Just to clarify–BackButtonFocusing

Sawadee Khrap

Didn’t really show the excellent focusing that was obtained yesterday at the Zoo – here is an example.  Using the 18/200 yesterday I could only get so close to the subjects – this monkey was sitting on a stump quite a way from us as we drove by on the main road.  The landscape shot is the one I took at 187 mm zoom ( the 7D has a 1.6 sensor = 300 mm equivalent ) and cropped it to show the close-up of the monkey – even at that amount of cropping I still have excellent sharpness.  I love “Back Button Focusing” ._MG_0267-2_MG_0267

Ciao

Khao Kheow Zoo with BackButton Focusing

Sawadee Khrap

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Went with Pat to Khao Kheow Open Zoo near Chonburi yesterday morning to test my new camera setup.    I am amazed at the quality of the images – the 7D was set up using “back button focusing” and evaluative exposure from the focusing area. – Images are tack sharp at the set focus point and the histograms show almost perfect exposure. 

Most were shot from the seat of a golf cart we had rented to drive around  – hand held – ISO 400  using a 18-200 Canon Zoom lens, camera set at “P” mode auto.  Many needed a lot of cropping because even with the 18/200 I couldn’t get close enough to fill the frame..  They also show the high ISO – being a little grainy,  but better than I was getting before. 

Ciao

Confession ???

Sawadee Khrap

Another good one from Paul’s Sunday Funnies:

An elderly man walks into a confessional. The following conversation ensues:
Man: ‘I am 92 years old, have a wonderful wife of 70 years, many children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Yesterday, I picked up two college boys, hitch-hiking. We went to a motel, where I had sex with each of them three times.’
Priest: ‘Are you sorry for your sins?’      Man: ‘What sins?’
Priest: ‘What kind of a Catholic are you?’
Man: ‘I’m Jewish.’        Priest: ‘Why are you telling me all this?’
Man: ‘I’m 92 years old . . . . I’m telling everybody!’

Ciao

Latest set-back in medical situation

Sawadee Khrap

Now in communication with the cardiologist in Chiang Mai – went there 2 weeks ago because my BP was starting to raise again – slowly but still rising – He changed my meds to a newer version of the same stuff – Olmesartan  40mg – seemed to do the trick for the first week but now the BP is raising again – apparently the blockage to my left kidney is just at the critical point and almost anything can cause it to react irregularly – up- down – up- down.  

It’s starting to looking like the only way to get it to a better control is to have the angioplasty and possibly, if needed,  a stent.  He’s checking on that possibility now – put it off for a year, but maybe now it will be necessary – I believe it can be done in Chiang Mai, making it easier to get a hospital surgery time – at least I hope so – we will see – really don’t want to go through the red-tape again at Siriraj to get in line again – that took 3 months the last time – should be faster in Chiang Mai and same cost. 

I am told it’s a common procedure – 1 day, overnight just for checking,  -  the CAT scan showed 5 arteries with some blockage, and the first time they were worried about the blockage for my upper left arm side and deemed that it was to complicated to do there in CM , had to go to BKK  – Cardiologist in BKK said it was not necessary to do this one – just the left kidney artery to control the BP would be needed -  In Chiang Mai, they weren’t looking at the kidney artery – that one should be a simpler procedure and they can do it – at least I hope so  – so just waiting for his results to come back.

NOT over yet –

Ciao

A touching story on how men think

Sawadee Khrap

As she sat by him, he whispered, his eyes full of tears, "You know what?

You have been with me all through the bad times.
When I got fired, you were there to support me.
When my business failed, you were there.
When I got shot, you were by my side.
When we lost the house, you stayed right here.
When my health started failing, you were still by my side…
You know what Martha?"

"What dear?" she gently asked, smiling as her heart began to fill with warmth.
"I’m beginning to think you’re fucking bad luck.

Thanks Paul’s Funnies

Ciao

Nut in BoyzTown fun

Sawadee Khrap

Just thought I’d have a little Photoshop fun and these too images of Nut and Boyz Town went together well – especially if rendered using the old Photoshop “oil filter” and extreme clarity – almost cartoonish –  I going to search for more images that could use this technique and see what I have – so for now, here is a high contrast and clarity painterly montage.IMG_2269-Boyztown0077-PS CC-old oil paint

I did have to remove myself from the photo – I was in the reflections in his glasses when I took the image – no harm done I think it came out OK.    What’s your comments on this look ?

Ciao

Cave drawings–great bkground and pattern

Sawadee Khrap

IMG_2310-Edit

I thought this shot of “Nut”,  you’ve seen him before in previous image posts, looked great on this background – painted wall and painted  (tattooed)  boy.  Mankind has always made drawings to show the wild beasts they encountered – has that changed today ???   therefore I think IMG_2323-Edit-2these cave drawings would make a great pattern for his Calvin Klein  underwear. 

Not for everyday use – maybe not so great for the beach – but in the bedroom, WOW – 

 

what do you think ?

Can we tame his wild beast ???

Ciao

Painting for Notto

Sawadee KhrapIMG_2226-Edit-oldCC

Here I have combined several techniques to produce this Digital painting, but basically using the “smudge tool” process in Photoshop.  A little different approach than ones I have done in the past.  I wanted to depict the chalk pastel look and thought it would compliment Notto’s image.  He liked it so that’s all I needed – The finished product is a 20×30 print.

Ciao

Wait till you celebrate !

Sawadee Khrap

Boy comes home and tells his parents he has just had sex for the first time. 
The proud Dad says ‘I’ll buy you a bike to celebrate, but you will have to wait until next pay day"  The boy replies ‘That’s alright Dad, my arse is too sore to ride it anyway’

From Paul’s Sunday Funnies – thanks Paul;

Ciao

My photos–Google Earth

Sawadee Khrap

photos in ThailandWOW – Thanks to Lightroom’s Map capabilities coupled with Google Earth you can see where I have taken photos so far  – this only represents the ones that I have GPS location info – My cameras have not been able to record the GPS data coordinates – but for the last 5 years using my phone’s GPS and “tracking” system  I’ve synchronize and documented most of them.   As you can see I haven’t been to Laos, Cambodia or Burma so far  – but I want to plan visits and photograph there before I run into another health crisis like last year.   So many things still to do – retirement isn’t slow or boring.   And this is just the photos  – not the BOYS.     DevilDevilDevil       Of course the boy’s photos and Photoshop images are just from Chiang Mai and Pattaya and are not included in this map – these are only travel images.

P.S.  That may be a while – just had to pay 10,000 Baht to get the 7D fixed – new motherboard I’m told – pick up next week.  So far I’ve spent 20,000 in repairs for that camera – pricy.

Ciao

Please meet Notto

Sawadee Khrap

IMG_2225-Edit-flair

Pattaya can be a very lonely place if you visit here alone.  I was very lucky to meet “Notto” in Jomtien on the next to the last day of his visit to Pattaya – He had came by himself from Udon Thani for a weeks holiday before the school year starts again.  He had already seen the Jomtien Tower, Walking Street, before we meet at Jomtien beach.IMG_2243

     He mentioned that being here alone was not as exciting as he thought it would be – nor did he know any of the sites to see other than the common tourist ones – so I suggested the Cabbages & Condoms Restaurant at the Birds and Bees Resort  – Here’s a couple of shots as we went for lunch and a stroll on the beach there.  – embellished a little –Devil   I wish we’d had the time so I could have shown him Sai Kaew beach but he didn’t because of his flight home – so we had to settle for lunch -  then got him a taxi to go to the airport – He said he was planning on a visit later in the year and would let me know so we could plan a better itinerary for his next visit  – and get to see Nong Nooch, Tiffany’s Cabaret Show, and some of the other great sites here – Pattaya is more than just the beach.  Safe trip home – Sawadee Pee Mai – Notto

Ciao

Charlie’s painting

Sawadee Khrap

IMG_1890-Edit-CC-basic paintThis is a 20×30 in.  Digital painting using Photoshop CC (older version) – of my friend Charlie.  You have to see the full size version to really see the painterly qualities of brush strokes and glazing effects.  It would need to be printed on quality textured Art canvas linen to make it complete.  Expensive but well worth it.  The painting took about 30 hours to complete.  Handsome young man – don’t you think so ?

Ciao

UPDATE on medical condition

Sawadee Khrap

Just starting out the new year – all seems to be in good shape – meds at minimum, strength excellent, blood pressure 128 average,  feeling great.  It’s been a very harrowing “2014” – first the thought of needing a 800,000 Baht  ($25,000 US )  operation, and massive meds for the rest of my life – feeling like shit,  back aches making it unbearable to walk and most of all unable to preform in bed – Wow – not a good year –

But then came God’s help – Doctor at Siriraj – Mahidol University Hospital – no operation – blood pressure controlled with Valsartan, Cialis, Chocolate and Fish Oil.  Cholesterol controlled with Oatmeal, high DHA fish oil and Daily Exercise.    Posture corrected , no back pain, using Sergey’s “Flying Step” arch supports -  and you guessed it, bedroom performance back again.    Monthly medicine cost, 1000 Baht – approx.  $32/mo. US      You can read all about the experience in the blog  under the “Hospital/Medicines” category and I’m just hoping others will benefit from my ordeal.   If you have any questions – please drop me a note.   Glad to help you if I can  – Medical Vacation in Thailand – excellent – if you know where to go.

HAPPY NEW YEAR             SAWADEE PEE MAI

Ciao

Don’t piss off an Elephant

Sawadee Khrap

Apparently elephants don’t care how much of a hurry you are in – in fact they find it insulting to honk for them to hurry up.   LOLelephant thrashing

Ciao

   taken from “ThaiVisa.com  News Editor

P.S.   Mark sent me these 2 photos of the incident – now sure where he got them.IMG_2377IMG_2378