The GF1 & I

The GF1 & I
Originally uploaded by jomak14

A ubiquitous and clichéd self-portrait with a camera. Have a great weekend, folks!

Photex 80mm f/2.8 S&T lens on a GF-1
[ 0.067 sec (1/15) | f/2.8 | FLength 80 mm | ISO 200 | Manual exposure ]

Fairmount Water Works Gazebo, Tilted & Shifted

Fairmount Water Works Gazebo, Tilted & Shited
Originally uploaded by jomak14

The gazebo at the Fairmount Water Works, Fairmount Park, Philadelphia, PA.

Photex 80mm f/2.8 S&T lens on a GF-1
[ 1/5000 sec | f/2.8 | FLength 80 mm | ISO 100 | Manual exposure ]

Big Belly

Big Belly
Originally uploaded by jomak14

A solar-powered trash compactor as seen near the corner of Arch & 17th St., Philadelphia, PA.

Philly is not the only city with a Big Belly – the machines are also popping up in Drexel University, University of Pennsylvania, Chicago’s Millenium Park and Boston’s Fenway Park.

Photex 80mm f/2.8 S&T Lens on a 1Ds
[ 0.001 sec (1/1600) | f/2.8 | FLength 80 mm | ISO 100 | Manual exposure ]

At Your Convenience

At Your Convenience
Originally uploaded by jomak14

The friendly neighborhood convenience store has everything you need to start off the morning right. As seen near the corner of 17th and Arch St., Philadelphia, PA.

Photex 80mm f/2.8 S&T lens on a 1Ds
[ Exposure 0.003 sec (1/400) | f/2.8 | FLength 80 mm | ISO 400 | Manual exposure | +1½ stops in post ]

Morning Commute on #227

Morning Commute on #227
Originally uploaded by jomak14

SEPTA's outbound train to Warminster at Willow Grove, PA.

Photex 80mm f/2.8 S&T Lens on a 1Ds
[ 0.025 sec (1/40) | f/2.8 | FLength 80 mm | ISO 100 | Manual exposure ]

The Colors of Spring

The Colors of Spring
Originally uploaded by jomak14

Another backyard 'early bloomer' is the crocus! Welcome, Spring! It's about time!

Cosina 55mm f/1.2 + a reverse-mounted Pentax-M 50mm f/2 @ f/5.6 on a 30D
[ 0.033 sec (1/30) | f/1.2 | FLength 55 mm | ISO 400 | Manual exposure ]

Slow Work Day

Slow Work Day
Originally uploaded by jomak14

Fridays are usually relaxed and laid-back. It's when unused vacation days are scheduled to create a 3-day weekend. Some may be nursing 'St. Patrick's Day-induced' hang-overs. And the 80ºF Philly weather was too good to pass off! Oh, well, at least I got my 3-mile run plus a 40-min Spin class done over lunch. And still got to leave early!

Have a great weekend, friends!

Photex 80mm f/2.8 S&T lens on a 1Ds
[ 0.003 sec (1/320) | f/2.8 | FLength 80 mm | ISO 100 | Manual exposure ]

Bask In The Sunlight

Bask In The Sunlight
Originally uploaded by jomak14

Have a seat and enjoy the sunshine! Here's to a great Friday, folks!

Photex 80mm f/2.8 S&T Lens on a 1Ds
[ 1/3200 sec | f/2.8 | FLength 80 mm | ISO 100 | Manual exposure ]

Organized Chaos

Organized Chaos
Originally uploaded by jomak14

Exiting multi-level parking garages during events like the recently concluded Philadelphia Auto Show require patience and a cool disposition. It took me over an hour just to get to street-level!

Minolta Rokkor 58mm f/1.2 on a 30D
[ 0.002 sec (1/500) | f/1.2 | FLength 58 mm | ISO 800 | +1/3 EV ]

One Shy of A Half-Century

I turned another year older on Monday, one shy of a half-century! The Boss broiled New York strip steaks and cooked spaghetti with meat sauce for dinner. We uncorked a bottle of Shiraz that complemented the read meat and pasta very well. For dessert, we had a decadent turtle cake, which turned out to be too small to hold all the candles.  So we limited the candles to twelve lest we start a fire in the house! Cheers!

Lens Serial #08885

Lens Serial #08885
Originally uploaded by jomak14

The Photex 80mm f/2.8 lens in EOS-mount.

EF 135mm f/2 L on a 1Ds
[ 0.01 sec (1/100) | f/2.0 | Focal Length 135 mm | ISO 100 | Manual exposure | Off-camera strobe ]

Strobist info: a bare Speedlite 580EX hand-held overhead, at camera left, triggered by an ST-E2.

Please Take My Picture!

Put Me on Flickr, Please!
Originally uploaded by jomak14

This is Missy, a 2-year old Jack Russell terrier. Her 'human' is our best friend, Mary Anne. Who could resist that cute face?!?

Shadowman Rides Again

This morning was perfect for a bike ride. It was 48°F and blustery when I started out at 9:00 AM. And it sure felt great to be outside again!  My ride took me from Willow Grove to Doylestown and back, a total of 36 miles. Sure beats riding the trainer and watching Spinerval videos!

An FB friend uses RunKeeper to log his run workouts. I gave it a try, too. After three months of use, I can say with confidence, I no longer look like my profile photo on that site!

You can download the RunKeeper app for your iPhone or Android device here.

Play For Drinks?

Play For Drinks?
Originally uploaded by jomak14

"Now chalk-up and let's see you break up that cluster there!"

Photex 80mm f/2.8 S&T lens on a 1Ds
[ 0.05 sec (1/20) | f/2.8 | FLength 80 mm | ISO 400 | Manual exposure ]

A Rainy Night At The Bus Stop

A Rainy Night At The Bus Stop
Originally uploaded by jomak14

Still learning how to use this tilt-shift lens effectively.

Photex 80mm f/2.8 S&T Lens on a 1Ds
[ 0.05 sec (1/20) | f/2.8 | FLength 80 mm | ISO 800 | Manual exposure ]

The 1Ds & The Tilt-shift Lens

The 1Ds & The Tilt-shift Lens
Originally uploaded by jomak14

'Bokeh-fying' the Russian-made tilt-shift lens.

EF 135mm f/2 L on a 1D
[ 0.01 sec (1/100) | f/2.8 | Focal Length 135 mm | ISO 200 | Manual exposure | Off-camera strobe ]

Mesmerizing Highlights

Mesmerizing Highlights
Originally uploaded by jomak14

A crumpled piece of aluminum foil and two multi-colored LED lights were used to create the background highlights.

Nikkor 50mm f/1.2 Ai-S on a 1Ds
[ 0.02 sec (1/50) | f/1.2 | FLength 50 mm | ISO 100 | Manual exposure | Off-camera strobe ]

Strobist info: a bare Speedlite 580EX on the floor at camera right, triggered by an ST-E2.

Double-decker Parking

Double-decker Parking
Originally uploaded by jomak14

Valet service had difficulty maneuvering the cars into the 'double-decker' parking facility at the recently concluded auto show. The place was packed to the brim as you can see here!

Make your own fake tiltshift image at tiltshiftmaker.com.

Tokina 27-70mm f/2.8 ATX-PRO SV
[ 0.003 sec (1/400) | f/2.8 | FLength 70 mm | ISO 800 | -2/3 EV ]

Being Eleven

The best thing about turning a year older on a Friday is you get to celebrate on your actual birthday and let it spill over into the weekend.

Before heading off to school, we made a stop at the local doughnut shop to buy some goodies to share with her class.

Her godmother sent this birthday card in the mail. It also included a bracelet depicting the life of Jesus Christ in a succession of beads & charms.

There were only two items on her 'wish list', one of which is this doll that we got at a large-box store.

*Update: Mom got her a radio with a CD player.

Her closest friends arrived with pillows & sleeping bags in tow. And they spent a few minutes goofing around while opening her presents.

Then off we went for some ice skating fun! Did I mention it was cold there? Well, it was FREEZING cold!!! Free-skate time ended at 10:15 PM. But not before meeting another friend at the rink. The girls had lots of fun. And the 'thumbs-up' says it all!

She got an overseas phone call from an aunt in the Philippines while her friends were posing for the shot.










We had to make do with whatever candles were readily available. Hence, the skull & tea light! Home-baked brownies and chips kept them up until 4:00 AM.  She needed as much sleep as she could get! Saturday was a big day for her!




A 2-mile run at 12:00 PM and a sparring day at Karate Class were still on her schedule.  Here she is at the start/finish of her 2-mile run. Then Karate class at 12:45 PM.   An awesome first day at being eleven it was indeed!

They Grow Up Too Fast!

They Grow Up Too Fast!
Originally uploaded by jomak14

She turns eleven today. Happy Birthday, Mariel!

EF 85mm f/1.8 II USM on a 1D
[ 0.008 sec (1/125) | f/1.8 | FLength 85 mm | ISO 400 | Manual exposure ]