The Usual Suspects

Getting some practice with available light portrait shots using the Voigtländer manual focus lens. I like the shallow DOF and sharpness the lens produces wide-open... Though I and many others are really wanting for someone to make a fast portrait lens native to Micro Four Thirds. Manual focusing can be fun, and the retro look of the lens is neat, but I'd rather auto focus because life doesn't always stand still...

Sights and Sounds and Dancing Waters at Americana

Scarcely a day after Thanksgiving, and already the holiday lights are bright, the trees decorated, and the waters dance to the tune of joyful carols. It feels a little like Christmas at the Americana...

Stomping on Potato Chips

Didn't go anywhere special this weekend... Nevertheless, Ryan had a blast of a time running around the front yard stomping on potato chips. Around this time of year, the big tree on our front lawn sheds a ton of leaves. Believe it or not, the gardener cleaned the yard only one week ago. My wife once told me a story of how when she was little, she would have fun stepping on crunchy leaves on the ground, because it reminded her of potato chips! Sometimes the simplest of things bring the greatest of joys...

A Quick Gold Line Ride to Downtown L.A.

I had the day off, and decided to take Ryan aboard the Metro Gold Line train in Pasadena for a quick trip to Downtown L.A. There were a few places I wanted to take photos at: Union Station, the Department of Transportation Building, Walt Disney Concert Hall, Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels. I've only been to a couple of these places, but none with Ryan. We didn't head out until 2PM, and the sun sets at 5pm these days, so I knew we weren't going to be able to hit all those places. Plus, this would be the first time going out with Ryan by myself on public transport. It turned out, the both of us had a great time...

On the train


At Union Station




A reverse fountain at Los Angeles Mall


The Olive Garden at Catheral of Our Lady of the Angels














From the streets the place doesn't look very cathedral-like: a huge concrete monolith. But once you get onto the grounds and into the buildings, you'll realize that this is very beautiful and awe-inspiring church.




View of the skyline from the Department of Water and Power Building

Voigtlander 40mm f1.4 Nokton

Picked up a second lens for the GF1: Voigtlander 40mm f1.4 Nokton Classic (Leica M mount.)

My first full manual lens, but manual focusing is not as difficult as I thought it would be. Though tracking Ryan on the run will probably not be possible... It does create the thin DOF I'm chasing though :)