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Monthly Log: 2024-05

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Original language: Chinese . AI translations: English , Japanese .

Maybe the most on-time monthly recap so far

Structure

This month I slightly changed the Monthly Log structure.

The first part Input is meant to summarize things worth recording that I consumed this month.
Previously it was split into Reading, Anime, Others, but I found that a few YouTube tutorials I’ve watched recently don’t fit well anywhere.

After thinking: although both reading and anime are inputs, they aren’t the same.
The former emphasizes learning: after finishing you gain insights and takeaways.
The latter is mostly just consumption: empty your brain, and afterwards you mainly have evaluations and feelings.

So I adjusted the structure of the Input section a bit.
Rename Reading to Learning, emphasizing the feeling of I learned something, regardless of form: books/novels/good articles, videos/podcasts, anything that feels rewarding after finishing.
Keep Anime and Others unchanged.

  1. Input
    Reading: professional books/novels/good articles, all count as reading
    Learning: books/novels/good articles, videos/podcasts, any format, anything that feels rewarding after finishing
    Anime: new shows / old shows, TV season / movies, notes on what I watched
    Others: movies, TV series, etc., put here

  2. Random Thoughts
    Maybe I will write down whatever I’m thinking

  3. Output
    Maybe a blog, but I’m not good enough, so maybe I have no output for a whole month (lol)

  4. Travel
    If I went somewhere, I’ll jot it down. If not, then whatever

  5. Misc
    Small things that don’t fit in the categories above

Input

Learning

《インフラエンジニアの知識と実務がこれ1冊でしっかりわかる教科書》

Recently I’m reading a book titled 《インフラエンジニアの知識と実務がこれ1冊でしっかりわかる教科書》 (this title is quite close to modern light-novel trash-paper title style: summarizing the whole theme/plot in one sentence).

The first part defines infrastructure and job content, with a few concrete examples.
Basic knowledge needed for infra: networking, Linux, scripting, AWS.
For certifications, it’s also aligned with those: CCNA, LPIC, AWS. Japan’s IPA national exams are also an option.
After that it goes through infra overview, design, build, operations, maintenance from top to bottom; I haven’t finished yet.
At the end it discusses some future directions for infra.

YouTube - Simon d’Entremont

Advice for shooting in low light

I accidentally found a photography YouTuber, Simon d’Entremont, a wildlife/landscape photographer living in Canada (a professional wildlife and nature photographer from Eastern Canada).
I originally just wanted to watch casually, but his explanations were so good that I ended up watching several videos.

Simon d’Entremont - The TRUTH about shooting at ISO 100 that the PROS know.
Simon d’Entremont - Stop taking photos at the WRONG ISO!
Simon d’Entremont - Extreme HIGH ISO photography tricks. Whatever you do, don’t do THIS!
These three videos answered some questions I had about how to shoot in low light.
My previous view was higher ISO means more noise, so even in low light I tried to lower ISO as much as possible, even changing ISO auto to manual.
But Simon d’Entremont’s view is: The high ISO is revealing that your image was noisy, not creating the noise. (High ISO doesn’t create noise; it just reveals the noise that would also exist at low ISO.)

So when your camera jumps to high ISO, it means the environment really doesn’t have enough light. The solutions are only longer exposure time and wider aperture.
But if shutter speed and aperture are already at the point where you can’t adjust, then let the camera fly ISO.

After watching these videos, Simon d’Entremont’s suggestions are:

  • Auto ISO: set auto ISO. You adjust shutter and aperture, and let the camera choose an appropriate ISO.
  • Overexposing: slightly overexpose. In low light, don’t be stingy with ISO. Slightly overexpose, push the histogram to the right. Compared to correct exposure first, then push exposure in post, slightly overexposed photos have less noise.
Advice for beginners

Simon d’Entremont - Photography MISTAKES that all beginners make (but I wish I could have avoided).

Simon d’Entremont’s advice is HASTE:

  • Highlight
    Don’t blow highlights. Check histogram or enable zebras.
  • And?
    A bare subject alone isn’t that attractive. You need appropriate foreground/background: light, objects, events. Think about adding elements so the photo isn’t monotonous.
  • Subject
    The previous suggestion is addition; this one is subtraction.
    A photo must have a clear subject. When there are too many elements, the theme must be clear enough so people know at a glance where to look.
    Use leading lines, move closer, frame with occlusion, light/color contrast, etc., to emphasize the subject.
  • Tree in head
    Watch for trees, poles, signboards, etc. Don’t let them stick out of someone’s head.
    If you use background blur well, those head-sticking backgrounds can be blurred into background color, making the subject stand out.
  • Enough ISO
    This is what I just said above: “high ISO doesn’t create noise; it just reveals the noise that would exist at low ISO.” In low light, don’t be stingy with ISO. Slightly overexpose and push the histogram to the right.

I also watched some other videos:
Simon d’Entremont - TOP 3 PRO LIGHTROOM techniques to rescue dull, lifeless photos!
Simon d’Entremont - FULL SUN AND HARSH LIGHT Lightroom HACKS and field techniques!
Learned some Lightroom post-processing ideas. Mainly: increase contrast, increase depth, emphasize subject, weaken edges.

Photo post-processing is another whole discipline. I’ll slowly experiment.

How to use zebras

Above I mentioned preventing highlight clipping: check histogram, or enable zebras.
Although I’d heard of zebras before, I never understood how to use them, so I took time to look it up.

According to Sony’s official tutorial 什么是斑马线，它的作用是什么？,
the zebra function can highlight parts of the current frame whose brightness exceeds a set value.

Specific use cases:

  • Prevent overexposure
    Set zebra to “100+”, then adjust exposure so that no zebras appear in any part of the frame.

  • Avoid underexposure of white objects
    Set zebra value between 90 and 95, then adjust exposure until zebras appear on the white object you want to shoot.

  • Shoot portraits at optimal brightness
    Set zebra value between 70 and 80, then adjust exposure until zebras appear on the person’s face.

Anime

  • Currently watching in May

    • 末日列车去往何方 / 終末トレインどこへいく？
      One of April’s three big originals. High-density dialogue, wild developments, apocalyptic road-trip vibe. The one that matches my radio waves the most.
      Episode 6: sure enough, when it’s the apocalypse, there must be zombies.
      Episode 7: for brain-holes, you have to look at director Mizushima. Brain upgrade.
      Episode 8: Mizushima personally shows up. Plot density maxed. Progress is fast. Brain upgraded again.
      Episode 9: finally the black-long-straight girl’s perspective. The hermit returns to deliver tools.

    • GIRLS BAND CRY
      One of April’s three big originals.
      Episode 7: felt not good. Two times in a row the live segments fell apart. They put effort into animation and used their feet for music.
      Episode 8: Hanada-sensei is great. No need to say more.

    • 迷宫饭 / ダンジョン飯
      Episode 17: the fight/dialogue scene between the protagonist and the samurai is good. After the fight, the scene where the sister tries to climb the wall, fails the first time, then grabs a few more times before making it, has animation I really like. Very strong sense of force.
      I saw two good commentary posts:
      bgm - 横向的生态与纵向的历史，进食的欲望与设定的冰山——不止美食的《地城饭》
      天仙子 - ダンジョン飯 | 迷宫饭

    • 怪人的沙拉碗
      Sharp commentary on social issues. Low cost but still guarantees decent quality. Plot supported by Hirasaka Yomi. Interesting enough.

    • 声优广播的台前幕后
      Production collapsed. Plot is still somewhat interesting. I’ll keep watching.

    • 从Lv2开始开外挂的前勇者候补过着悠哉异世界生活
      Selling character tropes. Kugimiya magic. Keep watching.

    • 贵族凭鉴定技能扭转人生
      Episode 7 was unexpectedly very good: stable animation, emotions rendered well. Life-and-death separation scenes are easily moving.

  • Paused for now

    • 狼与香辛料
      I’ll definitely watch later (

    • 无职转生
      I’ll definitely watch later (

    • Unnamed Memory
      I’ll read the novel later.

    • 京吹3
      I’ll definitely watch. Won’t procrastinate ((

  • Dropped

    • 怪兽8号
      Production is good, but story/script drags it down. When it’s supposed to be hype, it suddenly inserts a boring gag segment.
      The protagonist design isn’t attractive, and he has no IQ either. BL bait can only rely on male #2. Feels hard.
      Keep watching without brain
      Episode 7: forced tearjerking,拖 pacing, not finishing off low-HP enemies, IQ offline.
      Can’t watch anymore.

    • 单间，光照尚好，附带天使
      Selling characters. Memes are good, but a bit boring. Don’t want to watch.

    • THE NEW GATE
      Isekai toilet paper. No活.

    • 夜晚的水母不會游泳
      Boring.

    • 恋语轻唱 / ささやくように恋を唄う
      Production is too bad. Not that interested in plot either.

Others

Recent TV/movies. I try not to spoil.

  • 青春１８×２ 君へと続く道
    I originally thought it was a road movie because JR has a pass called 青春１８きっぷ, with a similar name.
    But after watching, it’s mainly a romance story. The interactions between the two are too青春. Tears of envy.
    The opening almost made me think it was another sickly self-indulgent youth pain literature, but then it gradually got better. The timeline interweaves naturally. The plot is good. An excellent work that can move people. Recommended.

  • 雲のむこう、約束の場所
    Near the end: the plane breaks through the clouds, turns off the engine, and slowly spins the propeller (big fan blade?) as it glides across the sky, like a bird spreading wings and gliding. A beautiful shot.

  • デッドデッドデーモンズデデデデデストラクション 後章
    Bento giveaway. Good.
    This current “cut” is already fine. I don’t know how the manga ends. If I’m not satisfied, I’ll treat this as the ending.
    The two theatrical parts are 2 hours each, 4 hours total, and still haven’t fully adapted the manga.
    According to info online, the remaining plot will be made into a TV anime, 18 episodes total. The front part is the theatrical split, then it continues the manga plot. Crunchyroll exclusive: Crunchyroll - DEAD DEAD DEMONS DEDEDEDE DESTRUCTION
    But I checked episode 0 and found the plot is actually directly after the movie’s second part. The movie-split episodes actually start from episode 1.
    If you watch episode 0 first, you’ll be unexpectedly spoiled. I don’t understand why they do this. The top comment under Crunchyroll also warns newcomers not to watch episode 0. Beware.

Random Thoughts

Random Thoughts

河南说唱之神 - 《工厂》

I accidentally saw an MV. I originally just clicked casually, but I was shocked after only the beginning.
Every element in the MV visuals corresponds to some similar scenery I can find in my own memories. The lyrics are not the affected, self-indulgent kind. The感染力 is too strong.

Immediately went online to find the source:
bilibili (official): https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1yE42157bX/
YouTube (unofficial): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RA—E7l4wyE

bilibili video description:

河南说唱之神@河南说唱之神official
工厂（Official Music Video）
这首歌献给那些和我有同样境遇的姊妹兄弟
“我没有热爱这里 我只是出生在这个地方”
我想我永远也离不开这里
MV导演：XUAN@花导XUAN
制片：冬泳社STTOS
出品：wasted club@WASTEDCLUB

The two lines in the description: “我没有热爱这里 我只是出生在这个地方” 我想我永远也离不开这里.
Reading them, I feel a bit powerless. A person’s fate, of course, depends on personal struggle, but also must consider the 退 程 of history…

But I’m lucky. I already left.
I have no homeland ~

我亦是行人

Saw a paragraph on Twitter. Written quite well:

只是我越来越多地发现，那些重要或重要过的人，都是带着一段旋律进入我的生活，最后又从那段旋律上剥离。一段真正的友谊，反而经得起争吵矛盾，最终变质褪色的原因，往往是你们不再拥有美学的共振。
https://x.com/Jesoooor/status/1791155165774631391

Most people are just passersby in your life. The only one who can accompany you to the end is yourself (and 2D characters

Output

Finally wrote out some content I’d been accumulating. Tiring.

Travel

Kawasaki City Hall Observatory

The newly built city hall is very grand. It reminds me of the city government buildings back home (
I previously saw by chance that the observation deck on the top floor of the new city hall is open for free. With the mindset of I paid so much tax, can't waste it, I decided on this observatory trip.


The guide sign on the 25th-floor observation deck. In this direction you can see Tokyo Tower and Skytree.


I kind of understand why super high-rise apartments are more expensive in Japan. The view of climbing high and looking far is indeed pleasing.
Tokyo Tower and Skytree can be seen in the distance.


Use telephoto to shoot a bit.


Another direction. The small tower in the center of the photo is Haneda Airport control tower.


Even a GIRLS BAND CRY poster appeared on the display board inside the observation deck.

The only regret: you can’t see Mt. Fuji from this deck. It’s completely blocked by a tall building. Too bad.

Riverside Walk


Night sky with high visibility. Even after full dark, you can still clearly see the clouds.

Misc

Seems nothing to add.

Closing

Finally, a Monthly Log finished on time. Keep it up like this.