Summer

Although this was shot last Spring, I'm looking forward to clear nights like this which aren't too common way up top. Curious to test this as a metallic print.

Canon 580EX I Repair

We all know how much our gear costs and some of us depend on it to make a living.

I broke my Canon 580EX I speedlite's foot one drunken night in NYC, with a small amount of cash and good old google, I was able to fix it in under 20 minutes.

This time around, I lost the locking pin and spring so I'm hoping this helps some people out there.

Here's a link to the parts for the flash:
http://www.strappe.com/pics/manuals/photography/Speedlite%20580EX.pdf

Here are the instructions I first used to fix it:
http://neilvn.com/tangents/2007/05/31/repairing-the-canon-580ex-hotshoe-foot/

Note, if you swap the sets of screws used to remove the foot and used to hold the small circuit board down, your flash may come apart at the foot as the screws are SLIGHTLY different in size yet still 'screw in'. This is actually how I lost the locking pin.

Dial direct: 732-521-7230
For the plastic foot, request part # CY2-1227-000

For other parts, refer to the pdf and find what you need.

Disclaimer, I take zero responsibility if you damage your flash. It's very simple but you can still screw things up royally. Make sure you remove the batteries before opening the flash up.

-ian

Tale as old as time...

The Diamond Edition is trippy! Some things are better left to low-res I suppose but still a classic Disney flick.


Ok ok ok, to be honest with all... I wanted to title this post 'Beauty and the Beast' but I guess this is close enough.

I've known David for about five years now and he's like an older brother and mentor to me; he somehow caught his Belle, Helen, and they are ready to tie the knot in the coming weeks!

We talked about doing an esess for so long and finally got around to scheduling it along the 1 near Half Moon Bay but I was up in the city (who would have guessed?) and the weather was absolutely perfect. I called the audible and met them up for a great evening of laughs and pictures (I hope). I struggled to prune my favorites down and still ended up with a lot.

Thanks for putting up with me while I shot the sunset and for the delicious dinner!

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Learning...

how to adapt and experiment with a technique all too common these days; it's fun being able to alter reality after the fact.

One random day, I decided to be an idiot and headed up to the cabin in Truckee. I arrived about 30 minutes before sundown and decided to stop by Donner lake to take some pictures. The 10+ foot tall snow walls didn't really click in mind at the moment, it was just nice getting some fresh air and enjoying the beauty of Northern California.

I sat there at the lake for about an hour before heading up to the cabin only to find it completely buried due to all the recent snowfall. The snow walls maxed out at around 20 feet with one car width of space plowed out for travel.

Well, I'm glad I went up and came back down without a single dose of traffic. Round-trip in less than 7 hours isn't too bad.

Enough blabbering, here's your treat(?):

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They grow too FAST!!!!

Eager

Shooting film takes patience, patience long lost since the digital age came upon us; technology is usually seen as a means to make communication (and maybe even life) easier.

From my first time setting eyes on electronic mail back 18 years ago to experiencing the ways I communicated with coworkers at the office via email and instant messenger.

We rarely look back at how we interacted with each other on a more personal level.

My parents now email asking me how I'm doing and what's wrong with their computers; they still call but I always seem to be busy (not screening their calls intentionally at all times!).

It never hurts to take a step back to where we came from and this holds true with our photographic roots.

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Timing is everything...

This saying can span MANY aspects of life, photography in particular... Here's a picture of my nieces at a family function having fun with beautiful fall leaves.