Why do you need an External Flash ?

Initially, Daddy thought external Flash is nice-to-have, but soon realised that it is absolutely necessary for portraits.


Look at two party photos below, which one do you prefer?





Lighting cHallenges and sCenarios
1) Ever try taking photo of your kids but their faces turn out "silhouette" (face dark but background bright)?
This could happen when kids are standing infront of a bright door or window, or the Sun is shining Bright behind the kids.

Workaround
- try your best to position the kids so that the Sun is not behind them
- some cameras (even smartphones) allow you to choose "Spot" metering instead of "Matrix".
Focus-point is still on the face.

- learn how to read Histogram ( Daddy is still learning, but a histogram will immediately tell you whether your photo is over-exposed or under-expose)


~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~

2) Indoor parties, why does so many kids appear blur?
It helps if you have a fast lens (big aperture F1.8, F1.4 etc), as it allows more light to enter, a higher chance to snap more photos and hopefully nail one sharp one.
But bigger aperture also means not everyone will be in focus(eg three person, only center person will be sharp at F1.8.

Workaround
- setup multiple-burst mode in your camera, hoping one shot will turn up good.
- it is useless to ask kids to stay static and pose for you, as their smile could become too artificial :p

- Daddy prefers to catch the kids when they are engrossed in their own world.

~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~

3) We did mention large aperture lens (also called Fast lens with F1.8, F1.4 etc) help in low light, but the depth-of-field becomes smaller. It means only the person in focus remain sharp, and those standing beside might become slightly blur. Read Depth-of-Field (or dof).

If you need to take a group shot, with everyone in focus, around F5 is needed. External Flash is highly recommended, otherwise you will see some friends in focus, some other blur.

~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~



If you have ever encounter the three scenarios listed above, it might be time to consider investing in an external Flash unit.

Some of you might ask, can we use the camera's builtin Flash?
Unfortunately, the builtin flash can only illuminate infront, is often too bright, causing facial expressions to washout.



Daddy started his DSLR journey for the sole purpose of capturing more candid shots. Initially he thought a F1.8 fast lens would be everything, and "natural" lighting beats "artificial" lighting. Read our Prime lens selection story.

We own a Nissin Flash DI622 for four months now, and we are very happy with our party-photos. The photos seem to pop out, and faces become more expressive! If Daddy can go back, he would definitely get the Flash before any lens upgrade.

Additional tips for your Flash consideration :
- try to borrow an external flash from your friend for one week. Try it out before you buy one.
- third party Flash unit can perform decently, and are more affordable compared to OEM. Our Nissin 622 is around $180, much cheaper than a Nikon SB-600.

- get an external Flash which can tilt left/right/up/down. We need to tilt our flash to "bounce" the light, for optimum exposure. (eg bounce the light off the wall or ceiling)

- a Flash unit means additional weight, and your neck can feel the strain after a few hours :p
- For ease and convenience, get a flash unit running on AA battery (normally True for most entry level flash )

For more sample Flash photos, drop by our Xmas party.



~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~

Getting equipped with an external Flash is only the first step, photography is all about understanding Lighting and more. And there are more things to explore in the world of "Lighting" !!

..you might find the following links useful, from a layman's point of view.

http://www.elizabethhalford.com/2011/09/19/shooting-backlit-101-pt-3-metering-modes/
http://www.nissindigital.com/en/Di622.html
http://www.digital-photography-school.com/using-fill-flash
http://www.iphotocourse.com/shedding-light-on-flash-2/
http://www.iphotocourse.com/?p=796
http://www.advancedphotography.net/histograms-ii-histograms

..ps.. Pardon all the jargon and lingos, it is too challenging for Daddy to explain in simpler context. Please google for the "correct" explanation. Daddy only wish to let our friends know that a Flash is Indispensable when you are into portraits.


**credit. First image of Di622 is taken from Nissin website.
.

Lunar Eclipse 天狗食曰

Singapore witness a rare Eclipse yesterday. From 2000 to 0100, the full was consumed by the Earth's shadow. A group of astronomy interest-group and photographers gather above One Fullerton for a clear sight. Even the stars appear to twinkle with us (it is normally too bright to spot Stars in Singapore).

We are humbled by this spectacle, humans are so minute in the Universe !

From the roof, the kids had fun entertaining themselves, while the adults were busy fixing their cameras and telescopes. Daddy has to ask the kids to stay away from the tripods as he does not intend to pay for any (10k plus ooops) damages keke.

While we wait for the eclipse in progress, MBS's laser show entertain us from across the bay.

Although we can see the Full moon with our naked eyes, it looks even rounder when we view it through the telescopes ! We can even spot two faint rings around planet Jupiter.

Thanks to URA and Heritage Fullerton's invitation, we have the roof to ourselves :)
Meet new friends, and chat with old friends. Everyone were in awe of the Eclipse happening right before our eyes !


Astronomy experts(SingAstro) and photographers (Darren, Andrew and Genghui) shared their moon-knowledge and photography tips with everyone. Thanks !
Even a layman like Daddy gets to appreciate the Eclipse better.

The eclipse started at around 2030, and by 2100, we can clearly see the "shadow".
(Image at F11, Iso 400 and shutter 1/400)

By 2200, the Moon was almost consumed. As the Chinese would say "天狗食曰"
(literally Heavenly Dog consume the Lunar Moon)

To see the Red moon, Daddy has to expose the moon for 2 or 3 seconds.
(F8 and iso400, shutter 2s)



Till 2014, when the next Eclipse occurs, this moon shots will be treasured by Daddy and friends :)
(Group Photo courtesy of Darren Chin)


More Moon shots at SengkangBabies fanpage.

In case you are hook on astronomical, do pop by our Stars recommendation --> http://sengkangbabies.blogspot.com/2011/12/star-trails-in-singapore.html
(organised by TASOS)

.

Nikon 1

Nikon 1 series is Nikon's first foray into mirrorless interchangable lens system.
There are two versions. J1 and V1 (with viewfinder).



Similar to other 3/4 systems, size is always attractive. For DSLR users who fancy something lighter and smaller, Nikon 1 is another choice. But two things capture Daddy's attention.

Speed - 10fps, and 60Fps continuous !! (Our D5000 is only 4fps)
Autofocus - Using Phase (instead of Contrast) delivers faster and accurate auto focus.

Nikon claims they are fastest in both features above.
If we are photographing active kids, Fast auto-focus will be a big help!


Love the grip, feels like playing PSP when we hold the Nikon 1.




V1 with the viewfinder. External flash supported.


Nikon 1 will be competing with recent mirrorless systems like Panasonic Lumix GF 3 and Fujifilm Finepix X10. Read Daddy's GF3 hands-on review.


In summary :
Lumix Gf3 is geared for consumers who want minimal fuss, whereas Nikon 1 is more towards enthuasist (users who had DSLR before might prefer Nikon 1's buttons and control).

Video : love Nikon's I-Am campaign



Now the price. Nikon 1 is Not cheap ! (10mm lens would be ideal for portraits)
Recommended-Price extracted from http://www.nikon.com.sg

- Nikon 1 J1 with 1 Nikkor 10mm: SGD$1069
- Nikon 1 V1 with 1 Nikkor 10mm: SGD$1369


.

Picasa for photo editing

Picasa is a simple, Fast and efficient way to manage your photos.
More importantly, it is easy to learn and FREE !

Our blog is photos intensive, and you see collages everywhere. Daddy love the way SengkangBabies' adventures are presented in storyboard format.


Today, we will share why Picasa might be useful for you.

1. Crop is the single most important tool for photo editing.
Cropping can display different compositions, enlarge and focus on your subject, or remove clutter from the photo. Look what cropping can do to our Swan.


2. Collage (the one and only reason to use Picasa)
Add a few photos together to form your storyboard.
Instead of one photo, a collage can tell a story through a sequence of photos.


There is no limit to your imagination, just add, readjust, and add a Title.
Our blog header happens to be a collage of our old-playground adventures :)



3. Export and Watermark (batch processing)

- reduce image size - allows you store more photos online
- smaller image loads faster on your browser (800x600 is good enough for webpage, facebook albums etc)
- batch processing, you can export whole-album (eg downgrade image resolution to 800x600), and add in some Watermarks along the way. Batch processing saves us a lot of time and effort.



4. Special Effects, allows us to stretch our creativity.

- B&W - some photos look more mysterious and captivating in Black&White
- Soft Focus - allows you to do a lens-blur, ie blur out everything except Subject
- Focal B&W - only one portion will be colored (see red ball below)


If you got time and extra money, by all means, go for Adobe Photoshop or LightRoom.
The learning curve is steeper, but once you master, can greatly enhance your photo quality.
(you can always Youtube "photoshop tutorial" for tons of tips)
Otherwise, if you are always busy and short of time, give Picasa a try.


Video : More updates on Picasa


Above information is sorely meant for sharing, and Daddy Andy's own point of view.
If you have more tips and recommendations, we welcome you to share them with us.


A good Story = Photo + Caption

.

Underwater photography - Dicapac waterproof casings

SengkangBabies love water sports, and when we go holidays, we sometimes get to feed the fishes too ! It is fun to watch the fishes swim around us, and when we go underwater, we can capture another dimension of fun :)

Krabi - Watch what our kids have been feeding under the water surface.


We can either buy an underwater casing or a full pledge underwater camera.
Prices have been dropping but a decent unit would still cost about $300 and above. Daddy got himself a waterproof bag from Dicapac two years back.

Anchorvale Swimming complex - our Dicapac has been capturing our memories



For $50, Daddy cannot complain much, judge for yourselves whether your family might enjoy some underwater shots and video :)

Redang - when you are not worried about sand and water getting into your camera


Jurong East - Always nicer to capture the actions upfront.


Batam - Adults can have fun filming sliding adventures too !


GMM is local distributor for Dicapac waterproof casings, and they even have covers for your DSLRs. It might not be such a good idea to risk your Canon Marks or Nikon D3 underwater !! Just recycle your point and shoot cameras, which might have been obsoleted by smart phones recently.

** if you are going for diving (read 20 m and deeper), go and invest in a full fledged underwater system.

If you cannot leave your beloved iPads, bring them underwater !



.

Family portrait is missing the photographer?

Is your family portraits always missing the photographer Mummy or Daddy?
Trust us, it is always worth the effort to make the family portrait complete :)


Daddy is constantly exposing (literally) the kids to camera and posing,
it is no wonder SengkangBabies are now adapt at striking poses !


Look at our first photo, Daddy swear he did not teach Boon Xin how to camwhore!
Our little vainpot :p


Photo below :Boon Yee set the timer on his Pink camera, and ask everybody to sit down.
Boon Xin will coordinate counting down 5,4,3,2,1 Cheese ! Super cute,
and sometimes Parents "entertain the kids by "pretending" to pose for our little photographers haha.


If tripod is not available, just place the camera on a flat surface on timer. After a few times,
your kids will automatically smile when the camera is "Flashing".

Family photos are always more memorable when everyone is in the picture. Have Fun !


.

Canon PhotoMarathon 2011

Canon PhotoMarathon was last Sat, Daddy's first time with photography event. Three themes over 12 hours, almost 2000 participants gathered at Suntec.

Daddy is joining for the Fun and learning portion, and also to catch up with friends. Winning can always come later (maybe after I brush up my skills in 5 years :p )



Registration starts from 0700, and First theme will be announced at 0900. Tim sum sponsored by Amanda xie xie :)


We had time to view some entries from 2010's (awe inspiring photos !) Warning, do not compare amature Daddy's photo's thereafter, you will only be disappointed haha.





0900 - Theme 1 is "Eat", and we quickly discuss where we shall hunt for our food

We went to quiet neighbourhood hawker centre at Army Market (Beach Road)


Beware when you are eating with food-bloggers, they take more time to shoot their food than us :p

If you think the food looks good, our party got a lot of chatty folks and jokes.
Introducing Daddy's team mates for today, Xin Yun, Amanda, Geng Hui and Isaiah :)



This is Daddy's "Eat" submission. His idea was to tell a story about how our humble hawker centre serves three meals to Singaporeans.
( Still, pretty lame photo compared to those eat-human candid shots !! look at the next awesome photos below)


"Eat" selected shots. More motivations for Daddy to further improve his techniques keke


# Tip 1 - no need to rush, three hours is a lot of time. Just arrive back 30min earlier to upload your photo.


# Tip 2 - take public transport, driving might have problems finding carparks



1200 - Them 2 announce - "Circle"



Circle is everywhere, but Circle can wait. Geng Hui recommended us Chin Chin pork chop for lunch. Yummy !


# Tip 3 - go with your buddies
You will enjoy the journey, the meals, the chit chatting !
Time past easier too, and you forgot this is a 12 hour event.

# Tip 4 - DSLR might not be necessary, but we saw young kids with mean machines & hugh lens !

So many things are Circle around us..


My "Circle" Entry, how do we make our photos stand up?


Selected "Circles"


# Tip 5 - Look at previous entries, there are so many tips to copy keke.
This is a learning exercise, looking at the inspiring photos, Daddy's bring home message is "Nothing is impossible !"



1500 - Theme 3 announced as "Imagine". Imagine how tired we are after waking up at 0545 and making our way to Suntec at 0700, followed by six hours of creative shoots. Then some wise guy @Canon came up with "Imagine" !! So abstract wahaha!


# Tip 6 - Look at the last theme. Something so abstract as "Imagine", no right or wrong photos. It reinforce Daddy's belief that this photography event emphasize more on composure, then techniques. (It is more difficult to learn creativity, then technical skills )

For the Theme, Daddy purposely blur all his shots (nice word would be creative blur keke).


Ironically, Daddy's submission was taken even before we venture outside.
Can you see what is in Daddy's photo? Try to Imagine ok :p


# Tip 7 - Most important tip, you must remember to have FUN !! Daddy found the other famous Andy too !


While searching for inspirations, we landed at Esplanade. Love the view from the top of Esplanade



Do read up our team experiences too !
- Xin Yun
- Geng Hui
- Isaiah
- Amanda

Love our adventure? Wait for Canon's 2012 event.
Meanwhile, you can catch more photos at our fanpage.

2011 winners are posted at Canon fanpage.


.