There is a Cantonese's saying to housewives, "The way to keep the heart of your husband is through good soup." (Note* For Cantonese family, soup is a must-have dish during lunch and dinner)
I am not someone's husband, so I can't tell if the saying is true. However, after been to Japan for about 3 months, I have never felt that I miss Malaysia until I came across this website:
http://masak-masak.blogspot.com/2006_10_01_archive.html
I left a comment to the blog owner:
"I hate you, for making me miss Malaysia"
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Thursday, September 11, 2008
On the way back - Photography Expedition Finale
On the way back from Oirase, I first boarded on a limited express train with unreserved sit. Eventually, it was fulled, so I've to be standing for a 2 hours journey from Aomori to Hakodate.
If you want to know how was it felt to have to stand for that long, I think it's kind of fun if you are doing it only once in a year, and have a camera with you to play with.
However, for people who does it often, maybe you'll just do what she did...
During my stay at Oirase youth hostel, I met two backpackers. One is a Japanese who has stayed at Malaysia for two years. So I felt very happy as we can chat almost everything. There are no communication problem as he speak fluent English. He told me that he love Malaysian foods, and I asked "Really? for example?"
When you receive question like this from someone, chances are he is very surprise and is interested to know more, or he don't believe you so he wants to see how you can prove it.
Anyway, I am very glad to know that he love nasi lemak too.
We've also talked about the purpose of our trip. He is kind of setting himself off from his university life, trying to open his mind by traveling around different places in Japan, in search of answer as to what he should do about his life... wow, honestly, did you ever did that?
He is now taking fundamental courses, will choose his major soon, but is doubting that if he should go for what he is more interested in or what is generally believe to promise a brighter future.
I then shared with him what I believe to be the answer about the way to live a happy life. I got it from my University professor (an American) who teach the subject Education Technology when doing my Diploma of Education. Only three simple lines though:
LIFE IS SHORT
DO WHAT YOU LOVE
and LOVE WHAT YOU DO
I reminded him that being a Japanese, who is going to spend a very long hours of his life in work, make sure he really love what he is doing, or else he is bound to suffer in this life time!
No kidding, how would you enjoy your life when you didn't love what you're doing?
I also met a Spanish who speak English with a little British accent. He seems trying to travel the whole Japan with the help of a travel guidebook publishes by Lonely Planet. I'm almost convinced to get one of this book too (almost!). See, the book never leave his hand:
A friend told me that (to her) a good photo is the one that tells a story. I agree with her. So when taking picture (I mean making), I have this in mind "A good picture speaks."
From Hakodate to Sapporo, I've got a reserved sit. So it's time to enjoy a vanilla ice scream, a cheese cake, while listening to songs from Ghibli Studio. The colour of the trees outside seems telling me that autumn is coming... it will be the very 1st autumn of my life...
If you want to know how was it felt to have to stand for that long, I think it's kind of fun if you are doing it only once in a year, and have a camera with you to play with.
However, for people who does it often, maybe you'll just do what she did...
During my stay at Oirase youth hostel, I met two backpackers. One is a Japanese who has stayed at Malaysia for two years. So I felt very happy as we can chat almost everything. There are no communication problem as he speak fluent English. He told me that he love Malaysian foods, and I asked "Really? for example?"When you receive question like this from someone, chances are he is very surprise and is interested to know more, or he don't believe you so he wants to see how you can prove it.
Anyway, I am very glad to know that he love nasi lemak too.
We've also talked about the purpose of our trip. He is kind of setting himself off from his university life, trying to open his mind by traveling around different places in Japan, in search of answer as to what he should do about his life... wow, honestly, did you ever did that?
He is now taking fundamental courses, will choose his major soon, but is doubting that if he should go for what he is more interested in or what is generally believe to promise a brighter future.
I then shared with him what I believe to be the answer about the way to live a happy life. I got it from my University professor (an American) who teach the subject Education Technology when doing my Diploma of Education. Only three simple lines though:
LIFE IS SHORT
DO WHAT YOU LOVE
and LOVE WHAT YOU DO
I reminded him that being a Japanese, who is going to spend a very long hours of his life in work, make sure he really love what he is doing, or else he is bound to suffer in this life time!
No kidding, how would you enjoy your life when you didn't love what you're doing?
I also met a Spanish who speak English with a little British accent. He seems trying to travel the whole Japan with the help of a travel guidebook publishes by Lonely Planet. I'm almost convinced to get one of this book too (almost!). See, the book never leave his hand:
A friend told me that (to her) a good photo is the one that tells a story. I agree with her. So when taking picture (I mean making), I have this in mind "A good picture speaks."
From Hakodate to Sapporo, I've got a reserved sit. So it's time to enjoy a vanilla ice scream, a cheese cake, while listening to songs from Ghibli Studio. The colour of the trees outside seems telling me that autumn is coming... it will be the very 1st autumn of my life...
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Oirase photos - Photography Expedition Part 3
Making picture and taking picture are two different thing; I didn't go to Oirase to take picture, but to make picture. You'll see what I mean by 'making picture' if you know what is going on in my mind when considering a shot. Here we go...
To photography waterfall or stream with many trees, the use of polarizing filter (known as PL filter in the world of photography) is a must. It will brings out the true color of all the objects (like tree, foliage, stone, etc) as well as cuts off the reflection of the water and allow you to see through it. As some of the light is filtered out, the amount of light gets to the sensor is reduced, usually by as much as 2-stop. This allow the use of longer shutter speed, which makes the water looks like in motion.
In any landscape photography, we usually like a greater depth of field (DOF). DOF means the depth in which as you look into the field of your photograph, things are in focus.
To illustrate, see the photo below where the depth of field in which things are in focus is very narrow - Only the mushroom is in focus, anything in front and behind is off. In landscape photography however, we want things to be in focus from the foreground extending to the infinity (if possible).
Greater DOF is accomplished with the used of larger f-stop setting. However, there is limit imposed in each lens where going beyond the setting will cause diffraction problem. In my case of using the Canon ES 16-35mm f2.8L lens, f8 seems best.
By knowing the optimum setting of my lens, I fixed my aperture opening to f8, the shutter speed is then adjusted accordingly; in the woods where sunlight is block by canopy, you need a very long shutter speed for f8, usually in between 1/2 and 4 sec - long enough to make the water looks in motion. Also, for that kind of long shutter speed, the use of tripod is a must!
In digital photography, you need to record your photo in raw format and do some post-processing work for obtaining best result. That is what I did as 'best result' is what I'm after, as a person who 'make picture' instead of taking picture.
If you do the same (shoot in raw), I suggest you go over exposure a little and later decide if you need to bring it back (to normal). I found that most of my picture looks better if I over exposed them a little - they look brighter and flasher.
The above picture is a composed of three shots (using CS3). There is no other way because the dynamic range of the scene is too wide.
See (below), if I expose for the water, the surrounding is too dark, and if expose to the surrounding, the water is over expose.
Beside water and woods, there are also spider:
To photography waterfall or stream with many trees, the use of polarizing filter (known as PL filter in the world of photography) is a must. It will brings out the true color of all the objects (like tree, foliage, stone, etc) as well as cuts off the reflection of the water and allow you to see through it. As some of the light is filtered out, the amount of light gets to the sensor is reduced, usually by as much as 2-stop. This allow the use of longer shutter speed, which makes the water looks like in motion.
In any landscape photography, we usually like a greater depth of field (DOF). DOF means the depth in which as you look into the field of your photograph, things are in focus.To illustrate, see the photo below where the depth of field in which things are in focus is very narrow - Only the mushroom is in focus, anything in front and behind is off. In landscape photography however, we want things to be in focus from the foreground extending to the infinity (if possible).
Greater DOF is accomplished with the used of larger f-stop setting. However, there is limit imposed in each lens where going beyond the setting will cause diffraction problem. In my case of using the Canon ES 16-35mm f2.8L lens, f8 seems best.
By knowing the optimum setting of my lens, I fixed my aperture opening to f8, the shutter speed is then adjusted accordingly; in the woods where sunlight is block by canopy, you need a very long shutter speed for f8, usually in between 1/2 and 4 sec - long enough to make the water looks in motion. Also, for that kind of long shutter speed, the use of tripod is a must!
In digital photography, you need to record your photo in raw format and do some post-processing work for obtaining best result. That is what I did as 'best result' is what I'm after, as a person who 'make picture' instead of taking picture.If you do the same (shoot in raw), I suggest you go over exposure a little and later decide if you need to bring it back (to normal). I found that most of my picture looks better if I over exposed them a little - they look brighter and flasher.
The above picture is a composed of three shots (using CS3). There is no other way because the dynamic range of the scene is too wide.See (below), if I expose for the water, the surrounding is too dark, and if expose to the surrounding, the water is over expose.
Beside water and woods, there are also spider:
Friday, September 5, 2008
Staying at Oirase - Photography Expedition Part 2
There are many way to travel to Oirase, Aomori from Sapporo. In my case, I take a discount package where I can make a to-and-fro between Sapporo Station and Aomori Station using limited express train, and unlimited bus ride for some bus lines including Oirase for 6 consecutive days (22,000 yen). As may be seen in the picture below, I've experienced the world longest undersea channel.
There are many options to stay at Oirase. I chose Oirase Youth Hostel for it's lower rate over Hotel. See pictures below for some of its facilities:
When I been there (27 - 31 August), the summer season is overed, and there are not many guests. So they let the guests stay in individual room (4 beds per room).
There are many options to stay at Oirase. I chose Oirase Youth Hostel for it's lower rate over Hotel. See pictures below for some of its facilities:
When I been there (27 - 31 August), the summer season is overed, and there are not many guests. So they let the guests stay in individual room (4 beds per room).
Thursday, September 4, 2008
A Combo Luggage - Photography Expedition Part 1
Last week, I’ve been to Oirase to photograph the natural stream. I’ve spent quite some time in planning the trip like what to bring, how, and the transportation. This visit is not like a tour however, it’s more like an expedition, because it has a very specific objective – photography. So this trip is a photography expedition, my very 1st photography expedition indeed.
When come to traveling, my preference is to go with bunch of friends that are playable. I am not the backpacker type of traveler who enjoys traveling alone just for exploring new things. However, I did not invite anyone to go along for this trip for reason that this is not the kind of trip that non-photography-enthusiast would enjoy. For trip like this, you either go with one who shares the same interest, or you (better) go alone.
To prepare for the trip that entails the carrying of my various photography gears, I have spent quite some time revisiting Yodobashi Camera to figure out how to bring them in a most convenient/easy way. Some would suggest a good backpack, but I didn’t favor that, I prefer something comes with rollers that I can drag along, moving light, and easy. But as I am going for an expedition, not a normal tour, this doesn’t make sense right? There must be some path that I have to carry the baggage like a backpack, if not in this trip, maybe in the future trip as I am not going to buy a luggage that I’ll just use for once. So I’m kind of needed a combo – rollers combined backpack. Fortunately, I finally found one; see following picture, it carries every of my essential, plus some bonus stuff (I mean the big one and the tripod carrier, not the smaller bag).
What triggered my buying decision was the tripod carrier, otherwise it is just ordinary luggage with rollers to me, and I still have to carry my tripod separately.
See the below pic, this is what I mean by combo - the backpack option :)
The insides are dividers made of cushioning material, so I have no problem putting Fragile-Handling-with-care stuffs like laptop and camera lens.
Taking along the laptop is very important as I can transfer files from camera to laptop for backup and reviewing purpose. The LCD of my Canon 40D is only 3”, I need a bigger LCD to judge the picture’s quality, so that I can adjust accordingly for the next shooting session (sounds very professional isn’t it?). I also have umbrella, and water bottle place at the side pocket of the bag, what else do I need?!!
The smaller bag is for camera and some bread. So in total, I only need to bring two bags – the maximum you can take along as a two-handed creature.
When going out shooting, the combo luggage stays in the room; I go with the camera bag (4kg) and tripod (2.5kg).
When come to traveling, my preference is to go with bunch of friends that are playable. I am not the backpacker type of traveler who enjoys traveling alone just for exploring new things. However, I did not invite anyone to go along for this trip for reason that this is not the kind of trip that non-photography-enthusiast would enjoy. For trip like this, you either go with one who shares the same interest, or you (better) go alone.
To prepare for the trip that entails the carrying of my various photography gears, I have spent quite some time revisiting Yodobashi Camera to figure out how to bring them in a most convenient/easy way. Some would suggest a good backpack, but I didn’t favor that, I prefer something comes with rollers that I can drag along, moving light, and easy. But as I am going for an expedition, not a normal tour, this doesn’t make sense right? There must be some path that I have to carry the baggage like a backpack, if not in this trip, maybe in the future trip as I am not going to buy a luggage that I’ll just use for once. So I’m kind of needed a combo – rollers combined backpack. Fortunately, I finally found one; see following picture, it carries every of my essential, plus some bonus stuff (I mean the big one and the tripod carrier, not the smaller bag).
What triggered my buying decision was the tripod carrier, otherwise it is just ordinary luggage with rollers to me, and I still have to carry my tripod separately.
See the below pic, this is what I mean by combo - the backpack option :)
The insides are dividers made of cushioning material, so I have no problem putting Fragile-Handling-with-care stuffs like laptop and camera lens.
Taking along the laptop is very important as I can transfer files from camera to laptop for backup and reviewing purpose. The LCD of my Canon 40D is only 3”, I need a bigger LCD to judge the picture’s quality, so that I can adjust accordingly for the next shooting session (sounds very professional isn’t it?). I also have umbrella, and water bottle place at the side pocket of the bag, what else do I need?!!The smaller bag is for camera and some bread. So in total, I only need to bring two bags – the maximum you can take along as a two-handed creature.
When going out shooting, the combo luggage stays in the room; I go with the camera bag (4kg) and tripod (2.5kg).
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