I am proud to say that for the first time, I don't have "quit smoking" on top of my list. I also like to post my resolutions on a blog, so I can come back and see it from time to time. Anyways, here we go again:
Goals for 2010:
1. Walk three miles right after I wake up.
2. Wake up at 5.
3. Plan my day as I walk, jot it down on a planner, and utilize it everyday.
4. Limit internet usage to hour a day, unless there's something super important. (watching 1박2일 or snsd does not count as super important). Sunday is a cheat day.
5. Read a book a week, like I used to.
6. Exercise one more time before going to sleep.
7. Study a language, hour a day.
8. One fast food a month, and get down to 145 pounds, which is my medically recommended ideal body weight.
9. Don't be a jackass. Be more caring/attentive and make people around you feel more special.
10. Print this out and post it on my wall.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
What I do to my pictures
I think it was elizabeth who asked, "why do you edit your pictures?" I just answered, "er... because they look better," or something, but obviously, that answer didn't answer any questions. I actually get this question asked quite often in various forms (how do you photoshop your pictures? what do you do when you edit your pictures?), and I think it would be better to explain with pictures rather than words.
First of all, let's see what professional photographers, or er... graphic designers do:
(Kiera Knightly poster for the movie King Arthur)
this is actually a quite infamous picture of kiera knightly, whom I think is stunningly gorgeous. can you tell the differences between the two pictures? Okay, the right picture has much more vibrant color, they added stuff on the background, they drew in some stuff on her face and arms to maker her look more "barbaric," and of course... they made her boobs bigger and her lips thicker.
There are about gazillion other edits, but I don't want to dive into ethics of photoshopping commercial photographs. Let me just say I feel sorry for modern teenage girls. Even if you know the image has been digitally edited, you can't help but to want it - like those pictures on fast food menues - you know it's not gonna be as good when you buy it but you still want it anyway.
Moving on, do I or have I made anyone's boobs bigger? sorry(?), no. I pretty much do two things to all of my pictures, and that is adjusting the tone curve, and touching up color. Adjusting the tone curve in plain English means I'm making certain parts of a picture either brighter or darker. And I only play around with color may be 15% of the time.
this is the original picture
the bottom picture is the final edit
See how the sky is slightly darker on the edited one? The original looked too fake, so i decided to darken the sky.
Here's a case of a picture that was HEAVILY edited, by my standards:
The final products look quite different right? Especially the color. This is as bad as it gets. I screwed up a bit the first time - I made the picture look too cold when it should've been warm. So I fixed my mistake and added some contrast to make the picture more clear.
And a lot of the times, I don't edit the pictures at all. Sometimes because I don't need to, other times because I'm lazy:
(They don't look too bad right? Honestly, I don't see the need to photoshop any of these images)
I'd just like to say that I don't think there's anything wrong with adjusting the brightness/darkness of a picture or playing around with the colors a bit, unless you change red into green or something. But making someone's breasts bigger and legs longer? In my opinion, that is when the image becomes a graphic design, and no longer a photograph.
First of all, let's see what professional photographers, or er... graphic designers do:
(Kiera Knightly poster for the movie King Arthur)
this is actually a quite infamous picture of kiera knightly, whom I think is stunningly gorgeous. can you tell the differences between the two pictures? Okay, the right picture has much more vibrant color, they added stuff on the background, they drew in some stuff on her face and arms to maker her look more "barbaric," and of course... they made her boobs bigger and her lips thicker.
There are about gazillion other edits, but I don't want to dive into ethics of photoshopping commercial photographs. Let me just say I feel sorry for modern teenage girls. Even if you know the image has been digitally edited, you can't help but to want it - like those pictures on fast food menues - you know it's not gonna be as good when you buy it but you still want it anyway.
Moving on, do I or have I made anyone's boobs bigger? sorry(?), no. I pretty much do two things to all of my pictures, and that is adjusting the tone curve, and touching up color. Adjusting the tone curve in plain English means I'm making certain parts of a picture either brighter or darker. And I only play around with color may be 15% of the time.
this is the original picture
the bottom picture is the final edit
See how the sky is slightly darker on the edited one? The original looked too fake, so i decided to darken the sky.
Here's a case of a picture that was HEAVILY edited, by my standards:
The final products look quite different right? Especially the color. This is as bad as it gets. I screwed up a bit the first time - I made the picture look too cold when it should've been warm. So I fixed my mistake and added some contrast to make the picture more clear.
And a lot of the times, I don't edit the pictures at all. Sometimes because I don't need to, other times because I'm lazy:
(They don't look too bad right? Honestly, I don't see the need to photoshop any of these images)
I'd just like to say that I don't think there's anything wrong with adjusting the brightness/darkness of a picture or playing around with the colors a bit, unless you change red into green or something. But making someone's breasts bigger and legs longer? In my opinion, that is when the image becomes a graphic design, and no longer a photograph.
Friday, December 25, 2009
my resolution didn't last a day
so I lied. It's 12pm. I've been awake for 3~4 hours, and I'm already bored to death. I think I might go out and take pictures again. If anyone wants to join me, gimme a call.
...
Los Angeles was founded in 1781 (5 years after declaration of independence & the publication of Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith) by Spanish settlers, and if you recall your history books, California became an official state in 1850. I'm sure most of you also remember the Mexican-American War of 1846 and the fact that California and many other states used to belong to Mexico, not USA. And as you can tell, distinct traces of Mexico can still be found in this state.
why should you care about boring history? Because you are about to see the photos of Olvera street and Avila Adobe (the oldest existing house in Los Angeles). Formerly known as the wine street, Olvera street is still romanticized as the heart of city of angels during the Mexican Rule.
The street is actually really small, and it's basically a mexican market place. The food is pretty good, but not fantastic.
the area around Olvera Street
...
...
...
so is this place worth visiting? hardly, haha. if you're at Chinatown, you might consider visiting this place, but there's really nothing to do here. Avila Adobe takes about 2 minutes to tour (it's free), and there's really nothing much to buy so... yeah I wouldn't recommend it.
...
Los Angeles was founded in 1781 (5 years after declaration of independence & the publication of Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith) by Spanish settlers, and if you recall your history books, California became an official state in 1850. I'm sure most of you also remember the Mexican-American War of 1846 and the fact that California and many other states used to belong to Mexico, not USA. And as you can tell, distinct traces of Mexico can still be found in this state.
why should you care about boring history? Because you are about to see the photos of Olvera street and Avila Adobe (the oldest existing house in Los Angeles). Formerly known as the wine street, Olvera street is still romanticized as the heart of city of angels during the Mexican Rule.
The street is actually really small, and it's basically a mexican market place. The food is pretty good, but not fantastic.
the area around Olvera Street
...
...
...
so is this place worth visiting? hardly, haha. if you're at Chinatown, you might consider visiting this place, but there's really nothing to do here. Avila Adobe takes about 2 minutes to tour (it's free), and there's really nothing much to buy so... yeah I wouldn't recommend it.
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Merry Christmas folks.
I don't know since when, but Christmas is no different from any other days in my life. I'm a bit lonelier, and my wallet a bit thinner, but that's pretty much it.
I took some pictures at LA today. Yes, I was at LA taking pictures by myself on Christmas eve. Is that depressing? I wasn't getting many phone calls, so I just decided to do something I love to do.
I don't know if I should publish the rest. It's good to have some unshared photos so I always have something to post. Heck, one more since they're related.
I took some pictures at LA today. Yes, I was at LA taking pictures by myself on Christmas eve. Is that depressing? I wasn't getting many phone calls, so I just decided to do something I love to do.
I don't know if I should publish the rest. It's good to have some unshared photos so I always have something to post. Heck, one more since they're related.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Christmas service
Here we go - but I feel like expectations are too high these days ㅠ.ㅠ
Some of the pictures are not edited. I got really lazy after a while. Anyways,
These are the hands
... that allow worship to take place
Congratulations Kevin Lee
... for being one of the most photogenic people I know. hahah and for your baptism of course.
Interesting viewpoint.
all things are bowing down to baby Jesus
This sums up our worship time. Everyone is a spectator (minus praise team).
This is a picture of red.
snapshot.
I love Kevin & Elizabeth's parents.
Some of the pictures are not edited. I got really lazy after a while. Anyways,
These are the hands
... that allow worship to take place
Congratulations Kevin Lee
... for being one of the most photogenic people I know. hahah and for your baptism of course.
Interesting viewpoint.
all things are bowing down to baby Jesus
This sums up our worship time. Everyone is a spectator (minus praise team).
This is a picture of red.
snapshot.
I love Kevin & Elizabeth's parents.
Downtown LA shots
I went to downtown LA today. Here are the results:
If you're friends with me on facebook, compare the two pictures. Doesn't this look about gazillion times better? I hate posting pictures on facebook.
all christmas trees need a star
self portrait
I think the above picture is definitely one of my better works.
tell me what you think!
*edit - Here's one more:
If you're friends with me on facebook, compare the two pictures. Doesn't this look about gazillion times better? I hate posting pictures on facebook.
all christmas trees need a star
self portrait
I think the above picture is definitely one of my better works.
tell me what you think!
*edit - Here's one more:
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