Nikon 1 V1 pt 2: dltphoto

Just out and about experimenting with my new camera. Since I only have the 10mm 2.8 lens (27mm wide angle equivalent), I am kind of limited to my street shooting, but that is not an excuse. This lens is brilliant. When I can afford the adapter I will then be able to use my full Nikon lens lineup on it.

January 2013: Favourite Shot: dltphoto

I really enjoy the busy confusion of the branches and the loneliness of the single leaf.

"Survivor"

Olympus XA2 V2.0: dltphoto

Thanks to Mr Koopmans for the very nice gift of an Olympus XA2. I had acquired one recently for nothing and it was working fine until half way through it's second roll and then kaput. Seemed the shutter only wanted to stay open for a 2 second exposure only. Oh well. So this is the XA2 V2.0, which I think has a small underexposure issue but its something I can live with.

The XA2 is the perfect pocket camera. Small, quick and  sharp images as long as you remember to Zone Focus it. A touch of lovely vignetting finishes the image quite nicely.

APAC Submissions, February 2013: dltphoto

For this Month I went all out. Super excited about these three images. However the more excited I am is how proportional to how disappointed I will be when the adjudicator scores them. this theory I have proved tonight. The scores were very erratic. Not in my favour but I still enjoyed my choices.

After my last epic fail in the Macro category I though I would attempt something more obviously macro. Its bright fun and pretty much right out of the camera. Just how I like it. Its early morning frost on my black tinted truck window. Oddly the rich blue is coming from the reflected blue sky of the early morning. The Depth of Field is dramatically short but that's what is to be expected when I am too lazy to get my tripod and I quite like it this way. The adjudicator did not see it my way, she wanted more depth, sharpness and maybe rule of thirds on this, meaning not having the focused part dead centre.

Macro, "Cool Blue", score 8

Instagram'd Version

 I did a square crop in instagram ("The Hive") which was very well "liked" I should mention.

This next image is your textbook "instagram" shot and it's right out of my phone!
 I put it in the architecture category which was probably a mistake. It's a funky church in Abbotsford, hence the title. It should probably be in the "Duncan's lost his mind" category... Sadly, My title was VERY common so it seems. Someone else put an image in with the same title which happened to show three images before mine. That didn't help I am sure.

Architecture, "stairway to heaven", score 7

Finally, we wrap up the night with the assigned topic "Psychedelic, or just Psycho". This is another phone shot with an SLR Macro filter in front of the lens. To help with the close up, since my phone is lousy at macro. I saturated it a little to give it more of a  Psychedelic look... more drug inducing!

Assigned (Psychedelic, or just Psycho), "L.S.C.D", Score 20 (out of 30)

The adjudicators scoring was very low for the assigned, but still mine was one of the lowest.

The Next Generation: dltphoto

At a recent program night at APAC we had the very well known Nick Didlick attend to give a quick presentation about his Photographic achievements with the Olympic's and a rather brief session regarding the "next generation" of camera technology.
WOW, never has the Kool-Aid tasted so good. I am pretty sure that Nick affected several, if not dozens of the club members, yours truly included!
What tasty camera liquor was he talking about???

Nikon F5 and Nikon 1 V1 with matching Prime Lenses

The Nikon 1 V1, pictured with my Nikon F5. As I recall I talked briefly about the emergence of the new Mirrorless camera's. Size, ability and image performance. They have it all, and now do I. Initially you will see the "size" that I was referring too. Super tiny but not hard to hold. Ergonomically well laid out. Not as efficient as an SLR or DSLR for quick navigation, being more menu driven, but still has key elements in some nice places. So don't all throw out your huge Nikon lenses as there is some other good news! This little V1 with the FT-1 adapter, I am yet to obtain, will allow me to utilize all my fancy new Nikon AF-S lenses with some range benefits. As it stands all my current lenses will be "magnified" by 2.7x.... so for example, my Nikkor AF-S 70-200 2.8VR will effectively become a 189-540mm 2.8. Cool. This is going to be an interesting element but since I am not really a huge distance shooter or am more interested in the Macro equivalent with my 60mm Macro (will be 162mm . sweet.)
Anyways. Needless to say I am fairly excited and now I am able to do a little 1080HD video... Something I have never ventured into. The moving image, yikes.
Here are a few started Images with my current 27mm 2.8 1 series Lens. Loving it. Just need some nicer weather!

Nikkormat FTn w/ Nikkor-S 50mm f1.4: dltphoto

Buried somewhere in peoples basements/ crawl spaces are film SLR's. Hundreds if not Thousands all over the world. Everyone one of them yearning  to be used, to have it's "eyes" opened one more time. Recently I was asked to sell some equipment for someone else. It's a shame, the equipment is actually pretty good, but the demand is very, very low. Making sure to test the equipment is my favourite part of this process, before I try to get whatever "pennies" I can for it, and with this stuff it may well be pennies!

"The Brick"

This recent acquisition is a Nikkormat FT N, with an assortment of prime lenses. Quite fortunate for me since I have the same body which no longer winds the film though. Its in good shape but missing a winder handle. I am thinking I can combine both models to create one perfect working order camera, but then I have one I can't sell. Dilemma!

Lightmeter- Check
Loud Ka-Chunk Noise when  Button is Pushed- Check
Film loaded and Winding (as far as I can tell)- Check

For this experiment and to make it more creatively interesting for me I decided to throw one of my 50mm 1.4 Nikkor Lenses on it, and shoot it more creatively at as low an F/stop as possible ( ie 1.4 or 1.8, conditions allowing). The downside to such low depth of field shooting is quite often you will be out of focus unintentionally even with today's more modern auto-focus systems, it is still incredibly hard.

shadows: dltphogr.am

http://instagr.am/p/U1QV4uK36n/

Chasm (pronounced Kaz-em): dltphoto

Enjoyed seeing one of my images posted to the newly added "tourismbc" feed on instagr.am. It doesn't win me anything or make me more famous. It's just nice! (warm and fuzzy).

Of Paramount Importance: dltphoto

I recall a short time ago a friend of mine was petitioning to keep this old theatre in Chilliwack from being torn down, Alas I think it has been slated to be destroyed. Too Bad, interesting buildings are fun to shoot.

Attempted my first GIF file though! I need to work on it!

Morning Glory :dltphogr.am

http://instagr.am/p/UkeUUFq31_/
This image captured on my way to work. The square format worked well for some nice natural divisions. Not your normal 3rd's rule.

Why Woodn't You?...:dltphoto

Out on a recent epic cold and wet  morning with Mr Koopmans discovering new wooden things in Chilliwack. Can you spot the Cell Phone pic??

The End of an Era: dltphoto

Sad, sad news for me and many in the Camera retail store industry this week. Jessops, the U.K's biggest Camera Store/ Photography high street retailer has succumbed to the perils of internet shopping and people seeking the best price at any cost, at least I assume that's the most likely reason along with high rents and low margin products!

 Well the "cost" is many photography savvy people losing their jobs, not only that but now many people who have questions and a genuine interest in photography will have to search far and wide to find a new "Brick and Mortar" store to help them with their purchases.
The next time your new camera has a bizarre freak out who will you take it to? What if you accidentally delete your images? What if you have questions about new Lenses? What if you want a new Bag? What if you get dust on your Sensor? What if you need help updating your Firmware? What if you need help deciding on your first camera? These are just a few of the day to day issues/questions those staff would have dealt with. Some far more simple and some far more detailed and some so obvious when you know how. This makes me wonder how long others will survive. Will the inevitable happen to me here? I personally know many, many people who would greatly miss the ability to pop into our local camera store and grab the goods they require with confidence that the employees have their best interests in mind. People with great advice.
A word of warning to all you who "would rather shop local, but the price is better online". One day, we may not be around to help you when you need us. Feel free to ring or visit the "internet" and ask them your problems when you need help. The people at Amazon and EBAY are eager to help you with there after sales service!

 

 Jessops In Taunton, Somerset. I can't remember it being any other store but a camera store. I used to love looking at the used section on the left hand side of the window.

Please please please don't let my Very good friends at London Camera Exchange, where I once worked, go out of business too. They know the answers and have the good advice. Maybe their prices are a few pounds more, but isn't the service worth it? really?

December 2012: Favourite Shot: dltphoto

Since December for me is kind of a write-off month for getting anything done Photographically. My pickings are fairly thin. Not to say that I didn't get out to take pics at all, but any "brilliant" content is harder to obtain.

This happens to be my choice for December. Snow, trees and some Blah. Visually it has nothing that catches your eye. It breaks so many rules. I don't think it's something that I would submit to Photoclub, but ummm maybe I will!!!

APAC Photoclub submissions: January 2013: dltphoto

No ranting this month. Just images.

Architecture, "A Yellow Lining". Score 9

 On my quest to score a 10 with a cell phone, I finally cracked a 9 with this shot. So close!.

Simple glass building shot (Best Buy in Abbotsford, incase you locals want to know), looking up at it with some nice sunlight hitting the corner of the building illuminating it with a rich yellow. I played with a few editing Apps on the Android phone. The original capture is featured below, for anyone who cares. I did have to clean the image up a little in photoshop to remove the blobs or dirt from the glass, but all other image editing done through littlephoto app if I remember correctly.

Original Capture

 2nd Image of the night! This was from my Sigma DP1s. A long exposure, about 6 seconds if I recall, at F11 at probably 50ISO with a neutral density filter or two perched on my little gorilla pod.

Experimental, "Colourstream". score 8

 Pretty much right out of the camera with this image. Just some minor Lightroom work to clean the image up a little, also attempted to remove the weird colour vignetting  the Sigma produces.

2 'n' 1, Fuji X10: dltphoto

A while ago I loaned the excellent Fuji X10 from our local Fuji Rep. This camera tickled my photography senses, too bad I only had it for 3 days.
 Upon checking the images over again I came across a few images that I can't for the life of me remember shooting, but they are on my memory card and they are of downtown Abbotsford, so they must be mine.

I picked this one image as it's kind of a busy image, but more than that. It has the initial appearance of being  two images "photoshopped" together, despite being only one shot. Clearly it's a reflection in a puddle.

 I enjoy this image despite it not really meaning anything to me. I enjoy the lines!

One shot forward, Three years backward: dltphoto

Here, in the dead or winter, I find myself going back through endless folders of images from loaned camera's and random shoots.I came across this image from my brief experience with the Nikon D3x during August, 2009. At one point Nikon's flagship Camera, with both Mega-Pixels and Build performance. Paired with my excellent Nikkor AF-S 60mm macro they were a match made in heaven. Anyways, this image I have chosen I can't really decide on.

320th sec, F5.6. 400 iso

I like the idea of it visually, it's pleasing and easy to look at. Howeve it doesn't inspire me since I am not a avid flower photographer.  When I  look at it as though it isn't a flower I go back to liking even more. I am very drawn the the shallow depth of field behind the centre of the flower, a sense of explosion of both colour and movement.

Alternate Route TO :dltphoto

http://instagr.am/p/TkYKdMq3-L/

If you can't join them, beat them: dltphoto

My earlier attempt of "faux-laroid'ing"  looked too good, too sharp and nothing like a real crumby Polaroid. So here are my new attempts but now I have upgraded to "3-D" Faux-laroids...

dltphogr.am webpage:dltphoto

I am loving the new webpage that instagram has provided for its users!

Check it out here (discoduncan)

Happy Christmas, 2012: dltphoto

To all my friends, family and blog stalkers!

"have a good time, all the time" ( Quote: Carter USM and maybe someone else).

Random Film Images: dltphoto

On rare occasions I stumble upon images I shot a while ago. Often it takes me a while to figure out what I was doing at the time and why did I shoot them.

I was just wandering through some folders and came across this image and thought how lovely and warm the image was and then the thought process commenced and remembered where I took it.

This was shot at the end of summer, during the our first Worldwide Photowalk participation in Abbotsford. I remember I went out with two camera's, one of which the Film batteries died and I recall I had some other issue with my DSLR and ended up fooling around with flash for other peoples shots....!

Here are the few I just found.

APAC Pre-Submission Fun Game: dltphoto

I have decided to ask my readers, all 6 of you (ha), to please pretend you are an Photoclub Adjudicator ( judge) and Score/ Critique my images that I am going to post into the Club in the very near future.
This way I can get a rough idea of what I could face with a real Judge/ Adjudicator.
Scores are from between 5 and 10 (10 being the best) and for this fun post feel free to use  half points, such as 7.5 etc... Also If you can come up with a better Title, I would love to know it!
This is purely for my fun, I am not going to rant at you if you think its a score of 5 that's your choice. If you want to elaborate on what I can do better then great. Base it on Impact, content.. whatever!

I will do a follow up post with the official scores once they have been entered into the real exhibition. Then you can all see how closely you scored my image to what a professional scored it.

You can comment anonymously if you don't want to hurt my feelings... really they cannot be hurt!

"every building has a yellow lining"

"the great Pyramids"

"Reflections"

November 2012: Favourite Shot: dltphoto

Here is my choice image for November. I will remember it as being a dreary drizzly day with a walk on the local trail with Lucy as her and I took photos with our cameras. The image itself has some pleasing aspects but this is secondary to how great I felt spending time doing the thing I enjoy with a person I helped create!

APAC Photoclub Submissions, December 2012:dltphoto

It's punishment time again.... hahahah (just kidding). The December month sees a previous judge (an artist/ painter), umm adjudicator, from last year, the same adjudicator who gave me a 10. Not knowing this before I submitted my images, I sadly uploaded them a day before we were informed who the judge would be. So, I was stuck with the images I chose. I may have been a little more daring had I have known. Its all good though.

Experimental, "Night Watchmen", score 8

This is one of my first "Over edited" images. Basically, I had an image I really wanted to work but I didn't enjoy the lack of overall depth in the image. The initial shot (below) was impossible to get at the time since the only method of keeping the sky in the shot would have been to flash the subjects which clearly was not possible. So I had no other option than to "fake" a sky.

Crows at Barkerville, original shot

After trying several rich blue sky and cloudy shots in the background from my stock of sky images, I felt no impact with any of them.
Then I recalled some images I had just shot with a Lensbaby and thought I would try it with that sky ( an image I won't share yet as its to be a future submission). The effect was much more dramatic. It appeared much more "moon-lightish" with the Crows. Not the perfect blend of images but I thought it created a nice mood and something that you might not normally see. Crows in the dark would be pretty hard to spot and shoot. The light I had on the roof worked nicely simulating  moon glare on the roof top. Overall. I was quite pleased with the final outcome.

Second image for the night.

Open, "20th Century Rock Music",  Score 8

This is a very simple Lensbaby shot of a discarded CD I stumbled across on a bike ride to work. The light fell on it perfectly and created some nice colour tones. The blurring was the lensbaby effect. I had shown the image to a club member previously and they could'nt figure out what they were looking at, so I thought they might need help determining the subject matter, hence the title.

Finally I submitted a print for the assigned topic "People at Work". Challenging.
Scrolling through my hoards of images and I found a Barkerville shot of which the people dressed in character dress, were working the streets... I threw a quick aged action over with with some nasty lens vignette on it to make look super old-school, since its a "period" style shot.

* Addition, The Adjudicator, Janet, actually critiqued this image during the post let-down. She enjoyed the interaction, the movement of the people. She also enjoyed the dark bottom left-hand corner which compensated for the lighter top right hand corner. She also felt the people's heads angle lead you nicely down to that dark left hand corner. I can see the appeal of that. none of which was intentional, at least I don't think my brain saw that, but maybe it did.*

Assigned, "Barkerville- Still working", score 25 (3rd place)

Thanks to Colin for helping me with the title for this one. I hate titling images... hate it.