Back to the Kalim surfing competition which happened a few weeks ago.  This is another attempt to get-to-grips with Dynamic Photo HDR software, which I've been having varying success with.

Back to the Kalim surfing competition which happened a few weeks ago.  This is another attempt to get-to-grips with Dynamic Photo HDR software, which I've been having varying success with.

Another shot from the Mingmongkol Buddha construction site.  This statue is integrated into the back of the main buddha image and, like yesterdays shot , I'm guessing this statue represents one of the buddha's students.   I should think this buddha will end-up gold plated and looking more like this one when complete.

Another shot from the Mingmongkol Buddha construction site.  This statue is integrated into the back of the main buddha image and, like yesterdays shot , I'm guessing this statue represents one of the buddha's students.   I should think this buddha will end-up gold plated and looking more like this one when complete.

I know my last entry was from the surfing competition and I said something like "more to follow"...  but I haven't had a chance to play around with Dynamic-Photo HDR to, 1) increase the image sizes (currently I can't create and HDR 's at a reasonable resolution) and 2) work-out why I'm getting so much grain in my results.  I've got as far as determining that these are common problems and there are...

I know my last entry was from the surfing competition and I said something like "more to follow"...  but I haven't had a chance to play around with Dynamic-Photo HDR to, 1) increase the image sizes (currently I can't create and HDR 's at a reasonable resolution) and 2) work-out why I'm getting so much grain in my results.  I've got as far as determining that these are common problems and there are solutions (nice to know).  So in the mean-time I'll revert to non-HDR photos from Phuket's Mingmongkol Buddha .  I've posted before from the construction site of this 45 metre marble buddha, but earlier this month I returned to get an update on the progress.  Now, I wish I knew what this bronze guardian type statue represents, but my ignorance on all things Buddhist is now apparent.  All I can say is that you can see the marble Mingmongkol in the background.  I'll endeavor to get some more information for my next post. UPDATE : I've just been informed that often a large Buddha image will be accompanied by (usually) five of the Buddha's best students, and this bronze statue is most probably one of those.

Phuket's biggest surfing competition is on over the weekend; the Kalim Surfing Contest 2008 . Today I managed to get a couple of hours watching the contest from the beach.  My lens wasn't suffice to capture any wave-riding action, but I managed to snap away a few beach shots before a monsoon rainstorm hit.  Here's a competitor heading into the storm for his session. UPDATE: I wasn't happy with the original HDR...

Phuket's biggest surfing competition is on over the weekend; the Kalim Surfing Contest 2008 . Today I managed to get a couple of hours watching the contest from the beach.  My lens wasn't suffice to capture any wave-riding action, but I managed to snap away a few beach shots before a monsoon rainstorm hit.  Here's a competitor heading into the storm for his session. UPDATE: I wasn't happy with the original HDR processing so I've just uploaded a new version of this photo.   

It was inevitable; everyone's doing it and I was going to do it too sooner or later.  HDR that is.  I woke surprisingly early and decided today was the day.  Tripod in hand I headed to my nearest beach, Bang Tao, and set about looking for a suitable scene to capture in HDR.  I had a basic understanding of what was needed; multiple exposures bracketed of the same scene.  I went about snapping away for an hour...

It was inevitable; everyone's doing it and I was going to do it too sooner or later.  HDR that is.  I woke surprisingly early and decided today was the day.  Tripod in hand I headed to my nearest beach, Bang Tao, and set about looking for a suitable scene to capture in HDR.  I had a basic understanding of what was needed; multiple exposures bracketed of the same scene.  I went about snapping away for an hour and then made my way back to the computer (via a breakfast stop).  I wasn't sure which bit of software to use, and in the end I went for Dynamic Photo HDR by Media Chance .  It's good.  Simple.  I had my first HDR image rendered in less than 15 minutes. Well, here it is.  My first HDR.  It's a house I drive past everyday and always wanted to photograph.  The result is really grainy though (even at this screen resolution), and I think I've found out why.  Until 5 minutes ago I wasn't aware my camera had auto exposure bracketing; a real useful feature.  So I'd been snapping away at second intervals and of course the wind blows and tree's and water move and when you put them all together there are discrepancies.  So now I know for next time.  I decided to post it anyway, and I'm positive I will be trying this some more.

I'm sure there are many great titles which could be applied to this photo, and this certainly isn't the greatest.  If anyone has a better suggestion, please comment. It was taken earlier this year on Koh Yao Noi ; a 30 min boat journey from Phuket.  Some friends and I were exploring the island on motorbikes for half a day when we came to this beach.  I didn't even notice the sunbather at first, but having just gone...

I'm sure there are many great titles which could be applied to this photo, and this certainly isn't the greatest.  If anyone has a better suggestion, please comment. It was taken earlier this year on Koh Yao Noi ; a 30 min boat journey from Phuket.  Some friends and I were exploring the island on motorbikes for half a day when we came to this beach.  I didn't even notice the sunbather at first, but having just gone through the shots from that day I found this one, cropped it and posted it to my blog.  Enjoy.

Here's the final installment from my shots of the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur.

Here's the final installment from my shots of the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur.

Here's another shot from my trip to Kuala Lumpur; a close-up of one of the Petronas Towers .

Here's another shot from my trip to Kuala Lumpur; a close-up of one of the Petronas Towers .