Hin's Photo Blog

Asian Art Museum

2012-01-17T11:34:00.000-08:00

Picture taken with Ricoh xr-p and

Vivitar 24mm f/2.8 P/K-AR mount
Asian Art Museum in San Francisco

Home scanned with flatbed in 1200dpi

I shot the roll with kodak bw400cn thinking it might be the time that I gave up my 35mm film format and this roll changed my plan. The lens with Vivitar 24mm f/2.8 was gone but I have kept the camera and I look for ways to help with film scanning at home with a simple flatbed scanner, I will look for ANR glass next. I just wish I have more time to shoot on films. It slows me down in a good way and photography is more rewarding when I have to work with the limited patience in me.

Backyard Tomato With A Story

2011-11-05T17:40:00.001-07:00

Photo taken with Pentax K20D and
Cosina 55mm f/1.2

I am saying good-bye to my Pentax K20D which went broken with shutter and curtain locked up while taking pictures the day before Halloween. I have sent him away to Pentax for servicing. I am hoping that there are some magical hands to bring it back to live. It has a needle object sticking out of the mirror chamber. It is an awful feeling seeing my camera with no pulse but a whining noise that repeated every few seconds. It is like a dying friend in my hands. I know I write this story with a personal touch and perhaps I exaggerate a bit more than I will like to admit. One thing I am sure is that I will miss my buddy.

Lunching In Air

2011-10-26T13:13:00.000-07:00

Picture taken with Pentax K20D and
Pentax F* 300mm f/4.5

Companion

2011-10-24T09:46:00.001-07:00

Picture taken with Pentax K20D and
Tamron SP 24-48mm adaptall-2 (13A)
in Exploratorium of San Francisco

Smile In Wedding

2011-10-21T10:33:00.000-07:00

Picture taken with Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 and
Pentax K10D

Bay Coffee After Rain

2011-10-12T10:08:00.000-07:00

Picture shot with Pentax K20D and
Pentax DA* 50-135mm f/2.8

Candle & Bride

2011-09-28T10:56:00.000-07:00

My friend Tu & Sam were behind the candle taking their vow in 2008.
It was a beautiful wedding.

Picture shot with Komine 135mm f/2.8 1:2 Close Up and

Pentax K10D

Elegance

2011-09-23T10:50:00.000-07:00

Picture shot with Tamron 28-75 f/2.8 and

Pentax K20D

Wild Flower

2011-04-25T15:26:00.000-07:00

Picture shot with Pentax DA 55-300mm f/4.0-5.8 and
Pentax K20D

Spring Is Here

2011-04-03T00:12:00.000-07:00

Picture shot with Pentax F* 300mm f/4.5 and
Pentax K20D

Blue Angel Pilots

2010-10-26T18:03:00.000-07:00

Picture taken with Pentax K20D,
Pentax F* 300mm f/4.5 and Pentax-F 1.7x AF TC

Sunset in New Zealand

2010-10-24T21:22:00.001-07:00

Photo taken with Pentax K-x White and
Pentax DA 15mm f/4.0 limited

Sunset in Palo Alto

2010-10-07T11:09:00.000-07:00

Photo taken with Pentax K20D,
Tamron 200mm f/3.5 adaptall-2 (04B)

Best Of Neighbor Garden

2010-06-27T18:15:00.000-07:00

Photo taken with Pentax K10D, K20D and K-x
Pentax 100mm f/4.0 1:2 Macro
Jupiter 9 85mm f/2.0
Photosniper Tair-3 Phs 300mm f/4.5
Pentax DA-L 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

The Green Dragon Sushi

2010-06-22T18:13:00.000-07:00

Photo taken with Pentax K10D and
Pentax A 50mm f/1.7 + AFA 1.7x TC

Sunol Wild Flower

2010-06-16T15:08:00.000-07:00

Photo taken with Pentax K-x White and
Tamron SP 70-210mm f/3.5 adaptall-2 19AH

Green Landscape

2010-04-05T19:27:00.000-07:00

Picture taken with Pentax 645N
scanned with Canon 8800F
Fuji Pro 400H developed with Foto Express

Foster City Lagoon

2010-03-12T14:43:00.000-08:00

Photo taken with Pentax K-x and
Access P-MC 35-70mm f/2.5-3.5

Sign Of Spring Blossom

2010-03-03T18:48:00.001-08:00

Photo taken with Pentax K-x White and
Vivitar 100mm f/2.8 1:1 Macro by Kiron

Rain Beads in Green

2010-02-25T18:34:00.000-08:00

Photo taken with Pentax K-x White and
Vivitar 70-150mm f/3.8 from Kiron and
Cosina 1:1 matched macro adapter

After The Rain

2010-02-22T19:34:00.001-08:00

Photo taken with Pentax K-x White and
Vivitar 70-150mm f/3.8 from Kiron and
Cosina 1:1 matched macro adapter

Hin In Action

2010-02-19T19:10:00.000-08:00

Photo taken by my friend Dana

I am not someone who likes to be photographed. Yes, I am a shy person who loves to photograph other people. And sometime last year, my friend and co-worker Dana took a picture of me while we hang out in taking pictures together in a church nearby our work place. There is certain unexplained joy and focus whenever I am behind my viewfinder.

Photographer

2010-02-10T19:15:00.001-08:00

Photo taken with Pentax K20D and
Tamron SP 70-210mm f/3.5 adaptall-2 (19AH)

I was out in Mountain View Shoreline and I ran into another photographer close to sunset time. It was a beautiful silhouette lighting on the backdrop. It was a pleasure to meet another photographer and I later had a conversation with Calvin who happened to be Pentax K10D user who had changed to Canon 5D MkII. And I greatly admired at his camera, his Canon L lens with 70-200mm f/4.0 with USM and his stylish National Geographic Camera Bag.

Sun Rays Over Bridge

2010-02-09T18:39:00.001-08:00

In BW with Infrared filter in K-x
darkened in post proccessing

Photo taken with Pentax K-x,
Tamron 75-250mm f/3.8-4.5 and Tamron 2x TC (01F)

Rainbow in Black & White

2010-02-08T19:50:00.001-08:00

Photo taken with Pentax K-x White and
Pentax DA* 50-135mm f/2.8
K-x internal BW + Infrared filter

After The Rain

2010-02-06T13:10:00.000-08:00

Photo taken with Pentax K-x White and
Pentax DA* 50-135mm f/2.8
K-x internal BW + Infrared filter

Paula Scher Maps Screenprints Exhibit in Stendhal Gallery

2010-02-04T14:46:00.000-08:00

I am fascinated to see the work of Paula Scher in learning about the latest exhibit in Stendhal Gallery which runs from February 4 to March 27. I wish I could bring my boys to see the exhibit in person, especially the new work of Paula Scher – Map of Israel, South America and The World II.

Map of Israel by Paula Scher

It is truly an art form that I have not experienced before. I have never seen a painted map with the finest detail of information done with one's hand drawing and writing. According to the exhibit information from Stendhal Gallery, the display for the artwork is printed on hand-made paper that measures 60" x 40" in size and painting will last over 500 years.

When I zoom in to see the organized detail of city names hand written by Paula in her painted maps, I am in awe with the gigantic map of information that is articulated with the finest detail in extremely neat hand writing using 30 to 40 different types of color. And I am just as amazed at the final print as much as the process that Paula took from start to finish to create the maps. It is a creative art form with elegance and I appreciate the use of beautiful colors and isolation of information in the maps. I especially like Paula's clean hand writing.

I love black and white in photography and when I browse through Paula's work and I see one of her painted maps of Africa with a darker background, it attracts my attention as I can see a sea of information in white ink over the black surrounding Africa. It makes one wonder how the artist managed to organize the immense amount of detail in the map and yet present harmony with elegance and marvelous organization.

Map of Africa by Paula Scher

If you visit the latest online exhibit in Stendhal Gallery, you can see an interactive display of the New York City map hand painted by Paula and you can see the street names of New York City along with colorful transportation routes in the city. It is an absolutely stunning display of a refreshing art form as I can see the map in detail. It is creative, original and unique.

Exhibit Information

Stendhal Gallery
Exhibit: Paula Scher: Maps Screenprints
Artist: Paula Scher
Date: February 4 -- March 27, 2010
Address: 545 West 20th Street, New York, NY 10011-2818

Get Directions

Sunset in Berkeley Lawrence Hall Of Science

2010-01-22T19:01:00.000-08:00

Picture taken with Pentax K20D and
Pentax DA 10-17mm f/3.5-4.5 fish-eye

Raindrop in Green

2010-01-21T18:40:00.000-08:00

Picture taken with Pentax K20D and
Tamron SP 35-80mm f/2.8-3.8 adaptall-2 (01A)

Disneyland Castle At Night

2010-01-20T16:07:00.000-08:00

Picture taken with Pentax K-x white and
Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5

Dandelion

2010-01-15T17:35:00.001-08:00

Photo taken with Pentax K20D and

Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5

Sunset in Don Edwards Park in Newark

2010-01-13T18:52:00.001-08:00

Picture with Ricoh xr-p and Tamron 17mm f/3.5
developed and scanned by Foto Express in San Jose
Kodak Professional BW400CN (asa set for 200)

A Great Holiday Break

2010-01-12T18:57:00.000-08:00

Photo taken with Pentax K-x White and
Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5

I am so grateful for the holiday break with my family driving down to Los Angeles for Disneyland, Knott's Berry Farms, Seaworld in San Diego and Solvang. We came back energized and closer together as a family. We loved Seaworld the best in the trip.

Merry Christmas To Everyone

2009-12-24T17:01:00.000-08:00

Photo taken with Ricoh xr-p and Cosina 55mm f/1.2
Kodah Professional BW400CN (asa set for 200)
developed by Foto Express in San Jose

Merry Christmas to Everyone

City Lights In Fog

2009-12-22T20:50:00.000-08:00

Picture with Ricoh xr-p
developed and scanned by Foto Express in San Jose
Kodak Professional BW400CN (asa set for 400)

I took this city lights in fog in Cliff House area of San Francisco mentioned in previous post. I always like black and white film and it is a dream come true this year that I indulge myself on trying out black and white film on a film camera. I am broke with the developing cost but I am very happy to see my pictures developed and the whole process of dropping the film and picking up the next day with suspense moments in between. The wait is insane compared to digital but it also goes with the wowing factor when I see the results.

San Francisco Cliff House In Fog

2009-12-21T19:08:00.000-08:00

Picture with Ricoh xr-p
developed and scanned by Foto Express in San Jose
Kodak Professional BW400CN (asa set for 400)

It was late on a Saturday afternoon and my family had a short visit to the beach that was down by the Cliff House area in San Francisco. When we left, all the lights are on and it was getting dark around 5:30pm and I tried out my latest film camera with Ricoh xr-p and I quickly see that at f/3.5 with my Tamron 17mm f/3.5 adaptall2, the shutter was about 1/15 to 1/30 seconds and I was in a hurry to make the shot while family was waiting in our car. With the fog, I was not sure what would have come out.

I am glad to have found Henry and Foto Express in San Jose to help me develop my first three rolls of b&w film. I have found the right mentor and lab to trust.

Beautiful Rice Dish

2009-12-18T16:41:00.000-08:00

Picture taken with Pentax K20D and
Pentax DA 40mm f/2.8 limited

It is a delicious rice dish with ginger, almonds, lots of nuts and I mistook the pine nuts as pineapple chunks in the rice . Thanks to Pauline, my dear friend and co-worker, for her invitation to a lunch of potluck in my company cafeteria.

Eyes of a friendly Goose

2009-12-16T18:08:00.000-08:00

Picture taken with Pentax K-x white and
Pentax DA-L 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

You are seeing one of the three geese in my friendly neighbor's garden. I don't know the name of the goose as few months back, my neighbors brought him in with a male mallard and they have become a gang of three geese and a duck that live in my neighbors backyard. My boys have their special treat to visit them on a daily basis.

One of these days, I have to take a picture of them lining up in the morning and strolling in a straight line one after the other. It is a breath taking sweet moment to see them getting along so well together like a family. They are adjusted to human's presence and they are quite friendly animals that my boys love to take some grape leaves and share with them. This geese in particular is fond of nipping the grape leaves from my boys hands and he is always gentle with a sweet young baby geese voice sounding as if they love to see us. When I have my camera close to him, he is just as curious with my white camera as I am with his beautiful eyes and his mellow voice of saying hi.

Flying Under The Sun

2009-12-15T18:13:00.000-08:00

Picture taken with Pentax K20D and
Tamron SP 35-80mm f/2.8-3.8 adaptall-2 (01A)

I took the picture while visiting Gilroy Garden with my boys before the weather got cold in November. I saw the flying machine ride where people screamed in joy for the motion and I screamed in joy in seeing the high contrast scene not knowing what to do to block the sun as I don't have the proper filter for the job, I was riding in a boat ride with my family not having a long moment to prepare for the shot.

I like the back-lit shadows that come out from the picture but not the over-exposed sun. I used Sepia in iPhoto to calm down the cold blue tone that I get from the reflection of light.

Camera Phone Family

2009-11-30T19:38:00.000-08:00

Photo taken with Pentax K20D and
Tamron SP 70-210mm f/3.5 adaptall-2 (19AH)

I was on my way in leaving the Mountain View Shoreline park and I saw a family taking snapshots with phone cameras. It was a scenic view with a great ballet dancer in the making. I couldn't help but slowed down to capture a few of the Silhouette with the Sunset as a backdrop. I happened to be at the right moment for the picture. And I always love the romantic lighting in sunset.

Diamonds in Backyard

2009-11-18T21:19:00.000-08:00

Picture taken with Pentax K20D and
Tamron SP 35-80mm f/2.8-3.8 adaptall-2 (01A)

Came one morning after light shower and cold weather in California, I saw these water droplets reflecting the morning warm sun rays and I couldn't resist but to take snapshots for the true beauty in nature. The gems in life can be as close as our backyards. We just need to slow down or take a brief pause of a moment to see the true beauty that the Almighty have crafted in our daily lives.

Lion Of Love

2009-11-16T19:37:00.000-08:00

Photos taken with Pentax K10D and
Tamron 70-300mm f/4.0-5.6 Di LD Macro

Love and Affection In Color

2009-11-05T19:43:00.001-08:00

Photo taken with Pentax K100D and
Pentax DA 50-200mm f/4.0-5.6

I took this photo while visiting Oakland zoo with my family back in 2007 when I started my digital journey with Pentax K100D. I have this picture printed and framed on my work desktop and it constantly reminds me the love and affection that animals have towards each other in a relationship. Looking at this picture, I have lots to share with my two boys to remember to have love and affection towards one another.

But that is so far from the truth when I come home from long day of work. Mom is dead tired in preparing dinner while the two boys constantly find a reason to be mad with one another. Perhaps, I need a bigger print and frame it in our living room for reminding my family about love and affection from our animals friends whom we love visiting in the zoos, parks and wildlife refuge.

Merry Go Round

2009-11-04T19:12:00.001-08:00

Picture taken with Pentax K20D and
Tamron SP 35-80mm f/2.8-3.8 adaptall-2 (01A)

Photos were taken in Gilroy Garden after sunset time on a Sunday when time fell back 1 hour in observing day light saving time.

While I failed to capture my boys' faster movement on another ride, I turned to the nearby merry go round that I could pan the slower motion. And it was a fun experience just to watch kids getting the excitement in the ride.

Mallard and Duck-aholic Photographer

2009-10-20T22:32:00.000-07:00

Photos taken with Pentax K20D and
Tamron 70-300mm f/4.0-5.6 Di LD Macro

I mentioned in my Tech Corner blog that I am a duck-aholic photographer once I see a mallard pair. I especially like to take photos of mallard pair flying together. It is much more difficult than still shots photography but it is just breath taking to take a closer shot of a mallard pair flying low around a water area where the pair goes in circle as if they dance in the air enjoying their companies in the mating season.

I took these still shots while waiting in line for a paddling ride in Gilroy Garden. Once I spotted this mallard pair in the paddling pond, I wished the waiting line would be longer. The autumn and pretty soon the winter season will set in and my family will wait for the next spring and summer to visit Gilroy Garden again. I can't wait to see the mallard pair again.

Meeting Bear Bear, A Male Pomeranian

2009-10-15T19:23:00.001-07:00

Picture taken with Pentax K20D and
Pentax FA 77mm f/1.8 limited

Bear Bear is the name of a male Pomeranian that I met on a Wednesday. He is the cute dog belonging to a barber shop that I frequent to. I have a difficult time to find the pictures that I like to post for Bear Bear as he is just too cute and every stand and post is different. When I got to the shop and saw him on the couch, I couldn't stop to ask for pictures with that barber shop. My camera and flash woke him up from his lap and he barked at me as if he wanted to protest my disturbance to his quiet time. Though the barking, he sure was gentle and kind to my presence. His owner returned and he stopped the barking. He became more friendly and let me touched his fluffy body. It was cotton like. I later had a more difficult time in taking shots for Bear Bear as he constantly jumped up in joy anticipating another cookie from his owner. He was such a cheerful friend and he lifted my spirit high all day and when I manage to download his pictures, he once again warmed up my heart with his watery eyes and a prince charming face.

I love green

2009-10-07T20:48:00.001-07:00

Photo taken with Pentax K20D and
Tamron 70-300mm f/4.0-5.6 Di LD Macro

This green picture has inspired me to write an unusual blog post in Hin's Tech Corner.

Moon Shot Rotated

2009-10-05T19:32:00.000-07:00

Photo taken with Pentax K20D and
Pentax F* 300mm f/4.5 and Pentax F-1.7x AFA

I always love taking photos related to the moon. I don't quite get the hang in getting the sharpest picture as I have been using teleconverter to get closer to the view of the moon. And any post processing in cropping adds to the degradation on image quality. The moon reminds me of a love story in Chinese about a legendary romantic story with a lovely couple who had flung to the moon and lived their romantic lives together. I don't remember exactly the story but part of it was sad leading their departures to the moon. My teenage years celebrated the mid-autumn festival with my Chinese family in Macau and it was a festival not to be missed. It was always filled with fragrance that my mom put fragrance powder in an alter honoring the story along with tasty food as in moon cakes and desserts. The mystic stories of the legendary couples adds to the joy of Mid Autumn Festival for Chinese.

I will suggest my readers to take a pause in the middle of the night and find the moon to appreciate its sheer beauty at night. Best to hold hands with your loved ones if they are there with you. It can become an enlightened moment only you and your other half can unfold the love story you both see in the moon.

A Drunken Year In the Past

2009-10-02T20:44:00.000-07:00

Photo taken with Pentax K10D and
Vivitar 24mm f/2.8 with 'A'

This was my first photo taken on new year on 1/1/2008 when my family and I took a spontaneous overnight stay in San Francisco and I was up in the morning to get breakfast for my boys and spouse in our unplanned trip.

My sweetie complained as usual as we were not prepared as we took the public transportation with Bart to San Francisco and walked a mile plus from downtown to Fisherman Wharf area. We did not have our car which was usually staffed with spare clothings and our daily amenities. I was the nut case in the family who jumped on ideas of fun, romance and spontaneity. Unfortunately, my sweetie did not see the romance that I saw and envisioned in the cold night with fireworks, lovely restaurants, great artist galleries in Fisherman Wharf, warmth and spirit with hope for a better year with peace in the last evening in 2007. With begging and convincing words, my sweetie said yes for the occasion while my boys jumped in joy when we found a Wharf Inn that happened to have one vacant room. It was the 4th hotel that we tried our luck on spontaneity.

Came next morning on new year day of 2008, I got up early to get breakfast and as I turned the corner on 2nd floor, I saw this Coroner Extra beer bottle sitting on the rail quietly, I thought of good luck in 2008 with lots of celebration in the year to come. The beautiful morning shined brightly through the bottle. It was a scene of surreal beauty in the morning and the beer bottle invited me for positive thoughts as well as safety concern. Someone from last evening must have left it there unknowingly of the danger of falling to the street down below. I had my 1st thought of throwing it to the recycle bin and there wasn't any around. And my 2nd thought was my picture of celebration and a good year to start in 2008. Not a drunken year but a year of celebration. I took few pictures and moved the bottle to the floor so that the janitor would pick it up easily. On I went for the breakfast hunting.

Now that I looked back, I just remembered all the bad things in 2008 related to economy, the continuing war in Iraq, the Bush administration and the continued struggles in family with Asthma and others. And I could not remember a thing that is worth celebration. Perhaps I was drunk all year in 2008 and forgot to appreciate life and let alone the celebration that was much needed and absent for a balance. And 2009 is about to end shortly and I have got to to celebrate every positive thoughts, praises, milestone, goal achieved, challenge fulfilled that the Lord almighty have planned in my life before my negative mind plays tricks on me in not remembering the good things.

The more you praise and celebrate your life,
the more there is in life to celebrate.

by Oprah Winfrey

Hummingbird In Flight

2009-10-01T14:00:00.001-07:00

Photo taken with Pentax K20D and
Pentax F* 300mm f/4.5

I should have gone back to the same location and look for the hummingbirds. They are just gorgeous to see and their movements, dancing pattern up in mid-air with curiosity pause and look at the photographer are pretty much breath taking in appreciation and wonder with nature. They are the testimony to why we have to pay close attention to nature. They come often for the California Fuchsia and work has been busy and I don't find the time in the morning to stop by a little park and trail on my commute to work in the morning.

My friend Babu and Bharatanayam Arangetram

2009-09-22T18:56:00.000-07:00

1/30 sec, f/3.5, 115mm, iso 640, 0 Ev, hand-held

Photos taken with Pentax K20D and
Pentax DA* 50-135mm f/2.8 and
Pentax FA 77mm f/1.8 limited

I met Babu in the shooting of a Bharatanayam Arangetram and Babu is the Director
Keerthana School of Indian Music & Fine Arts. Babu has a wonderful voice that I can't describe it in words, you have to be at the audience to experience his wonder of his songs. He has his own website with clips of his wonderful work in Babu Music. He also has great expression often felt in his deep voice and it is my pleasure to have met him in the dance. I am sure he has a fan base and I learn from him that he has an interest in finding a job on a permanent base in the US. I surely hope that I can meet him again.

The photo shooting of my first Bharatanayam Arangetram was the most difficult shooting that I have ever performed. I lack the photog experience. The lighting is good for the artistic image but difficult as there are times that high ISO 1600 and wide open f/2.8 still had problem to get enough lighting for the scene. Though I was exhausted and spent two days in the shooting and 16+ hours of photo editing afterward. I was not aware of the fact that my volunteering job of the photo shooting of my co-worker's friend actually took away two weekends of my family time and many editing hours in between. I spent many late nights after work to go through the rehearsal and formal pictures. It was my most excruciating editing job on over 2000 pictures taken in 2 separate days of the event: rehearsal on Thursday and formal dance on Saturday.

I love the challenge in learning to take pictures in a staged performance with difficult and constantly changing lighting while the song and the themes in the dance change from one stage to another. In hindsights, I should have spent time to find out the time commitment. Had the family informed me about the time engagement, I would have walked away from the gruesome tasks of 2000+ pictures. Was it my stupidity that make all this resentment in my heart after the shooting. And was it the family that tried to exploit my enthusiasm for free photo service. I think both are involved. I walked away from the shooting relieved as I did the best that I could as an amateur for the family but I felt bitter as the family really took advantage of me for saving the cost involved in their 2 days photo shooting for their daughter. I got no one to blame but myself to let my enthusiasm in photo learning opportunity to let others looking for free photography service to take full advantage of me

The family mentioned no time commitment of 5 hours of shooting in each of the two long days of shooting. Perhaps, they didn't want me to know what I signed up for. I would have walked away had they mentioned about the long hours.
In the formal dance, they gave me an Volunteer badge instead of the Photographer badge that I thought I rightly deserved. This is little thing that didn't bother me as I did volunteer for the service but it showed that they might have little respect to the profession of photography. I did not check on the professional that they hired for the formal video production and I would bet they had different treatment as an hired professional.
My name and my service was not even mentioned once. I was honored in the last catch all phrase of thank you to all "volunteers" in the dance. That was no biggie too but it would have made my free service to be honorable and respectful.
I was not given a bottle of water for my service in the rehearsal. In the formal, one of the five musicians actually offered me a bottle of their water when I asked them during intermission at backstage where I photoed the backstage lighting as well as candid photos for the musicians.
I was finally offered dinner on the formal dance. I earned my right for the restful dinner as I finally took my camera down and placed them on a table while shoveling the food to fill the void. I took more guest pictures when I was asked to take m ore pictures with their guests after the gruesome photo shooting for the reception, introduction, formal dance backstage intermissions and ending ceremony. My mind and physical body was somewhere else in Mars and I couldn't remember the day and the exact location of my presence when I took my dinner sitting next to Babu and the three other musicians in the event.

When I finally finished the editing and upload of rough count of 600 pictures to flickr, I felt relieved as I did my volunteer job well for the family but I was totally resentful with the service and the family whom I had no relation other than acquaintance through a co-worker's son 1st first birthday in which I helped out with photography. That was an hour of my time and my co-worker provided all the thirst quenching water and great food in the party. I was thinking that the volunteering work was a matter of another birthday event, I could do it and I could make new friends with this unknown but seemingly friendly and well educated Indian family. Was I so wrong in my expectation?

My enthusiasm in helping people taking pictures for free has caused me an important lesson to learn. I went to the rehearsal, two days before the formal dance at 3:30pm on a Thursday in Palo Alto near Middlefield and San Antonio Road. I was invited to the rehearsal to practice the shooting. I eagerly agreed to it as I didn't want my inexperience to hamper the pictures of the family important and once in a lifetime dance graduation of their daughter. The ceremony of Bharatanayam Arangetram was an important and sacred event in the family. They hired separate professional video grapher as well as stage lighting and music crews on the formal dance. I returned home that Thursday night with 390 pictures on the rehearsal at 10:00pm as I took dinner in Taco Bell at 8:45pm. I slept past 2:30pm on early Friday morning finishing the upload of rehearsal photo set. The theater was at least 40 miles from my home. I was not offered even a single bottle of water. I was essentially starving throughout the 5+ hours of rehearsal practice while the dancer and the musician practiced in the theater well prepared with snack and water. I was not told anything about a 5+ hour long rehearsal and I could not have anticipated the long event but I was also occupied in studying the lighting, my hunger and thirst were second nature. No biggie and I was delighted and excited to see the Taco Bell before highway 101 entrance when I left. That $2.79 spicy crunchy wrap was the best that I have ever had.

I wasn't upset on Thursday as my mind was more focused in getting the best of the rehearsal shots to the family to show that I qualified for the task and their trust. I was relieved that my practice run was smoother than expected. Come Saturday, I was more prepared with extra slack and started the day with McDonald Ice Mocha. I loved the large drink from McDonald that it lasted through 3/4 of the dance for me. I was aware that the family really misinformed me on the shooting time required. I was totally naive in not knowing anything about the dance of 5 hours of shooting in each day. And I was not aware that the performance alone was 3 hour stretch in the dance with a 15 minutes intermission. Unlike the rehearsal, I was offered with snack like the rest of the guests in intermission and I finally earned my South Indian dinner after 10 hours of shooting in two separate days and the previous 4+ hours of editing for the rehearsal on Thursday night. In total honesty, I liked the dinner but I was so freaking tired anything would smell and taste like a feast from heaven. In the dinner, I met new friends and relatives of the family.

I have many Indian friends and colleagues who are great people with kindness, honesty, well education and best of all consideration for others not of the same ethnic background. This incidence has revealed a different face that I unfortunately have learned the hard way. After the Bharatanayam Arangetram, I was contacted by one of the relatives of the Indian family on a Friday afternoon with a quick next day photo service request. The gentleman and I work in the same company and he requested my assistance to photo service on the next day on an half marathon on behalf of an Eye Hospital donation in India. It was meant for a charity service and the event started early at 7:00am on Saturday with a 30 mile driving distance from my home. I normally will jump at a great opportunity to help and learn and donate my time for a good charity purpose. There was no way in my slightest imagination that I would be ready to find the shooting spots on a half marathon trail stretching in miles in the Shoreline park of Mountain View. Let alone the very little information and time for me to get informed from this gentlemen about the exact location of the shooting. I did not hesitate for a moment and said no to the urgent request as I was resentful with what I was about done at the time with all the 2000+ picture editing and selection for the Bharatanayam Arangetram event.

More free photography requests kept coming. One included shooting many Hindu Gods in their temple after certain activity where each Hindu family placed their Gods' symbolic figures for display. I said no right at the moment of request as I have conflict of religion belief in Jesus Christ. I did comply with two photo services from Indian colleagues as they were meant for an important functions of two different groups in my company -- Women In Tech and Indian Heritage Day in 2009. I helped out the two requests and declined the rest as I was simply exhausted and resentful to my enthusiasm in helping others with my amateur photo skills

Please ask me not for photo service again unless I have a good reason with interest or that my family approves my time spent for the service. And I have made it known in my contact page that I no longer offer free photography service. I am tired with the requests and I can not give a reason to justify the complaint from my family. I surely have met the people that I was perhaps not meant to help but I did what I could in helping them saving cost from a true professional service.

When the family asked me for a free DVD delivered to their home. I finally said NO and I explained my resentment to them. But out of my courtesy of service and that it is an important event to their family, I allow them to print as many pictures as they desire from my Flickr account.

But for my good friend Babu and the other three great musicians who did not ask me to work for their pictures, I let them download all of their photos and they are not the client who requested my presence and service. I hope that I can clear my mind with resentment and move on to another chapter where I learn to say no for a reason and learn to gather information so as to arrive at an informed decision in saying yes to a service.

Emerald Bay in South Lake Tahoe

2009-09-15T20:36:00.000-07:00

Photo taken with Pentax K20D and
Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5

South Lake Tahoe is a beautiful place for visit. My family enjoyed the long weekend in Labor day along with fireworks and beach visit. We also ran into a museum close to camp Richardson. On the back of the museum is another beach open to the public. I can only see the beautiful lake and blue sky and mountains stretched right before my view. Precious moments

Searching

2009-09-10T19:36:00.000-07:00

Photo taken with Pentax K20D and
Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5

I shot this photo while waiting for fireworks in the past labor day weekend in South Lake Tahoe area. It is perhaps a bit too dark but I really enjoy the scenery especially the reflection in the water and the mystery of what he is searching for in the dark.

Life is a mystery at times and when seen from another angle, it is a beautiful mystery

Labor Day South Lake Tahoe Fireworks

2009-09-08T19:09:00.001-07:00

Photo taken with Pentax K20D and
Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5

Over the long weekend with labor day, my family visited South Lake Tahoe and we happened to be around a beach very close to our motel and the fireworks were spectacular over the lake. My location was a bit too far from the fireworks but we enjoyed it from a distance and I was glad to take my boys out for the fireworks.

Dried Leaf

2009-09-01T19:59:00.001-07:00

Photo taken with Pentax K20D and
Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 1:2.3 DC Macro

Our family visited the Don Edward San Francisco Bay Wildlife Refuge and we had met the wonderful volunteer tour guide June. We ran into a tree with all leaves dried up and June mentioned that the tree turned its leaves all dried in a matter of few weeks due to the hot weather and she let us see the new cycle of life in the new buds forming around the small branch ends. It was an outstanding nature walk tour that both my boys, wife and I enjoy in the weekend.

Cafe Lightings

2009-08-29T20:06:00.001-07:00

Photo taken with Pentax K20D and
Pentax DA 35mm f/2.8 1:1 Macro limited

I took this photo on a late Friday in the cafe area in the building G of my workplace. I was watching the sad news of Ted Kennedy and how people cherished him for the better part of his life and how many hills he had climbed over to where he was in the late year of his life. I have been touched with his vigor, his speeches, his family tragedies, his poems and his unrelenting efforts in his works in the Senate.

Cute Duckling Pair

2009-08-24T19:12:00.000-07:00

Photo taken with Pentax K20D and
Promaster Spectrum 7 60-300mm f/4.0-5.6

I was lost on Sunday skipping church once again making excuses in wanting to sleep some more. I have had problems in sticking to my schedules on the weekend. And I certainly lose myself in the hobby of photography. I have been looking for a purpose in my passion. I may have run once again in the wrong direction. I was walking along the park promising my wife not to take another photograph in the exercise but I did once again bring along my camera and gear for companion and added weight for exercise in the lonely walk. At the end of the walk, I saw a pair of cute ducklings bundling up together while the bigger ducks gave them a difficult time around a small area. I couldn't help but breaking the promise to take a few shots of the ducklings.

In my passion for photography, I did seek His purpose to glorify Him that I am meant to honor Him and yet I couldn't accomplish. I have turned to the other direction wanting to seek recognition and approvals from others. And I explore the opportunity in whether I could use my skills as a freelance photographer to earn extra income for the household.

All those thoughts are in vain if I can't stick to my original goal in finding His purpose for my life, and glorify Him in my quest for His purpose and plan in me. He has placed the photography passion so dearly in my heart as I found relentless energy in getting close to nature and seeking the warmth, humanity, smiles and the best out of people in their daily lives. We all have an influence on other and pictures with the right motive touches life with a positive impact to share joy and sufferings in a unique way.

I am seeking help for the discipline and align my passion to His purpose. I felt lost like a lonely feather drifting without a purpose in the little pond where I found the ducklings. Lord, please guide me and tell me if I had done it all wrong that is against your purpose for me in the passion.

"When anything in creation
fulfills its purpose,
it brings glory to God."
The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren

My Muffin Boy

2009-08-20T14:10:00.001-07:00

Picture taken with Pentax K20D, Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8,
AF 540 Flash, and Spectra Light Diffuser

Ever since his uncle and aunt visited from far away, we have a new name for my boy with "Muffin Boy" as he kept singing the song with "Do you know the muffin boy...." We took him out for his favorite pizza place in Foster City for his recent birthday.

Missing My Lens with Color

2009-08-18T21:16:00.001-07:00

Photos taken with Pentax K10D and
Lester A Dine 105mm f/2.8 1:1 Dental Macro

I sold my Lester A Dine macro lens way too soon. Now that I re-examine my old pictures done with the macro lens, I really miss the color from this lens. Some of the difficulties that I found with the lens was really me instead of the lens. In hindsight, I wished I had it longer to have tried its macro ring flash to open up the depth to see the flower in detail. Color me blind in my guilt of having too many lenses in my possession that I picked hastily in selling.

Perseid Meteor Night Attempt

2009-08-14T12:25:00.000-07:00

All photos taken with Pentax DA 10-17mm f/3.5-4.5 and
Pentax K20D

I woke up at 2:00am trying to shoot the falling stars with Perseid Meteor on August 12, 2009. I went for the wrong location where the city lights disrupted the beauty of the night sky and the meteor happened behind the mountains and trees lower in the horizon. Instead, I salvaged the moments on a couple of shots on the moon and a plane flying over.

Though the sky is not as dark as my encounter of the dark night in camping in Yosemite, I sat alone admiring the night sky while waiting for the camera ready to take the next contiguous shot of 30 second shutter shot. In between shots, I made the connection to the Almighty creator for the universe. I felt His awesome presence while appreciating His wonderful creations and I was in awe of its natural beauty at night. Though I have not made a successful attempt in getting a good picture with the falling stars in Perseid Meteor, I am renewed in spirit in the admiration of His countless stars in the sky sparkling in a great distance that show His wonderful creation and love of mankind.

Psalm 19

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

¹ The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

² Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they display knowledge.

³ There is no speech or language
where their voice is not heard.

⁴ Their voice goes out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.
In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun,

⁵ which is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion,
like a champion rejoicing to run his course.

⁶ It rises at one end of the heavens
and makes its circuit to the other;
nothing is hidden from its heat.

⁷ The law of the LORD is perfect,
reviving the soul.
The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.

⁸ The precepts of the LORD are right,
giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the LORD are radiant,
giving light to the eyes.

⁹ The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever.
The ordinances of the LORD are sure
and altogether righteous.

¹⁰ They are more precious than gold,
than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
than honey from the comb.

¹¹ By them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.

¹² Who can discern his errors?
Forgive my hidden faults.

¹³ Keep your servant also from willful sins;
may they not rule over me.
Then will I be blameless,
innocent of great transgression.

¹⁴ May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight,
O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Musician in Bharatanatyam Dance

2009-08-10T19:48:00.003-07:00

Picture taken with Pentax K20D and
Pentax DA* 50-135mm f/2.8

Bharatanatyam Dance Rehearsal

2009-07-31T13:20:00.001-07:00

Picture taken with Pentax K20D and
Pentax DA* 50-135mm f/2.8

Spreading The Wing - Froster's Tern

2009-07-29T10:55:00.000-07:00

Picture taken with Pentax K20D and
Pentax F* 300mm f/4.5

Making A Turn

2009-07-27T19:19:00.001-07:00

Picture taken with Pentax K20D and
Pentax F* 300mm f/4.5

The flying parttern of Froster's Tern always amazes me. It is fast and unpredictable at times. It is difficult to find them flying in a straight line to pan its movement. The best moment to capture them is when I spot them hovering over a certain area for food.

Wild Flowers

2009-07-23T19:58:00.001-07:00

Picture taken with Tamron 70-300mm LD Di 1:2 Macro

My Green Banner

2009-07-21T10:33:00.000-07:00

Picture taken with SMC A 50mm f/2.8 1:2 Macro +
Cosina 1:1 Macro Adapter

I am editing this green water drop photo and use it as a banner for Hin's Tech Corner once I manage to upgrade the blog with a new theme. I love green and hence I pick this as a potential choice for new banner.

DJ Nik

2009-07-17T13:51:00.001-07:00

Picture taken with Pentax FA 77mm f/1.8 limited

Martin -- our neighbor male goose

2009-07-16T18:36:00.001-07:00

Picture taken with Tokina AT-X 80-200mm f/2.8

Sunset

2009-07-15T18:43:00.001-07:00

Picture taken with Soligor 200mm f/2.8
and Kiron 2x doubler

Memorable Moment

2009-07-10T19:51:00.001-07:00

Picture taken with Tokina 19-35mm f/3.5-4.5
retouched in iPhoto to rid the red glare in original photo

Knot

2009-07-10T19:02:00.000-07:00

Picture taken with Pentax FA 50 f/1.4

Cold Blue Tone in Picasa

2009-07-10T14:38:00.001-07:00

Picture taken with Photosniper Tair-3 PhS 300mm f/4.5
converted to b&w and cold tone in Picasa

Nature Gallery

2009-07-09T20:24:00.000-07:00

I am glad to have migrated my blogger classic template to a wider format. It is a non-trivial migration due to blogger complicated xml format. I am glad to have a wider page for photo display. I am not sure how to address all the bad formats reported in w3c.org validator. It is a long way to clean up the template.

Boganvilla Pink in Rain

2009-07-05T21:28:00.000-07:00

Picture taken with Cosina 55mm f/1.2

DJ

2009-07-03T13:27:00.000-07:00

Picture taken with Pentax FA 50mm f/1.4

Beach Scenery

2009-07-02T18:53:00.000-07:00

Picture taken with Pentax DA* 50-135mm f/2.8
and Pentax K20D

Murphy

2009-06-30T17:58:00.000-07:00

Picture taken with Pentax DA* 50-135mm f/2.8

and Pentax K20D

It is a great joy to meet Murphy while visiting a beach in Half Moon Bay area. He reminds me of my older boy who is full of energy. I don't have my flash at the time and I am shooting Murphy with a lot of shadows. He is lovely and beautiful and I wish someday I can have a dog like Murphy.

Sharing

2009-06-29T19:57:00.000-07:00

Picture taken with Pentax DA* 50-135mm f/2.8

and Pentax K20D

Lighthouse

2009-06-23T19:50:00.000-07:00

Picture taken with Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5

and Pentax K20D

Squirrel with Green Tongue

2009-06-10T20:10:00.000-07:00

Picture taken with Pentax DA* 50-135mm f/2.8

and Pentax K20D

Japanese Tea Garden

2009-06-08T18:46:00.000-07:00

Picture taken with Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5
and Pentax K20D

Goosling Napping Time

2009-06-04T12:03:00.000-07:00

Picture taken with Pentax F* 300mm f/4.5
and Pentax K20D

Froster's Tern

2009-05-28T10:58:00.000-07:00

Picture taken with Pentax F* 300mm f/4.5
and Pentax K20D

Black Crowned Night Heron

2009-05-27T19:34:00.000-07:00

Picture taken with Pentax F* 300mm f/4.5
and Pentax K20D

Double-crested Cormorant

2009-05-26T19:00:00.000-07:00

Picture taken with Pentax F* 300mm f/4.5
and Pentax K20D

My Boy's Candid Shot In Jail

2009-05-04T15:47:00.000-07:00

Picture taken with Pentax F* 300mm f/4.5
and Pentax K20D

White & Green

2009-04-24T15:12:00.000-07:00

Picture taken with Soligor 200mm f/2.8 with doubler
and Pentax K20D

Spring Green Field

2009-04-20T16:53:00.000-07:00

Picture taken with Photosniper Tair-3 PhS 300mm f/4.5
and Pentax K20D

Sunset and Bird

2009-03-24T21:46:00.001-07:00

Picture with Soligor 200mm f/2.8 with 2x TC
and Pentax K20D

My Friday Model

2009-03-13T17:55:00.000-07:00

Picture taken with Sigma 105mm f/2.8 1:1 Ex DG Macro

It has been few Friday mornings that I have a date with my sweetie in Mission Coffee and sometime we have a short photo session. I am thankful to my wife in helping me to decide which lens to keep. At my current rate of testing, it looks like I am going to keep all current lens in possession.

Green Bokeh

2009-03-06T21:16:00.000-08:00

Picture taken with Tamron SP 90mm f/2.8 1:1 Macro non-Di

I love green color and it is unfortunate that I move a bit in this picture leaving the obvious blur on the subject.

Flower After Rain

2009-03-06T21:06:00.000-08:00

Picture taken with Tamron SP 90mm f/2.8 1:1 Macro non-Di

California has been raining and I get a chance to look at the flower this morning. It is a refreshing morning to pay close attention to the delicate flowers.

Mom & Boy

2009-02-05T00:48:00.001-08:00

Picture taken with Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.0

My wife is prettiest whenever I take picture of her with my boys. She posts naturally with my boys with mother nature with love and caring in the post.

Raging Sea

2009-01-20T19:20:00.000-08:00

Photo with Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5

I had a pleasant visit to Phipp's Ranch in Pacasadero near Half Moon Bay and on our return trip, we decided to take a stop and had a short walk in the nearby beach off from highway 1 and cross junction with Pacasadero Road. The sunset scenery was beautiful and I got carried away with similar pictures on the same scene and my boys loved playing in the sand. It was not until we came home on Monday's night that all of the family members felt sick from a cold. It is always good to have the pictures to show why we stopped in the beach despite of the cold wind with raging sea. Though the discomfort, it is still worth the visit.

My Sweetheart

2009-01-15T19:02:00.001-08:00

Photo with
Tamron 90mm f/2.8 1:1 Macro (non-Di)

My sweetie looks awesome in the red dress that I got her. It was about September last year that I asked her out in one Friday morning for a coffee in Mission Coffee. The school next to Mission Coffee had the spring color in all the surrounding trees. I framed the colorful trees as background to my lovely face. And her sun glass certainly helped my sweetie in opening her eyes to the morning sun. I should go home telling her how pretty she looks in that picture. I say it quite often that she is pretty but I don't manage to say it enough.

I have told many of my friends: Marriage is great but we need to work on the marriage continuously especially when we have kids. Having a cup of coffee time and having a ten minute photo session where my mind and visions are completely on my sweetie is not something to be taken for granted. I love my sweetie and I have to work on the marriage to bring forth the best so that we love each other all over again on a daily basis. I can surely count on my wife as my best buddy and partner in taking care of my children. My sweetie is a hard working mom who has little of herself in taking care of our boys. I constantly remind her to love herself as much as she loves the two boys and me. And she is starting to listen to her very stubborn and forthright husband. She needs to be strong, healthy, and positive if she wants to give the very best for her hubby and children.

Love will keep us strong as if we are in the first date. I can not go back in time to love her in a better way but I can do it at this moment to love her all over again with a good heart and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ to carry us to next moment.

Biggaby and Lily

2009-01-13T11:05:00.001-08:00

Lily & Biggaby
with Pentax DA 35mm f/2.8 1:1 Macro limited

Biggaby with
Sigma 105mm f/2.8 1:1 Macro DG

Lily with
Sigma 35-105mm f/3.5-4.5

I have suggested the name of Biggaby to go with the new male companion to Lily. I can't believe how well Lily has been kept in good company after the passing of Gus. Biggaby is a pure joy to see in action following Lily all along their Geese heavenly garden along with Digger and Daisy in the cage and Oliver in the back door.

Close up on Digger's nose
with Pentax DA 35mm f/2.8 1:1 macro limited

Oliver
with Sigma 105mm f/2.8 1:1 DG Macro

Passing of Gus

2009-01-07T19:28:00.000-08:00

Photo of Gus
taken with Pentax DA 50-200 f/4.0-5.6

Our family are saddened with the passing of Gus over the holidays. Gus is the male goose in my neighbor's garden. He left behind his spouse Lily along with his good friends Daisy and Digger. I dearly miss seeing Gus around when I drive by. It has been a long fight with diabetes and I am so proud of my neighbor's love for animals that every bit of care giving and nursery is given to Gus in the fight with his diabetes to his last day in the neighbor.

My neighbor has the best garden that I have ever visited. It is filled with awesome flowers, fruit trees, and it has a landscape designed to share the pleasant space with birds, cats, squirrels and many friendly visitors with fur and feathers. It is a special treat for my boys to visit Gus, Lily, Daisy and Digger on a daily basis. They are the human like animals with a big heart for people. They greeted you with a touch of fur and a genuine hello for your attention. Gus has the distinct voice when strangers are around the neighbor. He is the watchdog and great companion for Lily, my home and my neighbors.

Gus & Lily
with Pentax DA* 50-135mm f/2.8

Gus is very protective of Lily and they have become such a romantic couple that I can envy at times when I pass by their path. They always follow each other strolling around their little ponds and lovely garden from dawn to dust. It is sad to see Lily sitting in the pond all by herself without Gus watching over her with a tender heart and watchful ears. The above picture of Gus & Lily reminds me of movie in March of the Penguins where the Royal Penguins dance in lovely pairs with rituals and charisma that are human like with love and romance

Photo of Lily
with Vivitar 70-150mm f/3.8 from Kiron

I am hoping time and good friends in the neighborhood will heal the passing of Gus. And my neighbor has been wonderful in keeping animals in pairs. And I am yet to learn about the name of our new friendly neighboring geese who keeps Lily in good company in her grieving period. But my boys and I do know Daisy and Digger who always keep Lily and my boys in good company

Digger
with Pentax DA 35mm f/2.8 1:1 Macro

Daisy
with Pentax DA* 50-135mm f/2.8

Daisy & Digger
with Pentax DA* 50-135mm f/2.8

my neighbor with AutoStich

Couple

2008-12-31T12:12:00.001-08:00

Photo taken with Pentax K20D &
Pentax DA* 50-135mm f/2.8

Pink Leaf After Rain

2008-12-29T13:13:00.000-08:00

Photo taken with Pentax K20D &
Cosina 55mm f/1.2 with +4 close-up

Red Leaf

2008-12-22T17:28:00.000-08:00

Photo taken with Pentax K20D &
Carl Zeiss Jena Flektogon 35mm f/2.4 (m42)