The rest of the fluttering creatures
I’ve always thought that butterflies are shy creatures; the sort that enjoys hiding and minding its own business. So, it was quite a shocker to enter this not too big/not too small enclosure that was home to many different species of butterflies and find that butterflies may not be the friendliest but they weren’t in the least bit shy. In fact, I was the intruder. Scattered around these enclosures are trays of hibiscus with honey dripped on it solely for enticing these butterflies to feed so that our human eyes can take in the full beauty of these fluttering creatures that otherwise will not stay still.
Butterflies of different sizes and colours were flying right above my head and they were quite a tease too! They’d land, stay a bit and just as you raise your camera to your face, half-click the shutter, thinking you’ve got the perfect shot… they fly away!
Here are some of my “other” favourite shots from my day with the butterflies.
Lastly, this little fella provided some friendly respite.
Aperture, ISO & Shutter Speed
When I was starting out (and I’m still starting out, mind you), I found this particular entry on CameraPorn extremely useful. It talks about the individual functions of the Aperture, ISO & Shutter Speed and how the combination of the three can help create amazing photos.
My entries
Today is the final date for all entries to be made for the Anything Butterfly Photography Contest. A donation of rm10 allows for one photograph to be submitted. I donated rm20. My initial idea was to submit two photos; one of a butterfly or butterflies and the other being a slightly more emotive shot. However, the second idea had to be put on hold as I simply could not execute it the way I wanted to. So, both my entries are of butterflies.
Miss L was kind enough to drive me down to the Butterfly Park in KL. We were shooting under the blistering sun for about 2 hours. It wasn’t a very big enclosure but with the weather in KL being the way it is and the butterflies being incredibly restless, I was done for by the end of the session.
These are my entries for the Anything Butterfly Photography Contest.
Entry #1
Entry #2
If you’re interested in the outcome, drop by the Oval 1st Floor, 1 Utama Shopping Centre on the 10th of May, 2008.
That night
As with all things good and bad, this too shall pass.
One of the memories I take with me will be the night where we all left our office persona at home, put on our party hats and simply had fun. Oh… and the free flow of beer helped too! 
Please excuse the quality of the photos, uploading the slide show onto Vimeo must’ve compressed the images somehow.
Kinda like it…
The white lily is linked to Juno, the queen of the Gods in Roman mythology, by the story that while nursing her son Hercules, some excess milk fell from the sky creating the group of stars we call the Milky Way and lilies were created from what milk fell to the Earth.
In less than magical terms, the lilies were one of my few test shots upon stepping into the Butterfly Farm. What I didn’t realise was that the image above would be one of my few favourites from my scorching day under the sun. We started shooting at approximately 12pm and with the heat these days, I’d say that it was unbelievable that we survived unscathed but for a slight temperature. Hah.
Be still, butterfly
Butterflies are impossible models. When you tell it not to move, it flies away. When you request for it to stay still, it flutters its wings.
Hrmphs.
Just a taste of my frustration.
KLCC Park at dusk
While I still can, here are a few shots of the Twin Towers as viewed from KLCC Park.
And lastly, a flower that had fallen from a tree.
I might miss this view in the future.
An escape
Today, we both conceded that a break would be ideal. It has been almost one and a half years and we’re both mentally exhausted. I suspect the daze-like feeling will be with me for quite some time. Looking at photographs definitely calms the soul and I stumbled upon this.
I took this image with my Panasonic Fz7. This is the beach at the hotel we lived in while we were at Pulau Redang. I love the different hues of the water and how the waves calmly roll onto the shore. I would welcome another island getaway anytime.
Have you met Dane Sanders?
These days, I scour the web for photographers’ blogs, websites… anything and everything I can get on how to be a good photographer; not just the hygienics but the extras that go into a photo. I remember having an argument a while back with this one person. We had differing opinions on what makes a good photographer. He was of the opinion that the gear that goes into an image is of utmost importance. Otherwise, the photo would be crap. Me, on the other hand, felt very strongly that it is heart that makes the photos what they are. The camera gear is meant to complement the photographer. Either way, I gave up on arguing further about the topic at hand because clearly, he was not going to be swayed about it.
And then, I stumble across Dane Sanders and once again, I am convinced that really, some of the most outstanding photographers wear their hearts on their sleeves. Forget about winning the awards and what nots. Whatever they get, they give back and they give back generously.
I’m revived.
Anything Butterfly Photography Contest
This photography contest is in conjunction with World Lupus Day.
To enter, all you need to do is download the entry form, complete it with a minimum donation of rm10 and submit it before the 30th of April, 2008.
All photographs are to be taken between the 1st and 7th of May, 2008 and submitted by 5pm on the 8th of May, 2008.
