Belated Formspring Friday

I’m echoing Carina’s “Gmail is FAIL” sentiment! I checked my Spam folder in case some Formspring responses ended up there, too, and true enough, here are a few that I missed! I’m sorry I didn’t get to these sooner!

Can you give us tips on how to take good bokeh and silhouette shots? I only have the kit lens for now. :(

Ahaaa, finally, a specific question! :) I’m guessing the widest aperture your kit lens goes is 3.5, and that it’s only widest when you’re super wide angle at around 16mm (or so) because it gradually gets smaller the more you zoom in?

If I remember my basic photography class right (which I might not, by the way), bokeh or shallow depth of field is achieved with a wide aperture or a big focal length. (Like the 1.8 aperture on the cheapest 50mm prime lens Canon has to offer, or 100mm+ on a telephoto or telephoto zoom lens.) I usually max my kit to 55mm and try to get closer to my subject so that the background is a little blurrier, or conversely, I go all the way down to 16mm and max out my aperture to 3.5 and again, get closer to my subject. It’s hit or miss, though — you’ll never get the epic bokeh of a prime lens with a kit lens. :(

Silhouettes are easier, though. Bright light source behind your subject, like a window, and fast shutter speed. I think this might be an instance where shutter priority (Tv) will be of great use. :) Good luck!

I get through it with a little help from my friends. :) The Boyfriend has been really good about texting me and making sure I feel loved and not-alone. I’ve also been throwing myself more into work and creative pursuits. It’s good to be busy with things that have an end result. :) I hope you start feeling better soon!

hey there! i just want to say i absolutely LOVE all the songs you post on pornography. keep on posting! :)

Thank you! I keep forgetting to update it, but I’ll try to post more in the future. :)

Hi Reggie! Can you suggest some good songs (OPM or otherwise) with female vocals that I could add to my playlist? I admire your taste in music.

Hey there! :) Specific songs? That’s kind of difficult because there are so many! Can I give you bands instead? Locally, the best female-fronted bands are Imago (Aia de Leon’s voice is incredible), Up dharma Down, and Taken By Cars. I also enjoy Duster (all-femme, fronted by Narda’s Katwo Puertollano) and Cambio (fronted by the lovely Kris Gorra-Dancel, formerly of Fatal Posporos), but I think they might be more of an acquired taste. Sino Sikat’s Kat Agarrado is also a very powerful singer, but their music isn’t exactly my style. :)

I might have to get back to you on my international list; I’m having a hard time pulling my head together since it is 4:20 in the morning. :)

When is your anniversary (You and The Boyfriend)? How did you guys meet?

Our anniversary is September 23rd. :) I posted this link to the story of how we met in a previous Formspring Friday entry. I wrote it for our first anniversary two years ago. :) But in short: I met him through my uncle for work-related reasons. I asked him for a pair of plastic sunglasses. The rest is history. :)