makumaro.net is the rented space of HC Mak, built on 
Woke up during the ride home from Mildura to capture this shot. Skies during hot days give off the most vibrant colours.
Just recently purchased a wired flash chord from eBay so I can try some off camera flash shots with still objects. I’ve been previously using the commander function on the on body flash to trigger my SB-800 but because it uses light to trigger the external flash, it over illuminates closeup subjects. Haven’t done any testing yet but I’m keen on using the reflective umbrella I have on a tripod to get a soft light on some subjects I will take.
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Been up two days in a row at 430am to watch soccer. It was the 2nd leg of the Champion’s League quarterfinals and what a match between Chelsea and Liverpool. It started out steady enough, then silly errors from Chelsea saw Liverpool 2-0 up. Liverpool was trying to cut the deficit from their first leg 3-1 defeat by Chelsea and as this is Rafael Benitez’s team, anything is possible. Chelsea made it into the second half being only two goals down and with the substitution of Nicolas Anelka on, a cross and some fumbling by Reina and Chelsea suddenly have a goal. Another foul outside the penalty box and Alex converts with a screamer of a goal. It’s now 2-2 and once again Liverpool is chasing the game. The ball is going from one end to the other rapidly and Liverpool provides too much space for Lampard who cooly shoots pass Reina to make it 3-2. You’d think it’s all over for Liverpool but no, they strike 2 back in quick succession, making it 3-4. Just one more goal and they’d be through to the semi final. Some last ditch defending from Chelsea and suddenly they hit back with another goal, and ending the game with a 4-4 draw, winning the two legs of the tie with a 7-5 aggregate. It was definitely one of the more exhilarating matches in recent history. Chelsea now faces the all attacking Barcelona in the semi finals, it’s going to be another mouth watering match.
Got up early again this morning to see if Manchester United could beat Porto in their home ground. The statistics were stacked against them, with United always crashing out of the competition after drawing their first leg at home during the quarter finals. No English team has beat Porto in their home ground for the past 30 odd years. It seems daunting enough and the match starts of with United controlling the pace of the game. Nothing exciting and I’m just watching the match when a pass from Anderson to Ronaldo, who makes a few steps and hits the most spectacular goal I’ve seen in a long, long while. From 35 metres out he belts a ball just past the finger tips of the Porto keeper into the top left side of the goal netting. That wonder goal got United through to the semi final, who must now face Arsenal in another must see match. Heh, two more weeks before the two matches.
Heh, been sleeping at 1130pm the past couple of nights, waking up at 2am just to make sure I haven’t overslept and dragging myself out of bed at 430am to go to Ken’s place to catch the action. I’ve been promising to go to his place since the beginning of the year to catch these early morning Champion’s League matches but have so far failed to deliver on those promises. Then suddenly I decide to watch two matches in a row. Well, it’s already April and it all ends next month when a flurry of matches will occur and a long break until August before all the excitement starts again.