Photos for Recital

Recently, I had a chance to take photos for my friend's flute Recital. It is my first time to take the Recital Photos.

The organisers are very strict. I can only sit on the chair and cannot move around in the hall. Also, they warn me to avoid my camera shutter sound. Luckily, I did some researches earlier. To minimise the camera sound, I bought a sound muffler for my camera and it could reduce around 70% of sound. The sound muffler is like a thick soft case for camera which can absorb the shutter sound.

Since I cannot move freedomly inside the hall. It is also another challenge for me to think how to make the photos different in the same angle.

Here are some photos to share with you. Enjoy.

More photos can be found at:
http://www.fotop.net/williamc/Cindy_Recital_2009

My Canon Collection / Extension Tube

Recently, I get two new Canon items for my collection. One is 450D and another one is 1Ds MKIII. HaHa... Both of them are just miniature. 450D is around 1:4 size and it is a USB thumb drive (2Gb) 1Ds MKIII is 1:5 size and just a miniature.

On last weekend, the weather is really bad in Hong kong. So, I just take some pictures for these toys.

Equipment used for those pictures: EOS5D MKII + Leica 90mmf2.8 (using a Leica M to Canon EOS converting mount) Sometimes, if you don't have the macro lens, you can use the extension tube for your existing lens and get the close up shots. There are some web sites explaining how to use extension tube such as the below link:
http://www.slrphotographyguide.com/camera/lens/extensiontube.shtml

Most of them are using ISO6400 and f2.8 aperture

My Japan Vacation Photo

In early April, My wife & I went to Japan again for our vacation. For this time, we choose a place we didn't visit before --- Kyushu, southern part of Japan. Yufuin is a popular hot spring area in Kyushu and we like this place very much.

There are some photos to share with you.

If you want to see all pictures, you can visit my album:
http://www.fotop.net/williamc/Gallery_0904

Equipment for this trip: EOS5D MKII, 24-105f4L and 100-300f5.6L

Rugby, Fun - HK Sevens

"HK Sevens" is a famous International Rugby Game in Hong Kong every year. I am lucky that I have a chance to take pictures for this event in this year.

Why this game is so famous? Besides the games are exciting, the people watching this game is also very interesting. They will spend their time to think about their make up / dress and try to make themselves outstanding from the crowd. Also, it is allowed to drink Beer in the stadium!! Music + Dance + Beer make it look like a party!

Equipment used/tried:
Canon 1D MKIII
Canon 5D MKII

500f4L
300f2.8L
200f1.8L
70-200f2.8L
17-35f2.8L
15f2.8
1.4x extender

More photos / EXIF information can be found in my album:
http://www.fotop.net/williamc/HK_Sevens_2009

HK Flower Show

I also take some photos in HK flower show. The weather is quite nice and the flowers arrangement is not bad.

I mainly use the 100f2.8 macro lens and 500f8 Mirror lens. This is first time for me to use the Mirror lens. My Mirror lens is Tamron brand and bought from 2nd hand market. The effect of Mirror lens is interesting - the light /spot will become "circle" in the background which make the pictures unique.

More photos can be found in my ablum:
http://www.fotop.net/williamc/Flower_Show_2009

Motocross

First of all, thanks for the committee input and sharing with us their great photos. Especially thanks for Wing – organise the photo event for this round.

After my business trip, I went to attend a photo event organised by a web site on last Sunday – the topic is Motocross. This Motocross event is just a practice session and not a competition. Therefore, the Motocross players are a bit relax and do not show us their full power.

My camera / lenses are having dusts after this event and I spend a bit of time to clean my gears. For this time, I use my Canon EOS1DMKIII, 24-105f4 and 70-200f2.8.

More photos can be found in my album:

http://www.fotop.net/williamc/Motocross09



1/80, f13, ISO320

1/160, f5.6, ISO200

1/800, f5.6, ISO320

Canon EOS5D MKII

I just upgrade my Canon 5D to 5D MKII recently. Attached are some pictures taken by 5D MKII. So far, my comment on 5D MKII:

The things I like:
- Picture quality are in the top class
- Very good noise control in High ISO performance (e.g. ISO3200)
- Anti-dust CMOS sensor -- this is useful
- Auto ISO - sometimes, it is useful to produce a sharper image (the camera will change to higher ISO to maintain higher shutter speed)
- Excellent movie quality!

The improvement areas for 5DMKII:
- more AF points (now, only 9 AF points and located at the centre part of focusing screen!)
- built-in flash (Nikon D700 have this!)
- more number of frame per second
- better AF in liveview mode

After getting 5D MKII, I am thinking to upgrade my PC at home. Now, my PC is not fast enough to process the RAW file & Video by 5DMKII. Need to save money >_<

Lens: 85f1.2L
ISO5000, f1.2, 1/1600

Lens: 85f1.2L

ISO500, f1.4, 1/80

Lens: 24-105f4L

ISO3200, f4, 1/40

Tennis Photos

On last week, there was a tennis match which invited some famous Tennis players to HK. As a sports photography lover, I won't miss this chance and took the pictures for this match. For this time, I only used my Canon EOS1DMKIII + 200mmf1.8L. Since the players are not far from us, 200mm is long enough for most situation.

More photos can be found in following link:

http://www.fotop.net/williamc/JBGroup2009

1st Photo Competition - The winner

Thanks again for the members / non-members who join our 1st photo competition. Your positive feedback is our motivation to run the photo club.

Based on the submitted photos, Wing & I had several discussions & reviews before we decide the winner of the photo competition. It is not a easy job for us. Finally, we mutually agree the winning picture (as below) and the winner is HELENA SZE!

Congratulation to Helena! Keep on your good work!

Besides Helena, we also find that another photo club member, Mancy Cheng, improve her photo skill a lot. Therefore, we decide to give her award as well. We look forward to seeing her great pictures soon.

Last but not least, we will try to organise the 2nd photo club events and competition in Jan/Feb08. Hope you can join us as well!

***Prize sponsered by William Chan

Sample Image: Canon 1Ds MKIII + 200f2L IS

One of my friends is using Canon EOS1Ds MKIII (the current top model in Canon). Recently, he is trying a new lens in Canon showroom -- EF200f2L IS -- a professional lens with largest aperture among 200mm lenses with 5 stops image stablizers. Attached is the picture using 1/10 sec using this lens (just handheld, without tripod) and the image is still sharp and clear!!!

The price:
Canon 1Ds MKIII around US$6,900
EF200f2L IS around US$6,400
The total amount can buy a quite good used car....

Malacca Pictures

When I visit Malaysia earlier, I have a chance to visit Malacca (a historical state). My last visit to Malacca was around 10 years ago. The place is becoming more structure compared with my last visit. If you visit Malaysia next time, you can consider to visit this historical place.

For this trip, I only carry a old prosumer "Canon Powershot Pro1" to take some snapshots.

More photos can be found in my album:
http://www.fotop.net/williamc/Malacca2008

International Kart GP

At the end of November, I went to Macau for the Kart Racing. The Kart Racing is an International Competition and the Karts & drivers' dressing look colorful.

The Kart is moving faster than I expect. We can use a high shutter speed to freeze the motion. Another choice is using panning skill -- Since the Kart is small in size, we need to use a slower shutter speed to show its motion (e.g. 1/125 or slower). During the panning, it is better to focus in the driver (e.g. Helmet). Due to the track & driver skill, the Kart is moving fast and flexible which increase the difficult to produce the sharp images in panning shots. As a result, it is another challenge for sport photographers.

Personally, I quite like this photo series. The photos are in my album:
http://www.fotop.net/williamc/Kart2008

Please feel free to give me your comment. Thanks.
P.S. Unfortunately, Kart Racing is without Racing Queens, so don't ask me about the Racing Queens pictures : )

Badminton Photos

On last week, I am lucky to watch a badminton competition in HK. This competition attract many great badminton players to HK such as Lin Dan (Beijing Olympic Winner).

As for the photography, the lighting condition is okay. (e.g. using ISO1600, aperture f2.8 and can have 1/400 sec shutter speed). This is first time for me to take the badminton sports. I mainly use the prime lenses - 50mm, 85mm, 135mm & 200mm. Try to have a higher shutter speed and keep the subject more outstanding from the background with a larger aperture. Since the ground is green color, it may make the color of players' face become a bit green - a challenge on white balance setting.

The players are moving fast (left/right or up/down) and it is quite difficult to capture the right moment.

Hope you like this photo series and please kindly give me your comment. Thanks : )

More photos can be found in my ablum:

http://www.fotop.net/williamc/Badminton2008

Tennis Stars

You may not the Tennis fan. However, you probably hear the name of Tennis Stars like John McEnroe, Bjorn Borg, Roger Federer and James Blake. All these four Tennis stars were getting together and had a Tennis show in Macau recently. I was lucky to see this interesting show.

We seated close to the court and the players are not far from us. I mainly use 135mm and 200mm lenses. Instead of using zoom lens, I try to use the prime lenses (lens without zoom). Since we sat next to each other, I couldn't turn left or right easily. Therefore, it is not easy to get the good shots. Anyway, the show is interesting. All these Tennis stars are very friendly and know how to make fun with their fans.

More photos can be found in my album:
http://www.fotop.net/williamc/TennisMacau2008

Miss International

On last Sat, I went to Macau and took some pictures for the "Miss International Beauty Pageant". (My friend ask me to take some pictures for his website.) I seat next to all reporters but it is very far from the stage. I use 300mm+1.4X but still cannot get the close up shots.

http://www.fotop.net/williamc/Intl_Beauty

P.S. I guess this will become the most popular album in my photo collection besides the racing queens. Enjoy : )