All Activity

ah .. Christmas... 4k!

Cats, squirrels and other critters will have to wait. Let's talk about using an unnecessarily shallow depth of field. Last night it was cold AF, especially by Vineyard standards. In spite of that, I picked one of my new lenses, bundled up and went downtown. Zero points for guessing which one I chose. As I have said repeatedly, the list of things that have encountered in my life that lived up to the hype were (in no order): Citizen Kane, Ardbeg Uigeadail, Biosphere's Substrata, Tapatio hot sauce and the Canon EF 85mm F/1.2L (II). I last shot with the 85L in 2009, when it was a relatively new lens. Also, when I was a young, spry man in his 30s who had no problem lugging around a glass boat anchor + camera body for hours on end. The 85L is so comically fat, it changes the entire shooting experience. The balance of the camera feels different. Every shot takes just a bit more effort. I actually find it easier to hold things steady for longer exposures than with some lighter lenses. Of course, the depth of field is (to use the technical term) non-fucking-existent. I'm not old. You're old. (This joke works a lot better on places that aren't Head-Case.) Shot wide-open because I can. Downtown EDG's Christmas decorations (which are so famous, people come from all over the world for the "Christmas in Edgartown" first lighting.) TBH this is not a terribly compelling shot. It does look a bit like a still from a movie. Same idea, reflected off a truck. There's no real artistry to the wafer thin DoF, but it looks neat. It actually takes a fair amount of work (and some luck) to use such a shallow plane of focus effectively. I actually really like these two. The ornaments are sufficiently in focus, and the background is a warm cozy dream. The way I describe the 85L's handling of OOF highlight is that it paints them. It looks like a less cloying version of a Hallmark card. That's about it from an hour's walk. My hit rate was abysmal. Not terrible surprising, as I was shooting in Program mode with auto ISO. The 5D kept the 85 at max aperture and 1/80th shutter speed, while it adjusted auto ISO on the fly. Most of the Christmas lights are LED, and strobe at 60Hz. This effect is noticeable to the naked eye and super obvious in photos. I have two shots of the same doorway where one strand is out and then other. It looks comically bad. Also, while the 85L's shallow DoF is amusing, it's not reliably useful. It turns out that having more than a paper sheet's worth of a frame in-focus is good idea. Who knew? If it's not so ball freezingly cold, I'm going to back out and shoot more lights. I won't lug the 85 again. 35 years ago I dislocated my left shoulder and it never healed correctly. It was in absolute agony by the end of last night. If I'm smart, I'll take my OG 50mm F/1.8 (arguably the best lens I own for actually taking photos and not dicking around.) The 17-40mm is also a great walkaround lens. Modern bodies have sufficient high ISO performance that it's F/4 aperture is not a problem. I also have a strong notion to make use of the 135 F/2L. It's not as over the top as the 85L (what is, this side of Leica?) but its optical qualities are legendary.

Has the metaxas & sins ethereal ever been discussed here?

Zwift supports motorcycles?

Quite a loss. Godspeed, Chris.... 2025 has been a rough one. HS

When it is cold and wet outside, Zwift is just the best. Also, good news. @MexicanDragon will be joining the HC-Zwifters soon!

Having started with an Mhdt Havana and progressed to and Orchid and then Orchid SE I was advised to look to check out higher resolution in light on upping my game with higher level Stax ear speakers and a Mjolnir KGST amp. I picked up a Denafrips Pontus 15 and there was possibly some improvement but no clear winner. Then I splurged and picked up a LTA Aero DAC. Not thinking of the money as I listen. I have them set up for switching and easy comparison and it's night and day. I briefly listen to the others and always go back to Aero. Very pleased.

As a friend once said, "With a voice like honey, poured over gravel". Or the M25's unofficial theme song RIP, Chris.

He'll be missed. Dancing With Strangers has a song called Joys of Christmas (with a B-side: Driving Home for Christmas). Listening to them now.

Yup - this for reasons.

Right now? The Road to Hell. In general? Lots and lots of Chris Rea. Tasty guitar playing, tasty guitar tone, tasty singing (Ohmigosh, that voice...), tasty songwriting. Just...tasty everything. Dude was peak.

😭 Fuck.

As if I needed more of a reason to like Cup Noodle.

RIP, Chris Rea.

It’s not a platinum Daytona, but I really like the Echo/Neutra Rivenera.

I read "Imbibing" "Spirit" and "Scramble"

Jon Caramanica, NYTimes Pop Critic, Best Album of 2025 1. Effie, ‘Pullup to Busan 4 More Hyper Summer It’s Gonna Be a Fuckin Movie’ The rising Korean hyperpop star Effie is a heretical innovator, and this six-song EP — her best music in a year of several releases — feels like a deeply logical eruption. Imbibing from the spirit of 100 gecs, the freedom of 2hollis, and the pop scramble that often defines the best K-pop (a scene Effie exists outside of), her approach adds up to the sound of right this second. And also, undoubtedly, of tomorrow. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/05/arts/music/best-albums-2025.html

There may have been rain and wind in Marin, but at least there was power, so Quite the performance

Ironically (?) on the day that Al was supposed to have Detroit-style pizza, that's what I made for dinner.

^^ I am not really sure what that just did to my brain...

Effie's pullup to busan 4 morE hypEr summEr it’s gonna be a fuckin moviE EP Full EP...

The XHalf isn't terrible. Would it have been a better shot on my iPhone? Technically, yes, most likely. But I enjoyed taking it with a camera. Framing is a little tough, as the viewfinder is rudimentary, but it reminds me a lot of my Rollei 35 in use.

At the United States Air Force Museum. I am going to need a faster computer, as the base M4 Mac Mini chugs on the files out of the GFX100RF.

RIP Joe Ely. Saw him at least a couple of times opening for the Kinks and the Clash and I'm guessing elsewhere as well. ☹️ https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2025-12-16/joe-ely-texas-country-rock-legend-collaborator-with-clash-bruce-springsteen-dead-at-78