After Dark-BYJ Family Photography Group

This is our contribution for April. I understand that not many have the time and resources to upload the night pictures. Still I'm positive that in time everyone can participate , learn and share each month. Farida did the honor of judging the picture of the month for April and she thinks it's the Singapore shot. In my opinion judging from the complexity and technique the picture of the month could also be Myoce's Pin hooks. Like I mentioned in the past she have mastered the art of movement in photography and with patience and perseverance an abstract piece is created within the frame. Up to now I have wondered how it was done..

Getting serious..

I am in a crossroad at the moment trying to consider which course to study but realized that 80% would not be photography yet. Circumstances may change at the end of the year so until I get there I'll tell you how and what..

At present I have added some tools to make my journey in photography a bit more exciting. After reading and learning from other established photographers I decided to get hold of polarising filter for my 52 mm lens and len's hood as well.

Although my camera have UV filter, it doesn't reduce the glare I get everytime I take shots of sunsets and subjects during the day.This is when a polarising filter is needed. It should minimize glare and improve contrast.

The len's hood which some photographers don't agree on using with the camera helps reduce flare which affects image quality.

Without CPL filter and with CPL

Images by Damien Demolder-Amateur Photographer

LV DM Collection

I don't know about you but I am just an ordinary girl who doesn't buy designer goods..well, if I am probably a millionaire then stuffs like LV, Gucci, Prada, YSl, Damiani would be good acquaintances. Last checked I'm not so thanks to BYJ I get to know all these new fashion tidbits. My knowledge is not so poor anymore. Plus I have come back reading magazines again..I started with Glamour then Elle..Tatler could wait and so is Vogue. I just cancelled my subscription of 'Majesty'. The Royal's official mag. After nearly five years in the UK I got bored reading it and sometimes I come to think I have been working hard and paying stupid amount of tax and have part of that money spent by someone who buys a bottle of Crystal every weekend or lavish her girl on a trip to Seychelles while with the Army. So you got the picture there. nahhhh

Back to today's find. Of course, I am always fascinated with what ring his Highness is sporting and have thought must be LM or D. Then popped LV...Oh yes, he was wearing LV shoes so must looked at their site and voila!

The new Damier Mosaique Collection came out. Apparently this was meant to be out in Spring just the right time for Cosmos May edition. Here are the pictures of the rings and the rest. You can get it from LV's site or chase it at the store near you. In my case the Internet after winning lottery ;-).

My Bae Movie Premiere

I suppose this is the result after exploring the features of my laptop. I hope you like it. It's my first Bae movie. Enjoy!

Bessa who?

Remember this camera YJ used in his secret visit to Japan? I thought it was a new generation of Box Brownies. While surfing the net I saw a photo similar to this one in the Amateur Photographer site and the camera is called Voigtländer Bessa III. It's actually available in Japan and will be launched in the UK next month. Robert White the leading distributor of cameras and accessories have only ordered 20 units. Its retail price will be £1900, cheaper than the Leica. So what's good about this camera apart from its vintage look? It has a mechanism that switch between film formats, 6x7 cm to 6x6cm. It has the capacity to produce very high quality picture and comes with an 80 mm f/3.5 and powered with a CR2 lithium battery.It's known in Japan as GF670. Below are the key features.

Type: 6 x 7 type rangefinder folding camera
Film format

6 x 7 and 6 x 6 by selector switch
6 x 7 size: 56 x 69mm6 x 6 size: 56 x 56mm
Film
120 or 220 roll film
Frames
6 x 7 size: 120 – 10 shots, 220 – 20 shots
6 x 6 size: 120 – 12 shots 220 – 24 shots
Lens
HELIAR 3,5/80mm6 elements in 4 groupsAngle of view: 6 x 7 size = 57°Angle of view: 6 x 6 size = 53°
Focusing -Manually controlled helicoid
Focusing range- 0,9 m – inf.
Finder
Coincidence type rangefinder with bright frame and automatic parallax correction.
Macro ratio-X 0,7
Diopter correction
Eyepiece diopter (19mm tread) can be screwed on.
Indicators in view finder
LED- Aperture Priority Auto Mode and properly set shutter speed indicator lit. - Manual exposure mode- Battery consumptoin warning
Shutter
Electronically controlled lens shutter. Shutter speed 4s – 1/500 sec.
Exposure control
Center weighted average metering. Exposure compensation: +/- 2 by 1/3 steps
Film speed
Manually set. ISO25 – 3200 by 1/3 steps
Film winding
By film advance dial
Film counter
Additive type with auto reset, automatically switched to 120 or 220 type synchronized with film type selector switch on film pressure plate.
Battery
X1 CR2 Lithium battery
Size
178mm x 109mm x 138 mm or 64mm (closed)
Weight
1,000g

So you think it's the same camera? I'm not surprise if it is..

Source: Robert White & Amateur Photographer

flaming kitchen

Why were we seated in the sofa spending our evening watching "Hell's Kitchen" when we're both on a 'watch what you eat situation'? I know, my sentiments exactly but it may have a bizarre name, this program is hosted by a 3 Star Michelin chef Marco Pierre White. I don't know much about this man until I watched the last episode of HK tonight. He was apparently the first youngest Brit to receive the stars at the age of 33. Prominent celebrity chefs such as Gordon Ramsey and Heston Blumenthal were one of his staffs.

The show seem to be a bit mild compared to Ramsay's version in the past. Although White already looked wicked, bad-tempered but didn't notice ill words from him.
HK makes you want to go out and enjoy fine dining. You obviously have to pay a bit more to experience heavenly food. The program's aim was to find the best cook among the celebs and this year's winner is Linda Evans.

Overall, I enjoyed watching at least the finale..to watch some clips please click here.

Cosmo bits and pieces

mmhhh found these videos in You Tube..BYJ's new style eh..still cute and adorable. Thanks to Haruka and Koriataunn for the videos.