Don't Panik!!! - Eugene's Delicious Blog

For Canon users, shooting tethered usually means USB cable (or WFT transmitters) and EOS Utility. While fully functional and usable, the only thing I don't like about the EOS Utility is it will exit (and sometimes still stay in RAM) when you disconnect your camera. While perfectly fine for single session of shots, it doesn't make sense at least when you occasionally need to disconnect your camera. What is actually needed is a checkbox that says "Don't exit on Lost connection" and if it's checked, it should stay around and try to reconnect when the USB cable gets reconnected.

However, now I'm experimenting with DSLR remote in terms of wedding photography. Using a manfrotto lightstand and tripod head adapter, I can actually mount my camera in some location that's hard to reach or out of bounds when ceremonies begin. Live-view coupled with a laptop with ad-hoc wireless running and my iPhone, I should be able to capture some unique angles and shots. The only drawback I guess is that I need another camera body and lens.

First off, apologies for the lack of entries for quite a while now. I've been busy with way too many things. Of course the last two weeks also bring a lot of changes for me personally.

One big event this week is Kodak's retirement of Kodachrome. The thing about this is it tells everyone how old I am. It does show also when I got into photography... I didn't use Kodachrome much due to limited labs processing them here in Malaysia but I tend to use it's newer siblings, the Ektachrome series. There are some nice links here.

The other product I'm playing with right now and yes, it does have promise is DSLR Remote from OnOne software. Yes, I do think it needs to do AF but besides that, it's pretty cool and I think I've got quite a few new uses for it once my Manfrotto camera clamps arrive! Canon really needs to drop the price of their Wi-Fi transceivers (more later)! And of course I'll say it here again: OnOne software really needs to move their plugin suite to 64-bit. Like yesterday. 32-bit is so Windows XP

Anyways, back to topic:
Over last weekend's Focus on the Family event, I found out for the first time that the Direct Print button on my 5D Mark II actually had a use. Of course finally Canon's listening and the Direct print button doubles up to use as a toggle to get into HD Movie mode but prior Canon cameras don't have luxury. I still think it should be fully programmable though. Anyways, printing direct from Camera is cool for once and it does streamline the workflow... Shoot, connect camera, select image, hit print, swap camera, shoot, repeat the process. Easy!

However, the problem now is that in public events, that's not as sexy as a big widescreen monitor. I'll probably try this approach with the orang asli trip next... instant prints. Everyone loves that! So the next day, I lugged my laptop with a 22" wide-screen monitor along. Using the EOS Utility software, I ended up shooting tethered. The Capture Preview window was maximized on monitor 2 (external display) but the main display (laptop) was showing Adobe Bridge. Of course with Bridge CS4, you can have a second synchronized window so that can be toggled if the family wanted to preview the shots taken and select the best one for printing. Otherwise, the Capture preview was nice to show people what was the camera shooting at that time. So, short of having wireless USB, I think Canon ought to halve the price of the WFT-E4 transceiver! When I've more time this weekend, I'll post a more detailed description of the work flow and software used.

Ok, ok, she's not that small anymore but looks like I've to get her a playmate soon considering how bored she gets while we're out on assignments or work!

And no, that's not a jungle or park... it's just my backyard that's full of weeds!

You know people write blogs to communicate their daily occurrences and other events. Many also share what they do, what they eat, what they like and more. I decided to do an average day in Brands. Heh, I did a second major in marketing! Anyway, brands are more than logos but for brevity, I'm using their logos (or icons) here. Do note that this is just averaging out the weekdays (no weekends) and this is definitely not listing down every single brand I use on a daily basis -- I mean, that will be way to long considering this list is already long. Just thought this was a good idea after seeing this. How about the rest of you?

Canon has released a firmware update for the EOS 5D Mark II that enables manual control of ISO, aperture and shutter speed while the camera is set to capture video. Firmware v1.1.0 also disables the depth of field preview button when playing back photos or accessing the on-screen menus and corrects various bugs.

More information on firmware v1.10, as well as links to download it, are here. Two PDFs describe how to use the new features: English/French/Spanish or Japanese/English/Chinese.

Sugar-laden, calorie filled circles of dough! Compared to Big Apple donuts, Krispy Kreme's donuts were slightly heavier and packed more punch. The only thing I felt that needed to be changed was the amount of sugar. I mean, I like sweet stuff but this is like eating sugar. Halve the sugar and I think it'll still taste fantastic. How did I finish this box? With a cup of trip-shot espresso, black. So I guess I'll stick to Big Apple donuts.

The anatomy of a house move. Not many photos but I guess some will suffice. And here's a freebie I cooked up last Monday. I didn't have any photos since I was experimenting.

Bacardi Chicken
- Chicken breast, approximately 300gm.
- Bacardi rum obviously
- Herbs: oregano, marjoram, black pepper, garlic salt, paprika
- 3 tablespoons finely chopped garlic and one medium size onion, coarsely chopped.
- 2 tablespoons corn flour

Cut chicken into small pieces and marinade with 1/4 cup Bacardi, and herbs. Add 1 table spoon olive oil.
Heat pan on medium heat, add olive oil to coat, add garlic and onions. Saute lightly.
Toss in chicken only (no marinade). Brown chicken with high heat, let rum catch fire if possible.
Mix 1/2 cup Bacardi, 1/4 cup water, corn flour mixture. Pour into hot pan, stirring till sauce thickens.
Serve with rice or potatoes

New Home switches!

Thurs 5:30PM
Rushed back in heavy traffic to condo to get essential cleaning stuff.
Contractor workers came to touch up paint job, adjust wrong dimension kitchen stove top hole.
TNB connected electrical supply at 3pm so went to test all lights.
8:00PM
Cleaned up after the workers left.
9:00PM
Had quick dinner, went to in-laws place to borrow more samsonite bags for clothes
10PM
Packed a bit and then collapse into bed.

Good Fri 8:30AM
Go to house to meet contractor to fix leak in roof and finish touching up grills, etc Begin cleaning outside Massive whole house cleaning begins.
10:30am
Water filter guy arrives, can't reposition water mains right away so shift to 3pm.
Clean up grills, windows, doors, bathrooms.
Autogate installation begins.
Wipe down kitchen.
2:00PM
Fried rice for lunch
Moved several non-essential boxes from condo 3:00PM Water filter guy arrives, starts work.
5:00pm
ML goes to pick up friend from Melbourne to the house.
House cleaning continues.
5:30pm
Water filter done, flush water system.
Sort keys, wax timber flooring
8:00pm
Go for dinner with friend without showering 10:00pm Back at condo, shower and see photos for a bit.
11:00pm
Drop friend back to Bangsar
Begin packing like mad
I dismantle sofa set, two beds, wrap spare mattress, dining table in bubble wrap.
Move mattress to living room.

Saturday, April 11
1:00AM:
Continue packing stuff,put clothes into bag, dismantle Ikea Effektiv/Aneboda/etc
2:30AM:
Collapse into bed
7:00AM:
Duck quacking (alarm clock), wrap mattress in plastic wrap, finish packing essential boxes.
8:00AM:
Bread breakfast & coffee while packing kitchen stuff.
8:30AM:
Mover arrives along with AK & JV (bro-in-law) Park truck in lobby with two SUVs and a one-tonne lorry Mover begins to move things down to lobby including single bed, fridge, washer
10:00AM:
Mover loads up lorry, truck and two SUVs.
10:30AM:
Me and AK depart in two vehicles to house.
Lorry and ML & bro-in-law depart condo 10 minutes later and meet dad at house.
11:00am:
Movers begin to unload. Labeled boxes go to specific rooms.
Big furniture gets dumped into dining/living Auto-gate guy arrives to touch up paint job on gate.
11:20am:
Mover goes for drinks, four vehicles head back to Condo.
11:45AM:
AK brings 7-11 big gulp. Need sugar badly. Continue packing and moving boxes down to lobby
12:00pm:
Mover arrives at Condo again. Begin moving closets, queen bed and effektiv storage down to lobby. More kitchen stuff moved down along with 300kg of books.
12:45PM:
Movers load up lorry for the second trip. CRV is full of hanging clothes (too lazy to iron again), boxes go into truck bed, glassware into AK's X-trail. Pillows and bedding go into JV's car
1:30PM:
Arrive back at house. Dad leaves for home. Unload begins
2:00PM:
Unload finishes, movers depart after being paid. Clean-up and a bit of stuff moved to correct place. AK and us go for lunch.
3:00PM:
Most important thing: assemble the bed and change sheets Sweep and mop the dusty house. Put back closet, chest drawers, etc.
4:00PM:
Inspector #1 arrives: Mom & Dad.
Sit for the first time all day and rest. Just plain water for drinks. Unwrap dining table and chairs in the process since they need to sit somewhere.
Restart fridge, move things from icebox to fridge.
5:00PM:
Take a quick cold shower (no water heater yet). Go back to Condo to get more stuff like hangers, electrical stuff and appliances. Mops, detergent, pails and toiletries. Make 4 trips down to car. Rain pours with unabated fury.
7:00PM
Arrive back home, unload.
7:45PM
AK arrives with SC & JT (Inspector #2) 8:00PM Hokkien mee dinner with ikan bakar, and more lard laden food.
10:00PM
Finish dinner, go home.
Continue unpacking, clean up cups, and unwrap essentials 10:30pm KW arrives with ladder (inspector #3) 11:00pm collapse into bed again

Easter Sunday
7:00AM:
Wake up, boil water for shower
Continue to unpack kitchen.
8:40AM: No coffee, no breakfast, go to church
10:40AM:
Coffee at last!
Go to ACE to pick up new locks, new mop, some light bulbs, etc.
11:40AM:
Go to in-laws place for lunch. Get bamboo poles for laundry line 1:00PM Rush back due to heavy rain.
Do Laundry, mop house again, unpack clothes and put into closet 3:00PM Put in external light bulbs, set-up master bed room, Clean-up kitchen, put in food stuff and arrange back glassware 5:00PM Back to Condo to get more things, collect laundry from condo clothesline, microwave, water filter, mirror and laptop, shoes, etc.
6:00PM
Back to house, unpack
7:00PM
Go to Mom's place for dinner, get puppy home 9:00PM Arrive home, prepare place for puppy. Put up bedsheets for curtains!
Unpack more stuff.
11:30PM
Fall unconscious into bed!

Last minute packing!

Next morning, everything looks much cleaner!

Finally arriving at destination!

But this is just the beginning -- the unpacking has to start!

What a packed day. iPhone post.