Shower hose

Shower hose, originally uploaded by thru-the-zuiko.

Stone under

Stone under, originally uploaded by thru-the-zuiko.

Zuiko and It's Time

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I have to admit, it has been quite a while since I held my E-5!

I guess I have been too busy doing other things that I had time to do some photography with it. First it was the XZ-1, then later it was the Sony arc S. No doubt photography is possible with such simple device, especially with the mobility and connectivity it has to quickly make the images available on any social media sites. Somehow, there was something missing in terms of satisfaction and exuberance.

I guess it's time to get back to basic photography. Get back to  simple pleasures of the exposure triangle. I miss this with the cameraphone.

E-5 with Zuiko Digital ED 14-35mm F2.0

35mm, f/2.0, 1/20s, ISO400, -0.3ev

This image reverberates my desire to seriously shoot again. The simplicity, the balance, and the timelessness. To me, these are what photography means to me. Forget about the world for a while. 

Take a chill. 

Keep cool. 

Relax. 

Expand the mind.

It was not difficult to create the image. Just focus on the composition, the mood and the focus. Let the effects done by the Art Filters. Just focus on the basics. No need to photoshop the image. Just shoot.

Snap. Process. Upload. 

Hmmmm... though the steps are not as fast as my Sony arc S, somehow the workflow kind of work for me. All in-camera and only uploading is done with the SD card transferred into my netbook.

Not bad!!

iZuiko and a View Out of the Window

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Take a peek outside... the window.

There's nothing much to see actually from my room. Just the neighbor's house, a mirror view of my own house!

That's the typical view of a Malaysian suburban house, terrace mostly.

XZ-1, 6mm, f/4, 1/800s, ISO100, Grainy Film Art Filter

And would you believe if I say that my house has appreciated in value from a mere RM330,000 to RM650,000 in just less than 5 years? Well, such is the bloated price for houses in Klang Valley has become, it makes most people cringe! That's the reality. Whilst other price of goods have steadily risen in double digits annually for the past couple of years, the price of land and property is much more staggering.

To survive in Klang Valley now takes more than just a good paying job, a middle-income earner needs to have strong financial support from other sources, if he/she yearns for a house! To think that the starting salary for most jobs has not changed much for the past 15 years says a lot too. When I started work back in '96, I was paid RM2,600 a month. Guess what? A fresh grad is getting the same amount now, in '11!

Take a peek through the window...

The harsh reality for the next 15 years? I wouldn't know, but I think it will get harder every time!

Zuiko and Picnik

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I have been using the Picnik software in flickr.com for quite a while.

And, I love it.

There are so many effects that can be used to make the picture more alive and stand out. Or quickly get some special effects that require hours using Photoshop, rather.

Click HERE to see the full picture.

E-5 with Zuiko Digital ED7-14mm F4.0

7mm, f/5.6, 1/1600s, ISO200, -0.3ev

From the original picture, I crop it from 4:3 into 16:9 to give the cinematic effect. Then, changed the tonal and focal impact using the Orton Effect filter and added vignetting to the sides to emphasize more on the central subject.

That's all to it... Well, other than using a super-duper ultra-wide lens, that is!!

i.Zuiko and Contrasting Flowers

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This was taken quite a while ago. I was embraced with the contrasting colors of the flowers and grass. The brown leaf gave a contradiction of colors to the whole composition, which to me added some dimension to the image.

XZ-1 with 6mm, f/3.5, 1/800s, ISO100

i.Zuiko at the Pediatrician's

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What I like about pediatricians is that they provide play areas for the kids while waiting for treatment. And usually, the play areas are filled with strong colors.

11mm (25mm 4/3 equiv.), f/2.0, 1/13s, ISO200, PopArt filter

My wife and I always frequent this clinic at SS19 Subang Jaya because the doctor has excellent injection skills. So, whenever jabs are due, this is the place. His touch is very delicate for quite a large man, and both of us are quite amazed, actually.