Sep
08
ROKChoi.com is undergoing some upgrading. Please hang tight as we work go through a few changes, we appreciate your patience while we populate the new galleries!
All inquiries can go to rocky@rokchoi.com or through the contact page
Thank you!
Oct
15
I have wanted to try out a lens for awhile but couldn’t justify blowing 2500 bucks on it before at least playing with it. Testing with it in stores for a few 5-10 minutes just doesn’t cut it for any practical usage for the type of photography that you do. Plus there’s so much pressure with the salesperson standing there telling you everything you probably know already from online research.
Given a Lens Rentals Canada coupon code – redflag (good till Oct 31) – for $50 off any rental, I jumped the gun and decided to rent a lens for this weekend where I have a wedding and also a shoot for a few models.
The site itself was easy to navigate through and their FAQ answers a lot of questions. I recommend reading through it before emailing the guys at LRC. But being a lazy ass, I emailed before reading and got a very speedy reply from Craig, very very helpful.
I wanted the lens for Saturday morning (day I placed the order was Wednesday late morning) so I wanted to make sure it will arrive by Friday. Craig anticipated that it should get from Owen Sound to Toronto in two days no problem. So I placed the order booked for a 4-day period starting Saturday, and the lens will need to be shipped back by Tuesday.
Everything went through properly and I got my tracking number, which didn’t quite work… I have shipped things in the past and know that the shipping number is generated when you check an item through online via Canada Post but isn’t in the system immediately until they get their hands on it.
To my surprise, the lens arrived early yesterday (Thursday) and I picked it up from the post office after work requiring a signature. Woohoo!! Extra day with the lens!!
Being a geek, a few shots of the “unboxing”. It could be helpful to you to know what to expect when receiving a parcel from LRC.
Included when you open the box are paperwork of your invoice, instructions on how to return the lens, and also the packing slip for the return shipment.
Next you’ll find an overwhelming of cushioning material, which is very understandable as these are delicate equipment and it’s good to see that LRC takes care of their equipment.
And finally, the beast that I rented!!
I anticipate it to be much more useful for the wedding day and maybe less for the model shoot. I will try it out on my crop which will be similar to a 35mm and can give me a feel of that focal length for the new 35/1.4 that will come out soon. Then I will have it on a full frame body to use this lens for it’s original intent for the wedding on Saturday.
Please take some time to make sure packing is secure when sending it back so the lens can benefit someone else or even yourself the next time you rent it!
Aug
21
First morning up, woke up to this when I looked out the window.
The town is beautiful, the people are soooooooo nice! I don’t think I’ve said hi to a stranger in Toronto for awhile; over here, everyone takes the initiative to greet you.
Staying at a Bed and Breakfast with The Deck House, Dave and Shelia are the best people in the world, no exaggeration.
Stay tuned, much more to come…
Jul
18
I’ve taken you to NYC, LA, San Diego, San Francisco and countless places here at home. You’ve found the way when I’m lost. It’s been fun while it lasted…but it’s time to move on.
Yeah…my GPS unit died 
Jul
18
Goodbyes are always hard, but it’s time to move on… :’(
Let’s turn some Nikes into some Nikons!! 
Mar
23
Recently, I got my hands on a Nikon Super Wide Angle AF-S Zoom 17-35mm f/2.8D ED-IF, which I shot here. Not only was the lens built like a tank, but the case it came with could also withstand some major punishing.
This leather-bound piece of craftsmanship can no longer be found in newer products. It almost gives you the warm fuzzies just holding it.
Feb
09
Past weekend was the class of 2010′s iron ring ceremony. All accredited Canadian engineering program’s students are presented with one upon their completion of the program.
It has been awhile where I felt a sense of accomplishment, but this is it. Though I don’t know if engineering is truly what I want to do, I do feel that this is a milestone that I will cherish.
A typical shot for wedding rings, but I guess there’s some love for engineering as well.
Jan
23
I made the familiar drive down to Cambridge today, it may be one of the last. I am shooting the gallery located within the architecture campus for a piece that is to be written for Imprint.
The gallery on display is called “Portraits from Above” documenting Hong Kong’s rooftop communities by Rufina Wu and Stefan Canham.
The images were beautiful. Even though I haven’t been back to Hong Kong for ten years nor have I ever lived in these rooftop communities, the images seemed close to heart, maybe it’s just having that connection to the motherland.
Dec
30
A cheap and effective way of holding gels to your speedlights is to use Velcro. However attaching the Velcro directly on to the piece of gel will reduce it’s life and waste the Velcro when you have to replace it. Not that gels are expensive by any means, but I save where I can.
I did not invent this and saw this at one of the strobist meetups I attended, taking from the idea of gel holders like this Rosco kit that you can buy, you can DIY the same thing with business card sleeves.
Simply get a pack of these and cut away. Try to match the area of the flash so that there are no extra material on the sides in case you want to use it with a dome diffuser. Stick some Velcro onto the business card holder that you’ve just cut out. You can even use a dome diffuser to hold down the gel holder, make sure the material is not that thick that you start to warp your dome diffuser and lose the tight fit. There, you have yourself a DIY gel holder that you can use again and again until it gets to destroyed and you can afford to just toss it and make another one. Get a sheet of the colors you use more often like CTO and window green and just try to score some Rosco or Lee sample packs for all the other funky colors.
Conversely, the SB-900 comes with a gel holder that’s nice and compact. You’re suppose to use it with the gels the SB-900 came with so it can do auto WB but I don’t see why you can’t just use it with regular gels that you’ve cut up. Of course, if you do not want to be ghetto like me, this Rosco kit is a nice, elegant solution.
Dec
17
Being the cheapskate that I am, I take care of my gear because I can’t afford to replace them. When you’re putting a speedlight on a stand, for those of us with some of the newer speedlights (like an SB900 @ $500+), you are putting a lot of money into a very high place. Even though they’re built like a tank, a 6 foot drop won’t do it any good.
I use these Impact umbrella adapters, they’re great for what they’re worth but the hotshoe mount really suck. I’ve had a SB800 fall from 7ft off of this adaptor, lucky landing on something soft with no damages.
I had a Photoflex XS Softbox at one point and I want to get another one when I get the chance, the adjustable mount that you need with this softbox comes with a very nice speedlight hot shoe mount. Very secure.
I looked for this online and it wasn’t a part that’s sold on it’s own. So I emailed the good people at Photoflex and got a very prompt reply from Alex:
Hi Rocky,
Thank you for your email message and for your continued support.
Yes, this part exists. Here is the info:
Item# RR-QRSHOE – $11.95usd ea
Availability: out of stock, will have in stock Jan 17, 2010To place your order when it’s in stock, please contact us at 800 486 2674 mon-fri 8am-4pm Pacific.
Thank you!
So there you go. At 12 bucks, I think it’s a very good investment for a secure solution and only a fraction of the cost of what your flash costs.