One Year with the Fujinon XF 50-140mm f2.8

So another weekend came and went, and with finding the time to clean my lenses I had the strong urge to Marie Kondo my current glass line-up. Well I know she calls her process another thing, but it's my blog, so...

Anyway so I was looking at the glasses in my dry box, and my gaze fell to my 4th purchase for my Fuji line-up. The Fujinon XF 50-140mm f2.8 is an excellent piece of glass, part of the red badge trinity of professional lenses by Fuji. Pros and hobbyists alike swear by it, and the images it can help you produce.

I bought it with very high expectations, for portraits and travel, getting shots of the ladylove while she is surfing and general photography using a medium telephoto lens. It was awesome to behold out of the box, a cold metal behemoth, similar to the 70-200mm that Pros carry as their workhorse portrait lens. I felt like even with the weight and size it would be ok to carry it, never mind the bad balance on my camera at the time (Fujifilm X-T100).

Then COVID-19 happened, and while my great country happily chugs along the longest lockdown in the entire world, there has been very little chance to do any sort of photography at all. I have been able to shoot photos of things mundane and near my general area, but that's it.

What surprised me about the whole thing is that during this time, I have sold and bought a Fujinon XF 50mm f2 WR, a Fujinon XF 56mm f1.2 R, and a Fujinon XF 90 f2 WR. Exif data shows I carry even the 90mm more even if I got it last, on December 2020.

So what happened?

The 50-140 is still an awesome lens, but the thing is, all Fujinon lenses are great for their intended use. The 50-140's strength in my opinion is its flexibility as a zoom, where one doesn't need to keep changing lenses. For use during events, gathering and even during travel - despite the weight penalty it is a stellar glass that I'm willing to carry.

Under physical distancing, and with all the items we are required to bring or produce to just go out and walk in a park (Mask, Face Shield, Alcohol, Disinfectant wipes) the lens turns into a cumbersome appendage, difficult to wield and a pain to bring in and out of the bag. A two body and a 16/56 or 16/50 or even a 56/90 combo is much easier to shoot with, rather than the 16/50-140, 23/50-140 or 35/50-140 I saw myself carrying on a regular basis. I even ended up carrying the 18/50f2 combo a lot of the times because it was so light.

I can't  make myself put the lens on the market yet, because it is a really great lens. But of all the Fujinon lenses I own, it is the nearest one to that decision because I don't find a use for it anymore. Right now the 50-230 seems to be a good proposition if I just need the extra reach. I won't be shooting a surfing wife at f2.8 anyway.

From January - February 2020

From May - June 2020

From December 2020

A Surprise Trip and A Gear Carrying Exercise

Saturday came with it's own usual dreariness in this continuing time of COVID-19. I was thinking of just hanging around the neighborhood and trying to see if I can view the world in another way. Perhaps that can get me some shots for the day.

For some reason, my wife pulled me out of the house and we ended up spending the day traveling in the outskirts of our city.

She asked me to grab a couple of cameras and lenses for varied situations (Don't you just love it when the one you love supports your craziness?). I brought the #FujinonXF18mmf2.0 as my wide lens, the #FujinonXF35mmf1.4 for general use and the #FujinonXF50-140mmf2.8 just to be safe (Oh boy, even if it was heavy wasn't I thankful). Oh, also the #FujinonXF23mmf1.4 as a just in case lens.

I ended up just using the 35mm and the 50-140mm for most of the day as I realized I would end up missing both the time I would spend with my wife, and also the shots I would try and take while I thought about what lens to use and then mounting them. I also kept hearing the voices of my boss, who is a proponent of the 18-135mm and my event photographer buddy who is a supporter of the carry only one lens camp saying I already had a penalty on my carry weight if it was Diablo.

I'm still deciding about the 50-140. It's a great lens to have, but shooting outside, lugging it, getting into all sorts of "what bag?", "dang it doesn't fit here too" stuff just gets on your nerves you know? Moreso if you've committed to a mirrorless APS-C system. You're supposed to carry light.

Real world experience is that the 35f1.4 will rock your socks off on a consistent basis. On the newer bodies, Fujifilm X-T3 and X-T4 with their improved AF, the lens has a new lease on life. Yes you still hear it creaking and grinding away like some ancient machine about to bring desolation into your world, but man with the images it can give you it's just stunning.

The 50-140f2.8 will always live up to it's red badge heritage. It's an awesome lens to have in your arsenal and you forget the weight, the size and your reason for going mirrorless when you take you snaps with this baby mounted. And on an IBIS body like the T4 you are in hand held heaven bay-bee.

Well the 23f1.4 did see some action, during the evening.

As always, I ended up my day being thankful for the woman who loves me enough to try and alter the course of my universe everyday. I wouldn't be writing about these bleh gear stuff if she didn't shock me off my stupor.

Disjointed

So I guess I'm back. Again.

I've been looking at what's here, and it's sort of who I am - a series of a lot of things, but none of anything that makes you remember.

There's travel and traveling, and movement, which I enjoy.

There's photography, which I like.

There's music, which soothes my soul.

There's angst and all else, which me being a very wound up individual has a lot of.

Conventional wisdom says that I should hone the message and keep it to a minimum to get engagement.

But I have not come here for engagement, this has been my comfort spot for a very long time now. And I am still very hurt about having to take down writings here when I burned my bridges more than a decade ago.

I write what I like here, and what tickles my fancy. I mostly am talking to myself as I write, and these, as sick as they may sound, aren't really meant for anyone else.

Well if you're here thank you for reading, and if you got to this part gratitude is in order.

But (again but) this wasn't really meant for someone else, the only thing it was really ever was me speaking into the void

Katsu Shokudo

Katsu Shokudo

Visayas Avenue, Quezon City

It’s been cold recently in the Metro, not vortex cold, but cold enough for the common Indio to go looking for warm soup when it’s evening and he’s out and about.

It’s the reason why mami has always been a favorite, and now that we’ve become global as the walls of distances come down with the advent of the Information Age, Japan’s Ramen dish is slowly but surely gaining ground as a staple in Filipino’s gastronomic lists.

Katsu Shokudo is a quaint and unpretentious Ramen shop located at in the stretch of Visayas Ave. It looks and feels like how Ramen shops are in its native land, small. homey, and part of its neighborhood.

The fare is simple and straightforward: Katsu in two famous flavors and Ramen in three (Shoyu, Shio, and lol Spicy). They have Gyoza, and Takoyaki to complement the craving, and that’s it. I found the fare’s exactness to my liking, it doesn’t confuse the customer. 

A bowl of Ramen will cost you PHP 160-ish, and Katsu

will cost the same. The ingredients are true to form, not some Japanese wannabe version of the mami. The flavors are strong and crisp, and I would say better than it’s price range. We’ve done some research on how to prepare the soup bases since we’re foodies, and lemme tell you, significant hours are spent with the broth.

We’ve tried out Ramen Houses that cost more but taste like the soup was from - well let’s not go there. I should learn to say “not very tasty” instead.

The crew was very warm and friendly, and for a set-up this small and intimate, makes the dining experience really great. Like visiting a friend’s restaurant. Head on over to Katsu Shokudo and find out for yourself!

Mad Cafe

Mad Cafe

#19 Congressional Avenue, Quezon City

Fri-yay! 

After a couple of days of most things not going right and some going really well, it’s finally the end of the week. I’ve not written about a place ever while I was there, and well you can chalk this to two things: one, I was feeling so bad about our collective week that it was immensely fun to be here, and two, Mad Cafe is great as itself.

Both are good things taken by themselves and as a whole don’t you think?

Applauding the panache and vision of the owners, the sheer gutsiness of Mad  Cafe in placing their establishment near the beloved Starbucks of the area, near the (now extremely disappointing) Pares Retiro, Kowloon, and a something-something Noodle and Breakfast joint across the street, is enough to warrant a look-see. Or rather a look-taste. One wouldn’t go willingly in the middle of a cross hair unless confident; or Crazy. So yeah, welcome to Mad Cafe!

As their name implies, they have the regular run of the coffee list from Cappuccino at PHP 80 to Espresso at PHP 110, and to their credit, have milk teas too. Since we are in Mad Cafe, why not try their concoction of fruit juices and our much loved Yakult? We tried two orders, one with Kiwi and the other one with Mango, large servings at PHP 110. I’m secretly sipping very slow right now and just taking the flavors in. They’re surprisingly good. They let you borrow their metal straws too, so those for lessening their carbon footprints you’ve found a place in Quezon City to support!

We went our separate ways ordering food, and again commending the zany way the menu is structured, we ordered Pork Binagoongan for PHP 180 and their Beef Cheeseburger with Chips for PHP 190.

The burger was well seasoned and carried a punch of flavor, reminded me of those classic Mom and Pops in Manila’s heyday before all these fast food giants altered the landscape. It was juicy and well done, and the cheese gently reminding you it was there, like a very enjoyable and familiar blanket.

The bagoong wasn’t offensive to the olfactory senses, but to our surprise, wasn’t bland at all. Pork was seasoned and cooked just right too.

The serving sizes are reasonable at it’s price range, and you can stay for hours and keep ordering without necessarily denting you pocket a great deal.

Why stay? Cubbyholes for you and your friends. A ball pool, swing and a small playhouse with a slide for the kids. And, and, and boardgames!

Mad Cafe is located near the intersection of Visayas and Congressional Avenues, and will be on your right if you are headed to Luzon Avenue and on your left if you are headed to Mindanao Avenue.

Go pay them a visit!

Oh, just found out. They're not open until two am on a weekday.

Tim Äwä - EP

Tim Äwä - EP

So it was going to be an exciting evening. Counterflow had a benefit gig and we were invited by a childhood best bud who happens to be the guitarist for Monochrome (more on that later).

We walk into Mow’s as Tim Äwä was starting the set, and boy wasn’t it ear candy love at first sight! Or rather, some post psychedelic, grunge, gothic, soul drawing rock music that was utterly hypnotic kept us in thrall. It was like deliberately stepping on a rake to have its handle whack you in the face intense. But in a good way.

Tim Äwä’s self titled EP has five tracks, each of them a gem in its own right.

The percussion and bass work on the tracks are tight, snug like a blanket. Guitars are dreamy, and quite intelligent. The melodies and harmonies employed make you feel like riding a huge cloud (blanket, walking bed of ants, take your pick) that even though drips of possibly gothic sadness is all Filipino mythology and is surprisingly unobtrusive and unpretentious at the same time. 

The tracks evoke strong personal memories, testament to the artistry of Tim Äwä. It sounds deeply personal, which is why it rings true to the listener I think. I was so caught I actually searched for where to get the album and whee! It was available on iTunes. 

Sample the songs boys and girls. These are who we should support. OPM with stress on all three letters. Original Pinoy Music. We are a little late to the party as this was released last year, but hey better late than never right?

The Street Photographer and Shyness

Street photography. Interesting right?

Get out, walk around, get to know people.

Take portraits. Take photos of scenes.  Easy peasy.

Right?

No.

Yesterday my better half, forced my hand on a project I have been mulling for sometime now. I love coffee and I love coffee shops. Topping the list is that American Giant, Starbucks. I was thinking the project would be of women who love having coffee, perhaps starting at Starbucks and then progressing to all coffee houses and opportunities to have coffee.

Sounds easy enough. 

I'm on day two, and I'm sitting here frozen to death. I am stuck to my chair it's actually laughable. Why is it so hard, to try and break the ice and approach people? It might be rejection I think. That I know that makes it all the more embarrassing since I can't take any action despite knowing what my actual issue is.

Hey, if you're mostly mistaken for someone who will mug people - then you may think twice about approaching people too. 

So now. I'm stuck with this. A loser photo, of the Frappuccino I will be taking home for when she wakes up. She'll be saddened by my reticence of course. And I'm going to be a little sadder for both my inability, and that I made her sad.

Who knew learning photography would be so difficult? Le sigh.

Teaser Review: Nabulao Beach and Dive Resort

Sunset @ Nabulao Beach

Nabulao Beach and Dive Resort

Hinoba-an, Negros Occidental

I'll complete the write up over the weekend. I hope.

Just couldn't leave it alone like this. It's a four our drive from Bacolod or a three hour drive from Dumaguete or a 25 minute trip from Sipalay via a charter plane from Cebu courtesy of Air Juan.

The surrounding area is lush, and the drive although long, does not take you through bang-your-head-on-the-glass kind of traffic. We had the needle mainly fixed at sixty most of the time.

The resort was such a pleasant surprise. Great people, excellent food, wonderful amenities. The service was so good we forgot we were on our first visit. 

Photos here, which I will also update over the weekend.

Revisiting The Alarm’s “Rescue Me”

The first time I heard "Rescue Me" was, well just over three decades ago. I was in that difficult stage in life that is the transition from childhood to adolescence. 

My mother left the country in search of a re-start for her life, and eventually as she hoped, our lives. My father was, well what were fathers like in those days? They were distant and rarely seen figures who would just grunt, nod or shake their heads.

If you had one that talked to you, then you were golden. Usually those were Dads of the rich kids, the ones who didn’t need to toil too much. 

Lost and unsure, the world was such a hostile and lonely place. In such loneliness, sadness can easily form into anger. A huge ball of anger that does not have direction, and for the one carrying it, has enough juice to burn the world.

Rescue Me was a song from The Alarm’s third studio album, Eye of the Hurricane, released in 1987, In the pre-internet age, the chance that we here in the Philippines could have found that song was minimal. But true to the ironies of life, some such things do happen.

“Rescue Me” did not touch on what I was my problem was. What it did was grab what I was feeling, that which was so big, it felt like it spanned the breadth of the universe and made me (unknowingly) channel it into singing along at the top of my voice, with my fists clenched and tears running down my face. Fast forward to now, remembering it so strongly that I ended up going to iTunes and purchased it from "The Best of The Alarm" album.

It started my love for the British bands of that age, singing about the general inequality of life, and our human condition. It was one of the things that allowed me to step off the ledge, and reach this age, where I now write, and most oftentimes discuss about my passions. Although frankly speaking, I should try and keep a recorder, because what I’m writing about now is just a shell of the discussion I had earlier that brought this up.

Ah, but we can’t all be rockstars or poets. But we can still bask in their glory. If you feel lost right now and wander here, I am an example that there is tomorrow, if you decide not to cut your life short.

Friday Evening With A Ten Year Old Mental Block

Valero Street, Makati City

So I’m back. Still lost. Still trying to recapture that fire that made me write like a procreating rabbit all those years ago. Sadly, it’s like slamming over and over again into a brick wall.

So, I said I’ll write and dragged Heidi to the corner Starbucks to go and do that.

Thirty minutes into this and all we’ve done is smoke and throw bull at each other. Ah such is life sometimes, and I still wonder what to write. And why the muse has turned her back on me.

I know there’s a story inside me. Stories rather. But I am not sure what I need to write before I can get what I want out there. It’s like there’s a block. 

The story I want to birth into the world is ephemeral. It is here in bits and pieces, but the glue, the strand to hold it together floats around like smoke.

I’m not sure how to go about it, I’ve tried all the roads I know, and they all are dead ends.

Robert Smith is slow dancing in my head under gloomy lights and fog from a smoke machine. He’s actually singing Pictures of You, streaming straight from iTunes into the wireless Marshall Major II headset I have on.

It’s gloomy and I’m sort of happy. And with all the wanting to write, all I ended up with is brand whoring.

Sigh. End frame, exit stage right and slip on a banana peel.

Navigationally Challenged

From those who've made it we keep hearing "follow your passion",  "live to inspire", "be the change that you want to see" and a lot of other things that would just make you gag if you saw it printed in a shirt.

I find myself relevant and satisfied in where I am and what I do. Yet I still am longing for the freedom to widen my circle of influence, to find a venue to inspire others that are currently not within grasp, to try and make a difference for those who do not work for or with me.

A question that comes up, specifically in third world states - there are very few opportunities, too little in the manner of resources,  and too much of apathy.  People desperately trying to survive will ensure food before existentialism.  Exist first, philosophy is for a full stomach.

But what I've found in the course of my life is that people will still listen.  There are still those who search for some more even in the middle of hopelessness.  That there might be a way to elevate oneself against the tides of a life chained to poverty.

In that context I'll continue to try. To find those who'll listen.  And continue to teach.

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