Night Traffic

I live near a bridge that overlooks a highway. On my way back home the other day, decided to take night pictures of the traffic. So this is how it turns out.

Long exposure due to the slow shutter speed creates the light streaks of the passing vehicles. A polarizer is always attached to my camera lens so it helps to slow down the shutter speed about 2 F stop. There is lots of room for improvement. If the camera is mounted on a tripod and even slower shutter speed is used, longer light streaks can be created. I will try that next time.

Till next post, have a great day!

 

Camera Setting : Scene Selection

Most cameras today, even the compacts, have a scene selection mode for taking pictures like sunset, landscape, night portrait and landscape, sports, fireworks, etc. This really helps when you are in a hurry and makes it easier in taking photographs.

So what if the actual scene looks rather dull? Any way to make it better? Well, there are some ways.

Yesterday, I posted sunset photos at Serangoon River, Lorong Halus Wetland. The actual colour of the scenery is rather like this picture.

Grey clouds blanketed the top half of the horizon except for a thin ribbon of golden rays on the lower frame. Technical specs :

Aperture : F11
Shutter : 1/60 secs
White Balance : Auto
Picture Mode : Natural
Exposure : 0
ISO : 400
Saturation : +1

But when the camera was selected to Sunset, this is the result :

Technical specs :
Aperture : F6.3
Shutter : 1/125 secs
Picture Mode : Vivid
White Balance : 6000k
Exposure : -0.7 EV
ISO : 100
Saturation : +2

Not easy to remember the setting when you are lost in the moment trying to capture the picture. Which is why I think the scene selection modes in the camera settings are fantastic!

Not all is lost when the the sky is rather dull. If there is some sliver or glow of light somewhere, just aim the camera in that direction and see how best to capture the image by selecting the right setting.

Have fun shooting!

 

Changing Colors of Sunset

Photographing sunset is one of the most popular things to do in any environment, be it rural or urban landscape. As we all know, the difference in the hues and brilliance of sunset is the amount of light that shines through. Clouds either diffuse the lighting or enhance it, depending on the weather conditions.

Be there at the right place and right time, voila, a photographic moment is recorded for prosperity. The initial light can be rather muddy but then again, sometimes the light change suddenly.

This is a picture of the sunset taken yesterday, on the other side of the Serangoon River. The actual scene was actually much brighter. I selected the Sunset scene mode to capture the warm colors. It was a very cloudy day and the true colors on scene was rather dull.

I waited for another 15 minutes but there was no change in the light conditions so decided to cross the bridge and watched the fibre optic lights on the other side.

About 15 minutes of sitting and watching the lights but not much had changed. It was time to head back. Walking back, I still had the camera in my hands. Suddenly, red streaks appeared in the sky on my right side. Unfortunately I was not at the best location to capture the moment. Trees blocked the view. The red streaks was only there for about 2 minutes, then it was gone.

As comparison, this was the sunset taken on 21 May 2011.

Sunset at Jalan Halus Wetland, Serangoon River

So no two days are the same. If anybody is keen on taking sunset photography at this place, a few tips :

• Best location to take sunset pictures at Lorong Halus Wetland is to cross the bridge
• Be there latest around 6.30pm
• It takes about 15 minutes walking to reach the bridge from the staircase at the Boardwalk
• Sunset is about 7pm
• It lasts for a while, don’t be in a hurry to go before 7.30pm

Related posts on Lorong Halus Wetland

Night Landscape at Lorong Halus Wetland
Fishing at Lorong Halus

Enjoy the scenery!

 

Fishing at Lorong Halus

Last Saturday I was at the Lorong Halus Wetland. Visited the place again today for another look. This time ventured a little further to the dam and see the scenery beyond. There were people fishing there, at the other side of the dam, facing Pulau Ubin coastline. This place was very popular with fishing buddies even before the place was reconstructed into a wetland. There was also a tar road which I suspected led to Pasir Ris because I saw people coming from there.

The Serangoon River has been dammed and is now a reservoir. Don’t think fishing is allowed here. Certainly did not see people fishing there. Instead, people were fishing on the other side of the dam as shown in the second and third photos. On the horizon is Pulau Ubin coastline. I was just there about two weeks ago.

To reach here, cross the red bridge at the Lorong Halus Wetland. Turn left, follow the gravel path. There is no lights here so walk, jog or cycle here only when there is sufficient daylight. Slipper, flips flops and heels are not suitable for walking. Try track or running shoes instead. Certain sections can be muddy due to the rain. Walking distance is about 15-20 minutes from the red bridge.

How to get here

By Bus and MRT, LRT

From Sengkang Interchange, take bus 83. Stop at Riviera LRT station. For those taking MRT, stop at Punggol MRT, switch to LRT and alight at Riviera. Walk pass the temple and you are on the way to Lorong Halus Wetland.

By Walking from Sengkang

Between Rivervale Drive (near Blk 187B) and Punggol (near Blk 116), there is a pedestrian bridge over the TPE. Cross the bridge, pass the basketball court, turn right, walk straight along the school fence. Cross the road and walk along the pedestrian walkway. Cross another road and you can see the temple from here. Head there. There is another way at the other end of Rivervale Drive, nearer to Rivervale Plaza, along the river. The place is still boarded but a section is open but there is no lights installed yet.

Have fun on the nature walk. Enjoy the peace and quiet.

 

Rainy Friday Afternoon

Well I brought my camera along to work hoping to shoot bright blue sky in the afternoon. Alas, the weather had a change of direction and grey skies appeared instead. No matter, make the most of what nature offers, I thought. So here are images of a rainy and cloudy afternoon in Singapore, Marina Square and Raffles Boulevard area.

Suntec City Convention Center

Memorial Park and City Hall

Marina Square

Raffles Boulevard

 

Landscape or Portrait?

How do you prefer your shot? In landscape format or portrait format?

Twilight at Lorong Halus Wetland

I used to like photographing images in horizontal or landscape modes. But lately since I noticed something, I tend to take pictures by tilting the camera vertically instead.

Why?

Because looking at the viewfinder, I find that pictures taken that way capture the richness and hue of the scenery a whole lot closer to the actual scene than when taken horizontally. And post processing takes lesser time in getting the best result.

Somehow I think when taking pictures vertically or framing a photo in the portrait mode, a photographer is forced to focus more deeply in getting depth and perspective of the scenery as best as can be. Also, I think the camera sensor is being made to read more contrasting lights from the bottom frame to the top frame and somehow make the best of the lighting conditions.

But ultimately, composition is key to any picture I think, be it horizontally or vertically.

 

Waterfall

Since I blogged about waterfalls in the last post, how about another picture of a waterfall? This was taken way back in February this year. At the Merlion Park, Sentosa, there are various waterfalls to photograph.

I just like the peek-a-boo rays of lights on the left frame. Photographing waterfalls are very tricky if there is no tripod. I just used whatever is available on scene. For this photo, I just placed the camera on the metal railing and hold it as steady as can be.

If facing the sun, it is important not to point the camera directly at the sun or point upwards. Bound to have flares, or worst, damage the camera sensors. On a hot day, try to shoot underneath the canopy of trees instead. It helps to diffuse the bright lighting at times.

Till next post, have a great day ahead!

 

Waterfalls at Jurong Bird Park

It has been a really long time since I was at the Jurong Bird Park. About two weeks ago, I was there mainly to take photos of the waterfalls there. It was a really hot day and glare was apparent. Did the best to minimise it by darkening the pictures.

The first picture was taken near the entrance at the flamingoes enclosure. The main attraction of the Jurong Bird Park, in my opinion, is the man-made waterfall in the aviary. Birds are free to roam at leisure and the cooling sprays of the waterfall is a welcome sight from the heat.

Waterfalls are always a delight to see and photograph.

Mini Waterfall at Flamingos Section

Waterfall at Jurong Bird Park

 

Night Landscape at Lorong Halus Wetland

Nature Trail in North-East Singapore

The Lorong Halus Wetland and the Riverside Walk of the Punggol Promenade was officially opened on 5 March 2011. Finally, we had a chance to see it last Saturday.

Lorong Halus used to be a landfill. Now a portion of it is a wetland greenery for the public to get close to nature. The Serangoon River has been dammed to be a reservoir and a red bridge has been built to get across the Lorong Halus Wetland. There are walking tracks and cycling tracks that connects to other park connectors around Singapore so it is a fun and peaceful place for exercise.

We walked from our place and reached there around 6pm. It was crowded during the weekends. There are several eating places here so it is a great place for a family gathering to enjoy the peace and tranquility of nature. These are twilight and night landscapes.

Next time, I will come earlier for a different point of view and to read up more of the information boards here. And I need a bicycle!

How to get here

By Bus and MRT, LRT

From Sengkang Interchange, take bus 83. Stop at Riviera LRT station. For those taking MRT, stop at Punggol MRT, switch to LRT and alight at Riviera. Walk pass the temple and you are on the way to Lorong Halus Wetland.

By Walking from Sengkang

Between Rivervale Drive (near Blk 187B) and Punggol (near Blk 116), there is a pedestrian bridge over the TPE. Cross the bridge, pass the basketball court, turn right, walk straight along the school fence. Cross the road and walk along the pedestrian walkway. Cross another road and you can see the temple from here. Head there. There is another way at the other end of Rivervale Drive, nearer to Rivervale Plaza, along the river. The place is still boarded but a section is open but there is no lights installed yet.

Have fun on the nature walk. Enjoy the peace and quiet.

More pictures of Lorong Halus Wetland
Changing Colors of Sunset
Fishing at Lorong Halus
Landscape or Portrait?
Punggol Promenade – 3 Different Views
Helicopters in Flight
Early Morning at Lorong Halus Wetland
Sunset Sky
Reflection
Green Relection
Red Flowers
Camera Phone Photography – Fibre Optics Lights

Twilight at Lorong Halus Wetland

Colourful fibre optics "Lalang" at Jalan Halus Wetland

Red Bridge at Jalan Halus Wetland

Walking Trail at Jalan Halus Wetland

Sunset at Jalan Halus Wetland

 

Tropical Island Landscapes

When the weather cooperates and the sun shines so brightly, the landscapes around Singapore is shown at its best It really was a fantastic day last Tuesday with the most amazing cloud formations. Tropical island scenery as viewed from Pulau Ubin.