Look what came in the mail over the weekend?!?!!    That’s right!  It’s Jason Groupp’s “The Kick Ass Field Guide of Lighting Scenarios. IHNY Edition“.  He even signed it for me.  I am a little disappointed that he only wrote John and not John Lo.   HAHAHA!

Well it’s time to Kick some Ass with my Canon flashes.    If you haven’t watch his DVD “25 Kick Ass Lighting Scenarios“.   It’s a must and it will go very well with this Field Guide.

So Nikon announced a new DSLR yesterday, the Nikon D800.  WOW!  Holy Cow!  That is one bad ass still and video camera.  Just read some of the key features I listed below and you will know why.   I would LOVE to test this baby out.   So who’s buying it?   Price tag is under $3000.   Make sure you check out the video below.   Freakin AWESOME!!!

Key features include:

•     36.3-megapixel FX-format CMOS sensor
•     91,000-pixel RGB Matrix Metering System
•     Advanced scene recognition system
•     51-point AF system (15 cross-type sensors)
•     Full HD 1080p video, with full manual control and uncompressed HDMI output
•     Shooting in different aspect ratios (e.g., 5:4)
•     In-camera High Dynamic Range (HDR) image capture
•     3.2-inch, 921,000-dot LCD monitor with automatic brightness control
•     HDMI port (8 bit, 4:2:2)
•     Audio output level adjustment (30 steps)
•     High-fidelity audio recording control (levels set and monitored on LCD)
•     Stereo microphone jack
•     4 fps continuous shooting (6 fps in DX mode using the optional battery pack)
•     USB 3.0 support

After years of reading all the talking, complaining and countless rumors, Canon will be releasing a replacement to the Canon 24-70mm f2.8 L lense sometime in April 2012.   We all know the current price tag on the old version at about $1400.   I am hearing that the new version will be MSRP $2300.   That is insane!!!

Here’s some of the new features that I know of.

1) less heavier then the old version
2) filter size increase from 77mm to 82mm
3) fully extended to 70mm
4) NO Image Stabilization.

I personal do not see myself upgrading to the new version.   Mainly because I cant afford it.   I like my old 24-70mm.   Yes its a little on the heavy side.  I just need a reason to eat more and hit the gym.   If they have added the Image Stabilization, I would have consider.   But right now I just do not see myself making the upgrade. Especially not at that price tag. 

In additional to the new 24-70, Canon also announced two new Non-L Prime lenses, the 24mm f2.8 IS and 24mm f2.8 IS.  I always LOVE prime lenses.  Something about them that just make you go WOW.   Unfortunately I cant afford any of the L Prime lenses.  I have always like the 24mm range.  Maybe I might consider this new one.  I am hearing the price tag will be around $850 range.  Canon is claiming 4 stops on Image Stabilization.  That’s impressive if it is true.  I guess time will tell if any of these lenses are worth getting.    I love to hear your opinion.

You can read more from Canon Press Release here.

I love behind the scene pictures.  Not something you often seen on photographer’s blog, especially when they are using it to showcase their work to future brides.  Here’s one of me laying on the street in New Haven, CT creating one of my favorite shot of the day.

Thanks to my assistant, Bill for getting this of me.  And of course the image below is what I was creating on.

If you never seen the images from that day, you can check it out at Trashing the Dress | New Haven Green Connecticut | Yale University area.

I love taking self portrait photos.  Something I have been doing since I first started taking pictures when I was a young teen.   Here’s a self portrait I don’t often (or never) get to captured.   Three Generations and The Lo continues……..  (1929,  1969 and 2008)

Thank you!!!

This photo was taken with my Canon Powershot S95.  P Mode; RAW; flashed turned off.   I love this camera.

Spent our Sunday yesterday watching the Chinese New Year Parade in Chinatown.   Good Times!  If you haven’t read my post last week “Gung Hay Fat Choy | Year of the Dragon 2012“, come check it out.  Otherwise enjoy the slideshow.

I love looking for great deals online.   I don’t like to pay for something when I know I can get the same item or similar for 50% or more less of the cost.    When I purchased my first flat screen TV.  I needed a HDMI cable.   I didn’t want to pay $80 at BestBuy, so I search and search around online.   I got it for less then $5 and I’ve been using it since 2007 without any problem whatsoever.

Lately we’ve been doing video chat with my in laws using the Macbook.  Well more for my son, so he can chat and see his grandparents.  I decided I want to use our 42″ TV as a monitor instead of the Apple 13″ Macbook screen.   Apple appears to only carry the Mini-DV to DVI adapter and not the Mini-DV to HDMI adapter.  I do have a DVI to HDMI cable, but its being use on my HTPC.  I didn’t really want to pay $19.00 on an Apple product when I know I can get it cheaper and get what i really wanted, the Mini-DV to HDMI adapter.

Here’s what I got from Monoprice – Mini-DV to HDMI Adapter.   Its less then $5 and I already have a HDMI cable laying around the house.  Even if I did had to buy a HDMI cable at Monoprice, the total cost would have still been less then what I would be paying at Apple Store for the adapter.    So go check out Monoprice.com the next time you need a cable.

恭喜發財

Gung Hay Fat Choy

I love this time of the year.   Chinatown, Firecrackers, food, red envelop, lion dance.  It is the best celebration ever.   Sad, the celebration in New York City isn’t the same comparing to when I was growing up as a teen.  As much as I am afraid of  firecrackers.  I love watching it.  Walking down Mott Street felt like a war zone.   Too bad it is illegal to shot firecrackers in New York City now.   But at least the city does let the Chinese Community to have one firecracker celebration at one secured location with NYPD present.    I’ve never seen it.   So I cant really comment on it much.  I will say that its not the same.   I do not care what anyone tell you.  It will NEVER be the same.

The Chinese year 4710 begins today, January 23, 2012.  It is the Year of the Dragon.   Not just any dragon, it’s the Water Dragon.    Water calms the Dragon’s fire.  They are able to see things from other points of view. They don’t have the need to always be right. Their decisions, if well-researched, are usually better since they allow others to become involved.  So what does 2012 hold for a person born in the Chinese Year of the Dragon?  Such people double their efforts in whatever they do – work, education and other projects. Their natural talent and abilities should stand out with great results.  However, watch out for that temper! Keep it in check and do not spoil your good work.

Lunar New Year is the most important holiday for the Chinese.  This celebration last for 15 days. I remember when I was living in Hong Kong, everything (business & schools) are closed for two weeks.  I also remember my boss had to make a business phone call to Hong Kong, and learn that the office is closed for two weeks because of Lunar New Year.   Today I hear today they only closed for one week max.  Economy isn’t what it used to be anymore I’m guessing.

Last night, my family and I went over to my parents to celebrate our year-end meal.  It is our last meal together as a family before the new years begin.  It is also one of the most important dinner of the year.   Yes everyone is home for dinner.   It is a MUST.  No excuses!

What I do not do during Lunar New Year:

1. Wash my hair (on the 1st day only)
2. Curse
3. Be disrespectful

I’m sure I have more, but these are the one that I normally tried to do.

“Gung Hay Fat Choy” 恭喜發財 is what we say to others during Lunar New Year.  It does not mean “Happy New Year”.   “Gung Hay Fat Choy” means “Best wishes and Congratulations. Have a prosperous and good year”.   “Sun Nien Fai Lok” 新年快樂 means “Happy New Year”.    Because I’m Cantonese, so only know how to say it in Cantonese.  Mandarin is said differently.  Dylan know how to say it in Mandarin, but not in Cantonese.

Upcoming Sunday, in Chinatown (New York) there will be a Lunar New Year Celebration & Parade.    Come by and check it out if you are in town or in the area.

13th Annual Chinatown Lunar New Year Parade & Festival

Sunday, January 29 from 11:30 a.m. – 4 pm, parade starts at Canal Street South.  One of the biggest and most festive parade in all of New York City.  With crowds matching Time Square on New Year’s eve, Chinatown will be THE place to be on January 29th, 2012!  Don’t miss this unique and once a year only event, many Chinatown merchants will also be running various holiday promotions.

For more information, please visit Explore Chinatown NYC website.

On a different note, I think I’m gonna re-watch the movie called “Year of the Dragon“.  One of my good friend is in this movie.   For those who doesn’t know anything about New York City Chinatown during the 1980s, maybe you should watch this. HAHAHA.   It’s only a movie.  Nothing is true.

We got some snow today!   First snow day in 2012.  Not too much.  They said anywhere from 3 to 5 inches depending on where you live.    Took Dylan out for a snowy walk in Prospect Park this morning.  So pretty!!

New York City Blizzard 2010

Earlier last week, one of my hard drive on desktop that has Windows 7 Ultimate installed crashed.   For months I have been toying the idea of maybe upgrading my desktop, but really didnt want to spend the money I dont have. So when the hard drive crashed, I had to make a quick decision.  Getting an iMac was not even part of the equation. Instead of picking up a regular sata hard drive, I decided to get a Solid State Drive (aka SSD) .  I figured it will be somewhat of an upgrade.

Not knowing much or anything about which Solid State Drive was good to get.   I had to turn to the customers review in newegg and amazon.   Within minutes, I found the Sandisk Ultra SSD 120GB drive from Newegg.com for $130 which i ended up picking up.  Installing the drive was very easy to do, of course with the help of my son, Dylan it made picking up the screws off the floor after I drop them all much easier. 

Two things I have noticed so far after installing the windows 7.  The SSD is fast.  My boot up and shutdown time has cut down at least in half.   This hard drive is so quiet now.  I can actually think.  hahaha!   I havent run any software test.  I’m not into that.   But i will say what a huge different moving from sata hard drive to Solid State Drive.  Maybe my next upgrade will be another 4GB of RAM since I am currently only using 4GB.