Again with the lenses James! 


Yeah I’ll admit, my fascination with camera lenses is becoming unhealthy and troublesome. When I was all set to purchase this lense, I decided to hold off due to the quality of fixed focal length lenses and future proofing my purchases. See digital photography is still kinda expensive if you want high resolution images. And the lenses you buy now (say priced anywhere from $400 - $1000) might not be applicable to your next camera purchase. Here is a good reminder about this issue. They recommend purchasing (Canon) EF lenses as opposed to EF-S. But looking at the price difference it can be eye-opening. Then there are (Canon) terms such as USM (Ultra Sonic Motor), IS (Image Stabilisation) and finally the ‘L’ attached to specific lenses. ‘L’ lenses are very expensive (usually $1000 +) and are what the pros use. More on this information can be found on this great Canon article.

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Wednesday, May 31 2006
 
Photography
 

Lost Season 2 Finale (and other TV) 


The quality of TV is challenging cinema in a big way right now, especially from networks like HBO and ABC. High production values, excellent characters and brilliant story-arcs are making their presence known in a market flooded with cheap, reality-shows. And when Hollywood is pumping out crappier and crappier films each and every year, it’s good to know that there are forms of high-quality entertainment still out there to discover and enjoy. Whether that be on your loungeroom TV, downloaded through the Internet the very next day it has been broadcast or watching it on your iPod:

Lost (Season 2)
So ends another season of Lost. The double-episode finale was just as exciting as the season 1 finale and many secrets were revealed and new discoveries were reached. I don’t want to spoil the show for those who haven’t got this far but let’s just say we do find out why the plane crashed onto the island as well finding out a little more about characters we’ve been introduced to before on the show. Overall, this season has had it’s highlights but I preferred season 1 myself. Season 1 left us on an amazing cliffhanger. The season 2 finale wraps things up a little more but there is a coda that should bring about some interesting discussion. Season 3 kicks off in October.

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Saturday, May 27 2006
 
TV
 

Short Reviews #13 


The Da Vinci Code (2006)
starstarstar_halfstar_empty

Being the only soul on this earth NOT to have read the hugely successful novel and therefore give a book-to-film comparison piece of critique (you know you want it), I can give my two cents on the film itself. Hey at least you’ll get a fresh perspective right? :D In short, the movie is a clumsy mess with some flashy production design and camera work and one of the most boring Tom Skanks you’ll ever see on celluloid. There are times when Ron Howard steps up the suspense and maintains it for a while but anyone can figure out the twists and turns before there is any real payoff. So as a thriller, it’s mediocre but there are a few scenes of dialogue that raised my interest level a few times, especially when the Da Vinci Code itself is explained. The cast are functionary so there are no real performances that stick out although Paul Bettany’s character is definitely the most interesting. Kudos for casting Audrey Tautou and Jean Reno (two of my favourite French film stars) but even they couldn’t make much of the limiting material. Ron Howard recently defended the Cannes criticism, claiming the movie is primarily ‘a form of entertainment’ and if that is the case, you may finds bits and pieces here and there but ultimately, you’re going to walk away feeling like you’ve seen much better examples of the genre before.

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Sunday, May 21 2006
 
Film Review
 
Previous Ramblings