Hello world.... its been a while.

Its been a while since i've last updated but if you still care the picture above is taken with my Sony RX100iii. I just love em mountains. Above the clouds. its cold. its cloudy. or foggy.. it felt like time stood still, thus somewhere in time as i called it. Your mind sets free. If only i could stay there forever but its time to get back to reality.....

GAS alert... OMD EM5 II ...

I have always taken interest with OMD EM5 ever since i got a hold of its younger brother EM10. Always looking around on Ebay for the best deals. Its almost the same camera EM10 and EM5 but im not sure why i always wanted to try the EM5. Maybe because of its 5 axis stabilizer. maybe because its weather sealed. Maybe its just GAS. i believe it was GAS all along. But i never did it. I never own the EM5. But now with the newly announced EM5 II, i'm all GAS juice. The upgrade is not minor [*lookingatfuji* (*_*')], it seems much better spec than the flagship EM1, thats what they say. Ever since i owned a few cameras from different manufacturers, i can safely assume, Olympus is the most featured while Fuji has the best IQ and Sony RX100M3 is the best high end compact. Now that i learned to love smaller sensor IQ (1inch Sony), now i'm trying to like Olympus micro 4/3 sensor. whereas before i bashed them when i compared to Fuji. Because back then i just like to zoom 1:1 pixel peep kinda. its exhausting. Its a mistake, its a learning process. Oh well, another GAS excuses, i think. Although i wished the Em5II would look like an OM10 but it never will, why? i dont know. Maybe poor handling. but gotta love the retro look of the OM10.

 taken from www.thephoblographer.com one of my favourite sites for reading camera reviews

taken from filmadvance.com

Go check out EM5II via google and give it some love.

Leica adventure: Chapter 1 New Orleans (Day 2 Part II)

I guess i have not got enough of Bourbon street? Here i was again finding myself on Bourbon Street for the second time on my second night in New Orleans. How did i get here? .... I was strolling along Decatur street, went to H&M to get my sweater and found myself 5 minutes away from the original, legendary Cafe Du Monde.

I just had to see it.

 It was kinda pack

 But i'm not about to order, i just had myself beignets!

 This is M8 OOC colors. I like it. There's only a push on exposure and some noise reduction.

 Again with the alley shot. I love how that light burst into a star. I'm no technical but i think thats the character of the Voigtlander lens.

 Found the Violin Monster. It howls when you tipped. 

 This building in Jackson Square.

 There were a few fortune tellers and some just want to give it a try.

As Decatur street is just a few blocks away from Bourbon street, i just had to stop by Bourbon and look for something new. As a matter of fact i was looking for the legendary Preservation Hall. As i made my way to Bourbon, i saw this long queue on the side of the road. It was the queue for Preservation Hall. It was long, it was packed, i just need to take a photo and go, avoid the crowd. Maybe i'll come back again tomorrow. Here is preservation hall.

Everybody's waiting in line.

A few more steps and here i am again in Bourbon Street. As usual, it is crowded and noisy. 

 Cops on Harley

 Again, same cops on Harley.

 Here i am again on Bourbon Street

 Want to take a candid portrait of this guy as his face got character but i was too chicken to take it so i got his back only

 Just gotta have these guys, saw these a lot in Vegas. Not surprise to see them here too. Your choice, Heaven or Hell.

 Now it's Cops on Horses

Got some parade going on, people were just dancing and giving plus throwing beads. Beads are kinda a thing in NOLA. You'll see them everywhere.

These guys are serving alligators. A lot of restaurants in New Orleans serves gator. Just had to try 'em. It tasted like chicken. I think everything tasted like chicken except for shit. I dont know, i never try, i assumed it wont. Sorry i just had to ramble away and it just had to be sh*t.

Had the best oysters here too. and the waiter just looked like Steve Buscemi. Didn't catch it on my M8. But i did with my Sony RX100M3.

Not really like Steve Buscemi but he did remind me of him. (shot with rx100m3)
and dont ask me what he's doing.

X-A2? A What now?

There's a new Fujifilm X-A2 which i didn't even know exist until today? when was it announced? And with so little updates except for selfies whats the point of upgrading to this? Whats the point of selling? Is it because of Panasonic/Olympus? Why is Fujifilm going down this road? Is the technology so quick they need to make minor updates and sell it instantly to the market? Has it been 2 years already? What is wrong with Fuji? Please compete with other manufacturers and winning, be revolutionary, just like how you used to be and not following trends. Da fuq.

Leica adventure: Chapter 1 New Orleans (Day 2)

I believe i'm the type that didn't really get jet lagged, my trick is to usually quickly adjust my time zone to my present location time zone, switch my watch and never think whether its night or day back home. and i believe it worked. I never had trouble sleeping or waking up in the middle of the night, i mean i always woke up in the middle of the night going to the restroom, that is just me, i drank a bottle of water before i sleep.

Anyway i woke up to this,

This is the view from my hotel

Sunrise, i'm a morning person of course i had to have coffee at this moment. I have work waiting for me at the Hilton hotel which is also where the RiverWalk Outlet mall is located. Sweet!

 This is the Cafe Du Monde in the mall i was talking about, i just had to have the beignets again.

 This is where the magic happens, the flour is shaped and deep fried to make beignets

 This is the moment where the M8 is not so discreet, the shutter is so loud, the lady just had to turned and look at me and of course i used the Zack Arias's skill looking the sign above her but honestly i did want to take a picture of the sign.... and the crowd below it. Composing was a guess, i think it was okay.

 I'm queuing for the order , might as well take snapshot

 I'm on my way back to the hotel. Too bad i couldn't find a higher ground to take this picture

As i reached my room, i was 'introduced' to this view, my room was dark only lit by this view, the window curtain was open and the sun sets, it was a beautiful scenery, it was orange and blue, i just had to get my M8 out and used the slowest shutter speed to avoid shake. I had to pushed this an extra stop in PP, and those are not banding on the upper left corner of this picture, its a reflection of the curtains. The sunset was just breathtaking. I'll never forget this view.

And then i had an idea of doing long exposures although i did not bring a tripod, i just placed my M8 besides the window. I switched off all the lights in the room and start shooting. I think the picture below is about 2 seconds long. This is to the right of the sunset pictured above. It wasnt a proper shot but i like it. It just shows the cityscapes of New Orleans. All the lights from buildings and cars make it nice, and the trailing white smoke caused by the jet add character to it.

I just had to have beignets again.

....the nights not over yet.... to be continued.....

Leica adventure: Chapter 1 New Orleans (Day 1)

I've been in an airplane for a total of 20 hours now, that's how long the journey is for me to reach America. This time its New Orleans. I could not get my eyes to open, i slept the whole time on my way to New Orleans from Seattle. I remember waking up and this lady looking out of the window, looking at all these white icy lands. I believe that is Colorado Springs. It was beautiful but i was sitting at the aisle, i didn't get a really good look of it but i was too sleepy as well to stay awake. Probably jet lag kicking in. I brought my Leica M8 that i acquired late last year for this trip. This is the start of my Leica adventure.

Upon landing New Orleans, it was already dark and it was cold about 7 degrees celsius, probably warm for some but me coming from an all day summer country, this is totally different. I forgot to bring my jacket which is annoying and only have a flannel shirt which is pretty much thin. I can see my breathe.

I've checked in at Loews hotel and i avoid myself going to sleep, it was just 7pm, i dont want to get jet lag, so i've decided to go to the nearest mall, the Riverwalk Outlet Mall. It was damn quiet. It was like nobody were there. As i explore the mall, there it was, the legendary Cafe Du Monde. Sweet! Its here in the mall. I thought i had to walk down to French Quarter which is 15 min walk from my hotel. Of course i had to get and try the famous Beignet.

And my first bite of the Beignet, i'm a believer. It was just out of the deep fryer , it's super hot and the butter melts inside. Combines with the powder icing sugar, it was amazing. Its best paired with coffee. At this moment i have yet taken out my Leica M8.

It was not until i reached Bourbon Street that i decided to get my M8 out of the bag and have a go. Bourbon street was similar to Vegas but less grander. Neon lights, long straight street, just like Downtown Vegas.

 M8 works well in black and white they say

 I think colors are fine too

 The 15mm is wide, i had to crop some pictures and still the M8 with its 10Mp is more than enough

 The M8 paired with the 15mm Voigtlander is sharp.

 I love taking pictures of alleys

 Huge Ass Beers!

 Another alley shot

Canal Street, edges of french quarter 

 There are lots of these guys, a dollar a block

Hop in a bar and enjoy some music

I think the M8 fared well in low light, most of the shots were in either 1/15s or 1/20s, the slowest i'd go was at 1/8s and i used max auto iso at iso 640. most of the pictures are pushed at an extra stop. Noisy sure as hell if you pixel peep but at normal view, it didn't really make the pictures unwatchable? Is that the word? Well what i'm trying to say is its fine. Print these at 4R 5R should come good. And these are at f4.5. A faster lens should perform well but then if you shoot wide open you had to deal with depth of field, which in my case, i did not have to worry as f4.5 is sharp by 1meter onwards. I used my M8 just like a point and shoot, i have to guess the composition as i dont have the external viewfinder, mostly shot at f4.5 and auto shutter.

Bourbon street is noisy and a tourist place, so people dont really mind me shooting away although i refrain myself from shooting a candid portrait as i dont want to cause a stir. This place is also full of hobos, they might not be comfortable of me taking their photos or at least they wanted me to tip them. Remember i said about New Orleans being dangerous and stuffs, forget what i said, this is just like any normal city, there will be trouble if you're looking for it otherwise you are safe. although a local did tell me not to stroll the city at night alone.

Leica M8 or M9? .... First chapter, New Orleans.

So New Orleans is in line, its job related but also a chance to start my Leica adventure. I wont have much free time, its dusk and dawn travelling but its once in a lifetime journey, i'll take my Leica chances. I only have the 15mm Voigtlander and most of my free time will be at night so crossed my fingers and hope the street lights will be enough for my Leica.

So the question is which Leica should i bring, my M8 or my M9? As of now i'm almost certain to bring my M8. Why? Because its the 'cheaper' Leica, its still expensive but the M9 is much more expensive. I'm talking about security. Ok, this is a negativity side part of me, i'm worried of being mugged! I am pretty much a "too much worry" person so its normal that i get too negative way much but thats a habit i try to lose. Upon hearing New Orleans, Katrina came up, a lil bit of googling, you come across words like warning, danger, shooting and murder, my negativity level just shot up the ceiling. But i try to calm myself, everywhere in the world there will be crimes and dangers, i've been to Washington and Vegas, both have its own crimes and dangers, its common sense, avoid dodgy places at all cost and follow all safety rules and tips. I'd be fine. Anyway, I'm with 2 other guys so we'll be fine.

One thing that planted in my head is i believe everyone knows what a Leica is and how expensive it is. That is of course false but its auto planted in my brain. So i have the tendency to leave my Leica in my bag because i dont want to be seen with a Leica. If i hang the camera over my neck, i feel like its screaming "LEICA!!!!!". I feel that the Leica is an attention seeker and as if i'm walking naked. I'm so over but yes thats how i feel. its my mindset. I need to lose that mindset. Its no good, it made my Leica useless. Why its my mindset because thats how i would react when i see someone with a Leica. I'd go "Wow a Leica". So my negative mindset also tells me that thieves would think just like what i'd think. "Wow a Leica, target acquired". Now i'd understand why people would gaffer tape the red dot, i'm sure a syndicate out there knows about the red dot.

Ok enough negativity, so M8 it is. First, its about the cost. At the moment, these Leicas are new to me, so i will baby them, trying not to scratch it etc, etc, so with the M8 i'm trying to be rough with it, (as a worry person, i care too much and it kills me). At the moment, i cant do that to my Leica M9. It is just so expensive. When i look back on Ebay, and seeing the M9 prices, i realised i cant afford it now but with the M8, its pretty much doable. M8 is getting cheaper and cheaper. in other words, if i want to buy an M8, i could, but not the M9, not now just yet. I cant justify spending another $3000 on my wish list all black M9-P.

Second, the crop factor of the M8 made the 15mm to almost 21mm. and i prefer the 21mm. I dont have to deal with Cornerfix as i like the slight cool vignette.

Third, the RAW files will be smaller. but this is not an issue as i bring along my laptop, i can just transfer the files at the hotel.

Basically, its about survival.

Will my M8 survive? I'm willing and ready. but not with my M9 yet.

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So what's in New Orleans?

These are the list that i have in mind.

1) Cafe Du Monde
2) Bourbon Street
3) French Quarters
4) Preservation Hall
5) Beignet
6) Jazz
7) Riverwalk Outlet Mall
8) Famous Cat Meow Karaoke
9) And if i'm lucky girls flashing their boobs!

That is so far i have in mind.