The New Lens.

Remember about the drama over my new camera lens? Well I had the chance to use it while I was voluntold to accompany my parents down South. So while there, I took a TON of pictures. Most of the pictures came out crappy but a few came out pretty decent:

I took quite a few pictures when we went to Coca Cola World in Atlanta…

and while in Atlanta, when we visited the largest aquarium in the world…

It was beyond awesome, as well as beyond crowded, but I still love fishy!

And I can’t forget about family, friends, and family friends…

And (apologies to any vegetarians in advance) of a Barbecue…

…

And the results thereof…

I love my new lens

Have you ever cleaned out your camera and wondered What the —?

Yeah, me too.

Note: I am having some serious server issues today. And my host has been spectacular! NOT! Please bear with me while this matter is corrected.

Home sick…

When winter break and summer break rolls around, most college students go back to their hometown, filled with familiarity, filled with friends. I don’t. I never have. And sometimes I wonder if I ever will.

Two years ago on this very same day I started packing to move from a country that I like to call home.  Korea.

I found some old pictures of that day. Here is my life room being packed away. I am glad my parents decided to move to the US with me, but I’m sure they will be leaving to some other far off land soon enough.

I remember all the fun I had

All the friends I made

I found this old English project while rummaging through my things a few months ago. How awesome it was to grow up as an expat. How awesome it was to live in such a vibrant culture.

I’m not saying life isn’t great right now. It is!

It’s just that some days, I want to go home.

A Taste of Chicago

I didn’t think blue water existed above Florida. But Chicago has taught me otherwise. Apparently lake Michigan has some fine BLUE drinking water. Who would have known? (click on the pictures for a closer view)

Yup, I went to Chicago for my very first time, and it is a beautiful city!

With good pizza

With good food

And with beautiful architecture

I even got to see a line up of people auditioning for the show “Biggest Loser”. And no I’m not trying to be funny, I’m dead serious.

I love Chicago.

Even if I’m going to hell.

I am so dissappointed.

Remember when I talked about a lens that could go about producing this kind of bokeh image?

Well I ordered it thanks to everyone’s input! I ordered it 2 weeks and 2 days ago. It was shipped promptly and arrived in only 2 days, or exactly 2 weeks ago on my front porch.

Or so that’s what the United Parcel Service (UPS) says. I have not received the lens and I am leaving on Sunday to go out of state for 2 months (hmm do all these 2’s mean anything?). Meaning that by the time UPS investigates the claim and replaces or refunds my order, 7 to 10 business days will pass and I will have to wait 2 whole months to hold my precious baby.

UPS, UPS, UP freaking S, you have failed me.

Washington DC

From the lakes of Minnesota, to the hills of Tennessee,
across the plains of Texas, from sea to shining sea,

From Detroit down to Houston and New York to LA,
Well, there’s pride in every American heart,
and it’s time to stand and say

And I’m proud to be an American where as least I know I’m free.

And I won’t forget the men who died, who gave that right to me.

And I’d gladly stand up next to you and defend her still today

Cause there ain’t no doubt I love this land God bless the U.S.A.

Happy Memorial Day!

Bokeh and a Question

I’m really into photography. And I am crazy about bokeh. I purchased a Nikon D60 a few months ago but haven’t got a chance to use it like I would like. I have been eyeballing the 50mm f/1.8 lens from Nikon. It’s a great prime lense and does fantastic bokeh. Apparently the lense that comes with the camera doesn’t produce the bokeh I am looking for because of the lack of a low “1.8″ f-stop.  The lower the f-stop the better the bokeh (well not really since this isn’t the only factor…but i shan’t bore you).

In case you don’t know what bokeh it’s “The pleasing quality of the out of focus areas of an image, produced by the lens. Derived from the Japanese word for fool”

And just in case you didn’t know this is bokeh

This is bokeh

This is bokeh

I love bokeh.

Get it?

Should I buy the lense?

Cherry Blossoms Blooming in my area…

Fleeing fields of pink
Delicate Blossom Petals
Artistic wonder