Upcoming Trip: Bigheadtaco Back in Tokyo!

Checking out apartments in Tokyo with my wife. Taken in 2010 with Panasonic LX-3. 1/320th sec F/2.8 @ ISO125 24mm wide equiv. Scene Mode: Pinhole

It's been a while since I've been in Tokyo. Between 2008 and 2010, I had been back to Japan 7 times: for vacation, for work, for family obligations. But since 2010, I haven't been back, again for different reasons and obligations. An opportunity has recently come up where I'll be 'stuck' in Tokyo for a few weeks, so I thought I would make the best of it. With my wife tagging along to keep an eye on me, I think I'll have a few moments a day to take pictures.

What cameras am I going to bring with me? I haven't decided yet, but I'm going to see if some of my contacts will loan me a camera for a month so I could do an in-depth review in Tokyo...my dream? Leica M Monochrom with a 28mm. Or how about a Fuji X-Pro 1 with the 14mm? Ricoh GR? I'll let you know once I figure out what I'm going to bring, or what I can borrow for the trip. One thing is for sure, I'm not dragging my DSLR kit. More on this point later. For now, let's just say I wanna travel light and compact. 

More information coming up in a few days. I'll be finished my Fuji X-20 vs Ricoh GRD4 soon, and also my Leica M Type 240 with Minolta M Rokkor lenses review. Keep checking back for more pictures and reviews. Thanks for viewing.

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Wife, Leica X Vario, Fuji X-100S, Ricoh GR

Taken with Ricoh GR D IV @ ISO 80 1/68th sec F/1.9

My wife dropped me off DT today so I can finish my quick review of the Leica X Vario. As a thank-you, I took her out for breakfast at my favorite Acme Cafe. While waiting for our food to arrive, I decided to start setting up the 3 cameras for testing: Leica X-Vario, Fuji X-100S, Ricoh GR (V). Don't forget the camera in my hand that took this picture as well, the Ricoh GR D IV. This is exactly how our table looked before the food arrived. My wife is very understanding. Thanks babe. I still have the Fuji and the Ricoh for a couple of weeks, so this was a good-bye breakfast for the Leica. 

Below I've attached an image I took of my wife with the X VARIO before the food arrived. I shot it at full zoom 70mm, and as you can see, it makes a nice portrait. Even with this reduced image size, you can tell it's a sharp, sharp lens, and I love the Leica colours. Very nice indeed. 

Thanks to Eric Kerwin of Leica Canada for lending me the camera even before he could play with it himself. Hopefully I can have it back for one more week sometime in the future...

Check out my full review of the Leica X Vario here.

Check out my review of the Ricoh GR here.

Check out my review of the Fuji X-100S here.

Taken with Leica X VARIO @ ISO 800  1/250th sec F/6.4 at 70mm equiv

An Impromptu Portrait with Leica X Vario

Leica X Vario @ ISO 1600 1/80th sec F/3.5 at 28mm equiv

This morning as we were getting ready to go out, I thought I would do a quick Bokeh test with the Leica X Vario on my wife. Shot at 28mm equiv wide and F/3.5, I thought the Leica did really well. The sharpness of the lens is amazing wide open, and the background blur is just right. I'll perform a proper Bokeh test outdoors soon, but enjoy this one for now. I only have the camera for a few more days so I better get shooting! Full review coming soon.

Check out my full review of the Leica X Vario here.

Check out my street pics with the Leica X Vario here.

P.S. this image was cropped to a 21:9 aspect ratio to focus on my wife and the background, not the foreground clutter of our kitchen table. This gives you a good idea of the Bokeh at wide open. I can't wait to see what it will look like zoomed out to 70mm, but at F/6.4. This is a super sharp lens though!!

Bokeh Test between Ricoh GR-D IV & GR V

 Taken with the Ricoh GR V @ F/2.8 1/40th sec at ISO 800

Taken with the Ricoh GR D IV @ F/1.9 1/26th sec at ISO 250

I thought I would do a short series of comparisons between the new Ricoh GR and the previous Ricoh GR D IV. I know when it comes to sensor size, there's no need to do a comparison. In terms of resolution capabilities, APS-C is superior over 1/1.7". However, I would argue that there are a few advantages to GR IV, which includes the fact it has a smaller sensor.

Incidental Double Backwards Portrait

The beauty of photography is that it captures reality and illusion.  We don't see life as a still, but a constantly moving and shifting scene.  If I took a video of this very same scene, this split second frame would have come and gone without it being odd or amusing. But you freeze the moment, we capture an illusion.  This is why viewing a picture of a bullet shooting through an apple, frozen wings of a hovering hummingbird, or an athlete crossing the finish line is always captivating. It's reality, but still looks surreal.

In this picture, I really hope he's just looking for change for the meter......if only I had a video of this scene, we could find out for sure!  But the moment has come and gone, never to be repeated, and all we have is this frozen scene to keep us guessing......

iPhone Gucci Fashion Shoot at the Mall

Ok, this wasn't really a fashion shoot, but those are Gucci's, we were in the mall, and I did use my iPhone to take this image. My point is how powerful a tool the iPhone can be when it comes to its ability to take decent pictures and post them online in a matter of minutes. My wife bought a new pair of shades and I wanted to take a snapshot for her to see how she looked in them (because we all know that an image is different than looking into a mirror).  I quickly found a white wall with decent lighting and took this shot.  You can tell we're at the mall by looking at the reflection in her shades (I'm the blob on the far right). Of course I could have brought my huge D-SLR and my 85mm F1.4 lens, but how much attention would that have drawn to me and my wife? And what are the chances of me carrying that thing everywhere I go? This was convenient, quick and discrete. Thank you Mr Steve Jobs.

My Wife and My Favourite Tree

Not much to say except this is my favourite tree and it exists right next to my home. And of course my favourite and only wife!  This is my 200th blog post.  Thanks for visiting.  Big changes planned for my blog soon.  Stay tuned.....

Irritating Backward Portrait

I found a picture of my wife from the summer that I hadn't posted yet, as I couldn't decide if I liked it or not. A few things irritated me after I took this shot and looked at it carefully, and it has nothing to do with my wife, of course! 

First, the line between the water and the trees cut right through my wife's neck, as if it's slicing across, which bugs me.  I should have made sure the line runs lower, by her mid-shoulder, which would have been closer to the proper rule of thirds of the horizon line anyway. Second, there's a piece of whitish-gray tile next to my wife's right knee that looks out of place among the natural looking rocks and wood pieces.  Why didn't I see it and throw it away?

Finally, my wife should be placed another two feet over to the right, or I should have framed the shot two feet to the left, since she's neither centered, nor on the right third of the image. Because of this, notice how one piece of log sticking out of the ground next to my wife's right elbow is just a little too close to her?  Also notice the other piece of wood next to her left hip? If I re-framed the shot, her body would have covered the one entirely, and the other revealed it completely. That really bugs me!! Arghghgh!!. 

All these small things that bug me add up to a lot of things that bug me.  I know nobody would have noticed these things unless I mentioned it, but now that I did, how does the image make you feel?!?!?

Whistler, Snowboarding, Fashion?

Another backwards portrait of my wife posing with her new Park Pickle snowboard, jacket and colourful pants!! It's funny how people choose the most insane colours and patterns when skiing or snowboarding up in the mountains, even though they may be more conservative fashion-wise in normal work/school/social life.  Snow is the perfect canvas for colourful, over-the-top fashion, but how crazy can crazy get? I saw bunny ears, clown outfits, huge leprechaun hats, and jackets that looked like they ran on batteries! I needed shades because of the bright fashion, not because of the sun or the snow.  What's my mountain couture? Black pants, black jacket, black helmet, black gloves...... I know, I should loosen up just a little bit right? Maybe I'll wear pink socks next time........
Captured on my iPhone, Hipstamatic, John-S lens and Blanko film.

Doesn't the snow and trees look fake?  I didn't heavily modify this image at all, except cropping, sharpening, white balance and contrast.  It really did look this 'dreamy' when we were boarding. The trick to shooting in snow is to exposure compensate by at least 1.5 stops to factor in the reflective nature of snow which throws off the metering.  It's also really difficult to snowboard and take pictures.  I think I may need to invest in a helmet cam? Sorry..... I can't do it!  I'm too old school. I guess.....
Captured on my Panasonic FX-50, snow-mode, iso 200.

My Wife, the Queen, and Her Eyes

I've always admired my wife's ability to paint with a brush; whereas me as a photographer, I can only paint with light.  I took drafting and commercial design, and I'm a CS5 designer, but to hand paint or draw, it's still magic to me.  While a painter works at adding detail to a canvas, a photographer usually tries to remove or crop detail out from his or her digital canvas. 

After taking this picture, I cropped, blurred, removed colour, and added a heavy vignette along the parimeter, all in an effort to isolate and focus the viewer's visual onto the Queen of Hearts' eyes.  My wife is trying to do the same thing, but doing so by adding detail and focus onto those same eyes.  I like this picture because my wife's body, head and hand all create this frame in which we see through to get to the eyes of the Queen.

These Eyes.....

Since I've been sick the past 2 weeks, my wife's been driving us everywhere (doctor's orders!!).  I took this picture while she was driving today.  The way the low autumn sun swept across her face, it made her eyes and hair translucent, almost anime-like in appearance.  I didn't upload the full resolution shot, but as you can see this picture is uber sharp!  Taken with my favorite Minolta 35mm F1.4G series lens, it's the sharpest lens I own.  In fact, this image was not sharpened at all, but was stopped down to F/4. 

Shoe Portraits

The wives didn't know I stole this shot as we waited to cross the street. Thanks girls......


Nice shoes and man bag Josh! Thanks for posing......

After Dinner Walk with Wife

Backward Portrait: The Wives

The girl's had no idea I took this picture. Me and Jer were walking behind the wives and I decided to take this pic quickly. I know Jer's wife on the far right looks too posed with her arm swinging, but it was completely spontaneous and I just happened to catch it. Walking along Cambie and 22nd in Vancouver.
Taken with my iPhone using Hipstamatic.

Spring Skiing in Whistler

My wife strapping in at the top of 7th Heaven on Blackcomb Mountain



I don't know what this is. Perhaps a garage for snowmobiles? Either way, I liked the stickers all along the top. Sort of like decal confetti. I like the guy's beard too.....


Groomed run. It was icy. It wasn't fun at all...... but visually, very cool....just after this shot, I had a horrible wipe-out. Landed right on my tailbone. It hurt deep inside. No kidding. Not fun at all. I had to walk it off......

Just a quick trip up to Whistler this past weekend. Snow was icy in the morning, and as the day went on and the sun came out, the snow became slushy. Not really complaining but just explaining spring conditions. I took a few cool shots though........

Coke is 125. Bigheadtaco is 1.

Yes, today is my blog's 1 year anniversary. Some numbers: total of 1573 views since I first began my blog (The Sartorialist must get that in a day at least?). I have 2 followers (1 being my wife.....). Besides Canada, the next most viewers come from the USA, Japan, Russia, the Netherlands, and the UK. Other countries to mention are Malaysia, Ukraine, Brazil and Belize. Although I don't really get comments, I do appreciate the views. If an astronaut viewed my blog from space, I wonder what country would show up in the stat?

As the day began, I was wondering what I can post that would be fitting, and I came across this worthy image, a more prestigious anniversary Coke is it! Taken with my iPhone while picking up lunch while at work.







Still thinking about what to post today, I took this picture on the way home from work. There's a oil refinery near my home, and all the houses along the refinery were slowly bought up and made into park land, to create a "green belt" around its perimeter. It's been turned into beautiful parkland, but for whatever reason, they left someone's steps and walkway alone...... I've ridden past it many times but I've never taken a picture of it until today. So here is my pic for this day.... Happy Anniversary!!



The picture I took above reminds me of a stuffed doll magnetic my wife made a few days ago for a contest. His name is Mister Twigbeard Monster. What is he? Well, he's a twig that has a beard..... I wonder what's the name of the bird in his head though? Okay, although I took this picture, I guess the focus is my wife's creation. But this is my blog, I can do what I want!! So there!!




Ok, this is my final final picture for my 1 year anniversary post. I started my blog a year ago with a picture of myself (so vain!!) so I'll start the new year with a picture of my wife. Taken with my iPhone's Hipstamatic program. I'm pretty sure she's BBMing her sister...... Hey Cass!! She's wearing one of her favorite t-shirts by Ironhead, since it reminds her of Edgar Allan Poe's "The Raven".... I'm rambling. Sorry. Good night and enjoy!!

Tough Bike Girl

As mentioned in my previous blog, I wanted to post some good memory pictures I've had of Japan the last few years, and not focus on the disaster that is presently at hand. Here is another lost treasure picture........

Although I complain sometimes that I don't get to take as many pictures when I'm out and about with my wife, often she comes in handy when I want to take discreet people pictures. If I see a cute child and ask if my wife can pose with the child and I take a picture, people would almost never say no. Now, if I were to take the same picture by myself, no wife, people would be more hesitant, as would I.........

Anyway, I saw this really cool but tough looking girl on her bike in Shinsaibashi district of Osaka and I really wanted to take her picture. But unlike most who are too busy to notice me and my camera (I had my DSLR) she was keenly aware of my presence, so I couldn't take a discreet picture of her. So I popped my wife next to her, and told my wife to pose for me, although I was really trying to get a picture of the tough girl on her awesome bike....

I know, I used my wife, but she was cool with it!! Although it looks like tough girl is frowning because she's aware I stole a picture of her through orchestration, she had that tough scowl on her face way before I took the shot!!

Don't you love her face-stomping yellow boots in contrast to her fancy girly black stockings?!?!? Or her tough leather jacket, and how her huge black purse sort of disappears into it as she holds it under her arm? How about the splash-camo print on her bike frame? I love the guy in between my wife and tough girl with his bike too, wearing his suit, briefcase in basket, and cool brown shoes, and I love that straight posture......

Anyway, thanks to the wife for this cool picture!! Thanks babe!!

Waiting for the Train along the Yamanote Line

My wife and I waiting for the train at the Otsuka Station along the Yamanote Line in Tokyo. I loved the 70's feel to the colours of the seats and the billboards behind us.... Yes, taken with the iPhone but adjusted in Photoscape on my laptop........

Bach: Prelude No.21, BWV866

My wife is getting back into her piano studies again after a 5 year hiatus. I've always been envious of her playing abilities, because although I play guitar, I was never classically trained, so I've always considered myself as a bit of a hack musician. I've "invented" my own theories and scales, and although I might get away with it on certain styles of music, as soon as I step out of my comfort zone, I utterly fail.

Today she was practicing some Bach, especially after watching Glenn Gould playing his interpretation of Bach's Prelude and Fugue XXI. He is an amazing performer, and a quirky character as well, which only adds to his charm. He sits low on an old chair his father modified for him when he was young, and he's used that same chair even as he performed as an adult. But because he's had it since childhood, he sits way too low when playing!! It's interesting seeing a genius go against many of the "rules" in the very structured world of classical piano, even as something as basic and mundane as sitting posture and position!! He did other weird things during his performances, but you'll have to look it up yourself....but I think it makes him more of a rock star in my books!!

So my wife was practicing Bach, and I decided to whip out my dusty DSLR and take some shots. It's only a 6.2MP, but with what I'm shooting, it's more than enough, especially with the lenses I have. I think this is probably my first entry of DSLR pictures on my blog.... I'm pretty sure.

I love my wife's intensity when she plays, and I love the way her hands dance over the keys. It's really hard to capture in a still image, but I tried my best......

Reflection Shot

I was shooting into an old, shut down restaurant through the smokey glass and was getting too much reflection from behind. You can see my hand and camera in the dark shadow to the top right of the image. My wife just happened to "walk into" the pot through the reflection so I just told her to freeze as I took the picture.........