Flashback in Stills

Used to have this traditional of selecting representative photos and collating a montage for each personal travel trips I've been to, starting from 2005.  Still do and the photo count is now up to 30.  Only trips OUT OF SINGAPORE counts, so sentosa or sister island or Ubin I'm sorry.  It's not easy selecting the best photos out of a bunch of fantabulous ones and takes time and effort.

Used to, once long time ago, post an annual update of the montages for the past year on my blog.  Then I got sloppy, as I do always once in a while.  I promise I shall try to live up to the expectation and tradition.  I can't really go back too far in time now, but I'll start with 2012.  Better late than never.  There were many firsts in 2012.  Once again only personal vacation trips included, which means trips out of my weekends on business trips would not turn into my photo montage collection (that would be too much work!)

The year started with a bang which was my first ever Skication in Japan!  Whatever led me to agree to skiing?  Beats me.  Especially when you are looking and talking to an ultimate beach babe.

First Ski-perience in Japan

Then it cumulated to a FUNtastic trip across Sabah where I finally, after years of telling myself, scaled to the top of Mt Kinabalu!  All without prior training!

Where I finally conquered Mt Kinabalu

Then once again, I seek solace and fun and a reflection on my year end trip (which kinda has become a ritual for the past 5 years).  Had a fantastic time getting high and drunk on NYE.

Epic year end trip to end a tumultous year

 

I hope 2013 brings about a new flash of light in my life.  So far I have 2 GREAT montages.  Sitting here writing this, my mind is racing through a jumble of thoughts about what MAY lay ahead of me.  HeHeHe... It may potentially be LEGEN...wait for it...DARY! High 5! Self High 5!  Or it may just be.............

Photos from Lx3

Ok, tested the camera in Australia, mainly along Manly Beach @ Sydney. Not going to say terrific, cos i'm still getting used to manual settings, and trying to adjust the ISO, shutter speed, aperture n stuff, but i'm pretty satisfied with the end results. With more practice & reading up & testing, i should be able to take better photos! Of cos it can't compare to DSLR, but not as bad la..

A few photos to share with you guys!

Picture speaks a thousand words, so i shall not elaborate, but i kinda like them... Of cos not as pro as those really professional photog using dslr, but good enuff for a semi-dslr camera... Keep working on it! ANyone with a tripod to donate to me??

I got Lumix LX3!!

Yes, finally, after so many months of talking talking talking, i finally got it! LUmix LX3. Yes, after much deliberation, it's still LX3. Too many good reviews to let go! The only thing is, i didnt get a brand new one. I got it 2nd hand from a fren, for $590. Well, he bought it for less than 1 year and used abt 5 times, so still a pretty good deal! Throw in a few freebies like extra batt, camera case, cleaning kit (prob not gg to use on the camera, maybe on laptop) & pretty good to go! $10 discount given for replacing the 8gd with 4gd SD card cos he cldnt find it haha but well good enuff! I actually have a micro sd card of 8gd which i can plug into the SD holder and use for my camera!!

Got loads to start reading abt on the use of the camera, the functions etc so I can fully utilize the functions, of cos to my amateur standards la.. Not a pro anyway but gota make use of the camera else I'll just stick to IA (Intelligent Auto) all the time & defeats the purpose of getting the camera...

Australia shall be my 1st guinea pig to try out the camera. Hope I can use it to reasonable effect & standard & take some good pictures!! Going to try the night scenery, must rem to bring tripod.

Mirror Mirror On The Wall, Which Camera Should I Purchase??

Camera dilemna! So i've been thinking abt upgrading my camera, which is a 4yr old LUmix 'Dono which model', 'Dono what pixel' camera. Well it's abt time actually, cos as much as my old handy Lumix camera is still very usable & some great pictures came out of it (courtesy has to be given to the photographer as well! Hey, it takes good eye to capture good photos!), the specs r not as good as can be! I mean, photo quality can be very much improved with a much better camera specs - like higher ISO, more shutter speed choices, etc etc...

So, after seeing how much a new n improved version of LUmix camera can do (LX3), the thought of upgrading my camera arose & has been lingering in my mind.. So there comes the problem! I'm not camera expert. I can read reviews, but hey, it's really really tough to sieve through thousands of reviews & make a decision based on that! Some of the terms r way too technical to understand how they help or be a disadvantage to users!

But after much research & surfing, I sorta shortlisted 3 candidates... The chosen one COULD very well be from these 3, but who knows! Maybe a dark dark horse may emerge victorious!!

Hereby presenting the Top 3 (or could possibly drop out of the race..who knows)

Camdate No 1

Canon Powershot S90

Camdate No 2

Lumix GF1

Camdate No 3

Lumix LX3

Ok by No means does bigger picture implies preference. It's juz how it was saved. After searching, these are the 3 i sorta took a closer look.

Camdate 1 is Canon, which is a good brand, & i heard some good reviews abt it. It's Powershot but it is rather compact for a powershot. I hated those bulky powershot with damn small screen but this looks sleek & nice! N it has other colours, most notably RED!!! Quite a no of functions, & good specs also. Reasonable price for Canon so makes a good deal.

Camdate 2 is DSLR-ish. & it has a sleek body for DSLR!! Yes, u can attach lens to it but not too sure abt how versatile it is as a DSLR. Maybe need to find out more. Or if any of u have more information to provide, pls do!!! But this camera is bloody expensive! It's costs almost 1500sgd!! For such a small camera & sorta DSLR-ish, it's rather expensive. But reviews have been great & it comes in RED too!! Hey, i'm into the colour stuff, makes camera more interesting, rather than sticking to plain old BLACK. See, even font colour is just black & nth else! Functions wise, it's bter than Camdate 1, since it's DSLR-ish. Looks good on paper & certifications, but pricey.

Camdate 3 is a hybrid bet point & shoot & DSLR-ish. It's a useful camera for the progression in between. My fren was using this when we went to Aussie & it looks good! With quite a no of manual functions, good ISO settings & shutter speed & aperture. Wow i sound pro (but i'm not really pro). Reasonable price as well! I think comparable to Camdate 1 too! But it only comes in BLACK & SILVER, which are rather bland colours.. Ok I can't choose colour for the word SILVER cos there arent any! Damn, if only they come in pink or champagne or red... But overall this is a good camera for pro-wanables & good pricing...

So then what? Seems like i'm verring towards Camdate 3, but I really like Camdate 2 as well. If only it's not tt expensive. Camdate 1 is good for a point & shoot, then so, gota think hard what I really want right now!..

Voters? Advice? Lobangs? Cheap deals?? I accept all!!

Photo Montages 2007

Happy New year readers!! My 1st entry in 2008, and the 113th post since 1st incorporation!!! What am I going to blog about? Ha, cos I was just too bored at work, I decided to do sth productive and at the same time try to decorate my workstation! Yes, finally I have my own workstation it's so cool! So I have to TRY to decorate it to reward myself!

So what's the product of wanting to decorate my workstation and being too bored at work?? The idea of creating photo montages for the year 2007! N what best subject than travel photos! Yes, 2007 is a year of travels! Been to TOO MANY places as compared to previous years - Bangkok, KL, Vietnam, Cambodia, LA, San Diego, SF, San Jose, Perhentian and Gunung Belumut in M'sia. So once pumped in the oil, the engine just started to keep rolling until everything is complete and finally after about 1week, I have completed all!

9 in total, cos I split some travels into two montages (just too many photos to choose from) and I did an overall photo montage for some occassions and events that happened in 2007.

Hereby, I present, My hardwork - Photo Montages 2007:

1st trip of the year Gunung Belumut to climb mountain

Diving trip to Perhentian - Got my Advanced licence and made great friends (Best & Angie)

1st family trip in a LONG time to KL

2nd Diving trip to Perhentian (I love the place man)

1st business trip in my 3.5years - LA!! Cool rite!

My most ambitious 3 week backpacking trip part 1 - Vietnam

Part 2 - Cambodia

2nd business trip to US again - SF this time! Great place man!

Review of 2007 - Some of the happy events and occassions I was involved (CNY, farewell, birthday, weddings to name a few)

So that's the end of my story in 2007. Interesting photo montages? I hope u guys like it. It took alot of effort & determination to complete it once started hahahha and I'm glad I persevered through. What's for 2008? Who knows?!?! Keep posted!!

My Brand New Camera

Yes I have finally got my own camera!! Lumix Fx3..with 2 1GB sd card and extra battery thrown in!

So why not the new model? Cos i realise that i should not waste excessive money when all i need is a basic camera. 6mp is fine enough for me. I don't need extra features so why not save that $200 and spend it on some other things.

So happy!! Got my camera, and my oakley sunglasses will arrive in Nov. Oh and I got a brand new bikini for the diving trip.

Next up i want to get Nokia 6280.

Oh man, I am so BROKE!!

Hmm, anyone wana get this handphone for me as a birthday gift???

I shall start packing for my Phuket diving trip..So looking forward to it. Take off on Friday 27 Oct.