Pentax P3!

I am so excited! I helped a friend move last week and she gave me a Pentax P3 (pictured) she no longer needed. I used to shoot some film with my Mamiya-Seko MSX 500 but it degraded to the point that repairs placed it in "the museum".

Having this "new" camera has me inspired to shoot film again and there is nothing like it. Knowing I only have 36 shots before I load another role makes a huge difference in composition, and then knowing (or rather hoping) that what I see will appear on the print makes a much more creative way to capture a moment or a scene. And then to that, when the moment is captured on film, there is a very special feeling, or communication rather, that means a lot.

When I received the camera I took it right down to my favorite camera shop which is Camera West in Walnut Creek, CA. Ben and Dan checked it all out and all was good. The camera came with a Vivitar, and Albinar-ADG zoom lenses so we discussed it and the shop found and ordered me a used Pentax 50mm f/1.7 smc-m which I am picking up this weekend.

What it also very cool is that if I decide to buy a Pentax K7, these lenses will all work. Thank you Pentax.

When I get some photos developed I will post them to my Flickr 

Get Busy Living

I know this news is about a month old but it is still cool. Element skateboards has a released a free movie called 'Get Busy Living' featuring Element's European skate team. It is really sweet  film that has 26:10 minutes of  awesome photography, excellent music of course just epic skating, epic! These guys have mad skills.

Pegasus Bicycle Works

http://pegasusbicycleworks.blogspot.com/

This is a phenomenal bike shop! And what makes phenomenal?...in my opinion it is good people that are always welcoming and encouraging. I used to be really into mountain biking and used to ride with some of the guys that made this shop. You know, riding five days a week, lots of miles, totally into it. Well things change indeed, jobs, children, life happens and I haven't been to the shop in years, I don't even look the same. I got my bike out the shed last week and whoa! that thing needs some work. I did what I could but I had to go to the shop. I had to get a skewer, and my front wheel needed to be rebuilt. Honestly I was a bit nervous, you know that feeling of going to back to people you have not seen in a long time? Well I walk in the door and Brian "Tino" was like "Hey !! :)"..it was great and my bike is on the road to recovery; with me along with it!

So if you are in the SF Bay Area and need a great bike shop, this is best place...it's not all about the bike, it's about the people.

Why I like my Kindle

Kindle 2

So I have been using an Amazon Kindle 2 6" for about three months now and I really like reading on it.
I have found that I actually am reading more and I think this is because there is less text per page, and also that there is only one page. Since I am typically such a slow reader having less to initally view keeps the book accessible and it doesn't seem so daunting like  "uhh..that is a lot of words"

I also love how thin it is and how there is no back light. It is very easy to read.
And having so many books in one device is excellent for trips.

What I do miss about a real book is the thumbing through the pages, the art work and the smell.
There will always be something special about holding an old book.

Amazon just lowered the price and the new 2.5 firmware upgrade is sweet with noticeable speed increases in page turns, and having collection is cool. Facebook and Twitter posting is cool too for sharing types.