Sunset at Ko Chang Island

Photographer, especially those who into landscape, have special love for sunset, certaily I am among them, although I often say a photographer needs to be able to shoot just anytime of a day, whether it is noon time or midnight, that is, of course, if you need to shoot then you need to shoot.
The special about sunset is the subtle light and its warmth that is so attractive, not just on landscape but also on skin.  Into digital time, yes, some PS mater may say the effect can be reproudced, true, but then we are not talking about photography.
This one shot in a small island in Ko Chang area, with Canon 1D II, a compact yet powerful Canon EF 50/2.5 macro.

Again on Point of View

This is a studio image shot on the lovely Brazilian model, Myraya, using Canon 1Ds III and EF 50/1.2 L. Many photographer do not consider the 50mm on full-frame camera is a portrait lens, I disagree, and in fact 50mm is one of my most used lens for portrait, in or out of studio. Of course I don't disagree that the traditional 85mm, or 105mm or 135mm are good portrait lenses, I think all the lenses can potentially be portrait lenses, and I often use as wide as 28mm (and on some rare occasions use even woder lenses) for portrait, in fact one of my favorite portrait made on my mentor Si Chi Ko - a worldly known Taiwanese photographer, was a shot using Carl Zeiss Distagon 28/2 on RTS III back in those days still shoot films. This is often that the closest focus of a lens is typically related to the focal lenth of the lens in use, for example a typical 35mm lens its closest focusing distance is approx. 35cm, 50mm lens approx. 50cm, 85mm lens approx. 85cm, 135mm lens approx. 135cm. A wider lens allows photographer to get closer, and with shorter distance, the photographer also bring the viewer get close to the subect, often it is more compelling, and more dramatic. Certainly, the longer length also has its use, this is subjective matter, which is why I often say all the lens is potential a protrait lens.

Back on this image, the normal 50mm allow me to get close while able to fill the frame with Myraya's lovely posed body, and right amount of depth of field. Here again I lower myself to level myself with the model, for this powerful image.

More on Point of View

If my last post of image was not shot low enough, this one was. Still inside the pool, this time I lowered myself and camera to almost the surface of the water, and fired off to get this image, the surface of the water also help to reflect the artificial light so the luminance on the model's face is nice, as well as creating nice reflection on her face.
Still shot with my Canon 1Ds II with EF Macro 100/2.8, a MR-14 ring flash was also used, at the pool of Changburi Resort & Spa, Ko Chang, Thailand. I have mentioned many times shooting here, did I also mention the food here is also great?

Point of View

Focal length of a lens, its angle between the subject and photogrpaher and of couse the setting of the f stop - relationship between sharp and unsharp area, are some of the most fundamental elements of the pictorial compostion, besides the light, shadow and the position of the subject itself.

This image, capture with a Canon 1Ds II, and the trusty EF Macro 100/2.8 at a relatively close range, which means I will have to be inside the pool at the same time and keep myself low enough for this image. Shot in Changburi Resort & Spa of Ko Chang, Thailand (.... again), duirng a sunny day, in order to create the right subject and background luminance balance, a ring flash was use to light up the face of the model, the lovely Thai model - Gift, as well as reduce some contrast on her face, to arrive at this final image.

Rachel

A lovely model from República Dominicana, a true island girl. Perfect tanned skin and lean figure, a perfect model. I shot her using the Phase One P45 on Contax 645, mounted with my trusted Carl Zeiss Apo-Makro-Planar, for this image of beautiful Rachel. A totally relaxed pose, subtle impression yet revealing strong confidence, a display of true beauty.

Global Warming?

Nothing science about this post, just that when northern countires endure some of the harshest winter in recent memories, may be a picture from a hot day at tropical poolside will bring some warmth to where it was needed. Shot in the beautiful beach city, Krabi, south Thailand.

Happy 2010

Just came back from vocation, many thanks to Mr. Suchet Suwanmongkol and his kind arrangements - the proud owner of Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi, perhaps one of the best retreat in the world, located at the tourist hub of northern Thailand, the ancient capital of Lanna (millions rice fields) Kingdom - Chiangmai. I was tempted to start a blog about it, which shall be published very soon.

This is an image of once popular Thai actress, Rita Jensen, some may argue that she is still popular, either is right. My Phase One P25 on Contax 645 mounted with my favorite Carl Zeiss Apo-Plannar 120/4 for this image. I like the hair on the shoulder, which define the softness of shoulder, and the peiering look from her eyes.

Shoulder, one of the most negleted part of female body, soft, tender, characteristic or uncharacteristic......, besides hand, it is perhaps the first part of female body to be touched by a man.