watching the painting

gifts & princess

kc's fruit baskets

happy holidays . . .
[18mm, f11, 0.3]

While my guitar gently weeps

It's one of my favorite acoustic guitar. It's all banged up but still plays well. Original Lensbaby.

But the fruit of the orange is impossible to eat

My co-worker loaned me this orange, which he plucked from one of the trees outside our office. Nikon FE 1/50, I don't remember the aperture opening -- maybe f/1.8. It's taken in manual focus because the lens would not auto focus.

how do you spell squashes or pumpkins

I am not sure if these were squashes or pumpkins. I'll settle for squash since I'm not sure if I spell those words right. They were lying on the secretary's counter and I rearranged them to make it look like there were more than three. The counter was grey so I don't know why it turned out black in here. Anyway, I like the way the colors turned out. Shot using Original Lensbaby with a 4+ macro filter. Diamond Bar, California.

stawberry shortcake

The red bike has been passed on through the hands of the Reyes' kids. Years ago we took it from their garage when the kids have outgrown it. I intentionally left the red bike at our backyard to rust. I feel that after several years of aging the bike is now ready to become an artwork. Original Lensbaby.

Three trees

Probably another happy accident for me. It was freezing at the park that morning that I forget to put my lens on auto focus. Hence the blurry shot. The fog though is real. Rose and Mimi are somewhere in the foreground. Canon efs 18-55mm.

condesa

building blocks

lens cap

24

numbers

tacks

they will keep us together

how we know when

it stood the test of time

time sq

parsimons in the evening

pet me

orange and green

brave new folk singers

They continue to evolve.

ice cream, anyone?

angel descending

Sometimes accidents result in delightful surprise. This was a close up shot of bird of paradise, which simulated an angelic imagery.

dreaming

Baby in black.

Vodka martini two please

My Review of Tamron 2x Auto Focus Teleconverter with Case for Canon EOS - U.S.A. Warranty

Originally submitted at Adorama

Tamron 2x Auto Focus Teleconverter with Case for Canon EOS - U.S.A. Warranty

Tamron 2x Auto Focus Teleconverter with Case for Canon EOS - U.S.A. Warranty

A Decent Way to Upgrade to Telephoto

By Just an Observer from Chino Hills, CA on 9/2/2008

3out of 5

Pros: Easily Interchangeable, Lightweight

Cons: Slow Focus

Best Uses: Upgrade

Describe Yourself: Hobbyist/Enthusiast

Compared to buying a telephoto, using the converter is an inexpensive way to increase the focal length of my existing lens. I attached it with my Canon EF 50mm f/1.8II and had decent results-- although the auto focus does not work half the time. I have to use it on manual focus but that's okay. I tried it on my LensBabies Lens and it didn't work at all.

Tags: Using Product

(legalese)

watching you

Runners

Impressions on the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China.

My Review of Giottos Rocket Air Blaster, Manual Air Blower with Extra-Large Rubber Bulb - 7.5" Long

Originally submitted at Adorama

Giottos Rocket Air Blaster, Manual Air Blower with Extra-Large Rubber Bulb - 7.5" Long

Giottos Rocket Air Blaster, Manual Air Blower with Extra-Large Rubber Bulb - 7.5" Long

I use it whenever I'm changing lens

By Just an Observer from Chino Hills, CA on 8/25/2008

4out of 5

Pros: Lightweight, Durable, Easy To Use

Cons: Bulky

Best Uses: Lens sensor cleaning, Traveling

Describe Yourself: Hobbyist/Enthusiast

I use it whenever I'm changing lens on my camera. The strong air pressure from this device is ideal for cleaning the lens and the sensor. It's safer than using a brush and cheaper than having a technician service your camera.

(legalese)

Waiting

Using a freeware version of Photoshop: cleaned up background, converted to B&W. Taken years ago using Canon PoweShot S40 while waiting for our lunch at an obscure place in Long Beach, CA.

Different Perspective

Leaving the office. LensBaby Original 50mm.

Calendar Girl

I'm usually the last to leave the office. So when everybody seems to have left, I'll go around and look for interesting subjects. LensBaby Original 50mm.

My Review of Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II Standard AutoFocus Lens - USA

Originally submitted at Adorama

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II Standard AutoFocus Lens - USA

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II Standard AutoFocus Lens - USA

Buy this now

By Just an Observer from Chino Hills, CA on 8/4/2008

5out of 5

Pros: Lightweight, Sharp Focus, Easily Interchangeable

Cons: Slow Focus

Best Uses: Night Photography, General Use, Wildlife

Describe Yourself: Hobbyist/Enthusiast

Great prime lens. Works well even in low lighting. The Gaussian blur it creates is amazing. At close distance, the auto focus sometimes does not work but there is a manual focus. If I lost or ruin the lens I would not hesitate to get another one. The price is incredibly low.

Society Garlic

Tags: Using Product

Waterboy

Tags: Using Product

(legalese)

My Review of Lensbabies Lensbaby Original 50mm Special Effect Lens with Canon EF Mount.

Originally submitted at Adorama

Lensbabies Lensbaby Original 50mm Special Effect Lens with Canon EF Mount.

Lensbabies Lensbaby Original 50mm Special Effect Lens with Canon EF Mount.

Fun Lens

By Just an Observer from Chino Hills, CA on 8/4/2008

3out of 5

Pros: Lightweight, Easily Interchangeable

Best Uses: Special Effects, Wildlife

Describe Yourself: Hobbyist/Enthusiast

If you are in a rut, the lens can provide some creative effects. It is a bit hard to focus and will only work in either manual exposure or aperture priority. It's best to use the manual exposure for better control. So far, I have been having fun with it.

Calvin

Tags: Using Product

Under a tree

Tags: Using Product

(legalese)

Gumamela

Canon 50mm f/1.8 lens at f1.8 1/500 iso 400. Same time when I shot the Society Garlic. BTW, the Gumamela is considered wild in the Philippines. I remember growing up and we would squeeze the juice out from the flower and mix it with a sliver of soap. The concoction made great bubbles, which could be as large as our heads. Of course, we were only 7 years old then-- so they probably were not that big.

My Screensaver

Just another diversion. I heard from a co-worker that people were asking her how I could work with this computer screensaver on. It isn't hard if you try.

What's in Gum Alley

[click for larger image]

1020 AM at Princeton

Studying French

Constructing M and J

The collage is made out from coffee brochures and some Acura magazine clips. It's based on a photo I took of Mimi and Jerry as they were playing in the breakfast room. Jerry is way up where Mimi cannot get him.

September

Little Women

Finding a beautiful mind

Runaway Dream

I believe that the images behind KC were the same kind of aliens that I saw at Times Square.

My Distraction

I just love the blues. My walls at the office are covered with collages of bluesmen, guitars and musical ideas. People asked how long it took me to put all those up. I work for a government agency so I have a lot of time on my hand. Canon f/18-55mm lens.

Quincy's Hang Out

The sign said that this was where Quincy and John Adams used to hang out and got hammered. They would drink beer and sang until the wee hours. Old Town Boston. Canon PowerShot.