Apsara Dancer

Apsara Dancer, originally uploaded by shianghan27.

Hi all..

Just received an email from Nikon Club Singapore, where I sent in some photos previously.. They want to use one of my photos for a Calendar.. Unfortunately, part of the Terms and Conditions stated that I granted them the right to do so with regards to Nikon Club. So I won't get paid for it. But hey, its going to be published somewhere right?? So I am quite happy about that..

Still looking for a job!! Sigh.. This is hard work..

Well, this girl is from Siem Reap, and she's doing the traditional dance called Apsara.. Apsara actually means Heavenly Nymphs.. And they are used in decorations at Angkor Wat and the other temples.. In Angkor Wat, the Apsaras there on the walls have 36 different hairstyles.. haha.. Interesting right??

Yup, so this was taken in a restaurant, Dead Fish, where the girls dance every night and its free.. Her foot was blocked by a stage light.. so i just left it out of the photo..

Photo competitions to join!! Will be entering a few.. The prize of a D300 is a major major draw!! If i win it, I'll start free lancing as a photographer straight away!! :):)

Wish me luck!!!

Sitting Pretty

Sitting Pretty, originally uploaded by shianghan27.

Hey people..

This is a year old photo taken in Switzerland.. When we stayed in the little village of Gimmelwald in a Barn.. Yes, a barn, where the cows sleep in the winter.. So as you can imagine, it was smelly at first.. but you get used to it after a while.. and surprisingly comfortable to sleep on a blanket over hay.. haha..

Anyway, this photo earned me a S$115 when I sold the right to use it to a Russian Company for a year.. interesting eh..

Like to shout out a huge Congratulations to my GF and her friends who graduated yesterday with Honours!! :)

Ta Prohm

Ta Prohm, originally uploaded by shianghan27.

Hey people..

Here's a look into Ta Prohm.. the most distinctive feature of a temple totally claimed by the forest.. Also the site of the Tomb Raider movie.. haha.. Basically, this temple showcases the power of the forest to reclaim their land.. The roots of these huge trees just crumble solid rock, push down whole walls and just become one with the temple.. Simply Amazing!

This was a special place for me because this was where Liza called me to ask if I graduated.. haha.. I had totally forgotten to check my results.. Luckily and strangely, there was reception at this particular temple.. so while watching people take photos with that huge tree in the centre, I smsed NUS for the results and with great trepidation opened it to see that I, Lim Shiang Han, had accumulated 120 credits!! I graduated!!! haha.. so happy lor!!

My Graduation Day!!!

My graduation Day, originally uploaded by shianghan27.

Well, i promised graduation photos.. but in sad reality, I dun have very many.. all of the good photos are probably with Chee Tat!!!!!!!!! sooo, here's what i have, one taken with me and my parents after the ceremony.. don't you think we all look happy??

Well, the scroll my dad's holding is empty.. the folder my mom is holding contains two pieces of paper, one of my degree, the other of my transcripts.. each of those pieces of paper costs like maybe $10,000.. haha.. expensive right?? So i am really very grateful to my parents who paid for my education!!

Thank you Dad! Thank you Mom!

Offerings

Offerings, originally uploaded by shianghan27.

Hi all!!

I am now a GRADUATE!! haha.. thats what it says on my scroll!! Since 30th June actually.. Well, I guess maybe a better photo would be one taken yesterday, but I dun really have nice ones yet.. Hmmm, yesterday's Commencement ceremony was quite boring.. sitting there watching other people go on stage is boring.. haha.. but luckily it went by faster than their estimated time..

I think wearing the graduation gown and mortar board looks quite cool! Felt really really happy to graduate.. Also very grateful to my Parents who not only paid for my education, but also supported me when I needed help.. :) Also, thanks must go to my GF for her help in choosing modules, and her love and companionship!

Of course what would a thank you post without mentioning Ray and Liz, my two best friends in Physics.. Without them life would have been boring!! No pool with Ray, no crapping with Liz.. sigh.. Lectures would have been hell.. Quite sad to have to part ways with them.. but i think we'll be friends for life lah.. :):)

Special shout outs to all my friends who also graduated yesterday (in no particular order): Jian Kuan, Joel, Prashanth, Jun Ji, Zhi Wei, Sean, Chee Tat, Yi Xin and Liz... All the best in your future careers and endeavours!!

Okay, back to this photo.. something different right? This was in Luang Prabhang, when we went to visit the Pak Ou Caves.. This was a very long stair climb up during a heavy shower.. JIALAT!!! then the cave was so dark you couldn't really see all the buddhas they had inside very well also.. But anyway, they placed all the buddhas that were worn out or damaged in two caves.. Outside one of them was this table with this flower offerings on it.. So while waiting there for the rain to subside I took this photo of the offerings..

Guess what I like about it is the 3 flowers in front, which are quite nice.. yup.. anyway, stay tuned for Commencement photos!! Watch this space..

Taken with Nikon D40 + 70-300mm VR @ 220mm f5.6 1/30 iso800 EV+0.7

Street in Siem Reap

Street in Siem Reap, originally uploaded by shianghan27.

Hi everyone!

Today is the Big Day!! Its Graduation Day!! Going to wear that huge heavy and hot gown with the mortar board and get my degree today!! :)

Anyway, this photo is a street in Siem Reap, Cambodia.. it kinda reflects how hectic things really are over there.. not to mention how polluted the air is.. Somehow the photo's elements are interesting in a way..

Gotta go iron my gown for Commencement!! and where's my tie?

Black Knights @ Sunset

Black Knights @ Sunset, originally uploaded by shianghan27.

Took this photo on the rooftop of my GF's house on last Saturday.. they were circling around waiting for their time to enter the Parade.. So i took the opportunity to snap some photos!

They were quite far away when I took this one, so can't really zoom in to see the details, but what i like is the colour and the silhouette of the F16s.. Somehow it reassures me that we have these planes and pilots to protect us if need be..

I also felt this slight sense of sadness, because I kinda always wanted to fly in a fighter jet since i was a small kid.. haha.. but oh well..

Taken with Nikon D40 + 70-300mm VR @ 300mm f5.6 1/500 iso400

2 faces @ The Bayon

2 faces @ The Bayon, originally uploaded by shianghan27.

Well.. Back to the Bayon in Angkor.. This temple is famous for its faces on the spires.. :) Sending out resumes now.. thinking of getting a full time job while building a portfolio.. Will see how its goes.. :)

Taken with Nikon D40 + 70-300mm VR @ 165mm f5 1/1250 iso400

Common Tit

Common Tit, originally uploaded by shianghan27.

Another one of the butterflies i took in Telok Blangah.. This one is more intricate i guess.. the markings on the back end of the wing simulates the butterfly's eyes and the tails represent the feelers.. this is to fool its predators and possibly allow it to escape..

Took some photos yesterday at Sime Forest too.. Met my friend Wong and a new friend James who drove us there.. quite impossible to walk in there on your own.. Too bad the weather did not cooperate very much.. wanted to get a shot of the 5-bar Swordtail but couldn't.. oh well.. stay tuned!

Taken with Nikon D40 + 70-300mm VR + Canon 500D @ 195mm f10 1/320 iso800 flash fired

The Malayan

The Malayan, originally uploaded by shianghan27.

Hi..

Last tuesday i went on a dedicated butterfly photography shoot with a new friend from the Butterfly Circle forum.. He brought me to Telok Blangah Hill Park where we spent about 4 hours searching and taking photos of the elusive insects..

This little butterfly is called The Malayan (Megisba Malaya Sikkima). It is a small 1cm large butterfly that is not very easy to approach.. The best part was how my new friend could see it in the first place.. But thanks to him i managed to get a nice and rare photo of this butterfly..

Should be going for another shoot with another new friend tomorrow! Hope i get somemore beautiful shots.. :)

Taken with Nikon D40 + 70-300mm VR + Canon 500D @ 280mm f14 1/200 iso800 Flash Fired

Railing

Railing, originally uploaded by shianghan27.

Now, what's this you might be asking.. This is a railing at Angkor Wat.. haha.. What? Angkor wat.. Yup.. but why a railing? Well, for me I like this photo because this is a thousand year old railing that still has its carvings on it.. and yet, it has succumbed to time with the moss and lichen growing on it.. The lighting was soft sunlight at 5.30am in the morning and that makes the colours very rich and nice.. what do you think??

On another note, commencement is 1 week from today!! Can't wait.. To think that 3 years of my life has paid off with this degree in Physics.. Now if only i can find a job related to photography.. Hmmm..

Taken with D40 + 70-300mm VR @ 195mm f5.3 1/125 iso200

Angkor Morning - Changed WB

Angkor Morning - Changed WB, originally uploaded by shianghan27.

Hi!

been a bit busy lately, sorry for missing yesterday.. Here's Angkor Watt.. reflected in the lily pool.. For this photo i had to wake up at 4.30 in the morning, and I still missed the natural blue colour of the sunrise, as by the time we got there the orange/red part had started..

So i cheated! I changed my white balance setting to tungsten, which gave it this blue colour cast.. haha.. I really like blue, maybe it looks a bit fake.. but oh well, call this one a "creative" shot.. haha..

Taken with Nikon D40 + 18-70mm @ 31mm f6.3 1/125 iso200 WB-Tungsten

Frozen

Frozen, originally uploaded by shianghan27.

This little girl paddles her boat strangely! sitting cross legged she raises her paddle high above her head (This picture was taken right at this moment!) and then she plunges it into the water to propel her boat forward.. Note that it is a very inefficient method!! So why does she do it this way?

1. Maybe she has a lot of time to spend.
2. Maybe this was how her mom taught her to paddle.
3. Maybe she was just fooling around?

I dunno, but still, think the lines and shapes are nice, only thing is the composition could have been improved.. but oh well.. hope you like it anyway.. this is the last of the lake photos.. stay tuned for the next leg of our journey.. Angkor!

Taken with Nikon D40 + 70-300mm VR @ 240mm f5.6 1/800 iso400

Out to fish..

Out to fish.., originally uploaded by shianghan27.

The photo for today is: one of a young man with the responsibility to catch enough fish to feed his family, paddling his fishing boat out to the middle of the lake to fish!

Amazingly, these people start fishing at night.. guess its the same everywhere huh.. Technically, the sun was behind him, so he was quite underexposed, converted to B&W to give it that simple timeless feeling again.. Like the look on his face and the water droplets from his paddle.. Composition wise maybe its lacking a bit cos he's just right in the centre, but i think it kinda balances out and maybe it works because of him!

Today is my GF's birthday!! Like to wish you a very very happy birthday dear!! Love you!

Taken with Nikon D40 + 70-300mm VR @ 300mm f5.6 1/1600 iso 400

Male Plain Tiger

Male Plain Tiger, originally uploaded by shianghan27.

Hi everyone..

Today's post is the Male Plain Tiger you see above.. It was taken where? Yes, in the butterfly haven of Vang Vieng.. (Simply the best resort ever!! for me at least!)

Technically i think its quite okay.. only thing is the top wings seem to be on a different plane from the bottom wing, so i do not have enough DOF to make it sharp as well.. how do you find it?? Nice?

Taken with Nikon D40 + 70-300mm VR + Canon 500D @ 102mm f4.8 1/320 iso200

Who's looking at who?

Who's looking at who?, originally uploaded by shianghan27.

Bonus photo! I know i said one photo a day.. but i think i missed out quite a few.. so this is an extra one for today! Also i think i had enough of B&W and want something colourful on my blog again!

Taken in the same resort as the Butterfly below, I had to wait very long and try many times to get a perfect shot with the wings open and to get parallel, all while holding my 2.3kg camera.. tiring indeed.. but all so worth while when i look at this photo!! beautiful isn't it?

The title is for the "eyes" on the butterfly.. are you looking at it or is it looking at you?

Just found out this is a Lemon Pansy (Junonia lemonias)

Taken with Nikon D40 + 70-300mm VR + Canon 500D @ 165mm f5 1/125 iso400

Must keep it dry!

Must keep it dry!, originally uploaded by shianghan27.

Hey everyone..

Today's photo is also from the Tonle Sap lake.. This young boy is on his way back home from school while trying to keep his bag (containing his books) dry.. The school is a floating one too according to our guide.. He does not have enough money to share a boat home, so he has to walk.. We saw quite a few of these school children having to wade home like this.. This would be during the dry season when all the house boats are anchored further out in the lake because the water level is low..

Today went to the gym.. I put on like 0.5kg of the 5kg lost during my holiday.. think home food or Singapore food really is the best.. haha.. :)

Taken with Nikon D40 + 70-300mm VR @ 240mm f5.6 1/400 iso400

Hello..

Hello.., originally uploaded by shianghan27.

Hi, second photo from Cambodia, Tonle Sap lake, Chong Kneas Floating Village. This little girl is waving to me! haha.. all over the world a simple wave means the same thing: Hello..

So i was quite pleased to see this photo.. to capture that moment when the little girl waved hello to me.. :)

Taken with Nikon D40 + 70-300mm VR @ 270mm f5.6 1/250 iso400

On the way home I saw a tourist!

On the way home I saw a tourist!, originally uploaded by shianghan27.

Took this photo in Cambodia, in the floating village of Chong Kneas on the Tonle Sap lake.. Think this boat of girls were on their way home.. Converted to B&W because the colours weren't superb.. and think this makes it look better somehow because it really brings out the simplicity of their lives and evokes a nice feeling.. I especially like the eye contact with the last two girls.. :)

Today I went out with my gf and her NUS friends to ECP to cycle.. then had dinner at Parkway Parade.. Quite fun.. haha.. just finished sorting my photos from the trip.. took 2891 altogether on my camera, selected 270 for processing, out of which 40 are butterflies and maybe 50 are of me and/or my gf.. :) so hang in there for more!

Taken with Nikon D40 + 70-300mm VR

Colour.

Colour., originally uploaded by shianghan27.

Was staying in a resort in Vang Vieng, Laos.. Didn't plan to stay there, but the person offered a free tuk tuk ride and a reasonable price, so we took a look, and saw over 50 butterflies flittering about the bushes and flowers.. that sealed it for me!! haha.. plus the small bungalow we had was very nice, and had a view of the river and mountains!

This was one of the butterflies i took, chose to show this one first because i think the colour of the butterfly, while plain, is nicely accentuated by the background.. Processed in Lightroom to bring out the colour (actually just increased the exposure a little bit..)

Anyway, yesterday, me, ray, liz and our respective partners, nic, farid and ys met up for dinner! We had a great time in Swenson's.. and i found myself talking almost non-stop! sorry guys! but honestly, i think i really missed them.. and well, now that we are graduating, will miss them even more.. but thats life right? and anyway, our friendship should be strong enough to last for a lifetime.. due to the quantum mechanical, rotational, and 3-dimensional forces that bind.. haha.. :)

Taken with Nikon D40 + 70-300mm VR + Canon 500D