File 13, "Recycle Bin": dltphoto

A follow up to a previous post "the ones that don't make the cut".

These are some of  the new "File 13's"

Composition Fail

Weird Shadow= Wrong

Lucy loves Red leaves: dltphogr.am

http://instagr.am/p/SZT-ZMq30f/

Not always ideal, but we manage: dltphoto

The one thing about photography is that the picture doesn't always tell the real story. Photographer's have found ways to "sugar coat" the shot to make the viewer believe everything was ideal!

And now the real story...Wedged in a corner.

And then factor in that all the persons to be photographed come all at once and are enjoying "coffee morning", whilst your juggling families and catching falling $1000 studio lights.....
It might just send some people a little Crazy!

Black Friday Special: dltphoto

Just wanted to point out a nice sale at Lens & Shutter for the next 5 days... Lots of good deals to be had especially the Canon Powershot 520HS which was featured by me in a previous blog post. Perfect for an Android phone user or someone who wants a super small compact with great zoom.
The other one I thought I would suggest  as a good deal is the Panasonic TS20 ( Shock proof and Waterproof), great kids gift for the budding photographer

Check out the Full Special list at Lens and Shutter

Web-site :dltphogr.am

http://instagr.am/p/SG9O8bK31I/

Christmas is coming....:dltphoto

This year I am going to inform you that all the camera's are great. All of them, really. Every manufacturer has caught up and everybody is producing a decent product with wonderful image quality.

This year I believe is the year that the Mirrorless Camera will emerge as the dominant product people are after. Since they are so small and so capable, plus we are seeing some nice price reductions due to some newer models being announced. This is the best time to pickup some great deals and still get a camera that is very new in the world of technology. First the Nikon 1 series of camera's are being switched to a new model which has had a very soft upgrade to the new version (series 2). Olympus Pen E-PL3 is one of my fav's in the Olympus lineup.

As for the Compacts.. again, they are all good. A feature that I have enjoyed is the Sweeping Panoramic system. Available in most of Nikon's upper end models with the 16MP Sensor.
As for the styles that seem to be most popular are the Shockproof, Waterproof models. These  models are fantastic for butter fingers, too many times have I seen camera's with "impact" damage. The same applies to how many times I have watched a Cell Phone hitting the ground and dispersing into 20 glorious pieces. The need for these camera's is evident! Nikon AW100 or Pentax WG-2 and both excellent for under $249.

Then we hit the serious enthusiast Pocket Camera's. Canon has an impressive lineup at this time, includes the Powershot S110 ( now with WiFi and Raw capable). Sweet little 5 X Zoom and sweet customizable Ring Feature. We can kind of slip the Fuji X10 and the New, but not yet available Fuji XF1 in this category also. All very well made camera's with a whole bundle of capability and great for creativity.

Lastly, the DSLR's. All looking very impressive. Best value for a DSLR designed for our dreary weather system is Pentax's K-30. Soooo weather sealed. It's insane. None of the other sub $900 DSLR's have any kind of weather sealing like this. So give it a thought! All offer HD video, some now offer WiFi capability such as Nikon D3200 (WiFi adapter required for $70), Canon EOS 6D (built in WiFi)

Probably some of the best-est bets this year will be accessories. Bags, tripods, filters..... FLASH'S, Yes. As a wise man once said " Flash is your friend"... oh, that was me! Without light you are powerless, unless you have F1.2 lenses, but who really can afford them! If your current camera can take an additional flash then get one that can change the light direction. Starting at $100 the Metz 24 AF-1 (available for all manufacturers in TTL), simple, powerful. Makes indoor shots nicer.

Then wrap up all the Christmas presents with a One on One Lesson with yours truly  Then they can have a nice camera and I can start to teach them how to use it.

You are not a fish, Lensbaby Scout: dltphoto

Caution. You are Not a Fish. Not to be used for extensive periods of time. Please use wisely. Seek medical guidance if your Fisheye habit becomes out of control! (Lensbaby Scout)

Seriously, This lens is ridiculously fun. I don't know what I enjoy more. The nasty "toy lens" vignette or the ability to be SO close focus to your subject. This Lens is a must have in my books, although you can get very tired of the fisheye look. So don't overdo it on your first day.

Red vs Yellow :dltphogr.am

http://instagr.am/p/R2sG8Uq35h/
Strong, bold colours. I love the feel of this image, the leaves fell perfectly and the early evening sun provided nice shadows.

Faux-laroid #1 :dltphoto

Since I don't have any Polaroid camera's, nor do I have any film for them if I had any camera's, I still want to play the fun game of being retro and hip.

P7K (Nikon Coolpix P7000): dltphoto

Big Thanks to Mr Koopmans for babysitting the "snail-like" slow Sigma DP1s whilst I get to play with his "F1" performance Coolpix P7000. I have had this camera before, at least I had the Nikon reps model. It has since had a pretty wicked firmware update which has brought it up to the speed of its younger brother the P7100. Now the youngest sibling is the Nikon P7700 which is yet to arrive on the shelf. It should be 'oh' so much improved, but will it really be improved? The P7100 in all its glory has only some minor upgrades to it over the newly updated P7000, features such as Zoom burst and artistic mode and other than the tilt-able screen it isn't much improved from what I can tell. We will see the vanishing act of the optical viewfinder on the P7700, which I see as no big loss, since I never used it on the P7000 anyways.
 The best option for me on this camera is the RAW file, it's not the normal Nikon NEF file I have been accustomed too. Sadly, I couldn't open them on my Lightroom Version so thank goodness for Nikon's View NX2 free software. It's not pretty, but it gets it done.
Here are a few shots, the original in jpeg form and the edited version through ViewNX2

Edited Raw

Original

Now having seen these two images at a relatively low resolution on this blog, check out what I spotted accidentally when zooming into the file to check for sharpness.....

Spiders are always lurking!

Road Carrot, dltphogr.am:dltphoto

http://instagr.am/p/R0Gvg6q3xE/
Now you can see all my dltphogr.ams here

Pirates of the Fraser Valley: dltphoto

If either of these fiendish pirates held you by sword point and off'd with some candy swag then consider yourself lucky. Better than being sent to Davey Jones Locker!

APAC Photoclub Submissions: November 2012: dltphoto

Last month saw the massive APAC Seminar here in Abbotsford. I enjoyed it, it's great to see all the reps and all our customers, at least a good hand-full of them all in one place. Also this year I had one of my images showcased and printed by Lens & Shutter. So proud! hahahahah

"motion blur" which was supposed to be titled "when two atoms collide"

First up for the evening was the assigned category "wheels". A previous shot which readers may have seen in a previous post from Barkerville. maybe.. I don't recall if I posted this shot... anyways. Its pretty obvious. It's a Wheel. Purely the title is the only thing that can save this shot! "It's got some wheel flare"... Wheel. Get it? Real Flare?...ha hahah. no. sorry. I wasn't expecting any great numbers and got punished suitably.

Assigned Topic  "Wheels",  "It's got some wheel flare" score 22 ( from 30)

Next up, A Phone shot. ooooooooh. Curses!

Abstract, "New Horizons". score 6

 It was a shot that I thought was kind of interesting. I did apply a cross-processing action to it to give it this interesting cyan/ greenish look. It was featured more recently in my "favourite shot" for September, which I showed the original capture along with the cross-processed version.
Architectural, Abstract and kinda Artsy. Perhaps the type of shot a designer may use in a Loft space to create form and interest within the minimal space.... Something like this!!!

Image ripped off from google images... thanks whomever you are.

"Abstract:  images extracted from a larger reality or subject. An abstract image is, usually, independent of pictorial references and reduced to form, colour ,tones, texture and line." ( APAC Guidelines for Category)

Since I got such a low score for this image I quizzed the Judge at the end as to why it didn't do well. Apparently it didn't fit his description of Abstract. Really. So I asked him what he thought the photo might be of and after 4-5 attempts of guessing it wrong, he then suggested that this image is an Abstraction, not an Abstract. Oh Dear and Really?? An ABSTRACTION not an ABSTRACT. This should be the point where I storm out and knock over some chairs in disgust.
This fills all the criteria that I can see.

Images extracted from a larger reality, CHECK ( its a big building)
Independent of pictorial references, CHECK ( no story line here)
Form, Colour, Tones, Texture and Line, CHECK, CHECK, CHECK, CHECK and CHECK MATE!

Someone suggested I submit it again, since another Judge might lap it up. Personally, I want to show new images. I dislike seeing the same image re-posted.


My third image for the evening is definitely one my readers have all seen before. I was testing the theory that things in three's always do well, according to CAPA rules and other fellow club members. For the sake of attempting to score well, which apparently didn't work, I did remove some items from this image in order for them not to be distracting for the judge. It would appear to be necessary if you don't want to get caught out, point wise, with irritating things they don't like in the image. It can make all the difference to some Judge's, but apparently not this ummmm Judge.

 This happens to be a "real camera" shot from my Nikon D200 with the "Highlander" lens.

Architecture, "get to the point", score 7

"Architecture: images depicting  buildings, structures, interiors and  surroundings, whole or in part, that
emphasize design or functionality." (APAC Guidelines for Category)


It would appear that the Projection system for the club has been fairly bad recently so I may have to start printing to get the right image judged. Although, It probably wouldn't matter and at the end of the Day it makes no difference to me. I still enjoy all three images. That guy wants to look at nasty overdone HDR's and overly PS'd images... that's his choice, have at it.

Congratulations, it's a Girl. I think. No, wait... :dltphoto

Being an owner of the Lensbaby 2.0 for quite some time, I am more than familiar with the challenges of it. I have had the chance now to play with another Lensbaby of which I have been pleasantly surprised with the new handling capability. The Composer Pro with "Sweet 35" optic. The Composer series is much less awkward than the original series. Basically my 2.0 is fully bendable (springy) and should you let go of it, or breathe, move etc.. the shot will be out and you'll have to try, try again. With the Composer's they still have the same moving function but they aren't springy, more sticky?. Thus meaning once you have found your desired effect it will remain in it's "sweet spot".... marvelous. Check out the Video.

It's Triplets! Awwwww Cute!

One nice option they have now added is the optic swap system. Now you don't have to buy multiple lenses for different effects, the Composer will allow you to switch out the insides. Now, for a much lower price you can change the look of your Lensbaby. Optics such as Single Glass, Double Glass, Sweet 35 and Fishyeye and more I didn't get chance to play with.

Sweet 35

Sweet 35

Sweet 35

Winter is coming :dltphogr.am

http://instagr.am/p/RirfJ9K3_I/

October 2012: Favourite Shot: dltphoto

Here is one from our camping trip to Alouette Lake. A little stream that I assume runs into the lake.
Shot the annoyingly slow and frustratingly poorly screened Sigma DP1s. It darn well creates beautiful files but couldn't be any worse of a camera. Maddening... but I shouldn't complain. Not many have the unique Foveon Sensor to fool with!
Shot on a Gorilla Pod SLR zoom, Sigma DP1s, 50iso, 13seconds, F11 with two cokin ND filters stacked.