My Xbox 360 died a few months back. The very common red rings of death. The shops quoted a ball park figure of RM400-500 to repair. I also had the option of sending the unit to Singapore to claim the red rings of death warranty which is free, but i would have to bear the freight charges, and I would have to wait probably about 1 to 2 months.

So I procasnitated. And left the unit there for a while before packing it up, but left it sitting next to the TV.

Until one day, a friend told me about her Xbox having the same rings of death. But her hubby fixed it… and only expense was thermal paste. I asked if he would be so kind as to have a look at my unit. So last Saturday….

.. my Xbox360 is up and running again… without its clothes.

Thanks Cindy and Wilson.. Woot!!

There are not many people who appreciates black and white photos. But I think they are nice. Somehow black and white photos have something coloured photos do not. I do not know how to describe it. Maybe it’s nostalgic. Maybe the lack of colours leave more to imagination. As mentioned in the previous post, David’s photos inspired me. I have yet to go take photos with that inspiration. So I dug into my previous photos and these are some of the photos which shall serve as a base. Let’s see if there are any difference from upcoming photos.

A friend asked me to watch a video about this one photographer. I thought it was kind of over-rated to actually have a promotional video to promote and advertise yourself as a photographer, especially when the particular video clip was part of an overall ‘wedding photographer’ set. But I watched it as i had not much to do. And we were sitting around waiting for another friend to turn up. Wow!.. It was amazing!

The video was about David Oliver, an Aussie photographer who simply has one of the most undiluted passion for photography. No, he is not a purist who bears down on you with a loud booming voice :

“THOU SHALT NOT DO IT THAT WAY YOU MAGGOT!! THOU SHALT DO IT MY WAY!! FOR I AM THE GOD OF ALL PHOTOGRAPHY GODS!!!”

He narrates with ease, confidence and with such steadiness. And he basically explains how he does it and went on to show viewers around his studio and where in his studio is his favourite place and such. Then he brought out his photos, framed very nicely and simply.. yet his photos are stunning. Not bombastic, but simply stunning.

I am inspired.
One of the equipment he uses to capture his stunning photographs is a Leica with a 50mm f1.0 lens. Not to say that if I have that, i can take photos like him. But, I REALLY do love how his photos turn out, with softness in the background and all that. And to achieve that softness, I either have to ‘photoshop’ the photo to make it that way (which I hate to do), or have a lens with large enough aperture to throw the background to softness. So.. not too long back, I got this..

Now that i got this, time to brush up on my skills to fully utilise it to it’s full potential. Stay tuned for a quick and short review of this new toy of mine
I am inspired. Now I am broke too.