Month: January 2008

Every so often you need to be reminded

(For my cousin Alex who asked I blog more often about politics.)

On Obama’s Iowa win:

“Hope could give way to fear once again. But, for tonight at least, it holds a mirror up to the face of America, and we can look at ourselves with pride.…It’s the kind of country we’ve always imagined ourselves being — even if in the last seven years we fell horribly short: a young country, an optimistic country, a forward-looking country, a country not afraid to take risks or to dream big.”
—Ariana Huffington, “Obama Wins Iowa: Why Everyone Has a Reason to Celebrate Tonight”

I mentioned before that I chose the category “religion and politics” because I am a strong believer in the separation of Church and State in the body politic, but never in ourselves.

Our morals inform every decision.

[Fear and Morals, Death and Triumphalism, Silence and Responsibility after the jump]Continue reading →

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Why we call Jesus “Lord”

Scott blogs about (Advanced) Dungeons and Dragons and it brings back memories of Sunday School.

…

It was third grade sunday school, We are talking about why we refer to God as “Our Lord.” “Does anyone know what a ‘lord’ is,” the nun asks?

Nobody else knows. I raise my hand.

“Yes, Terry?”

“It’s a tenth level fighter!” I answer.

The whole class freezes… and then bursts out into laughter.

The nun continues, “That may be true, but in the middle ages…”

…

You can bet I had no trouble answering this question in 6th grade social studies segment on feudalism.

Sometimes when we’re most embarrassed is when we learn the most.

(Embarrassed because clearly a fighter becomes a lord at the 9th level, not the 10th. 😉 )

Thank you Dad (and Santa) for giving me the Basic D&D set in the third grade.

I go down the rabbit hole.

The day I first laid eyes on this, my life changed forever.

I have this box in storage in the South Bay. And people wonder why I don’t clean out my storage?!

Posted on by tychay 8

Camera purchasing advice

I shoot Nikon.

Shooting its brother

Shooting its brother
North Beach, San Francisco, California

Leica M8, Cosina-Voightlander Nokton 35mm/1.2
1/22sec @ f/2, iso 160, 35mm (47mm)

That doesn’t mean you should shoot it also.

After remembering how camera brand religious wars are waged, I am reminded of this outdated article I wrote—not really that outdated.

Basically in it I point out that, yes, there are differences in camera brands. They’re differences, not “betters.” Or…

“Photons don’t care what logo is on the front of your camera.”

A camera purchase is ultimately a personal decision. The best camera to buy is the camera that speaks to you, not someone else:

“Who is behind the lens? The shutter button only accepts one finger at a time.”

They’re not taking the photo, you are. Grow a pair; make a choice—it’s your choice, not theirs.

And remember, no matter what camera you chose, a camera you’d carry is its most important feature. My favorite saying:

“The best camera to have is the one you have on you.”

…and that advice never will be outdated.

Geez, all these aphorisms make me feel like the Poor Richard of photography. 😉

My Leica gang sign

My Leica gang sign
Gallery Lounge, South of Market, San Francisco, California

Leica M8, Cosina-Voightlander Nokton 35mm/1.2
1/10sec, iso 640, 35mm (47mm)

At a party recenty, someone said, “You’re that guy with the expensive camera.” So I guess I put the “poor” in “Poor Richard.”

Posted on by tychay 4

Why I win photography arguments

…because I have facts on my side.

Here is a typical exchange:

Scoble: You put a 24 mm on my camera [Canon 5D] and it’s a 24mm. Put it on a [Nikon] D80, for instance, and it becomes something like a 28mm. (link)

Me: You’re smoking something. A 24mm on a D80 is still a 24mm. The FIELD OF VIEW is like a 36mm on your 5D. (link) The issue you are alluding to with wide angles being better on “full frame cameras” is related to something called retrofocal design. (link)

Scoble: …this shot wouldn’t be the same. (link TRUE). Look at that shot and see the guy to the left? He wouldn’t be there if I was using a non-full-frame sensor camera. (link FALSE)

[An explanation after the jump.]Continue reading →

Posted on by tychay 8