Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Angels and Demons

I've been listening to two voices whisper in my ears debating whether to buy a new camera for years.

The angel says: you have a great camera, sony F717, which has 5 mega pixels, 5x optical zoom with 2X digital zoom range, adjustable aperture/ shutter speed, and night vision, etc. You don't really need a new camera.

The demon objects: the noise level of sony F717 on ISO 100 is worse than any DSLR on ISO 400, the 5 mega pixels resolution doesn't even qualify for the basic photo competition which usually requires at least 6 mega pixels as minimum, the handy RAW date format for darkroom adjustments, not to mention the power of exchangeable lenses that gives you the power to manipulate angle distortions.

The angel says: DSLR is a money burning gadget, you have to purchase the camera body and lenses seperately and they aren't cheap! Also, the average weight of a DSLR is about 800g and a 18-200mm travel lens is 560g, together a DSLR weights over 1kg! You will wish that you didn't buy a DSLR when traveling around. Besides, is it nice and satisfying when you see the looks from people who realize all those beautiful picutes you took were coming from a small DC but not a DSLR? The bottom line is you don't want to spend NT$52,000 for a camera.

The demon says: OK, lets talk about the looks, didn't you have enough being treated as an amature when fighting for a good spot for photo shooting among those who equipped their DSLRs with tele-lenses? Didn't you dream about someday you too can change the toyish little DC to a big, firm, professional looking DSLR? Just listen to the clear and melodious sound of the reflector whenever you click on the shutter, that is the sound no DC can replicate.

The debate went on and on unitl I had a dream the other night. In the dream I was a well paid professional photographer taking pictures for Brad pitt (well, I watched too much TV, the Mr. and Mr.s Smith was on star movie that night). I woke up and gave in to the devil, I said to my little guardian: life is short and I'm gonna enjoy it and I purchased my first DSLR, Nikon D90 with 18-200mm VR lens, today.

Monday, July 13, 2009

2009 Chihsi art festival in Tainan

All performances at Confucious temple are cancelled; performances at other venues are also cancelled on Aug. 22 (Sat) - 24 (Mon). A Charity bazaar will be held at Confucious temple area on Aug. 22 (Sat) to raise funds for Morakot typhoon victims

The 2009 Chihsi art festival and the coming of age 16 celebration will be held on Aug 22-26 in various locations in Tainan. The program schedules are traslated from the official website:

Locations:
Confucious Temple, Tainan Train Station, Fe21' Mega, Mitsukoshi (Jhongshan), Mitsukoshi (Simen) , Tainan culture center, Former Tainan Meeting Hall, Dadong night market, Anping Matsu Temple, Jhongshan junior high school,

Performance Groups:
1. TsaiShiaoBing Contemporary Ballet Group (崔笑彬現代芭蕾舞團, Korea) 2. Ten Drum (十鼓擊樂團, Taiwan) 3. Azaguno(美國阿札鼓非洲樂鼓舞團, USA) 4. HaKa (毛利哈卡戰舞團, New Zealand) 5. Liaomoshi Dance theater (廖末喜舞蹈劇場, Taiwan) 6. Tainan City Traditional Orchestra (台南市立民族管絃樂團, Taiwan) 7. East Art (東方藝術團, Taiwan) 8. Lin Long Dance Group (靈龍舞蹈團, Taiwan) 9.ChenShiang Taiwanese Oper (城鄉歌仔戲劇團, Taiwan) 10. Jhongshan Junior High Dance Class (中山國中舞蹈班,Tainan/Taiwan) 11. Sparrow Dancce (日本麻雀舞, Japan)

Schedule:
primary venue
Location*
DateTimeGroups (in order)
Confucious Temple

8/22 (Sat)

19:20-21:3011, 10, 4, 5, 3, 1, and 2
Confucious Temple8/23 (Sun)19:30~21:001, 2 and 5
Confucious Temple8/24 (Mon)19:30~21:15

6, 4 and 7

Confucious Temple
8/25 (Tue)
19:30-21:15
1, 3 and 8
Confucious Temple8/26 (Wed)
19:30-21:20
4, 1, 3, 2 and all groups
*In case of rain: Jhongshan junior high school

Secondary venues
Location
DateTimeGroups
Dadong night market

8/13 (Sat)

19:30-21:006
Tainan culture center
8/22 (Sat)16:00-16:302
Tainan Culture center
8/23 (Sun)16:00-16:30

1

Anping Matsu Temple
8/23 (Sun)
19:00-20:009
Tainan Train Station
8/23 (Sun)
19:30-19:50
11
Sheng Mou Gong8/25 (Tue)
17:00-17:30
2

Other venues
Location
DateTimeGroups
Mitsukoshi (Simen)/
Fe21' Mega

8/22 (Sat)

15:00-15:45/
17:00-17:30
4/
2
Shangri-La's Far Eastern Plaza Hotel/ Mitsukoshi (Jhongshan)/
Fe21' Mega
8/23 (Sun)14:00-14:30/
16:00-16:45/
18:00-19:00
11/
4/
11+3
Mitsukoshi (Simen)/
Fe21' Mega
8/24 (Mon)16:00-16:30/
17:00-17:30
2/
2
Fe21' Mega/
Mitsukoshi (Jhongshan)
8/25 (Mon)16:30-17:00/
16:00-16:45
1/
3
Fe21' Mega/
Mitsukoshi (Simen)
8/26(Wed)
15:30-16:15/
15:30-16:00
4/
1


Updated: Aug.17th