Why Am I Such A Boring Bastard On Facebook?

I have just been doing a little social media navel gazing and came to the realisation that I am a really boring bastard on Facebook.

On my Google+ stream and this blog I am irreverent, fairly un-censored and a probably a little bit odd.  Just like the real thing.  But when I enter the blue on white world of my Facebook business page I find myself morphing into Mr Dryballs.  It's all family-friendly, professional, non-confrontational and sterile.  I actually wear a suit and tie while posting to Facebook (but still no pants).

I think my self-sensorship is driven by the fact that on Facebook I deal with existing customers from our website, to whom the real me may well be too much.  On G+ I am surrounded primarily by like minded whack-jobs who can take it or leave it if they want.  Here on this blog I am surrounded by exactly no-one so I could pretty much extoll the virtues of the Nazi party manifesto and do zero damage to my credibility.

What I do find interesting is how seemingly similar social media sites ooze quite different vibes to me (God only knows what I am supposed to do on Twitter).  I guess it is the people that comprise the audience, but I think it goes beyond that, I think the architecture of different social media sites infer a different tone.  Maybe not. Maybe I am just a pussy on Facebook*

What do you think?  Comments welcome....

Cheers - Todd

* to prove I am not a pussy I have posted a link to this article on Facebook  I didn't post this to facebook - I am indeed a total pussy...

Nikon V1's Going Cheap......

I'm not sure what to make of this, but the Nikon V1 price just drove off a cliff this week - Amazon currently have the Nikon 1 V1 with 10-30mm VR 1 Lens (Black) listed for $596.95 - previously this rig was breathing the rarified air found at it's $899 list price.....

I am not paid the big bucks to sit around not drawing outrageously unfounded conclusions from stuff I see on the interwebs - so here goes....

I think this is a really bad sign for the Nikon 1 series of cameras less than a year into their perky, petite little lifespans.

These are really good cameras - I have only played with the V1's little sister the J1(it was a girly white one) and I was amazed by it. Gordon Laing has the world's most comprehensive review of the VI at cameralabs (put aside a Saturday afternoon to read it) and he really rated it.

However, like me, most of the world has no idea what the 1 series cameras mean to them - they are (were) expensive and not as fully featured as a similarly priced DSLR and they have a tiny sensor.  And then there is Sony, who are kicking it with APS-c models in the V1's category.

Personally, I will be doing a lot of comparison shopping before I enter the mirrorless market - and I won't be buying a Nikon just because I shoot their DSLRs.  Me-thinks Nikon has been taken to school and given a spanking with the V1's pricing (anyone remember the D3x, anyone?)....

I would love to hear your thoughts on the V1 / J1 below.

Cheers - Todd

New Zealand Photos | Mt Taranaki at Dawn

Well, yet again, my free Wednesday Wallpaper is a day late and a buck short on Thursday :-)

I am running well short of time this week as I am deep in web development mode on our new site - staring a mountainous mountain of mountain photos to keyword and upload to photoshelter....

While we are discussing mountainous mountains, this photo of volcanic Mt Taranaki was made at dawn after a long night of hiking in the dark, from the Pouakai Ridge track in Mt Egmont national park New Zealand.

You can grab the full size iPad wallpaper download from my photoshelter account: http://bit.ly/NibI3J

Just follow the download instructions on page.

Made on: a Canon 5d Markii (I'd buy the Canon 5D Mark III  these days) with Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM Lens  @ 24mm. Captured to 16GB Lexar Cf Card (still on special at Amazon) .

Filters: Marumi Circular Polarizer (read my polarizer review here) and 3 stop Singh Ray ND grad filter.

Thank you to everyone who uses my links - the small amount I make from these helps to keep my kids feet in shoes each winter!

Cheers - Todd

Nikon D800 In Stock At Adorama | Still No D800e

Just a quick update to last week's 'D800 in stock' alert post.

Adorama must have a pair of hot envoys (Male & Female, this is an equal opportunity blog) based in Japan sake-ing and dining key figures in Nikon's despatch department.  Why do I jump to such spurious conclusions?

The adorama webstore still has D800's in stock and ready to ship.

As a point of reference: Amazon is backordered and so are B&H

Unfortunately, the D800e (lusive) is nowhere to be seen.

If you have been looking for the D800 get on over to Adorama.

If you have any D800 queries - please message me via the comments stream.  I'm loving mine and I'd be honoured to help you if I can.

Cheers - Todd

TSS Earnslaw, Queenstown New Zealand

TSS Earnslaw (Lady o' The Lake) Steaming out of Queenstown Harbour on an Autumn morning.  The Earnslaw (Ernie) celebrates her centenary this year.  Visit http://www.tssearnslaw.co.nz/ to check out the details.

This image has just been sent off to our printers for a lucky client - you can find it on our website: