Berkeley Meetup Photos

September 21, 2005 11:20 PM

Photos of last night's Berkeley meetup.
posted by DaShiv to MetaFilter Gatherings at 11:20 PM (30 comments total)

So what was the deal, fandango? Did you phone that in? The waiter said "he left" when I asked who sent it. Thanks, in any case. It was enjoyed :)
posted by scarabic at 11:36 PM on September 21, 2005

Heh, I'm sorry I missed it... I actually meant to come, but then Tuesday turned out to be so hectic that I completely forgot about it until after the fact. scarabic, next time we end up at the same meetup I'm buying you a drink.
posted by epimorph at 12:11 AM on September 22, 2005

*blows kiss at scarabic*
posted by matteo at 1:18 AM on September 22, 2005

So beautful, the photos.
posted by taz at 1:31 AM on September 22, 2005

and don't think I meant "beautiful". I says what I means and I means what I says.
posted by taz at 1:32 AM on September 22, 2005

DaShiv, don't forget you promised to come to LA again and make me be-yootiful.

(...and if you didn't promise that, then you should).
posted by muddgirl at 2:31 AM on September 22, 2005

In attendance were: DaShiv, scarabic, Zed_Lopez, kenko, ambrosia, brundlefly, jewzilla, clockzero, expialidocious, Aster, donpedro, and two guests.

Because there have been a number of AskMe threads about DSLR's in recent months, I thought I'd illustrate what even a basic DSLR setup is capable of for available light shooting. All the shots were taken with just a single compact body-and-lens combination: the Canon Rebel XT (350D) and the Sigma 30mm f/1.4. Exposure values were ISO 1600, f/1.4, and between 1/15s to 1/30s, all handheld. What these photos basically attest to is simple: ditch that zoom indoors! There are good reasons for the columnist Mike Johnston to drolly note that standard zooms are generally "used to remove [the] interchangeability feature from interchangeable-lens cameras." I can assure you that I'm not using a special magical camera to take these photos here -- it's all in using a suitable lens for the task.

On the meetup front, the East Bay once again represents with a massive turnout. Thanks to all who came out, especially those like kenko and clockzero who had to make some longer trips. First-timers were once again a very well-represented demographic, and we hope to see more new faces at the next meetup as well -- probably in that "we're too cool to ride the BART across the Bay to attend a meetup" city. :)


DaShiv, don't forget you promised to come to LA again and make me be-yootiful.

Well, if you LA people can actually get your act together to organize a meetup...
posted by DaShiv at 4:02 AM on September 22, 2005

Had a great time, ya'll. Thanks for the welcome.
posted by brundlefly at 7:41 AM on September 22, 2005

This was lots of fun! And Jupiter's a cool bar.

Also, anyone who says that people in Berkeley are politically correct wasn't at this meetup.
posted by jewzilla at 8:34 AM on September 22, 2005

Yeah we were wondering where you were, epimorph. Well, the turnout suggests that another event can't be too far off. We should try to have another before brundlefly figures out he wants to move to North Beach ;)
posted by scarabic at 8:46 AM on September 22, 2005

You took that shot while I was ranting about health insurance, didn't you? Didn't you?
posted by expialidocious at 10:05 AM on September 22, 2005

Excellent: It looks like a good time was definitely had by all! I most definitely missed you guys while I was explaining the finer points of anadromous fish to Marina folk. But should a Sunday afternoon/evening meetup ever get scheduled (HINT), I will go to great lengths to attend.
posted by Frisbee Girl at 10:50 AM on September 22, 2005

Missed ya, FG. And no, fandango, there was no grief whatsoever. Even matteo and I have had some cybersex over email and made up. The 3-finger gesture in the photo was widely interpreted at the table as a read-between-the-lines "fuck you" but I learned and meant it as a W for "weak." And even that was in good humor.
posted by scarabic at 11:01 AM on September 22, 2005

The call out was much appreciated kenko (you even spelled my name correctly). I take back what I said about you being a traitor by moving away from Chicago. This week at least. ;)
posted by KevinSkomsvold at 11:46 AM on September 22, 2005

Great shots as always from DaShiv. How did you get a bar to look so well-lit? I suspect the secret is in the f-stop because everything is kinda gauzy--in a flattering, glowy way. It's a great way to disguise scarabic's rapidly accelerating decrepitude. Hard to believe he just turned 40, isn't it? I've be available for mocking next time, for real.

Also, ambrosia = sex engine!
posted by squirrel at 11:58 AM on September 22, 2005

Uh, thanks squirrel, but when you next make yourself available for mocking, you'll see it's really just DaShiv working his magic.

It was fun to see everybody, and cool to have the East Bay meetups so well-attended. Let's do it again soon.
posted by ambrosia at 12:07 PM on September 22, 2005

Dammit. Can we have the next one later than 7pm?
Hope to make it next time.
posted by obloquy at 12:54 PM on September 22, 2005

Thanks to all for the great company & warm welcome. A fun time indeed!
posted by donpedro at 12:59 PM on September 22, 2005

squirrel - I'm sure Mr. Ambrosia (who was 1 of the 'two guests') agrees! LOL
posted by scarabic at 1:01 PM on September 22, 2005

*shakes fist at sky*
posted by squirrel at 1:17 PM on September 22, 2005

I cyber-blew scarabic, OK? is that bad?
posted by matteo at 2:24 PM on September 22, 2005

Ah darn...Looks like a nice crowd and it would have been great to talk to Aster again.
posted by vacapinta at 3:40 PM on September 22, 2005

Oh, I think that could be arranged. You should have come anyway, though. It was fun.

I enjoyed meeting everyone - looking forward to next time.
posted by Aster at 6:53 PM on September 22, 2005

DaShiv: By the way, the pictures look amazing. You're a talented man.
posted by brundlefly at 7:01 PM on September 22, 2005

I cyber-blew scarabic, OK? is that bad?
Depends - did you swallow?
posted by dg at 7:34 PM on September 22, 2005

DaShiv: By the way, the pictures look amazing. You're a talented man.

I second that.

Of course, my picture is a good indication of why I prefer to be on the other side of the camera.
posted by clockzero at 8:25 PM on September 22, 2005

wow, kenko, you look so . . . penetrating in your shout-out to chicago. are you trying to mesmerize us?
posted by crush-onastick at 8:59 AM on September 23, 2005

I don't photograph well head-on if I know I'm being photographed.
posted by kenko at 10:23 AM on September 23, 2005

Oh hush, you all look great! And kenko, at the next meetup, we'll get someone to goose you so you forget that you're being photographed.
posted by Frisbee Girl at 11:53 AM on September 23, 2005

in no way do i mean to suggest that it's an unflattering picture. you just look a little intense!

hopefully someone will video the goosing!
posted by crush-onastick at 1:20 PM on September 23, 2005