That Rubber Thingie Underneath My MacBook...

This happened a few months ago...


...then this one just now.

Not really sure what they're called, the rubber footing beneath my MacBook fell off, the first one a few months back, the latter just before writing this. The first one was actually worse, since the base got brittle, almost disintegrating. I assumed it was because of the intense heat, oftentimes I'll leave my MacBook running for hours without proper ventilation. Not sure if the recent misfortune is the same, since the base is still intact, and the glue that used to hold it is still moist.

I guess this isn't covered by warranty, unless it fell off the day you got it from the store, so this is what I did...


...and now it's as good as new (hopefully).


Not so sure if I'm the only victim of this one though. Hopefully this won't happen again.

The iPhone Fashion Shoot

The best camera is the one that's with you. - Chase Jarvis

This video isn't from Chase Jarvis, but in a way it reinforces the thought that any camera can do the job, all you need is a little inspiration (and maybe some good lighting).

Admittedly, I have been uninspired with photography for quite some time now, mostly due work and wedding preps. I have been reading photography books and online forums to stimulate those creative nerves again, but this video is probably the best booster of them all.

Thanks to Strobist for sharing this.

S90: View From The Rooftop

Here's a view from the rooftop of our unit in Makati. It was one of the few times that I got to use the S90 since we bought it. Hopefully, with the summer heat winding down and the workload becoming more manageable, I may have that urge again to take more photos.

I'm not sure, but I think I did something wrong because I'm not impressed with the photos that I took last time, the photo above is probably the best from the batch. I know it's not the camera, because I have seen beautiful captures from this little beast from different photography websites. When there's time, I might shoot again from the rooftop.

Maybe I'm expecting too much from the S90. I got used to my DSLR that I'm expecting the S90 to behave the same way (especially in the noise department). Even though the S90's technology is much better than that of my G5, a DSLR is still the way to go if speed and noise is an issue.

But for portability, the S90 wins hands down. The shot above was taken from a small opening between the concrete wall and the mesh fence. Only a camera that small can get an unobstructed shot from that vantage.

That's it for now. Time to get out and shoot some more.

iPhone 4

This changes everything. Again.

Time to come out from my blogging hiatus. I know, I haven't been writing for a while, I'll save the excuses for some other post.

So back to topic. Rumors about Apple's newest mobile device have been circulating for quite some time now, so this is more of a confirmation rather than a surprise. The new features like the high resolution display, HD video, and longer battery life make me wonder if I bit the bullet too early with my iPhone 3G S.

As a consolation, it probably won't be available until the 4th quarter of 2010, and with Globe's reputation with loyalty subscribers, the wait could be longer. And at least iPhone OS 4 (now called iOS 4) is set to be available by June 21, for free.

Thanks to Mac Rumors for the early heads-up.

iPhone 3G S

Taken with Roxanne's new S90.

I couldn't wait for whatever is coming in June, so I finally got myself an iPhone 3G S, thanks to Globe.

At first I was just expecting an iPod Touch with phone capabilities and a camera, something to streamline the things I carry everyday. But for some reason, having an iPhone is a totally different experience. I have never been this excited about a gadget, it feels like I have everything at my disposal, anytime. And it's a lot different from the other phones I have used in the past, the interface and the plethora of apps available via the App Store makes the experience worthwhile.

In short, I love this phone. And I'm eagerly waiting iPhone OS 4, which would make the experience even better.

Canon Powershot S90

This is actually Roxanne's new toy, it was either this or the Ixus 120 IS. Personally, I prefer something with a hotshoe like the Panasonic LX3 or the Canon Powershot G11, but the size of this baby is just right for Roxanne, and the features and image quality are great for something this small (like a baby DSLR).

Got this at Watson in Hidalgo for PHP25000, which is sort of a middle price between gray market units (around 17K) and those sold in the malls (around 31K). For the price, it comes with a 4GB SD card, a leather case, and is also entitled to three years warranty and a free Lonely Planet book upon registration online. What a bargain.

We would have taken it for a test drive tonight, but since I'm not feeling well we decided to do that some other time. So no pictures from the S90 for now.

iPhone OS 4

Learn more about Apple's new mobile operating system here.

Being an iPod Touch 2nd Generation owner, and with my iPhone reservation from Globe in the works, this news excites me. I think this bridges the gap between the Apple and its competitors. Some new features include:

- multitasking;
- customizable home screen;
- folders for apps (which increases the app limit from 180 to 2160);
- iBooks;
- integrated Mail app (good for those with multiple email accounts);
- iAd (which brings rich ad content, and could help lessen the price of apps and other content);
- and many others.

I'm ecstatic about the folders update, since I hate deleting apps from my iPod Touch every now and then. It's too bad though that I wouldn't be able to take advantage of multitasking, since this requires a 3rd Generation iPod Touch, but I guess multitasking is more critical for iPhone owners, it's a hassle to quit an app just to answer a call.

Now the question is, should I proceed with my iPhone 3G S reservation, or just be patient and wait for new hardware by June/July? Ah, the wait is killing me.

Snow Leopard

Before Snow Leopard.

After Snow Leopard.

Sorry for the long images above (forgot to hide the extra stuff). Just want to show you guys how much space Snow Leopard frees up after installation. In my case, around 12GB.

Snow Leopard isn't just an update, it's a whole new operating system, minus the change in user interface. It's been out since last year, so I'm more of a late bloomer in terms of updating my rig. I don't know why it took me so long to upgrade, considering that for a new OS, it's cheap at PHP1600.

Upgrading from Leopard to Snow Leopard made me realize how easy it is to maintain Macs. It took me more or less three hours to complete the cycle: one hour to back-up 50GB worth of data, one hour to install the OS itself (just did an upgrade, not a clean install), and another hour to download updates from the web. After updating, everything was the same as how I left them (documents, programs installed, etc).

I'll try to explore the subtle changes provided by this update, and also see if it makes my computing experience a bit snappier. But for now, for the freed up space alone, I recommend the upgrade.

My Uncle's Speedlights

Update: Made it work already. Thanks to Raphy for the WD-40 tip.

The picture above are two Nikon Speedlight SB-28s from my uncle Rikki. The one on the left is his personal flash, the one that he uses with his Nikon F90. The one on the right was given to him by my Uncle Arthur. It came from East Timor (or Cambodia, can't recall) during my Uncle Arthur's peace keeping mission there, along with some Nikkor lenses and some damaged Leica stuff (ouch).

SB-28s and my 430 EX II, for comparison.

I tested both yesterday, only to find out that the one from my Uncle Arthur isn't working. Well, maybe it's because of the battery contacts, it was corroded and I used some Wipe Out to clean it, which could have made it worse. I'll try to buy some WD-40 or some proper cleaning solvent and try it again. My Uncle Rikki's unit works though, it's even compatible with my cheap China triggers.

If I'm lucky, I hope my uncle would give me one or both of them for a good price, or for some IT services. I'll use them to learn more about lighting.

Useless trivia: Canon calls them Speedlites, while Nikon calls them Speedlights.

New Stuff For My MacBook

For a change, I acquired some new stuff for my MacBook.

The first one is Snow Leopard, an new operating system. Think of it as upgrading from Windows Vista to Windows 7. This one has been long overdue, since Snow Leopard has been available since last year. I'll try to write something about Snow Leopard once I get it up and running, but for now I expect that this would make my computing experience better. Oh, and I heard it helps free up some hard drive space, also looking forward to this one.

The other item is Apple Care. For those not familiar, Apple Care extends the warranty of a specific Apple Product. In this case, I get an extra two years warranty for my MacBook once I decide to activate Apple Care, but this should be done before my current coverage expires (which is sometime around April). It's a bit expensive at PHP12000, but after my 400D fiasco I just know how much the extra coverage can give me peace of mind.

A little tip by the way, especially to those who bought their Apple products outside the country. Make sure to check your current coverage. To my surprise, my warranty ended February instead of April, the month I purchased my MacBook (thank you Sir Albert of Infosoft for helping me with that inquiry). So always keep your receipt, and check your warranty via Apple's Self Help Site.

Both items above are available at most authorized resellers in the Philippines. I got mine from Digital Hub, with a discount thanks to my PhilMUG membership.

Finally Got My Camera (Again)

The 400D's mainboard and some sort of flexi-cable.

Got my unit back for the nth time. I no longer want to count how many times I've been to the service center, I just hope my next trip there would be for cleaning only. They said the mainboard was the culprit, total damage was around nine grand, discounted already.

At least I'm happy now, I'll get to use this on Valentine's Day. I'm still planning to buy a new body this year, maybe around May or June. Right now, the soon to be released 550D is my best bet, but still itching for a semi-pro body (60D perhaps when it's announced).

Apple iPad

For more pictures and for the complete specs, click here.

At first, I thought it was an iPod Touch on steroids. But after seeing the product video, I was impressed. The base model is actually affordable, and having used my iPod Touch extensively for web surfing, the huge screen on this one will definitely come in handy. I also love how it shows your photo gallery, very similar to iPhoto.

I do have some nitpicks with this thing:

- no support for Flash content means I can't enjoy Facebook apps on this one.
- no GPS means I have to rely on WiFi or 3G connection to use the maps.
- no camera means no support for video chat.

I guess all these nitpicks are targeted on utilizing the iPad's big screen. So for now, I consider the iPad as a "nice to have". It would be awkward for me to carry this thing when going to the mall or when jogging (duh!), but it would be great to have this at home, especially when I'm not in the mood to wait for my laptop to boot. Let's see in a few months when this is out in the market.

Isabela: The Experience

Would you believe this place is just a short hike from Roxanne's house? Really cool!

Okay, at the expense of sounding like a broken record, here it goes again: my camera went bonkers for the nth time. I was literally at the mercy of my camera during my stay, thankfully it decided to cooperate on moments that mattered, like the photo taken above. It's back at the service center, and I'll write something about it when I hear from the guys at Canon.

So back to the story. I was my first time to visit Roxanne's home town of Ilagan in Isabela, and I was fortunate also to visit some of the adjacent towns, like San Mariano and Echague.

Isabela isn't your typical tourist destination. It's a classic example of the rural scene in the Philippines. If you play the likes of FarmVille on Facebook, then you could probably relate to what I'm saying. And I love this rural feel. The animals, the rice fields, the trees that shape the landscape, and the stars at night, all of these contribute to the serenity of the place. This is simplicity at its best.

I must admit that I'm a total city boy, that what I call home consists of tall buildings, heavy traffic, and accessibility to malls. But once in a while I enjoy the calm that the likes of Isabela has, that quiet aura that enchants you and takes all your worries away.

I really enjoyed the Isabela experience. Mingling with Roxanne's relatives and seeing how she grew up makes me love her even more. And that was just the first of many visits to come.

I'll post the pictures soon, Multiply is down anyway so I'll take my time.

Weddings And Cameras

Weddings

Congratulations to George and Pris on your wonderful wedding. Pictures coming soon.

Cameras

I finally got my 400D from the service center last Wednesday. Weird thing is that after a month of being checked in, they found nothing wrong with it. I decided to pull it out for the meantime, since I don't have any backup to use.

I'm actually tempted to upgrade early, since there's this three year warranty program for selected units purchased before the year ends. But I'm also trying to save up, since I've spent more this year. We'll see, I hope my 400D "stays in shape" for the meantime.

And as for Canon, I still believe they're one of the best in terms of service quality. Very polite representatives and specialists.

Goodbye G5

Thanks for the memories.

My G5 on its fifth year of service. Read more here.

I called up Canon this morning to follow up on my 400D, and get a quote for my G5's repair as well. Turns out the cost is no longer practical, just add a few more and I could already get a decent point and shoot. So after almost six years of taking pictures, it's about time to retire my Canon Powershot G5.

I still blame myself for leaving it in my check-in luggage during our US trip, which caused a dent and damaged the LCD. But it turns out the camera's optics are also in need of replacement, so I guess this is really inevitable.

And maybe it's time to upgrade as well. The new G11 is smaller, has a bigger LCD, and has cleaner images at higher ISO (I can't go past ISO 100 on my G5). And from our recent trips this year, I realized that having a small camera can really be handy.

I remember when I bought my G5, I wanted this camera not only because I wanted to learn the basics, but because I wanted a tool that will last me five years. And it did. Even when I had my 400D, I would still use the G5 very often.

My Flickr G5 gallery is full of memories captured by this little beast. And for that, I will always be thankful to my G5 for documenting a part of my life.

Back From Hong Kong

Not exactly the way I wanted to shoot it, but at least I still got the shot.

Oh boy, back home again. Roxanne and I really miss Hong Kong, seeing those bright lights for the last time on our way to the airport made us realize that reality is just around the corner.

So far, nothing much has changed in Hong Kong. Taxi cabs are still red, and neon lights are still, well, neon. But there are also some changes. The MTR seems to have more lines and stations now, including one exclusive for Disney. And prices aren't as cheap as I imagined. Or maybe I'm not really after anything that's why I say so.

Now for the bad news. My camera acted up again, thankfully I was still able to use it during our trip. Today, it has gone kaput and is back at the service center. It is really time for me to upgrade. I also realized how handy a small camera can be when traveling, so I'm also thinking of getting a small "prosumer" camera in the near future.

And now for the good news. They say a picture paints a thousand words. I'll let the photo below do the talking.


That's about it for now. I'll post more about Hong Kong soon, including the pictures from our trip.

My Day In 50mm

Well, not exactly 50mm, since on a camera like mine it becomes 80mm (see crop factor). Sometimes I wish it could be wider, like Gelsen's Sigma 30mm f1.4.

Back to the story, yesterday I decided to bring my camera and nifty-fifty to work. Gelsen and I were supposed to do a photowalk on our way for lunch, but bad weather sort of changed our plans. We were still able to take some pictures, but to maximize my camera I just took photos of the things I saw in the office. Random stuff that is.

I'm beginning to love this lens again. It's really small and light, plus the bokeh and colors it produce are just awesome. I just wish it could be a bit wider.

Anyway, please check out my gallery here. I didn't bother do post processing, just resized and posted them right away. I feel like I could do more damage if I altered some of the settings.

Let There Be Light

My setup for my test.

It took me a long time before finally getting a flash gun for myself. Almost two years in the making, if I'm not mistaken. I have mentioned many times that I want one of these, but I only got one now seeing from my friends how useful these things can be.

I got myself a Canon Speedlite 430EX II from Digital Walker Zoom (thank you Sir Charlie and Sir Dickoy) last Wednesday. Their promo for PiPho members like me was just too tempting to resist. I also got myself two sets of Eneloop batteries from Watson in Hidalgo last Thursday. They say Eneloops (made by Sanyo) are great because of its ability to hold its charge for months.

Maybe one reason it took me a while before purchasing a flash unit is because I originally wanted a 580EX II, the big brother of the 430EX II. It has a stronger flash output, can act as a master device, and has more features than the 430EX II, but it comes at a price.

So why the sudden change of heart? I realized that as a beginner who doesn't make a living from taking pictures, the 580EX II may just be too much for me. If budget wasn't an issue, I would have gotten the 580EX II in a heartbeat. But since I have to manage my cash flow, the price difference can actually get me some much needed accessories: batteries, diffusers, triggers, and maybe a cheap flash for strobist work.

If I could start photography all over again, I think I'll get a flashgun first before upgrading my kit lens. Learning proper lighting can actually make wonders, and I have been to many events wishing I have a strong enough flash to cover them.

I did a little test to show the difference between built-in flash and a dedicated flash gun. Note that this test isn't scientific in any way, and that I still have a lot to learn about flash photography. I tried to use the same settings for all the shots.


In the fisrt picture, no flash was used. Colors turned out dull.


I used the built-in flash for the second picture, at normal power. Notice that there's some shadowing at the bottom of the bear, caused by the big lens I'm using.


I used the built-in flash at full power for this shot. It's overexposed and the shadow at the bottom is much worse.


For this one, I used the 430EX II, and it was pointed straight to the subject, normal power. It's almost the same as shot number two, minus some of the shadow at the bottom.


This time, the flash was pointed upward, also known as bounce flash. This is one of the advantages of having a dedicated flash gun. The beige hue was caused by our ceiling.


For the last one, it's the same as number five, except that I tried to diffuse some of the light by using paper towels. I wonder if it's the same if I buy a real diffuser.

I know, I still have a lot to learn from my shots. I still have to find the right mix, but I know with this purchase I'm headed the right way. I'll do more experimenting in the future, especially when I get my hands on a good flash trigger set. Now I'm on my way to becoming a strobist.

My 400D Is Fixed (Again)

Another silly test shot.

Hopefully this is the last time my camera sees a technician.

I just got my 400D from Canon this afternoon, after its third visit. This time, the shutter mechanism was replaced, but the labor costs were waived.

It took them some time, but I'm happy with the service, I just hope I don't have to return there anytime soon. I guess Canon's after sales support is the reason why a lot of Filipinos are loyal to this brand.

Now its time for me to continue my search for my first flash unit. Most likely it would be the 430EX II, but I'm still weighing my options.

The Joys Of Lighting (Impromptu Shoot)

Once in a while, you have to be in front of the camera, not always behind it.


Yesterday's lunch gathering turned into an impromptu photo shoot, this time with me and Roxanne as the subject. I didn't have my camera, but it didn't seem to matter anyway. We all had fun.

George called this one "free-nup", because it was a sort of pro bono prenup shoot. Actually, it's a practice shoot for all of us. For me and Roxanne, it was a way of seeing how a prenup shoot is done, since Jayson and George had been in one already. For the rest of the guys, it's a practice on lighting techniques.

In the years I've spent in photography, it seems that I'm missing an integral part of it: good lighting techniques. Seeing how yesterday went, proper (or should I say dramatic) lighting isn't an easy thing, but the results can really inspire you. I have always tried natural lighting, seeing this as the way to go, buying fast lenses and not caring about flash units. But natural light doesn't always behave the way you want it to. Of course, flash units are not as useful when shooting landscapes, wildlife, and long exposures. With people though, you can really unleash its power. Same goes for product shots.

This morning, I received an SMS from Canon, my 400D is ready for pickup. Now it's time I consider getting a flash unit, maybe a 430EX II, and some wireless triggers. I have been contemplating on this for a long time now, but seeing how fun it is to shoot with creative lighting, I now want to unleash the strobist in me.

And with all my friends using Nikon, I'm also contemplating on shifting systems. But that's another story.

The guys at work.

Credits to George for the pictures above (more from his gallery here), with lighting help from Jayson and Gelsen.