Philippine Scapes

Negros Island (Taken in Santander, Cebu)

Exposure Time: 1/125"
Exposure Program: Shutter Speed Priority

Aperture: F5.7

ISO: 200

White Balance: Auto

Tubigon, Bohol Wharf

(Special thanks to Nancy)

Exposure Time: 1/2000"
Exposure Program: Shutter Speed Priority

Aperture: F5.6

ISO: 100

White Balance: Auto

Purple Sky in Panglao, Bohol

Exposure Time: 1/10"
Exposure Program: Manual

Aperture: F3.5

ISO: 200

White Balance: Auto

The Terraces (@ Ayala Center Cebu) landscape

Exposure Time: 1/250"
Exposure Program: Auto

Aperture: F5.7

ISO: 180

White Balance: Auto

My Grandma's Flowers

APERTURE: F5.6

EXPOSURE PROGRAM: APERTURE PRIORITY

EXPOSURE TIME: 1/50"

ISO: 100

APERTURE: F5.6

EXPOSURE PROGRAM: MANUAL

EXPOSURE TIME: 1/60"

ISO: 200

APERTURE: F5.6

EXPOSURE PROGRAM: APERTURE PRIORITY

EXPOSURE TIME: 1/60"

ISO: 280

APERTURE: F5.6

EXPOSURE PROGRAM: MANUAL

EXPOSURE TIME: 1/60"

ISO: 200

DIY ND Filter Photo Result

final output.

shot taken with a do it your own ND filter.

Picture was taken on one sunny afternoon.

Shutter speed at 30 sec, F3.5

My DIY ND filter

Neutral Density Filters are used to take photos in slower shutter speeds during daytime. They are usually black and gray in color. These filters can block greater amount of sunlight to pass through the lens. In the market, they are named as ND2, ND4, ND8, etc. to understand these numbers further, you may click this link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neutral_density_filter

ND filter's prices' ranges from $20 to $100 depending on the brand and type of filter. The most commonly used is ND8 which transmits 12.5% of light into the lens. As for me i was eager to create my own ND filter first before buying an original one. The materials i used were: thick cardboard, number 11 welding glass and masking tape.

I took my first ND filter shot in a park near my place. To my surprise, a "greeny" filter effect across the photo was created. Final edit of the photo was made in adobe photoshop. afterall, i was happy with the result :-)

Sigma's 70-300 mm aint that bad

This is the Sigma 70-300 mm DG Macro (from: http://www.sigmaphoto.com/shop/70-300mm-f4-56-dg-macro-sigma)

My sample shot.

I have a sigma 70-300 mm DG Macro telephoto lens. Its maximum aperture is F4 and minimum is F5.6 and NO vibration reduction or image stabilizer. I bought this last April 2010 for only 185 US dollars or 8700 Philippine Pesos. I read some reviews for this lens and although most of them found this lens bad, i still bought it. Because its cheap.period. Not because of any other reasons. I have used this lens for 3 weddings and one photo contest already, and here's what i found out:

1. It works best on outdoor! I won the photo contest because of this! (My sample photo is the one next to the lens)

2. It is worst at night or areas with dim light (trust me). My remedy for this is, you should have a good flash.

3. Works best at higher shutter speed (80 and up!). Remember this lens don't have a VR or image stabilizer.

Count your clicks

I bought my d3000 last dec 10,2009 and my current shutter count is 11384!

count your clicks from : KUSO Exif Viewer 3.0

its just easy! follow these...

My Nikon D3000

i bought my nikon d3000 last december 10, 2009. I joined my first photo contest on january 2010 and won 8th place on one category. 1000 photographers joined that contest and its a very humbling experience that an amateur like me, would land on the 8th place! I joined my 2nd photo contest on feb, fewer photographers joined on this, and unfortunately i didnt make it.



April 2010 came and i joined my 3rd photo contest. and luckily, i won first place. So why i am sharing this to you? well, its like this, if you are really passionate about photography, then go for it! a low end camera model is not a hindrance in joining and winning these photo contests. just like me! i won 2/3 photo contests though i only have an entry level DSLR. i believe that to be a successful photographer, its not really MORE on the camera model but its MORE on passion-dedication-and-patience thing. so for my d3000, you rock my world!