f1.4

f1.4, originally uploaded by billaday.

I got a new lens! It's the Nikon 50mm f1.4. I love the shallow depth of field. There will be many more DoF shots in the next month (year!?) to come. It turns out that getting stuff in focus is really hard with this lens. I have a few shots of faces where the eyes are (slightly) blurry, but the bangs are in focus. Crazy.

Year 3, Day 31

Greg Laswell

Greg Laswell, originally uploaded by billaday.

We went to see Greg Laswell last night at Hotel Café. He was great, and his guitarist Brandon had amazing tones on his electric. Dude. I read an article a while back where Greg talked about the Apogee Duet, a killer audio interface for the computer.

btw, this shot is a 4 second exposure. You can see his face at the top of the purpleness if you view large.

Year 3, Day 30

floored

floored, originally uploaded by billaday.

Little molecules dancing on the bathroom floor.

Year 3, Day 29

headbanger

headbanger, originally uploaded by billaday.

Everet put a bowl on his head and played some beats for us. The kid loves drums, and loves banging on stuff. Good times.

Year 3, Day 28

Emergency box

Emergency box, originally uploaded by billaday.

I always feel safer having these emergency boxes around college campuses, but then I get to thinking. Is this 20 year old box really gonna save my life? What if someone attacks me and I'm not right next to it? (Of course, I'm awesome, so I'd demolish them (but not really), but that's not really the point here.) And even if I am right next to this box from the 80's, could I push it in time to be saved? And would it even work? And assuming all that, how intimidating is the local campus police?

Year 3, Day 27

Your function

Your function, originally uploaded by billaday.

The new MacBook Pro keyboard is so beautiful. How can you not want one of these? I have a theory--if you start writing a book using this keyboard, the book will inevitably be awesome.

I don't do this often, but you must view this on black.

Year 3, Day 26

knit

knit, originally uploaded by billaday.

Isabelle is sewing a scarf... knitting? Crocheting? Croqeting?

Year 3, Day 25

the red brick road to the ocean

the red brick road to the ocean, originally uploaded by billaday.

Isabelle and I love to go to Santa Monica. Whenever we go, I drag her to see the ocean (and away from the stores) to take pictures. This is just below 3rd street, and leads to the ocean.

Year 3, Day 24

twist cap

twist cap, originally uploaded by billaday.

I thought of giving up soda in 2009, but I just like it too much.

Year 3, Day 23

Good Fortune

Good Fortune, originally uploaded by billaday.

May the new year bring you good fortune.

Cheesy, yes. True, also yes.

Year 3, Day 22

Daily Subs Lease

Daily Subs Lease, originally uploaded by billaday.

Seriously?

This is the funniest sign I've seen in a long time. If I wanted a submarine sandwich, I'd just buy one...

Year 3, Day 21

Puma

Puma, originally uploaded by billaday.

Wayne got a new lens for Christmas--Nikon 50mm 1.8. I have extreme lens envy. I will get one soon. Love the shallow depth of field.

Year 3, Day 20

Basement

Basement, originally uploaded by billaday.

We went to my great aunt's house for dinner. She gave Isabelle some "wonderful" earrings, which Isabelle graciously wore. Here's Isabelle coming up from the super cool basement.

Year 3, Day 19

Jason the Chef

Jason the Chef, originally uploaded by billaday.

We went to a New Year's Eve Eve Eve Eve Party. Jason is a great chef. He made fancy stuff, and it was delicious. That's him running in the kitchen (notice the blur) preparing beverages.

Year 3, Day 18

Emerald Bowl

Emerald Bowl, originally uploaded by billaday.

Bowl season has begun. For the Emerald Bowl, we went to Isabelle's aunt's house to watch her cousin play in the game. She plays trumpet, not football. This photo shows what was atop the tv--it's the exact logo of the bowl game.

Year 3, Day 17

Emerald Bowl

Emerald Bowl, originally uploaded by billaday.

Bowl season has begun. For the Emerald Bowl, we went to Isabelle's aunt's house to watch her cousin play in the game. She plays trumpet, not football. This photo shows what was atop the tv--it's the exact logo of the bowl game.

Year 3, Day 17

blue glow

blue glow, originally uploaded by billaday.

Santa brought our family a Wii Fit. It is a lot of fun, and a lot of exercise.

If you nothing about the Wii Fit, Nintendo believes that... "Wii Fit combines fun and fitness in one product. It can change how you exercise, how you balance, and even how you move. How will it move you?"

It moves me to have more fun.

Year 3, Day 16

Three pointer

Three pointer, originally uploaded by billaday.

For better or worse, I agreed to go see the Lakers with Wayne. I was excited to go, but also really wanted to spend time with the family. Since this was a rare opportunity, and I've always wanted to see a Lakers/Celtics game, I went.

Staples Center Photography Rules: You can't bring a camera with lens larger the 3.5 inches. My dSLR's lens is longer. So, all my shots were with my point-and-shoot. No dramatic action shots here, but I did get a great shot of Kobe Bryant making a three pointer... with the rest of the players also in the shot.

Year 3, Day 15

Isabelle meets Ryan

Isabelle meets Ryan, originally uploaded by billaday.

Michelle & Danny finally had a boy. After nine months, Ryan is alive and well. Here's Isabelle meeting him.

Processing note: hospital light is pretty bad, and I didn't want to use a flash (since Ryan was just one day old). To solve this, I used Exposure (Photoshop plug-in made by Alien Skin) and applied a sepia mid-band split. It give you lots of control over highlights, shadows, and intensity of sepia-ness. Without these tweaks, I would have tossed this shot (even though it captures an important moment). But now I love it.

Year 3, Day 14

get your gift receipts ready

get your gift receipts ready, originally uploaded by billaday.

My wife did nearly all our Christmas shopping. For that, she rocks. Thanks. And save those gift receipts. Nobody wants two copies of Tiger Woods PGA Golf '09.


Year 3, Day 13