Photography Experiments: Portraits

Just did a simple portraiture experiment today with my Phottix Mitros flash.  Tested several configurations, and just wanted to get the gist of using the flash.  The harsh shadow was annoying, maybe using another diffuser and a fill light might help, but no tools on hand other than white A4 paper, which helped to make it less harsh.  A slight under exposure for most of the shots considering they are portraits. 

I definitely would have used another model, but it was hard to get hold of one in such a short notice, so myself would have to do.  Clearly not that flattering, but aw well. 

An old hobby. An old favourite.

As you go through some of your stuff, you always happen to come across several of your old things.  Or when you are shopping in the supermarket, you come across something you haven't had in a while.   

Oolong Tea, one of my favourite tea during high school.  

An old GO book. Time to pick this hobby up again.  I have someone I need to beat. 

ND Sushi Review: Lunch Sashimi Bento

ND sushi and grill is a hidden gemstone in the middle of a street full of great food.(Baldwin Street) This is a bit on the pricier side, but it has amazing food. I have been here on several occasions, and at every visit, it amazed me with the quality and freshness of the food.

In this visit, I got a lunch sashimi bento box for around around $13-$15 (I don't remember exact since it has been a while). Overall, this will probably be a 10/10 in terms of japanese food. I have yet to find a place better than this in terms of food quality within downtown Toronto without breaking my wallet.

The starting japanese salad was amazing, it had just the right amount of flavour and acidity to make my stomach rumble in anticipation of the next dish.

Japanese Salad Appetizer

The next dish was the main course, it was a simple bento box with a Miso Soup and abowl of white rice. The portions are small for those who want to gorge themselves, but otherwise this was one of the best bento boxes I have eaten to date.

The chicken teriyaki and the deep fried fish was very good and seasoned well, but the star was definitely the fish. The Salmon and Hamachi Sashimi was really fresh, the flavour of the fish was strong, and it just melts in your mouth. The taste was in my mouth for the remainder of the meal, and was a constant reminder of what very good salmon can taste like.

Sashimi Bento Box: Chicken Teriyaki (left), Salmon + Hamachi Sashimi (center), Deep Fried Fish (Right) 

Little things keeps you going.

Everyone has their own crunch times: projects, work, personal issues.  Unfortunate, but it always happens, there will always be times like this where you get crushed under the onslaught of multiple problems and issues.  When I encounter these, I think of one particular Chinese saying.

苦中一點甜 

Its not anything awe-spiring or telling people the meaning of life.  All it means is "A bit sweet in the middle of bitterness". As it implies, it is used to refer to the little bit of good thing when your life goes into crunch mode.  It doesn't tell you to take an easy way out, it doesn't give you advice on what to do, it is used to describe that little bit of nice things.  

For me it reminds me to take a breather, despite the pressure, take a quick breather now and then.  Do something you enjoy, and continue on.  That "苦中一點甜" is exactly what is needed to keep you working.  

Take some time, drink some water, get a snack, and continue on.  Work hard my fellow exam time students :)  

Even though I do not particularly love sweets, a little sugar in the middle of an overload work is always helpful.  

What's your superpower?

I'm sure at one point, this is a question that everyone would come across once in their life: If you had a superpower, what would it be?

At one point in my life, I wanted telepathy. The ability to know all the answers to my quizzes and test, I mean, who wouldn't want that. But is it alright to understand the answer without going through putting in the effort? Is it alright to know instantly the motives and real meaning behind people without learning about them?

At another point, I wanted the ability to be invisible. The ability to hide away when I didn't want people to notice my weakness and flaws. The ability to be ignored when I didn't want to deal with people, it will be as if... I was invisible. But do I really want to hide just because I am ashamed of my flaws? Is it alright to just ignore my strengthens and talents and focus on my weakness?

For now I want the superpower to be courageous. Courageous to take the next step and continue on even when I am afraid, afraid of the potential risk or rewards. Sometimes it's a simple power which makes the difference, not a superpower.

So what's your superpower?