To improve your camera skills…
by zybisko14 |Hello all, it’s been a while huh? Yeah, Adrian’s complained that we have slacked off a little. So being a good boy, I promised to submit a blog as soon as possible.
I have been busy blogging about my adventures in Bali at my personal blog, so that’s why you see some irregularities here. But, that’s no excuse as Adrian’s been a good slave driver fella, and I intend to help out as much as I can.
Let’s talk a bit on photography anyway. Why? Of all hobbies, why did you choose photography? Is it because you were taking pictures of your friends and the turn out crappy and enjoyed it? Or is it because you once took a picture and the bokeh is just astounding, it made you feel like a million bucks and you think you’re pro? Or you like taking pictures of booth babes, which in time nobody really gives a damn anyway.
Well, for me, I can’t draw. Yes, if I were to draw a dog, it would look like a PC. But somehow, I have always felt the need to express myself, to try and show people what I see. I have always liked the oxymoron theme, but then again I am a lousy photographer and can’t really see through it.
taken by me ages ago, was playing quite alot with photoshop then.
Plamodel DIY 135mm Camera for dummies
by zybisko14 |Hello boys and girls! How was your Christmas celebrations? No? how about your new year celebration then? Did you manage to get drunk? They say a person is exceptionally creative when one is drunk. You should try taking pictures in that state, who knows what sort of pictures you might come out with. Heh. But seriously, don’t do it, it was meant as a joke.
That’s a really bad intro anyway. Ah, it has been a while since I posted anything, I am pretty sure I am about to be treated with a fried squid (that’s calamari for you sophisticated ones). The reason? I was away on vacation at Bali. 
Well Adrian said we contributors were extremely handsome and pretty hardworking in contributing to his site, he decided to give us the Plamodel DIY Super Kengchau 135 Toy Camera each! Since this was meant as a Christmas gift, I decided to open it at Bali.
Like what Renee described earlier on one has to do a bit of reading on the manual to get the assembly right. I’d love to do some camwhoring while fixing it, but I was too lazy to set up my tripod and my wife was asleep anyway.
Test shots using blackbird fly
by zybisko14 |Well, that took me quite long to show them pics didn’t it? heh, well it’s mostly because of the weather, it’s been raining and I was hoping I get blue skies and all, but it didn’t really happened. So, after waiting for so long, I thought might as well shoot with whatever I have. So this post is merely a continuation of the preview of the BBF. I will skip through the process of loading film, because it’s as easy as breathing, that is if you don’t have tuberculosis of course.
You also get to choose various formats on how you want the camera to capture pics, there’s normal (24 X 36), Square (24 X 24) or full (36 X 36). This time I chose full and plonked in a iso 200 film into it, considering since I am limited to 1/125s and F/7 or F/11. anyhow, I got it processed and forgot to tell the lab that I needed the negatives to be scanned at full, so I ended up in 24X36 format. haih…
Like I was saying, since the weather wasn’t really co-operative, the lighting wasn’t as dramatic as I wanted it to be. And since this is a toy camera, I thought I might as well just try it out without thinking much about rules or composition. Looking at the pics, I think I went somewhere wrong, maybe my approach to it is not right. hmm…
This here is a pic with the flash attached to it, and in the meantime i was also trying out multiple shots on the same frame. If you have a Nikon SB-800, it works well with it.
what kind of photographer are you?
by zybisko14 |
Really, what kind of photographer are you? after somewhat years of photography, you motice that there’s many kinds of photographers. Note: this is merely a speculation if my observations are wrong, please don’t send a rocket launcher my way, ok?
The Optimus Prime
Yes, that would his name if he could get it registered with the government. His collection of lens consists mostly of prime lens and sometimes exotic ones (for example some lens made in a little town located in the west ukraine), he knows (sometimes not) what lens is the best for which situation. “this looks like a job for a 85mm!” that is what he/ she usually mutters while taking pictures. this will usually result in him missing alot of moments while he is busy changing lens or blowing away dust particles from his lens. and also a occasional drop of lens. he would love to have a 3rd hand surgically implanted if possible for quick lens changing action
blackbird, fly preview
by zybisko14 |Hello I am zybisko14, and I am chosen as one of the slave contributor for this site, I volunteered because I wanted to try out all the cameras for free and run away shoot different photos using different cameras. I used to be a digital guy, shooting whatever that fancies me, but at the end of the day, the amount of digital junk I collect is actually a pain to go through. So I ventured into film, it has 2 advantages:
- Each shot is carefully considered, you don’t just shoot gung ho
- I have always liked the effect of film, it looks so original and sincere.
- I dig mechanical cameras, they are fuss free and basic
- I don’t know how to count
In overall, I have been trying to break the rules, you know the good old rule of 3rds, the leading lines. You know how it goes, LOL. But in truth I have been failing miserably to do so. So with luck I hope I can break all this using a toy camera. not the toy camera lah! The rules!
Anyway, I was saying, with toy cameras, they offer much more basic requirements. Introducing the blackbird fly,
what does the camera come with?? any free film?
