F**K YOU SAMSUNG … F**K YOUR PRODUCT & CUSTOMER SERVICE !!

So YAY! after a lot of sleepless nights pondering over whom I should give my hard-earned money to, to get their phone, I went with Samsung… with all the appeal and utilitarian advantages of their newly released phablet – the Note 4.

I had always hated the company when it came to their Galaxy lineup for a weird reason, that it was every Tom, Dick & Harry had a Galaxy phone, if not the iPhone! Just hated it… weird, odd, crazy call it what you may, but that’s what it was.

I was using the LG G2 for more than a year before I changed service providers (that itself is another cry) and getting the Note 4. My brother-in-law had bought the Note 3 last year and used it like a laptop, and not like a phone or a little more than that. No seriously, he used the crap out of that phone and it had no issues whatsoever. I mean who posts resumes and applies to around a 100 job application using his phone?! Well, based on his user experience, I decided to go for the Note 4, since I had to get a new phone. My phone service provider (Sprint) sucked big time and had proved to be a joke. Any of you readers plan on going with sprint – DON’T !

So it was the Note 4 or the iPhone 6 plus… well, with the iPhones bending doggy-style everywhere, I thought of going with the more “conservative” and “discreet” phone, and thus bought myself the Note 4 – at the outright price for $805 otd. Very happy, very ecstatic and flying in air with joy on that day I was… oh yes sir!

Bubble Burst # 1:

After using it so very cautiously for 3 weeks and treating it like a first-born child, the phone started acting weird. Apps would open randomly by themselves, esp. the gallery app. Just super random.

Went to the store I got the phone from and the guy ran the “diagnostics” on the device (to be honest, i really don’t think that software does anything… it’s just a make-believe like the Open Door switch in the elevator), and as expected – nothing showed up! “So yeah, we’re sorry, but nothing showed up in the test.” “Please try factory restoring the phone and see if that fixes it?!”

Yeah, thank you very much for nothing! Won’t lie but I’m not sure if that was a “fix” or if my phone just forgot how to malfunction after that, becuz that problem didn’t show up after.

Bubble Burst # 2:

So 2 days ago, I remove the S-Pen to scribe, scribble, draw & paint on the phone. There is a part of the screen that the s-pen wouldn’t write on! Yes, I can use my finger and it works, but the Action Memo and on any other app (Papyrus, ArtRage) I can’t mark using the s-pen in this one area/patch that’s the size of a US quarter! WTF?!?! Yeah, it’s like 2am and I was tired and kinda sleepy, but after this – I’m wide awake!

Nothing I did changed it… so I went ahead and tried the following before deciding to go to the store in the morning again ~

1. Factory reset
2. Changing the tip of the s-pen itself
3. Deleting any apps that I might have downloaded that would’ve been restricting (not that I know why)
4. Switching Off & On multiple times and opening it in Safe Mode

I was exhausted and quite honestly, I thought that nothing will change no matter what I did. So I decided to go to sleep, hoping that when I wake up, this will all be just a nightmare!

Woke up and the issue was still there. I called T-Mobile and explained to them what was going on, and they said they couldn’t help me with anything, even though they sold me a freakin’ lemon! They wouldn’t exchange or take back the device and refund me back. The guy at the store suggested that I contact Samsung since it was still under warranty period.

Experiencing Samsung’s outstanding Customer Service

Call # 1

After a lengthy promotional speech advertising the amazing products by Samsung and the unmistakeable customer support the company provides, I finally got a real human speak… and after describing him the situation at hand, I demanded that my phone was defective and it be replaced by a new one. The guy tells me “No sir, we can’t do that! We can only give you a refurbished one.” … straight away without a pause. I reminded him that I purchased the phone brand new and I was entitled to it.

He suggested that I might not have to send it in if I followed his instructions, and if the issue resolved. Made me clear the touchwiz memory and restart the phone after taking out the battery. Must admit, the problem did solve…

… but after just an hour, the same problem came up!

Call # 2

This time around, there was another guy (as always is, ya know what I mean…?) and he suggested I switch off the phone and turn it back on in Safe Mode. I had to disconnect the call as I was using my phone to reach out. Did what he said but it was not a fix.

Tried calling him back but …..

Call # 3

Waited for 20 mins before anyone could answer the phone – no one did. Gave up!

Call # 4

Called again after 5 mins…. waited another 10 mins before someone answered. Asked him to direct to the Galaxy Note 4 dept….

Was put on hold for 15 mins! Things looking real bad by now…

Call # 5

Finally got someone and made her say the words “Samsung Cust. Care is BullShit!”, before having her direct me to the Note 4 dept. …. and yes, someone answered, and was again put on hold for 18 min. (I was counting..).

So there you are my friends, this is how companies act when they become all popular and don’t give a shit!!

 

PRIZED POSSESSIONS

Everyone has a prized collection that he for some reason cherishes like no other thing they possess. It can be a lifetime achievement trophy or a handful of sand from their homeland. At times it is just Faith that people have of what is utmost value to them and nothing of worldly possessions.

Fact of matter is, it’s actually never the price that determines the value of the object in the possession. Two things add value – it’s rarity and the sentiments attached to it. The rare and/or the more emotionally attached the person is, the more valuable it is. Rarity brings about a general value that his peers and fellow enthusiasts can appreciate. Sentiments is strictly personal for the owner.

I too have in my possession such an object, and it is both – rare and has personal emotions attached to it. It’s my Minolta Mirror magazine collection dating from 1976 ~ 1993 in mint condition. I have all the editions that Minolta printed except for the 1975. (If there’s anyone out there who has it, please let me know)

Looking at the photographs in these magazines that were all done on film, it gives a sense and a measure as to how much crappy shots are being taken with the advent of digital. I started with film back in ’88 and I still remember thinking twice, thrice… sometimes four times before pressing that shutter. When not shooting, I just held the camera to my eye and tried to see things through the viewfinder. It was like training my eye to see how the camera would see. To pre-visualize a scene and see how it might look if I actually shot it.

The richness of Kodachromes and Fujichromes among other films that photographers swear upon, can all be seen and appreciated through the beautifully printed photographs featured in the magazine. As someone said in a forum regarding the quality of print and paper of Minolta Mirror “It would cost a fortune to print such a magazine if someone were to attempt it now”. The only magazine that has “dared” to print with such quality has been LensWork. 

I for one, am very happy and grateful, that I’ve had the good fortune of owning such a collection. Ironically, it makes me really sad and breaks my heart when I am reminded that film is no longer a viable option in these fast-paced times. The discontinuation of a giant company like Kodak speaks volumes and is a sure tell-tale sign of the future of film.

It took a lot of work to scan the front and back covers of the 18 magazines and at same time being very careful not to “hurt” my precious!! The worst part is, when I was done scanning, I stumbled upon a website where all that had been done! Can’t say how frustrated I got, but it sure was a good exercise. 🙂

There are still a few MM’s floating around on Ebay… be sure to get your copy while it’s there. You’ll be happy you did!!

 

Between FILM & DIGITAL Camera

It’s been a struggle between photographers and critics alike as to which is a better “medium” – film or digital. As digital camera technology grew and became more and more convincing, the photographers also lend it a hand and gave it a shot. Critics, however, took the safe side and voted for film. This “war” between the two has lasted for almost 8 years now, and I can very safely say that digital sensors have made their mark, if not making film obsolete – yet!

I too stood back and watched back in the days when either fate of film and digital was in question and decided. However, I did take the plunge and bought myself, first a digital point & shoot, and later in 2006 the Nikon D200. Was most happy and satisfied I might say… but the quench for the “ultimate” never left. Always greedy for newer gadgets, always keeping an eye for the newer body that would come out and dreaming about it even though not having the means to afford one. I found this surprisingly common among photographers – professionals and amateurs alike, to lust over newer bodies and always so very eager to find fault or reason to buy the next thing that hit the shelves. As I would like to believe, this was not the case in the old days of film. One bought a camera and stuck to it for at least a few years before he/she went on to something new. The purchase of newer lenses then was the thing back then, not camera bodies. It was buying a “system” and not just “features”… you went for Canon or Nikon or Minolta .. and built that “system” with it’s lenses and accessories. Now, it’s all about getting newer bodies and doing away with the “old” one.

I believe one of the biggest factors for this change of attitude is the amount of advertising and publicity the product receives, sometimes even before anyone has even seen the product eg. in the case of Nikon D4?! Its been just over a year the D3s came out and everyone want something new already.

I think it wouldn’t be wrong to say that the “joy of capturing a moment” has deteriorated to “recording a scene”. Shooters shoot just about anything, no limits, no fixed number of frames, no thought process involved – just pressing that shutter!

———————

 

Homage To A Master

This is one of those photographs that has made it’s home in my heart and mind, and I have never forgotten it.

Taken by Brian Brake in the 1960 in India, this photograph clearly exhibits the mastery of Brian Brake over the art and craft of photography.

A saying by B. Brake in the following article which has taught me immensely, “You’ve got eyes boy, use them!“

That saying of B. Brake has taught me and guided me to learn more about metering and not relying on the camera’s meter at all if I didn’t choose to. I think that people nowadays, have receded more and more from the “craft” of photography than ever before and have familiarized themselves with the technicalities and the jargon that surrounds it – esp. in the digital realm.

((scanned from Minolta Mirror 1986 on Canon Pixma MP 130. If someone would like to buy the magazine, please let me know))

 

Show Down At The Dance Boulevard

One of my friend works at a local dancing club (where you go and learn how to learn ballroom and Latin dances), he is an instructor there.

He had asked me if I would come over and shoot on their grand opening. I said yes I would, as I thought I would get some new and different kind of shots to show on my site.

I took my kit lens (Nikkor 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5) and I swear it was one of those times I cried for not having a fast f/2.8 on me!! 😦 Had to struggle with the lighting, esp. ‘cuz they were all dancing kinda fast. But yeah, I managed to get some “workable shots” so the dance club owners could use them. I’m hoping they will take me as their staff photographers whenever they have these “opening nights” and special events.

Have a look at the images…

 

Website … Shwabsite !!!

So I did a couple of shoots – one with a model and one for a dance club. And yes, none was paid !! 😛 However, a couple of amazing things did happen.

I had subscribed to www.viewbook.com a long time back to try them out. It seemed decent and presentable but I didn’t go for it becuz I didn’t have the Moolah ($$$) for the subscription at that time. So anyway, I got back with them and subscribed. I had to make a new account though and there were some problems in the begining. It took a while before it was resolved – and because of that, I got my subscribtion money refunded.

One of the really cool things I like about Viewbook are presentations. I can download and put up all the pics from my shoot with a client and give them the link where they can see and select the pics they want edited. This is a really cool and NEEDED feature that I was searching for and trying to work out how I could do this before I knew about Viewbook ~ thank you ViewBook !!

Then, as usual I was surfing through Craigslist and I found a post saying someone wanted to make a website for free, to add to her portfolio work. So now, I am getting that done as well.

Great… now I only need to get me more gear!!! 3 years using that same “kit lens” is driving me crazy!!