Back to kung-fu!

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An exploded quad and bruised knee sidelined me from my shaolin kung-fu class this last month. I was miserable about missing class, but I am back and therefore, happy. If everything in life were so easy.

I eased back into working on my latest form, the elementary dao shu (broad sword.) The video above is some wushu wunderkind’s version of it. To imagine my rendition, slow the video above down to about half the speed and watch it over a slow internet connection that pauses the movements at inappropriate places.

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Sample shots: Nikkor 35mm, f/1.8

≡ Category: Gear and tech, Photography, Semi-daily thoughts | ≅ Comments Off

I noticed that my lens quandary post generates the most traffic here. Something like oh…2 visits a day. Hey, I’m proud of Lunamania’s “exclusive” following.

Anyhow, I thought I’d link to the long promised “sample shots” from the Nikon 35mm, f/1.8 lens.

In my humble experience, this lens works as advertised: fast, warm, light and captures well in low light and indoor settings.

A fixed focal length/prime lens demands nominal physical movement: moving in and out, round and about, up and down to capture optimal light and perspective on a subject. It’s occasionally frustrating, but mostly a rewarding challenge. Since it’s no fun to ask your friends and family to freeze indefinitely as you twiddle with manual settings, until you figure things out, I do suggest carrying back-up point and shoot to capture quick Must-Have moments.

As for the much anticipated focal length/”cool depth of field”/bokeh factor of this lens, it’s good times all the way. The lens delivers on shallow DOF for portraits and street shots. That said, methinks f/1.8 is too shallow for portraits and most landscape/cityscape pictures, but nice for macro-esque shots. The sweet spot is a slightly bigger aperture and of course, a subject willing to hold a smile or suspend blur inducing motions.

I was too cheap to shoot with anything other than the stock Nikon D70 DSLR lens for nearly 6 years and invested in a 18mm-250mmlens about 2.5 years ago. If the Older and Wiser Lunamania could say one thing it’d be…frakkin’ drop the ~$200 for this lens.

I’m curious to know if others have found the tones to lean a bit towards the warm side? The orange and red tones in tungsten light are quite saturated. Then again, that could be about the processor/camera?

As always, I recommend photo gear purchases from reliable vendors like: B&H and Adorama.

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Researchers Explore Mental Health Benefits of Video Games

≡ Category: Gear and tech, Semi-daily thoughts | ≅ Comments Off


Certain games allow people to fall into a rhythm where they can play without either effort or boredom. Russoniello said some games seem to activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which can reduce the heightened tension that is a natural response to stress.

Methinks the universe demands I get the new PS3 slim.

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