happy.travis.snapped.shots

HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE FISHEYE LENSE by Tanya

Stuff that will do the work:

Scotch tape, toothpick, a piece of black paper, a puncher, an old camera, a screw driver, and CURIOSITY. Your teeth will work for cutting scotch tapes, but you may use scissors if you want.

 

Last Sunday, out of curiosity, I dismantled our old point and shoot film camera (Minolta C10). It's still properly working the last time I used it (2 years ago for NSTP), we just don't use it anymore, so the heck…So, I open it up and see how things work inside. It wasn’t my first time to dismantle a camera; my first was when I opened 'Travis' (the name I've given my camera – the one I'm using for my digital photography) to dust out the grains of sand that got stuck on the wheels inside. Where, I also got myself electrocuted.

 

 So, I'm not as wary as before. I unbolted the screw and saw the stuff inside, and it was so COOL. I got curious if I can take out the lenses and use it with Travis, if the optical zoom will expand... I was able to take it out… BUT it did not work. Haha. So I went on tinkering and popped some batteries and see how the mechanisms inside work.  I KEPT ON DISMANTLING, AND DISCOVERED THAT I CAN USE THE LENSE OF THE VIEWFINDER AS A FISHEYE LENSE. WASAK! Wahahaha-ha. Wahahahaha. PWEDE… PWEDE...

 

It wasn’t effective holding the tiny lense with fingers, so I cut a piece of black paper and draw hole on it (using a puncher). I mounted the lense on the paper using scotch tape and two pieces of toothpick to add some support. And "charan… isang mahiwagang fisheye lense". The black paper (which is a trash from craft cut-outs), the scotch tape and toothpicks, all together, kinda look like… a piece of crap, but the results were not really bad. Here are some of the first pictures I've taken…

 

 

 

 

Lessons Learned:

Tinkering is learning

Recycle pieces of black paper

Always keep a curious mind

Viewfinder is the key to homemade fisheye

Invent

Share your discovery to others

Yesterday, I left home with only P306 on my pocket. I went to Manila to watch and shoot photos of the Aliwan Festival. It was cool that i was able to managed all the money i have for the whole day.

I arrived at TM Kalaw, Luneta at around 8Am and as planned, I walked the stretch of Baywalk going to Cultural Center. While walking i was wondering why there were not much poeple in the area because i was expecting a parade. "Diba Aliwan? bat wala masyado tao?" And to my shock and unfortunately, I saw a big tarp and written there that the Aliwan Parade was to start in the afternoon in Quirino Grandstand. "Sana ma-karma yun nagpost sa Internet na 8AM daw magstastart sa Cultural"  So, to kill time, I decided to go to McDonalds Intramuros, ordered Mc Muffin Meal but only ate the free hash brown "Dahil may pande sal akong baon mamaya ko na kakainin ang Mc Muffin" Salamat sa coupon", and read the Newspaper. Yup you read it right. Newspaper. I even saw an ad of the Aliwan but there was no sched posted ( if there are no official announcements in the internet and newspapers, how people--like me, will suppose to know what RIGHT time should they come). Then, I toured Intramuros and Fort Santiago while eating my pan de sal. Didnt bother taking the Kalesa co'z i dont have much money to spend. Entrance Fee in Fort Santiago for students only costs 25 pesos even on Saturdays. Buti nalang my ID ako.  I thought of visiting National Museum but i remembered my promise to Lisette that we will visit the Museum together.

At lunch time, i took an Fx from MAnila Cathedral going back to TM Kalaw. Lucky that i saw a lady licking her spoon of McFlurry and asked her where's the nearest McDo. I have no other choice but McDo bec i have to take advantage of my free Upgrade coupons. I had my sausage egg mcmuffin, and upgraded fries and soda for lunch. Yung burger that go with my lunch meal tinago ko sa bag. Sakto pang-merienda. Haha, any means of budgeting all the money I have, I will. "sana yung starbucks may 50% discount coupons na pinamimigay"

Going to Quirino Grandstand, I saw the National Library but the place was close. I asked the guard how much is the library fee and it was only P50. Pero buti nlang sarado dahil mauubos ang pamasahe ko pauwi kung papasok pa ako. I saw Rizal's Monument. Saw another guard and he greated me good afternoon and asked if Im going to watch the Aliwan by myself. And i said yes. And he answered back, "Ma'am dapat isinama niyo yung boyfriend niyo para may kasama kayo". I just smiled back. Pero sa loob ko, manong kutusan kaya kita. Sa dami pwede sabihin.

Yehey Aliwan na. Quirino Grandstand area was SO SO SO COLORFUL.... I was a bit early for the event so i sat down under a tree next to family who were waiting for the event to start. Aside from the colorful participants getting ready for the competition the place was also flooded with a lot of photographers carrying SLR's. Grabeh todo japorms pa yung iba, with the Hat and vest, and meron pang nakascarf. I think i saw two or three who brought stairs. Some of them were running around with thir tripods and bags. OMG. another guy have two SLR. What the?! two SLR for one person, that's too much. Pwede akin nalang yung isa. Yung pangarap ko na 2 DSLR ngayon 3 na. <evil grin> haha. haha.

I saw this cool dog while i was waiting.

Speaking of Lisette, my shooting buddy,  I invited her to come with me but her kuya borrowed her point and shoot kaya she wasnt able to come.

And almost the rest of the aftertoon was amazing. I ran around taking photos with those who have their own SLRs. Even though mine was just point and shoot I DONT CARE. Im happy enough being able to come to Aliwan and witness the spectacular.  Waaahhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Around 4PM, it suddenly rained hard. Really hard. Typhoon hard like rain. Next thing I know, I was sharing my payong with a contestant. The other dancers were running too. The body painted Ati atihan Group were suddenly out of my site. May sexy na ati atihan guy dun.  Not so long, I was dripping wet with rain from mid thigh down, my sleeves and my back. My feet which by now is soring from walking got soaked with water. i should have taken a photo of the scenario but Im scared to pull my precious camera from my snapsack kasi baka mabasa.  But still the  place  was in festive mood.  The  drum band  rolled  some Ati atihan music. The best. It was still raining when i decided to finally go home. I felt a bit bad because i wasnt able to take pictures of other costumes and the Floats of each tribal groups which i saw along Roxas Blvd. Sayang. Ok lang din sana kahit hindi nako nakakuha ng pics basta hindi na lang umulan.

Next year uli. Pero sana umaga na.
Money left: P12 (pwedeng pang 1 sundae cone)

few days back, i looked over some old photos of my child hood days. and this particular photo made me realized that i could be the inspiration behind Dora the Explorer... Cool. HAHA LOLs. check out the bangs!

last week was the fulfillment of our long planned summer roadtrip up north. Ria, Lisette, carol and I visited Ilocos Norte. I'd been so excited to do this trip since the moment they invited me to come with them. Plus this was another Photo shoot adventure that i can do only when there's no school (hobby that i have been crazy about for the past couple of months). so, before i left manila, i bought two packs of energizer max and a new SD card. I was so excited that even the thought of something will go wrong didnt occured in my thoughts.

-(thursday, arrived around 7.30 AM after 12 hours of bus ride from manila, but since we missed our bus stop in Baduang Market Pagudpud and almost reached Cagayan we arrived around 8.30ish AM)

on day one at Pagudpud, things went perfectly fine, but i decided just to get a few shots and i will just take more photos on the next day where we will visit more interesting places . got wet on the shore in the afternoon. ate dinner under gasera light . and went stargazing after. haha, and we watched a man (probably a local fisherman) snorkel from the middle of the pitch black ocean to our shore. at first we cant figure what was the light on the middle of the ocean. we were even guessing if it was a sirena, or just some bio-fish with powers, or some chinese guy who crossed the south china sea. it was so ridiculusly funny. i was even quite screaming "hala, tao nga, totoong tao nga..." when we realized that he was a real human living person.

day two, (friday)THE DAY WHEN ALL THINGS FALL APART. Our first stop was Cape Bojeador. We went to the famous Bojeador light house. For the next couple of minutes, i was enjoying taking photos of the place and the sights, and taking photos of my friends. Then, the light house keeper approached us and volunteered to take our camera and take a group shot of four of us together. after i got back my camera, it started malfunctioning. First, one of the picture has an  "unidentified" title in it. Then after a couple of minutes it went "MEMOry card ERROR". i checked the memory card couple of times and put out and back the batteries several times. and still, my camera is still not functioning. AND THEN I FELT SO SAD, AND MAD, AND I DONT KNOW. i dont know what to do.. and i felt so KAWAWA. i felt so envious of lisette because she was enjoying taking photos. the worst thing and worst feeling!

next stop of the day was near the Rock Cliff and rock shores of cape Bojeador.  i was trying to just enjoy the moment. and tried to put on my mind the phrases, "what the heck? this place is so beauuutiiiiifuuulll, i should get over the sad feeling over my camera."

next stop, Bangui Windmill, they were so huge and beautiful!  ..."I still wish that my camera is working? im hoping that in God's grace, He will allow me to go back to this place again..."

Paraiso ni San Anton... My camera is still not working...
 
Agua Grande... my camera is still not working...

Lunctime.. my camera is still not working....

Then, on carol's suggestion, I tried to reset the memory card. and it worked. I thought i was lucky, because i was able to take picture of the cave and rock formation near the Patapat Viaduct. Then my camera went "memory card error" AGAIN...

Carol lent me her memory card since her camera is not functioning well too. and my camera started taking pictures again. By the time we went to BLue Lagoon, I was happy and excited and JUMPING and RUNNING again.  COOLest!

Next Stop, Kabigan Falls, midway during the hike, My camera went error code "E18". what the heck! FAILED TO take photos again. And another worst feeling. I saw A GUY WITH a DIGITAL SLR camera near the falls taking photos. GRGHHH.... and he brought with him a TRI-POD and he even owns a TELEPHOTO.... ARRGGHHHH! "ok, GOD, what are you trying to tell me?!"

And while hiking back to the drop off, i realized that my MALFUNCTIONING memory card is LOST. i hope some "lamang lupa took it". i dont care about it anyway. Atleast i have some photos in carol's mem card that i can still save once i got home. hope i can still hold on to.

Then, we went back to the Inn, "ok, cool... what a day.. so.. happy..."

DAY 3, (saturday) spent half day in Pagudpud, Lisette, Ria and I walked the  long stretch of Saud Beach. Got back to the Inn for breakfast, but i brought my coffee and breakfast near the shore and watch the fishermen sailing. if my camera was working, i would have taken some photos. Then by lunch we head down to Laoag to visit one of Carol's relative. Then went to San Nicolas near Laoag where we will be staying over night.

Day 4.(Sunday) Went to Carol's relative in Dingras, then went to another Carol's relative in Dingras too, then went back to Laoag for Lunch. Then Carol's cousing, Kuya Charles, drove us to Fort Ilocandia, and in Paoay Church, then in Batac (by the way i saw Marcos' life size wax, all the time i thought that was his body), then back in San Nicolas for dinner. By 10PM we're in Laoag bus terminal heading back to Manila.

TUESDAY, April 8, 2008... back to school for Summer Class.

LESSONS LEARNED:
1) never let other strange person touch your camera, because you will end up cursing them on your mind even if they have nothing to do with the malfunctioning of my camera.

2) bring a spare Memory card with you all the time

3) if u happen to own two or more camera.. bring them all, in my case i only own one.. sorry for me.

4) i think some sand went inside the lenses of camera, so protect your camera with silicon cover or whatever cover..

NEXT TIME:
Next time, im going back to Ilocos Norte, probably 3 or 4 years from now..or 5 or 6.... when i have  my own and lots of money to spent. by that time i SHOULD have my own car, i should know how to drive so that i can stop and park anywhere i want where the ANGLEs are great for shooting, and i SHOULD have a Digital SLR with a TRI_POD and a TELEPHOTO, with different lenses of all kinds, and filters... Not one SLR but probably two in case the other one malfunctioned. and lots of memory card. HAHAHA. EVIL GRIN. i also wish that i have a surf board so that in case the two cameras malfunctioned, I have a surf board to have fun with. and probably one boyfriend would be cool too, so that i will have someone to carry my surf board since i have two cameras on both hands and the tripod on my back, and the lense bag on my neck... COOLest! hayy... COOLest talga! Yari talga yan Ilocos Norte sa akin,,, Sige lang...

FOR THE TIME BEING: I will study hard, i will not sleep if i must, i will spent longer hours studying.. reading... studying... reading,,,ALL HARWORK.. so that wil have better chances (atleast) of becoming a CPA with a well paid job. COOLest.

(evil grin) har har har (evil grin), dahil tapos na ang sem, pwede na uli ako mamaluktot at magpagulong gulong sa kama hanggang tanghali. Ang galing mo talaga Tanya! pagkatapos mo mahimatay dahil sa 48 oras na walang tulog, di na mabilang na beses na nagka sipon, ubo at lagnat at nagkasipon, ubo at lagnat uli, kumain ng average na 10 ponkan sa araw na may sipon, ubo at lagnat, umiyak ng ilang beses habang pilit na iniintindi ang Calculus habang (LSS: Fix You) nagmunimuni kung ano kaya ang mali ko sa problems sa quiz sa Finac 2, mga 2-3 na beses na lumagpas sa Philcoa dahil nakatulog sa FX, kalahati at 3 araw na nawalan ng boses during Finals week dahil sa over fatigue at stress. $#!*!! buhay ka pa?! (Evil grin) Lord Salamat (mahal mo pa rin ako) .

Congrats din sa blockmates ko, next Semester uli guys! cheers!

habang nagtytype ako, napansin ko na nanglilimahid na sa alikabok ang keyboard ko. tagal na din na hindi ko nalinis. grabeh, yung mouse may itim-itim pa sa ilalim. kadiri. parang ayaw pa yta matanggal sa wet wipes..... ahhhh... yun naman pala technique, wet wipes tapos punas ng tissue. ayos!

di na ako makapaghintay sa roadtrip up-north photoshoot namin nina Lisette. Pero bago yun, magdadasal muna ako na sana medyo sumabit sa uno ang Calculus. Remote ang chances na pumasa pero ako ay nananalig na sana pumasa. I think, hindi naman ako bogart, pero kapag XY XY na math, parang hating gabi talaga ang pakiramdam ko.  Accounting subjects walang problema. Haayyy... Roadtrip.... di na ako makapaghintay.  Fast forward. Fast forward.