Need more space!

With about 6 months of experience with Nikon and adding accesories into my equipments list, I am beginning to realize that travel bags are now insufficient to accomodate the list of stuff I always bring with on a shooting session. I need to have a new sufficient case/bag for my stuff!

My first reliable bag was my Think Tank Photo Speed Demon Beltpack. Loving it for the fast access to my carry on equipments and ability to hold your other equipments/lens close to your waist while exchanging lens makes this Beltpack a convenient gadget to carry your stuff. At that time I was still with my Pentax K10D with few lenses. Slowly my Pentax lenses list grew up and soon I realized I need another space. I do have numerous bags to hold on my tools such as my Acer laptop, cleaning tools, and some cheap lenses, but they are'nt good enough to protect them without paded surface.

My first Camera Bag- Think Thank Photo Speed Demon Beltpack

After following the Nikon route and getting myself some equipments, I noticed that I need extra care for my equipments. Its like giving the finest care to your Ferari.

 

The Kata DR-467 Digital Rucksack (photo link from http://shashinki.com)

As I considered my budget, and made my research, I concluded that I need a backpack to store both half of my camera equipments and my laptop and the choice was Kata DR-467 Digital Rucksack from Shashinki.com. It has good padding with yellow inner color material to help you easily spot your tiny photography equipments. I actually planned to get a better one from Lowepro, or perhaps anything from Think Tank, but after considering the price.... man, its still unaffordable... So I decided to go for Kata. This decision was strengthened when I purchased my MacBook Pro on February. So with a compartment for a few camera stuff, and a 15inch case, this is already convenient enough for me.

Recently... I realized that all these bags are soon unable to support my often used equipments. I need to have a larger case to store ALL my stuff in one pack in order for a much easy manageable traveling.

I travel often with my Kata Backpack, Speed Demon beltpack, Think Tank LC75 pouch that hangs handsomely on my beltpack, a bag filled with my outfit+chargers and other stuff, reflector, and a bag for my monopods, studio tripods, and other stuff.... This burdens me as I need to cary lots of things in one go. Those bags surely make me look like a gadget guy, but with a more MESSY style rather than a good one (Imagine if I have to check in with these things in the airport!). So I decided that I need to have something more convenient, tidy... clean....

I am currently eyeing on Think Tank Photo Airport International 2.0 Carry On Bag for photo gear, perhaps this could lessen two of my backpacks. or maybe Think Tank Photo Airport Antidote Version 2.0 Backpack. Not sure.. But I really think I need one.

So whenever I travel, I will only have to carry 1 bag full of camera equipments as carry on bag, another bag for my outfit, and 1 case for the monopods and studio tripods. This should be better of.

Fire razed house

I was on my journey back to Tawau on Sunday 3pm when i saw this big pile of smoke coming from somewhere ahead. At once I recognized it as a house on fire as nothing as big as this could appear in noon time.

This happened somewhere within the Mengaris Village. Upon reaching, it was confirmed that a house made by "papan" or "wood" is in a huge inferno.

I quickly grabbed my camera out of my ThinkThank waist bag and went out to record the event. According to witness, there were no casualties reported. They also managed to save the owners pinky second lorry. The owner was told to be outstation with the family. (lucky them).

One quite dramatic happening I should say happened when in the midst of the watching the fire burning down every single object thats "fire edible", I saw something very miraculous in sight. It was a CAT that suddenly appeared after 3/5 of the house structure was destroyed. I was so amazed to see how the cat managed to CHEAT DEATH and escaped to life. I was unable to capture the scene where the cat jumped down the breaking house because it happened very fast.

Yes, the cat is still alive. You should see the picture to believe... 

 

Regatta Lepa-Lepa 2009

The distinctive lifestyle of the Bajaus in Sabah’s East Coast is characterized by their living on Lepa—as they would only be on land for food, water supply and funerals. Lepa is Bajau for single masted sailing boat which is usually made of Ubar Suluk or Red Seraya Wood in. A typical Lepa is 5 meters long and 1.5 meters wide. However, in competitions the Lepa sizes may vary. To get more on "LEPA-LEPA", go HERE.

Madai Leech

The last time I remembered got bitten by a leech was, 2 years ago while hiking at Crocker Range. But hey,I remembered I only got single leech stuck on my leg while others got at least 2 or 3 of them. The best tips in avoiding leech is buy a tobacco dried leaves, soak them in half a cup of water (take something like 2-3 roll of cigar) and squeze it to get the juice out. Often the juice will be red-ish in color. Next step, get that juice and make it your body lotion. Just to remind, don't do this if you have allergic syndrome to tobacco juice... test it way ahead of your hiking schedule. By the way, this is the traditional way of "Avoiding" leeches. There are ofcourse lots of modern options available in your outdoor store, just find one.

 

Anyway back to the story, these leech was found sneaking its way to one of the girls sitting just next to me during our visit last Saturday to the Madai waterfall (you can check out my previous shoot of the waterfall on suny day HERE and HERE. It was raining, but we insisted on staying for a break to relax and get out of our busy student life. All of a sudden, we saw this tiny creature bending itself towards us. Heeeyaaa... the girls went shouting and... they left me alone with my camera..

Well you know this noughty guy always like to do something others wont do. I took it an took some picture of it. Unfortunately I lost my macro conversion ring for my 50mm f1.4, or otherwise I would have taken a macro shot of it.

Just something to share from my diary:)

Leaving 2008 behind, yet not forgeting it

Happy New Year 2009 to all viewers who come to this blog. I am feeling blessed throughout last year and would like to thank God for all the opportunities He gave me last year, especially the gift to cheer people with photography. I would like to appologize for anything that was posted wrongly or anything that did hurt someone out there with all my posting in this blog. It is my pleasure to serve and to offer my best for everyone who wishes to have my service. There are times I did things wrong, there are times I did it well... whatever the outcome... We must remember that everything we have now, is a gift from above. Its temporary and won't... really wont last for long.

Bellow was my recent shot last month. Its a picture showing the sun set at Kota Kinabalu. Reminding the ending of our year 2008. I do have loads of nice pictures to share with everyone but I am sorry as I don't have enough time to share it with everyone. on time. Perhaps if you could wait and link my blog to yours, you will see more works and improvements coming in.

There are loads of plans and challange that I have sorted out to be faced in this year. First I am going to graduate as a Teacher end of the year, thus most of my times will be on the desk with my book, and laptop. Second, I'll still need to ballance my life as a student and working as a freelance photographer. Third, my commitment to my friends, family, love ones, God, Church... and last but not least... My leadership roles in life.... Those are the vital points that shape me as human.... without it... I am not what I am today....

Life is just a journey, we choose... God project... we follow by faith. I am a no believer in fate or destiny. I strongly believe that the CHOICES are IN OUR HANDS. God doesn't destined, He gave us a free will.. WE are FREE to CHOOSE... either GOD's omni knowledge preferrance , or OUR own limited knowledge's choices.

Friends, lets take a while and count our last years blessing and give thanks.....

Sincere Greetings:
Frisco Daniel Maligir

Landscape Shoots

I have many shoots kept in my External HD. If you are a photographer and love shooting, I suggest that you get yourself an External HD with the capacity of not less than 250GB. Right now I'm shooting 10mp at 3-4MB sized Jpeg or 16MB sized RAW format with a 8GB memory card. Just imagine if my memory gets full... eventually it will, I know, thats why I sometimes have hard time sellecting which pic to post when I have loads of option=) hehehehe...

These two shoots was taken when I was on my way back to Tawau from Kota Kinabalu. I traveled from Tamparuli at 5.30pm and arrived National Park, Kundasang at 6.10pm. At first it was cloudy and taking good landscape seems a disapointment, however luck changed and the clouds give way to the sun... and here are some of the shoots i manage to record.

I did saw a photographer near the Nunuk Ragang area (not really sure what mile was it), was thinking of stoping however time is catching me, I really need to reach my hostel before 2am and yes, i did manage to arrive safely with 3 stops of resting the eyes. This will be my routine most weekends until next year ends... and by then, I'll make travelling my great hobby.

Malaysia Independance Day Celebration

16th September is almost approaching while i post this, to Malaysians, its a historical date where the country is formed. Ppeople are speculating on many things including of rumours of a new government institution during that date. Well i don't really bother a lot about  politics, but hey, the merdeka (independance day) celebration is worth a "jalan-jalan" (walk around) with you camera. Here's a bit of what i shoot that day. Didn't really give my best in shooting though but its worth sharing with you.

The fire extinguisher from the fire department, reminds me of the famous cartoon animation- the GhostBuster... I wonder if i break that down, ghost will come out.. (WINKS~)

Ahh.. i love these machines. Wish i could afforn one. The Sabah Four Wheel Drive community is here to show off... Way to go guys...

He must got excited while holding the disarmed machine gun. I wonder what model that was.. looks like the weapon found in Counter Strike computer games...

what if one of them were mine... i could have...

I dont know what these badges mean but guess its worth his effort in the club. Bravo to you pal...

The Mosque

it was 7am (or was it 9..), i was on my way back to Kota Marudu from Kota Kinabalu. I was pretty exhousted that day (i remember) with lots of business while its bright, remembering a client once requested me to edit her wedding film-negatives with a mosque as the background, i quickly remembered that i need a big mosque picture in my portfolio. So i stop by the roundabout in Likas and took my tripod, levelling cube and camera gear... lari2 crossing the road and took some shoot. So atlast i manage to took one nice shot, but unfortunately i forgot to click in RAW... aiyo.. sayangnya...

Dantai Sunset Scene Part 2

Here's my part 2 of the previous Dantai Scene shoots. The first picture is somehow not really up to what i expected to be, however i wish to share it with you. I know you could get something better than this,yeep.. its probably not my luck to be on a beautiful sunset this time. Here's a lower angle, taken with a slow shutter speed of less than 1 second/f1' using a tripod. so here you are... enjoy my humble shoots.

Dantai Sunset Scene Part 1

Presenting to you some of my best shoots of ocean view that i manage to snap this week. I was very-very busy the whole week (although it was holiday). I had to drive back and forth Kota Kinabalu - Kota Marudu and attend the Dantai Sabah Wide Adventist Youth Festival Camporee from thursday,friday, and taking clients wedding pictures saturday night then driving back to Tawau for 8 hours with less rest on sunday. Not counting the days i've been busy on Mon-Tues-Wed too.

The shoots bellow were taken at Dantai sea shore. Not a very great scene with fantastic evening sunset cast on the sky, yet it is still something i manage to take despite the BUSY-BUSY days. I admire Jollence shoots of sunset, knowing that to have it right, you need to be on the RIGHT TIME, RIGHT PLACE, and RIGHT EQUIPMENTS. So enjoy the two humble pictures, and hope you wont miss Graham & Erniwee's Wedding Shoots posted previously too.... REGARDS!

I Miss THe Bloggers Gathering

Haiya, I really wished i could attend the Bloggers gathering but unfortunately i couldnt. It was my wish to be there and i was actually almost close to going, but i have a task which is my friends wedding on Sunday at Tawau so i had to rush back to Tawau saturday evening.

I actually arrived KK on friday, reach Inanam Bus terminal at about 5pm and headed straight back to Kota Marudu. Drove back to Kota Kinabalu at 7.30am the next day and was thinking of attending the gathering but... but.... but...... My friend Tobbie called me 2 days ago to help him out in taking photograph of his wedding in Tawau, so you have to know why....

I drove out from the city at 3pm, stop by Inanam to fetch my two friends a.k.a cousins (who will be the bestman) and continue driving to Tawau. It took me approximately 8hours drive with about 15minutes stop over at Ranau Petronal Gas Station and Sandakan Check Point.

I really enjoyed the drive, its actually safer (IMHO) to travel at night as
1st-there are less,very less vehicle traveling
2nd-you can predict vehicle coming towards and from behind you.

But its also dangerous if
1st- you sleep while driving (ofcoz lah)
2nd-you are a reckless driver
3rd- you eat and drink while driving
4th- you speed

I have been travelling far many times, mostly for journeys above 5 hours. Some are from Tawau to Kota Kinabalu, some Kota Marudu-Tawau, some Tawau- Keningau through the Kalabakan-Sipitang road... the longest journey i ever traveled was around 12 hours without a rest of the eye, and man i tell you... you need endurance for that.

I am dreaming of following the Petronas Travel team who go around continents (as seen on tv).... really loved traveling a lot. Perhaps one day......

Kuruak- as we call it

Finally, i was trying to upload this pictures using a broadband mobile network with GPRS connection but failed a few times. I only manage to upload it this morning. Thats the main problem when living far away from town :( I found this bird while on the way back home. I accidentally hit it while driving. The bird was actually trying to cross the road when a giant-silver-metal-moving creature cought it on traffic... i think it probably was the worst scenario in its life, but amazingly it stood up and begin limping towards the bushes.
Shooting with a pentax body and smc-da 50-200mm zoom lens, i manage to get a few shoots of her. I never thought the quality would be this sharp. DOF-a.k.a Depth Of Field was also well distributed.

Kesian this Kuruak-as my native people name it. Scientifically, i should refer to Jollence for some names. I never have been into birds before, but guess i will venture into wildlife photography just after i get a good telephoto lens. Most probably Canon (ow,is this a hint on my next camera model....)