Two types of people who cycle under this condition

18mm f/8 1/320 ISO100 with AF-S DX VR Zoom-Nikkor 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED

There are two types of people who cycle under this harsh condition. One: he/she is required/forced to cycle because of his/her job. Two: he/she is crazy enough.

The mercury rose 40+, so there were no people who are around the cycling lane at that time. There is no place to take a rest. There is no place to get away from the cycling lane. All you can do is just cycle and go forward.

This picture was taken near the bridge of Kozaki Town, or Route 356. This place is still 40km+ away from the Tone-river mouth of the Pacific Ocean...

Why are you here?

35mm f/1.8 1/250 ISO1600 by AF-S DX Nikkor 35mm f/1.8G

One day in crazy hot summer, I had a guest that was not expected but familiar in the forest these days. I heard someone/something buzzing in the middle day of the night, and I thought I went crazy finally in this hot summer!

But I didn't go as crazy as the guest I had unexpectedly. I still don't know why and how he(or she) came here, but he really existed at home!

I took his photo, captured him, and released outside.

What time is it?

40mm f/3 1/125 ISO400 by AF-S DX Micro Nikkor 40mm f/2.8G

Having a beer in the daytime on Sunday! This is one of the happiest moment in our life, even nicer if the beer is Tiger. This beer is very sharp compared with Japanese beers. The taste is so-so in Japan, but still great refreshment!

It's Tiger time!

Another Windy Day

35mm f/2.8 1/3200 ISO100 by AF-S DX Nikkor 35mm f/1.8G

Windy, windy, windy! It was not a silent Sunday. Rain was gone but strong wind is here with the warmest weather. I went shopping but I couldn't stand right in the strong wind. What was worse, I hit my head on the pole and fell down. I have a headache now, and I hope it will be ok tomorrow.

My new MacBook 15 Retina is a very good mac. It has a wide screen, stressless speed, and easy to transfer the data from my previous mac via iCloud. These are what I expected, but the speed of the thunderbolt port was insanely fast. Most of the data was transferred in a second!!!

My Mac History.

40mm f/2.8 1/200 ISO1600 by AF-S DX Micro Nikkor 40mm f/2.8G

As you expected, I will post this. Yes, about my new Mac!!

This is my..... ok let me count how many macs I have had before.

Pre Mac era.
I had a 500,000 yen Windows 3.1 PC, which was the final and most influential birthday gift from my father. If I had not had this wintel pc, I would not have had lots of PCs! At that time, my father probably struggled the new IT era, and he did not use a PC at all, which was a very big handicap in the office. He thought, "I will not make my son(me) feel the same thing when he grows."

So, he bought a very expensive PC and I used it as a Nintendo Super Famicon (SNES) monitor. I didn't know how to use that expensive machine but day by day I started to learn how to use it.

However, the speed of the tech improvement was not gradual at that time. One year was very good enough to make one computer retired. So my computer was obsolete so quickly. It took 30 seconds to launch Netscape Navigator 4.0 or Internet Explorer 3.2.

Also, I had a very good friend who was crazy enough to talk about Mac every single minute. Mac Mac Mac... so I was very influenced by him.

iMac (1998)
All of you can agree this new mac is a milestone of Apple, and as much as my mac life. I made a smart loan to buy the bondi blue iMac and started my mac life. I vividly remember there were so many boxes for iMac piled up in the center of a T-Zone, which was a local authorized retailer for iMac. They didn't give us any discount for it because the new Apple was very strict. the Power PC G3 processor desktop is 207,800 yen, including 128MB RAM. My heart was just as swaying as my father's car on our way back home. When I recall my mac life, it was the happiest moment.

PowerBook G4 500 (2001)
"Someday PowerBook." Many Mac evangelists say that they wish to sit behind the black desk that is very large only with a PowerBook. It sounds gorgeous, isn't it!? I decided to bring a mac to the office and to my new home in Singapore, so I made another loan to buy PowerBook G4. It was a second-handed but it was very beautiful.

PowerBook G4 867 (2003?)
I loved PBG4, so my new Mac was again,...PowerBook G4! This was my first Mac that had a US-keyboard, and from this, I continued to buy a US-Keyboard Mac. The design was not thrown away, and it was more beautiful and neater than the Japanese keyboards, where a lot of useless Japanese Hiragana were printed.

PowerBook G4 1.5 (2005?)
I bought this because... I wanted to release my stress. Well, I don't remember why I had to buy this. Maybe because it was needed for me to do video editing.

MacBook 13 White
This was my first intel PC. I bought this almost for free, because the selling price in the second hand market for PBG4 was almost the same as MacBook. Around this time, I was not required to do video editing for the company so I didn't have to continue to use PowerBook G4. I was also interested in intel-Macs, as well.

MacBook Pro 13 Intel Core 2 Duo
I don't remember this Mac so clearly, but I bought the Mac twice if I am not wrong. Around this time, Mac is no more my hobby, and it became just a tool to do something.

And...

MacBook 15 Retina!!!
This is my 8th Mac in life! Enjoy a new Mac life!

FYI.
I bought other macs for my wife and my family.
For my wife, I bought;
iBook G3 800
MacBook 13
MacBook Pro 13
MacBook Air

For my mother, I bought;
iBook G3 Indigo
iBook G3 14
MacBook 13
MacBook Pro 13

The Sakura Carpet

35mm f/2.8 1/100 ISO400 by AF-S DX Nikkor 35mm f/1.8G

We had rain today, and most of the sakura petals fell..... onto the ground. The ground is covered with sakura and it is like a pink carpet.

What Are You Looking at?

35mm f/8 1/640 ISO200 by AF-S DX Nikkor 35mm f/1.8G 

What are you looking at?

He is probably looking at lots of tourists downstairs. That old capital was crowded with so many  visitors from foreign countries as well as so many family with kids.

When we went back, there were lots of tourists at the station and many of them took the green car by mistake and had in trouble. One western mother was trying to push out her buggy in vain. The door was closed. The JR East officer came but she couldn't speak English well to explain her situation. There was only one thing I could contribute to her.

Revise or Raise?

40mm f/4 1/80 ISO800 by AF-S DX Micro Nikkor 40mm f/2.8G 

It is April Fool's day. Many people make a joke and enjoy it.

One website says that Apple Inc. announced a new product to charge the battery wirelessly. This is named 'Power Plant' and because of this box, we don't have to connect anything to our Mac, iPhone, iPad, and any other Apple products when we enjoy. The power cable, which was the last cable that was hooked to the Mac, was finally disconnected.

There are lots of websites that post April fool hoaxes and sometimes we are deceived and then laugh.

By the way, one Japanese newspaper announced that they have changed their name from THE DAILY YOMIURI to The Japan News. They say they added much more information and revised the subscription fee for it. Is this just a 'revise' or 'raise'? Is this another April fool's joke or serious?

Another Spring.

70mm 1/1000 f/8 ISO400 by AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G

Sakura are now everywhere, and many people enjoy their life under the tree. On the other hand, I feel a bit bored at the flower so cycled to find another spring flower, which is a kind of cole.

They were blossomed around a open field of a coastal park. I enjoyed a lot but that was another cold day.

Lots of Warm Hearts

35mm f/2.8 1/200 ISO2500 by AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G

We had a special guests today, and it was a heartwarming time. We had delicious lunch, lovely chats, and lots of fun.

There was also a very good shutter chance to make our hearts warm, but the timing was gone while I was looking for a camera.

Saturday Silence

40mm f/9 1/320 ISO200 by AF-S DX Micro Nikkor 40mm f2.8

The sky blue tells us the arrival of spring to us. Even in the morning, I was able to walk in the field without a coat. Yes, spring has come!

A Nikon mini (aka Nikon 1 V1).

35mm f/5.6 1/160 ISO3200 by AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G

Many people (including me) didn't like this Nikon at first. We would often criticize the tiny image sensor without even trying this super camera. We (especially I) had a prejudice to this camera, so when I tried this at a local retailer, it didn't become my favorite.

1.5 years passed.

Many photographers (or camera hobbyists) gradually started to post positive reviews on the Internet. After reading these posts, I went back to retail stores to try it again. I was surprised at the build quality, the AF speed, and the price.

At the same time, my daughter had been nagging at me to buy a digital camera as her 8th birthday gift after her 7th birthday. 

Today, the Nikon mini came home as a birthday gift for her, and I have a 'friend' who can share my hobby.

Windy Again.

40mm f/11 1/50 ISO100 by AF-S DX Micro Nikkor 40mm f2.8G

It was a windy day again, and many trains at Tokyo area were suspended. Yet I didn't know it, because I was working at office. When I was on the way to go to a small party, everything was as usual, as if nothing had occurred.

Which One do You Prefer, Cold or Windy?

18mm 1/125 f/11 ISO100 by AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G

Once the very cold days have gone, the windy days have come, and I started to suffer from hay fever. My eyes are swollen and very itchy. What is worse, the sky has become very brown today. Is this China?

To take this photo, I went out. When I opened up my eyes and looked into the D7000 finder, some dust came into my left eye!

Completely Different from What it was 30 Years Ago.

35mm f/8 1/60 ISO100 by AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G

I visited this shrine for the first time in about 30 years. Everything was completely different from what I used to see. I cycled around, trying to find some pieces of my memory. It was useless; Everything was demolished under the urban redevelopment project of Tokyo and the landscape was totally 'updated'.

I found myself to cycle about 40km in the warmer winter.

Life is like Cycling.

35mm f/1.8 1/100 ISO1600 by AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G

Life is like cycling.
Sometimes you go uphill or other times you go downhill.
You cycle in the rain or in the wind.
And you must pedal to go forward also in your life on your will.

What Do You Think of while Watching a Sunset?

35mm f/8 1/1000 ISO100 by AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G

What do you think of while watching a sunset at the coast?

I walked along the river coast after working not for testing the lens but for refreshing my mind. But I was recalling the meeting for today.

My Own D7000 Review after One Week Part1.

40mm f/8 1/4 ISO1600 by AF-S DX Micro Nikkor 40mm f/2.8G

I was thinking of posting a review for Nikon D7000, but I had to struggle to take the self portrait; how can I photograph the Nikon D7000 using itself?

This photo is the result after one-hour struggle. Now let me get started...well I am tired so I will start it from tomorrow (possibly).

Wish our daughters happiness.

40mm f/3.2 1/100 ISO1600 by AF-S DX Micro Nikkor 40mm f/2.8G 

Today is Hina-Matsuri, the day to celebrate girls' healthy growth. We celebrate the ritual by displaying noble dolls, along with another nice doll.

Strong Winds.

18mm 1/15 f/3.5 ISO3200 by AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G

No one could stand up under the strong winds today. It was a warmer day especially under the sun, but once a strong gust came, we couldn't help going back to the winter. I still vividly remember how freezing when I pressed the shutter for this photo.

A Steep Staircase.

18mm 1/20 f/3.5 ISO2500 by AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G

This is my second visit to Yokohama if I am not wrong. Last time I visit that port city, I enjoyed a magnificent sea view from the harbour. It was a windy but warm day.

This time, I learned it has lots of steep staircases that people climb up panting. Climbing up up up... but still some more distance to the destination. big sigh#

One more thing I have to say is that Yokohama is very far away from my residence. I felt as if I were in an economy seat of the airplane during the two-hour journey by train.

Freezing until When?

40mm 1/50 f/3.3 ISO200 by AF-S DX Micro Nikkor 40mm f/2.8G

Can anyone tell when these freezing days will be over? I cannot stand this cold climate any longer.

A Crumpler Camera Strap.

40mm 1/10 f/63 ISO1600 by AF-S DX Micro Nikkor 40mm f/2.8G

This is my 8th Crumpler, which is THE INDUSTRY DISGRACE.

Crumpler is an Australian company, and they originally produce messenger bags. The design is very colourful or very eccentric, so someone may feel it is a very cheap joke item. But IT IS NOT.

The first backpack I bought had kept the condition for about 8 years and still be used. I like this quality and think this camera strap matches my new Nikon D7000.

Lots of Ways to Deliver One Message.

40mm 1/160 f/5.6 ISO200 by AF-S DX Micro Nikkor 40mm f/2.8G

There are lots of ways to deliver one message.

They say on the board, "Now, we are dedicatedly baking new bread. Please wait for a moment." instead of just saying, "Closed." or "Not ready."

A Gift for 5 Years Old.

40mm f/3 1/60 ISO1600 by AF-S DX Micro Nikkor 40mm f/2.8G 

A One-Year m43 History before Returning to Nikon.

So, I took a long note about a dark era with GX1.

My Dark Life Started with Panasonic GX1...
Two years ago, I was struggling with the weight of Nikon D40 with AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G. It was about 650g+. I had to carry my two heavy babies together with D40, so I was totally tired out. Finally I screamed, "The lighter, the better. There are two cameras in the world; one is pocketable, and the other is not." Eventually, I sold away all of the nikon lenses, and went to the m43 system.

Until selling away, I had used:
AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED II
AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED
Ai AF NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8D
Ai AF Nikkor 24mm f/2.8D
AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G ED
AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR
AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G
AF-S VR Zoom-Nikkor 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G IF-ED

Anyway, I sold away everything.

Panasonic GX1 was a good camera. I had to concede it. It was much lighter and had good ISO sensitivity. Yet, the image quality is honestly something different from what I expected maybe because it was the m43 system. I could not get the shallow depth of field.

A few days after I bought GX1, I went to a camera shop to purchase LEICA DG SUMMILUX 25mm/F1.4, and I barely got a good bokeh. It became my can-be-acceptable combination with GX1.

But still I had a problem; GX1 had no finder. How can I enjoy photography without looking into the finder and capture every single moment of my life. I bought LVF-2, which is an external electronic view finder, but it didn't meet me. GX1 was designed without any finder, so even though I attached it, it was not so convenient or fun.

What was worse, I was not happy with all of the result with GX1 because the image quality was not what I wanted. They boasted of the quality but I didn't like it somehow. I couldn't help feeling my photography life was very dull.

I used the following lenses but none of them made me happy.

LUMIX G 14mm/F2.5 ASPH.
LEICA DG SUMMILUX 25mm/F1.4 ASPH.
LUMIX G X VARIO PZ 45-175mm/F4.5-5.6 ASPH./Power O.I.S.

One day in February 2013, I made up my mind to go back to the Nikon system and regain the happy photography life! I started to go to the market research.

Goodbye m43, Hello Nikon D7000!

My Nikon taken by iPhone 4S (for the last time hopefully)

Hello.

I bought a Nikon again! I gave up photographing with Nikon D40 two years ago, and went to m43. The reason? I cound't carry around D40 with two heavy babies. And it was a start to the dark era of my camera life. Today I bought another Nikon, which was Nikon D7000. Yes, I came back to the Nikon world.

This will be the first and the last photo taken by a non-D7000 camera on this photo blog(hopefully)!!