August 30, 2010
August 22, 2010
Happy Birthday Elizabeth !
My little JellyBean turns two today. I can't believe it. She is growing and changing so quickly. Walking, running, and talking. She has a great personality and is very funny. And she knows she is funny. She also knows that when she says "daddy" that she gets what she wants.
This is from two days ago.
This is from two days ago.
August 21, 2010
August 13, 2010
Flight at the Vermont Photo Workplace
The show "Flight" that I curated for the Vermont Photo Workplace is now online and hanging in the gallery. Click here for installation shots.
August 11, 2010
Why so many pictures?
I've just been away for 30 days, traveling through France, Vermont and the Adirondacks Mountains of Upstate New York. This was the first trip where I did not take my Hasselblad, a couple of lenses, a light meter, and a large quantity of film. This time, I only took my 8 month old Canon 5D Mark II with 24-105mm L lens. I also took a fistful of CF cards. You know, just in case.
While on this trip, I shot just over 1600 frames. This is huge for me. I never would have been able to do this with film (nor would I want to), let alone while traveling around with my (almost) two year old daughter. In 2005, I spent 28 days in Oaxaca, Mexico and if I remember correctly, I shot about 70 rolls of medium format film, or about 840 frames. I was also processing my film there, in the apartment bathroom and kitchen, so I am sure I was being extra careful about what I was photographing. And to put this into perspective, I used to shoot about 125 rolls of medium format film, per year. I have not shot a single roll of film since buying the 5D Mark II.
To me, I think the biggest reason why photographers make more exposures is manual focus versus auto focus. At least it is for me. When shooting with my Hasselblad and film, 99% of the time, the camera is on a tripod and I am composing and metering and making sure I am getting exactly what I want. In a nut shell, no wasted film. With my Canon and the auto focus f4 lens, I often shoot "off the cuff" and often without looking through the viewfinder (my good friend Josh recently wrote about this). This happens a lot when chasing my daughter around. I just listen for the little beep that confirms the subject is in focus. Most of the time, I get the shot, but as in life nothing is guaranteed.
My solution to slowing down and making more composed photographs again, is to get myself a manual focus lens. Right now, I am eyeballing the Carl Zeiss 35mm f2 lens. Anyway, as I see it, it will force me not only to start looking through the viewfinder again, but it will make me compose more of what I am shooting. Luckily, I am not wasting film, just time and space on my hard drive (the 5D2 raw files are around 28mb on average). Now someone might say to just switch the lens I currently own to manual focus, and yes I could do that, but I really don't like the way this lens handles as a manual focus lens. Plus you really can't go wrong with a Carl Zeiss lens on a full frame camera.
On a side note, I've been told that a good friend of mine who is also using the Canon 5D Mark II with 24-105mm L lens, is having a different issue. The problem is that 5-10 years ago or so, he had a point and shoot 35mm camera for his "snapshots" and a 4x5 camera for his "artwork". Now he has one camera for both. I suppose the issue is that the images start to look the same unless there is some sort of special post processing. I'm hoping to see him next week and will find out the details.
Anyway, I rambled on a bit. So after I buy the Zeiss lens, I will write a response to this, along with some examples of the new work.
While on this trip, I shot just over 1600 frames. This is huge for me. I never would have been able to do this with film (nor would I want to), let alone while traveling around with my (almost) two year old daughter. In 2005, I spent 28 days in Oaxaca, Mexico and if I remember correctly, I shot about 70 rolls of medium format film, or about 840 frames. I was also processing my film there, in the apartment bathroom and kitchen, so I am sure I was being extra careful about what I was photographing. And to put this into perspective, I used to shoot about 125 rolls of medium format film, per year. I have not shot a single roll of film since buying the 5D Mark II.
To me, I think the biggest reason why photographers make more exposures is manual focus versus auto focus. At least it is for me. When shooting with my Hasselblad and film, 99% of the time, the camera is on a tripod and I am composing and metering and making sure I am getting exactly what I want. In a nut shell, no wasted film. With my Canon and the auto focus f4 lens, I often shoot "off the cuff" and often without looking through the viewfinder (my good friend Josh recently wrote about this). This happens a lot when chasing my daughter around. I just listen for the little beep that confirms the subject is in focus. Most of the time, I get the shot, but as in life nothing is guaranteed.
My solution to slowing down and making more composed photographs again, is to get myself a manual focus lens. Right now, I am eyeballing the Carl Zeiss 35mm f2 lens. Anyway, as I see it, it will force me not only to start looking through the viewfinder again, but it will make me compose more of what I am shooting. Luckily, I am not wasting film, just time and space on my hard drive (the 5D2 raw files are around 28mb on average). Now someone might say to just switch the lens I currently own to manual focus, and yes I could do that, but I really don't like the way this lens handles as a manual focus lens. Plus you really can't go wrong with a Carl Zeiss lens on a full frame camera.
On a side note, I've been told that a good friend of mine who is also using the Canon 5D Mark II with 24-105mm L lens, is having a different issue. The problem is that 5-10 years ago or so, he had a point and shoot 35mm camera for his "snapshots" and a 4x5 camera for his "artwork". Now he has one camera for both. I suppose the issue is that the images start to look the same unless there is some sort of special post processing. I'm hoping to see him next week and will find out the details.
Anyway, I rambled on a bit. So after I buy the Zeiss lens, I will write a response to this, along with some examples of the new work.
August 09, 2010
Home sweet Home
We got in last night around 930pm. So good to be home, in my own bed, in my own space.
I forgot how cluttered my desk was/is.
We were away for 30 days. In that time, I made 1610 digital photographs. I never would have made that many while shooting medium format film. This is neither good or bad. Now comes the edit to make a little magcloud for the family.
I also have a fair amount of work for the new issue of Fraction, Number 18. Fraction will be showing some work that it normally does not show. Plus a new feature will kick off on September 1.
For now, I need a coffee.
I forgot how cluttered my desk was/is.
We were away for 30 days. In that time, I made 1610 digital photographs. I never would have made that many while shooting medium format film. This is neither good or bad. Now comes the edit to make a little magcloud for the family.
I also have a fair amount of work for the new issue of Fraction, Number 18. Fraction will be showing some work that it normally does not show. Plus a new feature will kick off on September 1.
For now, I need a coffee.
August 07, 2010
About to head home
In about 24 hours, I will be home in NM, resting comfortably on my couch.
We've been gone for the last 29 days and I am looking forward to being in my own home.
The last week has been spent in the Adirondacks. Roughing it.
This is Uncle Jerome's place.
We've been gone for the last 29 days and I am looking forward to being in my own home.
The last week has been spent in the Adirondacks. Roughing it.
This is Uncle Jerome's place.
August 03, 2010
Into the woods
About to head off to a camp that is a few miles away.
No internet, no electricity.
I put my camera into a zip lock bag and then into a so-called "dry sack", then into a boat on a rainy day.
Hmmm.
See ya later.
No internet, no electricity.
I put my camera into a zip lock bag and then into a so-called "dry sack", then into a boat on a rainy day.
Hmmm.
See ya later.
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