Sunset at Sutera Harbour Resort

To the city folks, Sutera Harbour resort is probably synonym to 7K Sunset Run. And it is by no accident that the annual run is so named as its man-made shore is perfect for sunset watch. Come anytime in the evening and you'll be presented with different 'sky paintings' every single time.


You do not have to a be a resort guest to enjoy the beach (if i can call it beach).


During fine weather, you can sit among the rocks and watch the sun goes down.


This was on the evening of Malaysia Day, 16th September 2016


You can stay back long after other revelers have left and take long exposure shots.

The sky was not clear that day and it was not possible to witness the 'fireball' dipping down the horizon but this place is nearby and you can always come back to capture that elusive shot.

See more shots at JDFloydPictures.

Colourful nightview of the Supertrees at Garden by the Bay

The Supertree Grove is already a magnificent sight from both above (through the Flyer^TM or Observation Deck) and from down below the 'tree' itself. But wait until you see them during the night.

They are showered with various light colours, a still picture would not do them justice; you have to take video of them or sit back and view them in person to appreciate the creativeness of those who put these things together to work the way they do.

I have taken some long exposure shots of this garden and they can be viewed at JD-Floyd Pictures.

One of the lights on display starting early evening.

More pictures at Night view of the Supertree Grove at Garden by the Bay.


Happy Monday!

Why doesn't lightning travel in a straight line

In the past, I have few attempts at shooting the lightning as it happen and none of my shots are decent enough, but one thing I observed is that lightning does not travel in a straight line.

Captured with Nikon D90 at | 38mm | f/18 | ISO-200 | 30 sec |

First, how lightning is formed

The zig-zagging path of lightning has its origin in processes still not fully understood. It begins with strong rising currents of air creating a static electric charge through frictional effects somewhat like those on the surface of balloons rubbed on suitable fabric. Recall the Van der Graaff effect?

This charge generates an electric field that accelerates any free electrons in the surrounding air, smashing them into neighbouring molecules, thus releasing yet more electrons.


. . . and the zig-zag?

If sufficiently violent, these collisions will turn the air under the cloud (see pic above) from electrically insulating to conducting, which allows the passage of electrical current. This heats up the air to around 30,000^oC, triggering the characteristic flash light that follows the zig-zag path formed by the collisions.

The heat also causes a sudden expansion of the air, which we hear as a clap of thunder. The thunder 'loudness' corresponds with the amount of electrical current passing through the air.

In short: Molecules and electrons collisions are in random directions, so the lightning flash you see in the sky is not in a straight line, too.

Why do we get electric shocks from static?

Static builds up on the surface of good electrical insulators like glass, Teflon, paper, plastics, to name a few. Such materials build up charge readily because they don't conduct it away.

Natural example of static discharge. Shot with Nikkor 24-120 F4 at 120mm | f/7.1 | 30sec | ISO-200 |

It is called static because accumulated charge gets ever greater until something comes along to conduct it back to earth. We become that conductor when we feel the shock from touching the object. If the accumulated charge become so great, the discharge through the conductor - in the case that it is the human body - can be fatal.

Earth Hour 2012

Environment-conscious citizens can take part in one of the various activities lined up for this year’s Earth Hour - a practice observed worldwide to raise awareness on climate change - this evening. If you are still wondering or unclear about it, you can read about what is earth hour here.

Consumers are encouraged to switch off their non-essential lightings or electrical appliances during Earth Hour, which falls today, March 31, 2012. As its name suggest the period is one hour, starting from 8.30pm. During this period, our local energy utility, SESB, expects a reduction of load of 50 MW. But it also anticipate up to 70MW of drop of power consumption throughout the state.

For the record, highest drop of power demand was recorded in March, 2007 totalling 30.28 MW. Consumers in both Sabah and Federal Territory of Labuan took part in that practice.

Earth Hour Happenings: What and Where.

City Hall leads. City Hall collaborates with Sutera Harbour Resort to hold exciting programs at the tennis court (Sutera Harbour Resort), starting 6.00pm with food stalls, children’s recycled item contest, spa product show, and night photography. Night photography can be very rewarding and you would be surprised at how fascinating the results could be. Try it, compact point-and-shoot or DSLR camera would both give interesting perspectives.

Perhaps a good idea to take picture of the night/evening view of Sutera Harbour Resort itself.

Street-wise. Turning off of streetlights at 8.30pm along the main road from Tun Mustapha building (Yayasan Sabah) to the citi centre to Coastal Highway and down to Tanjung Aru. An entourage by the Mayor and other guests will cycle from the city to First Beach, Tanjung Aru later at 9.30pm.

Tun Mustapha Tower is on the far left. Can't imagine these street lights being switched-off.

Educating the youth. At St. Michael’s School, Miss Earth Sabah, Olivia Vun gave a talk on the Earth Hour and also conducted a quiz session with 500 secondary students on Friday. Organised by MNE (Mandy Nandu) Productions, such program is one of Miss Earth Sabah’s initiatives to practice the cause that they upheld. Also present was Sabah Environment Protection Director, Yabi Yangkat, and the program sponsor Gardenia’s GM David Yong.

What about petition? Sabah Wetlands Conservation Society (SWCS) will have a petition signing during Earth Hour (today, March 31 2012) against a proposed condominium project in the vicinity of the First Beach in Tanjung Aru.

Tg. Aru First Beach - maybe SWCS should highlight this indiscriminate felling of trees, too.

A challenge for a good cause

In support of the Earth Hour 2012, HSBC Bank Malaysia will switch off non-essential external lights and internal signboards in all of its branches starting 8.30pm nationwide.

HSBC also challenged you to a duel: “I will if you will”. In this challenge, the management pledges to plant 10 trees for every 1kg of used dry cells, rechargeable, mobile phone or laptop batteries collected. Special recycle bins will be placed at common and public areas within its headquarters in Leboh Ampang, Kuala Lumpur and selected branches nationwide. If you are HSBC’s customer and happen to read this, do ask the bank if they have the bins and take part of you have used batteries with you.

What about you?

If you prefer to stay at home and watch this weekend football matches, or enjoy some great movies, the least you can do is switch of one or two of your non-essential lightings, such as the 60W corridor bulb, the  2 x 36W garage fluorescent lamps, etc. For me, I will turn off one of the energy saving lamp at the backyard and the fluorescent tube at the entrance.

Happy Earth Hour, everyone. AND save few watts of energy today.


Note: All photographs in this article are taken by myself and are therefore copyrighted. Should you wish to paste them on your website, kindly give due credit and link them back to this page.

Nightshot Collections

Firstly, Happy New Year to fellow bloggers and readers. Hope it's not toooooo lateee for that now....

My new year greetings is a fireworks shot which never look like a fireworks at all. I have not learnt on the technique at the time of shooting but just took a few snaps as they were really coming up and about, and with a camera held at the wrong time I've just have to try my luck. [No firework shots here]

A chance shot at the lightning at West Coast of Sabah

Evening Fountain at Citymall Kota Kinabalu, a commercial/shopping centre fast growing in popularity.



Evening view of Kota Kinabalu seafront.

Cloudy Towers - hand-held shot of the popular Petronas Twin Towers minutes before it rained.



Vantage view of Marina Bay, Singapore. The folks wrote their new year wishes on balloons and threw them into the sea.