Your 365

Re-naming files

2008-06-03T00:05:00.003-05:00

Sorry for the lack of updates, I am in the process for re-naming the tens of thousands of images I have taken over the years, and it looks like some of them might be worthy to be published online.... we will see about that.

No matter what, there should be some images coming very soon (hopefully... :p)

Canon's EOS Rebel XSi Commercial

2008-05-27T11:49:00.002-05:00

So... It's summer time, I am supposed to spend more time at home, enjoying the A/C, on my way to become another one of the American potato (on the couch that is). But instead, I've been busy as hell.

Here is something that I've found interesting... I get how Canon XSi is a new camera from Canon and all, and honestly, by watching the commericals, it does reminded me of those cool HP commericals that had a while back promoting their printers.

Back to the topic. The HP commerical is just cool, it shows you the things that you could do with your pictures, just need to think differently, or outside of the box. But Canon's commerical used the EOS-1D Mark III to capture the stills to be put into the video, that's just bad business practice. It gives people false expectations.

Outta School

2008-05-07T18:41:00.006-05:00

School is out!! Woo hoo!!

I am excited..... to be a couch potato :(

Did you know that Canon USA is gonna....

2008-04-25T20:51:00.002-05:00

Raise the price on their products starting from May 1 according to Rob Galbraith

Canon USA is in the process of informing U.S. dealers about upcoming price increases on a broad range of its camera gear. Starting May 1, 2008, dealers will pay 3-5% more to Canon for most Canon EF lenses and all Canon EOS and PowerShot accessories (plus all Canon binoculars too). The dealer net on Canon digital SLRs is unchanged.

So for those of you that have been "dying" or "itching" or "scratching" :D to get the piece of L lens, you have 5 more days till the price goes up on the lens, or you can always do what I do, buy it used :D

Recorded sound

2008-04-23T11:43:00.003-05:00

So, I was reading somewhere that the reason we sound different when recorded was because

We tend to hear our own voices as much through our jawbone and throat as through our ears, so virtually everyone thinks their voice sounds different when they hear it recorded, while other people hear it the same way. And in most cases, we think we sound better than the recording reveals. This is one reason why "announcer" training uses recordings to help students learn how to speak better.
-wilderwriter on Yahoo! Answer

Now, I know this is probably not a scientific explaination, but I know my voice definitely sounds different when recorded, and I do hate my recorded voice. (Can I get a head count of who else hates their recorded voice?? Hmm huh, I thought so).

You would think it'd be a simple tweak on the audio/mic recorder end (or manufacturer end) to maybe, just maybe, add a little bit of bass or something (sorry, don't know the correct technical term) to the recording process, so the voices would be closer to what we hear inside our head.

Now I bet that recorder is going to sale like a hot cake! or maybe I just don't want my screaming in the recording to sound like a little girl shrieking. I am just saying... :D

In love with Gmail

2008-04-20T19:46:00.002-05:00

So I was doing my usual Adobe Camera Raw tweaking, took a little short break from the not-so-interesting stuff, and happened to stumbled across this video about Gmail, although I couldn't understand what the narrator was saying (in German I believe, correct me if I am wrong), it's still pretty crazy, production time and all, enjoy!

Dallas Gallery Walks

2008-04-19T23:27:00.014-05:00

This afternoon I went down to downtown Dallas, because I needed to covered the Art Residency program UTD has opened. But then I remember my professor told us something about art walk sort of things for art galleries downtown.

After a quick google search, it turns out that there are indeed whole bunch of museums doing the art walk this afternoon. On the little electronic brochure it says there are 32 galleries around Dallas areas participating in this event, 32!! can you believe that??

Unfortunately, with the times I had, I was only able to go to 3 or 4 galleries, below are a short (or call it mini if you want) list of artists that I've found to be interesting:

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
1. Maya Eventov

Maya Eventov's Acrylic on Canvas Painting

P.S - The images of her painting does not do her art works justice, there are just so much textures on the canvas, such vibrant use of color that are all somehow lost due to crappy photographers. The image is above is the one that I think almost does her work justice, but still not quite, I believe it's worth it to just go to downtown Dallas just to check this out.

Click on the thumbnail to see the interview with her about her work

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2. Jennifer Scott McLaughlin

Her newest work is currently being exhibited at the
Artizen Fine Arts in Downtown Dallas on Dragon Street and Howell Street.

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3. Enid Williams

I like this one better because there's subtle muted color tone behind all the dots.

It's like orders within chaos or vice versa, depend on how you look at it.

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4. Cara Enteles

The use of mix medium made whatever was printed on the frosted acrylic(Plexiglas) more interesting "as the surface interact with the lights in the environment, giving a surprising and unpredictable glow to the work, which changes as the light does"

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For me, it was definitely an interesting evening, got a lot of inspirations for my silkscreens... just you wait :D

Howto: C-Stand

2008-04-16T21:06:00.002-05:00

Here is a great instructional video regarding C-Stands, wish I had found this video before I started interning at the photo studio. (Note: The video and the setup probably could've been updated to have more modern look, instead of 80s look)

Righty tighty, Lefty loosy......
Righty tighty, Lefty loosy......
Righty tighty, Lefty loosy......

Through Window Test...

2008-04-16T00:53:00.006-05:00

While I was in LA doing my assisting gig, I did a lot of drive by shooting (pun intended), simply because the assisting job was from 7AM - 8PM deal, so even though I was living the hotel next to the beach, I never really had any chance to go and feel the sands between my toes :( I am definitely going back to LA again in the future on my own turn....

Back to the image, I am trying to adjust the image in the camera raw to make the image less hazy looking because the windshield tends to give the picture a tinted cyan haze look, the color temperature helps, so is the contrast and clarity slider.... but it just seems like the image is a bit too...... dark or dull for me, unless you guys and gals have better suggestions?

Update 1: Oh, would a circular polarizer help with the cyan tinting on the windshield??

G9 Fans Everywhere Rejoyce!

2008-03-28T19:57:00.005-05:00

Ok, now I got your attention, it's time to get down to business.

Enjoy the Exposure Value Meter on the right hand side of the screen (Is that what that's called??) when you use the Manual mode in the G9?? But feel like something is missing when you switched to Av or Tv Mode??

Well, worry no more. You know that * and blue mic icon on the top right corner at the back of your G9? Try pressing that, what do you get?? Although it's not exactly Exposure Value Meter bar like in the manual mode. It does give you the supposedly correct exposure in the number value sliders.

Bonus: Try aiming your camera at other places and press the * button, it will give you the correct exposure value depends on which mode you are in. ie. If you are in Av, it will give you the supposedly correct value for shutter speed (Tv) and vice versa.

Bonus 2: Try it in Manual mode. I find that the f-stop, shutter sliders easier for me to look at and helps me learn their relationship in the mean time.

Note: Do take a note that there are limitations on the G9 as far as the aperture, shutter speed combination goes. In Manual Mode, if you are adjusting the f-stop, the shutter speed only goes from 1/1600 to 15". If the image is still not corrected within the range, it will not tell you or show you anything. However, if you are in either Av or Tv mode, if the correct exposure value is outside of the range, it will display the numbers in red.

I Am Legend Alternative Ending

2008-03-20T20:53:00.005-05:00

So I was at Fry's today returning some items I've purchased but decided not to keep. Then I saw the paper cut out of Will Smith from I Am Legend with the DVDs.

After I got home, I did my usual blog readings of the websites that I usually read. And what do you know, it just so happens that there's a post about I Am Legend's Original Ending. I took a look at it..... and yup, I think this ending is much better. But I don't want to ruin it for you guys, so here, let me know what you guys think:

I Am Legend Original Ending (Different from theater ones)

Sorry for no update

2008-03-20T00:41:00.004-05:00

Sorry guys, been really busy for the past 2 weeks.

Last week was my Spring Break, which was kind of nice, being a break and all, but not for me, I was in LA(Santa Monica specifically) assisting on the AT&T job that our photographer is shooting. I figured, since I've never been to LA, why not.

Now that I am back from LA, I gotta say I have mixed feeling about the trip, but I will try to fill you guys in as the weeks go by.

Anywho, since I got back, I got to work on my silkscreening class assignment, since I was alway during the entire Spring Break.

Note to self: It was not fun having to work 18 hours straight on the Silkscreening images... At least have something or some part done before you head out to do whatever you are going to do....

2008-02-29T22:33:00.004-06:00

Here is a shot of the assignment that I did for school newspaper tonight:

UTD Jazz & Chamber

you guys should come check it out, there is another showing tomorrow (Saturday 3/1 @ 8 PM)

G9: Preview Secrets

2008-02-29T22:08:00.002-06:00

Finally got some time to breath after working my intern job at the studio and finished taking pictures for school newspaper.

So... as I was flipping through the user manual of the G9, I found something interesting about it

1) (p.52) Lens Retract - I didn't know there was an option to retract the lens as soon as I press the playback button. Which wasn't that surprising, what surprised me was what I could do with the camera's preview button.

* I did not know that if I am already in preview mode, pressing preview button again will turn off the camera.

**and the BEST PART is: With the camera off, if I press preview button, not only will I be able to view the images that I've taken, but I will also be able to watch the videos that I've recorded. How slick is that!!

G9, The Ultimate Point and Shoot Camera

2008-02-28T00:19:00.002-06:00

For all of you out there who are thinking about the little point and shoot camera that you could take with you every where, or just tired of carrying the dSLR and their lens around, G9 is the hottest Point and Shoot camera at the moment.

In fact, it was so good that I've sold some of my un-used dSLR lens, and re-invest the fund to Canon G9 and some SD card. And I would like to say so far I've been pretty pleased with it. Although there are things to be desired, but do keep in mind that this is still a Point and Shoot, it's not going to replace the dSLR no matter what.

Stay tuned for some un-official benchmarks I've done with SD cards and G9.

Hello and Welcome

2008-02-27T02:17:00.003-06:00

Hello world,

Over the course of next year (I hope), I will be posting at least 1 post a day.

This is not only an experiment for myself, but it's also like a diary for me, so few years down the road, I will be able to look back to see what I've accomplished over the year.