angrylittleboy

After more than a year and 30,000-something shutter actuations, the D80 died and is now begging to be replaced. I’ll have it repaired tomorrow at Columbia Cubao then sell it, hopefully, at a reasonable price along with my 85mm AF-D.

Right now, all I’m using is a Nikkormat and some expired film, but next year, I hope I can have a replacement for the D80 in hand already. I’m choosing between the Olympus EP-1 and the Panasonic GF-1 (in-body image stabilization vs. faster auto-focus), although I have to admit that I’m liking the GF-1 more and more as I read more reviews .

I met Tony around 2 years ago through flickr. It was the usual fare at first: I saw his photos, I liked them, left a comment and he did likewise. After a while, I found myself asking him about photography. I had aspirations of being a commercial photographer back then, and I thought having someone to teach me the ropes would be nice.

Tony did that and more. Besides teaching me about commercial photography, he gave me valuable insights regarding the art of photography, its past, present and future. The talks even went beyond the boundaries of photography and, soon enough, Tony became more than just an online acquaintance. Tony became a mentor and a friend.

I didn’t make it into a commercial photographer, but I believe I got more than what I had originally hoped for. Maybe someday, I can repay him by passing on what I learned to another confused novice.