Lazy Day

Catnap
11mm @ f/2.8, 2 sec @ ISO 100

Well, this pretty much sums up the day.

Like Omega and Bubbles here, I did not leave the house today, and instead took a couple of naps.

Unlike these two sleepy cats, however, I made some excellent roast beef and vegetables for dinner, and red kidney beans and rice for tomorrow. I reorganized and cleaned the kitchen, tended to my Sims (yes, Sims are my guilty pleasure), and made an attempt to use my extension tubes.

I took some really close up shots of the text on a Japanese cookie box.

Tomorrow, I'll actually procure some kind of subject to use properly with a tripod and some lighting.

Until then, I think it's back to sleep for me.

Just looking at that picture makes me a little sleepy.

One for the 7th, One for the 8th

Peace
Jan 7, 2014 - 50mm @ f/1.8, 1/6, ISO 400

Oh no, I didn't post a picture yesterday! The whole system is breaking down!

I don't think so.

This picture was taken yesterday while playing with laser lights. (I still TOOK a picture, I just fell asleep before I could post it.)

Yesterday was a very lazy day of slumber interrupted by watching a 6:25pm showing American Hustle. 

(For those Hawai‘i dwellers: Did you know Regal Dole Cannery does super cheap tickets on Tuesdays? A regular movie is only $6.00 and an IMAX showing is like $12.50 or something. Totally awesome!)

An overall good movie, it was a bit slower paced than expected, but solid performances from all the lead actors. 

Its slow pace contributed to my falling asleep abruptly upon returning home. For shame, for shame.

Bougainvillea
Jan 8, 2014 - 11mm @ f/10, 1/10, ISO 100

This is a bougainvillea plant in front of my condo.

Today I received a set of extension tubes I ordered on Amazon, so I'm excited to play with those.

I think I might have to buy a bouquet of flowers just to experiment with the extension tubes.

I think my next photography purchase will have to be some type of studio lighting setup. I want to turn our enclosed lanai into a little art studio for myself. Move my piano out there, store all my camera equipment, and setup a tiny photo studio in one corner for practicing with strobist lighting.

2014 is the year of remodeling this apartment, after all.

Let's make that studio happen this month. Currently the lanai is a storage space for random items like boxes. 

Totally making this happen. Yes...

Day Moon

Day Moon over Kalakaua Avenue
50mm @ f/7.1, 1/500, ISO 400

I'm always a fan of a daytime moonrise. I was walking home down Kalakaua Avenue looking at the light play through the leaves of this tree, when I noticed the moon just peeking out the top of it. 

Had a nice breakfast at Longhi's this morning, good ole Eggs Benedict. Had the crabcake Benedict this time, and have to say that I was not impressed. The crabcake alone was good, but the texture of a crabcake on toasted French bread with a poached egg and Hollandaise sauce was not a pleasant one. The lobster Benedict there is much, much better.

Overall it was a relaxing day, especially for a Monday. No complaints there!

African Grey, Family Day

African Grey
Nikkor 50mm 1.8D - Nikon D7000
f/1.8, 1/60, ISO 400

Here's a shot of an African Grey Parrot in the Mililani Hale Pet Store. It was quite talkative, responding back to every word you said to it. Being young, it just squawked, but as it was already sold, I am sure it will soon be taught to speak words.

Today was a lovely day spent with family, eating lunch, a little coffee and croissant, playing piano, and a delicious ramen dinner. These moments are special, sharing happiness with the people that matter most and mean the most in our lives.

Family
Nikkor 50mm 1.8D - Nikon D7000
f/2.8, 1/40, ISO 640

I'd say today was filled with beauty all around. My doctor told me to have more fun for the sake of having fun, and I have to say that I've never enjoyed a doctor's advice as much as this.

Enjoying life, who would have thought?

Cactus Flower
Nikkor 50mm 1.8D - Nikon D7000
f/1.8, 1/1600, ISO 400

Kuli‘ou‘ou Ridge Trail

View of Rabbit Island from Summit - Kuli‘ou‘ou Ridge Trail
11mm @ f/22, ISO 2000

The Kuli‘ou‘ou Ridge Trail is no "walk in the park" when you've been rather sedentary in the year following breaking your tibial plateau, let me tell you. Major props to my trailmates today, who kept me from feeling like a lamer every time I had to stop because of my knee. Thanks guys!

The views are worth it. Worth every last stair. Every. One. (See all photos here.)

It was a pretty clear day for us, so we could see out to Maui, and clearly see Rabbit Island, Koko Head, and the back of Diamond Head from just below and on the summit. We've been getting a bit of rain the past couple months, so all of the mentioned mountains and craters were covered in lush greenery, a treat for this time of year.

Moss - Kuli‘ou‘ou Ridge Trail
16mm @ f/2.8, ISO 2000

This is my favorite shot of the day, despite the wicked island views. It reminds me how nature is a constant creator and destroyer, and that endless scenes of beauty are always on display at every stage of this cycle.

We are all stuck in the endless cycle of creation and destruction. How can we choose to make it beautiful?

Tomorrow will be spent with family, going out to see my grandmother and mother. Fun!

Makapu‘u Lighthouse Trail

Unknown Structure off the Trail. 11mm @ f/7.1, 1/200 sec, ISO 200. Nikon D7000 & Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8.

Today was a good day spent with good friends, good views, and good food. Went up the Makapu‘u Lighthouse Trail in the morning under beautiful scattered clouds and with pleasant breezes. Perfect conditions for what would otherwise be a grueling, scorching, hot mess. See more of the trail here.

The evening ended with a lovely dinner party, with delicious beef stew, red wine, a clown-decorated ice cream cake, and of course, excellent company.

Tomorrow will be spent in an all day hike on the Kuliouou Ridge Trail, one I've been on before many years ago, when I was in a much better state of physical fitness. We'll see how I fare on the many switchbacks ascending the 2,000 foot climb.

At least I'll be able to take a few camera shooting breaks here and there.

I've really been enjoying the captures this Tokina 11–16mm f/2.8 has been getting, but I am tempted to take my trusty Nikkor 35mm 1.8G for tomorrow's adventures. I don't want to carry anything that I won't use, but I feel that I might want some of those ultra-wide views up at the top.

Decisions, decisions.

D7000 Arrives, Hiking Days Ahead

Storm over Ala Moana Boulevard.
Tokina 11-16mm AT-X Pro. 11mm @ f/5.6, 1/8 sec, ISO 6400.
Nikon D7000. LR5 post.

Today ended with an abrupt thunderstorm in Waikīkī that ceased as quickly as it began.  For the ten or so minutes it came down, it was pretty intense, with "rain flying in sideways" à la Forrest Gump.  Rain flew up onto the lens, causing a little blur.

I received the Nikon D7000 I won on eBay today, along with the Tokina 11–16mm AT-X Pro ultra-wide angle lens I ordered.  Right off the bat, I was impressed with how heavy both these pieces of equipment are, and I felt I have a lot to learn.

How exciting.  I get to read a manual.

It's the first time I've felt excited about photography in a long time.

Went out to Gyukaku with friends, a triple couple date.  It was a lot of fun, and much sake was enjoyed.

It's nice to be around other people.  Happy people.

It makes me feel happy.

The next few days should present many photo opportunities.  A hike up the Makapu‘u Lighthouse Trail, then a dinner party to top off the evening.  Saturday will be a hike up the Kuliouou Ridge Trail.

Hopefully my legs will not give out.

Or my arms from supporting the massive weight of the D7000.