Rock Photographer

Olympus E3 and 50-200 SWD lens at ISO 800 f3.2 1/200th of a second Haley Breedlove

I've missed the anniversary date of January 8th but I still remember as a young man in 1991 when my dad called me into the living room to see a news story that the guitarist from my favourite band Def Leppard had died.  His name was Steve Clark.  I think anyone that likes Rock and Roll has had a favourite musician of theirs die in their generation.  And while this might seem to have little to do with photography, it did lead me to the impulse purchase of a book titled 'Def Leppard: The Definitive Visual History' by Joe Elliot and Ross Halfin.

I've never been a music photographer but I have deep respect for the work given the lighting challenges and the fact that I like to be in bed by 9:30 most nights so the late hours scare me somewhat.  The book is full of images from 1979 to today all by Ross Halfin as he followed the band for over 3 decades.  The images are shot in all the traditional grainy loveliness of film that you might expect in the early days to crisp yet still soulful images of today.  Ross had a great connection with the band and you can tell the level of trust and familiarity was high between them.  

I bring this book up though, not only because of the excellent photography, but because of a statement made in the book by the band's long time behind the scenes guru Malvin Mortimer.  "A photograph can speak to you.  It has a language.  It can create a unique emotion, capture a candid moment or a striking pose...or it can be nothing but a plain image on dull paper."  

Let that marinate for a moment.

It was so cool to listen to the band members write in the book about their experience re-living these images and how those images reflected and impacted their lives.  Whether you are a rock photographer, a wedding photographer or a pet photographer you are creating irreplaceable images for people.  But we all knew that didn't we?  Even though we forget it when we are in the middle of a deadline, rushing to export a session from Lightroom and deliver prints.  

You can find a link to the book on the top right of the blog, as usual.  Really though it's not this particular book I'm recommending you, it's books that are not photography books or magazines.  The next time you are in a bookstore, grab something that isn't in the photography section that is full of images that inspire you.  Whether thats a book on music, war, architecture or whatever.  Soak up those photographs not created for photographers.  Me?  I often wander over to the fashion section of the magazine rack and grab a couple of those thick magazines full of wonderful creative images trying to sell clothes.  It's a huge source of inspiration for me personally.  

Thanks again for dropping by the blog.  Rock on like its 1987!!!  

Looking Back at the Canon 7D

Photo by Greg Howard

I sold my Canon 7D last week after owning the camera for only 8 months in hopes of replacing it with either a Canon 1DmkIV, or the soon to be announced (possibly) 7DmkII or 5DmkIII for the 2012 wedding season.  I enjoyed owning the 7D and picked it up last May to serve as my backup to the 5DmkII at weddings, alleviating me from carrying two brands of camera (I had been carrying an Olympus E3) with two sets of incompatible lenses to every job.  The switch helped me save a lot of weight and the 7D worked really well with the Canon 135mm f2.0 lens (effectively about 200mm with the crop) as a second camera during a ceremony.

I ended up shooting just under 6000 frames on the camera before I sold it which means it was really still brand new but I did get a good sense of the camera and what I liked and didn't like about it, so I thought I'd share a little post-mortem review for any of you that may be considering purchasing one.

Photo by Greg Howard

As the backup to my 5D I will say that it was a little frustrating that Canon chose a different layout to buttons for each camera.  I tended to hunt for some functions when switching between the cameras.  You'd think that a single manufacturer could settle on one layout for similar sized cameras.  And the 5DmkII and 7D are very similar in size. The most notable differences are the on/off switch moving up to the top left of the camera and the addition of a start/stop dedicated video recording button.  The 7D felt better built than the 5DmkII, a camera I've always thought felt cheap and plastic considering the price.  The 7D also proved to be very robustly weather sealed compared to the 5D which I found would fog up in damp weather and be unusable.  The rubbery texture of the 7D feels great in the hands and the video functions are much easier to use than on it's full frame sister.  The 7D always gave me the impression of being a well built solid camera worthy of professional or advanced amateur use.

Photo by Greg Howard

Compared to my other crop sensor DSLR cameras the Olympus E3 (which took all the images in this post with the Zuiko 35mm Macro lens) and Olympus E5 the 7D holds up very well.  It is not as well built or weather sealed, but it certainly compares well to them anyway and can be used in the rain as I've witnessed from my buddy Adam's camera.  The 1.6 crop factor of the Canon has a larger sensor than the 2X crop factor of the Olympus but noise compares very similarly to the new E5.  While the 7D has more focus points and customizeability and a faster frame rate, the Olympus is more reliable in focus and has as many focus points as I need.  The two differ on wheel and button layouts but both cameras pretty much have all the functions you need right at hand.  Both cameras have a 100% field of view viewfinder, but the Olympus one is brighter and easier to look through.  The 7D and E5 lcd are both bright and crisp, but the one on the E5 articulates which is nice for tripod based shooting or video.  The video on the 7D is much better though in quality and makes for a far better video camera.

Adam's 7D working in the rain

My biggest complaint with the 7D over the 8 months I used it was ISO performance and focus reliability.  As far as the ISO goes, the 7D just doesn't compare to other crop sensor cameras on the market like the Nikon D7000 or Pentax K5 and I'd even put it maybe a third of a stop behind the Olympus E5.  They jammed so many megapixels on that sensor, I just feel they would have been better off with 12 or 14 to help the image quality.  Having all those pixels sure helps in the resolution department, but I'd trade noise control and dynamic range over megapixels any day of the week.  I found the camera to be good up to about ISO 1600 and usable at 3200 if you nail your exposure or maybe expose a little bright. Your taste may vary.

Photo by Greg Howard

With the 8 frames per second and super advanced autofocus system on the 7D you'd think this would be the ultimate sports camera for any Canon shooter without a 1DmkIV pocketbook.  And it is.  For me, I actually never shot it in high speed mode once despite that it is sitting in that mode for the image above, but that isn't really my style even when shooting sports.  The autofocus system is very much as advertised with customizability like I've never experienced in a camera before.  I loved using it, though I admit I really should have invested more time in figuring out all the intricacies of the system.  For me though, and this isn't a 7D thing but more of a Canon thing, I found the autofocus to be unnervingly unreliable.  You think you have something on the LCD in crisp focus and later on the computer you realize it has missed just slightly.  The camera did improve with use as I became careful with my technique, but I will say I've never enjoyed Canon autofocus and often joke that it's actually a feature I'd like to see introduced into Canon cameras one day.  In time I was able to get most of my images in focus with the camera, but you can't be lazy with it.  As none of my Canon lenses have image stabilization you absolutely have to make sure you are shooting at a shutter speed that exceeds your focal length (unless, as in the studio image in this post you are shooting with movement stopping lights) for the sharpest images.  Meaning I was keeping it at least 1/200 of a second for my 135mm lens, which often meant my ISO was higher than I ideally would have wanted it.  But you live and learn, and everything with photography is a trade-off isn't it?

Photo by Greg Howard

In the end I learned to like and appreciate the 7D.  The files were good, and typical of my Canon cameras they stood up well to abusive post processing and showed good dynamic range.  I liked the feel and build quality of the camera and I very much enjoy working with a crop sensor and full frame sensor in tandem at jobs allowing me the benefits of both.  The camera worked very well for me as a backup to my 5DmkII and I'm glad I had it for one full wedding season.  I'd recommend this camera to Canon dedicated photographers looking for an affordable sports camera or wildlife camera.  The crop factor and performance will be welcome for you, and for wedding photographers looking for a backup camera it is a good choice.  I'd say portrait photographers might prefer a full frame camera, even the 5D classic.  If you are not a Canon photographer and don't own Canon lenses, then I believe other brands make nicer crop sensor cameras of similar build quality and with similar features.  Most notably the Nikon D7000 (with dual card slots which the Canon doesn't have), the Pentax K5 with superior build and class leading noise control or the Olympus E5 which you all know I just like because I'm an Olympus fan (so you can ignore that last one!).  You can still buy the 7D in stores new from between $1400 and $1500 if you find a sale and really not much less used as my quick internet search has found them between $1200 and $1400 used.  Given it's build quality, I'd say a used one would be a good bet provided it has been reasonably well looked after.

Canon 7D with 100mm f2.8 Macro lens at f14, ISO 100 and 1/50 of a second.  Shot in studio.

Thank-you for dropping by the blog.  I'm planning on reviewing my Pentax 645N medium format camera soon so check back again!

Canon 7D and 85mm f1.8 lens at ISO 1600

Digital Food Photography, A Review

Canon 5D mk II with 24-70 2.8 lens shot at ISO 200 f2.8 1/60 of a second

I've been very much enjoying my life as a wedding, portrait and 'people' photographer.  Part of me though has been eyeballing another passion of mine that has nothing to do with a person.  Food.  I love food.  Love eating it, looking at it, smelling it and my wife and I share a shared obsession with all those cooking shows on the Food Network.  I just wish I was a better cook.  

I've been doing some light food photography at weddings to give to the caterers and I've done an advertisement rack card for desserts in my local town, but I've never really considered myself a 'food' photographer.  With an eye on staying true to photographing what I love though, it is in my plan to add it as a regular part of what I do.  Shoot what you love and the work will follow.  At least that is what I choose to believe.

So I decided to seek out some education on food photography and since workshops are fairly hard to come by I started with one of my favourite methods of learning, books.  I recently finished my first book on the subject by world renowned food photographer Lou Manna, who is also an Olympus Visionary Photographer, called 'Digital Food Photography.'  You can see a link to it on the top right of the blog.  

Aside from making me hungry with a whole series of stunning food images, Lou has created a great guide for new food photographers.  There are the obligatory chapters on equipment and editing which I hate to see in these books even though they all seem to have them.  The talk of gear and computer software dates so quickly that I don't feel they have any place in a printed book.  Looking past that though and ignoring those chapters there is a lot of wonderful information in these pages.  

The book reads a bit like a textbook you would expect at a photography school.  Lou talks about lighting, technique, different purposes of food photography (advertisements, packaging, cookbooks, media, etc), food styling, prop styling, composition and the business of food photography.  I found all those chapter super helpful, insightful and well thought out.  The experience Lou brings to the subject matter is obvious and help to make this book a must have for anyone interested in food photography.  He is well spoken, clear in his language and, as any photographer should, uses images to show you the technique with great skill.  

There are even a series of images from single shoots where he shows you his failed first attempts at photographing a dish, explains why the shots don't work and then shows you his successful final image and explains why it was chosen.  This was one of my favourite parts of the book and created some real lightbulb moments for me.  

I can't recommend this book enough, so if you are a food photographer, or just want to be, consider picking it up.  

Thanks again for dropping by the blog, I always appreciate your visit.  

Olympus OM-D

I struggle sometimes with this blog because I tend to talk a lot about equipment and I know intellectually  that the camera's we use have less to do with how good our images are as photographers than our skill at the craft and sense of art.  Cameras, lenses, lights and other goodies do help make our job easier and allow us to express ourselves in ways we couldn't otherwise.  As a wedding photographer I'm often grateful for the low light performance of my Canon 5DmkII and I love the shallow depth of field I can achieve with my 35-100 f2.0 Olympus lens.  Those tools help me so they are worth talking about, but they don't define me as an artist any more than a quality paint brush vs a cheap one does for a painter.  I could create images with lesser tools.

And so occasionally I worry that I'm giving the wrong message on the blog about equipment.  I worry that what I'm putting out there is that you must have a certain camera or lens to create worthwhile art and that's not my intent.  I love photography equipment.  I can even get kind of geeky about it.  Having said that, I am aware and want everyone else to be aware that I'd still be creating images even if I only had access to that 3 megapixel Kodak Easyshare DX6340 point and shoot which was my first digital camera.

And despite all that it's pointless to ignore the connection a lot of photographers have with their tools.  Some of my cameras, like the Canon 7D and 5Dmk II are much more generic but useful wrenches in a toolbox to me than others.  Those others seem to fall into my hand naturally, they resonate with my mind and how I like to work and they appeal to me on a personal level.  I think it's hard to explain, but I know you understand it.  Why for example do I love the Datsun 240z car in orange?  I've always wanted to own one.  There are faster cars, safer cars, better handling cars and certainly more modern cars.  With no backseat the Datsun is pretty much useless to me as a family man.  But I love them.  Some people drive Chevy's and love them.  To me they are boring, common and really just not special.  It's not a brand that speaks to my soul. I prefer Mac to PC.  Just because they run more reliably?  No.  I love that they are exclusive, well crafted and easy to use.  Seeing someone else in a coffee shop with a Macbook Pro tells me something about them and their tastes even if it shouldn't.

And so the new Olympus OM-D camera that is being heavily rumoured over the internet as potentially announced on February 8th, 2012 has caught my attention and a great deal of my senseless camera lust.  My OM4t is a camera that I love deeply.  It fits neatly in my hands, has a super high quality build and feel and all the buttons and dials make sense to me.  It's my orange Datsun.  There are a lot of specs being tossed around about what the OM-D will be and won't be, some I like some I don't, but mostly I look at the photos of it and the beauty of it and think that this will be a paint brush that will feel good in my hands.

Which leads me back to that conflict I have when I write on about equipment on this blog.  I'll continue to write about images and the gear I use to make them, but please know that in the end I sincerely believe that there are photographers out there that kick my butt with a Fuji point and shoot.  There is some photographer somewhere using that Fuji that has more talent than Jerry Ghionis.  Bet on it.

And about the OM-D?  I understand I don't need it and that it won't make you or I a better photographer.  But I've emailed my friend at the local camera store and asked if I can have an OM-D put aside for me when they come in.  That is IF they look and feel the way I hope they do.  I can't have the Datsun, so I might as well have the camera.

For Models and Photographers

Dezi on Red with the Pentax 645N and 75mm f2.8 LS lens.  Fuji Reala ISO 100 film

Back in 2010 I decided I wanted to photograph models, especially in the winter when I wasn't as busy with weddings.  For me there were two reasons to spend time doing this.

One reason was to create personal art that I wasn't being commissioned for.  I wanted to create images that were not aimed at a portrait client, but with my own art foremost as a purpose.  One day I hope to have my own gallery show, and this is a step to getting there.

Secondly I wanted to try new lighting techniques and continue to improve on my posing.  I don't really think that the best time to try new things is when you are on a paid job.  I'm always looking to improve my lighting and posing as part of my craft and working with models has helped me a great deal.

Not all models are experienced and you can get a lot out of working with those that are experts at posing and those that need some help.  Also when I'm photographing a model in a situation where we are trading for time I have no feeling of pressure to deliver work for them that suits their taste, as they aren't paying me.  For sure I want them to enjoy the images, but I figure they are coming to me for my style, have seen my work beforehand and this all helps me feel relaxed about the outcome.  They won't be cancelling any cheques if they don't like the images.

Recently one of the model's I've worked with a few times came to me with an idea to create a behind the scenes video of one of our sessions with the purpose of showing new photographers and models what to expect at a session.  We had some help with the video from my friends Patrick Horsfield and Dave Nunez-Delgado who filmed the session with a Canon 60D and a Nikon D7000.  You can consider it a meeting of the brands!

I haven't had the time to edit the actual shoot portion of the day yet (I'm still learning Final Cut Pro X so it's a bit slow) but at the end of the day Dezi and I decided to sit down and talk on video about some common things new photographers and models might be wondering about.  I think that if you are considering entering into one of the 'Time for CD' or Time for Prints' situations and you are a little unsure of what to expect this little interview should be really helpful.  I hope you enjoy it even though we are starting with Part 3!  I also plan on doing a bloopers reel as there were plenty of things to laugh at on the day.

Photography Ramblings

Photography Ramblings, a group on Flickr.

Check out the Photography Ramblings Flickr Group. Images posted there may be featured on the blog!

Fat Gecko

Yesterday I put up a post about the Olympus VF-2 viewfinder, but while taking photos for that post I was using another new piece of equipment I purchased called the Fat Gecko tripod.  I bought the tripod to use in or attached to my car, but also for anything that a small suction cup tripod could be handy for.  

When it arrived I was really surprised with just how well built it was.  This is a very sturdy tripod and held my Olympus E3 with no issues at all.  Made by Delkin, the Gecko weighs only 1.25 pounds and when the suction cups are attached they are really stuck on well giving the user a sense of confidence that their camera isn't going to fall.  You can adjust the angle and tilt both on the bottom near the cups and on top near the camera and it comes with a standard size mounting screw for your tripod socket on the bottom of your camera.  They also include a flash cold shoe for use as a light stand.  

I really like this tripod and priced at only about $70 it is a nice addition to a photographers tool kit allowing you to attach your camera or flash pretty much anywhere you have a flat smooth surface.  Obviously some caution is warranted in placing your camera in places where they may fall anyway, so use at your own risk, but for me it seems like a very sturdy and safe solution.  

Olympus E-PL1 attached to my sunroof with the Fat Gecko.  Caution if you do this and are in a collision your camera may come loose!!  I'm just saying.  

Thanks again for visiting the blog.  I have set up a Facebook Page just for Photography Ramblings.  You can find it here and become a fan.  Right now I think I'm the only Fan, so help me out!!!

Olympus VF-2 Viewfinder

Olympus E3 and 35mm f3.5 macro lens at f20 ISO 400 3.2 second exposure

My wife purchased me the Olympus VF-2 viewfinder for my EPL1 for Christmas.  It was one of those purchases that was on my wish list for a while, but I never thought it was urgent, more of a 'it would be nice to own' thing which made it the perfect gift.  I had looked through one before in the camera store and thought it was really amazing, completely changing my opinion of electronic viewfinders.  In using it for the past couple of weeks I can say that if you are an Olympus Micro Four Thirds user, it should really be on your must have accessory list.  It has completely changed the way I use the camera and made me enjoy it so much more than before.

Taken by Olympus E3 and 35mm 3.5 macro lens at f20 ISO 400 15 second exposure

I know Olympus has released a cheaper version of the viewfinder called the VF-3 and I'm sure it's fine, but honestly for the $20 price savings it just can't be worth it.  The VF-2 has about 40% better resolution which makes it worth the price difference alone.  I also own the Panasonic DMW-LVF-1 viewfinder for my GF1 and the Olympus one absolutely kicks the tar out of it for clarity and pleasure of use.  The Panasonic one is only useful as an aide in bright sunlight, it isn't a joy to use by any definition.  I'd be curious to see how good the new viewfinder for the GX1 is from Panasonic, but I also can't help but think it was a huge slap in the face to previous customers that it isn't backwards compatible.

Don't worry, you get a full field of view putting your eye up to the viewfinder.  This is just as close as I could get my macro lens in to give you a peek!  My tomatoes appear to be out of focus..!!

So here is what I love about the Olympus VF-2 viewfinder:

• If you are a photographer that is used to viewfinders, it's a must own, no brainer.  You'll thank me instantly.
• You get all the information you need right around the edges of the image, like ISO, shutter speed, aperture, shooting mode, flash mode, images remaining on card, Image Stabilization on/off indicator and if you want it, a histogram.  You can change how it looks by hitting the Info button from lots of information, some of it, or none of it.  
• You get an instant live preview of white balance, grain (higher ISO shows up as grainier on the viewfinder), brightness, etc.
• You get 100% field of view (wish all DSLR's had that)
• The viewfinder tilts 90 degrees so you can shoot with the camera low and looking down on it. 
• It helps to steady the camera when you brace it with two hands and a third point of contact on your eye.
• The sun glare on the LCD is really no longer an issue.  If you like you can play images back in the viewfinder, something you can't do on an optical viewfinder.  

There are a couple of problems with the viewfinder.  One is that it has to be in the hot shoe, which means you can't use it while using a flash on camera (not really an issue for me) or a Pocket Wizard (a big issue for me) or the optional audio jack input (again a big issue).  It would be nice if Olympus just moved the audio jack off to the side of the camera and added a PC sync port.  That would seem to be the logical fit if they insist on keeping the viewfinder as an external accessory.  There is also a slight delay and flicker to the viewfinder, but I don't find it objectionable at all.  It is much better than the Panasonic one I own and really no worse than the one I looked through on the Fuji X100.  It is also much larger and brighter than the one on the X100.  

So there you have it.  To me at least, the Olympus VF-2 has made me respect and love my little E-PL1 a lot more.  It takes it from the land of fancy point and shoot into a serious camera.  

And speaking of Fuji, I'm sure you all noticed the announcement of the Fuji X-PRO1.  I have to say, that this camera looks amazing to me.  I love the styling, the integrated viewfinder, the three prime lenses introduced with it and just everything about it.  I lusted after the X100, but this camera has me in love.  Good thing I don't have firm brand loyalties as I may be adding Fuji to my Olympus, Canon, Pentax and Panasonic gear list.  

Thanks for popping by the blog.  I hope you are having as mild of a winter as we are here on Vancouver Island.  It was forecast to be our coldest winter in 20 years, but so far it's been the mildest I can remember in the 17 years I've lived here.  Maybe I've just jinxed it!

Oh I found another blog and have added it to my reading list.  It's very well done and came to my attention after a review on it for the Panasonic DMC-L1 surfaced on it.  I loved that camera and as much as you can miss a hunk of plastic, glass and metal, I miss my old one.  Wish I had never sold it.  The blog is called Photographic Central, give it a read if you are looking for something new.  

Landscapes and Gear

Pentax 645N with 75mm f2.8 LS lens and Illford 3200 120 film  Colouring added in Lightroom 3

I think I've mentioned how I consider myself to be a really bad landscape photographer before on the blog.  Don't read that as "I hate landscape photography," because I don't.  I find it really peaceful and enjoyable.  I really love looking at a well done landscape like those done by my friend Gavin Seim and I appreciate the pursuit of great light, dramatic skies and dodging and burning done to perfection.  But, I've never been great at creating them myself which won't stop me from trying!  I took the above image on a little photo walk with my good buddy Greg Howard after helping him with some lighting for a commercial job down in Victoria BC.  Out of a whole roll of 120 film, I liked only two images, of which this was the only landscape.  Actually I didn't like it at first, but after burning the rocks in Photoshop, brightening the water and adding a selenium tint to it it kind of came alive for me.

The real thing that I'm enjoying about it though has little to do with the image itself.  I know I'm not going to be selling that image in art galleries next to Ansel Adam's work.  It has to do with the organic process of film and the slow process of using my new medium format camera.  It's such a wonderful way to spend time with a tripod, a big film camera and a big world waiting there to be captured.  And to look at film images, is a bit like listening to music on a record player.  Sure it hisses and pops, but its organic.  You can create the grain and texture in the digital world but it doesn't feel the same.  It's a bit like listening to an MP3 recording of an old record.  You might hear the imperfect sound, but you can't feel it like when it comes from the real thing.  Go ahead and laugh, those that stick the occasional roll in the camera still know what I mean.  

And so what the heck am I talking about anyway?  Well, I have no idea really except to say that I've been enjoying the process of using film and a big clunky camera, and I hope you get to enjoy that feeling yourself.  

And speaking of gear, I'm sure you've all been reading about the new Nikon D4.  While many of you know I love Olympus equipment, I also use Canon, Pentax and Panasonic cameras.  My lack of brand loyalty is a bit of a problem for me because I see camera's like this new D4 and my attention span wanders.  I'd just love to own this camera.  I love that they kept it to only 16 megapixels, and I'm intrigued that they are saying it focuses faster than the old Nikon which is the one thing about Nikon I've always lusted after, it's ability to autofocus so well.  Then again, I've never been a fan of my Canon autofocus so maybe I'm jaded.  I like the little touches like back illuminated buttons as well.  This new D4 is a pretty nice piece of equipment and for almost $1000 less than the Canon 1DX I think Nikon may be getting themselves a long list of fans.  All this competition is only good for us consumers that buy the equipment. I just hope Canon decides to put dual card slots in the 5D mk III.  I mean, Nikon does it in their D700 line as I'm sure they will in the soon to be announced D800.  

Olympus looks like they won't be bringing back Woodford as their CEO and the rumours of Panasonic, Sony or Fuji buying large pieces of the company seem to be intensifying.  Frankly I'd love to see Olympus come back stronger and healthier as an independent company, but if I had to choose from any of those companies taking control of them it would have to be Fuji.  Fuji is a company I had long disregarded until they came out with the wicked cool X100.  Now with the talk of an organic sensor (Olympus really needs a sensor partner that won't hold back on them like Panasonic did with the GH2 sensor) and the X-PRO 1 I think that if we are playing a game of lessor evils, Fuji would be my choice for an Olympus bed partner.  Panasonic stopped making cool cameras with the DMC-L1 as far as cosmetics and ultra-cool design go.  I still miss that camera, wish I had never sold it.  

As a final thought to this entry I wanted to point out the work of Raphael Guarino.  I joined 500px in 2011 and I really love the quality of images that people tend to put on that site.  I find myself flipping through it for an hour at a time some days just wiping the drool off my chin at some of the amazing talent out there.  Raphael (whom I've never met or talked to) is from Germany, and I'm on his page all the time just amazed at the work he is doing.  The photos just make my stomach flip flop and my eyes bulge.  Amazing.  

Thanks for dropping by the blog.  I appreciate your visit.  

New Toy

Olympus EPL1 with 14-42 kit lens ISO 100 f11 30 second exposure

I purchased a new toy this week from Amazon that I thought was pretty fun.  I decided to get the Fat Gecko suction cup tripod mount so I could attach my cameras to things like.....my car.  I have a whole series of plans with it, but of course as soon as it arrived I had to immediately hop in the car with my Olympus EPL1 stuck to the underside of my sunroof and take it out on a dark rainy night.  I must say I was surprised how well it turned out with me not really giving the setup much thought at all.  I can't wait to take the time to set up what I'm really wanting to shoot with it!

The tripod appears well built and very sturdy.  It did have some trouble sticking to my sunroof as it has a weird texture on the glass (I think some sort of webbed sun coating) but it worked none-the-less.  Stuck on any smooth glass or surface and you can't even yank the tripod off by force.  Or at least I can't, but I've been accused of having little girl arms.

If you are looking for a new toy, I paid about $80 for the Gecko, so shop around and look for a deal.

Thanks for dropping by the blog.  Before I go, I'd like to link to this entry on the fototails blog.  You might have already seen it as it has gone pretty viral on places like Facebook and Twitter, but if you are looking for a heartwarming story on just why portrait photography is so meaningful, give it a quick read.

You can now also find this blog at:
www.photographyramblings.ca  and www.photographyramblings.com

Best of 2011

Olympus E5 with Panasonic Leica 25mm Summilux f6.3 ISO 800 1/250 second

Every blog in the blog universe is having a review of 2011 right now so you are completely forgiven if you just skip mine, but despite the rampant use of a theme I just couldn't resist.  Plus it's kind of nice to write a post while I'm still in my pyjamas on a lazy Sunday with a nice cup of coffee.

I thought I'd write about some of the best things I've read, bought and done in 2011.  The things that have really helped me along on my journey in this crazy profession/craft/love affair with photography.  Maybe some of those things will resonate with you and you'll want to try them yourself.  Maybe you already have.  Either way, I hope you enjoy them.

Best Reads and Resources on the Internet in 2011

• 500 pixels:  I've long been a user of Flickr and Smugmug and in fact I'm a Smug leader here on Vancouver Island.  What I've found is that Smugmug is great for my business and showing images to clients, while Flickr is great for storing random images and for sharing with a general population of amateur photographers.  But 500px is really an amazing place to look at amazing images.  I find that I only put up my favourite images there, and images that have nothing to do with my work as a photographer, but rather my private efforts.  But I also really love flipping through images on there and getting inspired.  The level of work is so incredibly good.  
• Kelby Training: I used to have a membership with Kelby training and dropped it in the fall of 2010 after I felt I had pretty much watched all the videos I wanted on it.  But in the fall of 2011 I was browsing there and found it had a whole new group of videos I wanted to see and what really sealed the deal was the new iPad app.  Now I can watch the videos on the iPad with it sitting right beside me on the computer or while sitting on the couch.  Kelby appears dedicated to adding to this site all the time, so if you get a membership, watch it like crazy, let it drop for a year and then go back, I bet it's all new.
• Photoprice:  OK, so this one is only for Canadians, but if you are looking for gear and wondering where to get it the cheapest, this site just plain rocks.  I'll pop on there and it will do the conversions, shipping calculations of all the major online retailers in the USA and Canada for me so I can compare directly.  Think the US is always the cheapest?  It's not.  Often I will look at items, realize the price is pretty much the same everywhere and just go down to my local brick and mortar store and buy it there.  Other times, you come across a crazy good deal and the site makes you really happy.  :)
• Kickstarter: Ever want to feel like a philanthropist? I have made three pledges on this site toward projects I thought were super cool.  I bet if you visit you might too.  Basically it's a crowd sourcing site for funding for various projects, one category of which is totally devoted to photography.  I might have bad taste though because all of my chosen projects have not been fully funded yet.  You can donate as little as $1 and if the project doesn't receive a set amount of pledges, you pay nothing and they get nothing.  
• The Visual Science Lab: Kirk Tuck's blog has been on my reading list for quite some time.  This year he briefly quit blogging because of some rampant haters leaving comments that frustrated him. But he is back now and writing better than ever.  It is a nice mix of nostalgic images and writings mixed in with gear reviews of his newest items of love (LED lighting and small cameras like the Nikon V1 lately).  
• The Phoblographer: This blog was new to me in 2011, and I'm glad I found it.  Heavy on gear reviews, but also full of nice images and a nice atmosphere.  I think I may have been the last photographer in the universe to find it, but it should be on all our reading lists.
• The Music Bed: I'm not one to steal music.  I always license it when I'm using it for a project, but to be honest I get kind of tired of the selection out there that can be licensed.  This site has songs that I actually enjoy.
• Olympus Grassroots: For those of you that have been following the ongoing soap opera that Olympus has become in 2011, this site was an interesting find.  I suspect it will be gone soon, but it is a gathering place for Olympus employees to try and take back the reputation of their company.
• Robin Wong's Blog: I love discovering new, active photography blogs.  They make nice reading over a cup of coffee.  I just discovered Robin's blog in December and I'm really happy I did.  It is often updated, has great content and really nice photography.  It does lean toward Olympus users, so you Nikon/Sony/Canon only types might not be as thrilled as I was.

Pentax 645N with 75mm f2.8 LS lens.  Scanned on Epson V600 shot with Fuji ISO 800 expired colour 120 film

GEAR

• The Olympus E5 was released in late 2010, but I was late to the party and bought it in 2011.  I had also bought the Canon 7D in 2011 and between the two, the Olympus was my favourite.  I still plan on doing a head to head comparison (though I've spoiled it now haven't I?) and the 7D is a nice camera, but Olympus really did a nice job of what could be their last proper DSLR.
• The Pentax 645N was an impulse/lust buy for me this year.  I had trolled the internet and hovered my finger over the buy button on this camera for quite a while before I finally bought one from Keh. I liked that it looked like a DSLR so would be familiar (I've since used a traditional Hassleblad and must say it has it's charm too) and had an irrational sense that it would make me happy.  Well on day one when it arrived the shutter speed dial fell off it.  I glued it back on rather than deal with the hassle of sending it back to Keh.  But the use and feel of the camera is really nice.  I LOVE the big viewfinder, love holding the camera and the look of the images that come from it have a really special feel.  If you are a 'bigger sensor is better' kind of person, skip full frame and go right to medium format (I'm sure large format is coming my way soon), and if you can't afford digital (I can't) then just grab a film body and scan them. It's surprisingly cheap, a good medium format film camera and a nice prime lens will set you back less than a budget DSLR.
•  Honeycomb Grids: I use Alien Bee's strobes, but these are available for small strobes as well (probably on my 2012 purchase list) and all brands of studio strobes.  I like to control my light as much as possible and I love drama in my lighting that shows a strong sense of direction.  I can't believe I didn't start using these until this year, but now we have them for our small reflector dishes and our large beauty dish.  This little add-on to my lights has changed completely how I light people.  They are much more effective than the cloth box grids you velcro on the front of your soft boxes.
• Film:  OK, so I've been using film for years, this isn't a new thing in 2011, but my love for it deepened in 2011.  I'm in the process of getting myself a full kit to develop at home.  I won't print yet, but rather I'll scan the negatives.  To me film is like playing music on a record player instead of listening to a CD of MP3.  It has soul.
• Vagabond Mini Lithium:  We spent most of 2011 carrying around the 18 pound battery pack from Paul Buff and breaking our backs.  The purchase of the mini battery pack later in the year was a very welcome thing.  It weighs around 3 pounds.  I'm not a big fan of big heavy gear, so this just makes me, and my back very happy.

My fridge was getting taken over in 2011

SOFTWARE & OTHER STUFF

• Final Cut Pro X:  OK, so this is a bit disingenuous of me because I didn't buy this until the last day of 2011.  But yesterday I installed it, and played with it and I just know that it will be my newest favourite thing.  I think the software received a bad rap from serious video people after it was released largely because it was a complete departure from Final Cut Pro 7 and not all features were ready for it upon release.  However, for us photographers using an editing software for video fusion, this is really robust.  It is also familiar (but much better) to anyone coming from iMovie.  I also had Final Cut Pro Express installed, but I never really got the hang of it, a little confusing.  I was up and using X in minutes. 
• Nik Software: I use Color Efex, Silver Efex and Viveza as regular parts of my editing workflow.  While I like to do most of my editing quickly in Lightroom, I don't mind shipping them out to Nik for that extra something special.  It sure beats spending time in Photoshop masking and brushing.  The U-Point technology is a real time saver, once you try it, you'll see what I mean.  Google discount codes and you'll usually find one for 15% off somewhere.
• Smugmug: I'm a bit biased here because I'm a Smug Leader and therefore associated with the company, but for print fulfilment for my customers this site is a huge time saver.  They shop online with their credit cards, Smug cuts me a cheque and mails the prints to the customer all packaged with my branding without me lifting a finger.  I love that.  Use the code vi11 for 15% off.
• Fastline:  Talk to Billy or Justin at Fastline if you want a custom Smugmug site, website or blog.  These guys did our custom Smugmug site and they are working on a custom blog for us now.  The biggest thing about them was just how friendly they were.  I loved that. 

Olympus EPL1 with OM 24mm f2.8 lens.  Walking around testing my new VF2 viewfinder.  Out of camera Jpg.

Well that's about it for the 'stuff.'  On my personal journey with photography this year I feel I've grown a great deal, and I look forward to where I'm going in 2012.  Photography has changed my life, no doubt about it and I wish the same sense of passion and love for everyone no matter what their craft of choice is.  The biggest things I've learned this year, that I hope you can (or maybe already have) learn as well are:

• The power of saying No.  This year we stopped photographing jobs we didn't like.  We finally kicked out the door the clients we dreading working for.  This goes for actual people as well as types of photographic work.  The last thing we were doing that I didn't personally enjoy was business head shots and corporate events.  For me, it was a bit like showing up at the dentist.  Necessary, but not something I looked forward too.  I truly believe that if you stick with what you love, it will show through in your work and the customers will follow.  
• The power of saying No part 2.  When it comes to negotiating on price, I've always had a hard time.  I think what you charge is in part tied to your personal sense of worth.  While business coaches will teach you to figure out your hard costs as a basis for pricing your work, there is no denying that a lack of confidence in yourself will stop you from charging premium prices.  When I finally started telling potential clients that I wouldn't negotiate on price, they started wanting me more.  Try it, try saying no to a lower price and you might be amazed just how in demand you really are. 

I did learn more this year, but I won't share it all.  Our business has come very far, and I know I don't share much of it here on this blog.  Here I really just talk more about the craft, more about my little gear obsessions and fun stuff, nothing too serious.  But the power of staying true to yourself and what you really enjoy about photography is a skill that everyone can benefit from, pro, amateur or random snap shooter.  

I wish you a happy, prosperous and creative 2012 no matter what kind of photography you love, what brand of camera you use or what colour your hair is.  :)

Thanks for dropping by the blog.