The Western World

Model Photoshoot

Been working on cleaning out a lot of my work backlog. One of the big things on my to do list is to finish the post processing on this batch of photographs I took last year for a model photoshoot.

Back in August, a few photographers and I gathered together to shoot some pictures. Since then we've all been kind of swamped so we haven't been able to edit the pictures that we will plan to publish into an iPhone app. Not that Appliya Studio has an easy publishing system, I hope to get things on the road, so I sat down today to work some of the post processing on the shots I have.



Next up we'll need to gather together to decide on out favorites, then send the lot off to the model to get her edits. Hopefully the app should be available in the next month or so.



To see all the pics from my editing session, check out this slideshow.

Amazon Kindle Comes to Japan

The long wait is over, the Kindle has finally arrived in Japan. Or has it?

As soon as I heard that a new Kindle model with an international roaming would be avail, my pre-order went in. I've been an avid eBook user since my Rocket eBook many moons ago. As a heavy traveler, the ability to carry a library around with me is a must have. Since that first book I have used Sony and iRex readers of varying sizes and capabilities, but the Kindle has always taunted me with the holy grail of mobile readers: wireless updates.

Well, I have had my new Kindle2 International Edition now for over 24 hours, so I guess it's time to see how it matches up.

Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen opens in Japan! Tokyo Transformers Night

Wow.

Just got back from the opening night of Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen. Seriously had the time of my life!

Gathered a group of Die-Hard Transformer fans including @dannychoo @jonnyli @iMorpheus @fvbock @tamegoeswild @drzuco @mikamika59 @frankiebit and @ripkin. We all trucked down to the brand new IMAX theater in Kawasaki.

IMAX Digital just started in Japan today with the firs three theaters opening with the Transformers opening night. Kawasaki is the most convenient being only about 15 minutes from Tokyo station by express train so I will definitely visit again soon.

OK. Fanboy coming out now so you might want to plug your ears.

This movie rocked my world! Lots of robots beating up other robots. Lots of cheezy jokes. Lots of robots shooting other robots. Lots of cheap cheecake shots of whatername. Lots of robots exploding after being shot with missiles by other robots. LOTS OF ROBOTS!

They really seem to have the CGI down for robots as this time I think they had 3X the robots as last movie. And much more action.

Movie did slow down a bit as they actually tried to put in a plot this time. But at over 2.5 hours they actually managed to squeeze in a lot more. In spite of all the advance press I read there was still a lot of stuff I wasn't expecting.

Basically I was transported back a few decades and managed to recapture a lot of my delight from my original exposure to the transformers. Not a bad plot. Lots of action and very good special effects. Mechanical designs amazing. Drama (what they did to my precious Audi R8!). I have to say that the feeling I had through the movie was immense satisfaction.

If you can see the film in an IMAX theater, it is definitely worth it. If you can see it with a great group of friends, even better.

Before checking out the movie we stopped by the BIC Camera nearby and played around a bit with the new Transformer toys. I might have to check out one or two.

Highly recommended movie. May not be for everyone. But if it ain't for you, don't want to know ya.

Tokyo CGM Night Episode 5: The Otaku Strike Back

Another day, another networking event in out lovely city.

Today was a special treat though as the event was CGM Night. My personal favorite as it focuses on content production rather than handing out business cards (although there is a fair amount of that taking place too).

Thanks again to Andrew Shuttleworth and Danny Choo for creating such a great event! For more about CGM Night, click this link.

Tonight I met lots of chaps from Google, quite a few idols and models, and got to spend time with some of the great friends I have been making in Tokyo over the last few months. Was also great to see Paul Papadimitriou who will be heading back to Manila tomorrow, but will always remain a big part of the community here.

As usual I shot way too many pictures. I usually try to filter most of them out, but tonight I focused on portraits and I didn't want to cut out anyone, so most of them are here. The slideshow below will be quite long I think, but there are some very beautiful people in there, so hopefully it's worth sitting through. So click the poster below and start the show!

In addition to the general hang out atmosphere, there were the regular Jan-Ken taikais, which I always seem to get close to winning, but never take home a prize. And a group of Akiba-kei otaku were there to show everyone the Top secret Akiba dance. Brrr. I still feel shivers. Take a look.



I'm looking forward to the next CGM Night and what new surprises Danny and Andrew have in store for us.

Tokyo CGM Night, Episode 4: A New Roppongi

Just got back from Tokyo CGM Night at SuperDeluxe in Roppongi.

CGM (Consumer Generated Media) Night is easily my favorite of the various events I have been going to this year. The crowd is full of very interesting people from an astoundingly wide variety of areas.   I have met some great, amazing people at these events and made some good friends.

Danny Choo and Andrew Shuttleworth have put together the premier event going on in Tokyo, and I hope it continues and keeps getting better!

Here are some of the pictures I shot tonight. A veritable twitter who's who amonst the Tokyo Social media/Tech/bog scene.

Looking forward to the next CGM Night!

Danny Choo and Akiba

Had a one-in-a-million chance today to follow Danny Choo around Akihabara today while he was shooting for his next YouTube video. Also along for the show was Setsuko Harada with Jonny Li manning the videocamera.

Akihabara is one of the best places in Tokyo to get interesting, visually stunning, and socially confusing photos, and watching Danny do his thing is a sight to behold. I can't believe the energy he has. We spent the afternoon dodging the fuzz, blocking traffic, harassing maids, and chasing high school students around town. Can't remember the last time I had so much fun.

Can't wait to see the finished video. If you want to see some of his previous vids, check out his page on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/user/tokyostormtrooper . Highly recommended!

Temporal anomaly spotted on Google Streets

A strange temporal anomaly was spotted in the most unlikely of locations, namely the Millennium Centre in Cardiff, Wales.

The Telegraph reports of what appears to be a woman dressed in dated clothing appearing to phase halfway through the photo capture. The internet is abuzz with rumors of time-travelers and other theories for the odd phenomenon.

I have on only two words of comment.

"Bad Wolf"

Telegraph.co.uk: Victorian 'ghost' picked up by Google Street View

Update: I've located the location the street view was from, but it seems as though some strange virus has destroyed the data for just this photograph. See the next one available below.

View Larger Map

Tokyo Nikon Photo group meetup

Got invited to the Nikon camera group meetup by Setsuko Harada. They let me in in spite of my Sony weakness. A great group of people from pros to amatuers. Will be learning a bit tonight as well as taking a few shots. I rely a lot on my flash for night and indoor shots so looking forward to getting better without the crutch.

My YouTube life

Been watching more and more YouTube lately.  Even thinking of canceling my satellite tv subscription since it really doesn't seem worth the cost anymore.  At least until I saw this...

YouTube addict stickers from Ignatio Pilotto

Take that, Anti-Christ!

Recently un-employed spawn of the Devil (also known as Kevin Martin Former FCC chairman) pictured above.

Yes, I know I am being petty, but really, this is a grave I am all too happy to dance upon.  The news today of course is that the February launch of digital TV just went splat upon the wall.

WSJ: U.S. Senate Votes to Delay Digital TV Transition

So now the US will fall into the chaos that Mr Corporate Tool above here predicted.  Two years of planning and advertisement up in smoke and millions in addition costs.  This is of instead of the  screwing of the US consumer and botched nightmare that he originally planned and recommended as recently as two weeks ago.

No doubt this regime has left scars on the US telecom industry that will be felt for years to come.  But at least it will help create jobs.  Like the governmental equivalent to a pooper-scooper.