Four days off.

I had a nice 4 day weekend!

Friday Paul & I went and saw The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, which was good – but not as great as I was hoping. I’m really in love with Nicolas Cage as Ben Gates out of the National Treasure movies, so I always hope I’m going to get more Ben Gates.

I also got my hair cut! I didn’t do a new style or anything, but getting my previous cut refreshed was just what I needed. My bangs are not in my eyes and covering my face and my hair actually has some movement – who would have thought?!

Saturday Paul had to work so I spent most of the day relaxing with Evy and then babysitting my nephews – with Evy – on Saturday night so my sister could celebrate a friend’s birthday. It was the first time I babysat all three for more than an hour and it was nice! I’d like to make time to do it more often because it kind of scares me – and I don’t want to be scared of multiple children because I want multiple children. Surprisingly, it was Evy who was being difficult – she seemed upset when I started to put the boys down to sleep, who would have thought?

Sunday Paul was still working, so I just spent the day with my sister. We made breakfast – banana pancakes from scratch! – and then just hid from the heat at her apartment. We tried to use a Restaurant.com coupon in order to enjoy some Indian food for dinner, but her printer was acting up so we had Souplantation instead. That place is the best!

Monday was exciting because I found someone on Craigslist who wanted to make a trade for their Kindle. I offered my old Panasonic camera because I wasn’t using it and I couldn’t sell it and they accepted it! So now I have a Kindle too I know what some of you guys are thinking, “Why do you need two eReaders?” and the fact is that I don’t – but the camera was going to waste in our house and an eReader wont. Question for anyone who has a Kindle though: I thought the 3G model came with Wifi but I can’t seem to find anything about it on the website, manual or online. I understand that I don’t get charged for document transfer over wifi – so I’d like to use that. The Kindle was manufactured in March  2010 so I thought that meant it wasn’t a 3G only model (like the one introduced at the beginning of August).

Monday we also visited Hot Topic because I’d heard they had Hunger Games merchandise. They did, so we picked up a keychain and a shirt! The shirt was a bit pricey, but it’s was really cool – so I bought it. I don’t have many t-shirts, so it’s something I can really enjoy. The shirt was running a bit small though – so I had to pick up a XXXL – I felt so big But the truth was that these were teen sizes, and the XXXL was hardly any larger than the S size.

I haven’t finished – in fact I haven’t even started! – Mockingjay yet, but my sister & I are going to start really soon. I’m just trying to get through (in a good way) Christopher Pike’s Falling – which I borrowed from the library.

It was a long weekend, but it wasn’t long enough. I really need a vacation. But how do people vacation when they have kids? Right now Evy’s of that age where she can’t really participate in the stuff we want to do so we don’t do much… Sure, we can go to the park and nap – but what then?!

The trifecta… well not really.

My new camera is proving to be a bit of work.

First, I’ve found that I can’t work directly from the memory card – I have to pull all the files from the card in order to upload them to Flickr. Second, I’ve found that my built-in card reader in my monitor at work (where I do most of my uploading) is not compatible with high capacity cards – so my $75 SDHC card can only be read if I have it in the camera and the camera connected to the PC. Not that big of a deal really – I had just gotten used to removing the card and taking only the card to my work to upload my files. Third, I’ve found that either my connection at work is poor (which isn’t unbelievable), Flickr upload speed is poor (which is also believable), or the pictures are just plum too large because I’m having difficulties uploading more than three at a time! I took over 200 during Father’s Day weekend and so this is going to take FOREVER.

I’d like to wait a bit until I get home to do this – to see if the later time of the day or the faster connection will make a difference, but I’ve already downloaded & deleted all the files from my memory card so I’m a bit stuck. Well, lesson learned. I should have known, considering when I tried to download a digital copy of a movie through iTunes while at work it took THREE DAYS.

Tomorrow I want to go to the park with the kids again – and take more pictures. I just love taking pictures again!!!

As promised: Camera Talk

As I mentioned in my last post, we recently bought a new camera.

After using my current camera (Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ8) for the last few months I’ve grown frustrated with its inability to do many of the advanced shooting I was looking for. I don’t own – nor do I have the time to learn – Photoshop; so I don’t have the ability to take mediocre pictures and turn them into the masterpieces I crave. I expressed to Paul my frustration, but at the same time I let it go. Even told Paul I didn’t want a new camera for my birthday.

However, I think Paul knew that in my heart I did in fact want a new camera and he was really wanting a better one as well. Paul’s one of those guys, who I’ve got to love for this reason, who feels if you’re going to do it – do it right. So we decided to do this camera thing right this time and stop messing around.

Our purchase? A Canon Rebel T2i – the newest Rebel on the market. We were considering another, due to cost, but then we read a review on Gizmodo that was saying how the advanced features make this camera WORTH a good thousand dollars more than its asking price and how great of a starter camera it was because it had all the essential features. A few we were most drawn to were: video shooting in HD & Live View (meaning, you can use the LCD screen for shots as well as the view finder).

So far, we’re VERY happy with it. The weekend we bought it was Father’s Day so we actually had some great opportunities for pictures. The quality is amazing. The ease of use is much better than I thought (they have this mode called “creative mode” where it let’s you tweak some features but still give the camera most of the control). The size is more than reasonable. In short, it’s a great camera.

I’ve put my old camera up on eBay and I hope that someone buys it and REALLY enjoys it like I did before I realized I needed something more. I’ve included all of the bells & whistles such as an additional battery, three filters, two extra lens and a case. I hope that it’s enough to differentiate it from all the others for sale. It’s just collecting dust right now…

Much to catch up on.

Its been awhile since I last posted, so I’ve got a bit to catch up on.

First, I’ve stopped ordering NutriSystem as I found it was just TOO expensive. Plus as much as I was enjoying SOME dishes, most I was not. I came to the realization that it was time to stop ordering from them when I opened a “double chocolate muffin” and was assaulted by the aroma of lighter fluid. Sometimes my nose is just wonky though, so I ate it anyhow and had a terrible taste in my mouth all day. I had more than one, so I tried a second one just to clarify that it wasn’t just a fluke and I was sad to see it wasn’t.

On that note, while I’ve still been weighing myself and trying to eat right – I failed last week. This is a new week though, so I’m not going to give up entirely. Since I started my plan I’ve lost a total of 6 pounds – which I’m going to be thankful for even if it’s not as great as I was hoping.

I’ve finished A Spot of Bother, which I’ll post about later. A great surprise for a book club selection

The last two weeks at work have been spent on writing my yearly self-evaluation. This year I’m trying VERY hard to get promoted and so I’m not only trying to display that through my written self-evaluation but also through my newly learned hardware skills. I’m trying hard to make time to study books and perform labs and it’s difficult. The positive thing is, even if I don’t pass the test they’re creating for me doesn’t mean I have to wait a year to take that test again. I can try in one month or three months. “Flexing”, as they call it at my work when you move up in your position without changing classification, will ensure a bigger paycheck – plus it’ll boost my confidence at work. My self-esteem is still low, thanks to field guys who come in, take one look at me, and call me my co-worker’s “secretary”.

We haven’t heard from our PM in regards to our home owner wanting money for the water heater fiasco, so that’s good. Our air conditioner sucks though – and while I’ve been told it’s going to be serviced – I’m not holding my breath.

Last Thursday I got a facial, part 1 or 3 of a Mother’s Day package Paul bought me. I had some kind of Retinol treatment, and while I didn’t feel anything the day I got it done (or when I washed my face that night with Cetaphil) I certainly felt something Saturday morning after getting out of the shower. My skin felt tight and itchy, almost as though I were sun burnt. I’ve felt like that all weekend, despite gentle cleansers and moisturizers. Plus, my skin has been flaking slightly. No fun, I’m really self-conscious of it. My next visit isn’t until mid-July – and it’s a microderm abrasion treatment, I just hope my skin fairs better!

We got a new camera! I’m going to dedicate a whole post to it though, so keep an eye out!

Photography help?

I brought my camera into work with me today. This is my Panasonic Lumix, the one I bought right before we went to Scotland. I didn’t get a lot of great shots while in Scotland, mainly because I was more involved with experiencing our vacation rather than trying to catalog it. The other reason was because I just didn’t understand the camera. I went with a lot of ambitions, lenses (yes-its not a DSLR but it has two additional lenses), filters and ideas and came back with just a handful of good shots.

Here I am again, in the same situation. I want to take some good pictures of Evy and I just can’t seem to get any that are properly lit or without movement blur. I know that the camera isn’t as adjustable as a real DSLR, but I can change a lot of settings on it and I find it hard to believe that I can’t find the right setting to let in light and catch motion without a blur.

Someone want to point me in the right direction? I kind of assumed that having an open aperture and a quick shutter speed would do it – but I’m still not getting clear shots. I’d list what my camera can do – settings wise – but I’m not sure all that someone would need to help me out. I know that I can set my aperture between 8.0 – 2.8 and my shutter speeds are between 1/2000 – 60.

PLEASE HELP! I don’t want every picture I take of Evy to be in broad daylight or washed out with a flash

Cool!

MARKET AWAY!

clipped from gizmodo.com The Invisible Flash That Takes Clear Pictures at Night I like to take photos at night without a flash. With an iPhone. After too many Caipirinhas. Shaky and blurry, but they beat the flash look any day. Soon they may be perfect thanks to this new dark flash. Dilip Krishnan and Rob Fergus at New York University have solved the whole oh-god-look-at-everyone-looking-awful-and-red-eyed usual flash photo situation using a new dark flash technique. First, they modified the flashbulb to emit light in a wider spectrum and filter out visible light. Then, they removed the UV and IR filters normally present in camera sensors. This apparently results in making everyone in photos look like a Yugoslavian mafia goon's mug shot. Or maybe just a normal infrared image: Then, an algorithm adds color: The two scientist make the camera take another photo immediately after the first one, this time without the dark flash. Magic!

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This is intriguing…

Since my recent craze with film has returned, one of my daily stops on the web is to visit a few Flickr groups I joined having to do with Instax cameras, peel-apart Fujifilm, & most recently the Black Bird, Fly. Today on my Instax group they were posting how to use the Wide/Mini film in other cameras successfully. Apparently the news about the Diana Instant Back (which allows you to use the Instax Mini film with your already purchased Diana camera – and costs $95) has gotten around and some have had their own ideas on how to do it for cheaper – if not with a bit more work.

The way it works is:

1. Unwrap your Instax film pack
2. Place it in the camera and press the shutter button to eject the protective card
3. In a dark space, open the camera, remove the film back, & remove one of the prints
4. Still in a dark space, place one of the prints inside of your chosen camera and seal (making sure the glossy side is facing the lens)
5. Take photo!
6. Back in a dark space, remove the print from your chosen camera

Here's where you have two options:

1. Replace the print into your Instax pack – making sure it is facing the right way and is in the front. I hear this is difficult, but with better results when it comes to spreading the chemicals that develop the print. Place Instax pack back into your Instax camera and press the shutter button. The camera will assume it's a new pack & eject the first print without developing because the first print should be your protective card anyhow and not really a print at all. Because it's pushed through the rollers of the Instax camera – chemical distribution is excellent.
2. Using a roller of some type (I've heard that baker's rollers are too big/harsh), roll the chemicals out yourself while still in a dark space. This has been said to be difficult – but perhaps easier than placing the print back into the Instax pack.

I wonder if any of my cameras would be able to do this? I think that the Instax Wide film might fit into my Holga camera – but I wonder if I could get the Mini or the Wide to fit into anything else? Maybe my 35mm SLR? My 35 mm Supersampler? I'm pretty sure it wouldn't work in my Polaroid 220 – but it would be interesting to do some investigation

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The plot thickens.

Last night I did find, easily, my Holga camera. Luckily I knew exactly where it was in the old apartment and therefore I knew which properly labeled box to find I appeared I took 5 shots already, so I finished the roll in order to start over fresh. It seems the batteries had died, because the flash wouldn't work, but since I was shooting outside I didn't need it anyhow. Some of the tape had shifted, not sure how or why, but since I wasn't expecting anything great from the roll I wasn't bothered by it. I had to take all the tape off anyhow to get the film back out – so I'll have another chance if I want to do it over.

I took the roll to Target with us, thinking that they'd be able to develop it – but I was sorely mistaken. For one thing, they were never able to develop 120 film, for another thing they have actually phased out their entire film processing center and now only does prints from digital mediums. Wonderful. I called Walgreens and they only do 35mm COLOR. I haven't yet called Wal-Mart, but I'm assuming that if Target never had the capabilities to develop 120 film then neither will Wal-Mart.

I called a few camera shops and I've found that there is a local Ritz Camera location that can "send" the film out for development, and she said it would cost about $10. But if I only get 12-14 shots out of each roll and each roll costs approximately $4+ then this will probably cost me MORE than my instant film! Who would have thought, eh?

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Light tight

Hm. I need to make a priority to find my Holga tonight. It was a Christmas gift from two years ago and I've been unable to find the time to configure it and use it and now I'm really wanting to try it out again. It was a bit intimidating when I was first taking it out of the package because it was explaining how I had to "tape" it up in order to make it light-tight – though it did say that it not being completely light-tight is some of the appeal of the Holga. Plus I think that I twice-exposed the first few pictures because I wasn't familiar with needing to manually advance it. All in all I goofed it and I became discouraged. But I want to take some more time with it to see how much I enjoy the medium format.

Black Bird, Fly – TEAL

In the same breath, I also curse blame want to report that Patrick Ng has shown me a new awesome camera I'd love to try out, called the Black Bird, Fly. I'd never heard of it before and followed links in his most recent post and discovered a very interesting twin lens reflect camera that has me itching yet again for another toy camera (remember, other than the Holga I also have the Supersampler which I've only used for one roll). I hate having these spurts of interest and so there's really no way, especially after spending what I have just recently on my Instax cameras, that I'd be able to get a BBF any time soon because of the price.

What I wouldn't give for some kind of rental/exchange program I could send out one of my cameras and get this beauty for a bit and see if I'd use it enough to really get my money's worth. Anyhoo, until such an exchange program is in place, I need to enjoy what I have, two very cool cameras that will take some really amazing pictures if I just get out there an use them!

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Not pocket sized, that’s for sure.

My new instant film camera, the Fujifilm Instax 200, was delivered last night. Unfortunately – by the time I read the instructions (more like found the English portions – there had to have been at least 6 different languages available) and tried it out the sun had gone down so I was only able to try out the low-light conditions. BUT! The one photograph I took was really great!

Instax 200

I'll be able to show you guys better the quality of the photo once we've got our scanner hooked up – but believe me when I say it well exceeds that of my Polaroid InstantOne 600. As I mentioned before, all of my polaroids came out blurry and washed out – not with this one. The colors are deep and vibrant and the focal point seems to be actual so I can get much closer and still be in the focus range. I've heard that this camera really shines in well-lit situations so that's going to be my next set of tests.

As you can see, it's HUGE. I mean massive. About 7.5 inches at it's widest, 4.5 inches tall and an open lens depth of about 6 inches. I've photographed it next to a Tums container so you guys can see – it was the only thing that seemed the easiest to show it's realitive size

Instax 200, Size Comparison

I have yet to figure out how the strap attaches – so that'll be my next important challenge because I'm afraid to drop it!

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