Redang Island, Terengganu

Learning to capture long exposure seascape photography

Few months ago had the opportunity to visit Redang for a workshop organized by my faculty. During our stay, we stay at Redang Holiday Beach Villa. To be honest, if it is for leisure or family then it would be a good place, but for workshop environment .. the place is not suitable at all..  no suitable conference/meeting room.. no suitable equipment... nothing at all..  but we adjust a long the way and manage to proceed with our objective successfully..

The beach that we were facing is towards the east so only sunrise can be observe from our place. Sunrise only appear on our first morning and then it hide the next day. :D

Here are some of the picture taken during my visit there

The view from one of the chalet hut. simply beautiful

For some, this construction barge spoiled the sandy beach view .. For me.. its a subject :D

Redang Island is definitely a beautiful island with unlimited possibility for seascape. I hope i would able to repeat this location with more flexibility (not for workshop/working) and hopefully the weather would be more nicer then  .. since our visit is exactly before just before the monsoon season it keep raining especially during sunrise/sunset (even half of the resort along the beach is already close down for monsoon break)

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Fishing village, Pantai Kundur (Pantai Puteri), Malacca

Fisherman boat & vessel along the Pantai Kundur shoreline

Located along the shore of Pantai Kundur is a tranquil & peacefull fishing village, approximately 17 km from Malacca Town. You can observed how belacan is make here. Not far from Pantai Kundur is the petroleum refining industry facility owned by Petronas. The petronas jetty is prominently part of the sea landscape in Pantai Kundur. People of Malacca still remember how penny compensation was given to those who had to relocate in Tangga Batu to make way for that development (RM5/sq feet?). There were rumours that the larger budget meant for them were embezzled before reaching the intended receipient.

I fondly remember Pantai Kundur as my scout camping and training place during primary school. I remember camped there twice while i'm in Darjah 4 & 6 (think so) learning tying ropes, basic cooking, and singing scout song and even song from neighbouring countries (because there are participants from neighbouring countries). Today's parents overprotective of their children and teens . Even PLKN scared the hell out of them.. But saying so, i also not so sure whether i will accord my son/daughter the same privilege... let see.. we'll cross that bridge when we come to it..

Dead tree by the shoreline

Pantai Puteri is a new name given to enhance the 'commercial value' of this beautiful beach. Good place such as this serene and tranquil beach doesnt need new name with no historical/local value. Might as well you rename all places such as Tanjung Keling.. Pantai Klebang.. Pantai Pengkalan Balak.. or even Melaka! (Last time i heard the ADUN is still ADUN Kundur.. not ADUN Puteri) ..

Sorry for being a bit emotional or even sarcastic but our leader need to learn how to preserve our heritage.. not replace it with fake identity.. we lost too many of it already..

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The Secret Passage, Ujong Pasir (Malacca Part 6c)

During my third visit to Anjung Pasir (1st with Jasni, 2nd with Qamar & 3rd with Rajesh), we went looking around the area scouting for alternative site. I rarely repeat the same location too many times as i believe there are so many other places to explore. Or as Mr Rajesh put it, the first shot is always the best shot. For seascape i might repeat during different tide height as different tide height bring different view/composition and new feel to the same place.

Rajesh spotted this site and i agree with him that this place would be a very nice photography subject. Since i already shot at the abandoned jetty twice, i decided to shoot at this new location while Mr Rajesh shoot at the jetty place. He came later to this place also before the sunset light went off totally.  Would love to repeat this location when the tide is lower.

This would be the last entry on Ujong Pasir, meanwhile, today i'ved started my own personal blog at http://www.emranmt.blogspot.com/ I just need a place to put my opinion/perspective on certain thing and i dont think its good to mix that with the landscape photoblog i had in here. Feel free to visit it. Cya there!

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Ujung Pasir Revisit : Malacca Part 6b

New Year Eve - found a couple of bottle dumped along the shoreline and decided to make a composition of them

This part is a continuity from previous part which i describe about an abandoned jetty found in Portuguese Settlement in Ujong Pasir. Since then I've been receiving inquiry on how to reach the jetty by fellow photographer which i happily respond.

Apart from the jetty, the area next to it is also picture worthy. During low tide you'll be able to reach a lonely tree area about 50m from the shoreline. During high tide these area would be submerged under the water but it is still a great landscape to shoot. Just need to find a good angle and composition, then shoot!

The picture below even manage to hit Flickr Explore front page briefly. Flickr Explore is only a feature by flickr to select the 500 most interesting picture on a daily basis from all uploads around the world. Few of it would make it to the front page during that day. This is my second explore front page i get (the first one is in 2009 for the earth hour picture - here it is)

The final afterglow of 2010

The final light of 2011

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Dangerously abandoned, An Old Jetty in Portuegese Settlement, Ujong Pasir (Malacca Part 6a)

Its been a while since the last time i update this blog.. which is why i choose the title dangerously abandoned... when you leave it too long you might loose the drive or passion to update it.. hopefully it wont happen here.. :D ... got a lot of things to do in December and had to prioritize... now i'm queuing up few post for the next several days :D

For this post & few more i'll continue to cover several location in Malacca ... i had written five series on various location of Malacca previously [Part I - Limbongan, Bandar Hilir,Part II - Selat Mosque, Pulau Melaka,Part III - Al Azim Mosque, Solok, Bukit Peringgit,Part IV - Bachang, Batu Berendam,Part V - Pantai Pengkalan Balak, Masjid Tanah]



This is an amazing new found for photography heaven. Last Nov when I'm scouting around along the seashore of Malacca (yeah, thats the way i hunt for seaside location nowadays), i stumbled upon this old Jetty in Ujong Pasir. And then with Jasni (his result here)& Sofian Boe (his hdr result) we shoot this location during sunset. Since then i already repeated this place twice upon request by fellow photographer friend (2nd with Qamar and 3rd with ragstatic (i idolized this man's artpiece)from singapore) - his result here. Even though its already three time i've been here there are a lot of different subject, different composition and angle that you can try along this short seashore. I'll cut the blog entry to three part for this location :D

Here is the Jetty picture (both images (the top and the one below is explored by Flickr :D)

From the 2nd visit with Qamar

To reach this place, you just need to follow the direction to Ujong Pasir or St John Hill(just next to Bandar Hilir, southern part - if you shoot Selat Mosque before then its only few km apart, you can even see selat mosque from this area) and then follow the direction to Portuguese Settlement, you'll reach this area.

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Seaside photography hunting at Jeram, Kuala Selangor

An angler jetty by the seaside during high tide (30sec exposure)

Selangor is blessed with diversified landscape from jungle(eg Hutan Lipur Kanching) ,mountain (eg nuang), rocky hill (eg Bukit Tabur), paddy field (eg Sekinchan) and even coastal landscape along the seaside (eg Jeram, Kelanang). Jeram is located between Kapar and Kuala Selangor. Jeram is more famous for its seafood such as fresh grilled fish (ikan bakar), squid, and so on.

As with most seaside area, you can always find photography subject. These two picture is taken at Jeram beach along the seaside inner road.

To reach Jeram, the easiest is from Kapar. After around 15-20km you will see Jeram mosque beside a traffic light (there is only 2-3 traffic light along the way after Kapar so you couldn't miss it), take left, after few hundred metre before the jetty area there is a junction to the left, take left, then you'll see aroma ikan bakar on your right, along the way is Jeram beach.

These picture were taken during high tide. Both taken after the sun fully set. I intend to return to this place later during low tide. Credit to few photographer who has been here earlier than me such as Zilzal,Acid,Shazral, Arabischenab (especially zilzal who pointed the exact location of this subject).

An interesting rock formation which form a leading line to the sea (30sec exposure)

Basic google map showing the direction to Jeram beach from Kapar or from Kuala Selangor

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Sunset & sunrise around Malacca - Pengkalan Balak, Masjid Tanah - (Part V)

An angler waiting patiently for his catch during sunset at Pantai Pengkalan Balak

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Sunset/sunrise around Malacca
Part I - Limbongan, Bandar Hilir
Part II - Selat Mosque, Pulau Melaka
Part III - Al Azim Mosque, Solok, Bukit Peringgit
Part IV - Bachang, Batu Berendam
Part V - Pantai Pengkalan Balak, Masjid Tanah

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Within the previous weeklong hari raya , this day is the best sunset of all. Its the last day spent in Malacca. So before heading home i went to shoot sunset at Pantai Pengkalan Balak, near Tanjung Bidara at Masjid Tanah, Melaka. Firdaus Mahadi , (my great photography fren, whom i idolize his work, visit his website at FirdausMahadi.com or his callidesign) recommended this place. His main selling point is the several human made 'anjung batu' (rock structure.. wonder what is the exact translation, tell me pls ) along the Pengkalan Balak coastal.

Lucky for me, apart from the good sunset of the day, i also lucky to be able to potret several human subject which include some angler and also another photographer who busy shooting his beloved wife during sunset.

This was also the first time my wife follow me to shoot sunset. I discouraged her initially as it would be a long session from 6:30 until 7:30 but she still want to follow. While i'm shooting sunset she attended to our son who request to play along the beach. We went for a seafood stall afterward before heading home and back to KL.

The colourful and amazing sunset

An HDR picture of the 'anjung batu' at Pengkalan Balak. Even though i'm not a big fan of HDR, i did use HDR technique in several occasion such as this one when the dynamic range is simply too big. Most of the time i prefer a light tone blending.

The lovely couple, a beautiful wife & a passionate photographer. A perfect silhouette subject for me :D .

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Sunset & sunrise around Malacca - Bacang, Batu Berendam - (Part IV)

Sunset @ Batu Berendam, Malacca (IR)



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Sunset/sunrise around Malacca
Part I - Limbongan, Bandar Hilir
Part II - Selat Mosque, Pulau Melaka
Part III - Al Azim Mosque, Solok, Bukit Peringgit
Part IV - Bachang, Batu Berendam
Part V - Pantai Pengkalan Balak, Masjid Tanah

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Batu Berendam is my hometown since early 1980's. The picture above was taken on 19th June 2010, the next day after my father return to his creator. I would say on that day my mind is quite unstable and i simply need to do something to soothen my sombre or maybe confuse mood.

The next picture is a startrail picture taken in my house compound during the recent Eidul Fitri. While this picture is not related to sunrise or sunset at all, it is still taken in Batu Berendam, :P . The picture is a combination of around 120 picture taken in 90 minutes (each frame @ 30 sec with F/4.5 & ISO 800).

While Eidul Fitri is no longer the same with my father is not around.. Life must move on...  My father's good deeds and amal jariah shall continue with his son & daughter .. ameenn .. My doa will always be with u abah.. insyaAllah..

90 minutes startrail @ Batu Berendam with cactus tree as the foreground

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Sunset & sunrise around Malacca - Al Azim Mosque, Solok, Bukit Peringgit - (Part III)

Silhouette of Al Azim mosque during sunrise



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Sunset/sunrise around Malacca
Part I - Limbongan, Bandar Hilir
Part II - Selat Mosque, Pulau Melaka
Part III - Al Azim Mosque, Solok, Bukit Peringgit
Part IV - Bachang, Batu Berendam
Part V - Pantai Pengkalan Balak, Masjid Tanah

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In this third installment of sunset/sunrise around Malacca, i would like to share sunrise taken at Al Azim Mosque, Solok, Bukit Peringgit. This is the official state mosque officially opened in 1989. The architecture is based on 3 tiered architecture of most ancient most within the state which had some chinese architecture influence in it (Pagoda like building).

I had a fond memory of this mosque as almost every friday i would spend my time here after the friday prayer. Even though my real kariah is Batu Berendam.. since the incident where i fainted in Batu Berendam mosque my father switch almost completely to Al Azim mosque except for once every month. Sometime instead of following my fathers back to the office immediately after friday prayer, i opted to stay here and would go home by myself. I  remember catching either the Tuah bus (50 sen) or Batang bus (80 sen) from my home to this mosque during school holiday and spend my time leisuring around the mosque and the library for few hours before the friday prayer. Then after the friday prayer i would go to eat ABC or mee rebus across the street. I even in several occasion walk home from this mosque to my home just leisuring around passing from one housing area to another housing area. At that time it still far safer for a nine years old kid to ride a bus alone to go to Bandar Melaka (without handphone for sure). I wonder whether i would allow my son/daugther to do the same five years from now.


Round shape of sun rising, taken from a compound near the Al Azim Mosque, beside the Malacca Post Office

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Sunset & sunrise around Malacca - Selat Mosque, Pulau Melaka - (Part II)

Sunset @ Selat Mosque, Malacca

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Sunset/sunrise around Malacca
Part I - Limbongan, Bandar Hilir
Part II - Selat Mosque, Pulau Melaka
Part III - Al Azim Mosque, Solok, Bukit Peringgit
Part IV - Bachang, Batu Berendam
Part V - Pantai Pengkalan Balak, Masjid Tanah

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Selat Mosque is among the modern icon of Malacca now. It somehow had become among the subject that most visiting photographer would like to capture especially during sunset. Even though Malacca is my hometown, I'm yet to photograph this beautiful mosque during sunset until last Eidul Fitri.

To capture the mosque during sunset, you need to be there a bit early as the traffic around Bandar Hilir is quite unpredictable. Just go to Bandar Hilir and follow the signboard to Masjid Selat (or Selat Mosque). This mosque is located within Pulau Melaka, an island built from reclaimed sea land connected by a bridge.

Small group of people watching sunset from Pulau Melaka within the Selat Mosque compound

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Sunset & sunrise around Malacca - Limbongan - (Part I)

An afterglow with nearer composition to the ship, not really feel secure here as you are far from the public eye so need to be alert with your surrounding for your safety.



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Sunset/sunrise around Malacca
Part I - Limbongan, Bandar Hilir
Part II - Selat Mosque, Pulau Melaka
Part III - Al Azim Mosque, Solok, Bukit Peringgit
Part IV - Bachang, Batu Berendam
Part V - Pantai Pengkalan Balak, Masjid Tanah

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Its ironic since i have'nt publish anything yet from around Malacca since its my hometown. Normally whenever i went back to my hometown, i prefer to relax and laze around at home. Only on a few occasion i went birding behind my home and another occasion shooting sunset at Muar. Other than that i just spend my time at home or went around to shopping mall with my family. During the last Eidul Fitri however since the sunset during that week seem to be very good i went for sunset shooting almost everyday. After shooting landscape for awhile, you can almost accurately (i would say 80%) predict whether it will be a good sunset or not by looking at the sky condition 2-3 hours before sunset. So during my journey from Kuala Lumpur toward my hometown it seem promising for a beautiful sunset.

Therefore immediately after arriving at home i went straight to Malacca Town. I initially decide to go to Selat Mosque but as somehow bandar hilir is quite jammed, i detour to another nearer location by the seaside at Taman Laksamana, which turn out to be a good spot also. This area is not actually a port, its more like a place for ship repair (maybe). This area maybe is an extension of another area at Limbongan at neighbouring area. The Limbongan location name itself imply it is an area for ship repair (limbungan = shipyard). Another possibility is that the ship is actually carrying construction material for the development in that reclaimed area. Need someone to clarify this. Whatever it is, this place can be a good alternative to the nearby Selat Melaka Mosque.  I'm planning to return to this place for startrail. Just need a partner for safety. Join me? :D

The sun already setting by the time i arrived at the 'port'



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Sungai Timun, Linggi - Tasting freshwater lobster & smoked sembilang fish

On the way from my hometown Malacca to KL, we stop by this fisherman jetty at Kampung Sungai Timun, Linggi which is famously known for its freshwater lobster (udang galah). This area were once highlighted in Majalah 3 documentary. Bought half kilo of live udang galah for RM25. My son damn scared when i put the plastic bag of the live lobster beside him.. hehe..

Panorama picture of the river at the Jetty

Apart from freshwater lobster, Sungai Timun is also famous for crocodile sighting and fireflies (kunang-kunang). Its pristine mangrove swamp that fringes the river definitely a perfect habitat for both creatures. The last survey by Perhilitan count the number of crocodile at Sungai Linggi (which Sungai Timun is part of it) at 3000+. The number might has dwindled by now but their number is still significant.

I arrive at this jetty at around 5 PM, take a look around for 15-20 minutes,chat with an elder who is fishing for lobster with his son (got few tips for lobster fishing also.. :D) , before heading back to KL. Planning to revisit this place next time maybe for fireflies sighting and also fishing :D.

After exiting this place, we bought a kilo of smoke sembilang fish by the roadside for RM16. Managed to get around 14 sembilang fish. Judging from its look, my wife said it is keli.. not sembilang.. from its taste i said its not keli.. and finally when we reach my father in law house, he said it is sembilang laut not keli. After being smoked their look seem similar. :D

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Some other link about Sungai Timun

http://kota.pid.net.my/article.cfm?id=12
http://jelajah-xplorer.blogspot.com/2010/02/quest-for-udang-galah-sungai-timun-and.html

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How to reach Sungai Timun

-Easiest way is by from Pedas Plus Highway exit. After exiting Pedas, take left (go towards Pengkalan Durian). At the end of the road (at Pengkalan Durian) you will reach a T junction.Take left towards Linggi. Drive slowly and lookout for the junction to Sungai Timun on your right. There is supposed a large billboard about Jeti Nelayan Sungai Timun. The road towards this jetty is currently under upgrade exercise. After several kilometers you will see the jetty area on your left. 

You can also exit earlier at Simpang Ampat if you are coming from south but the journey through kampung road is much longer (i think it is almost  2x longer than from PEDAS exit).  From Simpang Ampat exit, take 9 o'clock (left) at the round about. At the first four-way intersection, take right. From here you just need to go straight passing through Kampung Brisu, Kampung Lendu, Lubok Cina,Kampung Sungai Jerneh and Kampung Pengkalan Pauh. After Kampung Pengkalan Pauh, look out for the Jetty Nelayan Sungai Timun on your left. Follow the new road for few kilometers and you'll see the jetty are on your left.

Please note that since you using kampung road, there is a lot of sheep, goat and buffalo wandering around by the roadside so becareful.

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Lata Berkoh of National Park - Beautiful Tropical Nature Place

Lata Berkoh

Kuala Tahan at Dusk (IR)

Early this year, under the luarbiasafoto.com umbrella, we went for a short trip 2D1N to Lata Berkoh at National Park, Jerantut, Pahang. The trip intenary include canopy walk.. boating... bbq... short trekking to Lata Berkoh and swimming at the kelah sanctuary..

The main transport along the river is by boat. In this picture is Orang Asli (aborigines) with their boat.

On our first day, we went for the canopy walk. To reach the canopy walk starting point you need to follow the wood stairs for several hundred metres (total elevation is around 50m). A good cardiac exercise :D. I took the opportunity to shoot macro photo along the way. If i remember correctly, at that time i havent shoot macro for almost 7 month already. Macro shooting need a steady hand which you can get after you keep shooting macro. During evening, most of us went for photohunting around Kuala Tahan and shooting either nature subject or landscape scenery with houseboat.. boat.. river.. etc.

Probabily a wolf spider at 5:1 magnification

Lynx spider

At night, we had a big BBG feast. The grilled squid is simply delicious.

On the 2nd day we went to Lata Berkoh and a kelah sanctuary nearby.

Some tree along the way towards Lata Berkoh taken from the boat

Some of the trees picture taken along the way (IR)

Lata Berkoh is one of the beautiful but very accessible waterfall in National Park. You just need ride a boat for about 45 minutes followed by 20 minutes of jungle trekking to reach the waterfall. Along the way through Sungai Tahan, you can see many huge leaning Neram trees forming an archway over the water which is simply wonderful.

Small black heron

Kingfisher

During the journey, the group in front of us managed to capture a photo of Kijang by the riverside. Our boat only manage to shoot few kingfisher along the way.

After reaching the final boat point, we need to trek a bit to the waterfall. The jungle trekking is very easy and not demanding at all . You will walk through walking path along the river bank until you reach the cascade. There is a small area with toilet and facility in between if you want to take a break for a while. Half of the group (our group) keep stopping for picture taking session during the 20 minutes walk to the Lata Berkoh.. so instead of 20 minutes.. it became 30 minutes ++ due to numerous stop by us..hehhehe.. those already in front surely miss all the ke'poyo'an moment.. hehehhe... The destination, Lata Berkoh is more like a big and large river cascade instead of waterfall.

A beautiful leading line of tree roots

After spending around an hour at Lata Berkoh, we went for swimming treat with the malaysian mahseer (kelah). Here you can swim together and feed large size of kelah. You can also observed that some of the big kelah fish has some large scar at their body. Our guide told that it is because of the eagles that try to catch the fish but failed halfway.

The astro satellite belong to the boat restaurant. Because the house boat keep moving , they need to put the astro dish inland.

After that we went back to our chalet, check out and went to our place. Hope to revisit other part of Taman Negara someday.

Old abandoned house at dusk, Kuala Tahan (IR)

Leaves (IR)

Swallow.. taken from the boat restaurant

Nature (IR)

Floating house (IR)

Boat (IR)

Kuala Tahan (IR)

Boat (IR)

Boat panning

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A more detailed itenary wrote by Dr Jamal (in malay)

Day 1 (Saturday)
9:15AM - Dr Jamal, Ali & Andy sampai di Jerantut
10:30AM - Rombongan KL sampai - Abah & family, Emran, Hakeim, Kingmarul, Azli, Firdaus & Zilzal
10:45AM - Khaidir & family sampai
11:00AM - Kami terus memandu ke Kuala Tahan
12:00PM - Sampai ke Aki's Chalet (owner baru Ekoton)
12:45PM - Menaiki 2 bot besar ke Pejabat Perhilitan utk ambil permit.
1:30PM - Sampai di Canopy Walkway (perjalanan ke entrance canopy lebih sukar dari canopy walkway itu sendiri wakakakaa.....50m aje vertical)
2:30PM - Ramai yg sudah selesai menyeberangi 330m canopy walkway...and layan makro sambil turun
3:15PM - Menaiki bot balik ke Kuala Tahan - layan makan tengahari....& then free & easy
4:00PM - Waja & Mat Saiko sampai.
5:00PM - Ada yg shoot makro, skodeng awek orang putih & burung
7:30PM - Nyalakan api utk BBQ
8:00PM - Gotong royong membakar BBQ - melantak sampai tak larat telan
10:00PM - Ada yg layan star trail - tak tengok pulak hasil nya, ada yg borak2


Day 2 (Sunday)
7:00AM - Jemaah taam yg diketuai oleh Azli telah memanaskan nasi goreng & ayam bakar lebihan semalam punya BBQ.....semua layan.
7:15AM - Turun ke restoran sebab nak minum. Makan tadi takde air :D tapi ada yg mengelat....order roti canai pulak walauoun dah makan nasi goreng.
8:15AM - Bertolak ke Lata Berkoh - ada yg dapat shoot rusa & kingfisher - saya dapat shoot Kingmarul aje....hampeh tul.
9:00AM - Sampai ke entrance Lata Berkoh - start trekking sejauh 700m - santai jer
10:00AM - Layan 'slow shutter'.....f18, 1/250s....takyah tripod pun takpe....ish....
11:00AM - slow2 jalan balik ke bot sampai layan makro.
12:00PM - saya, Hakeim, Azli & Abah sampai dulu....& terus naik bot ke Kelah Sanctuary
12:10PM - lain2 sampai...& memulakan acara mandi bersama kelah.... tunggu hasil video Hakeim, OP kita :D
1:00PM - Balik ke Kuala Tahan - layan patin.....ada yg layan nasi goreng pattaya.....& then balik ke hotel.
2:00PM - Mandi....tidur sekejap & check out.

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Going home

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