- Never Stop Dreaming -
This morning, I came to work as usual only to find myself in utter shocked that Legendary King of Pop, Michael Jackson has died. When an iconic public figure goes away, there will no doubt be speculations on how and why but be it the truth or simply rumors, I think it's better to leave it all behind and give the man some decent respect. I am sure I do not need to go thru the bizarre profile of MJ since Wiki has almost every. A silent and eternal tribute to him in my cyber world is all that I ask for.
I remember listening to his songs when I was like a chikd on casette tapes when MTVs weren't even heard of. Had the Dangerous album on casette and while digging thru my families' music, I found the Bad album. In fact, I think every adult and kid in the neighbourhood knew MJ and we all grew up on a healthy dosage of his songs. These songs would flood the radio air waves late in the evenings around 8 to 9 and sometimes when riding in the backseat of Daddy's car coming home from Grandpa's or Ma Ma's place, I would fall asleep. MJ's songs were indeed part of my growing up experience...when I was in Primary 6, I could still vividly remember rapping to his tunes especially in Black and White and Jam. The scene of MJ and Michael Jordan in one of his MVs was so impactful that I can remembered it even now more than 10 years later. All was already good but after watching his first movie with the weird bunny, I think his influence on me was as impactful as Elvis on some older folks. Moonwalks, the infamous LEAN in Smooth Criminal were all so original and though I hate to confess, I was one of those pugly kids trying to imitate it.
When my Dad gave the Dangerous album to one of his Indian biz partners, I remembered my elder brother fumming up pretty badly. Some how MJ was pretty influential to most of us. However as the years go by, different genres of music began to flood the local air waves and my brother introduced me to punk, punk rock, ska, etc...MJ's stuffs kinda faded like history...When he launched his HIStory album, I was already a distance from his music not because he was fading away but I had too many choices.
Looking back now, I still prefer his older songs than the new ones and now might just be the time to dig up some music for the memories as a tribute to one of the most iconic legends of my time.
One of my friend was pestering me a while ago to go with her to see MJ's last performance in London this summer but I gave her the cold shoulder since I wasn't a huge fan now. I bet she and many zillions around the world would be weeping for the lost of MJ. Not sure if it's pure coincidence but Hot Toys, a superb toy maker from Hong Kong had previously release a uber realistic 12 inch figure of MJ draped in his famous Dangerous outfit. White T-shirt, gloves and socks with glittery black fedora, pants, jacket and shoes. Go grab this one last memorabilia before it's gone to remember the man who change the world, the King of Pop, Michael Jackson...
P.S. You will always be remembered as one of the greatest Legend of all time.
Friday, June 26, 2009
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Too Hectic Too Hectic!
- Never Stop Dreaming -
At the moment, ma hands are pretty much tied up with a lot of things. Just last week when I started off on a usual Monday, a fellow colleague dropped me a verbal wedding invitation just 5 days short of the actual day. It's not like I know him since childhood days but more of a rather hi and bye every Monday kinda relationship. Nonetheless I graciously accepted it since there wasn't any plans for the Sat as well.
The Sunday prior (15th) wasn't really spectacular to be exact...The weather was indeed really good since Heaven granted me almost 3 to 4 days of consecutive rain. But besides that blessing, everyone else was laying low beneath radar detection. Good for me as well since I am saving up for the huge expenditure coming late June to late July. In the end, I went out with C to scout for decent places to do some photoshoots. The rain did ruin everything since I wasn't agreeable to subject my gear to it but it was just nice driving around the scenic routes. While stopping by Megami Lake for a short break, the Japanese guy and his gf in the blue Evo 7 next to me bombarded me with their curious looks. Well I have already gotten over this shallow stereotype of the typical Japanese mentality that every single Chinese or Korean that walks in Japan have to be Japanese and every BLONDE have to be an American. Can't really blame them since they have not much luck knowing things outside of their self sufficient island. C was as curious as them but after hearing my reasoning, she got it as well. I swore the look of the Japanese guy was like, "Dang...wish I was that fellow Japanese chap with the hot blonde girl!" exploding inside his silent head since he can't be expressing it in front of his girl...Haha what an episode.
Ok moving on to the Friday just last week. Hit some precious 外人 (Gaijin) literally "foreigner" time with the rest of the not-so-usual crowd. New watering hole introduced by C which wasn't much of a fad except the house music was pretty listenable. Went back home tired without any alcohol poisoning but failed to make it to the Japanese class on Sat morning since it was raining and I was lazy. Slept till late into the afternoon, dragged myself outta bed and made my way to the wedding ground held at 1800 hours in Nagano City. Wasn't expecting anything much from the wedding but Mr Kitahara (The Groom) did surprise me when mid way he went out to presumably change kits like the usual Chinese wedding. He appeared back with the exact same suit PLUS an oversized striking blue backpack. Inside the backpack was something resembling a keg of Asahi Super Dry Beer with a hose connected to it aka Proton Pack Ghostbuster style. Sweet was what I thought as he made his rounds around the buffet-themed dinner that had 70% of the guests standing. Definitely better than the "Yam Seng" in SG....so Kudos to Mr Kitahara for that.
After the wedding, I went back to Ueda and met up with more friends for some TCSS session.
Sunday, 21st June...woke up to a rainy day again (in fact 2 weekends in a row). Tried to Jailbreak my Ipod Touch to get the stupid Metal Gear Touch to work but failed AGAIN after like an intense week of failed Jailbreaking. Finally after all the hair-pulling experience, Pwnage Tool for Mac weaved magic but still can't get the MGS Touch to work. Gave up and made my way to 辰野 (Tatsuno) Park to catch the fireflies party. Was given the news by one teacher who knew I like historical stuffs, anything Japanese and photography after he saw a newspaper article in the papers. About an hour and a half drive from my place that passed thru hidden valleys of paradise, Initial D styled snakey mountain passes and more breathtaking scenery that I opted to skip since I was all juiced up for the fireflies. Too bad I was doing this photography journey all solo...with only the music, the car and the beautiful day to accompany me.
Located slightly on the opposite side of the massive Suwa Lake...the mountain pass up to get over to the other side had me stealing a rather nice view of Suwa Lake. Again you can only take my words for it since there are no pics. In the end after the long almost 2 hours odd drive...I reached a small park no bigger than a football field. Checked my watch and realised that it was almost 1800 hours but the sky was slightly overcast and HOT!. Since this is the first time I was there, the ￥1,000 parking at the park was obviously the best choice. Seems like this Firefly phenomenon is quite huge at this famous place since the locals had dressed up in bright blue Happi(s) with a firefly emblem on the back. They were ushering in the cars and they littered the entire vicinity of the park to provide nusiance as well as support.
Parked the car and went inside the park to scout for possible shooting locations...it was only then I realise that the tiny initial park wasn't the place. Had to cross a bridge spanning over a wide river, sort of like the huge "Long Kang" in SG except bigger and had natural banks instead of towering concrete. Wiggled up the beaten path and viola! In front of me was a huge park with thick low-lying bushes with tiny purple flowers and streams beneath it. A complex but well organized path and the wooden fences presented this place as modern. This was all done to protect the fireflies since they were the pride of this place. Only 3 tripods and 2 photographers were in sight resting beside their gear. No cameras were in sight as well, only tripods. I smiled and picked a spot close to one of the 3 tripods since I did not know the place well and those 2 photographers looked like they really know what they were doing. So they were simply an indication of a good spot.
Went back to the car to haul my gear and whisked back to the spot. Tripod up and gear checked...I was beginning to test out my preferred framing angle, which of the 2 lenses to use, remotes, etc. and all these while the other photographers were simply checking out my setup. It's normal since I do that all the time...like in all other situations as well. Digging the cars others' drive, digging the girls other groups have in a club, digging the amount of food on my platter, etc. After that I simply laid back to enjoy the nice moist smell of the air less the pesky bugs buzzing around my face. As the clock started to tick by, one by one, two by two and hordes by hordes, people with point and shoot cameras, photographers with tripods, kids, families, couples, etc started turning up. Of course I was more concern about who or in fact what was being set up beside me. Just before the last dying light disappeared into the distance horizon, there were 5DMk2(s), 1DsMk3(s), KissDX3(s), D90s, D700s, Pentax film cameras which looked like priceless antique pieces and various assortment of lenses. The only thing that set myself apart from all these "professional-looking" photographers were that I was the ONLY young punk with a decent camera and tripod.
Getting stares and curious looks from the other fellow photographers given my youthful appeal, the prominent L lens stuck on my tiny camera might actually indicate that I knew what I was doing or that I simply had stacks of Yen to burn. Luckily for me, the guy on my left was pitching his 5DMk2 with the older 28-70L lens so I took a sneaky peep on his LCD to syphon his settings...But in the end, I stood with my settings.
And then the moment that everyone was waiting anxiously for finally strolled in with ease. One by one the tiny fireflies began to randomly "Glow" their biolumiscence light. They flew, they danced and they glowed...drawing streaks of greenish and yellowish lights everywhere just like what Nature had intended. We the invaders just go "Wahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!" and the photographers fiddled with remotes, switches and the sounds of shutters fluttered the air. Of course there were the occasional "Spoilers" who would fire their flash from their handphones or point and shoot cameras despite countless announcements not to do so. Nonetheless nothing did dampen any enthusiastic spirit since it did not rained and the weather was good. An awesome display of light painting by gazillions of firefiles...yes there were so many of them, in the forests, in the parks, stopping on the power light on my camera since they shared the same color, stopping on people's head, hands, etc.
That's about it for now but have been rather busy with work and reports lately since my Boss wanted a more detail summary. Tied up with trying to get the apps to work on my Jailbroken Ipod Touch...and buying the 5Dmk2 this weekend, going back to SG in less than 4 weeks...
I am alive and very much ready to embark on the next adventurous journey...
At the moment, ma hands are pretty much tied up with a lot of things. Just last week when I started off on a usual Monday, a fellow colleague dropped me a verbal wedding invitation just 5 days short of the actual day. It's not like I know him since childhood days but more of a rather hi and bye every Monday kinda relationship. Nonetheless I graciously accepted it since there wasn't any plans for the Sat as well.
The Sunday prior (15th) wasn't really spectacular to be exact...The weather was indeed really good since Heaven granted me almost 3 to 4 days of consecutive rain. But besides that blessing, everyone else was laying low beneath radar detection. Good for me as well since I am saving up for the huge expenditure coming late June to late July. In the end, I went out with C to scout for decent places to do some photoshoots. The rain did ruin everything since I wasn't agreeable to subject my gear to it but it was just nice driving around the scenic routes. While stopping by Megami Lake for a short break, the Japanese guy and his gf in the blue Evo 7 next to me bombarded me with their curious looks. Well I have already gotten over this shallow stereotype of the typical Japanese mentality that every single Chinese or Korean that walks in Japan have to be Japanese and every BLONDE have to be an American. Can't really blame them since they have not much luck knowing things outside of their self sufficient island. C was as curious as them but after hearing my reasoning, she got it as well. I swore the look of the Japanese guy was like, "Dang...wish I was that fellow Japanese chap with the hot blonde girl!" exploding inside his silent head since he can't be expressing it in front of his girl...Haha what an episode.
Ok moving on to the Friday just last week. Hit some precious 外人 (Gaijin) literally "foreigner" time with the rest of the not-so-usual crowd. New watering hole introduced by C which wasn't much of a fad except the house music was pretty listenable. Went back home tired without any alcohol poisoning but failed to make it to the Japanese class on Sat morning since it was raining and I was lazy. Slept till late into the afternoon, dragged myself outta bed and made my way to the wedding ground held at 1800 hours in Nagano City. Wasn't expecting anything much from the wedding but Mr Kitahara (The Groom) did surprise me when mid way he went out to presumably change kits like the usual Chinese wedding. He appeared back with the exact same suit PLUS an oversized striking blue backpack. Inside the backpack was something resembling a keg of Asahi Super Dry Beer with a hose connected to it aka Proton Pack Ghostbuster style. Sweet was what I thought as he made his rounds around the buffet-themed dinner that had 70% of the guests standing. Definitely better than the "Yam Seng" in SG....so Kudos to Mr Kitahara for that.
After the wedding, I went back to Ueda and met up with more friends for some TCSS session.
Sunday, 21st June...woke up to a rainy day again (in fact 2 weekends in a row). Tried to Jailbreak my Ipod Touch to get the stupid Metal Gear Touch to work but failed AGAIN after like an intense week of failed Jailbreaking. Finally after all the hair-pulling experience, Pwnage Tool for Mac weaved magic but still can't get the MGS Touch to work. Gave up and made my way to 辰野 (Tatsuno) Park to catch the fireflies party. Was given the news by one teacher who knew I like historical stuffs, anything Japanese and photography after he saw a newspaper article in the papers. About an hour and a half drive from my place that passed thru hidden valleys of paradise, Initial D styled snakey mountain passes and more breathtaking scenery that I opted to skip since I was all juiced up for the fireflies. Too bad I was doing this photography journey all solo...with only the music, the car and the beautiful day to accompany me.
Located slightly on the opposite side of the massive Suwa Lake...the mountain pass up to get over to the other side had me stealing a rather nice view of Suwa Lake. Again you can only take my words for it since there are no pics. In the end after the long almost 2 hours odd drive...I reached a small park no bigger than a football field. Checked my watch and realised that it was almost 1800 hours but the sky was slightly overcast and HOT!. Since this is the first time I was there, the ￥1,000 parking at the park was obviously the best choice. Seems like this Firefly phenomenon is quite huge at this famous place since the locals had dressed up in bright blue Happi(s) with a firefly emblem on the back. They were ushering in the cars and they littered the entire vicinity of the park to provide nusiance as well as support.
Parked the car and went inside the park to scout for possible shooting locations...it was only then I realise that the tiny initial park wasn't the place. Had to cross a bridge spanning over a wide river, sort of like the huge "Long Kang" in SG except bigger and had natural banks instead of towering concrete. Wiggled up the beaten path and viola! In front of me was a huge park with thick low-lying bushes with tiny purple flowers and streams beneath it. A complex but well organized path and the wooden fences presented this place as modern. This was all done to protect the fireflies since they were the pride of this place. Only 3 tripods and 2 photographers were in sight resting beside their gear. No cameras were in sight as well, only tripods. I smiled and picked a spot close to one of the 3 tripods since I did not know the place well and those 2 photographers looked like they really know what they were doing. So they were simply an indication of a good spot.
Went back to the car to haul my gear and whisked back to the spot. Tripod up and gear checked...I was beginning to test out my preferred framing angle, which of the 2 lenses to use, remotes, etc. and all these while the other photographers were simply checking out my setup. It's normal since I do that all the time...like in all other situations as well. Digging the cars others' drive, digging the girls other groups have in a club, digging the amount of food on my platter, etc. After that I simply laid back to enjoy the nice moist smell of the air less the pesky bugs buzzing around my face. As the clock started to tick by, one by one, two by two and hordes by hordes, people with point and shoot cameras, photographers with tripods, kids, families, couples, etc started turning up. Of course I was more concern about who or in fact what was being set up beside me. Just before the last dying light disappeared into the distance horizon, there were 5DMk2(s), 1DsMk3(s), KissDX3(s), D90s, D700s, Pentax film cameras which looked like priceless antique pieces and various assortment of lenses. The only thing that set myself apart from all these "professional-looking" photographers were that I was the ONLY young punk with a decent camera and tripod.
Getting stares and curious looks from the other fellow photographers given my youthful appeal, the prominent L lens stuck on my tiny camera might actually indicate that I knew what I was doing or that I simply had stacks of Yen to burn. Luckily for me, the guy on my left was pitching his 5DMk2 with the older 28-70L lens so I took a sneaky peep on his LCD to syphon his settings...But in the end, I stood with my settings.
And then the moment that everyone was waiting anxiously for finally strolled in with ease. One by one the tiny fireflies began to randomly "Glow" their biolumiscence light. They flew, they danced and they glowed...drawing streaks of greenish and yellowish lights everywhere just like what Nature had intended. We the invaders just go "Wahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!" and the photographers fiddled with remotes, switches and the sounds of shutters fluttered the air. Of course there were the occasional "Spoilers" who would fire their flash from their handphones or point and shoot cameras despite countless announcements not to do so. Nonetheless nothing did dampen any enthusiastic spirit since it did not rained and the weather was good. An awesome display of light painting by gazillions of firefiles...yes there were so many of them, in the forests, in the parks, stopping on the power light on my camera since they shared the same color, stopping on people's head, hands, etc.
That's about it for now but have been rather busy with work and reports lately since my Boss wanted a more detail summary. Tied up with trying to get the apps to work on my Jailbroken Ipod Touch...and buying the 5Dmk2 this weekend, going back to SG in less than 4 weeks...
I am alive and very much ready to embark on the next adventurous journey...
Thursday, June 11, 2009
What's with all these?
- Never Stop Dreaming -
Over a period of some pretty lazy and boring weekends followed by long overcast days with no Sun in sight, I was left wondering what to do since my healthy dosage of Bear Essence was being depleted. Until last night when the rain poured and wrecked up a noisy but comfortable snuggling sensation, I opted for some Tayutama Mashiro's magic. Yeah the weather was quite a blessing but that did not stop some irritating elements from reaching me.
A fellow designer friend in SG was in a foul mood presumably inflicted by an irritant, someone not to appealing mentally in her eyes. Blatantly, she was unleashing a fiery arsenal of chat messages via facebook and while I do not know this person in question personally, I can only piece a vague visual imagery. Not that I have any reasons to doubt a friend, but sometimes I think everyone's got some sort of ego to protect and that's probably the basis of becoming upset.
Of course I myself have an ego to defend at times which really irritates me as well but most of the time, I have learnt to let things happen and take everything in my stride. Sad to say China Chinese are some of the most egoistic people I have come to know...not every single one but a shocking majority. The Japanese on the other hand are so much more polite, humble and lovable but at times they are even more scheming than the Chinese.
Recently an external sales person whom I have know for a while since I got here have been flaming some pretty ill stuffs about fellow Japanese to me. While I do not deny that I have a HUGE fad for ANYTHING Japanese, she seems to be rather determine to coerce her views upon me. "Japanese are evil and bad. You do not know the real Japanese. All you foreigners are "gullible". etc" sort of nonsense are being imposed on me against my will. "What the hell" I questioned myself...I personally do not like imposing personal opinions and views upon others since everyone is entitled to their own and I am really left wondering what catastrophic mental "RAPE" had she been thru to leave such an impression on me. Man...I am more bothered about buying meself a new camera, stealing more precious sleep than to be bothered about such trivial issues. Sure it doesn't make any sense what she is trying to prove but hearing such nonsense time after time is pretty bland.
So back online for more photography stuffs and once again I was greeted by some egoistic presumably China Chinese defending like there was no tomorrow regarding some comments lashed out. Come on...these comments comming from photographers who make a living outta it, definitely worth taking it in one's own stride be it full of sarcasm or useful advice. Afterall why would one post pictures online knowing very well that it would be subjected to criticisms. If you can't swim why bother to jump into the pool and then blame the swimming shorts for being too big? (Tsk tsk, a quote from D!)
In the wake of humanity, why can't everyone live harmoniously without the usual drama mama kiddy antics. I am not trying to be some saint here but rather everyone else is always giving someone elses a reason to loath, hate, discrimate, etc. and that alone is rather sad. I am disgusted...
I like to look at things on a different perspective and I choose to play with words to either insult, slander or maliciously attempt to "kill" since the pen is always mightier than the sword.
Trashing all that filth aside, I am actually plotting a couple of scripts inside my head to do a short film. Not sure if I will attempt to do a stop motion animation first, time lapse scenery or even some real world stuffs. But it's hard to get everything outta my head now since words are a rather poor depiction of the actual scene. Guess like the pencil and paper route will be it then...
Over a period of some pretty lazy and boring weekends followed by long overcast days with no Sun in sight, I was left wondering what to do since my healthy dosage of Bear Essence was being depleted. Until last night when the rain poured and wrecked up a noisy but comfortable snuggling sensation, I opted for some Tayutama Mashiro's magic. Yeah the weather was quite a blessing but that did not stop some irritating elements from reaching me.
A fellow designer friend in SG was in a foul mood presumably inflicted by an irritant, someone not to appealing mentally in her eyes. Blatantly, she was unleashing a fiery arsenal of chat messages via facebook and while I do not know this person in question personally, I can only piece a vague visual imagery. Not that I have any reasons to doubt a friend, but sometimes I think everyone's got some sort of ego to protect and that's probably the basis of becoming upset.
Of course I myself have an ego to defend at times which really irritates me as well but most of the time, I have learnt to let things happen and take everything in my stride. Sad to say China Chinese are some of the most egoistic people I have come to know...not every single one but a shocking majority. The Japanese on the other hand are so much more polite, humble and lovable but at times they are even more scheming than the Chinese.
Recently an external sales person whom I have know for a while since I got here have been flaming some pretty ill stuffs about fellow Japanese to me. While I do not deny that I have a HUGE fad for ANYTHING Japanese, she seems to be rather determine to coerce her views upon me. "Japanese are evil and bad. You do not know the real Japanese. All you foreigners are "gullible". etc" sort of nonsense are being imposed on me against my will. "What the hell" I questioned myself...I personally do not like imposing personal opinions and views upon others since everyone is entitled to their own and I am really left wondering what catastrophic mental "RAPE" had she been thru to leave such an impression on me. Man...I am more bothered about buying meself a new camera, stealing more precious sleep than to be bothered about such trivial issues. Sure it doesn't make any sense what she is trying to prove but hearing such nonsense time after time is pretty bland.
So back online for more photography stuffs and once again I was greeted by some egoistic presumably China Chinese defending like there was no tomorrow regarding some comments lashed out. Come on...these comments comming from photographers who make a living outta it, definitely worth taking it in one's own stride be it full of sarcasm or useful advice. Afterall why would one post pictures online knowing very well that it would be subjected to criticisms. If you can't swim why bother to jump into the pool and then blame the swimming shorts for being too big? (Tsk tsk, a quote from D!)
In the wake of humanity, why can't everyone live harmoniously without the usual drama mama kiddy antics. I am not trying to be some saint here but rather everyone else is always giving someone elses a reason to loath, hate, discrimate, etc. and that alone is rather sad. I am disgusted...
I like to look at things on a different perspective and I choose to play with words to either insult, slander or maliciously attempt to "kill" since the pen is always mightier than the sword.
Trashing all that filth aside, I am actually plotting a couple of scripts inside my head to do a short film. Not sure if I will attempt to do a stop motion animation first, time lapse scenery or even some real world stuffs. But it's hard to get everything outta my head now since words are a rather poor depiction of the actual scene. Guess like the pencil and paper route will be it then...
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
What more camera stuffs AGAIN?!
- Never Stop Dreaming -
Ha...yes that's so right. I can't seem to distant myself from getting cosy with camera related news, updates, prices, stockpile, etc. Can't be help since I will be dropping a huge A Bomb amount of cash on the 5Dmk2 soon. While checking out the various lens prices, I am also keeping track of the price fluctuation of the 5Dmk2. While the Recommended Retail Price (RRP) is usually super expensive because that's the price set by the company and sometimes, absent-minded consumers might just fall for it altogether. The price that I am actually trailing is the street price to be exact...this price actually fluctuates over time and it reflects the supply and demand of the consumer. So it would be most advisable to buy it at the lowest possible.
In fact the price of the 5Dmk2 was declining steadily over the months until Canon officially confirm the release of the much disputed firmware update to manually control the settings on the vid functions. With that piece of anvil-weighted news, the demands of the 5Dmk2 have suddenly took an adverse sharp spike up. This probably propelled the street price to move upwards since the sudden surge in demand will exceed the current supply. Of course if you plot the economic equilibrium chart, when demand exceeds supply, price will increase. While I do hope that the sudden demand will even out over time to decrease the price further, the mentality of all those advocates and converts of the 5Dmk2 are hard to predict with any degree of certainty.
Right now I can only hope for the price to fall further or alternatively I could visit the shops and offer to purchase an X amount of 5Dmk2 so that they will lower the price. Either way I am still getting it way cheaper than it will be in SG simply because the 5Dmk2 is made in Japan (free of lead and melamine of course!). It will be a while before I actually go get them but I can say most of my daily routine have been inevitably filled with anything that have either direct or indirect linkage to the 5Dmk2. It's in my dreams, it's in my food, it's in my eyes, it's here, there and everywhere. It's getting pretty crazy expanding all usable energy.
Then there was a piece of news from my fellow teachers that coming near Summer, there will be fantastic places to catch fireflies dance in the evenings and painting streaks of golden lines late into the night. Wow....I am all os excited.
Here are 2 lenses that I have currently set my eyes on. The EF70-200mm F2.8L IS USM for longer reach and telephotos, subject isolation and bokeh and sniping innocent targets. But this massive beast will have to wait because the price tag slapped on it is hefty too. Next is at the lower end of the spectrum, the ultra wide angle EF17-40mm F4.0L for fantastic landscape and scenematic magic. Since I do not need specific subject isolation or creamy bokeh for wide angles, this baby is just right with the affordable price as well. The other sibling EF16-35mm cost 3 times as much but I doubt it's worth it since I will not be using the 2.8 for bokeh shots. Both lenses I am actually looking at the second hand market simply because I am really not intrigued for first hands at these babies. Since acquiring my first second hand EF24-70mm F2.8L wonder, I have been a little less picky due to monetary concerns.
So many things at hand at the moment but everything is about the 5Dmk2 and nothing else.
Ha...yes that's so right. I can't seem to distant myself from getting cosy with camera related news, updates, prices, stockpile, etc. Can't be help since I will be dropping a huge A Bomb amount of cash on the 5Dmk2 soon. While checking out the various lens prices, I am also keeping track of the price fluctuation of the 5Dmk2. While the Recommended Retail Price (RRP) is usually super expensive because that's the price set by the company and sometimes, absent-minded consumers might just fall for it altogether. The price that I am actually trailing is the street price to be exact...this price actually fluctuates over time and it reflects the supply and demand of the consumer. So it would be most advisable to buy it at the lowest possible.
In fact the price of the 5Dmk2 was declining steadily over the months until Canon officially confirm the release of the much disputed firmware update to manually control the settings on the vid functions. With that piece of anvil-weighted news, the demands of the 5Dmk2 have suddenly took an adverse sharp spike up. This probably propelled the street price to move upwards since the sudden surge in demand will exceed the current supply. Of course if you plot the economic equilibrium chart, when demand exceeds supply, price will increase. While I do hope that the sudden demand will even out over time to decrease the price further, the mentality of all those advocates and converts of the 5Dmk2 are hard to predict with any degree of certainty.
Right now I can only hope for the price to fall further or alternatively I could visit the shops and offer to purchase an X amount of 5Dmk2 so that they will lower the price. Either way I am still getting it way cheaper than it will be in SG simply because the 5Dmk2 is made in Japan (free of lead and melamine of course!). It will be a while before I actually go get them but I can say most of my daily routine have been inevitably filled with anything that have either direct or indirect linkage to the 5Dmk2. It's in my dreams, it's in my food, it's in my eyes, it's here, there and everywhere. It's getting pretty crazy expanding all usable energy.
Then there was a piece of news from my fellow teachers that coming near Summer, there will be fantastic places to catch fireflies dance in the evenings and painting streaks of golden lines late into the night. Wow....I am all os excited.
Here are 2 lenses that I have currently set my eyes on. The EF70-200mm F2.8L IS USM for longer reach and telephotos, subject isolation and bokeh and sniping innocent targets. But this massive beast will have to wait because the price tag slapped on it is hefty too. Next is at the lower end of the spectrum, the ultra wide angle EF17-40mm F4.0L for fantastic landscape and scenematic magic. Since I do not need specific subject isolation or creamy bokeh for wide angles, this baby is just right with the affordable price as well. The other sibling EF16-35mm cost 3 times as much but I doubt it's worth it since I will not be using the 2.8 for bokeh shots. Both lenses I am actually looking at the second hand market simply because I am really not intrigued for first hands at these babies. Since acquiring my first second hand EF24-70mm F2.8L wonder, I have been a little less picky due to monetary concerns.
So many things at hand at the moment but everything is about the 5Dmk2 and nothing else.
Friday, June 5, 2009
Lethal Poison
- Never Stop Dreaming -
Somehow I was always thinking that I was alone in this conquest for the capture of the perfect beast untill yesterday. I found out that the lethal poison have since spread to another fellow friend who have since joined me in the conquest...there are no known cure or antidote to date but globally, the infected figures are pretty scary. Of course I feel really relieve since I am not alone on this anymore...besides the slight difference in the place that we might be unleashing this beast when we catch it.
Still lost...ok the Canon 5Dmk2 is the beast...and I have another confirm buyer from SG so it's Tokyo by the end of the month and 2 sets of the Canon 5Dmk2! Since it's cheaper to get it here in Japan, I wouldn't hesistate to piggy back a few extra sets back to SG for fanatics like myself. In fact it's an honor to render an elite service to them as well so Thank You Dear X so much for being so gracious to join me at the last minute. It sure makes me feel warm with confidence since I now have a personal friend who shares crazy and insane passion like myself.
Now comes the tedious part...the physical checking of the camera. I have gathered intel from various sources and have screen the list to just a handful of shops. It's these shops that I will haul my Mac down to to pixel peep each 5D for hot, dead or stuck pixels. Hopefully the shop will allow me to do so since it's a massive amount of money that I am parting with. I really can't imagine that buying a brand new camera is more expensive that a 2000cc Honda Accord that I am driving...simply unfathomable!
What like what W had said, resistance is futile when you know you want it. Anyway I am just really grateful and glad that I could have someone else to join me and that mere fact alone is just...sweet!
Somehow I was always thinking that I was alone in this conquest for the capture of the perfect beast untill yesterday. I found out that the lethal poison have since spread to another fellow friend who have since joined me in the conquest...there are no known cure or antidote to date but globally, the infected figures are pretty scary. Of course I feel really relieve since I am not alone on this anymore...besides the slight difference in the place that we might be unleashing this beast when we catch it.
Still lost...ok the Canon 5Dmk2 is the beast...and I have another confirm buyer from SG so it's Tokyo by the end of the month and 2 sets of the Canon 5Dmk2! Since it's cheaper to get it here in Japan, I wouldn't hesistate to piggy back a few extra sets back to SG for fanatics like myself. In fact it's an honor to render an elite service to them as well so Thank You Dear X so much for being so gracious to join me at the last minute. It sure makes me feel warm with confidence since I now have a personal friend who shares crazy and insane passion like myself.
Now comes the tedious part...the physical checking of the camera. I have gathered intel from various sources and have screen the list to just a handful of shops. It's these shops that I will haul my Mac down to to pixel peep each 5D for hot, dead or stuck pixels. Hopefully the shop will allow me to do so since it's a massive amount of money that I am parting with. I really can't imagine that buying a brand new camera is more expensive that a 2000cc Honda Accord that I am driving...simply unfathomable!
What like what W had said, resistance is futile when you know you want it. Anyway I am just really grateful and glad that I could have someone else to join me and that mere fact alone is just...sweet!
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Pilgrimage
- Never Stop Dreaming -
A little update about me and my thoughts...
A while back, I was screaming and possibly cursing at the ridiculous Japanese prejudice against me getting my driver's license converted, it's all history now. As of 1st June, in the 21st year of the Heisei Reign, I am holding it firmly between my fingers. The last test that I took prior to this, the testor gave me one, YES ONLY 1 extremely stupid reason as to why I didn't make it. That is I checked the side mirrors a little to short...less than 1 second according to that particular testor whom I presumed have an un-mortally sense of mathematical complexity in this head. So with this 1st of June date approaching, a weird sense of energy gripped me like as though someone else is controlling my physical movements. There was also an overwhelming confidence that the 1st of June was a good date to get this all done.
I swore to God, I did a little less than perfect as compared to the previous attempt but surprisingly the same testor decided to clear me of this burden. Only 2 including me of course, made it on that sacred date and I was the only foreigner claiming a full MANUAL license. Automatic are for beginners or is it that I still can't get the boy racer outta me? I think the latter is clearly applicable...The wait after the test was long and boring. There were more than 20 staffs working but I had to wait for more than an hour to get my picture taken and then to be handed the not-so-Kawaii Japanese Driver License. Not that I am expecting any Mute Kitties on my card but at least something a little more presentable...Kudos to SG for that.
So now I am legally certified to drive in Japan, I think I might be planning a long road trip somewhere far...Niigata, Hokkaido, etc. And so with that long and unpleasant chapter behind me now, it's time to look forward to more important issues.
In some of the previous entries I have mentioned that I was head over heels, losing precious sleep and a hell lot of Yen over the 5Dmk2, nonetheless the plans of the acquisition have already been laid down since the inception of the firmware update by Canon on May 27th. Looking back some 3 years ago, I thought I would just get a nice entry-level, affordable DSLR to fool around with and then end of story. I was horribly wrong...it didn't end but only fuelled a reason to go further of course at the expense of losing a lot of money. I have no prior training, professional help, etc but this creative side of me simply took off with Photoshop and a simple Point and Shoot camera back then. Now I am looking at photography as a hobby and possible some indie film making when the 5DMk2 are in my possession.
Am spending a lot of time reading up on using manual strobes, audio issues, film making and other photography and film related stuffs. Hopefully someone skilled in this field will find this blog, read about it and come to my rescue. There are so many ideas inside my head but time is definitely not a luxury I have. Have to plan the script, the sequence and then put it to reality and actually film it. Not sure if my subjects will say yes but I really want to do it. Simply inspired by so many amazing short films online, this is maybe another leap of faith that I might be embarking on.
And once again I will be making my annual pilgrimage back home to honor those who made me who I am. Somehow it's these very people who are the very reason why I want to make a film for them...to preserve them eternally. This year, going back home seems a little more worthwhile and I am taking preemtive measures to curb that enthusiasm. Unlike the previous trips, nothing spectacular actually happened. Can't say the same for this year because I have made a hell lot more friends back home in my abscence and I would definitely like to meet them personally. My brother and brothers wedding are all lined up for me to grace it, lovely faces for me to embrace and so much catching up to do with so many people. So much photography and filming to do and I had to say this but I really really really do miss my Grandma and Mum and Dad. My brother will be back from Aussie, my brother will be officially doing the wedding ceremony, my cousins will be bringing their GFs and wifes, my friends as well....man it's really really packed which of course is a really really good thing. Un-eventful journeys are not really worth remembering but smiling thru an epical one is God sent. And so I know that these good times don't linger around forever, I might as well dedicate them to my book, a book of my life's greatest journey. A book I single-handedly choreographed, orchestrated and scripted to document my life's amazing adventures...so what about you? What epical adventures have you done so far that you want to write a book about...you life's greatest journey book.
There are some who spend their whole life dreaming,
there are some who live their lives in it.
There are some who question their destiny,
there are some who create their own fate.
There are some who read about life's greatest journey,
There are some who write it for others to read.
There are some who remembers
and there are some who are remembered.
August...I am waiting. I will be hauling a new camera home...I will be seeing a lot of people whom I want so much to see but yet I am disgusted to tell them how much I miss them.
A little update about me and my thoughts...
A while back, I was screaming and possibly cursing at the ridiculous Japanese prejudice against me getting my driver's license converted, it's all history now. As of 1st June, in the 21st year of the Heisei Reign, I am holding it firmly between my fingers. The last test that I took prior to this, the testor gave me one, YES ONLY 1 extremely stupid reason as to why I didn't make it. That is I checked the side mirrors a little to short...less than 1 second according to that particular testor whom I presumed have an un-mortally sense of mathematical complexity in this head. So with this 1st of June date approaching, a weird sense of energy gripped me like as though someone else is controlling my physical movements. There was also an overwhelming confidence that the 1st of June was a good date to get this all done.
I swore to God, I did a little less than perfect as compared to the previous attempt but surprisingly the same testor decided to clear me of this burden. Only 2 including me of course, made it on that sacred date and I was the only foreigner claiming a full MANUAL license. Automatic are for beginners or is it that I still can't get the boy racer outta me? I think the latter is clearly applicable...The wait after the test was long and boring. There were more than 20 staffs working but I had to wait for more than an hour to get my picture taken and then to be handed the not-so-Kawaii Japanese Driver License. Not that I am expecting any Mute Kitties on my card but at least something a little more presentable...Kudos to SG for that.
So now I am legally certified to drive in Japan, I think I might be planning a long road trip somewhere far...Niigata, Hokkaido, etc. And so with that long and unpleasant chapter behind me now, it's time to look forward to more important issues.
In some of the previous entries I have mentioned that I was head over heels, losing precious sleep and a hell lot of Yen over the 5Dmk2, nonetheless the plans of the acquisition have already been laid down since the inception of the firmware update by Canon on May 27th. Looking back some 3 years ago, I thought I would just get a nice entry-level, affordable DSLR to fool around with and then end of story. I was horribly wrong...it didn't end but only fuelled a reason to go further of course at the expense of losing a lot of money. I have no prior training, professional help, etc but this creative side of me simply took off with Photoshop and a simple Point and Shoot camera back then. Now I am looking at photography as a hobby and possible some indie film making when the 5DMk2 are in my possession.
Am spending a lot of time reading up on using manual strobes, audio issues, film making and other photography and film related stuffs. Hopefully someone skilled in this field will find this blog, read about it and come to my rescue. There are so many ideas inside my head but time is definitely not a luxury I have. Have to plan the script, the sequence and then put it to reality and actually film it. Not sure if my subjects will say yes but I really want to do it. Simply inspired by so many amazing short films online, this is maybe another leap of faith that I might be embarking on.
And once again I will be making my annual pilgrimage back home to honor those who made me who I am. Somehow it's these very people who are the very reason why I want to make a film for them...to preserve them eternally. This year, going back home seems a little more worthwhile and I am taking preemtive measures to curb that enthusiasm. Unlike the previous trips, nothing spectacular actually happened. Can't say the same for this year because I have made a hell lot more friends back home in my abscence and I would definitely like to meet them personally. My brother and brothers wedding are all lined up for me to grace it, lovely faces for me to embrace and so much catching up to do with so many people. So much photography and filming to do and I had to say this but I really really really do miss my Grandma and Mum and Dad. My brother will be back from Aussie, my brother will be officially doing the wedding ceremony, my cousins will be bringing their GFs and wifes, my friends as well....man it's really really packed which of course is a really really good thing. Un-eventful journeys are not really worth remembering but smiling thru an epical one is God sent. And so I know that these good times don't linger around forever, I might as well dedicate them to my book, a book of my life's greatest journey. A book I single-handedly choreographed, orchestrated and scripted to document my life's amazing adventures...so what about you? What epical adventures have you done so far that you want to write a book about...you life's greatest journey book.
There are some who spend their whole life dreaming,
there are some who live their lives in it.
There are some who question their destiny,
there are some who create their own fate.
There are some who read about life's greatest journey,
There are some who write it for others to read.
There are some who remembers
and there are some who are remembered.
August...I am waiting. I will be hauling a new camera home...I will be seeing a lot of people whom I want so much to see but yet I am disgusted to tell them how much I miss them.
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