The Meerkat

Tidal Basin

A couple of Navy Seals at work.

A couple of tourists.

C9 Photographer Featured in NYT

A C9 or housewife photographer was featured in the New York Times prompting immediate indignation, mostly from guy photographers.  I remember the article says the photographer is a 40-year old mother of six and one day she took some pictures using a $99 digital camera and posted them on to flickr and the next thing she knew she was contacted by Getty and selling her jpeg's as stock photographs.  A gig that most people professional or otherwise don't have the talent or tenacity to achieve.

One less reason to get out of bed in the morning.

For Photographers, the Image of a Shrinking Path.

Magnolia

Magnolia gleefully flaunting its newly developed blossoms. The lady is not known for subtlety. In a week or so, the branches would be adorned with flames of pink flowers foretelling us the smothering summer ahead.

Lying in Bed

Lying in bed, contemplating the day ahead.  Most of my days are jam packed with me contemplating and busy doing nothing at all.

Canon New F-1

This is part of my ongoing Canon New F-1 usage notes.

Battery:  It's used to power the meter and the shutter.  Though some shutter speed is governed mechanically, whatever that means, but if you were to leave an underpowered battery there, the mechanical shutter won't work.  You have to actually take out the 6V battery from the chamber.  This is actually documented on some online manual.  Not really a surprise.

Even if you attach a fully powered, that's a green light battery power checked AE Motor Drive FN, but if the camera battery 6V is low, the shutter would get very iffy and the meter would go haywire--mainly if turned to Light metering mode, the needle would keep going up or to the right if set at aperture priority as if there are plenty of bright light, giving a reading that's inconsistent with Normal and Hold.  That's my experience.  My 6V battery went low in the middle of a shoot out--metering went haywire and shutter wouldn't fire, so I had to rewind the film back to its cartridge in order to remove the motor drive and change the battery inside the body.  Well that's how the Canon F-1 rolls.  So I think the motor drive, the battery there, is really for winding and rewinding the film, it has nothing to do with the meter and the shutter on the camera.  It's just a guess on my part.

Still, I have no idea what the camera is officially called.  Is there really a Canon F-1N or Canon F-1n at all?  I know there was this original Canon F-1 but I am just not sure anymore if the Canon F-1N or Canon F-1n is the same as Canon New F-1.

We Went Shopping For Yu-Gi-Oh Cards And Saw The Future

I am a man with no principles and a father of no rules.  As an irrational human being, I always think one should never have enough cameras no matter how many you have already because they are all different even they serve the same purpose--taking pictures.  By picking up a different camera you invoke a different photographer inside.  And being a different photographer can be liberating ....  Okay, enough photography nonsense from me.  So when my kids need to have yet a another set of Yu-Gi-Oh cards, I, despite good common senses object the idea, grudgingly complied, because I just understand, boys could never have enough Yu-Gi-Oh cards.  So while the lady of the household was busying herself loading up weekly essential supplies in BJ (now what kind of name is that?) we boys went to Target to buy our non essential but equally important stuff--Yu-Gi-Oh CARDS.  The boys knew their way and went to their section right away while their old man meandered around the store checking out TVs, DVDs and stuff.

The kids paid for their cards and we left the store.  On our way back to find our car--yes, we are always lost in the parking lot whenever we got the chance, I decided to check out P.C. Richards instead of lost in the parking lot.  It used to be Circuit City but no more.  And there I saw the future:  a 60" 3DHD TV playing Monsters vs Aliens in 3D Blu-ray.  HOLY COW.  I interrupted the floor associate from talking to a pair of clueless middle aged consumers and demanded him to hand me the 3D glasses  instead.  I immediately put on the 3D spectacles over my much imitated Shuron Sidewinder and there everything in front of the TV came into life.  I saw the future.  I felt like I was in the middle of the aliens and monsters and could almost touch the action.  Right when I was having this total out of body immersive experience, my Blackberry rang.  Oops.  Me and the kids quickly abandoned the store and headed to the parking lot.  There our ride was waiting.  Without 3DHD, everything was just ordinary and boring like real life.  On my ride home, I couldn't stop thinking how great the monsters and aliens looked in 3DHD and how I wish I had one (or two) at home some day soon ....

Non Stick Pan Cooking For Pussies

Every time I see some man using a non stick pan to cook, I can't help but think of the word pussy.

The World Is 3D and So Should Any Video

The world is going Lady Ga Ga with 3D, every video is adding that extra dimension.  3DTV used to be firmly in the sci-fi category and look what happened?  It's a reality, it's in production and you can get one from BestBuy now.  My 720p HDTV is definitely a thing of the past, and now is all 1080p, probably also in 3DHD, and as if Blu-ray is not good enough, it has to be 3D Blu-ray.  The latest being Nintendo is going to release its 3DS console in 2011 and you don't even need special eyeglasses to see the 3D effect.  That definitely is a big plus and deserves a holy cow from everybody.

Google vs. China

It takes somebody who is mildly self-righteous, somewhat delusional and a bit naive to just say no to China.  And I like that.

Google.cn No More

Google says no to China.  Google finally walks the walk.  I always like a shitstorm provided that it's not happening in my backyard.  It finally downs its google.cn search operation and re-directs the URL request to google.com.hk.  Yeah, just get the heck out of there.

My Candy Vending Machines

Oh well not as slick as r&e's ...

PS:  Again, I have to pat myself on the back.  I can't believe I held my camera ... er I mean Blackberry so proper, notice the vertical line, it's so straight, notice the horizontal line, it's so horizontal.  I can't believe it.
Both machines are working and they don't need electricity either.

Nikon D70

I am just checking my Nikon D70, see if it's still working.  Oh No, it's still working, rather fabulously.  I mounted my good old trusty Nikkor 24mm f2 manual focusing on it and shot a few.  And here are two of them.  The first one was at f2, wide open and at 1/100sec.  The second one was at f2.8 1/100sec.  All at ASA400 hand held.  The 24mm lens work out to be a 35mm in a 35mm film camera.  I kind of like the perspective, it's wider than the 50mm and yet not so wide that you either find it hard to fill up the frame or you find it just gimmicky to exaggerate.

For the kind of pictures I take, I find it hard to persuade myself to update my DSLR ... even I am such an irrational person when it comes to photo gears.

I am still rocking my Nikon D70 in 2010, I can't believe it.  My Nikon experience is positive.  Their gear never breaks on its own.  OKAY, of all the years I own my Nikon FE, there was this one time the shutter wouldn't close, and I have to set it to M90 to close the shutter.  Only once.  And I changed the tiny little battery once on my FE, I believe that was a mistake, I didn't really need to change it.  Then it was a few weeks ago, I think I forgot to put back the film advance lever that also acts as an on/off switch (isn't it auto power off?) so the tiny battery is drained.  Now my FE is powerless but it will open its shutter at M90 (and Bulb?).  Nikon rocks.

iMap

I imagine when the relationship between Apple and Google goes so bad that either Apple will no longer or can long use Google map on its iPhone and Apple develops its own mapping application, called iMap.  I would like to see iMap comes to fruition.  My kids would have a blast for the name, iMap, i m a p.  Actually I will have a blast.

Canon New F-1 Film Loading

If you come from the Nikon world of film loading, Canon New F-1 would come as a surprise.  The take up spool actually turns to the right, the way the film advance lever goes instead of the opposite direction.  I think I read about it before but still when I first loaded the F-1, I still tried to load it the way I have always loaded film which wouldn't work for the F-1.  Actually I think the Canon P loads the "Nikon way" too.  I am not sure if it's uniquely F-1 or not.

St. Patrick's Day Is News Worthy in NYT's Book

The New York Times mentions the annual St. Patrick's Day on today's paper.  So apparently it's news worthy.  Whereas the Chinese New Year is not and has not been so.  Being a Chinese American I am frankly disappointed at the Chinese New Year coverage or actually the total lack thereof from a major New York newspaper (A22 on print).

On the web:  A Shorter Parade Means Less Green for Some on St. Patrick's Day.

For Chinese New Year coverage, you have to see it on my blog.

Canon New F-1 And Motor Drive

Here is something I discovered.  My point of reference is the Nikon FE and F5.  Though it probably isn't an apt comparison considering they are really vastly different cameras.

I think the F-1's motor drive connection is a bit convoluted.  And sort of a disaster waiting to happen.  You really have to plan ahead and decide at least a roll of film ahead whether you want to shoot with a motor drive or not because you just can't change your mind in mid-roll.  Why?  Because, at the bottom of the camera plate there are three coupling holes (what am I talking about?), you need to remove the three small coupling (love the word) covers before you can attach the motor drive to the camera.  One of those holes (love the word) provide the motor drive's access to the film cartridge for film rewind and if left exposed or un-covered it would fog the film.  Hence you really can't take out the motor drive in mid roll or attach a motor drive in mid-roll.  Not a great idea.  Those tiny covers you need to use a coin, say a quarter to screw (love the word) in and out (love the allusion), and they are prone to just disappear--of the three covers, the AE coupling cover was lost before I got the camera.  They are supposed to be screwed back in on the motor drive but if you were to lose the film rewind coupling cover, then you can't really shoot sans motor drive as the hole would expose the film--you are screwed big time.  What a stupid design.  My FE and its MD-12 don't have this problem, no small covers to remove and sure no rewind either.  But I can attach or remove the motor drive in a whim anytime I like.  The F5 comes with the the built-in motor drive.  I don't have the Nikon F3 and its massive MD-4 motor drive for comparison.  I guess the professionals always shoot the F-1 with its motor drive always attached--I know the prior owner does.  So they don't have this problem.

Notes:
Canon AE MOTOR DRIVE FN.  This guy is coin operated.  You can't attach the thingy by just turning the camera attachment knob, you really need a coin, say a quarter to screw or unscrew (especially unscrew) it.  Minor pain in the butt.
Canon BATTERY PACK FN.  Without it (or other power sources) the motor drive isn't really going to anywhere except acting as a grip.  Surprise.  Again this guy is coin operated.  You need to attach this puppy to the motor drive.  Plus this is where the vertical shutter release button is.  The chamber takes twelve AA batteries.  Twelve, that's right.  The battery compartment is unlocked by just sliding a locking lever called the battery magazine release lever, no need to use a coin, Wow.  This puppy lets you rip through a roll in 5 frames a second.  Wow.

Windows Phone 7 Series No Copy and Paste

Oh no.  Just like the iPhone not so long ago, Microsoft purposely disables the beloved Copy and Paste feature.  I suspect they just want to add it back as an upgrade, just like what Apple did a short while ago.  So we all got something to whine about and look forward to.

85mm f1.4 or f1.2

The world is going crazy about Bokeh.  As if Bokeh is the be all and end all criteria for judging any pictures.
It's just fucking crazy and dare I say lazy as well.  You stick a $1000 lens and then automatically you get great pictures?  I don't think so.

PS:  OKAY, I am the first one to admit big aperture lenses are cool.  But it's just too crazy how people wow and oh whenever a picture is shot using a big glass even though the picture is downright fucking boring.  I try to talk down the price of these big glasses so I can afford one myself...  No such luck so far.

Limelight

Today, the New York Times transported me back to the 80s when Limelight ruled the club scene and I lived a life of debauchery.  Well that was twenty years ago.

The Limelight is now an unscale market.  Got to visit it one of these days.

The Limelight, a Church Turned Nightclub, to Be Reborn as a Market

It's St. Patrick's Day

It's the annual St. Patrick's Day.  Are you ready to get your stomach pumped?  You have a good reason to get drunk today, in addition to the other 364 days of the year.  Happy St. Patrick's Day.

Canon New F-1

Canon can be confusing.  The F-1 went through at least three iterations, the original F-1, then F-1N and the New F-1.  But just for kicks, Canon decided to just put F-1 on the body of these three models, unless you have done some homework, you wouldn't know which is which just looking at the bodies.  And oh yeah, when you start asking people Is that a New F-1, people thought you were crazy, they would tell you once again, it's an old used camera, then you have to say OKAY I understand...

All I know is the New F-1 allows ASA 6 to 6400 and there is no big self timer lever on the body.  That's how I tell if the F-1 is New or old, sure there are other differences but I just don't bother.

It's my experience that very often some Canon gears for sale inevitably got listed as Cannon and they can't be found if you just search using the Canon keyword.  Well, see the importance of spelling?  Chances are you may be able to steal a bargain from this misspelled Canon.  If I am looking for a Canon deal I would search for Cannon as well just to make sure I don't miss anything.

I was able to spot a Canon New F-1, 50mm F1.8 with AE Finder, AE motor drive and power pack, a bunch of films and a bag to carry them all, all for a very decent price.  And yes, it's listed as Cannon.

Feud Between Nerds

Today in the New York Times, there is this article about the feud between Apple and Google.  It reads like tabloid with anonymous sources telling us what Jobs was fuming about:  He feels like Google betrayed Apple by developing Android and on its way doing it stealing the iPhone technology.  The piece reveals very little new information as the feud between the two have been pretty well documented.  The latest being Apple sued HTC, the maker of Google's Nexus One for infringing Apple's technology.

As far as consumers are concerned, I think competition is good.  Let the nerds duel it out in the market place as well as in the court room.  Don't let the innovation stop.  And better still, let's have a price war so the consumers can buy more shiny little devices to get further distracted from being more productive.

Apple's Spat With Google Is Getting Personal.

J. Crew in good company

Retail is such a tough business especially when the national unemployment rate stands in 10% or there about.  J. Crew, an quintessential American brand that got White House seal of approval from day 1 still holds its edge against also ran Gap.  That doesn't mean J. Crew is resting on its laurels, it's reinventing itself by selling other brands that kind of jibe with J. Crew's style and aesthetic.  Most other stores, notably H&M, Target and Uniqlo have partnered with famed brands (read ridiculously high prized merchandise) to create a one off collection that is affordable to the fashion conscious yet cash strapped crowd.  J. Crew's "in good company" brands however are for the most part equal or slightly higher echelon merchandise that have the same or in most cases a higher price point.  In that regard, J. Crews is really thinking sort of outside the box and against the trend of collaborations.  A very clean very minimal Mackintosh is retailing for $800, hardly a bargain for most people.  I am pleasantly surprised it also carries one of my all time favorites, the Blundstone 500 for $145, a seemingly reasonable price.  And finally one can buy a pair vintage looking Levi's from J. Crew that you can't even buy from Levi's.  As ridiculous as it seems, that's what it is now, the US Levi's site would only sell affordable Levi's in the $30 to $60 range.  I think it's time for Obama to get on with the J.Crew band wagon, just like his wife and daughters.  The guy got a good physique yet he continues to wear high waisted loose or comfort fit old man jeans.

3.14

Just merely ten days after the National Parade Day on March 4, we have today the Pi Day.  How many digits can you recite?  3.1415987 ...  that's it and I am sure I didn't even get it right.

Reading

Zuckerman Bound, Philip Roth
Again, I have to say I don't know what possessed me.  I renewed the book four times reading it from Winter to early Spring.  I am sure Mr. Roth won't approve.  The book has no pictures and there aren't really a plot in any of the four stories.  But I got to tell you, I enjoy the writing.  I read it mostly on my commute between home and work.

Outliers, Malcolm Gladwell
Great story teller.  Sometimes, so much so that I forgot what the stories have to do with what he's trying to convey:  in this case, success is really a collective effort.  Sometimes I feel like what he's telling is essentially your mother is a woman but then again, he does it with flair, numbers and stories and present the argument in a scientific coherent way.  A good read.  At least unlike Zuckerman Bound, I can finish it in less than two days and not to have to renew it four times.  Most of the time, reading to me is like fast food, if I can finish it in 2 days great, if not, not so great.


In Milton Lumky Territory, Philip K. Dick
A book I picked up from the library after work on a Friday.  It's a 1 week special with no renewal so it sort of forces me to finish the book in one dash.  Dick is famous for his sci fi stories, like the much acclaimed Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep first published in 1968 and later adapted to the big screen as Blade Runner in 1982.  I don't know what to make of Territory.  It definitely is not sci-fi, there is no androids or the like and it's not literary like Roth's incessant mumbles.  The protagonist is a salesman in his early twenties who in the beginning of the story marries this twice divorced single mom who also happens to be his 5th grade teacher and ten years of his senior and sets out to save the store she founded by crisscrossing the country to buy and sell some electric typewriters from Japan.  The story, in my mind, lacks any narrative arch of sort.  The only surprising thing happens towards the very end of the story.  It's like I am not so sure if what's written on the last chapter is what actually happens to the characters or just the imagination of its young protagonist, his preferred story with his wife and step-daughter.  In that sense I think the story has some sci-fi element to it though I can't be sure nor can I find out.  I think it's written in such an oblique way it's just hard to decipher.  In the author's forward, Dick says "This is actually a very funny book, and a good one, too, in that the funny things that happen to real people who come alive.  The ending is a happy one.  What more can an author say?  What more can he give?"  Well, then I guess it's just me.

Platitudes

In a world of platitudes, my posts still stand out as shallower, a feat that I am naturally good at though not really proud of.

Oatmeal

When you start eating oatmeal for breakfast on a regular basis you know you are not just older you are old.  Oatmeal, the preferred morning diet for old people.

The Merit Of Getting Old Cameras

I am very much an armchair photographer if a photographer at all.   One of the most frequent questions I've seen online is what camera one should get.  Invariably the discussion goes like the rumored new model is coming out anytime so you should wait.  Then without exception, somebody would say do not wait, just buy the current model and enjoy it.  Well both arguments are of course valid.  But if you were to buy old cameras then you don't even have this sort of what should I say "problems" because you know right from the get go, you are 51 years behind, not 5 months behind the latest full frame or what have you latest from Canon or Nikon.  But you know you are 51 years behind, period.  So you can sleep tight and stop worrying which new model to buy or future proof your purchase.  Because you just knew you are light years behind.

Just so I am clear, I will accept, without complaints, any latest DSLR from Nikon or Canon.

Oscar 2010

A lot of people want to know what my picks are for this year's Academy Awards.  Not to disappoint my readers, here they are.

Best Motion Picture Of The Year
The Hurt Locker.  Simply because this is the only nominated movie I saw.

Best Actor
Colin Firth.  He does a pretty good job wearing a pair of black framed glasses without looking too ridiculous.  I give that to him.  Jeremy Renner looks like an asshole.  So no best actor for him.[JEFF BRIDGES]

Best Actress
Carey Mulligan [SANDRA BULLOCK, should have known better, Bullock is just shrewd]
I saw her on David Letterman, I think she is nice and probably a good actress.

Best Supporting Actor
Christoph Walz
I think I will like the movie.

Best Supporting Actress
Mo'Nique.

Best Director
Kathryn Bigelow, I like her movies:  Blue Steel, Strange Days, Point Break

Best Original Screenplay
Inglourious Basterds.  QT can be good.[HURT LOCKER]

Best Adapted Screenplay
An Education.  The title of the movie has a nice ring to it. \ən e-jə-ˈkā-shən\. [PRECIOUS]

Best Cinematography
Das wisse Band - Eine deutsche Kindergeschichte [AVATAR]
Holy cow, it's in black and white and in German.  Anything in black and white adds instant class to it.  And in German.  What more can you ask?

Okay, that's all folks.

UPDATE:
4/9 CORRECT.

This Week In Review

The last two weeks have been pretty tough on yours truly, and by extension people around me, but when the going gets tough, the tough get going.  Or some crap like that.

iPad comes late.  Whenever things come late, it means trouble.  Imagine your girlfriend telling you she is late.  It's like holy shit.  Anyway, it's official.  iPad on April 3, period.  Wall Street went ga ga with the announcement and sent the stock up more than $8.  Wall Street is full of irrational assholes with lots of money.  Let's hope the stock keep going north.

A lot of people ask me on single ladies of certain age.  Okay here is my response.  People should worry about stuff like getting terminal cancer not relationships.  When you have health you have everything.  End of story.

Winter Olympics 2010

Medal Count

Alice's Adventures In Wonderland

This is a story I meant to finish when I was ten years old.  Alas, that never happened.  Through the years I have been wanting to just finish it but without success.  Thanks to eBook I was able to finish it on and off on a tiny screen while on the bus or on the train.

And truth be told it's one big literary nonsense.  Of course, it's considered great nonsense as opposed to bad nonsense like the stuff yours truly cranks out.  It's just a freaky story from a freaky old man I suppose and somehow it got freaky good reviews and got passed down from generations to generations.  And now the freakiest Tim Burton is having it done one more time in 2D and released in 3D.  Honestly I am pretty tired of freaky Johnny Depp done up in crown made-up and acting all freaky.

Chimping

One of the things about film is while taking pictures you can't chimp.  You just keep taking pictures instead of instant reviewing on the LCD monitor at the same time.  Once upon a time, it's considered a good thing to have instant feedback on the LCD, but people tend to overuse it and totally break the picture taking process.  And sometimes it just looks downright unprofessional and lacks conviction on the part of the photographer.  With film, there is nothing to chimp even if you want to.  You just have to pre visualize the picture in your head.

Year 2009

 

© 2010 laichungleung

Student of The Month February 2010 

I think many of the pictures I like happens to be on the very last frame of the roll.  It's like I shot the whole roll just waiting for the very last frame, that's all.  The "modern" camera just doesn't allow me to shoot an extra frame or two.

Picture taken on Nov 10, 2009.

Year 2005

I am a static person, I normally don't do any panning.  This is one of the few exceptions.

Grand Central

Another one in b/w.

Snowstorm In NYC

Captured using a Yashica Mat-124 G.  Kodak E100G.  Scale and level in GIMP.  Again my 1976 Yashica Mat-124 G proves to be snowstorm worthy.  Woo hoo.

Snowstorm In NYC

Yellow Cab
My Canon P proves to be weatherproof.

Bill Cunningham of The New York Times

© 2010 laichungleung.

Canon P, Canon RF 35mm with optional viewfinder. Kodak 400NC.
Shot outside the two tents in Bryant Park where Fashion Week 2010 was taking place.  It's an orchestrated mess.

UPDATE:
I like the picture.  It works on some level because Mr. Cunningham is the only one who is looking at the camera and all others are either on their backs or look elsewhere.  He looks in focus and I think I must have set the lens at hyper focal point at f8 and 1/125 of a second and composed through the optional viewfinder.  Mr. Cunningham seemed ill at ease being taken the picture and out of respect I did not come close to him.  The man was at work.

Sean Lennon

©2010 laichungleung. If you were to use it for editorial purpose, please feel free and give attribution. Thank you.

Me the paparazzi ... Sean Lennon photographed using a 1959 Canon P, 1951 Canon RF 35mm f2.8 with optional viewfinder.  Film was Kodak NC400.

UPDATE:
I took a few pictures of him and I like this one the most.  The partially obscured face on the right doesn't bother me.  I like it as a candid.  The focusing, exposure, expression seem pretty spot on no matter none of them is automatic.  I like the fact that my estimate is on the ball park and somehow captured the moment.  The 35mm lens doesn't prevent me from getting a close up picture.  Really getting close on foot is important.  Yes, I am touting my own horn.

Picture taken outside the two tents in Bryant Park where Fashion Week 2010 was taking place.

November 10, 2009

I think this was taken on November 10, 2009.  Kodak E100G.  Before I drove them off to school.  Every day is a special day.  When it's gone it's gone.

Lysacek vs. Plushenko

I did not watch the actual competition.  But just for the hair, I think Lysacek's slick hair won Plushenko's mullet by a mile.  Plushenko's official website at some point said he won Platinum in Vancouver.  I think that was pretty hilarious.

Mr. Toyoda Comes To Washington

And Mr. Toyoda actually apologizes and he is "deeply sorry."

I don't remember any executives from Wall Street saying sorry.  I could be wrong.  They took the bailout money and they now even reward themselves with big fat bonuses not saying either Sorry or Thank You.  I guess that is the American way.

Disneyfication Of Apple App Store And Criminalization Of Google

Apple, in total disregard of its developers' First Amendment Rights, is removing any already approved apps that it deems objectionable: read smut.  Unless you are Playboy or Sports Illustrated, then your freedom of speech is readily thrown out the window by Apple.  Analysts and pundits think it's Apple's attempt to clean house before rolling out the the very sanitary iPad, to make the App Store more PG for the textbook market demographic.  Apple is more Disney than Disney.

Google may not be be evil but the Italian judicial system certainly found it criminal.  The Italians have had enough of Google and knock it down from its high horse.  Google vouches to challenge this "astonishing" verdict.  Essentially what Italy is saying is Google as a host is legally responsible for monitoring the content of its servers.  Three Google executives were found guilty of violating privacy laws for hosting a video depicting the bullying of an autistic child.

The Unstoppable Toyota Saga Continues

Another day, another piece of bad news on Toyota.  An article in The New York Times seems to suggest Toyota put cost savings number one priority over any other things, like passenger safety or pedestrian safety.  It certainly reads to me Toyota, instead of really fixing any mechanical or electronic problem on stuck gas pedal, just blamed it on the floor mat.  And it patted itself on the back for saving millions.  Well done Toyota.

Read it yourself.

Miller Time

The Miller time came in four year late but as they say better late than never.  And it has the added dimension of a redemption after he screwed up in 2006 in Turin Italy when Bode Miller was expected to win but ended up coming home empty handed.  With almost no expectation entering the Vancouver Games, Miller finally struck gold in men's super combined.

The Hurt Locker Is Hurting The Avatards At BAFTAs

The Brits like Avatar but just not enough to bestow it the best picture and best director.  Instead, crazy woman director, Kathryn Bigelow won the top honors with her movie The Hurt Locker.
If you have more time to waste you may go and read my review on The Hurt Locker.

Wow

Wow this blog stands the test of time.  It won't just implode under its heavy content and traffic.  Me being the sole contributor of posts here never ever shut the hell up in good times or bad times, in sickness or in health.  Well you get the idea.  I vouch to continue to post more crap because I just can.  Stay tuned.

PS:  This is another meaningless post because I just can.

NYC Fashion Week Is Over

I mean like forever.  Fashion week is moving uptown to Lincoln Center.  For me, that's not Fashion Week anymore.  At the same time, people around Bryant Park can breathe a sigh of relief.  They don't have to be reminded twice every year how fat and ugly they are by these fashionistas.

上得山多

終 PK.

Since life is not a spectator sport, I shall remain doing things I am not supposed to do to live the life I want to live sometimes foolhardily.

Olympics Fever

Super girl Lindsey Vonn lived up to the hype and won the gold.

Shani Davis defended his 1000m and won Gold back to back.  He backed up his bad ass reputation with his bad ass on the ice performance.  Well done.  Davis actually looked and sounded surprisingly affable during a post match interview on TV.  Well what do I know anyway?

Shaun White also successfully defended his Gold on halfpipe.

Obituary

The unapologetically flamboyant and deliciously kitschy Chau Kai-Bong passed away.  Other people might have his wealth but none can match his unique sense of aesthetics.  His larger than life persona together with his golden toilet bowl shall leave an indelible mark in Hong Kong and the rest of the world.  He shall be fondly remembered as a true fashionista long before fashion is fashionable.  He was 75 years old.

Good Taste is the Enemy of Creativity
-- Pablo Picasso

The Chaus as photographed by Terry Richardson.

The Unstoppable Toyota

Toyota has been unstoppable and it still is.  It's just that it used to be its sales, then its accelerator, and now its bad press.  US seeks recall documents to see if Toyota has handled the recall in a timely manner.  If not, Toyota can face fines of up to $16.4 millions.

Olympics Fever

China sent out a couple of senior citizens to the pair figure skating competition.  And look what happened.  Old people rock.  China took home Gold and Silver in the competition.  They put the youngsters to shame.

Film To Be Developed

The New York Times Sucks

New York Times doesn't give a f.u.c.k about Chinese or Chinese New Year despite New York City has one of the biggest freaking Chinatown on Earth and it calls itself The New York Times.  The event wasn't even covered in their regional area section.  Anyhow, I did my part and "covered" the event as much as I could which is hardly good or enough.  The New York Times sucks ass.

Big Wong

The Obligatory Big Wong shot on Chinese New Year Day. No, he is not Big Wong, the restaurant is. Big Wong and some Chinese restaurants are just better in more than one way. Like the wait staff would automatically give the kids glass of water instead of tea or let you ask them. Something simple like that a lot of restaurants don't do.

Kids Playing

Wow, there are just stylish people everywhere in NYC.  Look at the dude in the background.  If that's not cool I don't know what is.  Wow I wish I could look more like him.

Lion Dancer

Rehearsing for the dance.  Visualizing the jump.  FQNY is much better than shitty DKNY for a fraction of the price, just so you know.

This Just Rocks

On Leong

Cotton Candy Vendor In Chinatown

Cotton candy vendor with cavernous eyes.  Chinese New Year on Mott Street.

Lok Bok Goh

This was made on New Year Eve. One big Lok Bok and almost a whole pack of rice flour. That's it. No measurement no nothing. Just feel it. And it came out pretty good actually. One of the better one I made.

Happy Chinese New Year

I hope you like the red hot chili pepper background.

PS:  I can't stand the color myself.

Shani Davis vs. The Orange Dude Kramer

... I can't even see Davis.  It's the orange dude all the way now.  Davis is no where to be seen.  The orange dude is just blasting away now.  So the American bad ass Shani Davis has the bad attitude but don't have yet the performance to back it up in the Olympics, at least not yet--assuming wrongly that you can get away with bad behavior if you are good at what you do.  Davis is 6th now.

Winter Olympics Fever

Do you have Winter Olympics Fever ... you want to put out?  Then watch NBC.  I don't know but the guy, that is Al Michaels at the studio seems to be very talented at making everything boring.  Want to have an afternoon nap, watch the guy talk and no doubt he will put you to sleep in seconds.  Sleepy monotonous tone, sitting on a leather upholstered armchair.  It's like listening to good old Grandpa except he's on TV hypnotizing everybody.

Happy New Year

Happy Chinese New Year my dear readers.

Google Just Can't Keep A Secret

Holy cow, I just found out I have 13 subscribers, including myself probably.  I can't believe there are actually 12 people who subscribe to my Blog.  Initially I was trying to pretend I have a large readership like a million or something.  Now I just can't because Google just wouldn't shut up.  Any John, Dick and Harry who has a Google reader can find out the details.  Oh well, honesty is the best policy as they say.  After I found out I have 12 regular readers--even the subscriptions were most likely tests or accidents, I got so psyched up that I just churned out post after post today.  Because you know I write for you guys.

Winter Games Opening Ceremony

Live Blogging on location ... I mean on the couch in front of the TV

路人甲, did you see the opening video footage, showing a boarder ripped down the mountain?  That's exactly how I ride.  I hope that answered your question on my previous post.

The rest of the ceremony like any other opening ceremony is just bullshit.  I can't stand it.  Let's just cut to the chase and let the athletes do their things.

Was the flag bearer of the Chinese delegation chewing gum when he led his fellow teammates into the stadium?  I don't know his specialty but he definitely succeeded in one area: looking like an asinine American.

Wow, Hong Kong has one athlete in the Winter Games.  At least the girl has more common sense not to chew any gum and look like an ass.  Smart girl.

Chinese Taipei, one athlete, no gum either.

I am waiting for the United States now ... 216 athletes, wow.  I don't see people chewing gum.  Wow, people here are getting smarter and know a thing or two about etiquette.  Even the snowboarders aren't chewing gum.  The team uniform looks reasonably smart from our trusted American designer Mr. Ralph Lauren, even the polo logo isn't ostensibly large.  A navy blue puffy jacket with red trimming over a creamy white turtle neck cable sweater, white pants and black short boots.  All American and more importantly sans gum.  So the Chinese actually out American the American by chewing gum.  Well done.

The Super Duper Chinese New Year Cake

The Lonely Branches

The world just needs another picture of snow covered tree branches because I say so.  The last picture I took before I headed back home.  That's all there is, folks.  For more pretentious black and white pictures, check back soon.

The Canon P, made in 1959 together with the 35 RF f2.8 proved blizzard worthy.  Thumbs up.

Park Bench In The Snow

I am telling you, the world just needs one more picture of a park bench.  One more, that's it.

I was thinking to crop the picture in post production--I just like this big word, POST PRODUCTION, WOW.  But I decided to leave it as it is.  I remember it was just so cold and after this I just didn't bother to take another frame.  My fingers were frozen stiff.  Actually I did take one more now that I confirm by looking at the negative strip.

The Tiny Little Lonely Tree

Friday Trend Watch

The fad caught up with me, finally. I read the lumberjack and logger boots (just in case you wonder, I look 100 times betterworse than the dude in the picture then and now--humility prevails) combo is totally in vogue or at least since last winter. I had them since I don't remember, when I was single and weighed 128 pounds. I bought my Woolrich checked lumberjack woolcoat at Paragon downtown when it was maybe less than $100, like $79 and honestly crafted in America. My Georgia logger boots I think I bought in David Z or the like about 13 years ago.  One of them was defective and it broke when I was in Hong Kong.  I wrote to the company with a photo, yes that was before Al Gore invented the Internet, and they sent me a new pair all the way to Hong Kong.  I do have effective writing and picture taking skills, the most lethal and enviable combination one can get.  Now I put my killer skill set to good use, writing this highly acclaimed blog.

Now since they are in vogue, I am too embarrassed to wear them out in the open.  I just wear them to shovel the snow or something.  In Flushing, Queens.

The Sartorialist At Work

© 2010 All rights reserved.

Fuji Neopan 400 shot as rated and developed using Kodak HC-110 at 1:63 for 10 minutes. This is the 37th frame of the roll.  The very last frame.

UPDATE:
This pictures grows on me.  I like it.

Google Hasn't Had Enough

So Google is still procrastinating in China, what are they thinking anyway?  After initial hyperbole of declaring non censoring search results and pulling out of China, they are still censoring and still in China.  Where is the supposedly shitstorm that I am hoping and waiting for?  Just give us Nexus One Chinese native support for "finger input" already and get the hell out of China if you are so gungho about free information flow.  You talk the talk and it's time to walk the walk.

Snowpocalyse Aftermath

I know all my readers are dying to know if I survive the first snowstorm of 2010. Seeing my post here pretty much answered your question. Sorry to disappoint you I managed to live through this horrid storm. The truth of the matter is if you don't need to go out it's all fine. If you needed to go out and get in touch with other New Yorkers like on the roadways or subways, then it's an entirely different matter.

Today I needed to get back to the routine. The snow got plowed to our side of the street so basically we were snowed in by the snow plower. But lucky me, I got this super powered snow thrower. I brought this sleepy machine to life by gushing it with gasoline and motor oil and it's alive. It roared through the snow with gusto, chewed up the packed snow and spit it out to the side of my neighbor all done in no time, just like me eating roast pork and duck over rice. I was able to pull out my Odyssey the best car ever built (for people who can't afford German or other fancy things in life) except it doesn't have the Toyota's unstoppable gas pedal. Oh well, you can't have everything, Can you? The side streets were so so but major roadways were very drivable. So I say the sanitation department actually did a very good job. I salute you guys.

And you know what (not your butt)? Even the Fashion Week is on schedule in Bryant Park. All the beautifully emaciated people are congregating there so if you are not beautiful don't even go near the place, you will feel even more fatter and uglier than usual. I am not going near that place except when I feel like to take some pictures for the sole enjoyment of my readers.

Snowday No More

Every good thing must come to an end.  As such, tomorrow there shall be school.  I don't know how much Queens is considered to be part of New York City but I just hope by the time I need to ferry the boys to school the roadways are as clear as they can be.  The bus and the subway, they have live of their own and they come when they are ready irrespective of any schedule or complaint.  So I shall remain hopeful that tomorrow the commute won't be all that bad.  I have faith in myself.

Snowman On Snowday

Snow Day

Kissena Lake in the middle of the snowstorm.

Snow Day

Snow Day

Most of my shots are in landscape mode. If God intended us to see portrait He would have put our eyes in a vertical line. I totally bullshit as I am sure you are well aware of MO. I am just too lazy to flip my camera and flip it one more time when comes to editing. So most of my pictures are just plain landscape, because it's just convenient. I am a lazy photographer so by default I am no good--I am fishing for sympathetic compliments again. I am just pathetic.

Snow Day

I should have overexposed it by at least one stop to make it white. Or should have done it in GIMP. But I goofed. And so be it.

Worker Bees

For those worker bees who brave the snowstorm and prop up the ailing US economy.  I salute you.  You know who you are.

Snowmageddon In NYC

Tomorrow's news today:  no school tomorrow.  Mayor Bloomberg preemptively closes NYC public schools.  Kids shall stay home and so will I.

The only thing I care about:  Can the Fashion Week in Bryant Park still open on Thursday?  Can the emaciated human specimens brave the surly weather and walk the walk?  Is Fashion Week still even in Bryant Park?  I am confused.

Me The Poet

Can you believe that?  I know I can't.  But here are the two "poems" I have ever written in my entire life.

So Winter Is Here
Snow Is Pelting On My Roof
Snowdrops Brags Haiku
[The last line is corrected by the exceedingly literate Snowdrops]


Winter Games Up North
Cruel Capricious Trails Break Bones
Safer Watch At Home

Since somebody is closing the shop early, I have to single-handedly provide entertainment for the entire Blogosphere.  It's a tall order but somebody has to do it.

The above is purposefully haiku, whether it's really haiku I don't really know for sure.

Nikon New Lenses

A Nikkor AF-S 24mm f1.4G.  For a mere $2,199.95.  More the reason for me to use old film stuff.  It just doesn't work for me.  I just use whatever I have already or from eBay.

Carousel

Best Subway Line In The World

The Price Is Right

Friendly Vendor

New Yorkers are incredibly friendly.  I feel enormously thankful to strangers.
Canon RF 35mm f2.8

Sometimes, I wonder I can probably put a coke glass in front of the camera and it's still be acceptably good.  Just kidding. I used to be very very anal about how clean the lens is.  I mean I still do.  But ever since shooting these two lenses from the 1950s I guess some scratches really don't mean anything.  Bottom line is the picture.  While scanning, I notice sometimes Dust Removal is just too smart for its own good.  Sometimes, some facial features are considered as dust and the result can be strangely appalling.  I can't do this to the nice people in my pictures.

Empire State Building

Neopan 400 shot as rated. Kodak HC-110 1:63 10 minutes at 68F.

Won't You Hate It

Won't you just hate it if Brangelina tells you beauty and wealth don't mean a thing?  I know I will.

Random Rant

I always thought I can count on the Japanese to crank out reliable consumer durables at a reasonable price.  Now even they messed it up.  It's all Toyota's fault.

Something About Myself

My tastes are simpler:  I am easily satisfied with roast pork over rice.
    ---laichungleung

Me And My P

Me and my P. Canon RF 35mm f2.8 with 35mm optical viewfinder. The optical viewfinder is nifty. It has a focusing scale to compensate the optical discrepancy between the lens and the viewfinder. I honestly don't think it's called parallax correction. Anyway, the distance adjustment tilts the viewfinder down if focus is close and flat focus to infinity. I know some other Canon rangefinders, there's a pin on the cold shoe connected to the focusing mechanism to do just that--moving the shoe mounted optical viewfinder up and down. I mean how cool is that?

When accurate framing is not critical. When accurate focusing is replaced by hyperfocusing. Rangefinder is the way to go. I talk like as if I know what I am doing, I don't really. I just enjoy what I am doing.

Mom, Look, There Is No Lens Cap

The lens has scratches and marks and it doesn't come with a lens cap. So it's naked. The upside is I never miss a picture because I forgot to take the lens cap off.

One good thing about the P is you can easily leave the film leader out without much guessing. Once the little red eye stop spinning when you are rewinding, you know the film is out of the take up spool on the right and not yet back in the cassette cartridge. Of course, if you want to micro adjust the the length of the lead sticking out, like getting 39 or 40 exposures out of a 36 roll, then you need to be more careful. But it's really great if you process your 135 roll film. I never needed to use a can opener because I always leave the film lead out.

Frozen Kissena Lake

Kung Fu In Kissena Park

Kodak 125PX @125, HC-110 1:49 for 8 minutes at 68F.  A lady practicing Kung Fu in the park.

+++++++

Once again, I was able to shoot thirteen frames using my C12 back.  So that's a bonus.  Though it's a little bit of a pain to file the orphan 13th frame.  Plus the 13th frame is just too close to the end that got clipped to the reel when developing.  The frame may very well get crinkled.

Last night I dumped my Kodak HC-110 after the above development.  It got kind of reddish.  The negative looked fine to me.

As an aside.  I don't know what's going on with the expired film market.  A year or two ago I was getting just expired 120 Portra for $1 a roll.  Now people are asking 120 color negative film expired in 2006 for $2 a roll.  I say no, thank you.

++++++

The 150mm CF is one of the two Hasselblad lenses I own. I like the out of focus rendition, it's pretty smooth. The 80mm CF is good, not crazy expensive and it's actually versatile but people tend to overlook just like the 50mm lens in the 135mm world. Then there is the 50mm CF which goes from $500 to $800 I think without the floating elements. The 50mm CF would be a nice addition to my Hasselblad.