Exploring New Site V - Tanjong Dawai, Kedah.

Thanks to Jason Khoo who discovered this location which is full of object to snap. We (Jason, Ben, LH Tan & Henson) went up there in the afternoon after early morning portrait session with Chief Minister of Penang. It's a fishing village and typical kampung village. We were truly spoiled by this place, we love it so much and the people there are so friendly. That's what town people lack of.

Photo by Henson Quek Nikon D300
Ben Chong Nikon D90, Jason Khoo Nikon D300 & LH Tan Nikon D80

PGN Photography Outing @ Permatang Damar Laut

After we have explored Permatang Damar Laut the other day, we have come across an idea to organized a photography outing to this location. This event is opened to PGN Members and non members. We will be arranging so many shooting sessions, so there will be timetable for the outing. Shooting sessions includes traditional kampung lifestyle, beach activities, fishermans' lifestyle and swimsuit / bikini sessions. However this outing is only limited to 30 photographers only, please registered with me as soon as possible. Registration fees must be deposited into my account (Maybank - Henson Quek Chung Thye 102073022397) prior to registering with email (pgnnikon@gmail.com) or sms (0127890434).

Title: PGN Photography Outing
Date: 18th January 2009
Time: 3.00PM - 7.30PM
Location: Permatang Damar Laut
Fees:
Member RM25.00 per person Non Member RM 30.00 per person

Sample photos of traditional kampung lifestyle,
beach activities and swimsuit and bikini shots by
LH Tan Nikon D80 & Henson Quek Nikon D300

Chinese New Year - Temple Fair

Every Chinese New Year, there will be a Temple Fair to increase the atmosphere of celebrating. For this 2009 Lunar Chinese New Year, the organizer has decided to set it on 1st February 2009. Plenty of chinese cultural activities can be seen @ this Temple Fair. All members and non members are welcome to attend. Happy New Year to everyone and PGN wishes you all the best in every aspect of your life!!!

Title: Chinese New Year - Temple Fair (庙会)
Date: 1st February 2009
Time: 4.00PM - 7.00PM
Location:
Amernian Street, Cannon Street, Chulia Street, Soo Hong Lane,
Ah Quay Street, Quay Street, Kampong Kolam

Photo courtesy of Penang Talk

This article is taken from www.colorpilot.com

"If you, an artist, the one who cannot manage figures,
you look like an orator who cannot manage words."
Leonardo da Vinci

Photo composition rules

What is a photograph? It is a story. What is a story? It is is a series of sentences connected to each other. The same is true about photography. To create a photograph, it is not enough just to take an image of something. The first impression from a photograph is determined by the composition balance of an image.

To increase the expressiveness of your digital pictures, apply the picture composition rules while taking the photos or modeling their edges.

Rule of Thirds (构图比率)

The Rule of Thirds is based on the fact that the human eye is naturally drawn to a point about two-thirds up a page. Crop your photo so that the main subjects are located around one of the intersection points rather than in the center of the image:

Your landscapes will be optimally pleasing to the eye if you apply the Rule of Thirds when you place your horizon line. If the area of interest is land or water, the horizon line will usually be two-thirds up from the bottom. Alternately, if the sky is the area of emphasis, the horizon line may be one-third up from the bottom, leaving the sky to take up the top two-thirds of the picture:

Golden Section rule (黄金构图比率)

It has been found that certain points in a picture's composition automatically attract the viewer's attention. Similarly, many natural or man-made objects and scenes with certain proportions (whether by chance or by design) automatically please us. Leonardo da Vinci investigated the principle that underlies our notions of beauty and harmony and called it the Golden Section. Long before Leonardo, however, Babylonian, Egyptian, and ancient Greek masters also applied the Golden Section proportion in architecture and art.

To get a clearer sense of these special "Golden" composition points, imagine a picture divided into nine unequal parts with four lines. Each line is drawn so that the width of the resulting small part of the image relates to that of the big part exactly as the width of the whole image relates to the width of the big part. Points where the lines intersect are the "golden" points of the picture:

Diagonal rule (三角形构图比率)

One side of the picture is divided into two, and then each half is divided into three parts. The adjacent side is divided so that the lines connecting the resulting points form a diagonal frame. According to the Diagonal Rule, important elements of the picture should be placed along these diagonals:

Linear elements, such as roads, waterways, and fences placed diagonally, are generally perceived as more dynamic than horizontally placed ones:

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tips for beginners

Hold your camera at the main object's level. Taking a picture from above or below brings in the photo an element of exertion.

Ordinarily, the main source of light should be placed behind you. To take a picture with the light between you and the object is the task for a specialist.

Use a dark background for taking a picture of a light object, or, alternatively, a light background for doing so of a dark object. Note though, that the absolutely white background causes flare effect that leads to reducing the contrast of a taken picture.

When the main object of an image is located on the long shot, the whole image will look better if the foreground objects will be taken into the image as well.

A space in a shot should be reserved in front of an actually or potentially moving object.

Don't be afraid of breaking rules! As Edward Weston said, "Consulting the rules of composition before taking a photograph is like consulting the laws of gravity before going for a walk."

Exploring New Site IV - Teluk Permatang Damai Laut

At first we're (LH Tan, Henson, Ben & Jason) to journey to Pulau Jerejak but we have to pay for RM50 for the boat fees and a simple lunch by the operators. We then asked around with 2 fishing boats, they would gladly send us there but we will have to wait for high tide to come in. So we canceled the plan to go Pulau Jerejak and journeyed to Batu Maung instead, by loitering around we came to Permatang Damai Laut. We get off the car and walk towards the hidden sandy beach (Teluk Permatang Damai Laut I assume that's how it is called). To our surprises, this place is unpolluted and unspoiled at all!! It's like we have travel back 50 years in time. We took some photos and then decided to organized a photography outing (Human Cultural, Bikini Model Shooting, Scenery, etc) over there. However, we will take necessary action to make sure we did not damage the beautiful area by throwing rubbish, cigarettes butt and noisy. Well that's just planning for now.

Photo taken by
Henson Quek Nikon D300

Little Penang Street Market - A Malay Culture Spread

Little Penang Street Market celebrates this holiday season with “A Malay Cultural Spread” on Sunday, 28th December, 2008. Having recently celebrated its 2nd anniversary, the monthly popular street market shows no sign of slowing down as it continues with its efforts to feature Georgetown’s cultural and creative diversity. This month, with the support of MPPP and the participation of Puspanita MPPP, Little Penang Street Market will highlight Malay culture and tradition.

At the core of the celebrations will be a staged Malay wedding, complete with kompang players, nasyid singing, silat demonstrations, pantun and traditional dances that usually accompany a Malay wedding. A dowry gift-making demonstration and competition will also be held. This competition will include making the Gubahan Hantaran, Sireh Junjung and Bunga Telur.

Photo taken from www.visitpenang.gov.my

Title: A Malay Culture Spread
Date: 28th December 2008 (Sun)
Time: 10am - 3pm
Location: Upper Penang Road (Opposite E&O Hotel)
URL: http://www.littlepenang.com

2009 New Year Countdown

Without us realizing, time passes by so quickly yet so quite. It's already year end for everyone, and did you ever thought back what you have actually done the whole year? Is it meaningful enough for you to say it out proud? Well, I did, because I have setup Photographers Network (PGN). Fireworks and concert will be held in order to beef up the celebration. Now for those who wants to shoot at the new year countdown, you can go to these location mention below:-

Title: New Year Countdown - Esplanade
Date: 31st December 2008
Time: 6pm onwards
Location: Esplanade (Adjacent of Town Hall)


Title: New Year Countdown - Auto City
Date: 31st December 2008
Time: 6pm onwards
Location: Auto City


Title: New Year Countdown - Queesbay Mall
Date: 31st December 2008
Time: 6pm onwards
Location: Queensbay Mall