Mie Ahmt Photography

Stupid Stupid Battery

 

This is how the battery in a MacBook Pro is supposed to look....

(PS dont ask me why I felt like taking these pictures at ISO 2500)

And this is how the battery in my MacBook Pro looks...

 

Apparently (and according to the Mac Guy I talked to on the phone) this is perfectly normal for my generation of MacBook Pro Batteries (Mine is from April 2006)...it is a chemical reaction that happens when the battery is about to die completely...

I haven't noticed any battery problems other than a few days ago when the trackpad stopped working. Turns out that the trackpad stopped working because the battery was pushing on it from underneath... Doh!

I don't know how much longer to rely on this computer... The keyboard is not working, the cd-drive isn't woking and now it doesn't even have a battery... I wonder how many times I will forget about the battery - cut the power off on accident - before I get so mad that I throw it out the window...

I love my Mac and I really don't want to buy a new one.But I really think it would be cool if a +$4000 laptop would last me more than 2 years...

Dirty Dirty Sensor...

Last week I handed over my camera to Idaho Camera to get it cleaned. Normally I clean it myself - I have no problem - or rather - no fear of cleaning my own sensor. But it had come to a point were the amount of time I spent looking into my sensor with my sensor scope - just didn't make sense any more. There were some spots I just couldn't see - or couldn't clean. I am not the type of person who treats my camera as a baby... I put it in my purse - I carry it with me everywhere - more or less.. I change lenses and put it on the ground (Not at the same time though) - so I am not one of these overly careful or sensitive people... Anyways... I took my camera over to Idaho camera and they cleaned it in a day for $105 and I was a happy camper.. I went out over the weekend and took a ton of pictures - because now I finally had a clean sensor. Or - so I thought...
At first sight my pictures look just fine - also at f22 - which was my problem earlier.
  But when you take a closer look it doesn't look so fine after all. The picture below is a picture of a white board - nothing but white! I adjusted the levels in Photoshop to bring out all this nastiness... Woah!!! $105 for THAT? I don't think so!

All the black spots in this picture are dust or dirt from my sensor... Obviously nobody but me would never notice this in my pictures - but it bothers me and I spend way too much time looking for flaws rather than being creative and evolving... So now I am without my camera again - no biggie - I just hope they will get it spotless as soon as possible.

I have discussed this issue with some of my friends (and now colleagues) from RMSP - and I have come to the conclusion that I will try a methanol-based solution - rather than the waterbased one I have been using until now. I have a feeling that the waterbased solution takes too long to dry and that just might be the root of my whole problem here... We will see what happens - and I shall keep you posted. Taking pictures is much more fun than stupid sensor cleaning!

Spring Cleaning

I love spring... Everything about it! I even love the spring cleaning! I love getting rid of stuff and the feeling of weight pretty much being lifted off my shoulders. Since my house is under construction at the moment - I am spring cleaning my computer. Not so long ago I spilled coffee in the keyboard in my beloved MacBook Pro... It was totally the dogs fault - and funnily enough her name is Java! Yes! I love my coffee! The computer itself didn't suffer much from the Java accident - but the keyboard isn't working much anymore. It works just fine with an external keyboard - but I have lost faith in my computer and know it is only a matter of time before it bails on me... So spring cleaning it is... In my computer... AND my camera...
Since my last trip to Afghanistan I have had serious issues with dust on my sensor - which pretty much makes me shoot in F4 or below... So now I finally gave in and sent my camera off for cleaning. I should probably have done it a long time ago - considering the number of hours I have spent looking into my sensor with my sensor Loupe... I can not wait to get it back!

So while we wait for my camera to get back - here are some pictures of the little Java Puppy who made me spill coffee in my computer. She is a beautiful Border Collie - 5 months old - with A LOT of energy!

I actually have two pups... the other one is Java's brother... His name is Lucky - and I am sure there will be plenty of pictures of him on this blog in the future...

Yabadaba-Doooo!!!

Excuse me for letting my inner geek out. Finally skype for Iphone is here - and it is fabulous!
 
I have made my first international call with the new skype app that you can download for free in the app store. This is the greatest nerd experience i have had in a long time... There is a review of the application here - I am IN LOVE! Even the chat works very well... Suddenly my useless AT&T device turns out to be super useful for me in Denmark! Yay for Skype I heart you so much!

More Keith Loutit

I know that I am at danger of sounding like a broken record. But I am so in love with Keith Louitt's work. He has posted some new videos on vimeo. I really admire his work and I like this trend! I like this trend so much - that I probably need to dig deep and buy that tiltshift lens.

Bathtub IV from Keith Loutit on Vimeo.

Tiltshifting

So... I did not get that tilshift lens I wanted for Christmas... No problem!!!
This awesome website called tilshiftmaker creates awesome tilshift-look-alike images for you. It is so easy and the pictures come out great! Now - don't get me wrong... The tilshift lens is still on the list of things I wish I owned!
   I feel a little bit like it is cheating... But who cares??? It looks so cute!

Best Christmas Gift... Ever!!!

I finally have internet at my new house in Boise, Idaho! Yay! It has been a long time with no connection to what in my mind is 'the real world' so I am exited to be back online again!

I just received the best Christmas Gift ever! A little late and in about a thousand pieces - but who cares? Remember the story about the Afghan Photographer? Well, that exact camera is now mine - sent all the way from Afghanistan to Boise... Arrived in pieces - but we will have it back together soon!
Maybe I will settle down as the Danish Street Photographer in Boise with my Afghan Camera... Now that would be fun!

All I want for Christmas part 3

This little neat thing called a HoodLoupe has been on my wish list forever! Now it is finally (good timing) available at BH.

The Hoodman Professional LCD Screen Loupe is used to make a close inspection of the review image displayed on your Digital SLR LCD Display. The LCD Screen Loupe isolates the cameras LCD Display from ambient light so you will not be distracted by glare or shadows, making it easier to view image details quickly to confirm focus to ensure that you have the best image possible.

Traveling with gear!

I am in Dubai at the moment - waiting for all my paperwork to fly to Afghanistan tomorrow!
This is my first official travel where my main purpose of the trip is photography and I am extremely exited!

I wanted to use this down time to share my first experience traveling with a load of photo gear - bear in mind though, that I am not actually at my final destination yet - so lot's can still happen.

I have a back ground working in logistics - so I feel pretty well equipped planning transportation of heavy, expensive and fragile equipment - I was still nervous though - seeing my Pelican cases being thrown on the luggage belt at the airport!

I bought 2 Pelican cases with foam inside to transport my gear in. Together they fit all my lenses, triggers, meters, battery pack and a head. The rest is in my suitcase... "So what about your personal items Mie? What do you wear" you may ask... Well - I am good a travelling light when it comes to myself - so for me not such a big deal that I can't bring all my fancy clothing or whatever...
I have a feeling that these Pelican cases are one of the wisest investments I have made regarding photo equipment! They do add some weight to your luggage - and traveling within Europe you can only have 20 kg total in your luggage - so that limit is easily reached just with your gear!

I have found that the best way to protect yourself and to keep 'friendly' with the TSA, is to not lock your suitcases or pelican cases. Instead, use tie wire or a TSA approved locks.
I bring the locks - but prefer the Tie Wire. I  always put extra tie wires inside my case with a nice little letter to the TSA personel, who WILL check your luggage when travelling within the States, asking them to please put a new tie wire on my suitcase once they are done inspecting it.
I always put a few post cards and business cards inside my gear-cases - I don't really know if it help anything - but it makes ME fell like they will take extra care - if they understand that this is my livelihood... Who knows if that is just an illusion?!

The fact is though - that both my pelican cases AND my suitcase arrived late last night with me in Dubai - which I am really happy about!  Tomorrow we go for step 2... travelling from Dubai to Kabul with my gear... This shall be interesting!