to shoot the Moon and add it to another landscape shot using Photoshop.
However, almost everyone who attempts this either makes the Moon look
way too big, or they place it somewhere in the night sky that it doesn't
occur (such as in the norther hemisphere's northern sky).
To anyone with a trained eye, most composites look like what they are: fakes. There is one exception; moonstacks,
a lunar time-lapse, in which you take several photos of the moon as it
moves through the sky, and then use Photoshop to composite them into a
single image.
Although
it often grabs the attention of photographers and media alike, pay
little attention to the term 'Super Moon'. A recent term that merely
means that the Moon is slightly closer to Earth than normal, it has
little practical meaning or use. However, while a Super Full Moon does
look larger as it rises above the horizon, it's only by about 10%-15%,
so it's barely noticeable to eye or camera.
The very finest way of getting a
close-up shot of the Moon – and the only way to get enough magnification
for it to fill the entire frame – is to mount the body of a camera on a
telescope using a cheap T-adaptor; it's like having a very large
telephoto lens. Try to find a telescope with a focal length of over
1,000mm, but under 2,000mm to capture the whole of the moon.
Whatever
kind of Moon-shot you try for, photographing our satellite provides a
good lesson in the role of precision timing in composing unique
landscape and nature images.
Although 50% of the Moon is
constantly being illuminated by the Sun, there are a few days each month
when the Earth gets involved – and it's a beautiful event to capture.
Earthshine
is a dull glow to the unlit area of the Moon that's the result of
sunlight reflecting off Earth's surface and onto the lunar surface. Its
subtle and mesmerizing, and easy to capture if you time it right.
Set
up for the first (or, more likely, the second) sunset after New Moon.
Using a lens with as long a focal length lens as possible, and with your
camera on a tripod, dial in a sensitivity of ISO 400, an aperture of
f/2.8 (or as wide as your lens aperture will go), and open the shutter
for between one and four seconds.
