Figuarts day

I finally had the time to open the rest of the Figuarts that I've been collecting for a while. I really enjoy opening these figures and then messing around with them for a while, then snapping some shots of them. It's really a nice way to relax on a Sunday.

Kamen Rider Dark Kiva


Kamen Rider IXA


Masked Rider 2


Kamen Rider Den-O Strike Form


Kamen Rider Diend


Kamen Rider Kuuga Ultimate Form

Doggies Photoshoot

Today I finally got to test out my Tokina 12-24mm f4 lens that I just got a few days back. I am a regular volunteer photographer for a local organization and they had an event at the park today. One of the main events was a doggie dress-up contest which is my favourite since I get to see all these cute dogs dressed up in cute and hilarious costumes. I did this event last year as well, but I guess I was still shy to bring a camera right up to people's faces so I didn't get the shots I was hoping for. But this time, with the 12-24, I HAD to go up to their faces for these shots. At first I thought the distortion on the outer frame at 12mm was going to be cumbersome, but today I learned that the distortion creates some interesting perspective when used properly.

Most of the pictures I took today were for the foundation (VIP's and such), but I had the most fun photographing the dogs and their owners.

































And a pic of my girl from yesterday, she's incredibly camera shy, she does everything she can to not look directly at the camera LOL

New Glass

Received my final packages that I will be getting for a while today. First up, grail haul is the SHFiguarts Kamen Rider Diend. I wanted this figure for a loooong time, when it was released I didn't have the funds to get both him and Decade so I ended up just getting Decade. And when I had the money for Diend, he was sold out everywhere and his prices skyrocketed. I got this figure from a fellow toy collector for a relatively good deal (compared to Ebay prices) so I am happy that I finally have him.

And big second haul from B&H is a new lens for my DSLR. I haven't gotten any new lens since my 35mm and 50mm primes that I got when I initially bought my camera last year. I spent most of my funds on toys and didn't get any new lenses. But I am planning on starting to go on some vacations so I need to build up my trip-lens-arsenal before I go anywhere since I want to be able to capture everything I see. The first one I decided to pick up is a ultra-wide angle lens, a Tokina 12-24mm f4. I got this one over the alternatives because I know Tokina lenses are really well built and has good image quality. The other 12-24 f4 is made by Nikon and is double the price of this one. I read many good reviews on this lens so I decided to pick it up. I also picked up a polarizer for the lens, although it is not recommended to use a polarizer with UWA lenses, but I just love the effect of polarizers so I will have to work with it.

Amiami Haul of April

Just received this loot from Amiami today, I love EMS shipping even though it's so expensive because it was shipped on Wednesday and I received it today already! I don't bother with SAL anymore unless I am only ordering a few items (rarely LOL).

This time I got:

Revoltech Edward Elric from Full Metal Alchemist
Revoltech Alphonse Elric from Full Metal Alchemist
Revoltech Iron Man Mark III
Takara Terracon Cliffjumper from Transformers Prime
SIC Kiwami Horse Orphnoch
Scorpion Zodiarts Vinyl figure from Kamen Rider Fourze (ordered this just before they announced the Figuarts...argh)
LBX Custom Effect parts 001-004 (thought these might work for other figures)
WAVE Corp H-Hangar set (this one was bigger and packaged nicer than I expected, I thought it would just come in a plastic baggy, really looking forward to messing around with this set)

Again, great services and very fast shipping from Amiami, that's why I keep going back to them. Even after shipping, the prices are better than buying locally so it's a no brainer. But sometimes it scares me to think of how much money I have given them over these few years of collecting LOL

MAN this week is just so full of AWESOME! Got all these toys and got my tickets ready for the AVENGERS movie tomorrow WOOOHOOO!