sunset from my balcony

Love it when I can see rays from the sun ... also testing the leica's "sunset" setting. Probably the closest coloring that I get out of any camera. And this is shooting JPG on one of the standard camera settings ... nice!

things on tuesday :: funny monkey

Seems so wrong that it's Tuesday already, but what a great holiday weekend we had here in Chicago! So let's see ...

loves

getting to the beach (even if my 55 spf prevented me from getting any color)
getting shit done
sweet treats
this funny monkey
my new photo toy - leica d-lux 5
scoring a subscription to Dwell for $2 via fab.com (woot!)
Dave Matthews Band Caravan this weekend and the free sampler of music to pump us up!

loathes

headaches
glasses
death
google and their lack of planning when rolling out a product
that my new air conditioner doesn't seem all that cold...
that my upstairs neighbor just doesn't get it. Simply put, I should NOT hear you, your TV, chairs or etc.
folding laundry

OK then ... let's get on with this week!

Black macaque takes self-portrait

Chimply marvellous: The images taken by the monkeys at a national park in Indonesia are perfect portraits

via dailymail.co.uk

I would have seriously freaked out if I had a monkey take my camera, but the photos left on the camera are priceless. Makes me laugh and laugh! Look at that face!!!

google fails again

I cannot tell you how sick of seeing this message I am. I have received FOUR invitations to join google plus and continue to get this MOST ANNOYING message. I cannot understand how Google did not anticipate the demand on their system given the fact that they know exactly how many gmail users they have. Would you not think that they would be able to accommodate at least that number of people upon launch? This is an epic fail in my estimation and why they will not overtake Facebook. Google has great ideas, but extremely poor follow through.
hello wave
hello buzz
hello voice
hello orkut

Get it together Google!!

yffoto.com :: feebee

via blog.yffoto.com

I was playing around with the manual focus on the Leica and caught this hysterical photo of the Phoebs. She's such a good sport, always having a camera in her face.

I Leica

Is it just me, or do you also find that your hobbies just suck all of your extra income? When I got into photography, I thought I could just go take pictures, that's free now that everything is digital. Well, I did that, but as I got more into it I realized that better equipment would allow me to do more with the craft. I've been shooting with the Canon 40D for about two years and have been very happy with it, but lust for a full frame sensor so that I can do better with less light. So I've been stashing a few bucks aside for an upgrade.

That is until my point & shoot (Canon s90) got a crack in the lens. I have no idea how it happened - I've never dropped it and keep it in a case, I just don't know. But it's dead center on the lens, and while I seem to be able to compensate for the problem spot if I had it off to someone else for a photo forget it. Sadly it's only a little over a year old - just out of warrantee of course! So rather than getting that full frame DSLR, I had to shift my focus to a new p&s.

I landed on the Leica D-LUX 5. It's some serious fire power in a designer package. It might just be the perfect camera for me! Since I only shoot RAW format and post process via Lightroom and Photoshop, I needed something that would give me as close to DSLR results as possible. In reading up, the Leica digital family seems like it's the perfect fit. It arrived just in time for the holiday weekend, so I've been out shooting like mad.

Snapped a few self portraits - very happy with the results! Went and walked around Architectural Artifacts, 8000 square feet of architectural salvage. Holy shit is that place amazing! Some seriously old and really amazing stuff. It was a dream to wander and photograph - even while sweating (90+ inside the warehouse!). Way more photos to post from this place, but I'll give you a little teaser - loads of old sign parts and letters, mannequins and medical equipment that makes you go 'hmmmm.'

things on tuesday :: blah

So it's Tuesday and I'm just feeling a little blah ... just been in a bit of a fog this evening, not sure why.

loves

still getting rave reviews from a client and the design firm we're working with - fingers crossed!
booked a trip to San Francisco for work and going making a weekend of it - now... where to photograph ??
Maroon 5 this Friday!
Javier Colon's version of Time after Time
riding my bike downtown to wander around an art show and then back via the lake on a perfect day
that I am finally putting together that photobook I bought on Groupon
I've actually been able to check some things off the teuxduex list!

loathes

that one of my coworkers is leaving and we have to find a new designer - was quite unexpected and to say that I am disappointed would be a gross understatement.
the 4 1/2" long scratch on my right thigh from Phoebe - something spooked her - they don't even make band aids that big!
insecurities
grocery shopping while hungry - never good. never.
that I cannot figure out a fall vacation destination or dates .. and this girl needs a vaca!
that we always get fabulous weather in the middle of the work week - come on mother nature, work with us here!
starting back up at the gym and pulling something in my side ...

Bonne nuit!

learn to letterpress

I ran across a cute little paper goods booth at the Custer Street Fair last weekend and apparently they offer classes on screen printing, block printing, book binding and letterpress! I have always wanted to learn how to letterpress, but not sure if I could commit to a 10 week course!! She told me that you use authentic equipment and that's the reason for the class length - people used to apprentice for years to learn the craft. What's really good is that they offer studio time, so after you complete the course you can rent time to come in and create your own goods. Hmmm..... It sounds like so much fun!!! I might think about doing it in the fall, you know when time spent inside is a good thing!