Aperture? F?

             Some might wonder, what is that strange F in the [info] section of the camera? Don't go into auto-mode/ AF mode. It is best to learn taking picture manually.
             Back to business, aperture is the opening where the LIGHT passes into the film in the camera. Don't worry, aperture can be set in any value you like as long as it's manual.
So, in the 'F', the smaller the value of it, the greater the amount of light that enters the film.

             But there is one thing which I heard from other photographers specialized in taking close-up shots with macro lenses, they told me that setting the aperture is also one of the techniques in close-up.
If the aperture is low, only the front will get focused on.
Here's an example of what I am trying to say,

See the difference of it? 

That's all about apertures. Hard? I don't think so. 

A New Page In Photography.

            Photography? Yes, take a picture with a camera. Others might have several perspective towards photography - having top notch photography gears and accessories, capturing unforgettable moments in life, letting others know what happened in your respective area, and even having it as a hobby just to waste time in a proper way.
            To me, photography is art. The easiest way to paint an empty screen with just a snap of a picture YET the hardest task to complete because not every moment can be fit into the same sheet of canvas. Photography is the art of telling a story without words and narration.

            Similar to drawing, which is also a form of art, photography is not restricted to DSLR or SLR users only. As long as you have a proper device to capture the story you want to tell, even a camera from a mobile phone will do. One can draw with a pen, same goes to using a pencil. The logic is synonymous to photography.
            I am a beginner, a normal photographer with basic skills. Back in 2008, when I first started using a digital camera, I did not know even a thing of two other than zoom and snap. It is a Sony Carl Zeiss DSC F-77A. I'm not the type type of guy who reads the manual book too.

In 2012, I was introduced to Lumix DMC FX100

This year, I bought a Nikon D7000.

               Despite that, a camera does not matter. Although sometimes it does in terms of megapixels, the clarity of the photo is automatically set with the megapixel and the photo size. It is in every camera so don't worry. Regardless of how outdated or fresh a camera is, it all depends on one thing: skill. 

                  

                That picture, is a perfect view of Mt. Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia. Everything - the clouds, the blue sky, green hills are are left untouched by logging companies and the climate - is encapsulated in a single picture, which can be felt just by looking at it. Guess what? It was taken using that Sony DSC F-77A.

                    This? The closest river, 1.5km away from my hometown, Kg. Toboh, Ranau, Sabah. Guess what? It was taken using that Lumix. To put it in a simpler way, it is not the camera that matters, it is the skill that speaks. 

1. Find a good place.
2. Be sure that the weather is fine.
3. Determine the type of shot you want. (eg. close-up, panorama, portrait)

4. Set up your tripod. (In case your hands are not stable enough)

5. Set your ISO, Aperture and Shutter Speed ( this is optional; DSLR can use AF, digital cam users is fully auto)
6. Start taking pictures. 

Look not on the price of a camera, but on the price of one's skill.

Photography requires a lot of patience as well as experience. It is a way of life. 

Just make sure every picture you take suits you. Only take the shoe that fits you, not others. It tells your story, not your friend's.
Nevertheless, have fun!

            

Behind Bars

         It is one of the 9 puppies that a stray dog gave birth to. Before that, it was out there roaming around the neighbourhood with a rather big tummy - a pregnant bitch after mating season. As stray as ever it was, every house was its home. 

          Lucky enough, one day my neighbour, who lived next door found out that the dog was lying under her car. She rushed over to the pet shop a stone's throw away and got the dog some food. Then she hired some men to build a 8-foot cage for the dog, perhaps she had nowhere to place her wealth. 

          Few weeks after taking care of 10 dogs - including the pups, she got tired and gave us two of them. 

Left: Hatori.
Right: Sora.

It can't be blamed, there is always this Japanese influence in my family, especially between my siblings. Growing up watching NHK, it's hard not to name every pet with a Japanese name. At least the first two dogs are given the name Donut and Tommy 

          This was taken early in the morning, right after breakfast - you can tell by the size of their stomach! I did not mess with the ISO though since it was shiny this morning. P 1/250 and F5.3. I took a few shots with the respective settings but it does not fulfill the effect I want. 

            Guess what? I hid under a big umbrella and voila.