thedude.com » Within Walking Distance

Light Painting

thedude — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 20:57:47 +0000

I was motivated to take a few shots during a 6 – 1/2 hour power outage last night. I figured the unusual lighting might produce some interesting results. I brought along a flashlight so I could see where I was walking, and figured it might be fun to try and do add drama to my time-exposures by painting in a some light.

My New Favorite Lens

thedude — Sun, 26 Sep 2010 04:34:36 +0000

Steve has an 85mm f1.4 Nikkor lens for sale. I’d love to own it, but even used, this is one expensive lens! This led me into a search for alternatives, which led me to an entire Flickr group devoted to this interesting lens. I was impressed that these beautiful images were made with this amazingly cheap lens, so I decided to pick one up.

I’ve had the lens for just a few hours, and I’m already very impressed by the bokeh. To me, it looks as good as that from lenses costing five times as much. Interestingly, it seems that that the smooth bokeh makes the in-focus parts of the image appear even sharper than they actually are. Don’t get me wrong – I’m not suggesting that this lens isn’t sharp – it is! It already seems like the best lens bargain I’ve ever found.

Gettin’ Better All the Time

thedude — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 00:04:02 +0000

Things just keep getting better and better in the Jack London District. It’s been a long time coming, but it seems almost every week, there’s a new and exciting business opening in the area. Last night we dined at a new restaurant two blocks away – Encuentro. The 100% vegetarian menu was 100% delicious. And prices are reasonable. Highly recommended.

This afternoon, a neighbor informed us of the latest addition to the ‘hood – Cerruti Cellars Tasting Room. Just three blocks away, and the wines are great. So convenient, it’s dangerous. We’re already trying to think of some excuse for having a party in the beautifully remodeled space. See you there!

Oakland Marathon!

thedude — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 19:06:01 +0000

For the first time in 25 years, Oakland played host to a marathon today. Six thousand People of all shapes and sizes come out to run and watch the 26 mile course on a beautiful Sunday morning. I love it. Go Oakland!

One Walk, One Lens

thedude — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 02:02:47 +0000

We had good lighting for a while this afternoon, so I went out with my crazy sharp 14 – 24 mm lens and took these shots – all within two blocks of our loft.

I really love Oakland, and would happily stay here forever, but it’s sometimes easy to see why not everyone feels this way.

San Pablo Ave

thedude — Fri, 09 May 2008 00:57:51 +0000

Some scenes form my morning commute. The sunny side of San Pablo Avenue is loaded with photo opportunities. Grand Openings are everywhere. I like the sign that reads, “24 pieces CHICKEN just only $9.50″.

This proves once again that a series of photos of ANYTHING can be at least mildly interesting when displayed as a group. I’ll add to this series as soon as possible.

One Way

thedude — Thu, 01 May 2008 21:02:59 +0000

I noticed the two homes painted in exactly the same shade of green on San Pablo during my walk. I wondered about that until I saw the sign. Obviously, there was only one way to paint it.

Colorful Oakland

thedude — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 21:25:57 +0000

My fabulous city is nothing if not colorful.

Work in Progress

thedude — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 20:24:52 +0000

The sign bears the image of a snail, which I guess speaks to the pace of said progress.

This image barely does justice the the sheer volume of stuff in and around this person’s home. I’ll be back for more pictures soon.

Within Walking Distance

thedude — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 23:35:37 +0000

So, here’s an idea. Last weekend I had a visit from my old friend Sciatica. The last time I felt this exquisite pain, I wound up having back surgery. It’s hard to believe that it was 23 years ago. Even so, that’s not long enough for me to forget the pain.

So, since I know that one of the best things I can do for my back is to walk, today I took the first of what I hope will be many walks. Maybe writing it down for all to see will inspire me to stick with it, even if the electric shocks down my left leg do not.

To make the walks more interesting, I’ll try to bring my camera along and see what’s happening in the ‘hood. Turns out there’s a lot to see nearby. This is Maia. She was selling flowers in Styrofoam cups. She sold me the lovely arrangement in her hand for a dollar.