Learning to handle Digital Camera

Birds photography does really test your patient and skill in handling the Camera & knowing what kind of setting to be used for which kind of lighting environments, last few weeks we had few outing with friends that share same passion namely Joe (Amazing Borneo) Gary (Borneo Guide) and Ron (just stated with his new Olympus). 1. Banded Kingfisher

All this time, when I started taking photos in the late 90’s (slides / films) using my Canon EOS 88, the setting that I used normally is fully manual. I have to be carefully not just to point and shoot. We have 36 exposures only and every click counts.
2. Black Backed Kingfisher

When I have brought my Canon 400D (Digital) last year, I try to use back the Manual setting that I use too, it doesn’t work, the first outing with the gang I have my picture over exposed. In wildlife photography, we have to be ready all the time, so no time to rearrange the setting. So I used Shutter Speed priory since then.
3. Rufous Collard Kingfisher

Recently we went to Sandakan with chances of photographing the rare Borneon Bristlehead (No good picture ever taken of this elusive bird until recently). Now I have accustomed to Shutter Speed priory. The last 3 days of photos shoot make me rethink of the setting that I used. Chances of taking some rare birds of Borneo almost end in disaster if not the birds has been very cooperative with us.

Some of the rare birds that we got with reasonable result are Banded Kingfisher, Rufous Collard Kingfisher, Black Backed Kingfisher & Red Naped Trogon. My biggest disappointment is no able to get good photos of the elusive Bornean Bristlehead. I will be back and this time I hope my settings are perfect and the birds still waiting.

4. Bornean Bristlehead

Weekend Birding

Last few weeks has been great for me, after coming back from Kinabalu Park, every morning I wake up and listen around my apartment there are planty of birds sound especially in the morning. To my surprise I heard a kingfisher calling, here.. so for almost a week I wake up earlier and get ready to work 30 minutes earlier (I love my sleep, 30 minutes is a big deal). Get ready my camera shot around my apartment.. wow.

Unbeliverble, I never knew that a yellow breasted sunbird, flying around feeding on flowers around the area. I took a photos of Euration tree sparrow, Chestnut Munia, White Collard Kingfisher & Common Koel. I manage this for a week only (I love my extended 30 minutes sleep)

One weekend I drive Cecilia to work and I was planning to buy a book rack for my apartment. I keep on buying books and yet have no time to read, I only read when I am flying to somewhere, yeah keep it for that then. When I reach the factory, it's still close so I decide to drive around and see if I can shoot anything. Yupe a good 1 hour wait. Got a shoot of Paddy field Pipit, Common Sandpiper & Ashy Tailorbird. Next Week will more birds photos shooting.. yupe

Kinabalu Park Photo Shoot

Thank You Joe for the welcoming remark.!! I should have posted more story, well lets see once a month not bad huh.. not promise ah, try ah.

This month I went up to Kinabalu Park to sharpen out my outdoor skill before the big day in Deramakot next month. So I start early morning drive to Kinabalu Park, then I decide to go direct to our Resort for the night, Celyn Resort. Check in and have lunch before start shooting... but how.. where to start, then I try to get this swallow picture in-flight.. Joe I think you have better changes then me, this guys are too fast and their maneuver are like jet fighter, need to update my equipment, next time. In the afternoon the cloud / mists start to come in.. no more shoot for today..

The next morning a magnificent view await us, Mt. Kinabalu right in front of our balcony. Nice eh. time to get breakfast and start shooting. How.. yesterday I did not manage to get any good photos at all, so all rest on today result, I must get at least few good shoots, I start to hunt for them .. very difficult le my friend, slightest movement they fly away. Then I decide to sit in 1 place.. waiting ..and waiting... and waiting, at last out of curiosity they come to peek at me.. who is this guy, a flycather came, next a bulbuls, then a drongo. Not bad but my back are aching and my legs start to cramp.. have to move.. off they go.. gone.

On they way back I decide to stop by at Kinabalu Park to try my luck.. if there are any birds this late. The bird are singing ..everywhere but where, even I sit and wait no one came. I start to whistle .. they reply, so start the whistling marathon between us, I whistle and whistle until my mouth run dry, no more sound coming out of my mouth, Cecilia was laughing at me, but I was rewarded with this little guy coming out of curiosity to check me out.. so until next time. I have plan for Gerama trip next month, chao.

Kalimantan Trip

I haven't been updating my blog since last February.. wow time travel so fast. Since the last update I have been up to my neck with things to do list and updating my blog has been in the bottom of my bucket list.

So here I am trying to sort out and update you with what I have been up to lately, my last trip was to Kalimantan, Indonesia. More specifically to Ballikpapan (Kutai National Park) and Palangkaraya (Peat Swamp Forest).

I was there to assist a T.V Company from Japan to do a documentary in title Earth Special. We were the for more then 2 weeks shooting the way of Dayak peoples daily life, The Kutai National Park & Palangkaraya - The Peat Swamp Forest. (which forest fire in 1997 cause worst haze in South East Asia).

My role as assistant Director.. Just kidding, as a coordinator require me to be in Jakarta a week earlier. I was there to get a proper documentation from the relevant authoritys such as Visa and filming permit, this require a lot of time visiting and checking to update the latest info of our application.

This time it took me 10 days to get everything done. Then I was to meet them in Balikpapan and assist in coordinating and translating for the T.V crew. We have a hectic 2 weeks shooting and travelling from Balikpapan to Samarinda, Tg. Isuy, Bontang, Sangatta, Kutai National Park and Palangkaraya. In a nut shell - We enjoy it. photo opportunity was rare as I was needed at 2 places in 1 time..

This time I hope to be able to update this blog as often as possible. Heheheheh Promise ah.

Chinese New Year in Sandakan

Chinese New Year are one of the celebrations that were celebrated by the Chinese community in Malaysia. Every year family member that work or study abroad come back to their root or home town to celebrate the new year with their family.

Member of the family will make their way home a day before the new year for one of the most important function or gathering that is to have dinner together the night before the lunar new year.

Normally the first day spent with the family or visiting close family member, 2nd and 3rd day spent visiting other relative and friends. Children or single people are given angpau (Red packet with money inside) by father, mother or married couple. Amount in each packet are varied depending on the giver normally close family member will be given more compare to distant family member or friends.

Celebrations last for 15 days and the last day which is known as Chap Goh Mei, the first full moon of the new year. For Single lady this is the time they will flock to waterfront and to throw manderin orange in hope to find suitable partner but for my friend ah seng

he said he will eat the orange and throw the skin only.

Chinese New Year celebrations are incomplete without the lion dance, angpau and fire cracker. This year are the year of the Golden Pig which comes every 60 years and during this time most Chinese couple will get married and conceive a piglet (pig year baby). For Chinese a baby born during this time will bring luck to the family.

My visit to Sandakan during the recent Chinese New Year bring me to Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitations center, Labuk Bay Proboscis Sanctuary, Crocodiles farm, English Tea House and the Chinese Temple of Puh Jih Syh. I have plenty opportunity to take some photo of the place that I visited.

The drive from Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan took about 5 hours over 330 km from west of Sabah to the east over Crocker Range passing below the highest peak of Mt. Kinabalu (4095m) at 1500m above sea level. Sandakan accessible by road from Kota Kinabalu from the west and Lahad Datu / Tawau from the south. Sandakan also accessible by air from Kota Kinabalu, Tawau, Kuala Lumpur, Johor Bahru and Zamboanga.