Leaves... all of them. Plus a chipmunked squirrel.

I had gone to take some trash out, when I decided to go through the garage. Upon opening the big door, I found a crop circle of leaves on the ground. Or at least the start of a group of pillaging flora. I thought the array of various colored leaves was so intricately placed, that I had to get some photos of them, just for sake of "weird".

In I go, grab the Canon EOS Rebel T3 Digital SLR Camera (which is discontinued so badly, it's only available on Amazon Marketplace. "Good thing" I upgraded today?), along with the Fotodiox Canon EOS Macro Extension Tube Set for Extreme Close-Ups, and off I sit, on the ground, taking pictures.

This is why, I really hope the new kit I got today, fully works. The adapters and the lenses that come with the T7i look amazing all together ("great deal"), but stupid me researched them after the fact. To find the macro and wide angle lens are kinda crap. I really hope I have better luck, or I'm going to have to invest in other avenues.

Anyway...

On the ground I sit, minding my business, and neighbors are coming and going. There's a party across the street, people were walking their dogs, and I'm the weirdo with the oddly outfitted camera, looking like a fool, taking photos of dead leaves.

Don't believe me?

Ask the rodent with its' tail in the flower pot.

 

 

 



If it answered your questions, I'll show you the leaves.


Yes?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 




The photos were touched up in Photoshop CS5 (which, due to being a program that is part of Creative Cloud these days, there are a lot of books seemingly available, but not a download for the program). I did some minor stuff (contrast, tone, color, sharpen). Since I'm working on a laptop that isn't calibrated for editing, the sad part is WYSISYG: Good, bad and indifferently ugly. Maybe once I get the new camera and figure it out, I'll get a calibration system and do better in my edits.

If I had a bigger desk, it would probably include an external monitor too, but beggars can't be choosers and this isn't a full time gig. I also don't have an office anymore since we moved here. I work out of my bedroom and live at home with my mother. So until I win the multi-million dollar Powerball, I'll post ugly edited photos. 😄


I guess that's it. It's late, I'm tired, and we're expecting guests tomorrow. I need to get some rest and make sure cameras are charged, as everyone loves a photo opportunity and I'm the team photographer.

Have a great night!


Cheers;

I didn't buy a farm. Or a zoo.

I bought a camera.




Yes; I finally "broke down" and scoured "the bundle deals" for the Canon EOS Rebel T7i camera I've been thinking (and talking) about upgrading to.

I product searched, bundle searched and came to the conclusion, that although they come with similar accessories; there are upgrades that I'd like to have, to try to be a better photographer.

I chose the Canon EOS Rebel T7i DSLR Camera Bundle Canon EF-S 18-55mm STM Lens + 32GB Sandisk Memory + Canon Case + TTL Speedlight Flash (Good Upto 180 Feet) + Accessory Bundle because it includes a flash I've always been curious about. Sure, I'll now be an owner of a third tripod (and case), but the speedlight flash has always been one of those "extras" I've wanted to test out (I have an additional flash in my kit, but the bouncer one is a nice touch to use). I may not always shoot in manual mode, but perhaps this addition to my cache will allow me to experiment a little more and get proper lighting techniques down. The other nice things in this package include a few filters and lens adapters. I'm interested in seeing how the wide angle and macro fare, as they seem to be on the lower end of the spectrum. I really hope they turn out okay (and I didn't screw myself with being hasty and "looking for a decent deal")! If not, chalk it up to experience of buying, and doing more research.

I should be getting everything in the mail by Tuesday, and will test it all out during the week. I'll post updates when I can, using it, and explain what processes I used.

Hopefully everything comes out okay!!!


Fingers crossed;


Cheers!

Must be Sunday Supper... mangiare!

Again, I decided to make my (morning) smoothie and ask for some cooking music from Alexa. As she loves to surprise, I was given the playlist, "Italian Dinner Party".

Although this playlist is supposed to be curated by "experts", it seems as if there are two different lists going on: the one on the speaker is not the one on the website (for having the same title and image).

Why?

Number one: The playlist online says there are 20 songs, and there are only 13 showing up; I checked my account and in the music history, it also has 13 tracks.

Number two: The 13 tracks equal out to be 37 minutes and some change, give or take, if my math is right. The website says it's 59 minutes and 20 songs. The seven tracks that are missing, need to equal out to about 22 minutes. At that point, all the songs have to be around the 3 minute mark. It can fluctuate a maximum of 3 seconds, up or down, but I'd also like to see what songs are missing to make it happen.

Number three: the first song Alexa played was O Sole Mio by Mario Lanza (which is track 3 on the website). It was followed by Dean Martin singing That's Amore. One of the four images in the main playlist image is Dean Martin and "That's Amore", yet, it's missing from said playlist. I didn't catch the third song (I was running the blender), but the next one was Rosemary Clooney singing Mambo Italiano. Another song missing off the track list.

It was at that point, I asked Alexa to stop and got on my computer to start writing this.

It's weird how asking our smart devices to play something, and it does, but it shows up as something different online. The Alexa app on my phone says she played the Italian Dinner Party, the Amazon Music app on my Roku says I recently played the Italian Dinner Party playlist, but 4 songs I heard (okay, three that I know), are all different from what's played.

Maybe she will play something different the next time I ask for cooking music...


All in all, I guess sometimes nothing is what it seems?


Cheers;











PS: Go Pats. #Doyourjob