Lens of the Day - Rokinon 35mm f1.4

My desire to capture high quality / cine-quality video on my DSLR led me to the Rokinon 35mm f1.4 lens. Although there is a cine version available, I opted for the standard version because currently, I shoot more photos than I do video, and I wanted the versatility. The lens is still highly adaptable for cine use.

With f stops from 1.4 to 22, the lens shoots well in all lighting conditions. It's one of my favorite lenses. They are priced around 300 dollars on eBay and it is available in mounts for Sony, Nikon and Canon.

Scroll down for a nice sample video...

This is one of my own sample photos shot with the Rokinon 35mm f1.4

Below you can see it set up on my Sony Alpha.

The Rokinon 35mm set up on other cameras below.

New Lens - Sigma 28-80mm 3.5 - 5.6 Macro

I'm always on the look out for a new lens that might add to the versatility of my lens inventory. I spotted a Sigma 28-80mm Macro lens on eBay for 30 bucks and thought why not? At 28-80mm it offers a wide enough focal range to be a decent walk around lens as an alternative to my Minolta 24-105mm but the Sigma is also an impressive macro lens, given it's price point. I included a sample below (I did not shoot the photo) and a couple of YouTube videos which give a good account of what I'll be getting with this lens.

I ordered it a couple days ago, should be here when I get back from the States in a month or so. I'll update with my own sample photos as soon as I get my hands on this awesome, affordable lens.

Picture of the Day

I was going to make this my new Facebook cover photo but it didn't fit quite right. My hat and my camera, two things I am rarely without during the week.

My Old Studio in Downtown Los Angeles

Oh what a luxury it was to have my own studio and oh what a time it was. Life in the fast lane, beautiful women, travel, parties and photography. The studio was 2300 square feet with a full bedroom and kitchen. It was bordered by exposed brick walls and had nice views of the city. As a resident, I also had access to the roof top and often used it for photo shoots. I also rented it out to other producers for $500 a day or $250 a half day. It was just way to expensive to maintain at that time and my business partner dropped off the face of the earth, so I was unable to keep up with the cost and had to move to Arizona.

:(

I look forward to having my own studio again someday!

Picture of the Day - Uijongbu, South Korea

Today's Picture of the Day is a shot of Uijongbu, South Korea as seen from the 10th floor of the Shinsegae Mall near the Uijongbu Train Station.

I applied a tilt shift effect in Paint Shop Pro to emphasize the colors and clutter of the buildings.

Spring at Camp Casey, Korea

Spring has arrived at Camp Casey, Korea and with it the Cherry Blossoms are in full bloom, at least for a few weeks. Spring and Fall seasons are short, it means we cherish these beautiful, cool spring days, and the flowers of the Cherry Blossoms all that much more.

Boracay Island - Day 2

Day two brought a trip to Diniwid Beach for sunset. I could tell I was in the right place to shoot nice sunset photos due to the abundance of DSLR cameras and their owners that I found staking out their spots. There was a wedding photo shoot taking place on this beach as well. Local fishermen were coming and going with their boats and local children played in the warm, clear waters. The weather is warm and humid but a constant light breeze provides a welcomed relief.

I treated myself to a one hour massage (there's no shortage of spas and massage) and to a fresh seafood lunch. First, you select your fresh seafood choice, the price is by weight and seafood type, lobster, shrimp and crab bring the highest prices, then tell your waiter how you'd like it prepared. It's not like ordering seafood at a restaurant back in the USA however, when you order fried snapper for example, you get the entire fish, from head to tail, fried, on your plate. So be prepared to cut off the head and tail yourself, and watch out for the bones!

Back to the massage situation... it's a classic case of supply and demand and the free market at work right here in Boracay. There are SO MANY spas and massages being offered that the prices are super low. You can get a one hour massage for some where between 250-600 Philippine Pesos, which equates to around 6-15 US Dollars. There are a few spas which are a little more upscale and you might pay a little more, but still, getting a massage here is the best deal going. I'm getting another one today!

Stay tuned for more...