Can’t really say I love the country…but I can definitely say I like the country. Lovely weather, lovely people, lovely food…just a bit too costly the living…
Souvenir brought back from Perth visit.
Celebrating my beloved wife, Lydia’s birthday…
First, I created a banner for her, posted up at ShaShinKi on the 11th May 2012.
http://shashinki.com/images/birthday/lydiabirthday2012.jpg
Second, I bought a birthday cake. Secret Recipe Chocolate and Strawberry cake. Megumi’s favorite. 
Megumi’s loves strawberry, and later only she realized that the cake she chose does not have strawberry on top. Too late to change, so I told her we will go get a pack of fresh strawberries, better than those sugar coated smallberries on cake.
See Lydia putting the BIG Strawberries on the cake.
Third, I bought a small present for her. A wrist bracelet.
Fourth, we celebrate together and enjoy the cakes.
The excited Megumi!
Lighting up the candles…(hey…don’t count!)
Family photo
Happy Birthday, my dearest!
My third Petrol pump, RM145.50 for Primax 97, 50.174 Litre at RM2.90 per litre, 25 April 2012.
Yeah…expensive. Each full tank can last me around 550km. 26.45 cents per km. Hmm…expensive.
10.96 Litre / km. Hmm…costly.
Pump every 2 weeks, so still quite ok.
The car manual said the car will only starts showing actual consumption after 2000km drive. So will see how…
Bad News…I found two chips on my car windows. One left, one right. 
Good News…my windows didn’t break or crack but just chipped.
(The above image is just for illustration purpose only…not the one I encountered today…credit to http://wn.com/grass_cutting)
I already tried to avoid when seeing those grass cutter. Stop at far, still…unlucky got the stone flies to my car. I only hear stone hitting sound, didn’t go down to check until I got home.
Next time have to reverse 100m away!!!
A family shot.
First shot, Emmanuel smiling…
Another shot…Megumi smiling…
Took over 30 shots, burst using my D3s. 
Just finished a buffet lunch with my family at Grand Paragon Hotel, Johor Bahru.
Not lot of variety, but the food is nice and delicious. The very few buffet place in Johor that my wife and I will return for more.
Asked one of the waitress to help snapping.
Megumi just love Orange! Or anything that is SOUR!
My first plate…
After an hour of fest…we are almost done. Taking the “tea”…
If you wonder what camera I used above to have such effect…
Nikon D3s + Nikon AFD 16mm F2.8 Fisheye Lens. Very interesting lens, great on full frame and I have a lot of fun with it!
Hahaa…not that he can turn now, but he can head up!
We turn him chest down, and he can head up to see us. 3 Months old…he is quite strong.
(Every parents think that their babies are always the strongest, cutest, smartest…etc., while others are just shitty smelly naughty monters…)
Megumi was accidentally caught by the power gate today.
We thank God that she is fine, unharmed. Thank you Lord for protecting her.
Megumi was so scared, and we thank God that she has faith in God, and she prayed to God to save her. Her faith is even bigger than ours. Pure, sincere faith. Just like what Jesus said in the Bible, we (adults) should have the faith like a child in order to enter heaven. Megumi’s believe is from the bottom of her heart, and she really believes it!
Thank you Lord.
(Megumi is a Japanese word, which means Grace, the gift from God.)
Have a family shot today…
Took by my mum
This one took by me…
Close up of Emmanuel
My little princess. Cute hair style.
Nikon 85mm f1.4 lens is often referred to as the “Portrait Lens”. An ultimate lens for whoever wants to do best portrait shots.
But…is it truly needed? Can you actually shoot at F1.4?
Having the chance to test out the AFS 85mm F1.4 lens today, so I did some family shots. What can be more meaningful taking your own family member’s shots than others? 
The purpose of owning a 85mm F1.4 lens is to use the F1.4 aperture, instead of stopping down to F2.8 or F4 or even F5.6…but of course a faster lens does help brighten up the viewfinder of your camera, making shooting more fun.
So…I did some shots with aperture set at F1.4, just to test out how sharp the lens is…and how possible it is to use such shallow aperture in portrait shots.
This is one of the shot that I took. Focus is on Lydia’s eye on the left.
This is 100% crop.
To be frank, I am surprised by the sharpness the lens produced, and of course thanks to the D3S great focus module that is able to keep the subject in focus!
I have owned and tried several others Nikon 85mm lens. Eg. AFD 85mm F1.4, AFD 85mm F1.8, AIS 85mm F1.4, AIS 85mm F2. I have sold them all, as I find the those lenses were too long when use on 1.5x cropped sensor, and is very difficult to keep up with the focus / sharpness in actual shot.
Focused on Emmanuel’s eye on the right, but as he kept moving…so is a bit hard to shoot. Anyhow, the camera and lens still able to freeze the motion.
Another shot with Megumi doing her homework.
Thanks to the AFS motor (Silent Wave), the lens focus fast, silent and accurately on my D3S. I have to mention D3S here as different camera will have different AF performance. Also, on D3S, the true 85mm focal length is materialized, and a true KING of portrait lens is shown.
Though just a brief testing with the lens, I must say I am impressed. My thought of 85mm F1.4 impossible to use has now changed, and I shall enjoy shooting more at F1.4 if I owned this lens in future.
My mum taking care of Emmanuel during Sunday service.
He is a good boy…sleeping soundly… (no sound actually)
I like how the pillars framing the shot, while the light from the window still able to light up Megumi’s face perfectly.
I like the expression as well.
Using Nikon D3s, the camera is able to focus at no time and capture the moment.
Starbuck said it was my lucky day today…I ordered one Green Tea Frappuccino and they gave me another cup for free (I end up drinking Java Chip).
(Use Cloudy white balance to purposely give the warm moody feel as in Starbuck environment.)
Megumi’s mum just bought a bright red umbrella, so I asked Megumi for some photo session…and of course getting some fresh air in the garden instead of watch TV all day long…
Another shot with the umbrella…
Later my mum brought Emmanuel out for a walk…for the first time…joining Megumi for the photo session…and boy…Emmanuel seems excited!
Emmanuel was first time outside in the garden.
Then we called their mother out to join us… (my mother as photographer…see! D3s can also be handled by a newbie!)
Lydia and Emmanuel…
Megumi joining the shot…
My mother and Emmanuel…
My mother, Megumi and Emmanuel.
After bath…can you see the bird?
Sleepy?
Feel fresh after bath…good mood…
Another angle…
Must have Megumi as well…
Emmanuel at bath…very identical to Megumi at bath years ago!
This is Emmanuel
This is Megumi
Finally, the long awaited Nikon D800 has been announced.
The most obvious improvement that people see is the new 36MP resolution that the camera is able to deliver. Yes 36MP, that’s the highest pixel count in any 35mm format DSLR that has been announced to date. (Canon 5D Mark III shall have similar if not larger sensor announcing soon)
I just bought a Nikon D3s, a 12MP camera. For the price I paid for the D3s, I could have gotten myself a brand new D800 (estimated to be around RM9k+), and still have plenty of change for a spare battery and perhaps a battery grip. Yeah, I paid good price (in seller’s shoe) for the D3s for its pristine condition (except the battery, which does not last very long. I am going to get a new replacement battery, which costs over RM400 for the battery alone.).
So, did I regret the D3s purchase or should I give up the D3s and wait for the D800? I am not sure, not 100% sure. I don’t have the regret feeling in my heart at the moment, as I am enjoying the D3s a lot. On the other hand, I do feel excited about the D800, especially the 36MP resolution.
As an owner of D700 previously, I am doubting the performance of D800, is it going to be better than the D4 (or D3s)? Is Autofocus going to be as fast as the D3s and as responsive as the D3s? Although the D800 is using the same AF sensor module as the D4 (just like D700 using the same AF sensor module as D3s), I don’t think they will perform the same. I know the D700 and D3s are still miles different in actual performance. I get much higher success rate (sharp focus) on D3s than on D700, and I do feel that D3s mirror damping is not as strong as D700, hence creating less vibration in the camera especially at 1/30s, 1/15s shutter speed.
Needless to say, the 36MP resolution in D800 is lucrative. I am sure those D4 potential buyers are torned in between as well. You want higher MP count or the single digit Nikon Pro body? With D700 versus D3 previously, buyer at least does not have unbalance emotional feel as there is no obvious advantage in D700 over D3/s except the smaller size (and cheaper price). Now, what do you want to do with the 36MP resolution? The biggest photo that I have printed (family photos) is just 24R, shot using my previous D200 with 12MP resolution. No problem and still very nice result. Of course, it could be better if shot with a higher resolution DSLR, but I am very satisfied with the result so far. I might have a different say if I have a 36MP file to print the similar size family photo.
Till then, I think I shall continue to enjoy my D3s, more family shots, and dream less. Maybe a D4x later…a pro body in D4 nutshell but a 36MP sensor.
(Just took the shot in the evening at my house’s garden…)
Yeah…finally the D3s is safe to keep…
Lydia:”I don’t care what ca(t)mera it is…so long that it can shoot me slim slim…then it is a good ca(t)mera.”
The 15th Day of Chinese New Year, always considered as an important day among Chinese as well. A gathering day among family members.
Today, yes we have good meal too. My mother and wife and maid have been cooking since morning. Viola! Below is the result.
There are soup and dessert that I did not shot.
Megumi has been wearing very nice shirt of her on this important day. Yes, bought purposely for CNY celebration.
Her little brother, Emmanuel, is tired…so we didn’t change his cloth…but let him wear the usual home wear…
After I took the above shot, their mum said want to be included as well…so there come the shot below…
Lunch time! On the right is Janice (wife of Alvin). Alvin is babysitting his daughter, while I am holding the camera so not in the shot.
After lunch, we have some time in the living room. Took a few shots of Alvin’s family. Two shots that I think are nice.
(Janice, baby Audrey and Alvin)
Then Alvin helped us to take some of our family shots (Emmanuel not inside as he was sleeping in the room).
My mother
Happy Chap Goh Meh! Happy Reunion with your love one!
Take note of her ribbon.
Not easy to take photo of children…have to concentrate on just that few seconds…don’t leave your eye from the viewfinder…and finger on the shutter release…press press press…
See…no more…
Almost wake up, but still at sleep…
Back to sleep…Sweet dream?
DSLR sound is too loud even during focusing…so I stop shooting and let him went to sleep again…
Since I now carry my MacBook Air to work and back home most of the time, so I have to force learning to use another photo editing software in Mac instead of waiting till I got to my office and use my favorite Paint Shop Pro in Windows to do editing.
Many have been praising Adobe Lightroom so much, so I guess I won’t go wrong with that…and today, finally I have forced myself to learn some basic things on Lightroom. I didn’t even know how to “SAVE AS” photos from Lightroom to desktop and then upload to my blog!
Yeah…finally I can share some photos on my blog…
Some random shots that I took…
Emmanuel Koh
Megumi breakfasting…
Lydia…(she said finally my D3s purchase is worthwhile…)
Ok, more to learn and share later…
Megumi is now in Kindergarten 1, so everyday will have some homework to be finished.
Of course, Lydia is the guardian for Megumi homeworking…since she is smarter than I (I am sure she is going to read this later…)
Always happy on the start…
Very energetic…
Start to feel the challenge…
Need some assistance from mum…
Mum’s lips start longering already…
Now Megumi’s mouth longering…
Megumi:”hh..h…”
Finally…as usual-lah…
(All photo above are taken with Nikon AFS 28-70mm F2/8 Lens + D3s, except the last photo with a AF 28-100m lens… )
With my new toy…I got excited and mood to shoot again…
The shot was taken on a D3s + Nikkor AF 24mm F/2.8D lens.
1/30s, f/2.8, ISO 1250
A full frame view
Very sharp and clean image even at 100% view. No color shift and all detail retains. The above is original shot without any editing or sharpening.
A bit of processing and you will have an attractive color, contrast and sharpness.
More shots in the same series…(Sorry for the yellowish downlight)
Going to try with WB correction later.
I guess this is the first time I blog about shoe…
I have been wearing my last pair of shoe for quite a few years. I can’t remember for how long already…but my wife and mum said definitely more than 2 years old…and they said I should have changed one for a long time already…as the shoe really looks old and O.L.D…
Not that I don’t want to change, but I just didn’t found one to my liking. I have thought about Clark shoe…as I think I like the design of Clark…but there is no one nearby me to shop. Jusco is the only place where I shop for shoe…and the choices are limited.
Few days ago I saw one that caught my eyesight.
Interesting rainbow light band, and no string type (I don’t like to sit down to tie the string…). I like the leather colour too (slight greenish). The sales girl said got ONE YEAR warranty…haha…first time I heard shoe also got warranty. Of course, that comes with a price…RM419 before discount (20%), and final price is RM335.20. I should have bought it on the night I saw the shoe, then I would have gotten an extra 5% discount in Jusco voucher (didn’t know that). But of course, I was with my Megumi and mum shopping late at night, so was in a rush and not in mood to try out shoe.
I came back to Jusco the next day to buy the shoe. Valentino Rudy.
(my mother said is ugly…my wife just smile…Megumi said the other black shinning one is better…I guess we all have different taste… )
Who’s birthday? Me!
Megumi is seeking for permission from mother to blow the candle. Lydia:”There you blow!”
Happy blowing!
Smoky!
Time to cut the cake…
Lydia:”Let me try…”
“Yummy!”…is Secret Recipe Black Forest cake.
Happy birthday to me! I am happy when my family are happy.
Thank God, our new baby, Emmanuel Koh, born on the 25th December 2011.
My mother came from Miri, Sarawak, to Johor to help taking care of my wife and Emmanuel, and also Megumi.
Yeah, she is busy cooking for my wife. We Chinese believe that women after labor should rest and eat properly for at least 30 days.
Visiting wife at the “hospital”…private clinic actually.
This is Emmanuel at home…9 Days Old…
Emmanuel:”Hi…”
