Photography has always been a passion. Although its not one I’ve always had the time to indulge in.

I’ve a basic understanding of the principles. There are significant areas that need work. All of which would be hardly anything but.

I’d like to think I have a good eye. From practice, I can see that it requires a major leap in skill along with refinement. Its that edge, a small glimmer of what might be if I can just work with what I have to catch it.

There have been moments of revelation. Dabbling in film. First digital SLR.

Strangely, it was the 50mm lens I picked up on a whim thats taught me the most. Funny how it was the standard lens for so long when a new SLR was purchased. Guess its a sign of the times that kits now come with zooms. If not two or three.

A very different aesthetic.

That 50mm lens gave me control. Fast enough to shoot in low light. Shallow depth of field. Light weight and portable. It forced me to think about the photo. Work myself into the right position.

In return I discovered I could produce pictures that popped. Gave me an appreciation of what it takes.

The next step was the chance to borrow a 5D. I’d been satisfied with the output from the 300D. However having made use of a full frame SLR, I can see why people want them.

Its not just in the build quality. Its the rock solid speed and precision. The full sized sensor that means that lens are actually the focal length they specify. That levels of detail are high enough to crop a meaningful image.

The Mark 2 is an intriguing camera. The HD video looks amazing. I would use it if I had it. Its just that I’d like to master still photography before leaping into moving pictures. As much as it fascinates me to do so.

Somehow hybrid cameras have a ways to go. Its something I could do without for the moment. It looks like its here to stay so I guess I can lump it.

So I’ll be pinching pennies until I can order one.

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The latest trip was immense fun. As per usual I took care of video duties while the better half handled photos. This is the usual assignment to keep things simple and light.

As much as I like video and editing. Sometimes its just easier to capture that one moment. Snap and its done. Not like video where I need to actively look at everything I want to capture. Make sure I don’t run into someone whilst filming. Changing tapes and keeping batteries fresh.

Having said that I’ve gotten into a groove with video. I “run and gunned” it for two weeks. Got short snippets and key moments. Was happy to leave it at photos for certain times. I miss things when all I’m doing is video. Its important to stop and enjoy the moments as much as record them.

There was just so much great stuff with the Japan trip it was overwhelming. I kept wishing I’d brought the DSLR. Especially around Kyoto. Give me three days of photo shoots and I’d be a happy camper.

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Waiting for the rivercat in the evening after work. Dark and stormy night.

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I rag on Microsoft a lot. Unfairly so at times. Lets leave all the DRM talk at the door for the moment.

They do a lot of things right. Here are a couple of free apps that are really useful.

Time Zone
I’ve been searching high and low for a light world clock. Sure I’d like fancy graphical dials. However I’m not willing to devote huge system resources to it. Found some links to a systray time zone app. The selection of cities is limited but its pretty much what I need.

Photo Info
Photo metadata editor. Access all the metadata of photos from explorer. Excellent.

Raw image thumbnail and viewer.
I plan to start shooting RAW. This extension will be extremely helpful.

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Had a Saturday afternoon to myself a couple of weekends ago. Took the camera with me as I wandered around the city. Took a few interesting shots.

Wandered through the new Hilton Hotel foyer. Minimalist is definitely the trend for hotel foyers now. Its the same with the Westin the next block up. Almost indistinguishable from the average office block foyer.

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Homemade shortbread biscuits. Yum !

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The BMW M6. V10 engine chock full of the latest auto technology for a mind numbing price.

I’ve been extremely busy of late. Haven’t even had time to participate in PhotoFriday.

I’m still around. Won’t make any promises I can’t keep though.

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Taken from the top of the Panorama Century Court Hotel in Shanghai China. We were there on holidays last November.

Looking across the Huangpu River to Pudong. The Oriental Pearl Tower and Jinmao Tower look down on everything.

An excellent place to spend a week. Good food, friendly people, excellent shopping.

The Hotel is extremely good value. A bit off the city centre being a ten minute walk from Nanjing Road and the Bund. However taxis are cheap and plentiful to get about.

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Mucking with depth of focus. Not entirely successful as its more out of focus than I wanted.

Still there you go. I like the textures and colours though.

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Nothing like some curry puffs to warm you up.

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Taken down in the Suthern Highlands at a friends hobby farm. Lovely spot in the world.

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The Kamakura Daibutsu is quite massive. Its impressive in that it sits in an open courtyard. Dwarfing anything around it. Interestingly you can go inside as well. It was raining on and off through our day trip there.

I’ve also visited the Buddha on Lantau Island Hong Kong which is bigger again. However I found you lost its scale as it sits on a small hill that you climb up to.

Kamakura is most definitely worth visiting. An amazing change from Tokyo. The culture and serenity of the temples and shrines is a breathe of fresh air.

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Should probably have cropped the edge of the building off the left side.

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But which one ?

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This is the Holden Torana TT36 prototype shown at the Sydney 2004 Motor Show.

The colour is “Mangenta”. In real life the colour is stupifyingly bright.

At the time I thought it was amazingly ugly. All those flat surfaces and angular lines (and that was just the interior). Having come back to look at this photo after the new Vectra and Astras. Its not too bad.

Although I still don’t like the colour.

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