After finally getting my Nikon D40x, I was determined to learn more about photography and ways to take better photographs. Even after taking thousands of photos with my now retired Panasonic DMC-FZ3 for the past three years, I realized that I still do not know much, if any about photography at all.
Take for instance the mode on the digital camera. Apart from taking “macro”, portraits, landscapes and some other preset modes, there are P, A, S and M. I have always shot in the P mode because that was what I was taught when I first got the digital camera. I never knew what the other modes do and what difference they make. I guess I wasn’t that enthusiastic to learn about them back then.
I have since joined ShutterAsia to learn more from the other shutter enthusiasts. There are many great tips and photos uploaded by the forum members that I find very interesting. When I was going through the forum looking for more information on the Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D lens, I notice a thread inviting members to participate in photography challenges. There will be a different challenge every month where cash vouchers and other prizes await the one who comes up with the best photo. This month’s theme is portrait.
I was very interested to join the challenge but hesitated in doing so knowing that it would be a head on collision between Kancil and Mercedes-Benz. After considering the idea for a while, I decided to take up the challenge anyway. It wasn’t for the prizes but to challenge myself to experiment and learn more about taking presentable photos.
The rule of the challenge is that the submitted photo must be taken within the challenge period (1 November to 25 November). I went to the beach and my local mini zoo to take some photos last weekend. There are two photos that I am quite happy with. Thankfully, the organizers mentioned that portraits of animals are acceptable. This is my submission to the challenge.
The photo above was taken at the Teluk Cempedak beach. I spent around 10 minutes taking over a dozen photos of monkeys at close range. The monkeys were hanging over my head only a few feet away. I was worried that one of them may suddenly decide to jump on my head and start chewing into my skull. Anyway, I didn’t have an alternative since my kit lens isn’t capable of a further zoom.
There is nothing special about the photo, really. Apart from being lucky that one of the monkeys decided to stretch its jaws and having a glimpse of its balls, there is nothing much to it.
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Not too bad actually…
But i think if you zoom in more on the monkey’s face that would be perfect…
@np
Actually, the photo above is cropped. The actual image has more “space” around the monkey. If I am not mistaken, that was the maximum my kit lens could zoom.
The original image can be found on my flickr page.