Blog Posts - LeicaLux

Misty in Universal Studio...

9/25/2016

It was a hot day... after a brief debate in the morning, we decided to follow our plan to visit the Universal Studio Hollywood since the kids have been wanting to see the new Harry Potter attractions. It was nice of them to install many misty cooling fans all around the theme park on a hot day like this. It really made it more bearable. When the light hits mist in the afternoon, it also made dramatic images.

Today, I went light... armed with just the 35'Cron and a spare battery. Once I settled in with the 35mm field of view, things got a bit easier and I was able to take some street shots. People paid no attentions to me as I snapped away. To see the full set of images from today, please [CLICK HERE].

Back in the Silver Saddle again...

8/21/2016

We have not been back to the Silver Saddle Ranch since our first visit 2 years ago. This weekend, we decided to visit it again to celebrate a friend's birthday. It felt as if time has stood still in California City. We were hoping to see more development around the ranch, but I guess things progress much slower in the desert.

Lately, I've been doing less photography, and when I shoot, I use mainly just the 50'Lux. For the complete set, you may [CLICK HERE].

Aidan is 8 years old...

8/5/2016

Happy birthday to my little one... We invited all the family for a nice surf and turf dinner. With the older cousins going off to college and military, it'll be harder and harder to get everyone back together for group photos in the future.

... and don't forget, a "funny face" photo! Processed with VSCO Film "S - Fuji FP-100c Cool ++" preset.

Little Saigon Night Market...

7/20/2016

We had a brief visit to the Little Saigon night market the past weekend. There were lots of people, lots of food stands, just too bad that we already had dinner right before. I saw some people were playing Pokemon Go... *shakes head* *sigh*

Father and Son Hike...

7/10/2016

We went camping again this past weekend at Barton Flats Campground in Big Bear Mountain. Since other campers didn't seem too enthused about hiking the short trail up to Jenks Lake again, I went with my son, who kept telling me this is one of his most favorite hikes.

Last month when we were here, the water level at Jenks Lake was really low. But it has returned back to normal level now. While we explored around the lake, a ranger told us that they had to clear a 3.5 mile stream with shovels to keep the water coming in. He was really proud, and we thanked him for his hard work.

To see other photos from the trip, [CLICK HERE]

Oceanside RV Camping...

6/26/2016

We went RV camping this weekend in a friend's C-class RV at Oceanside, near San Diego. It was my first time camping in an RV park and it felt quite different than regular tent camping. Sleeping arrangements were definitely more comfortable, but it didn't have the connections of living close to nature. Perhaps RV'ing in campgrounds will be better, but the RV park we stayed in just felt much more city-like.

The kids had fun, nonetheless. They were constantly on their bikes riding around the RV park, and it was safe because people were conscious about driving slowly around the park. The beach was also only a short walk away, so location-wise, it was not bad at all. At night, no big campfires, but you're allowed built a small fire in a portable fire pit.

Barton Flats Campground...

6/5/2016

This campground around 100 miles away from our house is slowly becoming one of my favorite place to camp. Though it's near Big Bear Lake, popular local mountain resort city, this campground only required a short drive on a less traveled road that has less traffic and easier to drive. Jenks Lake is only a short hike away from the campground with nicely shaded trails and it's not too strenuous.

The Lake has lost a lot of its water from the recent drought, and even the non-eventful El Nino couldn't help it much. 50'Lux does its wonders again, giving me creamy bokeh and lovely colors. The WATE isn't lacking, either, giving me the wider perspective and sharp as needles. For the full set, [CLICK HERE].

Memorial Day in Santa Monica...

5/30/2016

The LA Metro just recently opened a line that goes straight to downtown Santa Monica, so we decided to give it a try on this Memorial Day. We start from the closest Metro stop from our house, the green line Norwalk station, then changed to the blue line up to Downtown LA, then switch again to the Expo line to Santa Monica. It took about 2 hours in total, one way, which was fine to us since we had the whole day and it gave me chances to shoot something interesting along the way.

Once we arrive Santa Monica, we first walked the 3rd Street Promenade to grab a bite for lunch. After that, it's all about the beach and the boardwalk. What a fun day my son had, and it made me wish I was young again. We rode on the ferris wheel today, which was a first for all of us.

What a long fun day... I traveled light with the 35'Cron all day and didn't felt too much need to switch lenses at all. The 35mm Summicron v4 isn't the sharpest lens, but it does gives a bit of that Leica glow. For the full set of images from today, [CLICK HERE].

Spring Concert...

5/25/2016

Chess class...

5/21/2016

My son's been taking an after-school chess class and Friday was their tournament day. He's never play chess before and he's doing quite well. He even beat me! However, I'm not a chess player either, I barely know how to move the pieces. Here are some shots with the 90'MEM because I wanted to hang back and not disturb them.