The other day I went to a fireworks show but had no tripod and felt like trying something different while shooting the fireworks.  Hence the Bokeh Fireworks Shots.  All shots were taken with the Nikon D40 & 35mm 1.8G lens.

This is one of my favorite albums released this year. A mix of instrumentals and soft vocals put together by the popular Lebanese arranger, Jean Marie Riachi. It starts with Yara’s “Shefto min Beid” and ends with a duet between Ramy Ayach and Abir Ne’me, “Belaaks” (the opposite direction) with a couple of international songs in between. The album has a mixed flavor between Jazz & Arabic. It is great music for different moods.

• Shefto Min Beid (Arabic Pop) Artist: Yara
• La Vie En Rose (French) Artist: Laura Liis
• Lamma Bada (Instrumental Arabic)
• Haymne A Lamour (French)
• Petite Fleur (French)
• My Baby (English) Artist: Sevine
• Bint El Shalabia (Instrumental)
• Fly Me To The Moon (Instrumental)
• Encontros e Despedidas (Portuguese) Artist: Catia Werneck
• Ya Habibi(Instrumental)
• Bhebak (Arabic) Artist: Abir Nehme
• Enta Ana (Arabic)
• Bellayl(Arabic) Artist: Simon Obeid
• Belaaks (Arabic) Artists: Ramy Ayach | Abir Nehme

[ Download Here ]

I ran across this article today about innovation in tough times.  The following checklist summarizes Scott Anthony’s “Seize the Silver Lining” book about innovation:

1. Recognize today’s transformation imperative?
2. Have a handle on the future potential of innovation?
3. Have a process to prudently prune its innovation portfolio on a regular basis
4. Have clear consensus on the 1-3 top growth opportunities?
5. Always ask, “How does the customer define more?” before asking people to do more with less?
6. Match technological experiments (”can we?”) with strategic experiments (”should we?”)?
7. Constantly search to share the innovation load to de-risk innovation?
8. Have a plan to “love the low end” in existing and emerging markets?
9. Run an innovation factory with systems and structures to make innovation repeatable?
10. Have a plan to help leaders transform themselves?

VIA [ Scott Anthony @ Harvard Business ]

Yesterday was the 5th CFBMW Poker Run in Central Florida.  There were over 60 cars.  We drove an unknown route based on directions given at 4 different stops.  The route (map) came out to about a 130 miles of mostly rural roads on the outskirs of Orlando.

Pictures:

More pictures @ flickr

Thanks to the Wordpress iPhone app, I will be able to blog regularly when I am away from a computer.

Fiat got 35% stake in struggling Chrysler without paying anything.  Fiat will provide Chrysler with efficient economical powertrains and in return, Fiat will have space to manufacture its cars in the USA and will have access to the Chrysler dealer network.  The deal didn’t cost Fiat a dime.

This means that Alfa Romeo could potentially be on US shores again.  Fiat & Alfa were not sold in the USA throughout the last few decades.

Sources:

• Forbes: Fiat Buys American, And Gets A Great Price
• ABC News: Fiat and Chrysler Sign Alliance Plan

We had a statewide march for Palestine in Florida on Saturday.  The march was organized by A.N.S.W.E.R. Florida in response to the unjust torture to the innocent people of Gaza.  I captured the event from my own perspective.  Below are some of the photos.  You can see more in my Gallery.

Taken at one of the Obama campaigns in Orlando

D40 & 30mm Sigma @ f/2.2, 1/250s, ISO 200, -1/3 EV, CWM 

I’ve been waiting to get nice telephoto to replace the manual focus zooms that I use for the telephoto range. I currently use the following lenses:

• Nikon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6
• Sigma 30mm f/1.4
• Nikon MF 50mm f/1.8E
• Nikon MF 70-210mm f/4
• Sigma MF 75-210mm f/3.5-4.5

I was debating between a 50-150 2.8 and a 70-300 VR.  I got a hold of a nice sharp copy of the 70-300 VR and I love it.  However, I am addicted to my 30mm 1.4 mostly wide open.  Debating wether to sell/trade the lens for a f/2.8 or keep it, I decided to give ExposurePlot a try to analyze my use of focal lengths.  I ran it on my D40 folder so it analyzed all of my photos.  Then I spent some and highlighted the ranges that are covered by other lenses that I am considering.  Note that in 3 major outings, the 70-300 VR was heavily used and the focal length statistics were similar in all three outings.  The result of the analysis is shown below: (click to enlarge):

I’m trying to determine what option would be ideal.  Notice the heavy use of the 30mm Sigma which was acquired after a long time of owning the camera.  The 16-85 VR would cover a nice range, but @ 5.6 max aperture, it will not satisfy my aperture needs/likes.  Also, the 18-55 shows a lot of use @ 55mm which to me is just a sign of wanting more zoom so I would not want to say that is a key number to use.  My suprize was really using the 70-300mm @ 70mm more than anything else. I’m assuming that I just got accustomed to the medium focal lengths.  I love shallow depths of field and background separations.  Only a 2.8 zoom or another prime would be able to satisfy that, the downside is that I own a D40 and the primes are limited.  I would like to limit the spending to $600.  These are some of the lenses I’m considering:

• Nikon 105mm 2.8 VR
• Sigma 50-150mm 2.8
• Sigma 70-200mm 2.8
• Sigma 150mm 2.8
• Nikon 60mm 2.8
• Nikon 50mm 1.4G
• Sigma 50mm 1.4
• The new Sigma 24-70 2.8