User experiences of a Canon FD 50mm f/1.4L lens
Introspection when cell phones gone with the wind.
Smartphone-less-ness for perhaps just half a day was such an experience even though I was able to access Internet to some extent.
A **unfortunate negligence** in a regular Friday morning results in losing my two cell phones – personal and work one – in a large area of wet brushwood, chest-high tussock, thick growth of grass with tons of mosquitoes.
Impossible to have them back. Frustration doesn’t stop there, of course.
You don’t really need a PhD degree to understand how lifeline is as if cut for a cell-phone-less in his 30s: the discomfort, if not anxiety, level began to escalate.
To clarify, I’m a relatively low-tech tablet-less person.
Still, after a while, I was sort of panicking over:
- no daily usual cell phone-base activity;
- having got no time (when not wearing a watch);
- emails and landline phone calls as basic communication media at work never enough;
- feeling disconnected to everything.
On top of the above, I drove no car in most of the day in Calgary, a city where public transit isn’t convenient enough when travelling in and out non-downtown and surrounding areas.
During that day or less, never did I seem to miss an important phone call, an unmissable email or even a causal notification from Facebook that opened in web browser via my desktop. I’ve realized the now disappeared little portable device is more than a communication technology but works like a water and bread to someone’s life.
Advantageous unsecured living style.
But I did not die without that pocket-sized gadget.
This experience is quite different from a getaway or an out-town trip when phone signal or wifi is simply dead.
The very first thing in mind when my cell phones were gone was to rescue them as soon as possible. The second thing I did was to inform some close friends in private messages and ironically to post a status in Facebook. And the third thing, quite predictably, is to find a way out to back to “normal”. All three are aimed at keeping re-connected.
What is our normalcy?
Without a cellphone around, we may have to give up instant Google search for an address, a price check of certain things, immediate response to/from someone, on-the-spot Instagram photo(s) before meal, or efficiency that is helped from new tech.
By the same token, we may gain some. Learn to be patient for all things, enjoy the real world from a more in-depth perspective, communicate with others in more direct way, arrange ahead to organize a bit our daily schedule, and slow down with deep breathe.
Fair enough.
Summarize in this way: while we sometimes forget we are free-will human being, we are in charge of our own lifestyle(s).
Actually, not always the case.
Discernment is the hardest part.
**Long story short: I dropped my car off for a service; a shuttle driver gave me ride to office 2 hours before work; I decided to walk for breakfast but took a short cut instead; after I walked across a soccer field size of grassland, my phones were gone; I searched twice but could not find them.
Beers…in 3 central european cities
During my Central Europe trip, no single day is alcohol free. (To clarify, I am never an alcoholic.)
The currency in Czech Republic is indeed beer.
Beer lovers would love and hate this country. Having a chance to try as many beers as possible, you would never manage to remember all tastes.
I tired perhaps 20 different (new-to-me) beers in Prague, capital city of Czech Republic, alone. There were couple beers tasting in Vienna, Austria and Budapest, Hungary. No single ones, in “soft count”, is repeated.
Probably missing some local goodies, having more than 2 glasses (500ml) of beer per day in average, excluding wine and other liquor, is a personal record.
The very big issue now: I unlikely can re-taste the beers that I like unless travelling Europe again.
Here is a short list (bare with the error; BOLD=what I like):
- Břevnovský Benedict Světlý Ležák @ Pivovarský klub, Prague
- Stout (Pivovar Bobr,Zadní Třebaň) @ Pivovarský klub, Prague
Pivovar Bobr (Stout) is one of the best draught dark beers I have drank in Prague. - Klaster @Beer Museum, Prague
- Svijany Máz @Beer Museum, Prague
- Merlin @Beer Museum, Prague
- Kocour Visen (Chery) @Beer Museum, Prague
- Masopustni Special @Beer Museum, Prague
- Zatec Baronka @Beer Museum, Prague
- Two Tales (Bohemian Ales) @Beer Museum, Prague
- Matuska @Beer Museum,Prague
- Real Deal Ale @Beer Museum, Prague
- D’este @Beer Museum, Prague
- Arany Ászok @ Flea Market, Petofi Csarnok, Budapest
- Velkopopovícký Kozel dark 1874 canned (Czech Republican)
- Karlskrone Radler (German)
- Karlskrone Alkoholfree (German)
- Sixtusbräu Schankbier (Austrian)
- Kühles Blondes Bier (Austrian)
- Berg König Märzen (Austrian)
- Hofbräu München Grapefruit (German)
- Szüretlen vörös (unfiltered red) @ Kaltenberg Sörház és Étterem – Budapest
- Borsodi Sör @Kazimir Bisztro (Hungarian beer)
- Borsodi Barna @Szimpla Kert (Hungarian brewery, German style dark)
- Velkopopovícký Kozel dark draught (Czech Republican)
- Meantime London Pale Ale @Huxleys Restaurant, Heathrow (England)
- Pilsner Urquell (draught) @Mama Lucy
- Dreher Classic @R14 Bisztro
- Krügel @Reinthaler’s Beisl
- The Salm Bräu Weizen (mixed beer) @Salm Bräu
The Salm Bräu Weizen, a 60% wheat malt and 40% barley mixed beer, an old bavarian recipe, is perhaps the best one during my whole tip. - Rauchbier (smoky dark beer) @7 Sternbräu, Vienna
- HANF @7 Sternbräu, Vienna
- Flekovský Tmavý Ležák 13° @U Fleku, Prague
- Hofbräu München Original (draught) @ Great Market Hall, Budapest
- Krusovice tmavé @U Sedmi Svabu
- ottaKringer helles (draught) @ hostel, Vienna
- Fóti Zwickl @hostel, Budapest
This is bound to be an exciting trip. Solo traveller in trio central/eastern European countries that with three languages and currencies for two weeks. Barely accessible Internet means a long prayer walk. Architectures and churches but perhaps way too many beers. Exploring new horizon in vintage places. Words cannot describe the excitement and the hidden anxiety. Oh well, I have been trying.
I didn’t know I took this #Tokyo #nightphotography picture until now, after tidying up my photo album in cell phone.
Yes, it’s a photo by one of my smart phones #Nexus5 .
The quality is amazingly good on screen with just a bit noise.
Too bad, the phone’s camera function is defeated; I can only selfie with that phone.
Overall, left over
#tokyocameraclub #TedTravelTaskforce #skytree #skyline #nightimage #cityscape #urban #urbancity #lovetravel #lonelyplanet #tripadvisor #reportagespotlight #有種旅行叫日本 #Japan
藝術就係咁。
相中人，叫澤田知子(Tomoko Sawada)，一位當代藝術攝影師。
成名作，係用自己做實驗室老鼠，用四年時間紀實，為自己拍低一張又一張嘅影樓式單人肖像照，每張同一背景，同一燈光，同一設定，不同的，是她本人的表情，肥瘦，衣飾，服裝，妝效。
佢只係一個肥妹仔，樣子不討好，卻勇於「用自己的方式」，展示自己，為表現出身分這大命題。
每個人總有身分，不必他人套入，不必道歉，不必怯於情勢，本是多麼珍貴。在華人社會，民族包袱太重，身分認同愈來愈難。
我不抗拒身為中國人，但當我稱自己為香港人時，煩請切勿強加成「中國香港人」;又我選擇成為加拿大人，若無必要，也不必每每用「加國華人」的稱呼。
這叫自由，有些人總不懂。
沒有一個人更清楚自己是誰。
#TedTravelTaskforce
#立心筆良
Brownie Vintage Cameras
Have just bought this vintage Brownie film cameras in a bundle. Always love old cameras that work well although I’m not sure whether I can buy film to fit them.
The Canadian kodak and/or French made trios have been discontinued for more than 50 years. But metal body, meniscus lens, rotary shutter, 120 roll (620) film mode, top and side viewfinders all are goodies.
Even though there may be no way to get proper film for them, it would still be a great home decor.
By the way, the Hawkeye square-shape one on top is a flash model.
#bakelite #boxcamera #art #decor #browniejunior #brownietarget #six16
一閃一閃__那星
唔好睇少吳亮X(又名「吳X星」、「X亮星」嗱，我無爆佢名)，老奸巨滑。
佢利用立法會議員嘅「豁免權」(parliamentary privilege)，利用「老朋友」讀出「洗頭艇」嘅WhatsApp謠言，令親中傳媒可以肆無忌憚(或者「童子軍跳彈床」)咁「引述」佢段說話，從而令所有引述者避開唔駛畀人告之餘，更令一眾唔會經常接觸最前線網上消息嘅大叔阿伯三姑四姨七嬸，因新聞報導而係坊間亂咁傳，令每個人「上一輩」都信以為真。
呢招以訛傳訛，係舊年一眾中坑都中過伏。例如果啲阿乜水「又關佔中事」所以見唔到老母最後一面嘅假消息，好快就fake咗唔識用腦分真偽嘅豬兜。
不過，招「豁免權」都試過做「好事」。2011年傑斯有外遇單案，雖然已經係twitter指名導姓，蘇格蘭因屬另一司法地域而唔受影響，但傑斯就申請禁制令唔畀英國傳媒爆名。實情全世界都知係乜水，英國國會議員John Hemming睇唔過眼，係國會開佢名，就係咁樣全世界都可以因引述John哥仔而開傑斯名。
當然，亦有反對者認為John哥仔濫用呢個權力。七個月之後，傑斯自己放棄繼續打禁制令嘅官司。
講番那星，擺明親中，卻係利用咗一個英國政治制度留低嘅權力，幫自己大佬個爺爺做「李乜」，都咪話幾咁諷刺。
#立心筆良
PS. 作者只係一個路過嘅小小小記者，毋須搵我，我坐洗頭艇去咗外國十幾年。
PS. 作者只係一個路過嘅小小小記者，毋須搵我，我坐洗頭艇去咗外國十幾年。
Back to Simpleness
For the past 10 days, because of winter solstice festival, that is a Chinese tradition of family reunion dinner, Christmas season, year eve and new year, there were meals after meals and feasts after feasts. Time to get back simple.
(Get me no wrong. I love all gatherings and relationship building parties and gaming periods.)
As we all know, a surfeit of alcohol drink and food for more than a week is not always as great. Although I am never a heavy drinker, the worse part is getting slightly sick on and off because of the eventful schedule.
Anyhow, as a result, I made myself a fish noodles today to start over my simple food-life again.
Some of My Best Photos of 2015
Every year in about this time many photographers share their best photos of the year so as to review and conclude what they have done. I am just one of the thousands (or more).
A productive year that I have got new equipments for still photography and learned different skills from action camera for video.
“Photography has become a household word and household want; is used alike by art and science, by love, business, and justice; is found in the most sumptuous saloon, and in the dingiest attic.”
Lady Elisabeth Eastlake, 1857 “Photography”, London Quarterly Review
Before sharing mine, if you may have time, check my instagram and Flickr Flickr and please follow me.
Enjoy the visuals.
I started blogging for food in Chinese language when I was in Japan. This “steak on rice” one is one of the best beef I have had outside Alberta.
Another new skills is smart phone app enhancement – I have got an app that can add subtitle and make movie-like scene. The photo was taken in a JR train when I was going from Tokyo to Kyoto. With cold tone white balance, the photo creates an unexpected mood.
I pick this as my best portrait photo of the year. The lady was using a Nikon film camera for her flower photography. What a passionate photographer! I wish I will still have the passion for photos when I am in my 60s or beyond.
Meteor shower shot around Ghost Lake, Alberta. Not a super fancy one but what a great experience with another photo-friend.
Manhattan Beach is one of the places I have been wanting to visit. Under the beach’ bridge/pier is a amazing location for sunset photos, mainly because of its unique sillouette scenery and Pacific Coast’s seascape.
Alberta is a landscape province where Photoshop skills in unneeded. Hiking to Johnston Canyon in late spring to have this memorable jaw-dropping picture.
Hiking has been one of the favorite outdoor activities other than soccer. You may visit many great places, like this one. Kifune Shrine in Kifune, Kyoto, Japan has been famous because of an animated cartoon Spirited Away by Hayao Miyazaki.
On my way to another hiking trip, this photo was done by my new lens – Sigma Art Series 18-35mm f/1.8L. It was a muddy morning but after this road I was able to see Mount Fuji from another peak.
The funny part is, by all means, the photographer in the picture and the guy who looked at the photo-guy. While all other photojournalists are on the other side, this guy appeared at the back of former Prime Minister Stephen Harper during his campaign in Calgary.
I am told this photo is the most favourable one. The girl who is a phubbing caught me.
Flowers, flowers and flowers. Red and yellow flowers, green leaves and trees, and blue and white sky make this photo perfect.
Macrophotography for flower hugely depends on natural lighting if you don’t want to do more editing. This vertical photo with absolute zero editing is now my phone’s wallpaper.
Often, I don’t share my photojourno pictures outside my work platform. afterw, Syrian refugees issues have been globally galvanized into real action after a drowned boy photo is widely shared and distributed. The dad-son photo taken is one of the refugees settling down in Canada.
Rachel Notley flip pancakes first time during the week of Calgary Stampede as Premier of Alberta. She did a great job.
It’s been a while
Have not touched my WordPress for a considerable long period of time, it is ironically that the site reminds me that my blog is going to celebrate third anniversary.
The past months I have been focus on some more education for web knowledge and other social media like instagram.
Even if my twitter has been somewhat active, inactive blog like mine would be just like a hidden/dead one.
Anyhow, same old same old. I’ll try my best to be more active to share what I have and/or feel – either in English and/or Chinese.
Wish that I can walk the talk.
Meanwhile, share you some of my pictures taken in California last week.
El Matador State Beach
Manhattan Beach
Santa Monica Pier
Ya, it was a beachy trip, and the winter in California is like my cool summer time in Calgary.
Ted
teddy:kwok 