I Want...

Hopefully I get myself a raise soon because this is in line to be purchase number 2 (following iPhone 4!).

This lens would be a HUGE help for my photography at Jazz at the Bistro. It is the perfect lens for low-light situations because of it's speed (large aperture=more light). It is equivalent to increasing the ISO by about 10 times with no increase in noise. I would finally be able to shoot at ISO 400 or so and still get well-lit photos. This lens is also considered to possibly be the best all-purpose lens available. Perfect for traveling, landscapes and portraits, as well as low-light.

Anyway, we'll see what happens, hopefully I will be able to purchase this soon, but at $450, who knows. (Currently accepting donations...)

Here are a couple of shots from the opening weekend at the Bistro with my not-so-perfect for low-light situations lenses.

This past weekend I went up to Pere Marquette State Park for a busted camping trip (a severe thunderstorm rolled in around 8:30 p.m.). Here are a couple of shots from a hike that was supposed to be about 3 1/4 miles, but turned into being more like 6 1/2....woops...






One of these coming posts I'll talk about HDR photography, something I'm looking into...

Welcome back!

New Post Coming Soon

I promise!

What do you think of the new look though?

My Oscar Predictions

Last year, I won Ben's Oscar contest with 21 out of 24 correct, this year, I'll be getting all 24! Here they are...enjoy the show!

Best Motion Picture of the Year

The Hurt Locker (2008): Kathryn Bigelow, Mark Boal, Nicolas Chartier, Greg Shapiro

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role

Jeff Bridges for Crazy Heart (2009)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role

Sandra Bullock for The Blind Side (2009)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role

Christoph Waltz for Inglourious Basterds (2009)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role

Mo'Nique for Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire (2009)

Best Achievement in Directing

Kathryn Bigelow for The Hurt Locker (2008)

Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen

Inglourious Basterds (2009): Quentin Tarantino

Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published

Up in the Air (2009/I): Jason Reitman, Sheldon Turner

Best Achievement in Cinematography

The Hurt Locker (2008): Barry Ackroyd

Best Achievement in Editing

The Hurt Locker (2008): Bob Murawski, Chris Innis

Best Achievement in Art Direction

Avatar (2009): Rick Carter, Robert Stromberg, Kim Sinclair

Best Achievement in Costume Design

The Young Victoria (2009): Sandy Powell

Best Achievement in Makeup

Star Trek (2009): Barney Burman, Mindy Hall, Joel Harlow

Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Score

Up (2009): Michael Giacchino

Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Song

Crazy Heart (2009): T-Bone Burnett, Ryan Bingham("The Weary Kind")

Best Achievement in Sound Mixing

The Hurt Locker (2008): Paul N.J. Ottosson, Ray Beckett

Best Achievement in Sound Editing

Avatar (2009): Christopher Boyes, Gwendolyn Yates Whittle

Best Achievement in Visual Effects

Avatar (2009): Joe Letteri, Stephen Rosenbaum, Richard Baneham, Andy Jones

Best Animated Feature Film of the Year

Up (2009): Pete Docter

Best Foreign Language Film of the Year

Das weisse Band - Eine deutsche Kindergeschichte (2009)(Germany)

Best Documentary, Features

The Cove (2009): Louie Psihoyos, Fisher Stevens

Best Documentary, Short Subjects

China's Unnatural Disaster: The Tears of Sichuan Province (2009) (TV): Jon Alpert, Matthew O'Neill

Best Short Film, Animated

Wallace and Gromit in 'A Matter of Loaf and Death' (2008) (TV): Nick Park

Best Short Film, Live Action

Kavi (2009): Gregg Helvey

Update

So it's been a month since my last post....big surprise huh? I need to get better about just doing shorter/quicker updates more often rather than saving a bunch of stuff for one big post once a month. Oh well. I'll try to keep this one shorter anyway. So if you haven't already heard, the bouldering competition went well last month. I ended up placing 4th in advanced, which means I reached my goal! I actually ended up being the top finisher from our gym in advanced, but that is because I really strong climber from our gym that would've beat me hurt his finger just 2 days before. But yeah, the 3 guys that beat me were from out of town. I ended up winning a new chalk bucket, so since my sister got me one for x-mas, means I have 2 now. Oh well, one for the gym, one for outside. The number of competitors was down a bit from last year, but it was still a fun time.

Last weekend I went to see the Mozart Requiem at the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. It was good, but I like Brahm's Requiem better. I might be going to see The Planets tonight, but we'll see. I am fortunate enough to be able to get in to the symphony for free pretty much any time I want, so I'm trying to start taking better advantage of that.

Last Sunday, I ended up going down to Jackson Falls to do a bit of bouldering. It was gorgeous weather! I ended up sending one of my long-standing projects, Wise Guys (V5). I also sent my first every V6, a problem called Burlier Problem (it starts in the same place as another problem called Girlier Problem, which is a V3). It is only about 3 moves long, but, as the name suggests, it's pretty burly. Needless to say, I was pretty darn excited after that. I've been trying to get a V6 for quite some time now. Next up: V7....hopefully sooner rather than later.

The weather is finally starting to improve around here after 2 solid months of clouds and rain. I'm going to try to go bouldering at The Graveyard on Sunday, but they are calling for a possibility of scattered showers, so we'll see if I get to go. If so, I'm really hoping to send Bug Eyes (V5), RIP (V6), and check out a new climb that's in the V7 range. There are also a couple of V4s I will hopefully be able to do. Cross your fingers for now rain down here on Sunday!

Today however, is supposed to be AWESOME weather, so I'm planning on taking advantage of it in the form of LOTS of slacklining. I've got get my chops back up and start polishing some tricks!

Anyway, that's about it for now. Like I said, I'll try to be more consistent...hopefully I'll have some good news to report after this weekend! I hope everyone is well....have a great one!