closer

So I got this new extension tube for Nik-nik, so I could shoot macro with it. The thing takes the lens farther from the camera sensor so the lens could have higher reproduction ratio - close-up on the subject much better.

This one I bought is an ordinary extension tube (made in China), with no mechanism that connects the lens to the camera body. So I have to set the aperture of the lens first before disconnecting it from the body (which is still powered on) and fitting the extension tube in between.

It scared me a bit to use this extension tube, because aside from this being the first time I'm gonna use one, the thing came with an all-Chinese manual. I guess it's the price I pay for buying a P800-worth extension ring. I just hope this would not cost me any further.

This tube is actually segmented into three parts - hence the numbers 1 to 3. The parts could be separated (1 being the shortest) and fitted in between the camera body and the lens solo or in combinations.

A friend recommended buying this after I made shout out at my Facebook account regarding my dilemma on buying macro lens so I could shoot more interesting subjects for the art exhibit I joined for reasons I don't exactly know why. I will make an entry about that exhibit later on.

I preferred this over close-up filters, which adds another layer of glass to the lens, affecting clarity of the shot. I have to be very careful in using it, though, as it exposes the sensor to dust while I fit it on the camera, and it's not that stable.

And so I experimented shooting my "souvenir items" from beaches I've been to. This one here is a shell about an inch in size. If I remember it right, I got this from Baler, Aurora.

This one is another shell of the same size. (From Baler too, I think.) I shot the inside part of it to show the other side of the twirling pattern.

This one is a coral, about 1.5in. in size. The pores that can be seen on the photo are actually very small, pinheads coud fit in them.

I will post more macro shots later.

that la, la, la song!

Just a while ago, I was weeding out mp3 files from my iTunes library to free up Max's memory space when I saw the Coffee Prince theme song, "La, La, La, It's Love!" I played it out of fancy, and in an instant I was zapped back to my Coffee Prince addiction.

The song, as I'm writing this entry, is playing on repeat on my iTunes. Scenes from the TV series are flashing in my brain, making me want to watch a marathon of Coffee Prince once again. (Oh, I remember the last time I did it, I barely slept during the weekend - I practically camped out in the living room: food, beddings and all.)

Oh my goodness! (Where's that DVD, by the way?)

7 more months before Gong Yoo (Arthur) comes out of the military. And one month to his birthday - July 10. He will be turning 30. He's one of us, '79ers!

Happy Birthday Gong Ji-Cheol!

Alrighty then!

Yes, yes, yes, yes, I'm good!

One! Two! Come on!

La, la, la, la, la... La, la, la, la, la... La, la, la, la, la... La, la, la, la, la... La, la, la, la, la...

La, la, la, la, la... La, la, la, la, la... La, la, la, la, la... La, la, la, la, la... La, la, la, la, la...

snapshots of the day

The number of people infected with the virus is growing. As part of the company's preparations to prevent/deal with a possible infection in its own yard, people were given masks and encouraged to wear the protective covers especially when they're starting to feel the "symptoms." Simple message: If you think you have it, then help to not spread it.

But trust the people of the Jungle Watch Crew to put a little twist to it by making it appear like a new fad...

Too much work can drive people nuts. Sometimes to avoid going nuts, you have to pre-empt the symptoms...

photo-shopper

I am currently "window-shopping" in the Net for ideas for my photo entry to the art exhibit that would be mounted by the news dept. of the network to celebrate it's 50 years of bringing valuable information to the people.

The last day of submission of entries is only two weeks away, and I only have a handful of ideas to work with. I'm even contemplating on buying a new lens (macro), or extension rings. And I'm reading my photography books again.

Processing my shots in Photoshop is one hurdle I'm yet to overcome. I know a bit on working with Photoshop, but I don't have the knowledge and skills to make my photos come out exceptionally well with it.

What nerve to did I have for joining the exhibit!

little boy genius

9AM. I was awakened by the ringing of my cellphone. (I usually wake up around 10AM during weekdays because of my odd work schedule.) Recognizing that the ring was for a voice call, I pried myself from the bed, as if in an automatic sequence of movements, grabbed my phone that's sitting on my desk and answered the call. The delightful voice of my nephew spoke from the tiny speakers.

He read me a letter from his teacher, addressed to my brother and his wife, which tells the (good) news that my nephew will be accelerated to fourth grade (from first), and that he did very well in the Math portion of the exam. And then the line became chappy, so he had to hang up.

Accelerated. Fourth Grade at 8. Math.

Really. The family genes seem to be improving then! Ha-ha.

the view

Often, while moving along busy city streets, you look up at the skyscrapers and find a little platform dangling on the side of a building with people on it, cleaning windows. You know how it looks from the outside and below. Here's how it looks like from the inside...

Just so you know.

tries hands at art

Bought a sewing machine, for I've been itchin' to sew my own pillowcases, curtains, and sofa cover. Yep. I'm that brave - I will attempt to sew cover for the humongous couch in my living room, so large it could double as a daybed. And I have no training - formal or not, whatsoever - in sewing.

One thing I learned from using the sewing machine, though - read the manual before attempting to do anything with a machine that punches needles. Here's what I did:

1. tried to sample stitches on the sewing machine with a piece of fabric.
2. fabric got stuck, but didn't take my foot off the pedal at once.
3. heard a loud snap from the needle. took foot off the pedal.
4. checked the needle - it's intact.
5. checked self - no injury.
6. read the manual, it says something like this: adjust the stitch length accordingly and use the right pattern for the corresponding fabric type. not doing so may cause the fabric to get stuck, causing the needle to hit a metal part in the bobbin, which may cause you injury.

Okay, I'm embarrassing myself now.

Exhibit A below shows how amateur I am with this craft.

But I don't stop at sewing...

I bought these little foam patterns for scrap-booking and is turning them into stamps by sticking them into an illustration board.

So far, I haven't succeeded with any of my "crafty plans." All of the stuff are in my craft box, sitting and waiting for me to be in the mood for art again.