NFi Photography: January 2012

Tuesday, 31 January 2012

Some biking memories

I used to be quite the avid bike rider but lately the dangers of motorcycle riding just don't seem worth the pay off anymore.I mean I don't think I can afford to stay away from work for 2-3 months if I have a nasty off on a bike. Although I mostly rode off road, it was the time spent on road that was particularly worrying. Drivers out there either really don't see you or if they do they just don't give a damn! After one too many close calls I decided to hang up the riding boots for a while until the madness returns! Enjoy the pics:

Cameras used:
Nikon D3000
Panasonic lumix Fz35
Panasonic lumix Fz7

Verses from the Quran (Koran)

Some random verses from the Muslim Holy book, the Quran, superimposed over photos I have taken:

Sunday, 29 January 2012

4X4 COURSE

So today I had the opportunity to go on a level one 4x4 off road course. It was hosted by Land Rover Kyalami and covered the basics on off road driving. The course was beginner friendly and I had a rather good time driving the new Land Rover Evoque. It's a 2.0l Turbo diesel 4x4 and was surprisingly capable off road. I usually drive a Nissan 4x4 Double cab pick-up that is quite good off road but the little Evoque surprised me. It does not have the highest ground clearance in the world and lacks low range and air suspension but it has a myriad of electronic trickery on board that keeps things under control. It made for a rather relaxed journey through the course and the luxurious interior makes sure you are comfortable while going where no ordinary car will!
Canon SX220.

Saturday, 28 January 2012

CAR SHOOT: AUDI A3 2007

So car photography has been my nemesis for a while now. With the reflective nature & weird angles of cars, I was never keen to photograph them. As with most things in life, it's best to try the things that you are reluctant to do so you can push yourself further and maybe learn a thing or two.

Fortunately, a friend agreed to be my guinea pig and very kindly came along with his 2007 Audi A3. The conditions were less than ideal, heavily overcast and half an hour before sunset with slight drizzle but we made the best of it: Nikon D3100 with Sigma 18-200 and Manfrotto tripod:

The frames are done and came out stunning! The clarity of the pictures and frame is outstanding even though you can't see it here!

W620mm X H428mm

Macro photography

Macro photography is one of the aspects of photography that I enjoy the most. It allows one to see things in a unique way that we ordinarily would miss. Like the many eyes on a jumping spider or the intricate patterns of a butterfly's wings. My equipment is certainly not top of the range and my set up is modest to say the least. In spite of this, I have managed to take some images that I feel are pretty good and I would like to share some of my experiences.

First off, I have used many different cameras from bridge point and shoot,to garden variety compacts to DSLR. On all of them, I have used the Raynox DCR-250 magnifying lens. While not a true macro lens or even lens for that matter, it works pretty well if you're just messing around. I always try and use natural light and have found the on board flashes pretty much useless at this close range. On the subject of close range, the real trick is getting really close to your subject. So this setup woks only on subjects that are not easily spooked or skittish. Most insects seem to be very slow early in the mornings and this is the ideal time to shoot them.

Depending on lighting and prevailing wind conditions, I mostly use Aperture priority for my macro work. Usually f8 to around f11 works well because any higher and the already narrow DOF becomes too much to handle. Speaking of DOF(depth of field), with any macro work you must realize that even the slightest movements will have a magnified effect of the image. (pun intended!) So, slow, minute movement is required to achieve the focus you desire. It works best if you set the camera to manual focus and move back and forth to set the correct focus. Tripods have not been successful in my attempts due to the extreme and often uncomfortable positions one needs to be in to get it just right. Above all else, patience is key. Just keep at it and eventually you will get that perfect macro shot! Here are some of my examples and if you have any questions feel free to ask \: