This is about the point in the evening where still-recovering-from-a-fever-Greg decided a few tequilas couldn't hurt that much...
Friends of Hyun Mi came down Friday evening to spend a little time in Geoje and see six-week-old Chaka. June and Jin He are the kind of guest that are hard to tire of. They're super easy going, fun and very independent. The visit began with as grilling ribs, ohmoksal, hangjungsal (various cuts of pork) on our roof top in the warm humid summer air. Mosquitos were non existent, there was plenty of Cafri (Corna-like beer) and Guinness flowing and Chaka was fast asleep in her room below.
Towards the end of our feast June mentioned tequila and although I knew is was bad idea to get wasted while getting over the end of a cold, that's exactly what I did. Soon we were downstairs playing Omok (pente / chinese chess) for shots. Rules were loser drank one, or 2x whatever the winner was willing to drink. And the shots weren't limited to tequila, rum, soju and beer were all finding their way into the same glass. In fact, we found quite a "good" mix we titled Soquilla (soju + tequila) which is fitting as it is 'so'-'killa'.
It was at some point during our game that Hyun Mi came in with a cup of tea and accidentally spilled some on my leg. Drunk and shocked I exclaimed FUCK! June asked "Why did you swear?" and I exclaimed "The water was FUCK'N hot!" June disagreed with my interpretation of hot and made me an offer, that if he could pour the boiling hot water on himself without cursing than I could no longer curse in my own home. I didn't even have a chance to reply before he grabbed the mug of tea our of Hyun Mi's hand and doused his knee with half the contents.
I was too drunk and too many days have since past to recall what his expression was at the time but I can confirm that he didn't make a peep. He did however make a visit to the doctor the next day to get treatment for his some serious blistering. I told him to his face the next day that his actions weren't "manly" as he claimed, but rather "stupid". Stupid because (a) girlfriends don't like to tend to big oozing water blisters during their vacation and (b) again, because his girlfriend was right there. That's the kind of stuff you do when you're out with the guys. But hey, it made for a memorable night and perhaps I'll think twice before saying fuck next time... oops!
1 Sunpack DS-20 @ 1/1 at about 11 o'clock
(On a side note the 5D Mark II is amazing at low light. This was shot at ISO 1280, f7.1 at 1/3 of a second. It was pretty much pitch black with candle light. Amazing!)
--- Critiques Welcome ---
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- www.chakababy.com -
Friday, August 06, 2010
100723-Rooftop BBQ with Friends
100804--This be OUR turf
This a shot taken back on this day. After I was done I coaxed these kids up onto this rock. I like the dude in the blue acting all like The Man and the littlest one hidden way in the back.
--- Critiques Welcome ---
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- www.chakababy.com -
100726-Kiwi - OutTake
Some say beauty is skin deep but in this kiwi's case I'd say it goes straight to the core.
--- Critiques Welcome ---
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100805-She gets it from her dad
It happens to me all the time too Chaka.
A big thanks to Simone and Mike for these books they sent over. They are expecting their little one any day now!
I feel the need to mention that Canada Post is unforgivably slow. It's not cool when the baby naming and pregnancy books arrive 4 weeks after your baby is born!
--- Strobist ---
1 SB-28 @ 1/4 at about 11 o'clock shot into reflective umbrella
1 SB-28 @ 1/4 at about 6 o'clock lighting the background
--- Critiques Welcome ---
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- www.chakababy.com -
100803-Old Favorite
I missed grabbing a photo today. This is an old one from July 18th, one day before Chaka's one month birthday. Every time Hyun Mi sees this she melts, it's one of her favs so I figured I'd post it.
--- Critiques Welcome ---
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100802-Get Wet
I cheated, but I don't feel nearly as badly about it this year. Having a newborn makes it pretty tough to photograph everyday. I OCCASIONALLY missed a day during my pre-baby 365 and the rule I made for myself then was that I had to shoot the missing photo ASAP - no using old photos or the same set-up for two consecutive shots. If I try that this year I'll just get further and further behind so here's another photo from yesterday's waterfall excursion.
--- Lessons Learned ---
As so many people have said before me, you often need to go out of your way to get a good photo. I was lazily shooting from the comfort of a bench, wasting pixels, when it dawned on me that I needed to get to the centre of the action which meant sitting my ass down in the middle of this little pond and interacting with the kids in it.
--- Critiques Welcome ---
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- www.chakababy.com -
100801-Chaka Visits Waterfall
Our stroller + car seat arrived!!! Not only that, it arrived about 3 weeks earlier than was promised! Of course I have a lengthy review all planned out for the stroller product shot so I'll save all the commentary on the stroller for later.
So 6 weeks after Chaka was born we are finally mobile. We decided to check out the local waterfall early Sunday evening. It was cool to think that we were taking Chaka the furthest she's ever been in her life from her birth place with every passing meter.
I didn't want Chaka to feel left out of the fun and games once we got to the waterfall so I put her over on the stone in her car seat next to the kids playing in the water. Of course, I threw rocks at any child who got even remotely close to our baby for fear of them knocking her off the stone and into the water.
The processing on this photo is not my usual style. I tried to create a more vintage looking pic for a change. Rather than use a pre-set I made all the adjustments myself in LightRoom and a little dodging and burning in photoshop.
--- Critiques Welcome ---
- www.gregsamborski.com -
- www.chakababy.com -
100731-A Baby Break
If you're the slightest bit interested in motorbikes than stop reading this and watch On Any Sunday (1971)... now! As one friend put it, it's the Dogtown / Z-Boys style documentary of the motorcycle world. If you've never seen Dogtown / Z-Boys either then get extra pop corn because that's two movies you gotta take in tonight.
So Chaka and I watched On Any Sunday at 5am in the morning which is when she decided it would be a good time for breakfast. She fell asleep after the first 20 minutes but I was wide eyed right to the very end. That's when I decided it was time for a much needed spin on blender and took to the mountains. I'd forewarned my wife about a bike excursion during my summer vacation and while she was worried, as always, about my safety she was very understanding.
I'm not kidding when I tell you a few tears rolled down my cheek when I was standing on my pegs making my way to the mountains in the brisk morning air. This is what my life in Korea used to revolve around so it brought back a lot of nostalgia and a sense of adventure I never realized I was missing so much.
I spent from 7-11 exploring the neighbouring district and mountains. I found some great tracks, puddles and scenery along the way. The temple in the top left is only a 10 minute ride away yet I'd never seen it before. The grave site tucked far away into the mountains had the coolest little dog just chilling there on the grave stone as though grading his deceased owners. The best find of the day was this stream I fount following some fairly rugged paths one might consider impassable. Finally I returned to Okpo, had a beer over a newspaper on the patio and got back home to Chaka and my wife a half hour early!
(All shots taken on iPhone as riding time is so rare I couldn't be bothered with caring for my 5D)
--- Critiques Welcome ---
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- www.chakababy.com -
100730-Calming Nature Sounds - White Noise
Observe how sounds of flowing creeks and rolling waves calm the easily stirred Chaka-beast into a very deep slumber. These sounds, also known as white noise, resemble what Chaka heard in the comfort of her mother's womb.
--- Critiques Welcome ---
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100729-Forward Zen - Favourite Baby Holds
Theme: Favourite Baby Holds
I've been experimenting holding Chaka in all manner of ways, trying to find something that suits both of us. This one is one of my favourites. More to follow.
--- Critiques Welcome ---
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- www.chakababy.com -
100728-Chaka Baby- Are you Hungry? | HD
100728-Chaka Baby- Are you Hungry? | HD
Originally uploaded by comatosed
100727-You puke on me - I spit on you
Theme: Bad Dad
You can't take this whole baby thing too seriously - it'd be no fun then. Hence this marks the beginning of the 'Bad Dad' series. I have more than a few ideas brewing!!!
When Hyun Mi brought out the grapes I just couldn't resist spitting the seeds on peacefully sleeping Chaka. After all, she has drooled, barfed, peed and pooped on me, sometimes all in the same day... she's lucky I didn't drop a deuce on her!
More Grape Fun:
Grape Skin Toe Socks
Baby Art
You puke on me - I spit on you
--- Critiques Welcome ---
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- www.chakababy.com -
100725-Strange Sleepers
I still can't figure this photo out, nor can my wife. I'm don't usually take voyeuristic photos, at least not of our guests, but when I strolled by the open door of our bedroom at 1:23am and saw June and Jin He passed out like this I figured it was fair game. It looks as though June's legs are slumped his girlfriend and half falling off the bed - a very odd way to sleep.
--- Critiques Welcome ---
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- www.chakababy.com -
100722-She out-grew her lightbox
-OutTake-
The single hardest thing about doing your own new born portraits is consciously deciding to potentially wake your sleeping baby. Every instinct is telling you "DON'T DO IT!!! - YOU'LL HAVE TO GET HER TO SLEEP AGAIN!". Anyone who follows my stream knows I'll go to great lengths to make a photo happen; I've hung off of bridges, photographed myself nude in public showers, lathered my naked body with corn syrup and stuck blossoms to myself but waking Chaka and the end of tiring day was something I kept putting off -- until tonight.
Baby photography was harder than I expected. Getting the right props, angle, DOF etc proved challenging. In the end I got one picture I'm pretty happy with but I included it as a OutTake as I found the set-up shot much more interesting. Chaka was awesome! She didn't wake once nor did she soil my light-box and backdrop!
--- Strobist ---
1 SB-28 @ 1/4 at about 10 o'clock shooting through the side of a DIY light-box
--- Critiques Welcome ---
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100721-Write On!
Cento isn't the kind of guy who sticks to a recipe. He's always pushing the boundaries, coming up with creative new designs for his pens and pencils. The one thing that remains constant is the fact that his new work always supersedes his old work. I feel the same way about photography, and this is why Cento and I click so well.
As these are some of Cento's finest hand made pens yet, I had to produce product shots that were better than anything I've done to date. I feel I succeeded. I got an element of detail, depth, texture and life in these photos well beyond any of my previous shots.
To see more of Cento's hand crafted wood pens and pencils check out www.cgwwoodworks.com
The Set Up:
I placed a large leaf on a sheet of glass propped up by two containers of Skippy Peanut Butter (one smooth and one crunchy). Something I've learned about working with glass and other smooth surfaces is that you should ALWAYS clean it. Even in this photo, where I anticipated there would be no glass showing, I cleaned it. The 30 seconds it takes can save hours of clone stamping later.
I then placed a DIY light-box over the set up and one SB28 strob pointing down at the upper right hand corner (2 o'clock) and another SB28 at the bottom left corner (around 7 o'clock) directed up at the leaf on the glass. Then I dialled in just the leaf back lighting strob until I was satisfied with the luminescence of the leaf (about 1/8). After that I dialled in the light box strobe as fill (about 1/32). Et voila! The shot came out almost exactly as you see here. I just made a few minor adjustments in Light Room including white balance, contrast, slight sharpening and a vignette!
--- Strobist ---
1 SB-28 @ 1/8 at about 7 o'clock
1 SB-28 @ 1/32 at about 2 o'clock
DIY Lightbox
--- Critiques Welcome ---
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- www.chakababy.com -
- www.cgwwoodworks.com -
100720-Fireworks - Albizia Julibrissin.jpg
I fell in love with a legume. That is the species this Silk Tree or Albizia Julibrissin falls under according to wikipedia. I love everything about the tree. It's shape is beautiful, it has a big umbrella like canopy. The smell is intoxicating, like the freshest, sweetest peaches. The blossoms feel like the downy hair of a new-born to the touch. Even the tree's temperament is cool, at night and during periods of rain the leaflets bow downwards as though the tree were sleeping.
While playing around with lighting this magnificent blossom it dawned on me that it look like a firework mid explosion. With this in mind I hope to do another session with these blossoms and make a kinda fake firework landscape shot. Also, I wanna get a shot of the tree in all it's glory. I already scouted the area and it's gonna be a tough one to shoot but I'll figure out a way somehow.
Chaka Update: She's a very sick baby today, lot's of coughing, snot and phlegm and I'm coming down with the same thing :(
--- Strobist ---
1 SB-28 @ 1/4 shooting through a glass plate from underneath
--- Critiques Welcome ---
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100719-The calm before the storm.jpg
This was a mistake, she woke up right after this photo and didn't sleep for hours. We had just come back from another doctor's visit. This time she got a Hep B shot in the thigh. I picked up a beer and had grandiose images of us hanging out in the grass in the setting sun. Instead I tried to defend Chaka and myself from ants and mosquitos. I called my wife down before the attack started so she didn't escape the attacks either. I presume Chaka woke up due to discomfort and she didn't sleep again until we went on another walk about 4 hours later.
--- Lessons Learned ---
--- Critiques Welcome ---
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- www.chakababy.com -
100718-Park Family Portrait.jpg
After all the activity on Friday and Saturday Chaka was a sleepy sack of potatoes on Sunday. It was a blistering 30 degrees with the usual high humidity the envelops Korea. We took to the park, a small stretch of grass up high on a hill where DSME also likes to store all their old rusting metal structures and hung out for a few hours. Our time was spent eating bread, water melon and breast milk, in Chaka's case, and warding off various insects. One flying critter as big as my thumb landed on Hyun Mi's face while she was carrying Chaka. Suddenly I herd screaming, turned and saw dancing. Hyun Mi so wanted to swat the fiend away but was immobilized by Chaka she had to resort to jumping up and down. I rushed in to save the day and found myself hesitant to touch the creature, worried I might loose yet another digit. I manned up and swatted it from her hair and all was good... until the ants and mosquitos attacked a little while later.
I like how this photo exemplifies the reality of having a new born... they're uncontrollable so you mine as well accept it and enjoy yourself in the meantime.
--- Strobist ---
Sun + 5 In 1 Reflector
--- Critiques Welcome ---
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- www.chakababy.com -
100717-Adjuma Adopts Chaka Baby
The story I'm about to tell is better than the shot. After a more or less successful diner out with Chaka the previous night, and my definition of a successful dinner with a baby is if you can manage to get full while eating in shifts, Hyun Mi and I decided to do it again. This time sought out some grilled meat called Ohgupsal (pigs neck) which is my new favourite cut of pork. Chaka had already done very well enduring the loving caresses of numerous cooing strangers and an hour of shopping at the local market. So it was no surprise that exactly when our meet was set on the grill she began crying.
Hyun Mi had just breast fed in a semi-private room and needed to eat so I went for the bottle of formula in our bag. As I was getting it ready this complete stranger/adjuma came to our crying baby, said a few words, picked her up, moved back to her table and calmed her with her soothing voice and touch. Although the formula was ready, I waited, seizing the opportunity she had given my wife and I to eat together. Soon Hyun Mi gave me the maybe-we-better-not-burdan-that-adjuma-anymore-look-? and I approached bottle in hand ready to feed. Rather than give up the child she took the bottle from me and began feeding her. Once again I returned to my table and wolfed down as much food as I could savouring every moment of free time.
Again I got 'The Look' and this time Hyun Mi gave me a phrase that would help clarify that we were concerned about our baby's care taker getting to her own dinner and guests. The adjuma had no desire to do anything but feed our Chaka so with this fact now crystal clear, Hyun Mi and I enjoyed the rest of our meal together feeling rather relaxed. It probably was no more than a 15 minute date but it felt like an eternity. We collected Chaka from the infatuated adjuma and went out for coffees!
--- Lessons Learned ---
Giving new parents even the shortest break in parenting can be invaluable. I want to follow this adjuma's example and help out the next time I see parents that look a little tired out. I just hope the deed doesn't land me in the hospital or jail.
--- Critiques Welcome ---
- www.gregsamborski.com -
- www.chakababy.com -
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
100716-Baby Cloths From Kathmandu-.jpg
Everyday I leave my home I see pass this little outfit that is stuck to our steel door with magnets (that was Hyun Mi's MacGyver-ish idea!). I can't wait to dress her in them but considering they were made high in the mountains of Kathmandu they might be a little hot for the 28 degree weather we're experiencing here at the moment. A big thanks to Dad and Sylvia for this gift. You'll be able to meet your grandchild sporting this garb come Christmas!
--- Strobist ---
1 Sunpack DS-20 @ 1/1 at about 11 o'clock hand held
--- Critiques Welcome ---
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100715-Cento's Bed Frame.jpg
Making a bed frame look cool is harder than I ever anticipated. For a guy who would like to shoot kick-ass product shots for a living, I better get in touch with reality. But first get a little cheese because I'm gonna wine:
1. Cento asked me to shoot this with less than a day's notice
2. I had to do it after work so it was dark
3. The item was large an cumbersome so my location choices were either in the cluttered shop or outside but I lacked the gear to light it sufficiently
4. The corridor I shot it in was very tight
Regardless, these are the kind of circumstances I should expect so I better figure out how make the best of them in the future.
--- Strobist ---
1 SB-28 @ 1/2 at about 1 o'clock bounced off wall
1 SB-28 @ 1/2 at about 8 o'clock bounced off wall
1 Morris_Mini_Slave_Flash_II @ 1/1 tucked in first cabinet
1 Sunpack DS-20 @ 1/1 tucked in second cabinet
--- Critiques Welcome ---
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- www.chakababy.com -
100714-Photography Ad
This is something I've been meaning to do for a looooonnnnngggg time. It's funny how you put off the things that cold be most immediately beneficial to you.
I know a ton of you have a great eye for this kind of thing so please do leave some commentary/critiques regarding the design and photo choices.
One more thing, I live in a relatively small Korean town home to the world's second largest ship building company, DSME. As a result, a disproportionally large group of foreign workers reside here. I am targeting foreign families and contractors focusing on family, product, baby and corporate photography (a lot a know, but I wanna throw a bigger net out there to begin). I want to use my native English tongue and western perspective to set myself apart from the local talent.
--- Critiques Welcome ---
- www.gregsamborski.com -
- www.chakababy.com -
Thursday, July 15, 2010
100713-Is it too early to cry?
6:25am - "Is it too early to cry?"
--- Critiques Welcome ---
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100712-Our first outting
Yesterday I mentioned how Chaka basically eats, burps, poops and sleeps day in and day out thus leaving me not a whole lot new to report on. Well today was a milestone! Chaka and I had our first outing since she left the hospital. We needed to pay a visit to the doctor so I filled my cargo shorts with diapers, a bottle of formula, baby wipes and medical logs and then set out with her tucked snugly into her Moby wrap.
Chaka was an angel, she was either looking around or sleeping the whole time -- aside from when she had a needle jabbed in her arm. In fact, things were going so smoothly I decided to pick up another wash basin and stop for a coffee on the way home.
This lighting set-up was inspired by Dracubio's photo. Although it's not really fitting for this theme it was cool to try it out.
ps. She gained over a kilo and grew 13 cm in just 23 days!
--- Strobist ---
1 SB-28 @ 1/4 at about 2 o'clock
1 Reflector down low at about 8 o'clock
--- Critiques Welcome ---
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- www.chakababy.com -
100710-Playing
Every now and then when Chaka isn't hungry, tired or covered in poop she will just lie there high on the world around her. This was one of those moments.
--- Critiques Welcome ---
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100709-These feet were made for walk'n.jpg
This is Chaka's foot. I wish I had more to say. All she really does is eat, burp, poop, cry and sleep right now and reporting on that gets old pretty fast. No rush though, soon enough I'll be documenting how she chewed my camera strap and spilled juice all over my keyboard.
--- Strobist ---
1 SB-28 @ 1/2 at about 11 o'clock fired into a reflective umbrella.
--- Critiques Welcome ---
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100708-Disco Chaka
Baby was gett'n down!
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100706-She had to try it too
I talked Hyun Mi into trying the nose latch too.
--- Critiques Welcome ---
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100706-Had to try it
She'll latch onto anything! The feeling is ticklish x 1000.
--- Critiques Welcome ---
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100705-Sprawled Out
Chaka sleeps like me :)
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100705-Sprawled Out
Chaka sleeps like me :)
--- Critiques Welcome ---
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100702-A gift from and for mom
Mom asked me to pick up some beautiful flowers for Hyun Mi. Knowing how my wife loves to arrange them I brought home what I thought was good selection wrapped in news paper. Check out the amazing job she did!
--- Critiques Welcome ---
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- www.gregsamborski.com -
100701-How can they poop that much?
And this was after just a few days...
--- Strobist ---
Wanted to but no time...
--- Critiques Welcome ---
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100630-Multitasking
Baby can sleep AND I can work on my computer... god bless the Moby Wrap!
--- Critiques Welcome ---
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- www.gregsamborski.com -
Tuesday, July 06, 2010
100629-The Ultimate Recliner
Chaka kicks back on the Deluxe 180 Recliner Pro featuring:
*180 Degrees of Motion
*Auto Heating
*3 Vibration Settings
*Anti-Slide Bristles
*100% Organic and Fair Trade Certified
--- Critiques Welcome ---
- www.chakababy.com -
- www.gregsamborski.com -
100628-Production is High
Hyun Mi extracted 120ml in one sitting! The ironic part is that her hand worked far better than the breast pump. In fact, we'd be pumping the left breast and getting nothing, meanwhile the right one is dripping like a leaky faucet! Theme:
--- Lessons Learned ---
1. Machines aren't always better.
--- Strobist ---
SB-26 @ 1/4 at about 5 o'clock down low with omnibounce
SB-26 @ 1/2 at about 12 o'clock on background
Sunpack DS20 @ 1/1 at about 6 o'clock under bottle lighting from the bottom
--- Critiques Welcome ---
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- www.gregsamborski.com -
100627-Unkle Brandon & Aunty Kim
Of course whenever Brandon and Kim come down the games are on! (And the wine too...)
--- Critiques Welcome ---
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100625-Mosquito Defence
We upgraded our mosquito defences the other day. There is now a massive mosquito tent suspended around our bed and half our room. It's brilliant! Even if mosquitos make it in it's the psychological reassurance that makes sleeping that much easier. Theme:
--- Critiques Welcome ---
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100624-Omonim
Hyun Mi and I left the hospital and we're both so happy to be HOME!
Her mom and dad have been around since Chaka baby's birth and they're gonna stay for a few more days to help out which is absolutely awesome!
--- Critiques Welcome ---
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100623-Family Portrait
Theme: NA
This was hospital room. It wasn't actually as drab as I made it out to look, in fact, it boasted a bathroom, two sinks, shower and a flat screen TV - best damn hospital room I've ever stayed in.
There was this one dark, textured wall with this sofa against it that just had Victorian Era awkward family photo written all over it.
(Oh and while we were tired at the time we were happier than this photo lets on :)
--- Lessons Learned ---
--- Strobist ---
Was gonna use strobes and then found the track lighting worked far better!
--- Critiques Welcome ---
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- www.gregsamborski.com -
100622-This little piggy
Theme: NA
Dad seems to really like my feet. He is always looking at them and touching them. Mom says my feel look like dad's with the exception of his gimpy baby toe.
--- Critiques Welcome ---
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- www.gregsamborski.com -
100621-Everything has changed
Theme: NA
Dad seems to like me a lot, he stares at me all the time and even hangs out with me when I'm sleeping.
--- Critiques Welcome ---
- www.chakababy.com -
- www.gregsamborski.com -
100620-Happy Father's Day
Theme: NA
I went from light to dark and then light again. I'm feeling a little more at home now. Mom and dad and very good and changing, wrapping or feeding me compared to the nurses. When I've got a black puddle of goo in my diaper dad changes it as though he's defusing a bomb. Mom tries to feed me but getting anything to come out takes a long time. If I cry a lot and make silly faces when I'm hungry they try much harder to feed me! I think I'll keep using this strategy.
Dad was on the phone a lot today. I think... he...... was..... talking.... zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
--- Critiques Welcome ---
- www.chakababy.com -
- www.gregsamborski.com -
100619-2:07pm: Welcome to our world Chaka
Theme: NA
It's about time I entered their would, it was getting squishy in there. I think mom could have pushed all 4.62kg of me out but it might have been risky for us so I got lifted out without a struggle.
My mom looked like she was sleeping when I appeared. I wish I could have spent those first few minutes with her. I got do see dad really soon though! He kissed me on my forehead and there was some water coming out of his eyes.
Then the doctors said "take a picture" and dad fumbled around with this big black thing like it was his first time using it.
I have a feeling I'll be seeing a lot of that thing...
They made me stay in a clear box for 4 hours for no good reason, I was healthy. I could tell dad was upset. He kept pacing around talking to the doctors and nurses. Finally they let me see dad, but only for a half an hour. Dad took me to mom who was lying in bed and mom got water in her eyes too when she said hello to me.
They brought me back to the box and I fell asleep there for the next three hours.
--- Lessons Learned ---
1. Go natural if possible
2. Organize a midwife and Doula early on
3. Make a birth plan
4. Even if you have to go to the hospital, get the Doula to come with, she can be a huge source of help and support.
5. Cherish the moment asin the end none of these things will matter that much if you have a health baby girl/boy in your hands.
--- Strobist ---
NA
--- Critiques Welcome ---
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- www.gregsamborski.com -
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
162|365 Enhanced Light Workout ~ Redux
Theme: Redux
Out Take
Back on day 61 I discovered a lighting set-up that could make just about anyone LOOK muscular without having to lift a even a finger. Shortly after that shot, I decided not just to lift my fingers, but to lift a few weights as well. So today marks my completion of a 3 month Men's Health weight training program!
Before - (Will Open in a New Window) If you click between the two you can see a little change in the chest and lats.
I figured the most accurate way to gauge any progress was to recreate the shot from that day as closely as possible. Well, I gotta say I was a little disappointed. I feel better, I'm lifting more weight with every passing week, and I thought I was looking better but the physical improvement not as drastic as I had hoped. Nonetheless, I'm feeling good and am gonna continue for anther three months.
---Workout Plan (For anyone who is interested)---
-Overview-
Average workout: 1 Hour 3 times a week, 5 min of light cardio (with the odd run on rest days) and about 7 exercises
Diet: Added one protein shake on workout days to otherwise regular diet of junk food, French fries and coffee :)
-Variation-
-1 Cycle consisted of 3 Different workout plans spanning 3 weeks each
-I did 4 cycles, so 12 weeks total
-Routines-
-Mondays = Arms and Shoulders
-Wednesdays = But, Thighs and Legs
-Fridays = Chest, Abbs and Back
(So you would focus on the same muscle group every Monday but would generally never do the same exercise twice in the same 3 weeks)
-Specifics-
-Single sets 6-10 reps
-Beyond 10 reps increased weight
--- Strobist ---
1 Vivitar 285 HV @ 1/2 directly above my head fired into a reflective umbrella. Used same RAW conversion data from previous photo, a little warming and contrast. It's funny, I wanted to compile the same simple photo every day into a time laps but I failed... and yet I mange 365...
--- Critiques Welcome ---
- www.comatosed.ca -
160|365 Blossom Man ~ Blossoms
Theme: Blossoms
Blossom Man
Blossom Man remembers. Remembers a time when a man named Dracorubio spawned an idea. Dracorubio said to, "roll in honey and then in the blossoms." But honey was too expensive. So blossom man used corn syrup. Something went wrong, terribly wrong. When the corn syrup and blossoms mixed it caused a chemical reaction which fused the blossoms to Blossom Man's skin. Now, forever an outcast, Blossom Man can no longer return to his desk job. Instead he will fight evil, raining vengeance on flower pickers wherever they may be...
--- Strobist ---
1 Vivitar 285 HV @ 1/2 at about 2 o'clock fired into reflective umbrella. Another Vivitar 285 HV @ 1/2 at about 3 o'clock with DIY grid spot fired towards subject's back.
--- Critiques Welcome ---
- www.comatosed.ca -
159|365 When Blossoms Attack! ~ Blossoms
Theme: Blossoms
Next on FOX: When Blossoms Attack!
--- Strobist ---
1 Vivitar 285 HV @ 1/4 at about 9 o'clock with DIY grid spot
--- Critiques Welcome ---
- www.comatosed.ca -
158|365 Big Bush ~ Random
Theme: Random
I as born just a wee little guy, nothing more than a bulb when this novice picked me up. I could tell he didn't have the slightest clue about plants, how could he when he stuffed me in a bag and carried me over 200kms on the back of his jittery motor bike!
This guy completely underestimated me, I out grew that silly little pot he put me in months ago. My roots need to stretch! I think he gets it now.
--- Lessons Learned ---
--- Strobist ---
1 Vivitar 285 HV @ full power at about 10 o'clock shot through an umbrella to light me. Another Vivitar 285 HV @ 1/2 at about 12 o'clock with omnibounce blowing out the BG
--- Critiques Welcome ---
- www.comatosed.ca -
157|365 Vivitar 285 Metal Hot Shoe Upgrade ~ Camera Toys
Theme: Camera Toys
Vivitar Bionic Foot Operation a Success!
Early reports indicate the famed Vivitar 285HV, is already up and beaming after undergoing an intense 30 minute operation yesterday. Comatosed performed the surgery alone which involved removing the Viitar's delicate plastic foot and replacing it with a metal one. Not only is the new foot more durable, it also offers a PC Sync port which is said to be far more reliable than Vivitar's proprietary Sync port.
When asked what the most difficult part of the operation was Comatosed commented, "There is a lot of conflicting information in the Vivitar world regarding where the black, red, green and white wires connect. In the end I went with red to center, black to the edge, snipped and insulated the blue and green and tucked them away. Preliminary test show all Vivitar's vital functions are working better than ever!"
If no side-effects arise Comatose plans on performing the same surgery on Vivitar's younger brother Zap early next week.
--- Critiques Welcome ---
- www.comatosed.ca -
