1000 Words

Quick Advice to Start

Quite often I’m contacted about which camera I use & what would I recommend to someone looking to get started with a DSLR.

My most recent inquiry came from blog stalker “Lianika”. Lianika wanted to know what I shot with & what I would suggest for a novice.

Well for all of you dying to know, I shoot with Nikon exclusively & my main camera body is the D300 & I also have a D80 to back me up just in case. My 1st DSLR was the Nikon D40, but I quickly outgrew it in a matter of months.

In terms of recommendations, if you are looking to get a DSLR to step your family/party/outing photography game up, the Nikon D40 or D60 will be great to get a hold of. Both cameras come equipped with very useful features, that can be easily be figured out by any crack baby (no offense if you really were a crack baby).

The one downfall of the above mentioned camera bodies is that they will not auto focus with any older Nikkor lenses or basically any lens that is not AF-S (AF-S lenses have a motor inside of them, AF lenses do not. The D40 & D60 do not have the focusing pin that other more expensive Nikon camera bodies have, which makes them unable to auto focus AF lenses). The good news is that Nikon has been rolling out new lenses that offer auto focusfor the D40 & D60 bodies like the new Nikkor AF-S 50mm f/1.4G.

Most Nikon users love to hate photographer Ken Rockwell but he has some solid advice on the Nikon D40 & the D60.

If you are looking do a little more with your photography or need more camera flexibility, I highly recommend the Nikon D80. Unlike the D40 & D60, the D80 works with all Nikkor auto focus lenses AF or AF-S. The increased shutter speeds & 11 point auto focus sensor alone makes the D80 a nice step up from the 2 cameras mentioned above. The good news/bad news about the D80 is that it is no longer being produced & the prices are falling faster than a ton of bricks.

Another mid-range camera to consider is the Nikon D90. Admittedly, the D90 kicks the D80’s ass in terms of features. It can do video, has a very high ISO option & as a higher megapixel count. I have seen the D90 a little more than 300-400 bucks expensive than the D80.

If you happen to be on a budget & these camera’s are a little out of your recession proof budget, you can always try getting a used camera body. This is a great option honestly! B&H Photo, Adorama, & KEH Camera are trusted shops that I have purchased from & would recommend for camera bodies & lenses.

Speaking of lenses; they are expensive & are a serious budget killer! Depending on what type of photography & lighting conditions you work in will dictate what type of lens will be the best option for you. To keep this post short, I will not get into lens recommendations at this point. But here is a list of what’s in my camera bag:

Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8G
Nikkor 12-24mm f/4G
Nikkor 50mm f/1.2 AI-S
Nikkor 50mm f/1.4D
Nikkor 85mm f/1.8D
Nikkor 105mm f/2.8g VRMicro
Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G VR
Lensbaby Composer

Hopefully this helps someone. If you need more info/advice, leave comment or hit me up via email.

3..2..1..

Last week on my mini NYC vacay, I was hoping that I would snap out of my photographers block. Before the trip it had been a little over two weeks since I had picked up my camera.

While driving to NYC, there were several moments when I wished I could stop along the road to photograph the monochormatic fogged over mountains but it was only a thought (It was so beautiful!).

Anyway once we got to the city & I saw how decorated Manhattan was, I set my mind of doing some cool night photography but when the night came, I decided to chill in the room instead.

Luckily NY blogger José Vilson got me out of my funk last Friday when we set-up a photoshoot. The photoshoot with José also spared me from having to go to the American Girl Doll store with the girls (I hate that place with a passion.)

The shoot with José lasted a few hours & in the time we spent it seemed like we toured the entire city (or at least in my mind). We started out in Brooklyn by the bridge, then off to the subway, then to Columbus circle.  Good thing José knows how to get around because the travel was dizzying, yet fun at the same time.

The shoot went very well & it is so true that José is one cool brotha from another mutha.

Post shoot, I am feeling better artistically & have a little photographer energy. I'm now planning out some things to do to keep myself busy & focused.

The above image is something I tricked out for fun. Usually I do not style my own photos for some unknown reason.  There was a nice little tutorial in the latest “Photoshop User” magazine that really worked with this image.

To see a few shots from my shoot, visit here.

BTW forgive me, when I wrote this, I was 4 gin cocktails deep (well maybe 6).

Fat Albert the Way it Was Meant to Be

I peed on myself a little bit laughing at this my nigga! Ain;t nothing like a goat mouthed hoe.

Until...

In NYC for a few days. Hopefully this trip will leave me with no interesting stories to tell. Anyway, follow me on Twitter to see what I'm up to.

Peace,
Tafari

UPDATE(s)
Wednesday: The road trip to NYC started a hour late this morning but it was all good because I needed that extra little amount of sleep.

So we officially hit the road at 5:05am & made it to our hotel by 3:24pm. I drove like crazy but was cautious along the way.

The drive through MI was snowy & icy, the drive through OH was off & on rainy, the drive through PA/NJ was very rainy & icy but we made it incident free.

Suite Suzy was "OK" as a co-pilot, meaning she only bitched a little bit. Slow down, use the damn signal, get over, speed up, look out, don't kill us, etc.

One of the most memorable moments of the trip was when we stopped at a service area along I80 in PA. We stopped for a late breakfast, gas & the restroom. So after I pump the gas, I head to the rest room to find some Indian guy at the little vending machine in the mens room. On the left side of the machine was flavored condoms, on the right side of the machine was cock rings. And guess what, he was getting a cock ring. When he saw me, he looked a little startled. I just shook my head laughing to myself.

Who would have ever thought that you could get cock rings at a service area restroom??? After the laughable restroom episode, we hopped back on I80.

Along the way driving down I80, I was so inspired by the beautiful monochromatic scenary. Everything that I saw looked like an Ansel Adams photograph. The fog, the mountains, the ice covered trees, the winding roads. I wanted to stop so that I could capture the wonderful winter mountain landscape. Maybe one day the stars will line up & I will be able to photograph something like that.

After the drive through PA, we hit NJ, which meant that the road trip was coming to an end.

I have heard jokes about how fucked up Newark was but seeing it put all the pieces together. That shit looked worse than Detroit.

Anyway, we had to jump on the NJ Turnpike to get the Lincoln Tunnel. After the short drive on the turnpike, I came to the toll booth where the hideous looking toll booth worker who shouted ¢90 after I handed her my ticket. She took my dollar & handed me ¢10 back. I waited for a second because I thought she was going to hand me a receipt.

Instead of a receipt, she gave me drama. She looked at me with her one good eye & asked why I was still standing there. I said, well, I thought there might be a receipt or maybe you would say have a nice day. She was said, there is no receipt & I was not going to save have a nice day. In my mind, I was like you nasty looking fucking ghetto, long titty, fucked up wig wearing ass bitch. I just drove off like, oh no you didn't.

So now we are on the way to the Lincoln Tunnel. So we get to that toll booth & I pay the $8. The booth worker, named Cookie J (I think the "J" stands for janky) handed my back my change without looking at me & turned away to ignore me. Before I drove off, I said have a nice day. Cookie J was unphased & did not acknowledge my friendliness.

Flashback a little; during the last leg of the trip, I had to pee. By the time we go through the Lincoln Tunnel, I was about to pee on myself & was holding my pee like never before! I hoped to not have an accident in the car & I was hoping that we made to the hotel before the unthinkable happened.

Luckily, we made it to the hotel just in time. When the valet approached the car, I yelled to him, where's the bathroom. He told me & I ran my ass off to sweet relief. I do not think I had to pee that bad in my adult life. When I got back to the car, he was like man I know that feeling.

Flashing forward a bit. We went to Bloomindale's for some speed shopping & also decided to have dinner at Chevy's (Fresh Mex) in Times Square.

So we wrap up at Bloomies & take the W train to Times Square. We get to the restaurant, get seated & place our orders.

The server sucked like ass & so did the 2 margaritas that I downed.

After eating 2/3s of my meal, I notice a roach crawling on the wall (all like what the fuck are yall doing here) & got grossed the fuck out.

I alert the manager & he seemed like I inconvenienced him. After I pointed out the roach, he killed it with a napkin on the spot then walked away. His actions only made me mad.

Soon there after, I asked how bad the roach problem was. He was like, I have not seen a roach here in three months. Then exclaimed that they are on top of one of the busiest train stations in the city. I told him that I did not care. I do not want to see roaches crawling on the wall when I'm eating! He was like, you know what, I will modify your check for you.

After all of the mediocre service was over, we got a $44 credit on our bill. I'm always down for a deal but I was still uneasy about the roach eggs that I may have eaten.

Once the bill was paid, we all shook out our coats & bags so that we did not take any little brown stowaways back to out hotel.

So when we get out of the restaurant, I spot a Chanukah promotion van (only in NYC, right???). I was amused by the site & the young Hasidic Jew boys peddling Menora candles. Chanukah is half way fucking over, why are they still selling candles?

I approached one of the young boys & asked how much the candles were. He told me that they were $2. I said, I will give you $1.50 for them. He said fuck that (for real he did). I was taken aback & laughed as I walked away.

I'm now back in my room, tired as hell & laughing because I said that I hoped that I would not have any stories to tell from this trip. The stories are writing themselves. What a trip.

Tomorrow, we are having breakfast at Norma's, taking a walk through Central Park, If we can cop cheap tickets, we are seeing a Alvin Ailey dance performance & will end with dinner at Victor's Cuban Café. I hope that we can squeeze in Rockerfeller Center. Time will tell.

Now I need to go wash this ass. Peace!

1000 Words

@ The Movies: Seven Pounds

Today, I gave Will Smith one final opportunity to keep me as a fan by seeing “Seven Pounds”.  I was somewhat looking forward to this release but was reserved a bit because “Hancock” was basically a piece of shit.

Well, “Seven Pounds” is as also a piece of shit but not as big of a piece of shit as “Hancock”, but it was still shit all the same.

I feel like I wasted my free movie pass on something that could have been released on the “Lifetime” channel or the “O” network.

The flick was rather dark for Will, which is a decent departure & the premise of the plot was interesting, but that was all that I appreciated about the movie.  I found the movie in whole to be somewhat moving, very boring, & predictable.

Maybe if I were a woman, I would have liked more or maybe cried like some of women  that were in the theater.

After the movie credits started to roll, I stormed out of the theater so that I could hurry up & bid on an ending auction on eBay for a textbook (I won the book & saved 100 bucks, the school bookstore is a fucking rip off). 

Winning the textbook gave me a way better feeling than the 2 hours that I wasted sitting on my ass yawning while posting Facebook & Twitter updates as the movie played!

By the way, my favorite character in Seven Pounds was the box jellyfish.

Did you see it? Am I tripping? Talk to me!!!

So I'll Pretend

I know that I have been off my posting game lately & that’s because the end of the semester had me pimped out!  I have 2 weeks before it all begins again & I’m expecting a more intense semester because I’m scheduled to take two classes (Organizational Behavior & Theory & Principles of Marketing).

Although the semester ended like a bitch, my last week of school was great because:

• I got a B+ in the Managerial Accounting class
• Officially only have 12 classes before the BA with a concentration in HR is mine
• Suite Suzy took me to see “Wicked”, which is the fucking shit!!!!!!!!!

Over the next 2 weeks, I will be in NYC for a few days on a family vacay, planning Suite Suzy a Sunday birthday brunch & getting my mind right for classes that begin 01/05/09.

On another note, I’m also dealing with xxxxxxx’s foreclosure & the financial doom that xxxxxxx put upon themselves. xxxxxxx’s self-imposed drama is tripping & stressing my sister & I out.  I love xxxxxxx to death but had to let him/her know that I have my own situation to maintain, kids to feed etc.  I feel bad about harsh words that had to be said, but it is what it is.

I just hope xxxxxxx gets his/her mind right & gets a job so that he/she can handle their business.

On another, nother note, I upgraded my MacBook Pro to the new sexier, sleeker version released recently. I cannot wait until my new baby arrives & hope that it does before we leave for NYC Wednesday.

I put my old one up on eBay & the auction ends tomorrow. I set a reserve price of 800 & a buy it now for 900 w/free sipping. I hope this bitch moves! I have 10 watchers, 6 questions & 145 hits so far. Fingers are crossed.

On another nother nother note, I am so fucking happy that they found Caylee Anthony!  But I’m mad that my theory was proven incorrect.  I believed that her mother was really innocent because the baby was kidnapped from Zanida Gonzales by Natalee Holloway. Oh well.

I tell you, I had a ball watching Nancy Gracy Friday night. She was almost comical with all of her emotions while recounting the Caylee’s case thus far.

And finally, I’m so wondering why white women claim that black/other people of color people abduct/kill/rape knowing damn well it's a lie.

Ingenuity & The Negro

I love the commercial so much because:

A) It reminded me of how me & my friends used to make something out of nothing for fun. Poor black kids may be poor but they ain't dumb.
B) I see that my grandma is not the only woman in the world that lets her tits hang low.
C) I now know a new use for a condom & yarn.

The Making of Wonder Man

Friday night, I was vending at the Holiday Baar Bazaar when I ran into Heather Fagan of Bettula, one of my crafty art friends. I met Heather at last year’s Holiday Baar Bazaar & we have been cool ever since.

Anyway, Heather makes very unique & very hot jewelry made from birch bark, which you cannot help but to love.

So last night we were talking about the recession etc when I spotted a birch cuff on her table that spoke to me. I told Heather how much I loved it. I put it on immediately & it was too much like right. It looked so good on me & she was feeling it also.

Before I knew it, she said take it as a gift.

I was like what???

I am not surprised that she offered it to me as a gift because she has a very giving personality & generous spirit. I just was like wow, for real, me, no ,yes, no, ok yes???

What a gift, a beautiful gift, a gift that was in time to put a positive spin on a week that had so many low points.

I teased & said that when I wear the cuff, I will turn into Wonder Man & fight off evil and repel bullets. We both laughed.

Later that evening, Claireta, another crafty art friend mind stopped by my table to kick it & to get a few bars of soap. After a rather funny conversation, I bagged up her soap & handed it to her. When she handed me her cash for the soap, I told her that her money was no good tonight & to enjoy the gift.

She thanked me with a giant warm hug.

I paid it forward!

For the rest of the night I wore my Wonder Man cuff, which attracted a lot of attention, which I directed to Heather. It was so cool having people dig it & my sexy wearing it.

After the night was over & I had a pocket full of Quench cash, I walked over to Heather, with my Wonder Man cuff. I thanked her again then handed her a 16oz body mousse & bar of soap. She was like, you do not have to & I was like yes I do, because I want you to be moist boo.

On another note, I found an original Orko (from He Man) figure at the Holiday Bar Bazaar from this cat that had had a bunch of cool 80's toys. Orko was always my boy!

On another, another note, I tried "molecular gastronomy" at a party tonight. Very tasty & interesting cuisine option.

On another, another, another note, I went to see "The Day The World Stood Still"on iMax the other night. It was good, action was great but it was not a world rocker & certainly not worth the energy of me doing a full post on it. in short; Jaden Smith got on my last nerves, Keanu Reeves was just OK, Gort was the SHIT & favorite character in the movie.

I Have What You Need to Get Moist

If you're in Detroit tomorrow stop by!

Happy Thursday from the Wet Spot

Found this video on Womanist Musings the other night & loved it.
From Womanist Musings

"When you hear the truth you just know it ladies. What the fuck is ladylike when you're sleeping in the wet spot and still don't know what it feels like to cum?"

Painkiller

Feeling lost in a bunch of personal decisions that are on my mind that are making it hard to cope. My life is good but not where I want it to be.

The things that make me strong are also the things that make me weak. Can I let it go or do I wade through the muddy waters of despair, disappointment & disenchantment.

This weird sense of loneliness is not helping.

In a meeting today, I had a day dream of being in forest alone with nothing but my thoughts & a way to make the loneliness go away. The leaves on the ground were a beautiful fall yellow but by the time the dream was over, the leaves that surrounded me were red, burgundy and weighted down by what once was.

This was a very dangerous day dream that brought a tear to my minds eye & I was happy to emerge from it to finish the broccoli quiche that was before me.

There are many things that I treasure, but I yet know the value.

I miss me, I wish for me, what is wrong with me.

Sleeping Bokeh

A dreams a dream and I’m wishing on a star
So through the darkness show me who you are

I have a picture, a thought in mind
Now it’s time to realize

This is something you should analyze in your mind

~Soul II Soul

A Week of My Tidbits

1st of all, it’s so cold in the D!!!!!!

- I was officially admitted to the Business School @ Eastern Michigan University this past Friday. Your boy is super geeked! I only have 12 classes left to get my BA with a specialization in HR!!!

To step my game up, I am taking 2 classes next semester & plan on one in the spring & summer sessions. I gotta hurry up & get out of that bitch.

- Suite Suzy & I decided to let Quench Essentials go. I will be having a fire house sale soon to move remaining products. I will miss Quench but I will not miss giving up time that can be focused in stronger areas.

We learned a lot over the past 3 years doing this business that helps me now & will help elsewhere in the future.

Stay tuned for more information on the liquidation sale!

- I have been busy getting my photography hustle on this week. I applied for the Ann Arbor Street Art Fair, which is a major deal seeing that 500k people attend this 4 day event each year. They have a grueling jury process & I will not know if I made it until Feb 20, 2009. I am happy that the stress of the application process is over. Now I will rest & not trip over weather I make it or not because it is what it is & out of my hands.

I also applied to present @ Pecha Kucha Night in Detroit. When you present @ Pecha Kucha, you have are allowed 20 images, each shown for 20 seconds – giving you 6 minutes 40 seconds of fame before the next presenter.

Not sure when I will hear when the presenter announcements will be made. We will see what happens.

On a final art note, next week, I’m applying for the Crosby Festival of the Arts, which is held at the Toledo Botanical Gardens. I have never been to this art fair but it sounds awesome. They have like 230 artists & it has been around since the 60’s.

I do not intend on being an art fair traveler or doing them full or part time. I’m doing this to get my art seen by more people so that I can get my pieces in the right places.

- I got into a traffic accident the other day while in Detroit. This Canadian idiot hit me when he cut me off & went into oncoming traffic. The incident got heated & I told him that I was going to jump the fuck off he back the fuck off. The po po showed up at the right time because I was about to catch a case.

The good news is, I was not injured & the car has little damage. The other guys car did not fare so well.

- I have been feeling guilty because I have not been on my blogging game, letting posts slip my mind. I know that Twitter is the cause. Twitter make communication & very short thought publishing a breeze. You should be following me: http://twitter.com/bygbaby

- Friday night, Suite Suzy & I had a pretty good conversation about OJ Simpson & his conviction/sentencing. I really wish that the conversation was recorded because it was funny as hell. We both agree that he was over charged & that the prosecution/sentencing was linked to the allegation of murder.