Bunny visits Secret Garden @ 1 Utama

I got sunburnt last Sunday walking around in 1 Utama. Impossible? 1U is all covered...how could I have gotten sunburnt? Read on to find out...

Did you know that there are 2 secret gardens in 1 Utama's new wing? One is the Secret Garden Cafe by Voir Gallery and another is the rooftop garden. Last weekend, I accompanied Hunny to 1 U so that he could get his bi-yearly fix of fashion show photography. As we were registering at the Customer Service Counter, we saw the public getting a card and it turned out to be the latest happening spot in 1U, the Secret Garden!

Hunny got me a pass and on the card, it stated 10am till 1am meaning that each person is only allowed to be in that Secret Garden for an hour which is the time stated on the card. I took the lift (same lift as going to the karaoke and rock climbing, I think) to level UR. This is what the entrance looked like...


After registering with the guard at the counter, I proceeded inside. It was a pleasant surprise to see a thriving garden with many trees, leafy and floral plants, creeping vines and cactuses at this rooftop garden.


Here are some of my favourite shots. The sun was really hot by the time I got up and there were many over hanging water sprays to keep the plants moist and hydrated.











Here are some of my not too good shots...I must really learn how to shoot these at better angles...



This one was nice but alas...it had 2 spots of water on it...I must have passed through one of the water sprays and gotten my lens wet... :(

I will come here again when I have the chance to go 1U but I would love to try it on a cloudy morning or the 5pm to 6pm session. This Secret Garden is opened only on weekends from 10am to 6pm. Limited passes can be collected free of charge at 1U (New Wing) Customer Service Counter. The pass will only enable you to enjoy the garden based on the time stated on it. Do bring along a hat and put on sunblock as it can get really hot and sunny in the garden. You don't to end up getting sunburnt like me!

Macro Photography

When I bought my camera, I wasn't too sure in what sort of photography genre that I would like to concentrate on. I just didn't want to take any sort of pictures as that would seem so aimless. I tried event photography but the other photographers were too aggressive and fierce. So I followed another photographer by the nick of "klguy" out and he was willing to teach me the wonders of macro photography.

What is Macro Photography? According to my favorite source of information - the Wiki,

"Macro photography is close-up photography; the classical definition is that the image projected on the "film plane" (i.e., film or a digital sensor) is close to the same size as the subject. On 35 mm film (for example), the lens is typically optimized to focus sharply on a small area approaching the size of the film frame. Most 35mm format macro lenses achieve at least 1:2, that is to say, the image on the film is 1/2 the size of the object being photographed. Many 35mm macro lenses are 1:1, meaning the image on the film is the same size as the object being photographed. Another important distinction is that lenses designed for macro are usually at their sharpest at macro focus distances and are not quite as sharp at other focus distances."

I also developed a love for taking these sort of photos as the camera lens managed to capture many other colors, features and details that our human naked eye cannot capture. If you have read up my blog, you will be able to see my macro photos under the tag "nature"

In www.shutterasia.com/forum , there is a special topic dedicated to wildlife and there are a group of macro professionals in there who contribute their pictures for us to enjoy. One of them is liewwk who loves to take photos of insects closed up. His photos are simply amazing! This is one of his threads of one of my interests...

Below photo is taken by liewwk and you may view more here ...

Besides liewwk, there are also other macro sifus available such as klguy (my 1st sifu), Orionmystery, LordMint, nfariz8, jkc, caveman, ckchowov and many more. They take all sorts of insects and not just the ones in XXX positions.

Here are some of the photos that they took...

This is by OrionMystery....He is a really patient guy with sharp eyes...that's y he can capture such moments...

OM always advises us to maintain eye contact of the insect when we shoot macro. Hence, most of his photos has insects eyes contact maintained with the camera's focal point.

This is a Macro shot taken by ckchowov....beautiful, isn't it?

This spider is taken by nfariz8....our naked eye will never be able to see these eyes on the spider...amazing, isn't it?

These ones are taken by my sifu, klguy...

Here is one taken by LordMint...

Here are some of my favorite shots...

Looks like fishnet stockings covering its eyes.....

Besides insects, you may also shoot macro on other objects such as flowers, toys, etc....amazing magnifying views, right?

What I found in my water jug last night...

My mummy always nags me for not covering the mouth of my water jug that I keep in my bedroom...She was right....This was what I discovered in my water jug last night....EeeeEEeeWWwWwww...!!!


1. Gulps...Caught in the act!!!



2. One very scared Lizard look....




3. Lizard enjoying a dip....




4. Lizard trying to get out...unsuccessful...




I am so not going to use this jug again till I sterilized it properly....!!!!!!!!!! *shudders*...

Bright Blue Skies

I sacrificed a nice day out to shoot Macro insects to help out at the World Lupus Day event in 1U last Saturday....

Bug Heaven in Damansara Jaya

I went with klguy to shoot this bug heavenly place. Not much mosquitoes and very recommended to go there before 10.30am because the sun heats up the place quickly due to no big trees....Thanks to klguy for bringing me here today to get my bug fix...

I shot great beauties and ugly-fuglies...

Here are the Beauties....

1. Squatted down and saw this....



2. A closer look



3. A robber fly



4. Lynx Spider



5. UFO Spider



6. Really green grasshopper



7. Another look at the grasshopper...



8. Green Fly or is it a mosquito?



9. This ladybird never stops >.<

10. Only get to see ladybird's backside



11. Hairy caterpillar



12. Leaf hopper <== damn fast flying creatures


13. Beautiful Butterfly. It's eyes look as if there is fishnet stocking over it...



14. A snail



15. A nice caterpillar



16. Hoverfly?



17. Housefly in my garden



18. Another view



19. Birds



Here comes the UGLIES......brace yourselves please!!!

20. Black Beetle



21. Stick Insect



22. UFO Insect...pls help me ID this....



23. Stink Bug?



Really ugly bugs...see until my fur stands up....

24. Cricket that camouflages into its natural surroundings...



25. Another one camouflaged against a dried up tree branch....



26. Cricket? Ugly, right???



Enough of uglies.....

27. We end with a nice wild flower....may bees hovering but bunny no luck to shoot the bees...


This really fixed my bug itchiness....till next weekend....hehehehhehe...hope you all enjoyed my photo series. Comments are welcomed...