Saturday 14 May 2011

Into The Dragon's (Fly) Lair in Langkawi !

According to Unsolved mysteries.com, the dragonfly has for centuries captivated human imaginations with its daredevil flying maneuvers, vibrant colors and bullish disposition. Predating the dinosaur, this fascinating insect of the order Odonata (meaning "toothed") has long been the subject of chilling myths and legends. In fact, the dragonfly's terrifying syringe-like appearance earned it a laundry list of dastardly names in world-wide folklore including "Devil's Darner," "Water Witch" and "Snake Doctor." Today, I have decided to face to face with the creature and found out that I was actually met with one of the friendliest creatures
has ever been told !


 Nikon D3000 + Nikkor 18-55mm f/5.6 + Hoya Telephoto +4 @ 55mm — 1/2000 sec, f/5.6 ISO 400

The "Snake Doctor" - Dragonflies are known as snake doctors because they can bring dead snakes back to life !!! ( That's another myths about Dragonflies)


 Nikon D3000 + Nikkor 18-55mm f/5.6 + Hoya Telephoto +4 @ 55mm — 1/2000 sec, f/5.6 ISO 400

In Japan, however, the dragonfly is symbolic of success, victory, happiness, strength and courage. During the 11th century noble Japanese families used the dragonfly as ornamentation on everything from furnishings to textiles. The dragonfly was chosen as a part of the Samurai family crest. Japan was not always named Japan. Japanese legend has it that an Emperor was bitten by a horsefly which, in turn, was eaten by a dragonfly. The Emperor honored the dragonfly by naming what is now Japan “Akitsushima” which, during that time, translated to “Isle of the Dragonfly”.


 Nikon D3000 + Nikkor 18-55mm f/5.6 + Hoya Telephoto +4 @ 55mm — 1/2000 sec, f/5.6 ISO 400

According to "Life on a Little-known Planet" by Howard Ensign Evans, children of the island of Lombok catch dragonflies on long polls that are smeared with a sticky substance. The insects are then fried with onions. In Bali, dragonflies are fried with coconut oil and vegetables and spices. And in Thailand, Laos and other parts of eastern Asia, dragonfly larvae are served roasted. Uhhhhh...Yummy !


 Nikon D3000 + Nikkor 18-55mm f/5.6 + Hoya Telephoto +4 @ 55mm — 1/2000 sec, f/5.6 ISO 400

There is also a myth that in the old days, dragonflies would seek out bad kids and sew their mouths together with their claspers while they slept. Gulp ! 


 Nikon D3000 + Nikkor 18-55mm f/5.6 + Hoya Telephoto +4 @ 55mm — 1/2000 sec, f/5.6 ISO 400

A dragonfly’s eyes have about 30,000 lenses and a dragonfly can see all the way around it, but they don’t see details very well. Pity !


Source/Image: Wikipedia 

One of most delightful stories about the dragonfly is a Zuni myth about two children who were left behind by the villagers when the corn crop failed. The little boy constructed a toy dragonfly from corn husks to cheer up his sister. The dragonfly eventually came to life and appeased the corn maidens who created a bountiful harvest of corn to welcome the villagers back.


 Nikon D3000 + Nikkor 18-55mm f/5.6 + Hoya Telephoto +4 @ 55mm — 1/2000 sec, f/5.6 ISO 400

Damselflies are similar to dragonflies but are also usually smaller, weaker fliers than dragonflies, and their eyes are separated. Damselflies have been around for about 200 million years and belong to the Order Odonata. Odonata means "tooth-jawed" and comes from a classification system developed by the 18th century entomologist, Johann Christian Fabricius.


Nikon D3000 + Nikkor 18-55mm f/5.6 + Hoya Telephoto +4 @ 55mm — 1/2000 sec, f/5.6 ISO 400


The most striking aspect of damselflies is their rich of colors: yellow, blue, red, green, violet, and orange. I am certain you all have seen these delicate and beautiful damselflies along small stream or river banks and i'm happy with this shot !


(Nikonian.Org)

The Samurai's Kamon or Family Crest - The Crossed Butterflies.



(Nikonian.Org)

Samurai Yoroi - Inspired by Butterflies





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Welcome To The Jungle ! ( Langkawi Series )

 Help me spread the word - Save the Rainforest & Save the world ! Please save our world’s rainforests and their incredible beauty ! I have been writing to all the readers and asking people on what actions have been taken to stop the destructions and to regenerate the world’s rainforests particularly the Asia regions ! We want answers from all the people especially the leaders and to take immediate action ! This is where we need their help.  Help us to protect the extraordinary number of unique creatures found nowhere else in the world. 




Flying Squirrel  (Cynocephalus volans, C. variegatus)

Save the Rainforest - Keep "it's a small world" for the flying lemur ( or flying squirrel ). This photo was taken at Berjaya Langkawi Resort "sanctuary" in Langkawi, Malaysia.

Facts about Flying Lemur :

Family                   : Cynocephalidae.
Status                    : Vulnerable.
Size                        : Length 13 to 17 in., Tail 7 to 11 in., Weight 2 to 4 lbs.
Diet                        : Herbivore.
Characteristics  : Solitary, nocturnal.
Area                       : Asia.
Offspring              : One.

Trivia:

·       The flying lemur is also known as a colugo, cobego or kagwag.
·       The longest glide for a flying lemur was recorded at 136 metres (450 ft.).
·       Almost 90% of the Philippine Eagle’s diet consists of flying lemur.
·       Although its teeth resemble those of carnivores, the flying lemur's diet consists of fruit  and leaves.





Giant Black Squirrel (Ratufa bicolor)

The black giant squirrel or Malayan giant squirrel (Ratufa bicolor) is a large tree squirrel . Head and body length varies from 35 to 58 cm (13.8 to 22.8 ) in length, and the tail is up to 60 centimetres (23.6 in) long, with an overall length of up to 118 centimetres (46.5 in). The back, ears and bushy tail are deep brown to black with a lighter buff-colored belly. I captured this images in Berjaya Langkawi Resort on 12th May 2011.


Monkey Business

While a monkey is not biologically prone to attack- Please don't provoke & feed them. There is a possibilities that your actions gone awry and will lead to stitches or a potentially fatal case.



Exotic Bird 

  I think this is the first hornbill I have ever captured using my Sigma 70-300mm lense. The bird look very impressive and the shot is technicaly need further trainning. Sigh!



Kingfishers

 And I saw quite a few Kingfishers in Berjaya Langkawi Resort not long after I took this one (at Ulu Melaka). The birds are really beautiful ! (Again, I did not get any good shot and maybe I had better luck next time)
 

Ooouuuuucccccchhhh !

There were many small fruits on each tree in the rainforest and they all fell off for some reason.Like this one-these fruit fell and hit on my head and I got a big bump for two days...Ooooouch !!!









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Wednesday 11 May 2011

Jack of all Trades and Master of None.

People always ask me if I am a photographer or naturalist. My answer to them was, "No! I am just being a Jack of all Trades and Master of None and I am still learning from all nature experts, professional photographer and bloggers who love flora and fauna.


Get Closer With The Wild


 Mysterious and entertaining lives of nature’s creatures.




Interested parties are welcomed to reproduce or quote materials published in this blog with the condition  that they are
credited to
http://hasnulyakin.blogspot.com/ to avoid misunderstanding.Thank you.

Tuesday 10 May 2011

Colourful World Of Osaka, Japan.



What in the world was that ? I must have been crazier back then! The ride at Universal Japan delivers on it’s promise of a thrilling ride. I have never experienced anything like it in the 33 years of life I have.I could not tell if it was piss or sweat all over my jeans.My head was numb,I could not feel my face,my blood drained to the bottom of my feet, and I still cant go to the bathroom.Remember my yeeeeeeehaaaaaaaaaa all the way down? I ended up with an aaaaaaaaaaaaaash@!$#%^&*@@fuc###lk$... all the way down.But I enjoyed it to the fullest.






Ultraman was one of the earliest Japanese live-action TV shows featuring a human-sized hero who could transform into a giant-sized hero to take on an endless parade of  monsters



My first shot of the skyline in Osaka - The beautiful giant crab of Dotonbori !



Giant Squid At The Sidewalk - Dotonbori. 



Jaw Dropping  - Another freaking creature at Universal Studio Osaka-JAWS.
Jaws is a theme park attraction based upon the films of the same name.



Colourful Girl - an entertainer at Universal Studio, Japan



Ghost Whisperer - Even Universal Studio studios themselves have tales of ghost .




Universal Studios Japan-The Ride & Magical Starlight Parade. Illuminating Parade born in the park at night! The rain had just stopped and the outdoors looked like the perfect place to be. What a breathtaking show !




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credited to
http://hasnulyakin.blogspot.com/ to avoid misunderstanding.Thank you.


Nana - A Heartwarming Mother's Day Card !

Nana & Erika placed this lovely "Happy Mother's Day" card which I think they had prepared at school .The cards are just gorgeous and I just love their styles. I was so impressed when Naomi told me that the kids save their pocket money to buy a chocolate bar as a little gift for her and of course, this chokes me up.

I would like to share this on my blog not as over-proud parent but because I know that children always often speak from their heart and we as parents would do well to follow where they would lead us....

Today's post is an essentially random collection of  my own personal pictures  V(^_^)



The Card.



Okasan ( In Japanese - Mother)



Otosan ( In Japanese - Father)



Nana



 Erika


The Message.



Interested parties are welcomed to reproduce or quote materials published in this blog with the condition  that they are credited to http://hasnulyakin.blogspot.com/ to avoid misunderstanding.Thank you.

Monday 9 May 2011

Many Faces Of Erika - The Next "Keisuke Honda" !


 Nikon D3000 + Nikkor 18-55mm  f/5.6 — 1/800 sec, ISO 200

 Say “Cheese” !


    Nikon D3000 + Nikkor 18-55mm  f/5.6 — 1/800 sec, ISO 200

Getting Ready For The Next Olympic.



Nikon D3000 + Nikkor 18-55mm  f/5.6 — 1/800 sec, ISO 200

Like a Pro.







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Macro Photography With A Reverse Mounted Lens - Part 2.


So, you like the idea of doing macro photography with reverse lense? As Iʼve been shooting this way for nearly 4 months now -I am sure that everyone love the adventure and thrill into new worlds of macro and it's dreamy imagination. What I love about macro photography is that it allows us see an entirely different world that is filled with an abundance of detail that usually goes unnoticed by the naked eye.

Here are a few of the images Iʼve captured using the same trick again and itʼs brought me a lot of joy eventhough I spent hundred of punishing hours during learning process.
Remember - use nothing except your camera and the reverse lens mount.
Enjoy !












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All images copyright © Langkawi Ink.Com. All rights reserved
Interested parties are welcomed to reproduce or quote materials published in this blog with the condition  that they are
credited to
http://hasnulyakin.blogspot.com/ to avoid misunderstanding.Thank you.

Sunday 8 May 2011

Macro Photography With A Reverse Mounted Lens.


I always have admired the National Geographic photographers. It seems that they are the most successful photographers  - not only skilled photographic technicians but most importantly they all have a deep love and appreciation for their subjects. In order to shoot a photo or be a pro like them, we may not be necessary to buy the most expensive camera or lense as everybody knows, macro lens are very expensive. I'll show you a great way of creating a macro photo by using reverse ring or take macro photographs with the reverse lens if you’re really strapped for cash. It's really that simple ? Wanna see the results ? 

Please enjoy all the timeless moments seized by my camera and hopefully this photo will inspire people to care about mother earth and appreciate her habitat (.....and you also will save a lot of your money by transforming your prime lens into a macro lens).



Macro Reverse Ring Adapter for 52mm Filter Thread. You can get it for only USD 10.00 or RM30.00 at ebay, Adorama.com or Amazon.com. 



All you need is a reverse ring and your standard lens (18-55mm ) .



And here is the results - have fun with it and learn from it.


 Nikon D3000 with macro adapter reverse ring + Nikkor 18-55mm


 Nikon D3000 with macro adapter reverse ring + Nikkor 18-55mm


 Nikon D3000 with macro adapter reverse ring + Nikkor 18-55mm


 Nikon D3000 with macro adapter reverse ring + Nikkor 18-55mm


Nikon D3000 with macro adapter reverse ring + Nikkor 18-55mm


 
 Nikon D3000 with macro adapter reverse ring + Nikkor 18-55mm


Nikon D3000 with macro adapter reverse ring + Nikkor 18-55mm




Interested parties are welcomed to reproduce or quote materials published in this blog with the condition  that they are
credited to
http://hasnulyakin.blogspot.com/ to avoid misunderstanding.Thank you.