Monday, May 30, 2011

{Self-Portrait Project} Curiosity

exposure: 1/60sec f/stop: 9 iso: 100

Hi everyone! Being a curious person with photography, I often find myself looking at other photographer's photo shoots and wonder, what setup did they use and how did come up with those ideas. I always get inspiration from those type of photographers that are willing to share their experiences and ideas. The ones that inspire me the most are Chase Jarvis, Brian Smith, Joe McNally and Dom Bower (just to name a few) who have taught me and many other photographers different but valuable lessons.

Since it was a rainy day, I had to change my original idea of an outdoor shoot and do a shoot in the studio. Here is the following setup:
- two flashes (HVL-F58AM and HVL-F42AM) in wireless
- blue gel on flash
- the orbis ring flash
- camera with 24-70mm lens attached

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

{Places} The Chocolate Room


Hello everyone!

If you feel like chocolate and everything chocolate related, take a visit to the Chocolate Room down at Sussex Street.

Chocolate Fondue 

   Twixie Milkshake

 This place was okay for a cafe. To be honest the ambiance wasn't that great and it was really quiet because they had no background music playing and it wasn't too busy. I just didn't feel too comfortable here compared to when I'm at Max Brennar. 

  Marshmallow and banana pancake

Belgian Hot Chocolate

The food was below average. The pancakes were burnt at the bottom and it tasted really salty for some reason. The fondue was good but the Chocolate Room ran out of strawberries and this was early during the day so I was a bit surprised about that and really unfortunate because I love strawberries with chocolate.

Belgian Hot Chocolate with Chocolate Fondue and Twixie Milkshake

Overall, this place didn't live up to the expectations that I initially had for it. The food was disappointing, the atmosphere was dead and the lighting didn't make the place feel like a nice and cozy place to enjoy your food. The best thing about the Chocolate Room was the Twixie milkshake.  

Monday, May 23, 2011

{Self-Portrait Project} Street Lights

exposure: 1/13sec f/stop: 2.8 iso: 800

Hi everyone! This is my new project, the self-portrait project. It's time for me to be in front of the camera, so you're going to see me a lot from now on. I'll be doing one every week on Monday for a year starting from today. The photo above was inspired by a Kanye West song, titled 'Street Lights'. People may interpret this song differently but I see it as a journey of experiences and obstacles that I face on the way to a certain destination in my life. I like this song because I feel like I can relate to it in my current situation. I want to be a professional photographer but I haven't reached that place in my life yet, although others are pushing me into different directions, I know I'll become a professional photographer someday.

Thursday, May 19, 2011

{Places} Sushi Hotaru

Hello everyone!

I'm a big fan of sushi trains and the wide selection of food they have to offer. I've been going to Sushi Hotaru which is at the Galleries Victoria quite a lot since it opened, usually after I visit Books of Kinokuniya upstairs. With the exception of only a few of their plates, all the sushi is $3 (not a bad price considering the other sushi trains I've been to).

Sushi chef blow torching Salmon

Grilled Salmon (Nigiri)

 Chicken Kushi Katsu

When you enter this sushi train, you're greeted by all the staff which is pretty nice. The atmosphere isn't too bad and the sushi is pretty decent as well. If the food that you're looking for isn't on the conveyer belt, you can make a special order to one of the staff and they’ll make it for you. Doesn’t take that long to make it either.

Grilled Scallops (Nigiri)

Salmon cream cheese roll

 Wagyu Beef (Hand Roll)

If you want a wide selection of great sushi at a good price, you'll want to visit this place. Their customer service is pretty good (compared to some other sushi trains that I’ve been to) and they’re in a convenient location in  the city. 

 Chicken Karaage

Takoyaki (octopus balls)

 
 Coral Island Drink



Tuesday, May 3, 2011

{Places} Adriano Zumbo Patissier


Hello everyone!

This is my first of many upcoming posts about places that I eat at amongst the other various things that I blog about such as photography in general, snapshots of events, photo shoots and a few other ideas that I have in mind. Being the first, I thought I'd mention a very popular place in Rozelle, Adriano Zumbo Patissier. If you've been here before, you would notice the awesome graffiti on the wall outside. It's a small place with limited seating but that isn't really a problem. The service is great, the food is well decorated and you even get to see the staff prepare the food through the glass windows. It's cool to watch if people decide to sit there.

 Angela Quiche

They have a range of cakes, tarts, pastry, loaves and quiche. I enjoyed their food and after going there a few times, I liked it even more. The cakes I tried tasted great and they were beautifully decorated.

  Hot Chocolate

The thing that this place is most famous for is their macarons. Its the best I've ever had and with a changing flavor menu every month, you won't ever get sick of what they have to offer. 

  Macarons
The blue macaron (smarties) was the best of the lot.

All in all, I think this place is well worth the travel if you have a craving for some macarons. It's not really a place for lounging about like Gloria Jeans and Starbucks but more of a walk in walk out sort of place. I did find it pretty cool that we could check out the chefs decorating and preparing the food. It may be a bit pricey for some but with all the prep that goes into it, I understand why its like this. This place gets my recommended rating of 3/5

Sunday, May 1, 2011

{Snapshots} Sydney Royal Easter Show 2011

Hi everyone!

I just wanted to share a few of the shots that I took from the Sydney Royal Easter Show. It's nothing fancy, just me, my camera and my tripod. Enjoy!

 exposure: 1/2500sec f/stop: 4.5 iso: 200

Ferris wheel during the day.
 
 exposure: 1/1600sec f/stop: 4.5 iso: 100

This ride is called the 'Skyflyer'. I love the silhouette in this.

 exposure: 1/100sec f/stop: 2.8 iso: 200

Little baby chicks crowded altogether. 

 exposure: 1/3200sec f/stop: 2.8 iso: 100

A man cow wearing pearls!

exposure: 1/30sec f/stop: 2.8 iso: 200

That'll do pig. Sleep now. 

 exposure: 1/60sec f/stop: 2.8 iso: 100 

A fashion show for wool.

 exposure: 1/1250sec f/stop: 4 iso: 100

Wood chopping event at one of the arenas.

 exposure: 1/1000sec f/stop: 2.8 iso: 100

Horse riding among other events at the main arena.

 exposure: 1/1250sec f/stop: 2.8 iso: 100
Five photo panorama in portrait
Click for larger photo

 exposure: 30sec f/stop: 32 iso: 100

One of the many rides that I took photos of. I did something similar last year but I never get tired of shots like this.

 exposure: 6sec f/stop: 25 iso: 100

Love the swirl of colors in this photo.

 exposure: 1sec f/stop: 5.6 iso: 100

Ferris wheel at night.

 exposure: 4secs f/stop: 9 iso: 100

My favorite time of the day during the Easter show. The fireworks! I had so many photos of this but I didn't want to upload a whole heap of firework photos so here's one that I'm happy with, exposure and composition wise.