DSC05171-2 by hin_man, on Flickr

Sigma 19mm f/2.8 old version and NEX 5N

I was riding the Gilory Garden Theme Park on a Mushroom Swing. I went with my older boy earlier and I shot my regular mode with a single shot central point. I might have done 20 shots on the 1st ride and none got into focus. And because I swung myself left and right and tried to aim at my boy in front of me, I lost my beloved LCD hood protector on my travel camera with NEX 5N.

On second attempt with my younger boy, I changed to auto-mutli-point and continuous shot with shutter priority. I was gunning on my boy like a maniac. And out of the bunch, I love this one. I set shutter priority with 1/60 sec, f/5.6 I think, and auto-iso on my small NEX camera. The lens is an inexpensive Sigma EX 19mm f/2.8 that does amazing job at a great price of $100. Can't be happier with recent Sigma great development from Art series type of lens, the wonderful 18-35mm f/1.8, and the superb available service of changing mount on the Sigma new lenses. If one ever goes from Sony to Fuji or Olympus, Sigma gives you the option in changing mount of your choice without adapters. A neat and great idea, I think.

Don't You Mess With Me by hin_man, on Flickr

1/60sec, 30mm, f/2.8, iso 1000, 0 Ev

Sigma 30mm f/2.8, nex 5N, Big crop from original

The picture was shot on a sleepy toad in Academy of Sciences in San Francisco through a glass enclosure.  It is unusual that I am posting picture not from my favorite Pentax K-5/K-7/K20D. It is a good question that I don't even ask myself consciously why am I posting more non-Pentax branded pictures. It is quite unfortunate (but lovely) that I have found the sweet spot in carrying less and do more with my photos. I still treasure and will continue to use my K-5 until it drops dead. Will I invest more on Pentax. Yes and No. I want to get the DA* 16-50, DA 18-135mm and and FA 31limited but I am short on funding and I want to reserve my funding for the NEX line of development. And the Fuji, Olympus, and the Hasselblad/Rolleiflex pull my legs all the time.

The truth of the matter is I can only pick one system to go out at a time. When it become more serious shooting as in an event, portrait, studio and others, I will pick Pentax.

The Jelly Fish pictures are stuck in my mind the whole Sunday and I re-do the editing on the first one and find others to have a dancing tune to their delicate movements. Perhaps my new headphone AKG K240 has UPPED my mood in the editing part of the pictures with great visualization and imagination.

#1 The Dancing Couple

The Dancing Couple by hin_man, on Flickr

1/640 sec, f/2.8, 30mm, iso 200, -1.3 Ev, hand-held 

#2 Turn With Lovely Tail

Lovely Tail by hin_man, on Flickr

1/800 sec, f/2.8, 30mm, iso 800, -1 Ev 

#3 The Happy Meet Up 

The Happy Meet Up by hin_man, on Flickr

1/250 sec, f/2.8, 30mm, iso 800, -1 Ev

#4 The Ultimate Kisses

The Ultimate Kisses by hin_man, on Flickr

1/100 sec, f/2.8 30mm, iso 100, -1.3 Ev

#5 Fallen In Love

Down I Go

Down I Go by hin_man, on Flickr

1/320 sec, f/2.8, 30mm, iso 400, -1 Ev

I absolutely love the series with blue tone myself.  It is gratifying to see the jelly fish under the beautiful and unique blue color. I was in awe with the beauty and I lack studying all the detail description of the type of Jelly Fish in the Aquarium venue of the Academy of Sciences museum. The aquarium tank is quite small and this type of jelly fish are moving constantly but not at great speed in a small tank as in 30 to 40 gallon size. Size of the jelly fish is above a small tangerine.

I may not shoot it correctly as I purposely shoot it underexposed by at least one stop and adjust brightness and highlight in post processing to bring out the darker surrounding and bluer translucent color from the amazing creatures. I shot some bigger jelly fish before in Monterey Bay Aquarium with long tentacles and some with smaller size body like a quarter coin but results don't come out nice like the above.

I shot the first few pictures in b&w as I love things in monochrome but they lose the vibrant color in the beautiful and unique blue tones

Mushroom & Cauliflower

1/200 sec, f/2.8, 30mm, iso 100, -1 Ev

The Enchanted Family

1/500 sec, f/2.8, 30mm, iso 400, -1 Ev

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.

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.

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