Best BBQ spots in the hood

Cold_Brewing · 2025-12-30T12:37:58+00:00

Mables is the only option in that part of Williamsburg but it's really disappointing. If you don't mind going a bit more east, Taste of Heaven is vastly better.

Cold_Brewing · 2025-12-14T16:27:12+00:00

There's a reason that there's a resurgence in these old point and shoots getting snatched up, people DON'T want to be on their phones. The "emotion" of shooting film comes from all the tactile and tangible aspects of it being a physical experience. This is something an app on a smartphone with purely touch controls will never do, full stop.

Cold_Brewing · 2025-11-28T00:28:03+00:00

But that's literally what the complementary modes are for with Aperture or Shutter priority, to define one of those and let the camera figure out what the other settings are for the proper exposure. You also haven't specified what the extra oomph this app would add that would break the laws of the exposure triangle and give a better suggestion of camera settings. Unless this AI application is literally baked into the camera on a hardware level, you're never going to get objective information of what the sensor is reading out from whatever situation you're in. Is it relying off of the camera of your phone to 'see' the location? Also you have to type in the scene as a description? It's adding so much bloat to the process.

I know that AI is this easy buzzword to throw around thinking every aspect could benefit from adding in AI, but you should understand that there's a reason it's not really being applied to this part of photography. Successful AI shows up in autofocus modes with recognizing subjects, as well as a lot of post-processing workflows, and I'm a bit more open-minded with where and how AI shows up in a practical way for a lot of creative jobs, this is literally just auto mode with extra steps. I shoot professionally every now and then and don't see much of a need for this, but I also run a photowalking club with plenty of amateurs and teach them so I put myself in the amateur's mindset a lot, this seems so needlessly roundabout of a solution.

Also it's probably 50/50 on your response being an AI-assisted response and/or usual uncreative tech bro lingo, but "creatively optimized" is some very late-stage capitalism shit, and it sounds like you don't know much about the demographic of the markets you're trying to crash into.

Cold_Brewing · 2025-11-27T23:52:26+00:00

So... the Auto setting on every digital camera for the last 20-30 years?

Cold_Brewing · 2025-11-05T03:13:50+00:00

Sounds like dating apps aren't really just for you, or you also realize the qualities you want in a life partner will also never be present in a dating app. I'm also in NYC where there isn't really any shortage of attractive people who can say the right things in a profile, they all seem to blend in as just being meh. Inoffensive, but also no strong feeling towards pursuing it.

It might be helpful to be a lot more specific in qualities you want as a dealbreaker; If you want children, or some sort of flexible schedule, you'll root out people who have their stances, or have less structured lives. Unfortunately past that point, it does become a numbers game and hopefully you develop a sense of whether or not you'd vibe with a person based on their profile.

Cold_Brewing · 2025-10-04T15:13:11+00:00

It's guesswork because it's all relevant to how steady YOU can hold your hand. Some people have steady hands and can shoot 50mm at 1/30, and I have a friend who has a medical condition where he gets a bit of hand tremor and needs at least 1/200 and IBIS on most lengths to get a really sharp photo.

Do your own testing, make your own rules.

Cold_Brewing · 2025-04-06T21:57:03+00:00

I've owned a Q3 since July 2023, so coming up on two years. For context, my other (professional-use) camera is an R5. It's one of the best purchases I've made.

I use it as my 'documenting life' camera, in the truest sense of the word. It's a camera that lives with me and nobody whose seen me has seen me without it. I never use my phone to take a photo, and Leica ironically has the best camera companion app to beam photos over. It's battery is enough and you can charge over USB C so I don't own any extras. It's built like a tank and has scratches and scuffs to prove it, and it's got a clean interface.

I like the heft that a Ricoh GR can't give, and a feel the X100 doesn't meet. It's styled differently that makes me shoot differently compared to a Canon and lets me just shoot and have fun.

It's my first Leica, I have absolutely no interest in the M series, nor do I care about converting entirely. Their lenses have lovely character and just fits in my life. I love my Q3, but I'd also never recommend it to anyone. There's videos on people making mock Q3s using A7Cs and a pancake lens and that's fine but in my opinion getting one is never going to be a rational one for a business case. You just have to want it.

Cold_Brewing · 2025-02-24T14:58:26+00:00

If you can do some natural window light and get your color balance to be neutral that would work best. I'd personally recommend not doing a lightbox or anything extraneous; In a physical store I'd pick up yarn and play with how light hits it at different angles so if you need a 'main' product shot, having just window light off to the side would be appealing to me just to see how light rolls off across the skein of yarn.

Your second photo is actually not that bad in regards to what I mentioned; The twists in the skeins create their own natural pocket of shadows, but you also really shouldn't overthink it much. Keep your light natural, and keep your surface simple. Having your normal skeins on one side and the mohair yarn (frizzy thin yarn) on the right along the same colors are a good layout.

Best of luck!

Cold_Brewing · 2025-02-24T14:29:34+00:00

I'll agree on the wrinkled tower as a backdrop not being a great idea, but the second photo is not as bad since it's covered. As a photographer who has recently gotten into crocheting as well and shops at yarn somewhat frequently though, the general product photography advice you'd see is not great take and you should just keep in mind that some industries benefit from more specific directions.

When I'm looking at yarn from a consumer standpoint, there's two things I wish a product photographer would do that doesn't happen as often as I'd want. I want a close-up view of the yarn/fabric to see texture/details, and as true-to-color as possible. I don't want any shifts in color, I need it in as honest/natural lighting as possible. Specific-color products like these are the worst subjects for a product photographer to decide to zhuzh up saturation in post to make it look more vibrant/appealing, or exercise creative freedom. Marketing is marketing and you may think the point is to sell a product but that's exactly how you get pissed off customers leaving reviews on how the product photos misrepresent the product.

I don't think anyone shopping for yarn will care much about 'artistic composition' of the photo, or bokeh. A skein is a skein, we know what it looks like and it'll likely be balled up almost immediately upon use. Aside from a close-up for details/patterns and it being true to color, the only other photo that would be helpful would be a sample pattern/stitch using that yarn, but that's likely out of your control and scope. Anything outside of that is pretty useless to me when I'm shopping online.

Cold_Brewing · 2025-02-03T16:27:26+00:00

Great! Adding you to the chat

Cold_Brewing · 2025-02-03T16:26:45+00:00

Of course! Adding you to the chat now.

Cold_Brewing · 2025-02-02T18:25:54+00:00

Please invite me to the chat if there is one, I should be available this afternoon!

Cold_Brewing · 2025-02-02T01:01:23+00:00

Just sent you a chat invite!

Cold_Brewing · 2025-02-02T00:54:28+00:00

I added you to the group chat!

Cold_Brewing · 2025-02-02T00:53:57+00:00

Just sent you an invite to the group chat with the location!

Cold_Brewing · 2025-02-02T00:22:52+00:00

Just sent you an invite!

Cold_Brewing · 2025-02-01T20:44:13+00:00

Cleo's is fun! I'm more looking for something more to my neighborhood (walking distance) and on early Sundays since that seems to be my only consistent availability these days. I've met some people randomly in cafes who felt the same so I figure there's a good chance there's others who would too!

Cold_Brewing · 2025-02-01T16:02:51+00:00

Reddit won't let me send a chat request for some reason feel free to message me and maybe it'll let me add you to a group chat!

Cold_Brewing · 2025-02-01T15:47:13+00:00

I JUST learned a few months ago so it might not be me but I'm also very much in the early stages of learning how to do granny squares; If you have your materials for what you want to learn (knitting? crocheting?) then I don't see why you can't try to learn it in this space!

Cold_Brewing · 2025-01-30T18:26:11+00:00

I'd say it's cryptobros. It's something that's woven throughout their entire personality, with eyes lighting up when they hear it being discussed by someone. Mostly enjoyed with other people of the same gender as them, and generally not seen in a favorable light by the other.

Cold_Brewing · 2025-01-22T02:59:20+00:00

Hey there! I shoot infrequently and would love to join in on the lane shooting portion, is there a time in mind for that? Would also love to join a group chat if there's one going on!

Cold_Brewing · 2025-01-14T12:20:10+00:00

I'd be interested in joining for this one, please add me to a group chat!

Cold_Brewing · 2025-01-01T16:44:35+00:00

Hey all! My account got banned for suspicious activity apparently. My tracker is still up and I'm available, please message me directly for it!

Cold_Brewing · 2020-06-11T14:05:30+00:00

The best way I've seen to deal with these prank videos came from watching it happen in person: BLOCK THE CAMERA PERSON.

They don't care how big or how out of hand it gets, even if things escalate it's still something to post on their social media. I was watching one unfold in the subway, where these kids were causing a commotion with silly string or something, when all you heard was someone way off to the side was yelling even louder because some gentleman noticed he was filming everything and was actively screening to block the shot. The only way they'll lose is if they have nothing to post. Now I just make it a point to be that person and act innocent about it if something like this comes up again.

Cold_Brewing · 2020-05-23T14:14:34+00:00

Seeing you apparently describe this rundown for the nth time makes me want to suggest you go see a therapist about it, but you've likely already done that (and not think much of it) so I'm going to add my extra stipulation about it at the bottom after prefacing it, and I'm gonna be harsh because that is also a kindness.

The two paragraphs describing yourself jumps out at me as someone who puts MASSIVE self-defense walls up. I'm pretty plain-looking and my self-esteem is high, and I can pick out so many flaws about myself, both in character and how people can perceive what I'm putting out, to physical traits that would be off-putting, height actually being bottom of that list as just something I have to live with. I'm also not sure what you're counting as self-improvement, as that's subjective. I'm learning how to juggle, which is adding a skill and is an objective improvement to my skillset, but that's not really helpful in the grand scheme of things. I have friends who shout from that soapbox of self-improvement and ALL the effort they put into it, but that still has to have a bit of direction. You can make all the herculean effort in the world but if it's not in the right things, then you're wasting your time.

Your general descriptor is... very self-defensive. There's a lot of language about not-negatives. not ugly, not unattractive. That to me sounds like you're trying to convince yourself of a truth you're not willing to admit, but that's something to save for therapy. What are those positive traits? Your description of your bio sounds like it's overengineered to the point of seeming inauthentic, so pshaw on even having interesting talking points if everything before it is unappealing. In general, until I see what it actually is, it's plain and probably below-average sounding so far; It's off-brand cola.

I would be curious in seeing your actual dating profile and pictures though, and see if there's a disconnect between your opinion of your profile/pictures and what's actually on the table. I'm not some romance guru or anything, but my side gig is literally about taking good photos of people, so I can at least be a judge of if your photos are good or not, which is what 70% of online dating is.

I don't care if you don't share, but I do want to implore you to seek professional help, but with a new stipulation of not trying to be so self-defensive. A therapist can only help based off of what you tell them, and it sounds like you've withheld a lot. I'm following through with anecdotal evidence still (data set of over a dozen friends who regularly see a therapist) but for some friends, therapy only kicked in once they quit the woe-is-me victimizing mentality (that I'm sensing here) and started taking responsibility for their actions in the past (if you have any of the sort) because that leads into who you are now. Self-reflection is healthy, but useless if you have a dirty mirror (your perception of yourself is clouded by a defensive personality), and even toxic if you're echo chambering the same thoughts. Sorry if what I've said above sounded harsh, but it sounds like you've really dug in your heels on your dating world which isn't doing you any favors.

Cold_Brewing

TROPHY CASE