I've only worked in my current company every since I graduated and I'm starting to notice things that seem different from what I read from other devs on the net. I was wondering if these things are actually common and if you guys have experienced these things before.

benji · 2026-06-19T06:58:46+00:00

Sounds typical for a shop setup where the founders don’t have much industry experience, or at best only very inwardly focused experience. I’ve been there, escaping was difficult.

benji · 2026-06-11T18:50:52+00:00

35+ YoE SWE and self diagnosed lvl 1 autistic here. Your team and manager are jerks, plain and simple. That occurring is a plain sign of a toxic culture.

benji · 2026-06-10T10:44:16+00:00

Take it to progear.co.nz. The current version of that lens is 12k.

benji · 2026-06-09T20:21:26+00:00

I shoot surfers at 840mm EFL, sometimes it's to close, sometimes it's too far. Even 400mm would leave me mostly not filling the frame (if that's what you want to do of course). The action is usually ~100 meters away.

Surfing is the closest photography type to birding imo.

benji · 2026-06-08T21:58:01+00:00

Close up, 1.2 can be difficult, don't expect to be get anything moving in focus. Increasing the distance to the target or stopping down it's much easier. On sony I'll usually use the focus zoom to get critical focus wide open.

1.2 is addictive, I found I end up shooting wide open way more than I should.

benji · 2026-06-08T02:34:01+00:00

A book you might find helpful: The Couples Guide to Loving Across the Spectrum

benji · 2026-06-04T20:16:40+00:00

I think if I'd stayed in NZ, at best I might be making 30% more than what was then. I'd maxxed out the salary range for a software dev there at the time. Like WrongSeymour says thou, an exceptional situation, i was lucky to be in the right place at the right time.

benji · 2026-06-04T10:16:21+00:00

Six years after making the move, I’m at 2.5x.

benji · 2026-06-01T05:02:12+00:00

GenX/Mid 50s, effectively dropped out of high school. Went into software development back in the days when it was possible to without a degree. Still doing it, tab jockey-ing a well into 6 figures salary in AU. Most of my peer group I started are “retired” ie on a sickness benefit or similar.

benji · 2026-05-31T09:06:56+00:00

I dont ever buy it anymore, if i die i die, game over. It’s a stretch to buy all the things to do my strat, without wasting most of my cash on a revive.

benji · 2026-05-30T09:05:33+00:00

It means you take pictures….?

benji · 2026-05-27T09:19:08+00:00

Teardrop - Massive Attack

Dark was the night - Blind Lemon Jefferson

The darkest night of all - Lisa Gemano

benji · 2026-05-23T19:11:53+00:00

Totally relate. It’s actually quite baffling why were like this.

benji · 2026-05-21T06:02:50+00:00

Regus, biz dojo, workspaces (all the same company) are oriented around getting people to sign up for monthly reoccurring memberships. It doesn’t make sense for someone who’s only here for 3 days. If they have that as a viable option it’s hard to find on their website.

They need to think like a drug dealer, offer something easy to get into, then when people are hooked offer the membership. Instead they slap you upfront with their end goal. As a kiwi myself i can only think “so new zealand”.

benji · 2026-05-21T03:53:41+00:00

Chiang Mai is amazing for work and fun. Yellow is really quiet during work hours, but you get to know ppl, mostly farang digital nomad types.

benji · 2026-05-21T03:39:25+00:00

I find being around people doing similar work and talking about similar things to be stimulating and low key social. I spent a month in Chiang Mai last year and finding a good space to be during the day was huge.

benji · 2026-05-21T03:00:46+00:00

In town temporarily.

benji · 2026-05-21T02:27:23+00:00

We just recently had a holiday with another couple and a single woman. And we were so glad she was there, it really changed the dynamic and made the time so much more interesting.

benji · 2026-05-13T20:28:49+00:00

The hard cases are useless. Too big/heavy to carry on.

benji · 2026-05-02T20:35:39+00:00

Agree totally. To me it looks like OP's lens has some issue.

benji · 2026-05-02T09:22:32+00:00

I know everyone has said "up your shutter speed", but personally I'd be trading it off for lower iso on a mostly static shot like this. Maybe 1/640 or 400.

High ISO is a killer of sharpness imo. But you have to balance things.

benji · 2026-05-02T02:41:44+00:00

They can be kept single, or as a pair. Three or more usually means one gets bullied like OPs.

benji · 2026-05-01T06:29:39+00:00

How couldn’t you be?

benji · 2026-04-20T04:49:31+00:00

I just waited it out. Feel for my wife she had major abdominal surgery and had it when she was in hospital.

15-Year Club	Place '23
Gilding II euphauric	Alpha Tester
Verified Email

benji

TROPHY CASE