My cousin Juno

Posted on 27 October 2011 by Terry Chay

It’s been four years since I last wrote about my cousin Juno. I haven’t changed much but a baby grows up a lot in that time.

While technically he’s my nephew, he calls me “사촌”—사촌 (sa-chon) means cousin in Korean, so I refer to him as my cousin Juno. And apparently I’m a big hit with him—Juno constantly pesters his parents before family get togethers, “Is Sa-chon Terry going to be there?”

The reason why is I have a secret weapon…

iPhone attention Vicolleto, North Beach, San Francisco, California Leica M8, Voigtländer Nokton 35mm F1.2 1/60sec, ISO160, 35mm (47mm)

…an iPhone loaded with tons of free and $1 games.

Unfortunately because I never actually play the games, I hadn’t unlocked enough levels in Krazy Kart. Marie had to help out:

Here is how you do that Vicolleto, North Beach, San Francisco, California Leica M8, Voigtländer Nokton 35mm F1.2 1/60sec, ISO160, 35mm (47mm)

What an amazing device, and an amazing cousin. Oh, to be a kid right now! Wait a minute…

We still are!

You have a camera

Posted on 23 October 2011 by Terry Chay

“I want to tell you the most important tip I learned about photography.”

“What is it?”

“You have a camera.”

…

Frame that shot! Zazie’s, Cole Valley, San Francisco, California Olympus E-P1, M.ZUIKO Digital 17mm 1:2.8 Pancake 1/60sec @ ƒ2.8, ISO1000, 17mm (35mm) Coley teases my habit of photographing my friends.

…

Recently some colleagues had a contest: “Guess how many cameras Terry has on him right now?”

Even though I have one, too often, I forget I carry a camera.

Smiling Sean Coates The Invisible Dog, Brooklyn, New York City, New York Olympus E-PL3, Lumix G 20/F1.7 1/60sec @ ƒ1.8, ISO500, 20mm (40mm) Sean is embarassed to have my camera in his face… or happy that he guessed how many cameras I was carrying.

You have a camera, shoot it! You never know what will happen.

That camera? Do not want.

Posted on 6 November 2010 by Terry Chay

Heard on the radio:

Want a camera that is easy to use and takes good photos?

My first thought: No. Because it’s not the camera that makes the photo good, you do.

Good photos record a worthwhile experience; and those experiences are earned, not taken.

Look this way. Morgan’s Apartment, South of Market, San Francisco, California Leica M8, Zeiss Biogon 2.8/25ZM 1/16sec, ISO320, 25mm (33mm) There are few small cameras harder to use (and slower) than a Leica.

“i like to poke things with my finger. tummies, ears and noses mostly. oh, and jello. jello is fun to poke. red jello. no, green.” —Cyan. Always causing trouble.

Champagne Starbucks

Posted on 27 October 2009 by Terry Chay

Shared a morning with two friends who are leaving Facebook after four years. Then I noticed I was the only one with ratty shoes.

I’m the only one without the cool shoes Starbucks, South of Market, San Francisco, California Leica M8, Cosina-Voigtländer NOKTON Classic 40mm f1.4 S.C., B+W 486 IR Cut 1/125sec, iso160, 40mm (53mm) Even Cyan was sporting the Kitteh.

Oh well, one of the nice things about living here is other people have taste.