In which our heroes clearly begin to half-ass things and lose what threadbare faith formerly remained for any of their future promises.

–

(trailer)

Taos: Scorsese’s best. I might just be able to watch this once a week if I had the time. Plays like what it is: a classic.

David: In contention for my favorite Scorsese.  Which I would hope says it all.  (Which might be a misleading statement, but we’ll save that for another day.)

—

(trailer)

David: Back in part 1, I named Garden State as a reason for my interest in film and filmmaking.  The day after I first saw Garden State five-plus years ago, I watched Hero; that weekend paved the way for who I’m to become.  I enjoyed Hero’s Rashomon-like story. Obvious to everyone I’m sure, though, its artistry in performance and realization is what ensnared me.  Plenty could be said here, but most significant:  it was lensed by Chris Doyle, then completely unknown to me but who today represents the level of ability and success I hope to achieve (in my own manner of course).  Doyle’s work on Hero, his images–they’re permanently etched in the back of my eyes.

Taos: Cherry blossoms. Clouds of arrows. Flying Asians? Everything David picked is a definite re-watch for me.

—

(trailer)

Taos: Brutal and real. Scorsese flick of South America. Maybe memorable more for its harsh reality than anything else.

David: I recall this one only in broad strokes for whatever reason (one in which the blame doesn’t belong to the movie, I’m sure).  Genius made I do remember, but I owe it another look.

—

(trailer)

Taos: The 2nd wittiest dialogue of the list. Gay Perry. Who’s this Downey Jr. guy. What else will go wrong… Loved it.

David: This I remembered liking more than when I saw it a couple days ago.  Still entertaining as hell (I mean RD,J & Val Kilmer?  Forget about it).  The kind of movie to watch with several pals.

—

(trailer)

Taos: Deserving of recognition for its refreshing way of telling the story. I have a feeling this will only get better as the years go by.

David: A modern classic; its reputation alone establishes it as required viewing for any fledgling film buff.  There’s nothing left to say about it.  I mean, there are two kinds of people:  those that have seen ESotSM and then everyone else.

A shaker inspired dining chair (2009) available in combinations of contemporary and more traditional materials by New York designers Rich Brilliant  Willing.

Dressing up for formal or semi-formal event use to stress me so much and I often messed up my attire coz I was usually uncomfortable presenting myself. Prolly I lack confidence or I had no one to boost my confidence. Ofcourse, I know, how stupid of me to rely myself on someone, but hey, I was an innocent growing up Kid.. LOL.. Anyways, I’ve been told the school I’ll be attending this January has a new uniform policy, and that is wearing corporate attire, wearing formal attire on Mondays and smart casual on Tuesdays. My initial reaction to the statement, “Huhhhhhhh.. uhmmmmmm”. Obviously, I don’t know anything about dressing up, although, I use to dream, as a kid, someday looking sharp, clean, snazzy, and professional on outfits like those, but because of unfortunate events, that vision suddenly dimmed and since then, shirt, jeans, and chucks is all I need to get by my melancholy yet sometimes, exuberant days.

Well, I guess am glad I’ll be attending that school despite of few transferred credits from my previous school. Today, I was happily researching about formal and smart casual attires. Good thing, I came across this website, http://youlookfab.com, because of how appealing the site design is, I signed up and created my profile. First, I had doubts, it may not give me the information and guidelines am looking for, but then, while I was filling up “Fashion & Style Preference” section of my profile, it gave me choices of Modern Classic, Artistic Eclectic, Sporty Natural, Bohemian Hippie, Trendy Fashionista, and Funky Urbanite. Its noticeable these names pretty much explained different types of fashion (the section also provide a link for each Fashion Persona definition), and it indeed, clarified the meaning of Fashion and Style to me.

Anyhow, I am a combination of Modern Classic, Sporty Natural, Trendy Fashionista, and Funky Urbanite. With these choices, it will definitely help me in investing and choosing my clothing combinations wisely.

article from youlookfab.com - http://youlookfab.com/2006/06/14/what-is-your-fashion-persona/

A Tree Grows In Brooklyn

A Tree Grows In Brooklyn, October 2009, 7.5/10.

Written by Better Smith.  Published by Harper Perennial Modern Classics.

A classic and a real page-turner, even if it is a bit sugar coated.  If one doesn’t mind the fact that a happy ending is signalled almost from the start, and that a false premise (no matter how nice it is to believe, and perhaps doubly false due to its application to a woman) of self-empowerment is espoused, there is little negative to write.  Clearly semi-autobiographical, the book offers an amazing insight into tenement living in Brooklyn in the early twentieth century, and the unbelievable poverty and struggles that went with it.  Combining this historical picture with a fast moving storyline based around an interesting set of characters and their families in a rapidly modernizing world, the author has produced a long and engrossing novel.

LONDON COLOUR : AUTUMN IN REGENT'S PARK

And here’s the colour version – shot on the F200EXR’s ‘Standard’ (Provia) film mode – that I’m pleased with, especially considering that I’ve not yet updated the firmware ….which apparently lends some warmth to the Auto White Balance rendering.

Much more at http://nickbland.zenfolio.com ….images from F200EXR/LX3/CX1/D200/D3 …you get the idea

THE BEST FOR YOUR NEEDS ?

(Macro image from Ricoh CX1)

Prompted to post this, following several recent e-mails from readers of my (various!) blogs …. hope this answers some questions for you : 

The LX3 is acknowledged as one of the very best compacts out there, and enjoys a huge fan base, which has perhaps grown further lately as some potential buyers – swayed by the announcement of the Olympus E-P1, Panasonic GF-1, Ricoh GRDIII (and CX2), and Leica X-1 – have more recently decided that this fixed-lens model, producing consistently great-quality images, has to be considered a relative bargain at around £350 …and have bought-up all available free stock. Pretty well globally.

But whilst the LX3 undoubtedly has a huge, die-hard fanbase, there have been a couple of other contenders for buyers’ cash …notably the Ricoh CX1 and Fujifilm’s F200EXR.  Both have proven extremely popular.

For those interested in all of the (potentially boring) technical differences between these three ‘pocket rockets’ – you’ll need to look elsewhere. Life’s too short. But if it’s real-world usability and satisfaction rating you’re more interested in, you’re at the right place. No waffle, here’s how it goes :

1/ LX3 : Excellent in very many respects:

• Stunning lens (of course), starting at 24mm f2 …but ends at 60mm (equiv).
• White balance dramatically better than it once was – I feel there’s still a little room for improvement. Reds are still oversaturated, even when cooled-off. If you like Canon colour, you’ll like LX3.
• BW – in ‘Dynamic’ form …very film-like, fantastic high-contrast, highly-detailed results.
• Multi-film mode – three separate, consecutive images
• Multi-Aspect mode : very useful. 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 options
• Superb Mega O.I.S
• Slightly ‘hollow’ feel to chassis
• RAW files – very detailed, but need to use (time-consuming) SilkyPix software to extract quality
• Separate lens-cap
• Almost pocketable (!)
• User interface – a bit fiddly, but ok

2/ Ricoh CX1 : vastly underrated

• Some say it’s a far cry from ‘GRD output’ – I disagree (unless you want to pixel-peep… but why would you?)
• White balance – superb. Multi-awb is a useful extra. Great colour rendition, and fantastic ‘Outdoor’ setting
• Electronic level …excellent, should be standard on all cameras 
• Very flexible 7x zoom focal range - 28-200mm(equiv), capturing images that the LX3 is simply incapable of
• Image stabilisation very effective – and this camera is capable of surprisingly good low-light images
• Rapid response …focus, image display, scrolling, changing options ….CMOS etc means very fast all ’round
• Reliable exposures, and wide dynamic range (without the inhibiting DR Double-Shot mode)
• As advertised, not prone to sky ‘whiteout’  …more useful and more impressive than I expected
• Multi-film (Colour, BW, sepia) works brilliantly – exactly same image processed three ways
• Multi-Aspect – but only one at a time : 4:3, 3:2, 1:1  (needs addition of 16:9!)
• Stunning 920k screen – looks like the image you download and view on pc screen
• Amazing 1cm macro capability
• User interface – as good as it gets – intuitive, fast, logical, reliable
• Great build quality exceeds all other compacts I’ve ever used
• Very recently superceded by the new CX2,  with even greater 28-300mm(equiv) focal range

3/ Fujifilm F200EXR : useful award-winner

• EXR sensor promises much, delivers some (sometimes)
• Sensor option (three in total) has to be manually selected for best results
• Some strange metering/exposure reactions, so inconsistent results …even in fairly ‘normal’ shooting conditions
• Irritating real-world aspect : the high-contrast (but fairly lo-res) screen makes you wonder what you’ve captured … or not
• Images often – but not always – look far better on computer display, once downloaded (thank heavens !)
• Multi-Aspect modes : can select one at a time from 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
• 5x zoom range : 28-140mm (equiv) …again, captures some images that LX3 just can’t
• Image stabilisation ok, but definitely not as effective as CX1’s
• Some blackout after image capture, as if processor working really hard
• Feels ‘lightweight’ and small in the hand, compared with bulletproof CX1 build and solid feel 
• 12MP files (jpeg only) are very detailed …although images not quite as responsive to processing as CX1 jpegs, in my experience
• New F70EXR has wider focal range, and is less expensive – but its sensor is more highly pixel-packed
• Overall – great camera, hoped for more than it has delivered (so far, at least)

Hope this helps you draw your own conclusions on usability for your own needs – because that’s all that really matters.

Without doubt, all three are very high-quality cameras, and all are capable of great results much of the time, even under very difficult conditions.

Images in separate galleries from all three models at http://nickbland.zenfolio.com – enjoy !

DOES IT WORK ?

(Macro image from Ricoh CX1)

Prompted to post this, following several recent e-mails from readers of my (various!) blogs …. hope this answers some questions for you : 

The LX3 is acknowledged as one of the very best compacts out there, and enjoys a huge fan base, which has perhaps grown further lately as some potential buyers – swayed by the announcement of the Olympus E-P1, Panasonic GF-1, Ricoh GRDIII (and CX2), and Leica X-1 – have more recently decided that this fixed-lens model, producing consistently great-quality images, has to be considered a relative bargain at around £350 …and have bought-up all available free stock. Pretty well globally.

But whilst the LX3 undoubtedly has a huge, die-hard fanbase, there have been a couple of other contenders for buyers’ cash …notably the Ricoh CX1 and Fujifilm’s F200EXR.  Both have proven extremely popular.

For those interested in all of the (potentially boring) technical differences between these three ‘pocket rockets’ – you’ll need to look elsewhere. Life’s too short. But if it’s real-world usability and satisfaction rating you’re more interested in, you’re at the right place. No waffle, here’s how it goes :

1/ LX3 : Excellent in very many respects:

• Stunning lens (of course), starting at 24mm f2 …but ends at 60mm (equiv).
• White balance dramatically better than it once was – I feel there’s still a little room for improvement. Reds are still oversaturated, even when cooled-off. If you like Canon colour, you’ll like LX3.
• BW – in ‘Dynamic’ form …very film-like, fantastic high-contrast, highly-detailed results.
• Multi-film mode – three separate, consecutive images
• Multi-Aspect mode : very useful. 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 options
• Superb Mega O.I.S
• Slightly ‘hollow’ feel to chassis
• RAW files – very detailed, but need to use (time-consuming) SilkyPix software to extract quality
• Separate lens-cap
• Almost pocketable (!)
• User interface – a bit fiddly, but ok

2/ Ricoh CX1 : vastly underrated

• Some say it’s a far cry from ‘GRD output’ – I disagree (unless you want to pixel-peep… but why would you?)
• White balance – superb. Multi-awb is a useful extra. Great colour rendition, and fantastic ‘Outdoor’ setting
• Electronic level …excellent, should be standard on all cameras 
• Very flexible 7x zoom focal range - 28-200mm(equiv), capturing images that the LX3 is simply incapable of
• Image stabilisation very effective – and this camera is capable of surprisingly good low-light images
• Rapid response …focus, image display, scrolling, changing options ….CMOS etc means very fast all ’round
• Reliable exposures, and wide dynamic range (without the inhibiting DR Double-Shot mode)
• As advertised, not prone to sky ‘whiteout’  …more useful and more impressive than I expected
• Multi-film (Colour, BW, sepia) works brilliantly – exactly same image processed three ways
• Multi-Aspect – but only one at a time : 4:3, 3:2, 1:1  (needs addition of 16:9!)
• Stunning 920k screen – looks like the image you download and view on pc screen
• Amazing 1cm macro capability
• User interface – as good as it gets – intuitive, fast, logical, reliable
• Great build quality exceeds all other compacts I’ve ever used
• Very recently superceded by the new CX2,  with even greater 28-300mm(equiv) focal range

3/ Fujifilm F200EXR : useful award-winner

• EXR sensor promises much, delivers some (sometimes)
• Sensor option (three in total) has to be manually selected for best results
• Some strange metering/exposure reactions, so inconsistent results …even in fairly ‘normal’ shooting conditions
• Irritating real-world aspect : the high-contrast (but fairly lo-res) screen makes you wonder what you’ve captured … or not
• Images often – but not always – look far better on computer display, once downloaded (thank heavens !)
• Multi-Aspect modes : can select one at a time from 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
• 5x zoom range : 28-140mm (equiv) …again, captures some images that LX3 just can’t
• Image stabilisation ok, but definitely not as effective as CX1’s
• Some blackout after image capture, as if processor working really hard
• Feels ‘lightweight’ and small in the hand, compared with bulletproof CX1 build and solid feel 
• 12MP files (jpeg only) are very detailed …although images not quite as responsive to processing as CX1 jpegs, in my experience
• New F70EXR has wider focal range, and is less expensive – but its sensor is more highly pixel-packed
• Overall – great camera, hoped for more than it has delivered (so far, at least)

Hope this helps you draw your own conclusions on usability for your own needs – because that’s all that really matters.

Without doubt, all three are very high-quality cameras, and all are capable of great results much of the time, even under very difficult conditions.

Images in separate galleries from all three models at http://nickbland.zenfolio.com – enjoy !

Arflex Strips Letto Bed

ModLiving offers exclusive brands from around the world. With an eccentric style, ModLiving exudes everything urban chic. There are so many wonderful items that are unconventional and innovative.

Arflex T-Line Lounge Chair

Brand Van Egmond Flower Power Hanging Lamp

Emmemobili Escher Bookshelves

Emmemobili Sils Sofa

Moroso Bouquet Armchair

Moroso Hammock

Nube Remind Armchair

Are you a fan of The Simpsons? If you are, I hope that you’ve seen the episode where Homer discovers the box of Mr. Sparkle detergent. The picture on the box that resembles Homer was actually a combination of two different logos, a fish and a light bulb. Modern Classic has created a tee called “Fish Bulb” that shows the Matsumura Fishworks logo on the front and the Tamaribuchi Heavy Manufacturing Concern logo on the back. I suppose if you spin fast enough, these two logos will merge to form Mr. Sparkle. I wouldn’t recommend trying this at home, though!

From "In Marge We Trust"

This design is available in many customizable options at Modern Classic, so pick your favorite and show the world some Mr. Sparkle love!

ULLSWATER, LAKE DISTRICT

Another image from our recent trip, taken from an Ullswater steamer that took us around the lake for a couple of hours (doesn’t move very quickly !) …the Lake District is well worth another visit soon, hopefully in drier weather, although the ever-changing light in this part of England makes it always a pleasure for landscapes.

Notably on the boat were several with cameras – one guy with a Canon 1D, photographing the punters (probably for a promo leaflet/web photo (!)), a girl taking an odd snap – without much care – with a Sony DSLR, and a few with Panasonic FZs of various vintages. In each case, they had something quite cumbersome to deal with, in less than ideal conditions – so pleased to have had my LX3 with us, with the D3 nowhere to be seen on this trip – way too heavy !

More as usual at http://nickbland.zenfolio.com … enjoy

INGLETON, YORKSHIRE DALES

Took a few compact cameras with us on a recent trip to Yorkshire & the lakes …LX3 (of course), Ricoh CX1, Panasonic TZ-3 and Fuji F100fd.

Needless to say, it was the LX3 that gave the smoothest, sharpest & most detailed images of the lot, although I used it less than I would have liked as I needed a longer focal range for many shots. However, I was really pleased with the ones I did shoot with the LX3, and the quality amazes me every time – even now, after 8 months of continuous use.

This image was taken in Ingleton, on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales National Park … a stunning location for landscape photography. Just don’t expect dry weather too often, even in July !

Many more LX3 images as usual at http://nickbland.zenfolio.com

PANASONIC GF1 ...BUT IS IT REAL ?

(This image courtesy of  http://www.xitek.com)

Given that there’s been so much new camera activity lately – both in DSLR and compact market areas, as well as the recent launch of the Olympus E-P1, this is apparently some detail on a forthcoming LX3 replacement.

Rumours have been rife for a while – perhaps what we see above will be the reality, and with so many reported LX3 global stock shortages, maybe it’ll be here sooner than we think.

So, for those not quite enamoured of the E-P1 …is the GF1 the Holy Grail ? 

Just maybe.

In Cold Blood

In Cold Blood, July 2009, 8.5/10.

Written by Truman Capote.  Published by Modern Library.

I enjoyed this ’semi-fiction’ book (based on a true event with fictional details added).  The first book that I have read by this author, it was a great example of clear, concise storytelling, all the more impressive given the time and research that went into the novel.  Despite this, at no point does the writing become bogged down in any particular detail or at any critical junction – the flow of the story is continuous and fluid.  However the amount of research cuts both ways, and while anything worth knowing about the crime and the people involved was included for the reader to digest, my primary criticism of the book is that the author’s bias was not edited out and this can be jarring, especially when the author’s sympathetic views are juxtaposed against the official perspective of those that he quotes.

A comp of three images here from the Docklands/Canary Wharf collection.

It’s an area of London that, like so many others in the City, is so full of photographic promise. There are two great likelihoods in photographing parts of London in 2009 :

1/ You’ll get some fantastic images

2/ Completely unexpectedly – or maybe not, now – there’ll be a request not to use your camera …could be the police, a jobsworth security guard, or … the latter, speaking through a mic, plumbed into a ’speaker somewhere near you.

The last option, where you’re being observed via perhaps a distant camera (!), does seem strange …my own photos are neither for commercial gain (I’d have asked for a ‘permit’), nor for terrorism … I actually quite enjoy photography, thanks … there’s no ulterior motive in my case. However, by photographing certain things in the UK in 2009, we’re apparently guilty until we can prove our innocence.

It seems strange that, in these ever-changing times, our ability to record UK life photographically is so inhibited by the people we ultimately elect to run the country … but one of the best ways to be inconspicuous is to use an LX3, set to RAW capture for ultimate flexibility & quality.

Do that, and read up on the legalities of photography in a public place, work ethically, use your common sense, and you should be able to capture some fantastic images…unscathed, I hope.

Many more LX3 images – of London, and many other subjects – can be found and viewed in safety (!) at http://nickbland.zenfolio.com. Don’t forget to also take a look at http://1001noisycameras.com for more on the LX3 and many other ‘must-have’ photographic tools, which so far, can stil be bought legally !

One of my first images with the LX3, taken on the day I got it. I remember not having had it for long – maybe an hour or two – and this is image number 290 ! And there were very many more shots taken that day … and ever since.

Maybe that’s a good indicator of just how much enjoyment I got from this LX3, and which I still do today. This image was shot at The Jaipur building, in Milton Keynes. It’s a feat of Eastern-style architecture, beautifully built and amazing to look at, especially in good daylight.

The night-lighting of this all-white structure is inventive, and has certainly been carefully thought-out. As a very recognisable part of the MK skyline, it’s also a great photographic subject. I was pleased to capture this image at dusk on that first day with the LX3, and although the original file was already bursting with colour, I’ve also run it through DxO FilmPack on an ‘Agfa Ultra Color’ film type.

Although not as over-the-top as it may have been (I’m talking saturation), the colours have been enhanced, yet remain close to reality …

There are many more LX3 images, including several architectural, cityscape and urban image folders, at http://nickbland.zenfolio.com … hope you enjoy them.

AMERICAN CEMETERY, CAMBRIDGE UK

Another one from my collection of Cambridge images.  The American Cemetery in Cambridge, with it’s memorial pillar stating  ‘Erected By The United States Of America  1954′,   is on 30 acres of land donated by the University of Cambridge, situated three miles outside the city. A high proportion of these 3,812 American servicemen & women were crew members of British-based American aircraft employed in WWII. This is an image of The Great Mall with, on the right-hand side, The Wall of the Missing.

Although the RAW file conversion was made in SilkyPix, that doesn’t mean there wasn’t still some lens distortion showing, and if you want to see the ‘uncorrected’ version, it’s on the zenfolio site at http://nickbland.zenfolio.com  (along with literally hundreds of my other LX3 images, grouped for ease of use).

With some Photoshop transform/distort, the image was almost there, and a touch of lens correction in Capture NX gave me the final result I was after.

Dynamic Black & White – from a digital camera, it doesn’t get any better than this !

Some say that monochrome represents the absolute purity of an image – no colour to get in the way, to divert attention from the photographer’s intended portrayal of the subject.

One of the most interesting aspects of the LX3, and certainly a very influential factor in my decision to buy one, was – and still is – the Dynamic Black & White setting, to be found within the selection of Film Modes. This setting, in combination with the 16:9 format, is one of my very favourites … albeit jpeg output only. I can forego the flexibility of RAW files when the DBW results are just so good, and get so close to the look of film. Deep blacks, tons of contrast, and yet a decent level of detail, all combine to make it a very hard act to follow.

For film buffs, think along the lines of Fuji Neopan 1600 / Ilford XP2 …  

Indeed, this LX3 look is very tough to replicate on a colour file without a lot of messing, unless you use a dedicated ‘conversion’ program, such as DxO FilmPack or Nik Silver Efex Pro …both superb, although even then, there’s still something about the LX3 DBW file that just looks immediately stunning, and that isn’t easily matched otherwise.

Talking more generally for a moment, the internal processing engine within LX3 is dramatic in its ability to provide a brilliant  – and customisable - interpretation of what you saw with your own eyes when you made the image. Within the Film mode selection are six colour versions :  Standard – Dynamic – Nature – Smooth – Vibrant – Nostalgic

For Black & White, rather than just the one token effort seen on so many compacts, there are, unusually, three different LX3 modes :   Standard – Dynamic – Smooth

The shot above was made in Dynamic BW mode, with settings altered to my own preference, after some – but not very much – experimentation. Already very contrasty to start with, just as I like it, the Dynamic BW is modified on my own LX3 as follows :  Contrast +1 / Sharpness +2 / Noise reduction +1

You may already have found that the Multi-Film mode on LX3 gives the photographer a massive amount of flexibility for up to three custom ‘looks’, recorded in sequence at a single press. Again, although not available in RAW, these jpeg outputs can each be altered to taste, and the quality and accuracy of the white balance becomes important in this instance – you’re relying on it to provide the right colour balance overall, and it’s awkward to change it after the fact and achieve good results …so getting it right in-camera, as far as possible, is important.

Dynamic Black & White could also come to the rescue if you’re facing some impossibly tough mixed lighting in a certain situation. Whereas the different light sources can on occasion produce a truly ugly result, the DBW setting on the LX3 can cut through all of that, and produce something you can be proud of – and look really professional without too much effort … once you’ve got the right composition, exposure, focus,  etc !

Incidentally, with the LX3, I’ve shot more Black & White in the last few months than in the previous 10 years – the  Dynamic Black & White mode is that good.

As usual, you’ll find that there’s an entire folder dedicated to this amazing LX3 monochrome mode  – go to  http://nickbland.zenfolio.com …. just look for ‘LX3 :: Dynamic B&W’, where you’ll find 96 images … and enjoy !

if you dont know their names.
you’re not up on your shit.

imagesource | models.com