December 23, 2007
Went to Mayer's Photo in Hidalgo Quiapo to get my new DSLR kit, a CDSC Nikon D40. Prefered to go entry level because i want to start all over again with the basics. Also, my prefered body (Nikon D80) costs 46K which can buy 2 Nikon D40 Kits.
December 31, 2007 - January 1, 2008 and January 5, 2008
Tested my new Nikon D40 during a short village shoot around, our family reunion and trip to Global Carnival with friends. I really like the performance of Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 kit lens. Really sharp and handy lens.
January 12, 2008
Sold my trusty Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 kit lens from a guy who came all the way from Valenzuela. I really didn't understand the guy because he only saved 700 bucks with my item knowing that the distance of my place to mine is like the other end of the universe. He's reason was, i had nice feedbacks in TIPIDPC which convinced him i had a great and nice item for sale. Well, the truth did prevail. Nice dealing and meeting with you Jun! Shoot tayo minsan!
January 16, 2008
Aquired a Nikkor 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 lens. Tested it on my Nikon D40. Hell yeah, it has great range, sharpness and the conveinience of not changing lenses. Kind of heavy to the point it out balances the body. Actually it made me crazy and wanting a grip for my DSLR body. Searched for battery grips the whole night and found cheap ones in ebay. $81.00 for a phottix battery grip, 2 phottix ENEL-9 replacement batteries and airmail shipping.
January 17, 2008
After debating to buy a battery grip online, which i concluded that warranty is a big issue for me, i decided to purchase a third party battery grip from a local seller. It amounted to 5 grand without batteries. Well, at least i have support!
January 18, 2008
The grip was delivered to my office. Opened the package and tried it immediately on my D40. Haha i found out that it didn't had an even mount on my camera :D Hahaha, thats where the money i spent came in! Local support! I called up the seller and told him about the uneven mount. He told me that he would replace the grip next week. Now I'm contented spending the extra 2k for the support hehehe.
On the same day, i sent an sms to this guy inquiring a pre-owned Sigma 530 DG ST flash gun.
Purchased it for the Sunday Shoot @ UP with my fellow PODtogs and Sharla O' Hara
January 20, 2008
Before i went to UP Diliman for the shoot, i went to Columbia Megamall to use my 1000 GC to purchase an extra battery so i could use it for my third party grip. When, i asked the lady on the counter if i could claim my GC, she told me that i should have it inside the box and not with the paper that Mang Ramon of Mayers gave me. Hahaha, I've been had! Fuck it! I don't care I'm happy with my camera anyways :D Had a fun day with the PODtographers and Sharla O' Hara.
Here are some Pictures
More here
January 26, 2008
I've been tripping out with Photoshop the past few days with Agwe. We ended up mastering the Orton Effect
Here is the digital workflow i followed
- Open your image (Image 1)
- Duplicate the background layer (Right click on the background layer and choose duplicate) and name that layer Sharp
- Create another duplicate of the background layer.
- Change the Blending mode of the Sharp Copy to screen
- With the Sharp Copy layer selected, right click and choose Merge Down (Image 2)
- Right click on the Sharp layer, choose Duplicate and name this layer Out of Focus
- On the Filter Menu, choose Blur - Gaussian Blur (Image 3)
Depending on the resolution of the image you are using, the amount of blue needed will change. Use enough that the shapes are still visible, but detail is not. For this 6.1 Megapixel image, a value of 15.9 was sufficient. - Change the blending mode of the Out Of Focus layer to Multiply. (Image 4)
Agwe's Version
