Limited - DA 21mm Ltd

All throughout December last year I decided to jump through another system and put my gears on sale. Got second thoughts when I saw the limited lens I've been looking for the entire year. Decided I should try it out and check if I really need to sell my camera. The moment I peeped through the camera's viewfinder I already knew I love the focal length.

Loving the lens so far.. Some photos during the holidays! 

I use it for Portraits

A Quick Look - Shanghai Best Shots

Blogging is really hard. After reading my previous post I realized am really not that good when it comes to writing. Still will try my best to add some little stories here and there but I'll pass for this one. :D

On this set, you will see some street shots which you'll most probably disagree as good.. hahah

Qibao Ancient City

A Quick Look - Shanghai Qibao Ancient Town

I have been planning to see Shanghai before I go back home. So when I finally decided to quit work, I planned to stop by over at Shanghai to check it. Beijing and Shanghai are the two most popular cities of China so I wanted to see both before I leave the country.

After an hour and a half flight from Dalian, arrived in Shanghai Pudong airport around 9:30AM and took MAGLEV train towards Longyang station. The train ride was funny since it's my first time to ride one that goes at the speed 475km/hr. Took me around around 6 minutes to arrive at Longyang instead of 40-50 minutes if I took the regular train. Ok. Nothing to tell about my hotel room. Hahaha.

Met with my friend and her mom. Our first stop is Shanghai's Qibao Ancient Town. Arrived there around 1PM so time for lunch: TEPPANYAKI!

Teppanyaki - Eggs

Teppanyaki Chef

3 Months Italy - Pisa Best Shots

Here are some of my best shots during my Pisa trip... in my opinion.. hahahah

Cathedral of Pisa - Back

3 Months Italy - Pisa

This is my super late three months business trip in Italy wherein I was assigned to assists in one of our client's automation project. Due to some problems with my visa, I arrived Friday late night in Florence Italy. The very next day I joined my friends to travel around Pisa.

Pisa Centrale Station View

One Photo Project

I was doing a One Photo Project but it seems I can't keep up with it. I can't seem to upload one photo everyday or better yet take a good photo to share. It's really a challenge to have something good at the end of the day even though I decided to put some of my old photos. Anyway some few photos I've uploaded in Facebook where my album is.

Downtown

Jacky

Gourd Flower

Flowers

Hiatus Over

The last post I had was in January wherein I had no internet connection back then. Now after almost 8 months this blog has been stagnant or in hiatus period. I had the connection way back April but I was too lazy to start blogging again. A lot opportunities lost but not until today.

It was raining so I decided to stay at home watching all day. It was late afternoon I decided to have some break and started looking through the window. The view was beautiful and calm, that yellow light reflecting over the glass windows of the buildings. I decided to get my camera and started shooting but I couldn't even get a single good shot because my windows were too dirty. Two minutes later I was on top of our apartment building overlooking the city. Took some few shots and then I just sat down waiting for the sunset.. I never thought Dalian could be beautiful. Hahah..

Dalian Seaside - View at the Top of my Apartment

I'll try to update this blog every month. Although I do have a One Photo project which could make me update this blog everyday! Till next time! :D

A Life Without the Web?

So my previous year 2010 was a blessing. I was able to visit three countries during the Ber-months wherein two of those countries were part of my DREAM LIST.

So now am back here in China. I'll be sharing some photos soon, or maybe when my DSL connection is established. I don't have one right now so I'll be offline for the next couple of days.. or weeks for the worst, hence the title 'A Life Without the Web?'.. How to do you think it will be?

Anyway... I plan to move this blog to WordPress but am hesitating because I had a few posts here already.. Hmmm.. Care to chip in what you think I should do?

One Month China Part 3

Part 1 and Part 2

Well as you all know, my first trip to Beijing was to apply for a business visa. And am pretty sure you already know that my next visit was to get it. Unfortunately, my visa was still not ready so I ended up staying in Beijing for a couple of days. Am sad but happy at the same time. Sad because my entire team is already on their way to our client but happy in a way that I got a few more extra days to tour around Beijing with accommodation and allowances! hahaha...

My first visit was easy because am with my Chinese team mate. The second one was a Charade trip. Language barrier is really a problem although I found out that most university students could speak English. Well not most maybe, but there are a few.

At first I thought am gonna get lost, but I didn't. Taking the subway was actually pretty easy. There are many signs for directions and they also have an English version for the Train Stations Maps. :D

I wasn't able to get to The Great Wall at first because I have no time. So I decided to check it out. There are many ways to go there. By bus and by train. A friend of my officemate told me to take the train since it's faster and not that expensive. During that time, I think we bought the ticket around 12 and 15 Yuan for bus and train respectively. This is a must see in Beijing. One of the best that I've seen. There are also other sections you can visit.

Cloudy but still a beauty

Badaling's Famous View

A rest after reaching the TOP!

Photo Op on the way Down

A note for those who want to go to Badaling section and plans to finish the entire stretch, go there early morning as it took us almost 5 hours to finish it. Well including picture session which is actually the reason why we took that long.. hahahah.. That means you'll be back at the center around 3 or 4pm depending how long it took you. Then you can still take a look at Bird's Nest and Summer Palace. Most tour usually go to Badaling, Summer Palace and Wangfujing on the same day..

On the next day, it was a Sunday so I decided to find a Catholic church and attend a mass. I saw one on the net and it's beside Wangfujing Area, also known as Beijing's Shopping District. Too bad I arrived late. The church was already closed and that English masses were held at 6 in the morning.

Wangfujing is easily accessible that's why its considered as the heart of the city.

View from Beijing Hotel Side(not sure hahaha)

View on the other side (near the church)

Finally, I was able to get my visa and a start of another adventure.. :D

Till next.. :D

One Month China Part 2

Part 1

My one month in China was really a blast. Dalian was already a beautiful city to start exploring the country. But thanks to my work, I was given a few chances to see Beijing.

I was really excited when I heard the news from my boss that I'll be spending 2 days in Beijing to process my visa. The first thing that came to my mind was the Great Wall and of course the well known Forbidden City.

I was really impress with Beijing. I never thought it to be so modern although you can still see some old Chinese from here and there. The very first thing I really really like in Beijing was their Subway system. Most of the tourist spots can be reached through it. The next one, it's cheap! As of this moment, you can travel from one side to the other for just 2 Yuan, roughly around 13.5 Philippine Pesos or  a third of the US dollar.

After doing some work related stuffs, we went directly to Tienanmen Square which was too crowded because it was a holiday in China during that time. And believe me, don't bother visiting China during holidays.    Tienanmen is a famous landmark linked to Mao Zedong and the cultural revolution. It's also the world's largest public square.

One of the reasons why we decided to go to Tienanmen Square first was because it's actually located at the one end, to the south specifically, of the Forbidden city. But too bad, we still don't have enough time so we just have some fun taking some portrait snapshots with the entrance at the background.

Marvelous Architecture, I bet a lot better inside!!!

Another reason is that I already know that going to Bird's Nest during sunset/night would be better. And besides the Forbidden city also closes early and that the Olympic Village is open at night. Check the pictures and see for yourself why you should visit it the same time we did. :D

Woah! This is too long already, I guess I'll just post my next visit to Beijing on my next blog..

Sorry for showing my photos but I use this blog to show it too my family too.. hahahah.. PEACE!

One Month China Part 1

Some of the few photos I've taken during my 1-month stay in China. My camera is one of the few ways to lessen homesick and boredom.

I really enjoy telling stories but this time I'll just show the photos.. Part 1 is all about Dalian, China...

Xinghai Park - Asia's largest Park

Xinghai Park - Offices

Xinghai Residences

When I go back I'll take some winter versions of these photos.. :) That would be FUN! Next one is Dalian Forest Zoo, which is another great place to visit..

Dalian Forest Zoo

Entrance

Lot's of things to see and there's a playground for kids too..

Playground

From Animals

To Botanical Gardens

with souvenir shops..

Wishing Ponds.. (coz' it's not a well.. ? hmmm)

And my favorite part is where you can feed wild animals with live chickens.. You can see them break it.. I actually got scared when a pack of Hyenas are running towards my direction.. Freaky but a good experience..

But don't worry, you're safe with these walls.. and you can see them clearly!

And before you go home... you get to relax in their bird's sanctuary with a great view of this artificial waterfalls..

And finally, time to say goodbye.. The Exit (or could be your entrance and the other one as the exit) :D

Check my Part 2 in my next post which is all about Beijing! :D

My Everyday Camera

I really like the quote

"The best camera is the one with you".

But after a few years of using a digital SLR, I find them too bulky for everyday use. I started looking for a compact camera which could give me a decent image quality with some options of manual adjustments. There are tons of cameras to choose from, but only a few got my attention. So right now am choosing from the following cameras:

1. Panasonic LX5
2. Canon S95
3. Canon G12
4. Samsung EX1

These are very good cameras, good enough for most situations. Choosing the best one depends on your priorities, that is portability, focal length, opening, video and price.. I do think image quality on these cameras are the same unless you pixel peep which I bet most of us don't that's why I didn't put it on the list of priorities.

Am leaning towards LX5 because of its great video features which might be useful. I would have gone over S95 for its portability but the lack of hot shoe is a big deal for me plus the wide lens. I do like to do some landscapes and studio or controlled lighting from time to time..

One thing  I don't like about Lumix cameras is their out of camera(OOC) pictures. I like Canon's color over the Lumix that's why the G12 is still on my list. And I do love those external controls if not only for the 24mm F2 lens of the LX5.

Right on time, my friend just recently published his review of the highly anticipated Panasonic LX5. He was a previous owner of the older model, LX3, which was one of the best point and shoot before.. I think even now.. :)

You can read his entire review here

But the prices of these cameras are too steep right now.. Hopefully I get to have one of these soon! If not I'll settle down with the TZ series which might cost below US$200.. ;D

Maybe I should have bought that US$77 Canon A495 on sale.. hahaha