April 28th was a historical day of sorts both for our nation as well as for me. It has been estimated that 250,000 made it to the rally for the sit-in at Dataran Merdeka (Independence Square) as a protest for a free [...]]]> Bersih 3.0 was cast in stone

April 28th was a historical day of sorts both for our nation as well as for me. It has been estimated that 250,000 made it to the rally for the sit-in at Dataran Merdeka (Independence Square) as a protest for a free and fair election. It was heartening to see that people from all walks of life turned up for this historical event -  from all ages, from all races and nationalities, from the healthy to the invalids, and from the uninitiated to the hardcore protestors. And I have to admit ashamedly that this is the first time I have joined in a protest rally. When a good friend requested for medical volunteers I, without hesitation, signed on. That was a few weeks back.

Fast forward to April 28th we set out at 9:30 am anticipating road blocks toward Dataran Merdeka which was the norm for previous rallies. We encountered a couple and eventually decided to try our luck just before Dayabumi heading towards Central Market. We told the traffic police manning the block that we were doctors heading towards Tung Shin hospital. And it worked! We were soon at out allotted station at Jalan Sultan. By that time the street was already jam-packed with a sea of yellow, the colour of Bersih rallies. A good shop-owner allowed us to use his premise and even prepared a table and some chairs for the our medical team. Kudos to him!

A shot of some of our team members with the kind owner, Mr Kwong.

By the way I initially planned to bring along my Fuji X-Pro1 and the Nikon D800 for this event. I eventually decided against the D800 for its weight and the fact that I should give medical duties the priority. Most of the shots that will be shared here were mainly taken with the Samyang fish-eye with the occasional shots with the 18mm/2.0. Also let it be known that by the time I was ready for some photography my fish-eye was already imprinted with numerous fingerprints. Hence you may see mainly snapshot-quality images for this post. Anyway this post is not about good photography – it is all about Bersih 3.0.

Here then is the picture account from my collection. This picture account is by no means exhaustive as I had my duties – my priority is as a medical volunteer. Hence I had to be where I was supposed to be and not venture to hot areas.

The initial briefing.

They actually thought this group could stop the rally? They eventually left.

The crowd that was already there when we arrived.

We needed more hands!

Many wanted some documentation of their participation.

Some good Samaritan giving away free drinks.

It started off with a carnival-like atmosphere. They didn't know what was coming later???

The crowd started to swell.

The famed Aunty Bersih – the lady who held a rose during Bersih 2.0.

The sit-in protest.

Don't make me angry.

Flight for freedom. Notice the para-glider in the background.

The authorities began to show their hands.

We had to move to follow the crowd.

To the authorities, we are Malaysians and are supposed to be on the same side.

There were more people than you think.

Moving on towards Jalan Yap Ah Loy.

Looking backwards.

We thought we were protected enough.

They came as individuals.

Or with friends.

Some came in style.

The heat had taken its toll on some. Some fainted and some used all sorts of paraphernalia to keep cool.

Some took the trouble to get a better shot.

We set up camp at this junction…named after the founder of Kuala Lumpur.

A 'passport photo' of our leader Dr Ng.

The protestors came well equipped.

The lull before the storm.

The intimidators. Do they really need the bladed wires???

To the City Mayor, this was our permit.

Waiting and in anticipation of some action later? To be honest I had already started to feel bored and I believed these people were too. If only the authorities had waited for a while I believe these people would have started to disperse. Wrong move by the authorities! You have only enhanced our hatred towards your actions thus far.

Spot the chicken who didn't turn up and never did anything.

The hovering helicopters began to be more active. I started to have an uncomfortable feeling that something was about to begin.

And true enough, minutes later the first salvo of tear gas was released upon the protestors. This shot showed the protestors' reaction to what sounded like gunshots.

At that time our team were already separated. Dr John and I was on our own. Eventhough we were at a significant distance from the gas canisters we almost instantly felt the stinging effects. We immediately treated ourselves with saline eyedrops and saline water to wash our face. But the irritation we felt on our airways from the gas inhalation was too much for us to bear. Each time we tried to scout for injured protestors we felt the full force of this tear gas upon us. We had no choice but to walk away from the area. Only when we reached around Kotaraya did this effect began to subside.

Protestors feeling the effects of the tear gas.

By this time communication was down – we couldn't contact our leader. We eventually spotted him. He told us that a lady was hit by a gas canister on the head and was bleeding profusely. She had to be carried away from the dreaded tear gas environment. The continuous salvos of tear gas didn't help. We immediately sprung into action. Dr John took out the first aid kit while I applied continuous pressure on the wound each time reminding the unfortunately lady that all would be fine. I soon had a pressure bandage applied. Meanwhile a good Samaritan agreed to drive her to the nearby Tung Shin hospital to have the wound attended to after we failed to contact the ambulances on standby. Perhaps they were already too occupied with cases that had to be sent to hospitals. Dr Ganesh, another member of the team, accompanied this lady to the hospital. Thank you Dr Ganesh and a big thank you to the good Samaritan.

The team soon regrouped each sharing their experiences during and immediately after the first salvo of tear gas was released upon us.

Questions were asked. Why did the authorities start to attack the peaceful assembly? Why did they continue to release the tear gas even beyond the Dataran Merdeka perimeter? Wasn't we told by the police that it was alright to assemble in those areas away from the Dataran? I don't know the answers. What I know for sure is that come Bersih 4.0 (I hope that we will not need that) I will be there. This time I will be better prepared – I WILL BE THERE WITH A PROPER FACE MASK!

Many of you [...]]]> It has been a hectic few weeks for me – was in Vietnam followed by Singapore – hence the lack of new posts lately. This doesn't mean that I have been idle. In fact I have been going through my shots taken in Vietnam. Boy am I pleased with the results!

Many of you knew that I brought along my new Fuji X-Pro1 as well as the Nikon D800 for the Vietnam photosafari. I have now formed an informed opinion on these two cameras. What I plan to do is to show you some shots from the two cameras separately in the upcoming posts before I share with you my thoughts.

Meanwhile allow me to share with you another shot of Masi Khalatbari this time taken with the Nikon D3 + Nikon 85mm/1.4. This was taken in Aperture Priority @ f/1.8 ISO 200 1/500s. Makeup and design by Nigel NJ.

Colours

Watch out for the shots with the Fuji X-Pro1 and the Nikon D800 during the Hanoi-Bac Ha-Sapa photosafari in the next few days!

I used the X-Pro1 during my one-on-one workshop with Ben Halicki, a keen photography hobbyist from Melbourne, as well as shooting behind the scene during the Bambi Cantrell Wedding Photography Workshop and Masterclass (an event by Epic Voyage) over the weekend. I must say that I am pleased with the results.

I seldom blog about my opinion on any cameras. However I must share with you my impression of the Fuji X-Pro1 simply because my search for a lighter, more compact camera has finally ended. Will this replace my ever-trustworthy Nikon D3? Unlikely. Will I use it for some serious work? You [...]]]>

I seldom blog about my opinion on any cameras. However I must share with you my impression of the Fuji X-Pro1 simply because my search for a lighter, more compact camera has finally ended. Will this replace my ever-trustworthy Nikon D3? Unlikely. Will I use it for some serious work? You bet! It is indeed a worthy backup camera. Read on if you like to find out why.

35mm @ f/1.4 ISO 200 1/2000s

Please note that I am not sponsored by Fuji and I paid for this camera and the lenses with my own money. I have nothing to gain whatsoever by writing my impression on this new camera.

Having cleared that up, let me tell you how I have been using my Nikon D3 to give you a better idea what I need from the X-Pro1. The D3 was, up to now, my only camera (unless you want to consider the iPhone 4S a camera) together with a good collection of lenses – Nikon 24mm/1.4, 85mm/1.4, 17-35mm/2.8, 24-70mm/2.8 and 70-200mm/2.8. I shoot exclusively in available light of which the brilliant (pun intended) high ISO performance of the D3 comes in really handy. I use the D3 whenever I run workshops and photo-safaris. After a while it became increasing obvious that carrying the weight of the gears became a chore – I noticed I was bringing along less and less lenses. This triggered my search for a more compact and lighter camera. Also notice that I have not upgraded to the D3s (and now the D4) for the same reason as well as the fact that their improvements are surplus to my requirement. And I don’t shoot video! Of course I won't know what will happen when Gear Acquisition Syndrome kicks in.

My search for a lighter camera system started a while back. Besides the weight issue I also need a camera that I can carry with me everywhere I go. And be able to use it for every occasion. I found that my D3 did not see much action even during important family events – I seem to reach for the iPhone 4S during such times (see the potential of the iPhone 4S camera here).

My other important requirements for the new camera are that the IQ must be near what I am getting from the D3, preferably allow interchangeable lenses and must be user-friendly. I have tried the Canon G9 and played with many lighter cameras including the X100 and none has attracted my attention until now. The rest is history.

For the record I bought the X-Pro1 together with the 18mm/2, 35mm/1.4, a spare battery and recently ordered the Kipon Nikon F mount adapter.

So what is my impression? I am not a very technical person and I don’t even need many functions that the D3 has to offer. All those technical mumbo-jumbo do not bother me a wee bit. What I am more interested in is how the X-Pro1 performs in real life situations especially vis-a-vis the D3. If it fits my way of usage, it is a good (enough) camera. If it has the IQ to go with it, it will be a great camera. Anything more will be a bonus. Simple as that.

To those of you who want to pixel-peep there are plenty of sites that will give you all the pixel-peeping images your heart desires. It is not my aim here. By the time you finish reading my post more of this images would have been added around the web. What you’re going to get from me is my personal impressions of this little marvel and how I’m using it. I will also show you what I can achieve with it in the days to come especially after my one-on-one workshop next week.

Not many people nowadays will get excited when we talk about high ISO performance. This is an expected spec of all new cameras, a given. More so from a high-end camera. No photographer should accept anything less. Given the lighting conditions that I like to shoot in where shooting beyond ISO 6400 is the exception rather than the rule, I must say that I am more than happy with the performance of the X-Pro1. The Auto ISO 3200 option is cool. I would have no qualms using this. The following images are some high ISO shots to support my view.

Colours 18mm @ f/2 ISO 640 1/210s

Fish 18mm @ f/2 ISO 640 1/210s

Patterns 18mm @ f/2.8 ISO 1600 1/50s

Reluctant son 35mm @ f/1.4 ISO 3200 1/30s

Bar 18mm @ f/2 ISO 6400 1/60s

Some people lament the fact that the X-Pro1 does not come with a built-in flash. Photographers like me who shoot exclusively in available light welcome this omission with open arms – we do not want to pay for something that we will never need.

Now let’s get to the point as to why I love the X-Pro1.

Firstly, it’s weight or the lack of it. Relative to the D3 this camera seems like defying gravity…it is so light that I almost do not notice it is there when I am carrying it. Even with the 35/1.4 attached. Must be the muscles I have developed carrying the D3. This doesn’t mean that it is poorly built. On the contrary. I would have liked it to be weather-shielded though. Perhaps that is a consideration for X-Pro2. The same goes for the lenses.

What about user-friendliness? For the D3 I will normally check and adjust if necessary the White Balance, the Aperture (mainly shoot in Aperture Priority), the ISO and the Exposure Compensation. I shoot with Matrix (Multi in the case of the X-Pro1) metering all the time hence that would be a one time setting for both the D3 and the Fuji. Adjusting these parameters is easy though slightly different in the case of the Fuji. No big deal.

To get Aperture Priority all I need to do is set the Shutter speed dial to A and then adjust the Aperture ring on the lens to the appropriate size. Convenient and quick.

Setting the White Balance and ISO can be done either via the Shooting Menu or the quick access via the Q (Quick menu) button. Again convenient and a non-issue. From what I have tested so far, I find the Auto White Balance very accurate, more so than that from the D3. And I would have no hesitation in setting the ISO sensitivity to Auto ISO 3200.

Finally the sixty four million dollar question – how good is the Auto Focus? I have read the various reviews in the net with so many differing views. It is nothing like trying it out firsthand. Remember I am coming from an experience of great focusing with the D3 and some quick focusing lenses. To me the X-Pro1 is fast enough for the work I do i.e. portraiture in available light and travel photography. The focusing mechanism has its quirks but I think it is not something that cannot be overcome with practice.  I must admit that it is sometimes not very accurate but it never fails to amaze me how at other times it manages to achieve focus so well even at f/1.4. Luck of the draw or user error to be blamed?

I do not have any experience using an EVF until now. As such I would say too much other than the fact that I love it. Anything new especially when it helps is always a welcome addition. I especially like how I can zoom in to check on focusing accuracy during Manual focus mode.

Do I have any dislikes of this camera? There are some but those are outside my requirements e.g faster focusing and wider lenses, more accurate focusing, better access to changing the focusing frame etc. It would have been nice if they were there which would be a bonus. Since it does what I need it to do as is, I am willing to overlook them.

Oh yes, the RAW converter. I shoot 100% in RAW. I hope Adobe will come out with a RAW converter soon. Meanwhile I shall shoot in RAW + jpeg.

The above then is my first impression. I will be putting it through its more serious paces mid next week when I will be using it exclusively during a one-on-one workshop with a serious hobbyist from Australia doing (and processing) available light portraiture. If it performs as expected, it will be THE camera system I will bring with me on my photo-safari to Hanoi-Bac Ha-Sapa in early April. Finally a dream come true? Only time will tell.

Dusk 18mm @ f/2 ISO 400 1/300s

Reflection 18mm @ f/2 ISO 400 1/80s

Lines 18mm @ f/2.8 ISO 400 1/70s

Artist 18mm @ f/2 ISO 640 1/240

His pride 18mm @ f/2 ISO 640 1/250s

Bokeh 35mm @ f/1.8 ISO 200 1/680s

Coming next week – Fuji X-Pro1 at an available light portraiture workshop.

This was taken at an abandoned bungalow in Kuala Lumpur during my one-on-one workshop with Lin Tun of Myanmar. I had to shoot wide open and increased the ISO to get a decent shutter speed. Taken with Nikon 17-35mm Aperture Priority @ [...]]]> It was Red the last time. This time it is Yellow.

This was taken at an abandoned bungalow in Kuala Lumpur during my one-on-one workshop with Lin Tun of Myanmar. I had to shoot wide open and increased the ISO to get a decent shutter speed. Taken with Nikon 17-35mm Aperture Priority @ f/2.8 ISO 1600 1/80s.

Yellow

Credits:

Model – Dian Sharlin

HMUA – Nigel NJ

We met these 2 children at one of the temple ruins in Siem Reap. With the help of our tour guide we managed to get them to pose for us.

This shot was taken without the rays of course but the lighting then was really good. After I processed [...]]]> And how I created it.

We met these 2 children at one of the temple ruins in Siem Reap. With the help of our tour guide we managed to get them to pose for us.

This shot was taken without the rays of course but the lighting then was really good. After I processed it I thought to myself that this may look even better with rays. Hence I added the rays from another shot, used Hard Light blend mode in photoshop and came out with this result. Incidentally, this shot was voted the Photo of the Day at Shutterbugs.biz here under the Digital Art category.

The Light

Taken in available light with window side-lighting and a reflector to fill in [...]]]> Here are 2 shots taken of Natacha Meunier during my Nikon Malaysia workshop at the end of last year. I want to specially share these because I simply like the mood created by the lighting…and specially enhanced by post-processing of course.

Taken in available light with window side-lighting and a reflector to fill in some shadows.

Click image for larger view

Credits:

Model – Natacha Meunier

HMUA/Image Consultant – Nigel NJ

Photographers – Banhup & Nikon workshop participants