tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10134681369363597252024-02-16T11:20:15.119+00:00A Camera DiaryA blog about photography, cameras, and related stuff, where we still shoot film.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03245930628400563937noreply@blogger.comBlogger218125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1013468136936359725.post-65357807151433506312015-05-19T11:00:00.000+01:002015-05-19T11:00:33.847+01:00Evidence # 789987543567283764 that the entire fashion / celebrity based entertainment industry takes us for zombies (rightfully).<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Versace hired Lady Gaga for advertising purposes. Everything in it's right place at first sight: a luxury brand hires famous singer to promote its product. Now step back, and think about it for a second...Lady Gaga...Versace targeting Lady Gaga fans...luxury...wait. Something's wrong. </div>
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Indeed, up until the late 90ies, luxury brands were acting like luxury brands: they were out of reach for 95% of the population, and promoted in very targeted ways. For example, have you ever seen an Aston Martin ad lately? I bet you haven't. Last time I saw one with in a luxury real estate magazine targeting buyers of >$5M properties in the lobby of the large corporation I also work for. But the difference between clothing brands the likes of Versace and a car manufacturer, is that if you put an Aston Martin logo on a 4 cylinder diesel car, good luck trying to sell it more than $30k. On the other hand, put a Versace, Dolce and Gabbana or Vuitton badge on pretty much anything, and you have a $1000 product. </div>
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All those brands realized that their name only was an asset from which they could squeeze money out, and therefore created sub-brands with the house name on it, with a price tag that it way to high for what they sell, yet accessible by a middle class customer willing to live on credits. </div>
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For example, you can get a Armani Exchange coat for 600, but this is a not real Armani product in the true historical heritage of what Armani is: a super premium tailor with fine Italian design. A real Armani coat will still cost thousands, all you get here is brand identity. Same stock owners, same firm, but a totally different line of products that are here just to leverage brand equity.</div>
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I don't know about you, but when I go for a luxury brand, I go at it because the product is exceptional. The power of the brand should be a consequence of the later only, not it's main strength. I also tend to despise luxury brands who prostitute their name like this. To me they lost their status the day they started selling to MTV addicted douchebags. </div>
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But back to Versace and LadyGaga. The point is: the way this ad was done is at the image of what I described and who it's aiming at: cheap and fake. First of all, the "celebrity". Fading away fame with a weak set up and a bad photographer. The only person who worked hard is the graphic designer who photoshopped the hell out of everything. He is probably the one who leaked that, unless it's an other of those marketing "without make up" stunts.</div>
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This is what photography as turns into in the field of advertising: selling thin air, by people like Richardson who frankly can't do shit with a camera, with celebrities that were force fed to the mass. I mean, they don't even make the effort of putting on make up and doing lighting correctly! This proves that they go like "let's shot stuff and bobby will photoshop the crap out of it". It's a draft for the graphic designer at best, so that he knows where the edges are.</div>
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This is why I almost never talk about fashion photography on this blog, because it's mostly a joke, as opposed to reporters, art photographers and others. If you want to be a fashion photographer one day in the future, below average skills will do just fine. All you need is networking, friends, networking and more connected friends.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu8_VhaUU-BChZH0G672Wwc4QPP2ZTPPqaHFk5hyphenhyphenA9d45dAB0k6fFUvR0LH7o6Os7gKo7YDLg977D1LJ0yKvD6HPbSmnSW3DAuo_zeYwl6rBchfcIHkI_WteA6MCCwo01HY_4IfXn_wGk/s1600/slide_345818_3624523_free.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu8_VhaUU-BChZH0G672Wwc4QPP2ZTPPqaHFk5hyphenhyphenA9d45dAB0k6fFUvR0LH7o6Os7gKo7YDLg977D1LJ0yKvD6HPbSmnSW3DAuo_zeYwl6rBchfcIHkI_WteA6MCCwo01HY_4IfXn_wGk/s1600/slide_345818_3624523_free.jpg" width="478" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">If you are 15 and want to be that, you have a lot to learn about men's tastes... </span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCwWYVFUNRehFCcT3QXyGeDOtJIcVLSl2TNAv7WnlV1q5G4I-dBkz-IKBc6bDXCA4OdN5vpAH-HrkH0o8aLd5MKaAIOVOFaQqf3G5ryniSGOl1DB3ZihyphenhyphenP8gwVsBRxzXeup-lI75OZMf0/s1600/slide_345818_3624525_free.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="492" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCwWYVFUNRehFCcT3QXyGeDOtJIcVLSl2TNAv7WnlV1q5G4I-dBkz-IKBc6bDXCA4OdN5vpAH-HrkH0o8aLd5MKaAIOVOFaQqf3G5ryniSGOl1DB3ZihyphenhyphenP8gwVsBRxzXeup-lI75OZMf0/s1600/slide_345818_3624525_free.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03245930628400563937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1013468136936359725.post-8300436479742168202014-05-08T20:49:00.003+01:002014-05-08T20:49:53.147+01:00Product review: Mamiya 645E, shooting medium format for a bargain<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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A while ago, I reviewed the Mamiya 645 1000S, a old entry level 645 film camera. It came out aiming at beginners in the field of medium format (MF), and it is quite frankly among the best image quality / price ratio you can get. The problem is that it's very old, and finding one that is not worn out with a working meter is hard.</div>
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I recently killed mine, the film winding mechanism couldn't tell anymore where was the next frame. The meter, although functional, became 1 stop off. It lasted 30+ years, not bad compared to the average life expectancy of a modern camera !</div>
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The lens however, a 80mm f2.8 (equivalent to a 50mm on "full frame" 35mm camera) is still superb, so I decided to got for a post 2000 version of this camera, the 645E.</div>
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<b>What does it do</b></div>
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It is literally a 645 1000s with automatic aperture priority mode and a few improvements. In other words, the 645 1000S was suggesting the speed but you have to manually pick it, on this one shutter speed sets itself in auto mode.<br />
Focus is manual, which on a spot metered camera is not an issue since you'll take time to work your shot. You can do multiple exposure and max shutter speed is 1/1000s. That simple, which is great became you can focus on the image instead of figuring out what is in what menu.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhskxM_3m5UFDM-cw4oV5yF3L__zN5TbzbhoJU-153igThJt6wz6qtP4HGStBFeKmSk0DoSHTPc_L6nx4RG86lcuXbfzrljk0vfzX3iPw8-vgXpSplFi67COlD4TdZxfpmCtp0GBCeOjWs/s1600/645e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhskxM_3m5UFDM-cw4oV5yF3L__zN5TbzbhoJU-153igThJt6wz6qtP4HGStBFeKmSk0DoSHTPc_L6nx4RG86lcuXbfzrljk0vfzX3iPw8-vgXpSplFi67COlD4TdZxfpmCtp0GBCeOjWs/s1600/645e.jpg" /></a></div>
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<b>So why a 645E instead of a 1000S for even cheaper?</b> </div>
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Well you can find one in mint condition, while 1000S are now pretty much all dead. </div>
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<b>Why getting a Mamiya 645 at all?</b></div>
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<li>First of all, look at those images (from the 645 1000s). That's why you want to own a medium format camera. If you don't like that kind of output, you don't want one. If you do, and you wonder why your digital work never feels like that, then you want one. But keep reading, the best is yet to come...</li>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifkXwPeB7_vkIFRq0CiuIv5f-kZS3aZ6Vguhsr26Ik73dYM1l78iOGx1eU71nrzpnjg2mrfr5i_vRAxHCfXXpGeEVFcMmEaphhGwCOrS5w9EmfLwCZhr8QuZoKpuPClVy8d1JLCiy6V1c/s1600/rtu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifkXwPeB7_vkIFRq0CiuIv5f-kZS3aZ6Vguhsr26Ik73dYM1l78iOGx1eU71nrzpnjg2mrfr5i_vRAxHCfXXpGeEVFcMmEaphhGwCOrS5w9EmfLwCZhr8QuZoKpuPClVy8d1JLCiy6V1c/s1600/rtu.jpg" height="640" width="474" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNlXMXMW8R8W2ylUy8yG8fOsxmM2cDXMooevAfQik-nHJcckmItY0B0kdT7KrtkOtlpqI3fbzgt8ca4zKGPndsUXgVgEN_kSquHZ-CIXJzUeykSkM-HhDzrdGLUMnUYTfuDVc6q5Fx8xE/s1600/rti.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNlXMXMW8R8W2ylUy8yG8fOsxmM2cDXMooevAfQik-nHJcckmItY0B0kdT7KrtkOtlpqI3fbzgt8ca4zKGPndsUXgVgEN_kSquHZ-CIXJzUeykSkM-HhDzrdGLUMnUYTfuDVc6q5Fx8xE/s1600/rti.jpg" height="640" width="476" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikNf1waNnXdJsyuRNiQm5MeUEOADu_nPCTwC_s9G8rrc5fSwbUJDHisbtm5m62CQ2ps2WwLNNqqHPLIuiJmlIoBmmZuDzKG3UVT6CjV0x5TEYGJzNznXUNcDkb611UfjJDSBCFvFJ-7i8/s1600/rto.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikNf1waNnXdJsyuRNiQm5MeUEOADu_nPCTwC_s9G8rrc5fSwbUJDHisbtm5m62CQ2ps2WwLNNqqHPLIuiJmlIoBmmZuDzKG3UVT6CjV0x5TEYGJzNznXUNcDkb611UfjJDSBCFvFJ-7i8/s1600/rto.jpg" height="640" width="510" /></a></div>
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<li style="text-align: justify;">As promised, the best part: <b>you can get that for less than a cheap compact camera. Let's be specific here: this camera goes for $300 with the lens.</b> Mint. The cost of buying film and getting it developed is about $0.80 per shot, which means that the price difference between this and a Fuji X100 will get you about 1100 shots. Of course, when shooting film, you also pay a lot more attention to crafting, shoot less pictures and therefore improve your skills a lot faster. "Wait what? But but...I spend $5600 in my Canon 80D MarkXXV and it doesn't look any better ! Actually my B&W and the bokeh are not that nice! Could it be that...they are lying to us? We don't need 22nd century electronics and Active Power Sensor 3000 SPX technology to have beautiful rendering? - ALELOUYA ! Your eyes have been opened my friend. Join us in celebration of actual pictures instead of marketing techno crap !" On a more serious touch, this is a cheap and perfect supplement to an SLR, instead of buying an other accessories, you can get that for a very different experience.</li>
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<li>Why Mamiya and not Pentax or Contax, who also offer excellent 645 cameras? Well frankly, they are slightly better built than the Mamiya, but Pentax lenses now cost an arm because they launched the digital version, which pulled used lens prices up. The Contax is excellent, but harder to find and more expensive. Mamiya wanted to go entry level with this camera, and while the built quality remains correct, image quality is the same while prices are amazingly low second hand. </li>
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You get the picture: if you are to shoot portraits in particular, you will want to play with depth of field, have nice bokeh and crisp images. Nothing gives you that better that a large sensor / film. Unfortunately, digital sensor are at best 33x44 mm, which is...a joke. It should not even be called medium format. </div>
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Real medium format (60x70mm) leads to enormous cameras with often no built in metering. On the other hand 645 (60x45 mm) offer a format much much larger that full frame SLRs, with comparable size and automation. And it that field, the Mamiya is simply...well the cheapest.</div>
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If you want to start film photography, you could go for a Nikon FE / FE2 / FM or Canon equivalent. This would allow you to recycle your SLR lenses. But why? Why when for $150 more you can shoot medium format?<br />
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An other very important point, I mentioned that several times here: film photography with spot metering forces you to make decision in exposure and focus, so you actually work your technique. And most digital shooters really need that.</div>
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Finally the camera looks exotic, and all the SLR owners with big "I have something to compensate" lenses will be jealous of your edge :)<br />
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Here are some exemple from me and other people, with credits in captions:</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">https://www.flickr.com/photos/farhad_yassavoli/</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">https://www.flickr.com/photos/alanabramsphotography/<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03245930628400563937noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1013468136936359725.post-90109543667400908952014-04-04T17:11:00.002+01:002014-04-06T14:20:09.992+01:00Another one bites the dust...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Anja Niedringhaus was killed by a Afghan police officer while doing her job. Everything leads to believe that the officer was in fact Taliban. Keep in mind that true journalists are not the CNN wannabe hero who gets interviewed in body armor while on the terrasse of his hotel, whit flashy things in the far back. The like of Anja Niedringhaus do the real shit, they don't get paid much for that, and beyond their added value as human beings, they usually take much better photographs than most artistic photographers... RIP</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03245930628400563937noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1013468136936359725.post-53422865362483186652014-03-25T18:47:00.001+00:002014-03-25T18:48:05.100+00:00Inspiration & Technique: Jean Smith<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Something occurred to me: some of you have families, and taking pictures of your family is what you care about. Time for me to make this blog more relevant to your needs.</div>
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The business of being a "family moments" photographer is so full of phonies. It is not the kind of photography I am into - matter of taste - but this is a kind that answers a market demand, so a lot of people claim to be photographers for a thousand bucks a day. Most so called "professional" just own an pricey camera and an insurance...hopefully. It's quite sad since it's very important for the customers who spend big bucks to capture meaninful parts of their lives. When doing that job, you <b>must</b> deliver because you have been hired and paid, so you have to be capable, with a good amount of well mastered techniques to leverage. </div>
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Luckily, in the middle of that ocean of dodgy so called photographers, there are some true enthusiastic professionals such as <a href="http://www.jeansmithphotography.com/blog/?page_id=2" target="_blank">Jean Smith</a>. I swear I don't know her at all, I'm not advertising for anyone. I just came across her work and thought: "oh, this is some consistently good work in a field that usually don't attract the best". So I thought I'll use her stuff as an excuse to learn a little :)</div>
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I don't think her single person portraits meet the super high standards of someone like <a href="http://www.micmojo.com/#/portfolio/portfolio/into-the-void/0" target="_blank">Jan Sholz</a> (although he cheats a little by using pretty naked ladies) but she has some really good techniques when in comes to multi subject portraits; which is a pretty difficult thing to do. It leads to really nice family pictures. Let's see if we can extract some of those techniques: I'll take a few shots and explain why and how you should get inspired by them. </div>
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<b>Have you thought of cropping lately?</b></div>
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Cropping brings you closer with the subject as it leads you towards details of the face, hands. But it's not only about distance: your brain will extrapolate the missing part, while emotion you try to convey will take over the picture as no disturbing elements will remain. Cropping simply creates intimacy. You cannot crop anything anytime, but it's fun to practice and easy to do post processing with the huge files nowadays cameras produce. See the other point below about depth of field, very relavant when cropping. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9fImdlXe2QJbJRdO4zPGwZ3TFlhb_DTb6EwvdMyoyBeogHMaCzE2GhcQ1Ihn0LVS8fHUIE4WTqu8_W3MR9SqAhflJWLn1kac6gJ8SY01xjEg5N3JZWlxy7bs3qF_GSfPIYbXoeegZZjI/s3200/jeansmith195.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9fImdlXe2QJbJRdO4zPGwZ3TFlhb_DTb6EwvdMyoyBeogHMaCzE2GhcQ1Ihn0LVS8fHUIE4WTqu8_W3MR9SqAhflJWLn1kac6gJ8SY01xjEg5N3JZWlxy7bs3qF_GSfPIYbXoeegZZjI/s3200/jeansmith195.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrnynE63jyx-60DYvYTJLqK8d0OkTCLnPg_HSnQV3TqV7zkzAtYF2kQuG0SWhUucJ2nVMvjRCVjpf7LpNYbztlHlEtGOey4Gxr6v5M62X29kHvc7zW5dPS8sj4u3O5HqekkCwPYnZV_T0/s3200/jeansmith_carson45.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrnynE63jyx-60DYvYTJLqK8d0OkTCLnPg_HSnQV3TqV7zkzAtYF2kQuG0SWhUucJ2nVMvjRCVjpf7LpNYbztlHlEtGOey4Gxr6v5M62X29kHvc7zW5dPS8sj4u3O5HqekkCwPYnZV_T0/s3200/jeansmith_carson45.jpg" height="296" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9nu_lE6zQeUJQ4IB06BTe9MXxSDVfuH6o17AGwKnJODDnpvuo4u3CRL3psCTbd7dYs6486ugoaM6fB14j_iHKPmo5uS2Xoxcm7dyLY4kNYte5SCMi_6ux4H0HAxNB6W32bisjwFZCBgg/s3200/jeansmith309.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9nu_lE6zQeUJQ4IB06BTe9MXxSDVfuH6o17AGwKnJODDnpvuo4u3CRL3psCTbd7dYs6486ugoaM6fB14j_iHKPmo5uS2Xoxcm7dyLY4kNYte5SCMi_6ux4H0HAxNB6W32bisjwFZCBgg/s3200/jeansmith309.jpg" height="296" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>Have you thought of leverage depth of field lately?</b></div>
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Depth of field is the best way to make sure you lead the eye where you mean to. If everything is sharp, where are you supposed to look? It can make total sense to make everything sharp, but on such portraits, focusing at the right place and having the proper amount of sharp depth is important. See below, if the entire family was sharp, it'd be like "hum...that's weirdly cropped, why can't we see the whole family?" Because it's a portrait of the dog. You can project the family even though they are blurry, you get the idea of a family, without removing focus from the dog. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTZM7-qH_S2R2yBOjODqezi-SixDMsggX-XxYLnjog0i2F-aSJd_N1GtPQnwszHfURlpQL_rTRyXbdJsdBSP5RQDJ7vZC21G3nzHWK3C_-0vifNcoyDS7eIgB-anhNauN9TdCmtxfJxBk/s3200/jeansmith_henry75.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTZM7-qH_S2R2yBOjODqezi-SixDMsggX-XxYLnjog0i2F-aSJd_N1GtPQnwszHfURlpQL_rTRyXbdJsdBSP5RQDJ7vZC21G3nzHWK3C_-0vifNcoyDS7eIgB-anhNauN9TdCmtxfJxBk/s3200/jeansmith_henry75.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></div>
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On this second picture (this one is by me but I needed it for the sake of the example), I cropped and used a narrow depth of field to get just what I wanted: an intimate boy's portrait, within the context of his family.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR0vePMawAMdSoDfhg-YgLaQTaJXUIidSCe3K6q4mIUrBwmMqnVkJi1tlv4FEBGfcU4j7lE9-vBJkKqCrfvhyphenhyphengpkb9cQIwcpggdoqYL26FEfV9ZihlXPsTRlQlgiOkGQrQjvIk5zgHg1c/s3200/20131228-DSC_0422.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR0vePMawAMdSoDfhg-YgLaQTaJXUIidSCe3K6q4mIUrBwmMqnVkJi1tlv4FEBGfcU4j7lE9-vBJkKqCrfvhyphenhyphengpkb9cQIwcpggdoqYL26FEfV9ZihlXPsTRlQlgiOkGQrQjvIk5zgHg1c/s3200/20131228-DSC_0422.jpg" height="400" width="276" /></a></td></tr>
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<b>Have you thought of paying attention to your focus point lately?</b><br />
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We have the cropping and the depth sorted, but where to focus on? Well sometimes it's about that one detail in context. Portrait of a baby and his/her parents? You could of course shoot them right in the middle of the frame, all sharp and smiling like they do it naturally, posing like a cosmetics commercial. Or you can do what's here: a tiny foot, extracted from a blurred family hug. Now that does look a bit more like something parents would do. Also it looks so much more intimate. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp9myJxwmnEEiXZOS17hlSzy5OGB0zbz3GqqNVjdD1GzZrb4ziCCDBVN3tOEOt3lxZx8SlUel-zTA6-akEGzuI6YaBGcrK_-AKSpG948lUIW3YQrp8x64zg1JPY35NubJ3QkSaBVoafJc/s3200/jeansmith_henry69.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp9myJxwmnEEiXZOS17hlSzy5OGB0zbz3GqqNVjdD1GzZrb4ziCCDBVN3tOEOt3lxZx8SlUel-zTA6-akEGzuI6YaBGcrK_-AKSpG948lUIW3YQrp8x64zg1JPY35NubJ3QkSaBVoafJc/s3200/jeansmith_henry69.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>Have you thought of over / underexposing lately?</b><br />
In a picture, you very rarely have every element lit at the same level. So you have to make a call: what will look normal, what will be dark and what will be bright? I'm sure you've had those shots where the sky is blue and you subject is dark, or your subject is fine and the sky is white. Well, don't let the camera decide: go manual, and pick your mood.<br />
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On this first picture (my favorite from the batch), the essence of this new born is caught by his profile alone. The dad's posture tell everything that needs telling, and the round blue bright zone on the wall contrast with the baby's head. What does dark bring us here: it removed unnecessary details, it creates intensity, it is the first face to face, father and son, and it's deep shit.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy1oI8QRpbHspP_7zXTZP-f0A1fe9Vm41xGMkpE2NMGTmpPTu1alv5KKI4XCtHD2d4jyaenEBTJkjbvcjBd2Pf00BPwUHFoBq4TfZPIvtIq0CmDFXR7HIgFKweIZbGKI6wpFHZwXJ1k7o/s3200/jeansmith_carson55.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy1oI8QRpbHspP_7zXTZP-f0A1fe9Vm41xGMkpE2NMGTmpPTu1alv5KKI4XCtHD2d4jyaenEBTJkjbvcjBd2Pf00BPwUHFoBq4TfZPIvtIq0CmDFXR7HIgFKweIZbGKI6wpFHZwXJ1k7o/s3200/jeansmith_carson55.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></div>
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And the opposite use of light here: let's flood the room with light to create a moment of heavenly happiness. Fundamentally that shot is properly exposed, but I bet you a camera in auto mode would think "wow! much light, very bright, must expose less". And you'd loose that dreamy mood. Tell the camera what you want, add 1 stop or 2 if you need. You can do a lot of different things with the same scene, just by changing exposure.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYO3hUqRFWb2nnkYq8Zm5W_PVP5s4gjqcQyc_xHvM0pNdn-y23rC4GPooNJ7wBIw4AzK1n1lVlGT4zxg8V5wSuEbkTUM4Nm8sDrTrzDOtw51NXCZv00N0cWaNxb4yLqbOExPSvYR9xgHk/s3200/Screen+Shot+2014-03-25+at+6.21.38+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYO3hUqRFWb2nnkYq8Zm5W_PVP5s4gjqcQyc_xHvM0pNdn-y23rC4GPooNJ7wBIw4AzK1n1lVlGT4zxg8V5wSuEbkTUM4Nm8sDrTrzDOtw51NXCZv00N0cWaNxb4yLqbOExPSvYR9xgHk/s3200/Screen+Shot+2014-03-25+at+6.21.38+PM.png" height="230" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>Have you thought of using context to tell a story lately?</b><br />
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What tells the story of a young couple starting a life together than being in your first kitchen? Nothing (...that I can think of right now). So use the room, rooms have lines, you can <a href="http://acameradiary.blogspot.fr/2014/03/lessons-form-henry-cartier-bresson.html" target="_blank">use lines to compose</a>. Once you have a nicely composed image, place your subjects into context and tadaaaa! You have a story. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDC9QEj7oiwU3jhI4TSUDf9Qqt00_5BgkcplC4-E309dEytfk0KhJTfyZ8_XkW6sH_PAgHaihNSg0YGkiFzOJE1F9VRMcQ5qd8KF7GU7tKS5xGFIp_QI8xBz6DGyGtbcLQ3Z2v3xU0USk/s3200/jeansmith084.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDC9QEj7oiwU3jhI4TSUDf9Qqt00_5BgkcplC4-E309dEytfk0KhJTfyZ8_XkW6sH_PAgHaihNSg0YGkiFzOJE1F9VRMcQ5qd8KF7GU7tKS5xGFIp_QI8xBz6DGyGtbcLQ3Z2v3xU0USk/s3200/jeansmith084.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></div>
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I hope those tips and tricks will help you take better pictures of your loved ones. I'm not usually that corny so push it. Soon more pretty ladies and war photography to even things up.<br />
RooaaaR! Outdated manliness !<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03245930628400563937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1013468136936359725.post-59737933344918073582014-03-25T11:06:00.002+00:002014-03-25T11:06:55.419+00:00Inspiration: deep dive into photographs by Alex Ayer<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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One of my colleagues, now aware of my <strike>obsession</strike> interest in photography, shared with me the site of a friend of his: <a href="http://www.alexayerphoto.com/" target="_blank">Alex Ayer</a>. What usually happens is such cases is that...well pictures are often not worth putting together a portfolio site. Sometimes the photographer appears to be quite delusional about his skill and talent. But hey ! This time I could not only make genuine positive comments, I even found a few gems to write about.</div>
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I've have quite a few nice comments on my post about Henry Cartier Bresson, and I realize readers / learners want more deep dives on quality shots.</div>
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First the rickshaw shot: so many good things coming together here. The symetry here is amazing:</div>
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<ul>
<li>the two rickshaws, identical with drivers looking at each other</li>
<li>the central building at the back, in a similar blue</li>
<li>even the blurry bikers are symmetrically distributed !</li>
</ul>
The rules of third here also applies: the horizon line, the rickshaws, all are distributed on third lines. The pavement edge and the tree line reinforce that too. Color wise, it's all coming together great too, no disturbing element at all. Finally, the depth induces by the sharp / blurry / sharp layers makes it all very lively. Great shot.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlAcQs-_8w4k3-zEmiJm9s4sgviGdm8E9FDkCe3nS-_yP6yRMtackHkZYMC1ec_fuRtq-28t8Ot6wsJFQSVSeKAOYrfNTybDIjThhXofHVcmkoqbaL-UhFDA-Gvu3Sktbp1gBznoS6_p8/s3200/Screen+Shot+2014-03-22+at+12.35.37+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlAcQs-_8w4k3-zEmiJm9s4sgviGdm8E9FDkCe3nS-_yP6yRMtackHkZYMC1ec_fuRtq-28t8Ot6wsJFQSVSeKAOYrfNTybDIjThhXofHVcmkoqbaL-UhFDA-Gvu3Sktbp1gBznoS6_p8/s3200/Screen+Shot+2014-03-22+at+12.35.37+PM.png" height="640" width="418" /></a></div>
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This next one is a classic case of using a good base line / composition, mixed with the right moment. The baseline for this shot consists of:</div>
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<ul>
<li>Using the lens wide open for narrow depth of field (= blurred background), extracting the subject from his environment</li>
<li>Horizon is almost on the top third line, not in the middle, for balanced composition</li>
<li>The fence is fading away in the blur following a diagonal line. It gives perspective to the shot.</li>
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Then it comes together perfectly when that old man walks behind: </div>
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<ul>
<li>He occupies the "empty" part of the frame</li>
<li>He looks at the boy, reinforcing the focus on him</li>
<li>Even though he isn't far, he remains blurry because of the wide open lens, not taking focus away from the boy</li>
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A good example that sometimes, you nearly have the perfect shot but well...it also take a bit of luck.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8OtmnEZ7dsodqbjn0g8rs7tYO2K5EXU9mQBdW9exaLCiERW8krYl4p7zfCJzI2GfBh512WGOU3ZsJ5t70fK8BP8gfSPz33XwmoVhiVmfPa7YcAW6nQGZPaF8jeXbvvgoK9Z9BSS5wqjE/s3200/Screen+Shot+2014-03-22+at+12.32.39+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8OtmnEZ7dsodqbjn0g8rs7tYO2K5EXU9mQBdW9exaLCiERW8krYl4p7zfCJzI2GfBh512WGOU3ZsJ5t70fK8BP8gfSPz33XwmoVhiVmfPa7YcAW6nQGZPaF8jeXbvvgoK9Z9BSS5wqjE/s3200/Screen+Shot+2014-03-22+at+12.32.39+PM.png" height="640" width="416" /></a></div>
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I love this one for it's tones: the blue building with the grey sky and roads are terrific. A dark blue sky wouldn't be as nice. Even the cars match the scene. Then, this picture is like a beautiful face: it's almost symmetric, but it's not. The old ladies, the rock and the antenna are not fully aligned, yet they are. The buildings look the same, yet they are not the same. Asymmetrical elements in a symmetric composition. The very large depth of field makes everything sharp, which is important because the subject here is the street as much as the ladies on the foreground. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX_YarC2-mRA469mq7SOf8sZgA-6udYKsc5Nf1QuQ9cSMqKXBwfDmBDl2N1iSH28Q7rPP9yic3Tpiz-zZA6OH_zwXicQ3dneAfYUzISigpejBf16WJQCFSDeN7LUzg1gxcy0fV1XzLlE0/s3200/Screen+Shot+2014-03-22+at+12.34.48+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX_YarC2-mRA469mq7SOf8sZgA-6udYKsc5Nf1QuQ9cSMqKXBwfDmBDl2N1iSH28Q7rPP9yic3Tpiz-zZA6OH_zwXicQ3dneAfYUzISigpejBf16WJQCFSDeN7LUzg1gxcy0fV1XzLlE0/s3200/Screen+Shot+2014-03-22+at+12.34.48+PM.png" height="428" width="640" /></a></div>
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This is more classic composition, based on alignment. The most important here is the sense of direction: the monk, the tiles and the shade are all perfectly aligned. Not seing faces takes your attention away from them as human beings, and make you look at this shot like an architectural image. It's simple, efficient, but you need to be aware to catch an image like this.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-KhtYmjhiNPuRmPdBIPXLEntj_pT8DyxzdKFQiB5SYyngAKvY8-SJzsolYFndkL9hsKqawMHPB5bQORJG3undqbWuLZcLq0V4qOB7Kfo6EW5yAMz4d7AXES8NrJ6F6B0QfA_L0GetzeI/s3200/Screen+Shot+2014-03-22+at+12.38.14+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-KhtYmjhiNPuRmPdBIPXLEntj_pT8DyxzdKFQiB5SYyngAKvY8-SJzsolYFndkL9hsKqawMHPB5bQORJG3undqbWuLZcLq0V4qOB7Kfo6EW5yAMz4d7AXES8NrJ6F6B0QfA_L0GetzeI/s3200/Screen+Shot+2014-03-22+at+12.38.14+PM.png" height="640" width="424" /></a></div>
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This last one is to show that good composition can lead to a nice image even if not much is happening. In that case, this is a pure composition lesson in one shot. The grey steps' edges are aligned with the yellow line heading away to the top left corner. You need to be aware that that alignement along is very powerful on that shot. The wavy yellow wall across the shot plays two roles: it creates a separation between the yellow and grey areas, and provides a completely different diagonal: curvy VS straight, and perpendicular to the other one above described.</div>
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Finally, the decoration on the wall being curvy too, they prevent the image from being just harsh lines. Notice also that the top edge of that wall follow exactly the edge of the frame. The work on proportions here is excellent. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0ezHD8ynlx5jSZPV4cH0k8U7akWCzsmV9AQZQW3o7YxGgH8ihBZ-wBevLvQqbdMwbI7YkScVusjGvxDXZ1DK3FbvZFbvdqsQA6csCCcUkjWAY5jCKV5SKSiuteGc1qrEpqNT6Yakphks/s3200/Screen+Shot+2014-03-22+at+12.38.31+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0ezHD8ynlx5jSZPV4cH0k8U7akWCzsmV9AQZQW3o7YxGgH8ihBZ-wBevLvQqbdMwbI7YkScVusjGvxDXZ1DK3FbvZFbvdqsQA6csCCcUkjWAY5jCKV5SKSiuteGc1qrEpqNT6Yakphks/s3200/Screen+Shot+2014-03-22+at+12.38.31+PM.png" height="640" width="422" /></a></div>
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I hope this gives you fuel for the brain, and leads you to taking better pictures !</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03245930628400563937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1013468136936359725.post-11959305140837692972014-03-22T11:28:00.001+00:002014-03-24T12:49:51.948+00:00Portfolio revamp !<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I just went for a totally new look for my site, using 4ormat as many of you. I can only recommend them it makes it extremely easy to get something really nice looking.<br />
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Also I am now selling prints...<a href="http://www.ronanshotme.com/" target="_blank">so check it out.</a><br />
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFmNSslnZJ4WJEtLGZ7t-Z-TQJQigeSqBYvBGKhWdRvYRVFwrzFgcLPZ5RycEpt8GnVUImuVFavk365BRC7rxHck9VPxae1N-jR1uhOqqSHmHxTnKFjcTGKj2QlMYWgBENzCkhnjGY0cU/s3200/Screen+Shot+2014-03-24+at+1.48.42+PM.png" height="290" width="640" /></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03245930628400563937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1013468136936359725.post-11296895139176424982014-03-06T09:57:00.002+00:002014-03-06T14:04:28.603+00:00Lessons form the Henry Cartier Bresson exhibit in Paris.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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What better idea on a cold and rainy Saturday to revisit a classic like Henri Cartier-Bresson? Plus the night spent trying to dry out the caves of Le Petit Littré (the best bar in Paris) left me with quite the hangover, so a long walk can only do me good.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIle6l6LrAOcq5TiveXoy_CW9HyzVG5MDE4V8Zw_v3hg82FgKG2pwCwzINSFw_PveF4qbNxxqhGA6Q2UDpPDIa9OMQ-Kh3C6sg7O1ZI69bGaJUEYPew9oQ6MLJo6ht2KgqeMGzcuI5gdY/s1600/Henri_Cartier-Bresson+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIle6l6LrAOcq5TiveXoy_CW9HyzVG5MDE4V8Zw_v3hg82FgKG2pwCwzINSFw_PveF4qbNxxqhGA6Q2UDpPDIa9OMQ-Kh3C6sg7O1ZI69bGaJUEYPew9oQ6MLJo6ht2KgqeMGzcuI5gdY/s1600/Henri_Cartier-Bresson+(1).jpg" /></a></div>
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Why is Henri Cartier-Bresson's work essential to study for anyone who truly wants to learn photography? Well, unlike some talentless and rapy photographers (you know who I mean), Cartier-Bresson's work is <b>a great exemple of technique well mastered mixed with creativity</b>. If you analyse his shots beyond the initial feeling, you realize that there is a lot of decision making being them. He started building a shot from an idea, an set of fix variables he was going to use for composition, and was then waiting / hoping that the subject would come together at the right place and time, to in the end produce an image both spontaneous and sophisticated.<br />
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<h3>
Lesson 1: learn and train. </h3>
Photography leads to an illusion, the illusion that the camera makes the picture. Which is about as dumb as saying that the brush makes the painting. As a consequence, most beginners assume that photographic technique is about mastering a camera. But photographic technique is about composition, playing with lines, volumes, surfaces, tones and shades. Indeed, the camera is merely a tool.<br />
The painting comparison is crucial: always keep in mind that you have a paper rectangle, and on that rectangle you will project shapes, tones and even a 3rd dimension via depth of field. But, unlike a painting, you will splash the frame all in one go! So you really have to <u>think</u> about it before you hit the shutter.<br />
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<h3>
Lesson 2 : make sure your equipment doesn't get in the way.</h3>
If your camera prevents you from turning your ideas into the expected result, it means that you either need to read the manual, or that it's too bloody complicated. In order to learn photography, you need a spot metered aperture priority camera. Nothing else. In case you wonder, a cheap Nikon FE2 is for exemple exactly that camera.<br />
Of course most of you will run away from analog because it's pricey to use and constraining, which is a very valid reason why to. So if you buy a digital camera, set it on A (aperture priority) and spot metering. Once you've set the ISO to the level of light you have, you will now only focus on those 4 things:<br />
<ol>
<li>Framing </li>
<li>Focus point, to determine where there sharp part should be (it's really your artistic call)</li>
<li>Aperture to determine how much depth you want to be sharp</li>
<li>Exposure, or what part of the image should get what level of light</li>
</ol>
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And all of this should probably happen within seconds if you know what you're doing. You now see why it takes as much practice as painting. Cameras do well exposed and sharp pictures, that's all. However they don't compose for you, and they make arbitrary decisions when it comes to where to focus, depth and light. </div>
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Also I recommend you start with black and white, you are removing the color variable from the equation, and since it's pretty hard to control what colors will be in a scene, it'll make the learning process way easier.<br />
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<h3>
Lesson 3 : trigger luck</h3>
Even Cartier-Bresson had to hope for luck while shooting. He said it himself, he picked elements of decors that allowed interesting composition (he was obsessed by the golden number rule, which I admit works well), then hoped for people to come together nicely within that pre-composition. If most of his shots seem so spontaneous, yet so well composed, that's because he identified an opportunity for composition, then hoped for the best.<br />
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<h3>
Lesson 4 : you are only as good as your worse picture</h3>
In the above mentioned exhibit, there was 400 photos. Not all where masterpieces, so let's say he shot 250 master pieces, including those that weren't at the exhibit. It means that in 50+ years of photography, he's produced 250 exceptional shots, and he was doing this all full time.<br />
Given the fact that you the dedicated amateur will shoot 10, 50, a hundred times less than Cartier-Bresson? Your portfolio, the display window of our best work, should be maximum 25-50 shots, depending on how diversified you are.<br />
Once you've selected you very best shots -and really you should be splitting hair, struggling to remove one more- you know have your personal standard. You should then aim at producing images that are <b><u>better</u></b> that this selection. If you new best work is not as good, you need to keep practicing and mostly, questioning.<br />
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That is essentially how you do good photography. Techniques has to become instincts, that will flow thru your camera without you having to think about it. Now that is much easier said than done, and that is without taking into account the talent factor.</div>
<div>
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<div>
Also, it does require illustrating a bit, so let's do that with Cartier-Bresson's work. When looking at his work, keep in mind 2 rules he was using.<br />
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<ul>
<li>The rule of third, a classic statement that elements of a picture should be aligned on thirds of a image.</li>
<li>the golden number rule, a strange rule that is supposed to lead to harmonious distribution of elements in an image.</li>
</ul>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTVSdoZyW4Arp65LzLzrOISHs4ulHMKPLoKIvg2Ug1v5eruJOOyytEqR88dX6E5_pga8W46fS12YPybrO-y43EhszTXrpZyFM6iJ5_7xBqyhJngCpfsdBQ-WQCBYBPl9VLLQ0QJrRuEbw/s1600/nombredor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTVSdoZyW4Arp65LzLzrOISHs4ulHMKPLoKIvg2Ug1v5eruJOOyytEqR88dX6E5_pga8W46fS12YPybrO-y43EhszTXrpZyFM6iJ5_7xBqyhJngCpfsdBQ-WQCBYBPl9VLLQ0QJrRuEbw/s1600/nombredor.jpg" height="209" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Golden number rule</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY5Zm3RsdLPCHpd4oYNnnEPlrMTioR91jCN0pk960S4P1NmNG69VzDkMqZaZmlAdJT-tatnPFPmPIlWPXTqRRNapR_C2krj4-rczhAfftBk20hDOg9R782Qtjqkxmr5pIZ5R0k29cmSQU/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-03-06+at+10.40.45+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY5Zm3RsdLPCHpd4oYNnnEPlrMTioR91jCN0pk960S4P1NmNG69VzDkMqZaZmlAdJT-tatnPFPmPIlWPXTqRRNapR_C2krj4-rczhAfftBk20hDOg9R782Qtjqkxmr5pIZ5R0k29cmSQU/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-03-06+at+10.40.45+AM.png" height="217" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rule of thirds</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpFEMfbJ7bXMHZyOfcTxssgE0V_QADIOdTVp2Ra-C9AI4cQw-AAkuc7pl7l0XZbwKzCLIy03uDr7Uz3w19d1Eq3Xai5JSmNAY1qBOKR6ZOQyMMfyLbZUmUtWO_O0dHOeWHxjeNKW0JQuw/s1600/henri-cartier-bresson-salerno-italy-1933.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpFEMfbJ7bXMHZyOfcTxssgE0V_QADIOdTVp2Ra-C9AI4cQw-AAkuc7pl7l0XZbwKzCLIy03uDr7Uz3w19d1Eq3Xai5JSmNAY1qBOKR6ZOQyMMfyLbZUmUtWO_O0dHOeWHxjeNKW0JQuw/s1600/henri-cartier-bresson-salerno-italy-1933.jpg" height="423" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
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This picture illustrates that a photograph is a 3D scene projected on a 2D surface. A wall can become a triangle, a shadow can become a shape. Notice how the shade and the darker part of the left wall make a single shape, although not being at all of the same nature. Here the work on lines is great. Look at how composition on this shot is just a matter of shades and wall edges. Look at how it is displayed according to third and the golden number rule at the same time, creating harmony.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuh5hfuOZTrklNON9LuaaTNGoWAFqTpENnKK1Ued-aZ6kjPsKEQzGUb2nI3AiFD1cj3zbJ1cBQoUPipbPY7SWTKAj_2eNePRXShtZcEKC0ktQOVfvYAkgOAKevsH0_tml3aA88Wn1Mtec/s1600/hcb_natcho-aguirre_1934-web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuh5hfuOZTrklNON9LuaaTNGoWAFqTpENnKK1Ued-aZ6kjPsKEQzGUb2nI3AiFD1cj3zbJ1cBQoUPipbPY7SWTKAj_2eNePRXShtZcEKC0ktQOVfvYAkgOAKevsH0_tml3aA88Wn1Mtec/s1600/hcb_natcho-aguirre_1934-web.jpg" height="420" width="640" /></a></div>
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This masterpiece is an other great example. he uses a part of the shelve, has its front side parallel to the image plan in order to use the boards edges to split the image according to the golden rule. Exposure is perfect, the bright and darker areas show great details, it's not too contrasted and the dynamic range of film does great here. In addition to composition, his subject if perfectly treated: the emotion doesn't require a full face, posture and body language are enough. A mix of academic composition and true moment.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC5Z8JxXRvNRb3nsDyI5TtfQuiMOe43oWu8SPhNVHY0H4Jh4yLlqnaopvRkk9shWRlcZH9U9FftSKdStqHK8WutpngWW2y61C1M0MXqQ98QSMg_Duj0OWqHmOLruR-nyEWdk_fVLeoI_4/s1600/Henri-Cartier-Bresson-Harlem-New-York-1947+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC5Z8JxXRvNRb3nsDyI5TtfQuiMOe43oWu8SPhNVHY0H4Jh4yLlqnaopvRkk9shWRlcZH9U9FftSKdStqHK8WutpngWW2y61C1M0MXqQ98QSMg_Duj0OWqHmOLruR-nyEWdk_fVLeoI_4/s1600/Henri-Cartier-Bresson-Harlem-New-York-1947+(1).jpg" height="430" width="640" /></a></div>
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Boom ! Look at how great that shit looks ! Seriously. Here again, the golden rule is key in the composition, as well as the rule of thirds. Nothing is centered, lines are uses perfectly, from the wall details to the fence. Subject are looking away from each other, following the guiding lines and giving you the impression of intense street life beyond the limits of the picture.<br />
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Titties ! We all like them. Here again, golden rule, not being parallel to the picture plan to add perspective and dynamism, lines playing a key role, even the floor one on the right. It's like there is a cross road from all lines, in the bottom right section, and everything expands for there. The bike is in a very specific place: just between the boobs. You are forced to look there, no matter what, for the boob or the bike. </div>
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Pure genious here. Architectural elements are so perfectly used for composition, exposure is perfect: the inside of the room is exposed proper while the outside comes out super bright (spot metering on the two boy at the front). Small aperture to have sharpness all across the image too. Then the people, those two girls back to back, the man's pause, the dog, the kids' expressions. A true moment of photographic grace when perfect technique meet the perfect moment. </div>
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I hope more and more new photographers would focus on those things, instead of buying stuff. Get inspired, think, be critical, work the basics until they become reflexes then go full creative. Keep shooting tons, and for sure you will pull a few great pictures like that. A good thing about photography, unlike painting, is that we all have a chance to produce a masterpiece.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03245930628400563937noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1013468136936359725.post-86899563862676592822014-02-28T12:18:00.001+00:002014-02-28T12:18:38.873+00:00Inspiration: Volcano shots by Francisco Negroni<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/francisconegroni/" target="_blank">Francisco Negroni</a> went to Chili. There was a volcano called Cordon Caulle and it was burpy, so he took pictures. Here they are.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03245930628400563937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1013468136936359725.post-66479889682763664402014-02-27T16:59:00.004+00:002014-02-27T17:11:06.231+00:00How to select your equipment<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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You're about to spend a considerable amount of money in a camera, and you have the feeling marketers are trying to sell you weird features without ever explaining you what does what? Well you've got to spend 10 mins reading this. I guaranty it will help you a lot! You can also email me if you have a question at ronanindublin@yahoo.fr . I will tell you about:</div>
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<ol>
<li>A few rules you should keep in mind when buying photography equipment. Following those rules will allow you to not only get what you really wanted, but also to save money.</li>
<li>A couple of essential accessories you will realize are very useful, that you should plan in your budget</li>
<li>Places where I bought over the years and got satisfied, and places where I was less satisfied.</li>
</ol>
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Then you can go read <a href="http://acameradiary.blogspot.com/p/ronans-camera-choice-winter-11.html" target="_blank">my gear recommandation page</a>, that I try to keep updated with the lastest stuff.</div>
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Let's start with my rules to buy equipment. It is expensive, get over it photography is not a cheap hobby. This is why you gotta clear your mind of all the noise, and stick to a few principles that will guarantee you buy the right thing.</div>
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<b><span style="color: #444444; font-size: large;">Rule#1 : Figure out what you intend to use the camera for</span></b><br />
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Camera are like cars: you can't get a camera to be the best at everything. If it's rather good an everything, it is never excellent at anything. Pick you fight. The other important thing is that some camera bodies (camera without lens) are very versatile, it's the lens choice that will determine what it's gonna be best at. I would use that typology of photography use:</div>
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<b>A memory collection device, </b>no expectations other than cheap and portable. You'll mostly care about size and durability. Any cheap compact will do the trick, and to be honest, many smartphones. I advise you try to get one of those shock / water proof cameras, they'll be able to handle your parties and days at the beach.<br />
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<b>Photography enthusiast, you want a multipurpose camera but under a budget constraint:</b> it's gotta be good at everything, and this will be your only camera. You care less if it's not so light. You'll need to make sure it's actually versatile. Many compacts don't offer a wide enough angle for landscape, or bright enough lens for portraits. <i><b><span style="color: blue;">You should be looking at:</span></b></i></div>
<div>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Maximum and minimum focal length. For landscape, you want a camera that goes under 24mm.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">The bigger the zoom, the lesser the quality. Don't get theX16 zoom. Prefer a camera with a 24-100mm for example, or 18-70mm something in that range.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Quality lenses have usually a higher aperture, it means they can let more light in, with allows of course shooting in low light, but also make those nice sharp subject / blurry background effects. Prefer a compact with a lens that opens wide, you can tell by the f number: the smaller, the better (it goes down to f2 or f1.8 at best on a good compact).</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Make sure you don't get a compact that has a tiny sensor. If you are on a budget, you'll never be able to buy the very large sensors, but if you hesitate between 2 cameras, google which one has the biggest one. It allows better low light and image quality in general.</li>
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<b style="text-align: justify;">Photography enthusiast, with little budget constraint, likely to show interest in different areas</b><span style="text-align: justify;">.You can afford multiple cameras or, more likely, lenses. You are willing to first get geared up for one purpose, then progressively equip. </span><span style="text-align: justify;">Don't get an 800$ multipurpose lens (18-200mm for example), I guaranty that in a year or two, you'll realize your mistake, sell it to buy 2 prime lenses that are specialized, and you will have lost money in the process. Here is a list of the different areas you might be into:</span></div>
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<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><b>Portraits / people photography.</b>You focus on your friends, GF / BF, kids, family or models.You do weddings for them once in a while. <b><i><span style="color: blue;">You should be looking at:</span></i></b></li>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify;">A fix lens with a focal length between 50mm and 200mm. I personally prefer to have a 105mm or a 135mm to catch spontaneous portrait without being seen, and a 50mm to get close to the action, and shoot a portrait within a scene.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Keep in mind: if you don't buy a full frame camera, you have to multiplie the focal length by 1.5 to know what the real length will be. Smaller sensor are only seeing the middle part of the image thru the lens, with is equivalent to a x1.5 zoom. If you buy a 50mm on a DX (Nikon 3100, 5100, D90, D7000, Canon 550D, 600D, 7D), you actually have a 75mm.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">You want a fast lens. In photography a fast lens is a lens that opens wide, in our case, f2.0 at least. Luckily most fix lenses for portrait are fast, from f2.0 to f1.2 . Keep in mind that the faster the more expensive, and also, some very lenses are not worth it: for example, some of them open up to f1.4, but they are only good from f2.0 and above. In that case, there's no point buying the f1.4 version.</li>
</ul>
</ul>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFSCFRJe9CltabFJmFcIhlvMRx7rr5ZoVFlXTf7S15JMbnfFmQA18NHzfNejCw7utNjOGT6APhDSIlQlQgnpj42LOXK1MFwpXDLuPhP1KoPaZ0vvaiV27m-glSQQMCski-z0iGcVL6NiiQ/s1600/ex6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFSCFRJe9CltabFJmFcIhlvMRx7rr5ZoVFlXTf7S15JMbnfFmQA18NHzfNejCw7utNjOGT6APhDSIlQlQgnpj42LOXK1MFwpXDLuPhP1KoPaZ0vvaiV27m-glSQQMCski-z0iGcVL6NiiQ/s400/ex6.jpg" height="323" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">You want to be able to separate the subjet from the background</td></tr>
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<li style="text-align: justify;"><b>Land and city scape / architecture.</b> It does not move, but it requires very clean images, usually a tripod and very wide shots. Equipment will be rather the opposite of what you need for portraits. <b><i><span style="color: blue;">You should be looking at:</span></i></b></li>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify;">A wide angle, from 28mm down to 10mm. </li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Those lenses will have distortion (as if you'll looking into a spoon), make sure you have a software with the lens profile covered, so you can get rid of distortion easy.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Fast lenses are not important, you'll be shooting at F8, F11 and above in order to get most of the picture sharp. Hence, you're likely to use a tripod.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Prefer a camera that performs correctly in medium range ISO. If you shoot architecture and the sun isn't high up in the sky, you might not have a tripod with you, you will need to shoot at iso 800 or 1600 in order to be able to use low apertures.</li>
</ul>
</ul>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEaNl5J28ZzeD13rLV0hyIp8ijeomlIhp_JABNm3lNG7wqYMzKwVtJAncSVhyF3b7p2BKDlzdns4PF4X_0cLr6xIkwVeOP1DuONW6N5PvB3-ksVnyt3TkBrO1alm7M-eY9ARMf0TMLZVqF/s1600/img3009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEaNl5J28ZzeD13rLV0hyIp8ijeomlIhp_JABNm3lNG7wqYMzKwVtJAncSVhyF3b7p2BKDlzdns4PF4X_0cLr6xIkwVeOP1DuONW6N5PvB3-ksVnyt3TkBrO1alm7M-eY9ARMf0TMLZVqF/s400/img3009.jpg" height="285" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">You want to avoid distortion, and have large depth of field (= you want all things sharp, close and far)</td></tr>
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<li style="text-align: justify;"><b>Action and wildlife.</b> Stuff that moves, rather quick, without noticing you in advance. Rarely happens in ideal light conditions. This is likely to require the most expensive equipment, get over it right now or you'll suffer later. <b><i><span style="color: blue;">You should be looking at:</span></i></b></li>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify;">winning at the lottery</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">a camera that performs brilliantly at very high ISO (in 2012 standards, you can get a clean image at 6400, and 12800 after noise reduction). </li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">telezoom lenses, they are heavy, very expensive, and average product don't perform at all. You can only go for the best.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">a heavy duty tripod</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">did I mention it's pricey? we're talking about a 5000$ budget at best (Nikon D700 + lens + pod) up to 10 000$ (Nikon D4 +lenses + pod). However, thanks to significant progress in sensors, you can give it a serious try with a <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0042X9LC4/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=acadi-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B0042X9LC4">Nikon D7000</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=acadi-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B0042X9LC4" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> (1300$ body only), but you will spend a few more Gs on lenses.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">You'll need a proper heavy duty backpack.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">You'll need a good insurance, that stuff get's stolen, and broken.</li>
</ul>
</ul>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><b>Travel and backpacking.</b> It's a very specific need, it needs to be versatile, capable of shooting in bad situation, yet durable and as light as possibly can be. <b><i><span style="color: blue;">You should be looking at:</span></i></b></li>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify;">weight and size. I did India with a Mamiya 645 and a DSLR, I regretted it every single day.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">tropicalization, in other words water and dust proofing. Most upper end DSLRs offer it, unfortunately, they don't score very high at weight and size.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Versatile lenses (2 maximum) that are not to heavy. You'll prefer a 35mm on a full frame camera if you are to take just one single prime lens. Otherwise, a 24-70mm f2.8 as your one and only lens would be a good choice, but this is likely to be very heavy. You can also go for a wide angle (traveling = landscapes and architecture) like a 20mm, and a portrait lens (135mm to capture people without being to close). Last good combination, a 16-35mm zoom for street scene and lanscape, and a fix 135mm.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">You might want to give up the idea of a DSLR. Lately many premium compact with interchangeable lenses came out, some with good lenses, pocket size and water proofing. Read my camera selection page to see what is my choice of the moment.</li>
</ul>
</ul>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Rule#2 What make the quality of a system is the lens and the sensor (or film if you shoot film)</span></b></div>
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Here are thing that in no way impact the quality of your pictures: FPS, Mega pixels, maximum ISO performance, built in post processing stuff, size of the zoom, etc. All of those have to do with rule#1: you might need them according to what you want to shoot, or not. No matter what you picked from rule number one, you want to make sure you invest your money mainly on the best lens, and the best sensor.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Rule#3 : You will be exposed to a lot of marketing when buying, a lot of it is <u>absolute nonsense</u></span></b></div>
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Photography is essentially the same since the 60ies. Digital has made it more accessible, and allow different things. But what makes a good camera is the same stuff. If you buy right in the first place, you are very unlikely to need an other camera for a long time. Non of those fancy features will be of any use, they just have to reinvent the wheel to justify launching a new range of product all the time.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Rule#4 : If you want to buy a new camera because your picture don't look good enough, 90% chance that it's your fault and not the camera's fault</span></b></div>
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Most manufacturer keep implying in there communication that getting whatever will make you take better pictures. No no and no again. It will only be true in case you did not respect rule#1 and picked equipment that was not adapted to your need. Yes better cameras make it easier, they offer superior productivity, durability, but in normal light condition and if you use the right gear the right way, a 8000$ system will make no difference as opposed to a 1000$ system. I am willing to demonstrate it if you don't believe me.</div>
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<u>Whatever you own, <a href="http://acameradiary.blogspot.com/p/shooting-techniques.html" target="_blank">learn how to use it properly </a>before thinking of buying more.</u></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Rule#5 : A great picture is not about sharpness, noise or any of those things that help manufacturers sell more stuff</span></b></div>
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A great picture is about composition, use of light, an original subject, and original angle that when they come together, make you feel something about a picture. It can be blurry, it can be noisy, you'll have not doubt it's a great picture if it is one.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Rule#6 : If you camera has interchangeable lenses, invest on lenses, not on the camera body</span></b></div>
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Fact: camera bodies keep improving extremely fast. I kept my last digital body for 5 years, but it's been limiting me since the beginning due to its poor performance ever in medium light condition. 3 years later a body came out that was brilliant in low light. 2700$... I'm glad I did not buy it because now, a body comes out with the same low light performance, but 3 times more resolution and full HD video ! I can't spend 3Gs every two 2years.</div>
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Fact: lenses last forever. They also resell really well, sometimes for more than the original price. Each lens might see a dozen camera bodies in its lifetime. This is where money should go first.</div>
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<b><span style="color: #444444; font-size: large;">ESSENTIAL ACCESSORIES</span></b></div>
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<b>A <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000EVSLRO/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=acadi-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B000EVSLRO">Tripod</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=acadi-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B000EVSLRO" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></b><br />
So under exploited by amateurs, there is so much you can do with it, especially in terms of landscape and night photography. If you have a light camera, you don't even need the fancy stuff, anything with 3 legs that will keep it steady, even a tiny one ! This only will allow you to shoot landscape in low light, suffering from blurry sunset? You need a tripod !<br />
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<b>A <a href="http://acameradiary.blogspot.com/2012/02/selection-of-camera-bags.html" target="_blank">bag</a></b></div>
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Normal behavior in camera bags: you buy the cheapest, then you do stuff, travel, you realize your bag is not convenient, too visible, you buy and other one. In the first place, buy one that:<br />
<ul>
<li>is not screaming "I contain a camera"</li>
<li>can handle a little more than what you have, trust me you will buy accessories</li>
<li>can be more than a camera bag.They do small discret backpacks with a camera compartment, those a perfect for traveling. A jumper, a bottle of water, your camera.</li>
</ul>
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<b>A UV filter</b></div>
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Not so much for UV, but to protect the lens. You screw it if front of the lens, it will take the damages in case you crash it, costing you 30$ instead of 500$. I have one on every lens I own.<br />
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<b>A </b><b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00005061C/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=acadi-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00005061C">Graduated Filter</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=acadi-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00005061C" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></b><br />
For lanscape only. Suffering from pictures where the sky is just white and the rest in normal? Or the sky is blue and the rest is all dark? You need a filter that will lower light coming from the sky only, so it all comes out nice.<br />
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<b>A <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002WR7VSS/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=acadi-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B002WR7VSS">Black Rapid Strap</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=acadi-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B002WR7VSS" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></b><br />
For travelers and wedding photographers. Have you ever done a wedding with 2 cameras, including 1 SLR hanging around your neck for 7 hours? I did. It hurt for 2 days. Lucky they do some nice straps on which the camera can slide when you pull it up, and naturally lay under your arm when you don't use it. It might seem like a gadget, but when I tried it, I though "holy crap, how could I live without one before?". </div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-size: large;"><b>WHERE TO BUY</b></span></div>
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Over the years I bought cameras and lenses from most of the well know sites: ebay, adorama, B&H, Amazon, Calumnet, Keh, Pixamania. Here is my honest opinion based on facts and experience (repeated), on each of them:</div>
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<b>Ebay: A</b></div>
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A great idea, but keep in mind that Ebay is just the intermediary. look for sellers that are rated 99.8 at least, that take paypal, then you are safe. The thing with Ebay is that "deals" often aren't deals. For 3 months you might see the camera you are looking for at 500$ used, and one day there are 30 of them ar 300$. One rule: be patient. Other that that, it's a great place to get used film cameras that cost 4000$ for less than 1000$. I got a refurbished Nikon DSLR there once, it was a great deal. Ebay depends on you: be smart, and you'll do great.</div>
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<b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/b?_encoding=UTF8&site-redirect=&node=13900861&tag=acadi-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=9325" target="_blank">Amazon</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=acadi-20&l=ur2&o=1" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />: A+</b></div>
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For new equipement only. You won't find very niche product, but appart from that, Amazon has the best customer service online I have ever seen. They are properly amazing, they have to be loosing money on that ! I mean, something I don't receive a package, email them, they send it again for free, I end up receiving it twice. Once I received a damage camera: UPS stopped by my place to collect it, but they shipped a new one the minute I called to complain. Those guys understand that the client rules. </div>
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<b>Pixmania: C+</b></div>
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The opposite of Amazon. Good prizes, yes, but it comes with a catch. They don't deliver on time, ever. You pay for fast delivery, it's 10 days late, they'll never reimburse the fast shipping fee. That mentality was comfirmed by friends working there. Avoid if you are in a hurry. Similar experiences from too many users.</div>
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<b>Keh : F</b></div>
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Bad experience on used equipement: not what is described, takes MONTHS to get it replaced, sometimes not by what you asked, shipping fees are never reimbursed. Multiple similar feedback is easy to find if you google it.</div>
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<b>B&H: A</b></div>
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The lords of online photography retail. They have everything, they ship fast, they price correctly. I never had to use customer service, but I've been very happy with them. Great for used gear.</div>
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<b>Adorama: C</b></div>
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The clone of B&H. I used to buy a lot from them, until I got disappointed several times in a raw. First they try to sell me an obviously broken viewfinder on a Mamiya RZ, in store. The salesman trying to force it onto my camera, nearly breaking it. They were selling it "as new". Then I ordered a Fujica 645, it arrived broken, obviously not from transportation, it was impossible since the damage was on a part of the camera that was in the center of the box. They shipped it broken, they knew it. I only got the camera paid back, not the shipping. Then I ordered a Mamiya 645 1000S with a metered finder. I received one with a non metered finder. I called to complain, I got a price on a metered finder, and I received.... the same non metered finder in the box of a metered one !!! There is a clear intention of robbing people. I ended up getting what I wanted on Ebay. Shipping costs always at my expense.</div>
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<b>Calumnet: n/a</b></div>
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Only used them once, nothing special at that stage.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03245930628400563937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1013468136936359725.post-48842779642320073012014-02-25T17:55:00.000+00:002014-02-28T10:08:51.097+00:00Photoshoot mythbusting<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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A few years ago, I was mostly shooting attractive and rather undressed models. I now find more satisfaction in shooting journeys and personal moments, but as a straight male with a taste for contemplation, I once in a while enjoy shooting a beautiful girl. Let's be honest, it's also a great way to drive traffic to this blog (honestly, why did you click in the first place?) and I don't happen to have easy access to kittens. But it also makes people around me very curious... so today, I will answer the questions you always ask me face to face:</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<ol>
<li>How do I find models and what happens next?</li>
<li>What do my acquaintances think of female nudity in my pictures?</li>
<li>And finally the one question from my male audience: do you get laid a lot? That is seriously the number one question I get, and I am a market oriented kind of guy.</li>
</ol>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn-ok2TkTsCHQEY7W13UsayM-CjzYQoSyKo6zYgY-QM9AyZqV3XdHLfGQlnnvECprkCBQe6TMBAJHJQXqWHs27zNwMoI4a4WMIJyoqgaPbFdrZoJLcNpJ1Jh9aKtzA8kZAOo2w3bmilUc/s1600/k10b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn-ok2TkTsCHQEY7W13UsayM-CjzYQoSyKo6zYgY-QM9AyZqV3XdHLfGQlnnvECprkCBQe6TMBAJHJQXqWHs27zNwMoI4a4WMIJyoqgaPbFdrZoJLcNpJ1Jh9aKtzA8kZAOo2w3bmilUc/s1600/k10b.jpg" height="516" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ah ah, I totally lured you in here :) You are weak. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
How did I happen to shoot nudity? </h3>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i>At the very beginning,</i> I mostly shot friends or colleagues I got along with, portraits only. I am very grateful for the incredible amount of time they gave me, especially because they had me when I was learning tons and frankly, not at my best. They know we they are. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
One of my friend, a fearless lady, ask me if she could pose naked for me. She did it to tease a boy she liked, and I very much believe for her self esteem, which is a good and very common reason why women ask to pose for me. Because we didn't want anyone we knew to recognize her where she worked (being a free minded woman doesn't imply that you are professionally suicidal), pictures ended up being quite low key, discret, and focused on her shapes rather than her face. Those pictures got a lot of success, among men and women, for different reasons...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPQBIztSmxL-NoFqh24Ms0-xbucrtO3IOwTRhZUHbKV-qrtvCM0TNXTwo5bCWQ6zxcKfunywCtUG_Xt2QonFRXqGKUaIOvFJaDZK5P_dU0vfIfhprW_bqSWg9WPkE1CwslNWO_W9pAXZH5/s1600/20080907-20080907-DSC_0174.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPQBIztSmxL-NoFqh24Ms0-xbucrtO3IOwTRhZUHbKV-qrtvCM0TNXTwo5bCWQ6zxcKfunywCtUG_Xt2QonFRXqGKUaIOvFJaDZK5P_dU0vfIfhprW_bqSWg9WPkE1CwslNWO_W9pAXZH5/s1600/20080907-20080907-DSC_0174.jpg" height="640" width="428" /></a></div>
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The male audience comments could be summarized in those terms: "I'd hit that + nice tits + did you bang her?" I'll address that later, I've got to work on my suspense skills. So from males, almost never a comment on composition, framing choices etc. The worst part for me was this comment I got one day: "I should really buy an SLR and start doing that". This is awful for the following reasons:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>That is insulting to the models, as it implies that any expensive camera gets them naked, as if they can't resist their own vanity & your wealth. </li>
<li>It was insulting to me because that guy was just assuming that my pictures were just the fruit of owning an expensive camera, and that he could do the same. </li>
<li>Finally, it showed that some men still think, unconsciously or not, that if a woman is naked in a room with a man, she automatically will want to shag him. Some have a lot to learn...</li>
</ul>
I did have few nice photography related remarks from men, mostly good photographers who could see what I was trying to achieve.<br />
<br />
The female audience however surprised me. I was first a tad bit ashamed to show them my work, by fear of being misjudged as someone who objectifies women. I later realized that the most positive, photography oriented and fulfilling comments came from women. They were complimenting my work for picturing them in a way they found faltering, and I ended up having countless shooting proposals, which is why I haven't had to paid a model for a long time. I was very happy to see that the female audience wanted to be pictured the way I do it, and soon realized that ladies only were providing useful feedback.<br />
<br />
I now live in a new city where I know fewer people than in Ireland, so I seek models on portfolio sites too. This is how a shooting normally happens:<br />
<ol>
<li>A friend asks me to shoot her, or I ask her. The other option is I go on a site the likes of modelmayhem.com, and contact a model.</li>
<li>We discuss shooting conditions by email: do you want a right release contract, do you want to bring a friend, are you comfortable with nudity etc. </li>
<li>Then I send examples of what I'm looking for in terms of mood, or shooting technique</li>
<li>We agree on time and place, and price if it is a paid job, all by email</li>
<li>I meet the model on shooting location (sometimes in a bar for the more cautious ones), we usually chat about the weather for 5 mins.</li>
<li>She pulls from her bag the clothes she brought for the shooting, we chose what to start with, and we just get to it.</li>
<li>When done, I ask for time to develop the film and scan the negative, and I send only the best pictures. Some paid models don't care, they only want the money, some do it for the pictures, some want both, it's always different. </li>
<li>Few of them I saw again for shooting, less became friends. Most of the time we never met again.</li>
</ol>
<div>
Some ask me how we you get from "hello" to "can you please get naked?". First of all, it is all agreed prior to meeting, so usually the model just...gets naked after 5 mins. It sounds weird I know. I usually look away like a idiot, which is dumb because I'll stare at her thru my camera for 2 hours after that, seeking the best way to capture what I like about her. I do it because...my mummy taught me to be polite I guess.</div>
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<div>
Sometimes, it's just happening strangely. Take those pictures for example (that I love):</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpseOm2Z_7lgLz2dogCFNYVHJWt5nt765uOmCv5ji1xMwW_kjq9hAr_EIs4x_T_S9S3LRGQqlKKXcbKPScK5ak5IUCjUNoBUxxK5TYIGHcTY8e7aAzgigeAgxifCKoD6fPNhCjymP7ZCCJ/s1600/55.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpseOm2Z_7lgLz2dogCFNYVHJWt5nt765uOmCv5ji1xMwW_kjq9hAr_EIs4x_T_S9S3LRGQqlKKXcbKPScK5ak5IUCjUNoBUxxK5TYIGHcTY8e7aAzgigeAgxifCKoD6fPNhCjymP7ZCCJ/s1600/55.jpg" height="513" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkHvlG8BFXnKrrSpQJO-XPVfLaR0Hpz1u-lpDpCeZrybV3-uNhp6zeRjPcpL7Ut_tT81f58q7J9Cdb-jOz3wTkIlt4XbK8lXgD5qK_3tnq-qkD47l8iyn44CpqfypwMzjBmktYYDM8-G1b/s1600/v62.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkHvlG8BFXnKrrSpQJO-XPVfLaR0Hpz1u-lpDpCeZrybV3-uNhp6zeRjPcpL7Ut_tT81f58q7J9Cdb-jOz3wTkIlt4XbK8lXgD5qK_3tnq-qkD47l8iyn44CpqfypwMzjBmktYYDM8-G1b/s1600/v62.jpg" height="448" width="640" /></a></div>
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<div>
I met her in a store where she worked. I immediately thought: "that girl as such a unusual but beautiful look, I'd love to shoot her". Since I was with my girlfriend, I dared to ask as she would not think I'm hitting on her. She said yes and a few days later came to our place. I was shooting her in the bedroom, asking for nothing specific, and she innocently took off her top...I did not ask for this, we never really talked, I never asked for her motivation to pose in the first place. She showed the pictures to her boyfriend, who liked them, and I never heard of her anymore.<br />
<br />
Other times, the model came with her mum who was forcing to pause as a FHM pin up when she clearly hated it. Didn't go well. I also had twice ladies going full nude although we agreed on portraits only, to later tell me that I can keep but not use the pictures, that they are only for them. Pretty lame when you spend 100$ of film and a day of processing... I could never post those of course, keep in mind an email is worth a contract in many countries so respect your commitments. Of course if I knew if was a order for personal shots, I'd have charged them.<br />
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The one lesson here is: ask everything and anything before to clarify. No one want to feel surprised on tricked in a situation where they feel vulnerable.<br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<h3>
How do my friends and acquaintances react to it?</h3>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Most ladies, as I said, liked it. I'm sure some despise it but they never tell me. In some cases they were suspicious about my intentions towards the model but the appreciated the work (yes there is a full day of work after shooting). When they are critical of my shots, it's never about the nudity, it's more often about my narrow vision or lack of evolution. Rightfully I must admit.<br />
<br />
Most guys...well you know already. A lot of male colleagues are very interested, judgmental and envious at the same time. They make classy remarks full of implication such as "still doing nudy pictures?" I love those, condescending moral judgment with a subtly disguised request for boobies.<br />
<br />
My true male friends made the effort to get interested in the photographic aspect of things, they display a healthy mix of appreciation for the opposite gender combined with a little photographic analysis of the image.<br />
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My family... well I don't have much and my mum couldn't care less as long as I treat my lady right.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj1IR8bihmJhAvGgnIcBtlroNoRpo-E1ZtFvPLTpC0p8dBimA6EBRkzLNI6knvfFwI7MFelOcIFbsdN5bKlatpT4qZzT13e12R1j-O3b31hcZV-JFUyVwXZFJZFU8dPhuMCUy96rRKrUW5/s1600/20111030-img3682+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj1IR8bihmJhAvGgnIcBtlroNoRpo-E1ZtFvPLTpC0p8dBimA6EBRkzLNI6knvfFwI7MFelOcIFbsdN5bKlatpT4qZzT13e12R1j-O3b31hcZV-JFUyVwXZFJZFU8dPhuMCUy96rRKrUW5/s1600/20111030-img3682+copy.jpg" height="518" width="640" /></a></div>
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<h3>
Finally, the one question to rule them all: do you get laid a lot?</h3>
To be truthful, this is often formulated as such: "wooow nice cans, did you bang her? Got her number?"<br />
Yes I do have her number, we've met...and really? You think you can just call and be like "hey, I'm that guy you've never heard off, but since you pose naked, I assume you don't need to know more for use to bang right?" Yeah try that, tell me how that goes.<br />
<br />
Well dear readers, here is the answer you have been waiting for: yes, I bang most of them. Sometimes at the same time. We just have random orgies where we never use protection. Also se often black out on crack cocaine so i'm not too sure, but I do believe there was once a poney in the batch. Then I make videos and show it to my Grand' Ma who applauds while summoning Satan in goat blood. Great fun.<br />
<br />
For those of you who don't get sarcasm, the answer is: no, I don't get laid via photography. Here are the reasons why:<br />
<ul>
<li>For most of the time I have had a girlfriend.</li>
<li>Models who pose to make a living don't give a damn about you as a man, they expect decent behavior, payement and goodbye. Nice pics are a bonus.</li>
<li>Models who pose as a way to work on their self esteem, or as a personal treat, don't flirt with you. They flirt with their reflection in the camera. It's a thing between them and...them. </li>
<li>Being naked in the presence of a man does not imply desire. Otherwise it would be a mega orgy at the beach every summer (at least in France). </li>
<li>If I paid, or even more if they volunteer, I have a lot of pressure not to fuck up, so I stay focused.</li>
</ul>
Has anything ever happened with a model? Yes. It would have happened in a bar if not after a shooting. It happened because there was mutual attraction. Modeling had little to do with it, appart from being the reason for meeting in the first place. I won't unveil my personal life, but in 10 years shooting, that happened probably...twice? Much much less than what happened when simply going out. And no, I won't tell you which ones.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
So if you are in for the action, I'm not saying it can't lead to that. If you try real hard...but still, save your money, go to clubs, online dating sites or parties, you'll get laid a lot more and mostly, you'll stop polluting that field of work with you behavior.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHihaQ77AYFy2dc4NQVfHw0sWSBLwLX9FXAUE14I966KFQibf9IWFTkQKmCP_F5JhTYzfTephieQqhFn_P9-_H4WkYPLL_W87qAkEHoxq_EXviuRETTUQYNWOFTTYDFoS7fO4UtaTNDUAc/s1600/20111221-img3795.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHihaQ77AYFy2dc4NQVfHw0sWSBLwLX9FXAUE14I966KFQibf9IWFTkQKmCP_F5JhTYzfTephieQqhFn_P9-_H4WkYPLL_W87qAkEHoxq_EXviuRETTUQYNWOFTTYDFoS7fO4UtaTNDUAc/s1600/20111221-img3795.jpg" height="592" width="640" /></a></div>
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<h3>
Conclusion</h3>
I want to close this topics with two points:<br />
<ol>
<li>There are 59 pictures on my portfolio as it is. 7 of them display nudity. Do you have an eye filter that prevents you from seeing the rest? </li>
<li>I once looked for men to shoot. When I asked guys that are not models, most freaked out, as if it was some cheap gay move on them. On the other hand, gay men where quite comfy with the idea, and often volunteering, without seeing imaginary hook ups everywhere. That's very funny how the average straight male is full of opinions on naked female models, but very very few would have the balls to pose naked. Why you ask me? I guess...the values of the old fashion all powerful male probably exist to hide a form of discomfort. We conveniently put all the pressure of physical attractiveness on women, so we wouldn't have to deal with it ourselves. The old white dominant male relies of social status and money. Once you've had the balls to pause naked for a female photographer, you may have a more interesting opinion to share. </li>
</ol>
<div>
I hope that satisfies your curiosity ! I am not offended at all by such questions, just a but tired of answering them instead of talking actual photography. </div>
</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03245930628400563937noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1013468136936359725.post-71858546090341761692014-02-19T21:28:00.000+00:002014-05-05T17:41:54.523+01:00Product review: Fuji X-M1<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
If there is one lineup of cameras that makes heads turn, it is the Fuji X series. It started with the X100, which I for long considered to be The compact camera to get for the photographers who wants a more portable alternative to SLRs. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Then came smaller sensor & more affordable Fuji X10 and X20, followed by a new <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ATM1MVA/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00ATM1MVA&linkCode=as2&tag=acadi-20">X100S</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=acadi-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00ATM1MVA" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
, and finally an interchangeable lens version of the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ATM1MVA/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00ATM1MVA&linkCode=as2&tag=acadi-20">X100S</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=acadi-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00ATM1MVA" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
: the X-Pro 1. The lineup seemed complete, but Fuji listens carefully to its user base, and it appeared that the later want top of the range lenses and sensor as on the X Pro 1, but in a more portable format. They made it and it is called <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DQIBGS8/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00DQIBGS8&linkCode=as2&tag=acadi-20">X-M1</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=acadi-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00DQIBGS8" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlcVmTEfhE0aje5rbGCrnMZbtygYNWWly_XTI4122ppABZ0zRjzLZWHFSZssMiG8qzZwFpAkNZ5Vf2SHGluYRGjAQWxWuU4LUjGshnyRuQ7mxmuZMMUcTV8gpnzlm52gb1fDDHAA3VTLI/s1600/xm1-colours.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlcVmTEfhE0aje5rbGCrnMZbtygYNWWly_XTI4122ppABZ0zRjzLZWHFSZssMiG8qzZwFpAkNZ5Vf2SHGluYRGjAQWxWuU4LUjGshnyRuQ7mxmuZMMUcTV8gpnzlm52gb1fDDHAA3VTLI/s1600/xm1-colours.jpg" height="425" width="640" /></a></div>
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<h3>
<b>How to review such a camera ? </b></h3>
First of all, it is necessary to establish what it is for. The <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DQIBGS8/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00DQIBGS8&linkCode=as2&tag=acadi-20">X-M1</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=acadi-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00DQIBGS8" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
is a compact body with an APS-C sensor, and pricey good quality lenses. I reckon it shall be used by two profiles of customers:<br />
<ol>
<li>The pro / well equipped amateur who want a portable alternative to heavier systems (SLRs, Medium Formats) when traveling, street shooting, trekking etc. </li>
<li>The mass market user with a significant budget (1200$ at least with accessories) who's willing to go a little bigger than a supper compact, in order to get a versatile premium product. </li>
</ol>
<div>
In other words, the expected key strength for the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DQIBGS8/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00DQIBGS8&linkCode=as2&tag=acadi-20">X-M1</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=acadi-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00DQIBGS8" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
will be its usability in a spontaneous shooting context, while retaining SLR level results. It means good ergonomics, easy set up, and performant full auto / preset modes. </div>
<div>
I reviewed this camera during a business trip to NYC and a week end in the streets of Paris. Doing my things, and shooting as the opportunities unveil. I believe this is how this camera will be used most of the time. This time I have to be honest I wasn't that inspired...</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
For super premium image quality, you will still have to look at film medium format systems (cheaper than an <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DQIBGS8/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00DQIBGS8&linkCode=as2&tag=acadi-20">X-M1</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=acadi-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00DQIBGS8" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
with a prime lens if used) or some full frame SLRs, in particular the Nikon D610 and D800, with very high level lenses.</div>
<div>
For ultimate all purpose performance (still, action, video), you'll have to look at SLRs the likes of the D4 or D610. Those come with a very, very different price tag (x3-6). Image quality won't be that much better, but you'll be able to shoot a bird 100 meters away by night.</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<h3>
<b>Long story short</b></h3>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="text-align: justify;"><b>It does delivers image quality that is equivalent to a SLR</b>, even some full frame SLR. It comes from a excellent sensor, and a range of good prime lens.</span></li>
<li><span style="text-align: justify;"><b>You need from 1200$ to 1800$</b> to get a good system with one or two lenses. </span></li>
<li>The <b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DQIBGS8/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00DQIBGS8&linkCode=as2&tag=acadi-20">X-M1</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=acadi-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00DQIBGS8" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
is a much smaller X-Pro 1</b> without a view finder. Given that what makes a camera is the sensor and the lens, it is in terms of image quality the same machine. Key differences come from usability and we'll discuss them below.</li>
<li>Its main <b>weakness is AF speed</b>, which won't allow you to shoot fast action. For the average user however, you won't even notice. I have caught moderately fast action with it and got a perfectly focused image. It's people proof, maybe not cat proof.</li>
</ul>
Same image quality, but smaller and cheaper? <b>It</b> <b>might just be the one compact camera</b> a highly demanding enthusiast should get in 2014. Let's figure out if that's the case.<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
</ul>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<h3>
<b>Image quality</b></h3>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The two components of image quality are the sensor and the lens. This section needs no more writing than what already exists all over the web. The Fuji sensor is a APS-C size sensor, similar to non full frame SLRs. It is the second best on the market after the Nikon full frame sensor, and the system produces RAW files superior to the output of a Canon 5D. Dynamic range and noise are excellent, <b>there is no match to this sensor in the compact world</b>. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
On the lens side, similar story, Fuji XF lenses are excellent, the ones priced 599$ do a good job, the ones priced 899$ are as good as any premium Nikon or Zeiss. You can easily Google all of this if you're into charts and stuff like that. I'll later recommend lenses for this system once I try them all. The main issue is that they are too expensive compared to what you get with Nikon for the same price on an SLR.<br />
<br />
ISO performance is very good, with perfectly exploitable results at ISO 3200 and above, providing that you use RAW files and good software to de-noise (Nik suite with Lightroom 5 is what I use). With more normal ISO value (200-1600), dynamic range is excellent, and light rendering overall is very, very good. See examples below.<br />
<br />
Sharpness and all those things are lens related. Fuji lenses are great, no issue there. I used the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006UL00U8/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B006UL00U8&linkCode=as2&tag=acadi-20">18mm F2.0</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=acadi-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B006UL00U8" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
, it's alright but won't blow your mind.<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<h3>
<b>Camera ergonomics & hardware</b></h3>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Fuji X cameras are well built and solid. Do I need to mention they are sexy as hell? People do stare at them, the brown leather <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DQIBGS8/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00DQIBGS8&linkCode=as2&tag=acadi-20">X-M1</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=acadi-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00DQIBGS8" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
was quite a hit. But it being very desirable can be also a drawback... you like it or not. Regarding handling, well it can only be as good as handling a rectangular shaped small object. A big SLR with a grip will offer better handling of course, at the cost of being huge. Here the handling is average especially for large hands like mine, and most of the grip actually comes from the lens.<br />
<br />
Size wise, it is much smaller than an SLR system... yet it is not that small. Compared to a Canon S100 for example, it remains big. On the other hand, images are incomparable to the ones from a S100. Once lensed up, it doesn't fit in a standard pocket. I'm using it with a BlackRapid Sport Slim strap, making it really convenient for travel shooting. In the street, it remains more discret than an SLR, but where I value the size gain the most is when trekking: the D600 I own is too big for climbing and Bear Grylls like situations. The <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DQIBGS8/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00DQIBGS8&linkCode=as2&tag=acadi-20">X-M1</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=acadi-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00DQIBGS8" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
is exactly the size of the (excellent) Olympus <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0074WDFOK/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B0074WDFOK&linkCode=as2&tag=acadi-20">OM-D </a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=acadi-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B0074WDFOK" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
without the view finder.<br />
<br />
Oh and also, the screen moves. I'd nice to shoot discretely sometimes :)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj68lf7fWqe10s8nFTYBJdymOTHrRZx2lQgjNQj7J_olTi54PIVgwme8rOzKWRfuU5blmnCwe1r4lzwQkJW26otwKrQ4nYyhmmKhTyagvguwZNFoCYTOBKU0jNq3_8F2czVapKveNzsb40/s1600/XM1+screen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj68lf7fWqe10s8nFTYBJdymOTHrRZx2lQgjNQj7J_olTi54PIVgwme8rOzKWRfuU5blmnCwe1r4lzwQkJW26otwKrQ4nYyhmmKhTyagvguwZNFoCYTOBKU0jNq3_8F2czVapKveNzsb40/s1600/XM1+screen.jpg" height="248" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Button layout makes sense, the camera doesn't necessary require a manual if you know your way around a camera. I'd have liked the wheel that's at the back to be on the front top right corner, to be used with the right index, but I'm being picky. A second shortcut for EV compensation would have been nice, but then again, small means compromises.<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<h3>
<b>Software and shooting modes</b></h3>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Many pros and a few cons, let's start with the pros:</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<ul>
<li>The Auto SR mode that figures out what's best according to the scene: it works brilliant. It really renders on screen just like what you see with your own eyes. Some smart programing behind that: it figures out if it's a portrait, a action shot, a landscape, and picks what's best in order to render as close to reality as possible. Ideal if you lend the camera to your partner who doesn't necessarily knows how to use it. That answers one of the question above mentioned: yes it is a brilliant full auto camera.</li>
<li>Menus are well done, logically organized, and the on screen explanation prevent you from needing the manual. The shortcut button is quite convenient, it leads to a quite complete menu, with simplified browsing. It sound like duplicate at first, but in comes in very handy.</li>
</ul>
<div>
On the darker side however:</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>Some features become unavailable depending on the mode you shoot in. If they are on auto, you logically loose hand on some of them. Which is normal, you are on auto. But it's hard to understand why some features become on or off depending on the shooting mode? For example, dynamic range enhancement can go be on Auto, 100%, 200% 400%. Well in some mode you get zero, one or 2 choices, and I don't quite get why.</li>
<li>I found little difference between matrix and spot metering, on a back lit subject. That bothers me as exposure effects are crucial to me. Yet, I can probably blame it on the focal length, requiring me to get quite close to my subject to get proper spot metering with back light. My D600 performs much better at this, and can really give you that high key touch on aperture priority mode with spot metering. This being said, automatic metering on the camera is fantastic, but getting a back lit portrait to come out as desired is harder than on a SLR. </li>
<li>Manual focus is a bit of a joke: you need full ring spins to move the focus distance a few meters. Good luck filming on MF mode with that.</li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The RAW conversion software from Fuji is "meh". Don't even go there, use something else. The RAW files however are very good.<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<h3>
<b>Sample shots</b></h3>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
All are with the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006UL00U8/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B006UL00U8&linkCode=as2&tag=acadi-20">18mm F2.0</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=acadi-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B006UL00U8" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
, probably the poorest lens in the prime focal length lineup, it's actually a good lens, it's just the least good of all. As I said above, no inspiration at all lately so this is just for the samples.<br />
<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY1yevpguuJYl_zWKL8wBKhxH0-x7Yva8iDPsHrmE6x3tldLztoardvsBQRCdHz8ETuhCREIGK_OZ5uaUvBTI0XluXMx24sK7VR5l0TlW9GNignCaGVh5PIIP1Dx1iOc-6SsVDfxO1zik/s1600/DSCF1273-Edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY1yevpguuJYl_zWKL8wBKhxH0-x7Yva8iDPsHrmE6x3tldLztoardvsBQRCdHz8ETuhCREIGK_OZ5uaUvBTI0XluXMx24sK7VR5l0TlW9GNignCaGVh5PIIP1Dx1iOc-6SsVDfxO1zik/s1600/DSCF1273-Edit.jpg" height="640" width="444" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Raw converted in lightroom, shadows lightened and +10 clarity. ISO 200</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij9QjzVRzBM3ngkNdP2iwS_vseOMirY78wb-f3z6sv5CeniZ6eprh4RNqzPNAEsjgIXHqGjvoc10yh5fpBdTDbW0WzpkGucEQqRLK7paggj3gBDVQKxIr6wSNohfX6_1UwXwSUibD6NDc/s1600/DSCF0056.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij9QjzVRzBM3ngkNdP2iwS_vseOMirY78wb-f3z6sv5CeniZ6eprh4RNqzPNAEsjgIXHqGjvoc10yh5fpBdTDbW0WzpkGucEQqRLK7paggj3gBDVQKxIr6wSNohfX6_1UwXwSUibD6NDc/s1600/DSCF0056.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shot as jpeg, ISO 3200 F2.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUkA4UNG8QQ5RQVGa8oWrUiIaAVYVrQ4hyphenhyphensQXzVItFYLvCk8aoJhOAR9V_Gn_VnElW3o5et6k1G_JuCjqFWKnJL4SOwrwVzekuCbmNg-D5GLKh10_e5SiRi3EgIpXfM1IlIgikr8UyjGQ/s1600/DSCF0127.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUkA4UNG8QQ5RQVGa8oWrUiIaAVYVrQ4hyphenhyphensQXzVItFYLvCk8aoJhOAR9V_Gn_VnElW3o5et6k1G_JuCjqFWKnJL4SOwrwVzekuCbmNg-D5GLKh10_e5SiRi3EgIpXfM1IlIgikr8UyjGQ/s1600/DSCF0127.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shot as RAW, ISO 200 F8. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggt-SbBhZJ8mGyBvxbFtNuoVwb6t8Qkau8JtxIuhJjKHjdecUxnMOCczmvwR4BG6FRFmQ0OC2dstBRkga_-bxmM2wGYuilgdbDrupNeQLaoPQ0wnuAG8VmtRow_N7gw8uYFgZkcZBn8Hc/s1600/DSCF0204.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggt-SbBhZJ8mGyBvxbFtNuoVwb6t8Qkau8JtxIuhJjKHjdecUxnMOCczmvwR4BG6FRFmQ0OC2dstBRkga_-bxmM2wGYuilgdbDrupNeQLaoPQ0wnuAG8VmtRow_N7gw8uYFgZkcZBn8Hc/s1600/DSCF0204.jpg" height="548" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shot as RAW, ISO 400 F8, cropped left and right.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXwpZ9Oc_w3ivVc9QWgUzmvyTBxx4UEKqHEVu_av5KdbCDoPvRTCaqycov9MKkVWMfAnnd41AgB7SMt_MUTyQ3KBLcfGKQLeOqGFODI0ABHe9qCcESTLyEgDukEjj6QkYv7YGd8NaUoB4/s1600/DSCF1088.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXwpZ9Oc_w3ivVc9QWgUzmvyTBxx4UEKqHEVu_av5KdbCDoPvRTCaqycov9MKkVWMfAnnd41AgB7SMt_MUTyQ3KBLcfGKQLeOqGFODI0ABHe9qCcESTLyEgDukEjj6QkYv7YGd8NaUoB4/s1600/DSCF1088.jpg" height="640" width="538" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Raw converted in lightroom, shadows lightened and +10 clarity. ISO 200 and tripod</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9RT6HxK7vkDsrx_pTwcYM8LYcQglyasoI4YIwTTH1myo5O9Zefq6o_-2cKwMQFSTxbZntyShb9P8sdGX2-8S8oKA4Vt-mv2kHVMWUxVp31nn2-p-6PX419nAu2xSS4e9XbrA5K5M6I7w/s1600/DSCF1250.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9RT6HxK7vkDsrx_pTwcYM8LYcQglyasoI4YIwTTH1myo5O9Zefq6o_-2cKwMQFSTxbZntyShb9P8sdGX2-8S8oKA4Vt-mv2kHVMWUxVp31nn2-p-6PX419nAu2xSS4e9XbrA5K5M6I7w/s1600/DSCF1250.jpg" height="514" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Raw converted in lightroom, shadows lightened and +10 clarity. ISO 200</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8nUEkd8-3dqhyphenhyphenuyA-jmGgoo7jMuRPb_korVLShp2MPIgOEESPTvwSceZazjeGOY_qZ-tE3Je0-8PJS0QE3W3GtGSueJ80YbttMCfpY4BbPG7t9dPqRLqeTxhJpx5bHw5k3jzkWn5X0rc/s1600/DSCF0228.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8nUEkd8-3dqhyphenhyphenuyA-jmGgoo7jMuRPb_korVLShp2MPIgOEESPTvwSceZazjeGOY_qZ-tE3Je0-8PJS0QE3W3GtGSueJ80YbttMCfpY4BbPG7t9dPqRLqeTxhJpx5bHw5k3jzkWn5X0rc/s1600/DSCF0228.jpg" height="640" width="420" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shot as JPEG, ISO 3200 F2, cropped 35% off.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP7TBxDV33yPAzjyVjgsWPHlGqfsL8T7qOg2Z-OOk5yp0clEbDh1eUQ80vi4qtZhYVVp9twxrkaIbGegdnFjbYQbdQfMPwgcgmOPwIKZNcSPPMvYTxhk5C0PD0w5vLrHKYuGO6x12QFjw/s1600/DSCF0957.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP7TBxDV33yPAzjyVjgsWPHlGqfsL8T7qOg2Z-OOk5yp0clEbDh1eUQ80vi4qtZhYVVp9twxrkaIbGegdnFjbYQbdQfMPwgcgmOPwIKZNcSPPMvYTxhk5C0PD0w5vLrHKYuGO6x12QFjw/s1600/DSCF0957.jpg" height="482" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Raw converted in lightroom, shadows lightened and +10 clarity. ISO 200</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAWZoMdvYVZhpyBij8Gq31yKsgm879o_V6ant0Leya7R_kAhQYg0WHsi8-o6NPwL2hvZ2kdOtlkyBtObrq0UKNftEkDBCBymbUsHPr75CpnImVjJHIgLkmwQmSVGspWMBtpMp8-70vBhY/s1600/DSCF1083.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAWZoMdvYVZhpyBij8Gq31yKsgm879o_V6ant0Leya7R_kAhQYg0WHsi8-o6NPwL2hvZ2kdOtlkyBtObrq0UKNftEkDBCBymbUsHPr75CpnImVjJHIgLkmwQmSVGspWMBtpMp8-70vBhY/s1600/DSCF1083.jpg" height="492" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Raw converted in lightroom, shadows lightened and +10 clarity. ISO 200</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOYlfZDWEEk_Bgzzm6e3M4Z47hQZKHDnfToahZuFO_Zqy2T7dLLk5v2rDKPGZDY2OyqliQd7cwWiDu0J3U1hUskJGbrAq6csqvfaO1VMiGVrzA_iEK5qhCKiLPuApZKCobkNCAYgZHBFg/s1600/DSCF0241.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOYlfZDWEEk_Bgzzm6e3M4Z47hQZKHDnfToahZuFO_Zqy2T7dLLk5v2rDKPGZDY2OyqliQd7cwWiDu0J3U1hUskJGbrAq6csqvfaO1VMiGVrzA_iEK5qhCKiLPuApZKCobkNCAYgZHBFg/s1600/DSCF0241.jpg" height="488" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shot as JPEG, ISO 200 F6.4 cropped about 20%<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnCbvv3iGQjPpLKQ8joapxgT3Eg1jMpjEVr6f2GLCEyTvkVC7tBQQIuj-BXjPdnW-dHnoyyu9yWLvNg0FHdyKHhyphenhyphenFy0ArUR53tH96h1hb3dvZ3VAcq5LUTaFylLh8PifBlgwJRc5hDnws/s1600/DSCF1310.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnCbvv3iGQjPpLKQ8joapxgT3Eg1jMpjEVr6f2GLCEyTvkVC7tBQQIuj-BXjPdnW-dHnoyyu9yWLvNg0FHdyKHhyphenhyphenFy0ArUR53tH96h1hb3dvZ3VAcq5LUTaFylLh8PifBlgwJRc5hDnws/s1600/DSCF1310.jpg" height="446" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-WuBiXT6pkxCwi5fHyVAm8vZwoIci_XKX0l7o08XAfFug66NVSF-c35Gj2DdeZYs3LjMHSH0iTMce49pVFia71_-RuHCLbf3nJWtFMky2RvqXWQ9Cxx_7UrXqVrgn828_VW0RWzeEdGc/s1600/DSCF1554.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-WuBiXT6pkxCwi5fHyVAm8vZwoIci_XKX0l7o08XAfFug66NVSF-c35Gj2DdeZYs3LjMHSH0iTMce49pVFia71_-RuHCLbf3nJWtFMky2RvqXWQ9Cxx_7UrXqVrgn828_VW0RWzeEdGc/s1600/DSCF1554.jpg" height="392" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ehfjkJAKrT0WgEofJV6YINcX2t_8nRKcFTzsSkBcFBCjDxhUrb100B_Aq9H6nDi994exfJygr2t1ES61oq6Kpe5eqnkFQV2EeDGw_h-uIJiXhWpgRBVs6wZv2ObAoCCkmpFcTKoEpMo/s1600/DSCF0418.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ehfjkJAKrT0WgEofJV6YINcX2t_8nRKcFTzsSkBcFBCjDxhUrb100B_Aq9H6nDi994exfJygr2t1ES61oq6Kpe5eqnkFQV2EeDGw_h-uIJiXhWpgRBVs6wZv2ObAoCCkmpFcTKoEpMo/s1600/DSCF0418.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shot as RAW, ISO 3200, F4<br />
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Same 100% crop, no noise removal at all.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh27i9wNXCTXXsLIZkTmHOMBH2gDTH6fGHbaftESYCyPLYAs1QBnhpis_aip6bpGwAPU-QBqTbqrxNFncUWtguXVhAQLD7wnZyQt2PMdo6ekktxeUamyH2IPY5W6OuiNwcGVy5h3NAJUNw/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-02-16+at+8.50.23+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh27i9wNXCTXXsLIZkTmHOMBH2gDTH6fGHbaftESYCyPLYAs1QBnhpis_aip6bpGwAPU-QBqTbqrxNFncUWtguXVhAQLD7wnZyQt2PMdo6ekktxeUamyH2IPY5W6OuiNwcGVy5h3NAJUNw/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-02-16+at+8.50.23+PM.png" height="632" width="640" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfzbVX78BcMo_fXepuW1tsScWHtLFFcUAOH6BOi5E84mQ-U_Iq-mKkYnbuOwEb8u382hMFP_z-ql-ieXcVFWWOB82ZGdPhwy-0XGrWsAOlLa_LmxhC2p8LgXx4RLjKtZ-bgF9CBdc61w4/s1600/DSCF0423.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfzbVX78BcMo_fXepuW1tsScWHtLFFcUAOH6BOi5E84mQ-U_Iq-mKkYnbuOwEb8u382hMFP_z-ql-ieXcVFWWOB82ZGdPhwy-0XGrWsAOlLa_LmxhC2p8LgXx4RLjKtZ-bgF9CBdc61w4/s1600/DSCF0423.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shot as RAW, ISO 400 F2</td></tr>
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It appears clearly that there is not a single difference in image quality between this and any DSLR.<br />
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This one is for the pixel peepers, @5.6 and ISO 6400. Before and after light noise removal (auto in NIK Software), 100% Crop of top left image corner with the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006UL00U8/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B006UL00U8&linkCode=as2&tag=acadi-20">18mm F2.0</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=acadi-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B006UL00U8" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
. In other words, the worse it's ever going to get. This is of course totally irrelevant to photography, but it show how good of a sensor it is.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT8HY1ELLpmapvqh-9KXljcIVp334aH7q9AnY-Run8Hwkl9lTnm-E46tcrXZ13ZL71pMC49vr1TtL8lYKid61VnqAfOxMKgAfsTwYJDrs2mZIGlgbMmXNDuMPUy1luu2IgswBYf1Eqspo/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-02-12+at+4.31.28+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT8HY1ELLpmapvqh-9KXljcIVp334aH7q9AnY-Run8Hwkl9lTnm-E46tcrXZ13ZL71pMC49vr1TtL8lYKid61VnqAfOxMKgAfsTwYJDrs2mZIGlgbMmXNDuMPUy1luu2IgswBYf1Eqspo/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-02-12+at+4.31.28+PM.png" height="473" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG4b9R7umpRQGANYWIs3m5gBxjgAlEs1G6wm6c3JMZoi19kToe58mBmjPHN6i-f95ZpDxPZm0ccVFVSST_cq3dUSbMgrT85Q6r5kqBm884fuWgpJz7qPaVATrkaopuvUuVXBEPNqfUp5s/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-02-12+at+4.31.58+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG4b9R7umpRQGANYWIs3m5gBxjgAlEs1G6wm6c3JMZoi19kToe58mBmjPHN6i-f95ZpDxPZm0ccVFVSST_cq3dUSbMgrT85Q6r5kqBm884fuWgpJz7qPaVATrkaopuvUuVXBEPNqfUp5s/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-02-12+at+4.31.58+PM.png" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-fObBPAsrxIVbRlzojDtHNyTaXlYMkIY9xRqebWw7GDa-AnHNrX0QneGzlB9aUMBDBoAkJ-HVwN40Q7h2QPQjN3RLjt-r-6NxH8tuTdLoTxmJ6Pvvvjv7c5q5NJiabJX3Niv5wbHBpbw/s1600/DSCF1300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-fObBPAsrxIVbRlzojDtHNyTaXlYMkIY9xRqebWw7GDa-AnHNrX0QneGzlB9aUMBDBoAkJ-HVwN40Q7h2QPQjN3RLjt-r-6NxH8tuTdLoTxmJ6Pvvvjv7c5q5NJiabJX3Niv5wbHBpbw/s1600/DSCF1300.jpg" height="640" width="490" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Raw converted in lightroom, shadows lightened and +10 clarity. ISO 200</td></tr>
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<b>What alternative ?</b></div>
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<b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ATM1MVA/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00ATM1MVA&linkCode=as2&tag=acadi-20">X100S</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=acadi-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00ATM1MVA" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
</b>: the same but cheaper and with an optical viewfinder. Why not getting that then? Because it's also bigger and comes with its built in lens (35mm equivalent) only. Look at what your need is. If you shoot only documentary style and can't deal with screen framing, you might as well get that.</div>
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<b>Olympus <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0074WDFOK/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B0074WDFOK&linkCode=as2&tag=acadi-20">OM-D </a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=acadi-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B0074WDFOK" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
</b> : same size (a tiny bump with the electronic viewfinder), similar price, but significant differences. First of all, it's a smaller 4:3 sensor. It is very good, but a bit under the Fuji X-trans sensor performance. On the other hand, it is weather-sealed (which is awesome for trekking) and has a viewfinder. It is an electronic one (you still look at a screen) but it does add something to the shooting experience. Finally, the AF is faster, so if you know action and bad weather is part of your plans, you might want to go for this instead.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03245930628400563937noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1013468136936359725.post-76552631435371257542013-12-08T22:12:00.000+00:002014-02-27T16:32:12.895+00:00Field comparison: medium format VS a modern full frame DSLR and premium prime lens.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Sometime ago a wild flicker user challenged me that any full frame SLR can do what a medium format (MF) film camera can do. He made that claim on a very specific kind of portraits, similar to the ones I'll use here. Challenge accepted! I decided to shoot where I previously shot a Mamiya RZ67 in the same conditions, and do a similar picture, same light etc. Here are the competitors:</div>
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<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000B75W7I/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B000B75W7I&linkCode=as2&tag=acadi-20">Mamiya RZ67</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=acadi-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B000B75W7I" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
Pro II, 110mm F2.8 lens. A studio classic. Film is TriX.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0099XGZXA/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B0099XGZXA&linkCode=as2&tag=acadi-20">Nikon D600</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=acadi-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B0099XGZXA" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
full frame camera, with a manual <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00009R95Y/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00009R95Y&linkCode=as2&tag=acadi-20">Nikon 50mm f/1.2</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=acadi-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00009R95Y" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
"full metal" lens, also called the bokeh monster.</li>
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In both cases, I'll shoot the same portrait, window light later afternoon, on a heavy duty Manfrotto tripod, at maximum aperture for each lens, with a speed of 1/25s. For the record, 110mm on medium format is about 50mm in 35mm format. The depth of field on medium format at f2.8 is about the same as 35mm format at f1.2. Only difference is the model and the day, but it's as close as it can get. Here are my conclusions:</div>
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<b>Focus: Medium Format wins</b></h3>
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Manual focusing with MF cameras allows a lot more precision: the viewfinder is huge, and you can zoom on it in most camera with a magnifier. The focusing wheel can has a little gear box to allow super precise adjustments. On the D600 in particular focus points are way too squeezed in the center, preventing me from good off center focus. So for parity purposes, I focused on the middle of the screen and off centered. At f1.2, even with camera assistance it is soft, and it is very very hard to be spot on focus. It works a lot better at f2.8 but then you completely loose the bokeh and lack of depth the MF system gives you at f2.8. For precision manual work, no doubt MF rocks. Even with auto focus, the D600 struggles to focus even in the center: it does work, but if you aim at something as small as eyelashes, it doesn't get it.</div>
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<b>Sharpness: Medium Format wins</b></h3>
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Sharpness is a pixel peeper criteria: it doesn't matter much, what matters is the sharpest part of the picture is where you need it to be. Yet, it creates an impression of crispness that is nice...and it's an easy win for the MF camera. On a computer screen, where doesn't matter so much, it shows a little. On an A3 print, it's night and day: it's crisp as hell wide open at 1/20s on the MF system, while it take 180% sharpening in photoshop on the D600 (1/80s, ISO 400) to get something remotely comparable. On a very large print, the perceive gap in sharpness -how sharp the focused area looks compare to the rest of the image- between the MF and DSLR is very much in favor of the MF system. Once again in perfect lightning conditions, it's going to be similar, but on the edges of digital system's capacity, MF cameras destroy a SLR system. This is a fact of life, the larger the format, the more you can separate the plans of your image. For proof, see this large format picture by Pierre Herbert.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW_lGaP_Z2QDmkdbGvDzHMKCNnHPC3oXkwc9fjvyXgpPESwb78PDKIuxN8DvMls6o6SaZAjwFKYzUp-LV2qyi2tP8lrVnKmcwnucvf26Hksz-GOmUl0sUi_VF9wr_X9ZDwhaa1Gx5rof0/s1600/pierre4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW_lGaP_Z2QDmkdbGvDzHMKCNnHPC3oXkwc9fjvyXgpPESwb78PDKIuxN8DvMls6o6SaZAjwFKYzUp-LV2qyi2tP8lrVnKmcwnucvf26Hksz-GOmUl0sUi_VF9wr_X9ZDwhaa1Gx5rof0/s640/pierre4.jpg" height="511" width="640" /></a></div>
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<b style="text-align: left;">Definition: Medium Format wins at 24MP, but 36MP I'd give it to the DSLR</b></h3>
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Definition is more or less how big the file is, or in practical terms, how large can you print before you can see pixels or dots. Little to do with how the image feels. On the digital file, it's simple you know how many pixels you have. You can print large with a D600: A2 for sure, but I've never tried bigger to be honest. With the MF, it all depends on the gear you use to develop or scan. I personally scan my negs with an <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000EZY19W/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B000EZY19W&linkCode=as2&tag=acadi-20">Epson V700</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=acadi-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B000EZY19W" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
and at 6400 DPI the definition is absolutely <span style="text-align: left;">monstrous. It is however a royal pain to process, files are gigantic etc. It's a win for the MF Mamiya in my case, but a close one. </span></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;"><i>If I compared against a D800, I'd give the D800 the win as it wouldn't be much more defined but it would be a lot more convenient to work with.</i></span></div>
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<b>Bokeh: Medium Format wins</b></h3>
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Bokeh on a MF system...there's not point in even comparing. I know it before testing. However, I have to say I am very very happy with the bokeh wide open at f1.2 on the 50mm lens. It is comparable to MF, see for yourselves:</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibCcKmowNji1JoWXXnhYRy2DiES2v0d27aQj6GjZ-CGRxvWiq0cH_rpchxhjtmLbIxln9EsDhpqsUbr-o77E3wM1r-zWEgAIDlmrkjBYB8hzMqP4D3qf4hWc7E-HwW5C1rBonCTkYdmg0/s1600/lola6+copyb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibCcKmowNji1JoWXXnhYRy2DiES2v0d27aQj6GjZ-CGRxvWiq0cH_rpchxhjtmLbIxln9EsDhpqsUbr-o77E3wM1r-zWEgAIDlmrkjBYB8hzMqP4D3qf4hWc7E-HwW5C1rBonCTkYdmg0/s640/lola6+copyb.jpg" height="518" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">D600 50mm 1.2 AIS @ 1.2</td></tr>
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However, keep in mind that with a 80mm 1.8 for example, you'd get a soft even SLR-like bokeh that is nowhere close to that feel. What does this mean? It means that any portrait MF system will give you that on a large range of aperture, but to get it on a digital system is takes an exceptionally fast and expensive lens like the 50mm 1.2 AIS. Yet as we mentioned earlier on, at f1.2 the SLR sharpness drops. </div>
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A similar shot, with the Mamiya RZ67. Bokeh is comparable indeed, but the area that is on focus stand out a lot more against the rest of the shot. The image is also more contrasted naturally, even prior to editing. It's even more striking on a large print.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSjb0gNXEWlIMrpg7FHgG6iNwwEgMjiXqGinaqhoA4NEPGWAIaF_9HgLPVP1zcK1Qx8kvPvGFvSl0PY7lLjB30NPR6cbxglJT_cJ13g2DiqazekRI1RiuGrOjdx0y3dA3qLrVsZfznjNTL/s1600/trix3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSjb0gNXEWlIMrpg7FHgG6iNwwEgMjiXqGinaqhoA4NEPGWAIaF_9HgLPVP1zcK1Qx8kvPvGFvSl0PY7lLjB30NPR6cbxglJT_cJ13g2DiqazekRI1RiuGrOjdx0y3dA3qLrVsZfznjNTL/s640/trix3.jpg" height="640" width="520" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mamiya RZ67 II 110mm 2.8 @ 2.8</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<b>Colors: DSLR wins</b></h3>
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Film tones are superb, dynamic range is superb but let's face it, post processing and development is difficult and leaves a lot less margin for editing than digital. With the DSLR you have control and a lot of option. Keep in mind that I am rather average at editing, and still I find the possibilities endless as opposed to film. In terms of results, it's not more pleasant than film, it's actually a little nicer on film thanks to dynamic range (next point), but artistic freedom digital gives you is priceless. </div>
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With medium format film colors can look wonderful if you nail the exposure. If you don't, in particular with positive film, it will quickly go wrong. Then the result is, to say the least, random if you don't master your camera and the scanning / development process. </div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<b>Dynamic range and tones: tie.</b></h3>
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Well I'm being inaccurate here: the camera itself as little to do with it, it's about the film and the sensor. </div>
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</div>
<ul>
<li>For MF, it'll be film only (digital MF are not actually MF cameras). Velvia 50 is stunning an offer amazing dynamic range, then it depends on the film. It's usually pretty good.</li>
<li>For digital, this late 2013, I have to admit that sensors are getting very good, especially Nikon's and Fuji's (not Canon, sorry).</li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
However, digital post processing allows to greatly compensate the lack of dynamic range. Doing it in a dark room is more of a pain. Since only the result matters, who wins? It's very hard to tell. With RAW files and the latest softwares, you can do miracles. I honestly couldn't pick a winner here. Digital is more flexible, film is superior from scratch but if you messed up exposure, you are screwed.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq-oBOI4dBN__7NE95diikrMJvcazBdvDGSQG52sigRK4rVMGpo0-MXjKaFgWJYvCvMTdAINyKlCgffu8u8tX4m8s545k7F6aB5NJj_LLech4FRf7AmZ2axk0bJIM8w77O0BJ58wXy-UA/s1600/img141.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq-oBOI4dBN__7NE95diikrMJvcazBdvDGSQG52sigRK4rVMGpo0-MXjKaFgWJYvCvMTdAINyKlCgffu8u8tX4m8s545k7F6aB5NJj_LLech4FRf7AmZ2axk0bJIM8w77O0BJ58wXy-UA/s640/img141.jpg" height="396" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">To illustrate my point, this is TriX film on a very old 35mm camera, same lens as on the D600 (50mm 1.2AIS). No processing whatsoever and very harsh light: notice how the details in the hair under the chin are still visible, as well and the area around the roofs about the head. Film can capture properly a larger range of brightness.<br />
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<b>Black and White: Medium Format wins</b></h3>
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See above, infinite gradient of tones on film, no need to master expensive softwares to produce a good B&W. Nothing to compare here. Also nicer noise, nice everything...</div>
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On the positive side for digital: Nik Software provides a good add on for Lightroom, Silver Efex Pro, to edit digital B&W. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9viUuU8TrtkBw4Ts2pmBLtstQwrRxdN3qR5viT45-0SyXBUJPay9wEleI-9Hm5Qpa608vY21lC-spJW8rTJIu4RDEXL_bE60JG0Vr02YPitGQToOIjyKg8qIFoa01M2El6t_0_WzYD5A/s1600/KAT3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9viUuU8TrtkBw4Ts2pmBLtstQwrRxdN3qR5viT45-0SyXBUJPay9wEleI-9Hm5Qpa608vY21lC-spJW8rTJIu4RDEXL_bE60JG0Vr02YPitGQToOIjyKg8qIFoa01M2El6t_0_WzYD5A/s640/KAT3.jpg" height="438" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mamiya RZ 67, keep in mind that the left shot has been cropped significantly and still...wow. Only ambient light.</td></tr>
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<b>Low light: DSLR wins</b></h3>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
Easy wins, modern sensors are simply amazing. Very clear images up until ISO 3200, very usable at ISO 6400 for documentary. It's impressive. Yet during a photo shoot you use proper light, and even a slow speeds, MF performs terrific. So from a strict technical stand point digital destroys film MF here, but it's useful for journalist, wildlife photographers only. For a crisp portrait, even in low light, you'd use ISO 400 film and a tripod, and it would be irrelevant.</div>
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<b style="text-align: left;">Conclusion</b></h3>
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I can't do with a DSLR what I can do with a MF system. So that flickr gentleman was wrong. But on the other hand... I can't do with a MF system what I can do with an SLR either.</div>
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If you are into editing, if you are a journalist or a wildlife photographer, get a DSLR, no doubt about it.</div>
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If you are into B&W, portraits in studio conditions, craftsmanship: get a MF system.</div>
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The best is of course to own both, in which case I recommend:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
- A Pentax 67II Medium format system. I love the Mamiya but it's a cube. Literally. I mean, how do you handle a cube? I'd like to see the hands of whoever designed that!</div>
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- A <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FOTF8M2/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00FOTF8M2&linkCode=as2&tag=acadi-20">Nikon D610</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=acadi-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00FOTF8M2" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
, which is at the actual price the best value for the money you can think about. It will get you 95% of what you get from D800 or D4 for a lot less money and a much lighter package.</div>
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- A D800 is you're rich. </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03245930628400563937noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1013468136936359725.post-47256461210013299942013-12-04T09:13:00.001+00:002014-02-27T22:04:30.002+00:00Natasha @ Paris<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Winter is coming, it was time to try a few portrait / nude sessions indoors. I have been playing a lot with back light, and for editing with the <a href="http://www.google.com/nikcollection/" target="_blank">Nik Software</a> excellent and pretty cheap package (review soon):<br />
<div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Silver Efex Pro to edit RAW files into B&W. </li>
<li>Color Efex Pro for well...pretty much anything color.</li>
</ul>
<div>
For a change (ran out of film and the shop was closed), this is digital work, with a <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0099XGZXA/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B0099XGZXA&linkCode=as2&tag=acadi-20">Nikon D600</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=acadi-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B0099XGZXA" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
+ <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00009R95Y/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00009R95Y&linkCode=as2&tag=acadi-20">Nikon 50mm f/1.2</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=acadi-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00009R95Y" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
lens.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsYss2MKTNvhHTMeRdZJdF7PVMCo8jm-gGTC-svRcPdv1vcrhW0gUgF2HRNbm5fno7cY5yqX1dJgtlVjjBEC3mKdG2aoVkKzg-_of4cGfEqyFFuHjTY07htRgkQEn0jUcJmN_77U4tJNA/s1600/20131129-DSC_9477.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsYss2MKTNvhHTMeRdZJdF7PVMCo8jm-gGTC-svRcPdv1vcrhW0gUgF2HRNbm5fno7cY5yqX1dJgtlVjjBEC3mKdG2aoVkKzg-_of4cGfEqyFFuHjTY07htRgkQEn0jUcJmN_77U4tJNA/s640/20131129-DSC_9477.jpg" height="640" width="464" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAgRdFpQ-8Q5SRIXysCEFIqSUzNVWcbyikM5pMTsmVkPlGgsm2_PB7NKbYK0F8PeV4ha2bnhrtM_F6TISetYId53iPurN3WrVLxFbGauzdN3kzUqTUrA_xQGVlZMMFtQbDzEiyr3ipMW4/s1600/20131129-DSC_9401.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAgRdFpQ-8Q5SRIXysCEFIqSUzNVWcbyikM5pMTsmVkPlGgsm2_PB7NKbYK0F8PeV4ha2bnhrtM_F6TISetYId53iPurN3WrVLxFbGauzdN3kzUqTUrA_xQGVlZMMFtQbDzEiyr3ipMW4/s640/20131129-DSC_9401.jpg" height="448" width="640" /></a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03245930628400563937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1013468136936359725.post-23220281473333738692013-12-03T09:17:00.000+00:002014-02-27T16:33:14.539+00:00Product Review : Nik Software<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Google bought<a href="http://www.niksoftware.com/nikcollection/usa/intro.html" target="_blank"> Nik Software</a> a few months ago, and their first decision, God bless them, was to <b>drop the price from about 500$ to 149$</b>. That makes it affordable to most of us, and therefore worth reviewing since many of you are likely to be interested.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Long story short : if you own a DSLR or premium compact shooting in RAW, Nik Software's plugins are a must have. Let's discuss why and illustrate that with a few examples. </div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<h3>
<b>What is in the package</b></h3>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
A series of 6 plugins that work with Lightroom (V.3 and above), Photoshop Element (V9 and above), Photoshop and Aperture:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzj7Ms7WNHaUGQFv3PbvrIcbsqkBmDLyWdfBRPnwu4o3inb74cKnYDnn9a6lslLN1G6fdDE4CNe9JNHR-Q3gUWF4OuUC8B_f4CFQsRk3PINMRvXJjRg-gdf_MM2Ne9HIk43yHlxvkYZeU/s1600/nik+collection.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzj7Ms7WNHaUGQFv3PbvrIcbsqkBmDLyWdfBRPnwu4o3inb74cKnYDnn9a6lslLN1G6fdDE4CNe9JNHR-Q3gUWF4OuUC8B_f4CFQsRk3PINMRvXJjRg-gdf_MM2Ne9HIk43yHlxvkYZeU/s640/nik+collection.png" height="291" width="640" /></a></div>
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Those will allow to:</div>
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<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Create HDR images (read further, I am strongly opinionated on HDR)</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Customize your raws into B&W images</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Sharpen or denoise your files, with amazing results on RAW images</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Adjust colors and tones</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Apply creative color effects (the list is endless)</li>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
In other words, everything you might want to do while post processing a photograph. I'll be testing it with Lightroom 4.4, the combination that to me makes the most sense for a non photoshop maniac, and from a productivity perspective.</div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
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</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Once you've installed it, you can access the plugins like this: </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyig8rfHlauTFraaL8yq3F2KEg3FMCTCWVCCzbwA4-hkWb3bvIxbwsrdVS4aeAG63i0BLNFZtGdR1BBIJ9JN0RrwCH6TiwaGMlVYswUZK3lpQJ_DFkUlvIn6q56u1TQGKQCL41MBg2WsE/s1600/nik2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyig8rfHlauTFraaL8yq3F2KEg3FMCTCWVCCzbwA4-hkWb3bvIxbwsrdVS4aeAG63i0BLNFZtGdR1BBIJ9JN0RrwCH6TiwaGMlVYswUZK3lpQJ_DFkUlvIn6q56u1TQGKQCL41MBg2WsE/s640/nik2.png" height="466" width="640" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
You can edit a copy, or the version you are working on in Lightroom. Once you save it'll create a copy in Lighroom anyway, so no risk of messing up the original file. A minor detail, but it illustrates how well thought this collection is. </div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<h3>
<b>Let's deep dive into the logic </b></h3>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
It is for me the greatest strength of this package. The workflow is excellent whereas in Photoshop well...there is none, it's all up to you to figure it out. Because Nik provides a package dedicated to photo editing, it provides better guidance than Photoshop, which is essentially a gigantic tool box with few instructions. This is how the UI for one of the plugins looks like (in that case Color Efex):</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIWBm52y8MCGPFkk1_IcNVVKvGtuWl3MUUDolM2ez8Bt5RMa0O2_Dg9KJrPdLVZ5gZQRZhSLYTG8OQUecfRB2mQQ8moy3F9j1QlsRFMgu9IjAaqMP6U-bo1b-6_YTg1Ch2oCkdu8f02ro/s1600/nik3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIWBm52y8MCGPFkk1_IcNVVKvGtuWl3MUUDolM2ez8Bt5RMa0O2_Dg9KJrPdLVZ5gZQRZhSLYTG8OQUecfRB2mQQ8moy3F9j1QlsRFMgu9IjAaqMP6U-bo1b-6_YTg1Ch2oCkdu8f02ro/s640/nik3.png" height="400" width="640" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
You have on the left side a series of presets or filters, your image in the middle (you can see the outcome, a split view or a side by side comparison), and the different elements contributing to that effect on the right. So here is the way it works: </div>
</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify;">You will hardly ever apply those filters as they are, first because they are overexagerated and mostly because every image requires a custom treatment</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">But those filters give you a good visual of what they can do if you push them. It other word, mouse over presets until you think "oh , I'd like some of that", then on the right side tweak it until you get just that part of the effect that you want.</li>
</ul>
<div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
One of the great things indeed is that the effect is alway decomposed so that you can extract just what you need. For example, just add a bit of cross processing from a filter, then apply an other one from which you'll just keep a tiny bit of color filtering. You can end up with very subtle images in the end. </div>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
You can then save it, and keep on customizing it in Lightroom or in an other one of the plugins. It is very smart because it goes from the expected end result down to the execution: you first see what it can do, and you can very easily pick just what you want from it.</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
An other great thing is the control points: you can decide to apply the filter on just one part of the image, and separately edit the rest of the image from that area. That works brilliantly (the selected area blends in well with the rest). I'll show you further in an example.</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
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<div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
This is essentially how it works, pretty easy uh? You can do simply what the best photoshopers can do with a lot of experience, in significantly less time. I won't go thru an exhaustive list of what you can do, because it's not needed really. First of all it would take forever, and mostly you can really learn how to use it just by doing.</div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<h3>
<b>Some Examples</b></h3>
</div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<h3>
<span style="text-align: justify;">Noise Reduction</span></h3>
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<div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Noise reduction on a raw file at ISO 6400, F5.6 1/200s. It is very impressive. Beware, you need a raw file for such result.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTiW4U-hwV2esxLAG8y7ZRSwSsmUoeTrbmXGoUOFjkLk883OXDg8twAv_mpLau4v2gcJHH1d_eyvB0TVM31DKBAS287EB86EaiXhGXgkS-5oN-n4_SJfr5vaa-IKhsvSkEeVIJVXag5EM/s1600/dfine.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTiW4U-hwV2esxLAG8y7ZRSwSsmUoeTrbmXGoUOFjkLk883OXDg8twAv_mpLau4v2gcJHH1d_eyvB0TVM31DKBAS287EB86EaiXhGXgkS-5oN-n4_SJfr5vaa-IKhsvSkEeVIJVXag5EM/s640/dfine.png" height="488" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Whoooooo lives in a pineapple under the seaaaaa ?!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqU-mYrElrskUb_M0EQkBRiLX4tIzrSK_WQ_dWh1M_Jr7yLtEylmZ_xfoSD8xKpcrdwBhRf8wpW3l__O4si-b2hoKV3mQ3A5-1QgmxqbwH5w_P4MmPkKGpc7aA1vS3mTiws6ZyFQsy1Mo/s1600/dfine2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqU-mYrElrskUb_M0EQkBRiLX4tIzrSK_WQ_dWh1M_Jr7yLtEylmZ_xfoSD8xKpcrdwBhRf8wpW3l__O4si-b2hoKV3mQ3A5-1QgmxqbwH5w_P4MmPkKGpc7aA1vS3mTiws6ZyFQsy1Mo/s640/dfine2.png" height="512" width="640" /></a></div>
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<div>
Here is the same just using Lightroom 4.4. Open them both in a new tab and you'll clearly see that the file from Lightroom is significantly less clean on plain surfaces. It's a minor part of the Nik package of course, but sill a nice to have.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFl-oEUY_IoH-Tov1LKQJYYTtyR6MKHLE1eUpGYlmvXXx7UgRh2Oosm_27vj0h-VQwyHp1ev4bWMtKmUMzZQDeR4Bovm1_Dp0g_YVnvlw-NyUQNoK6XLYW6-XWv7rfJqVFsc3CxEl-uRg/s1600/LR4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFl-oEUY_IoH-Tov1LKQJYYTtyR6MKHLE1eUpGYlmvXXx7UgRh2Oosm_27vj0h-VQwyHp1ev4bWMtKmUMzZQDeR4Bovm1_Dp0g_YVnvlw-NyUQNoK6XLYW6-XWv7rfJqVFsc3CxEl-uRg/s640/LR4.png" height="444" width="640" /></a></div>
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<div>
<b>Some advice on how to use it</b><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Experiment. There is a lot of buttons to press at first sight, but you'll quickly realize most effects are composed of very similar elements recombined differently. Learn to use those levers, spend 45min on a picture at the beginning, it'll be worth it in the long run.</div>
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<div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Shoot in RAW. You get three times the data in each file, allows you ANYTHING in post processing. If you try to edit a jpeg in there, you are just a bloody idiot. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Don't use filter and presets as they are. It looks gross. Keep in mind they are over exaggerated to help you visualize what they do. It's up to you to customized. Even for B&W, I never used the film presets they have. No matter how much you shoot, you'll always have a very few shots that are on top, you should only focus on those. Spend a lot of time processing them if you must</div>
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<h3>
<b>Is it worth the bucks?</b></h3>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Clearly yes. It's smartly done, fast and extremely exhaustive. The workflow/ logic is excellent and intuitive. It's also well optimized for your computer not to choke on those big files (I know what you are thinking about...), and last but not least: it is now correctly priced.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
In other words, for a photographer (not a digital graphic artist), it is everything you need. Paying for a full photoshop licence is totally retarded for a photographic use only. At 500$, I'm not sure it was worth it unless you are a pro. You could have manually done it for free in Gimp with a lot of practice. But at 150$, you should buy it as a bundle with your DSLR, no doubt.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03245930628400563937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1013468136936359725.post-49948098397443725792013-12-02T09:45:00.000+00:002014-02-27T16:37:05.833+00:00D600 / D610 Sensor Dust Fix<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
This is for all D600 owners who recently suffered from the sensor issue (dots coming from the top left corner and spreading rapidly), or who are afraid that it might come up. Here is my experience with Nikon support. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
First of all, it took about 9 months for my D600 to have the issue. From the chat I had with the Nikon guy, I'd say your D600 is likely to suffer from it at some stage. If it hasn't yet, don't worry.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj91Xc-LhP_9hGsPOqxD4ZPiTAG8Q5Mgy_qlkZYsJYkp67sdWBEBzotUtDyevyUDhrs3IOKpMNsgy56sd0RTmGkq7pEryVLxjEtt25WziKVePQ24Q8DRFXev2fxvbXgm1AbGATDCNouRvE/s1600/D600+fix.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj91Xc-LhP_9hGsPOqxD4ZPiTAG8Q5Mgy_qlkZYsJYkp67sdWBEBzotUtDyevyUDhrs3IOKpMNsgy56sd0RTmGkq7pEryVLxjEtt25WziKVePQ24Q8DRFXev2fxvbXgm1AbGATDCNouRvE/s640/D600+fix.png" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Is that really a pain ?</b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Yes, it really f***s up images and the required post processing is too heavy. On this above example, it is a very mild occurrence, it can get all over the top half of the shot and ruin it.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Is there a temporary fix? </b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The sensor cleaning function makes it a bit better, but you need to do it every 2 hours at least.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>How is Nikon about it?</b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Great, they acknowledge it fully, and this <b><i>issue is covered even if you are not covered by warrantee</i></b> anymore.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>What does it take?</b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I took it to my local Nikon center, I reckon you can also ship it there. They said i'd be fixed in two weeks, it was. They now replace the entire defective part with the new part -the sensor cage- from the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FOTF8M2/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00FOTF8M2&linkCode=as2&tag=acadi-20">D610</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=acadi-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00FOTF8M2" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
(which is no more than a fixed D600), so <b><i>it is a permanent repair. </i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>In other words, you can safely buy a <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FOTF8M2/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00FOTF8M2&linkCode=as2&tag=acadi-20">D610</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=acadi-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00FOTF8M2" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
, and if you are tight on money, you can buy a D600 and leverage the faulty sensor cage to get a lower price (I reckon the remaining ones should come cheap). If it starts malfunctioning, Nikon will be totally cool about it. </b></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03245930628400563937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1013468136936359725.post-76852675229669590062013-12-01T19:54:00.000+00:002014-02-27T16:38:07.149+00:00Update: Camera and Lenses Recommendation for this Christmas<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Apologies to my followers, I have been way too busy with the part of my life that pays the bills to post as much as I should have. I will start adding more and more content to the site, and probably revamp the format a little bit.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Until then, time to update the gear recommendation section (Christmas is coming)! Many of you told me that what they liked best about this blog is the fact that I filter out marketing junk to recommend the cameras they actually need, at the benefit of their wallet. I'll then make sure this post follows the same principle, that is to say pushing you towards the camera that is best for your need and budget, while explaining you why such and such characteristic is more or less useless for you.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>First let's remind everyone of the following:</b> <b>image quality comes strictly from the sensor, the lens and you. Every choice of camera bellow, no matter what is your need, will be based on this. Therefor it is important that you read the following if you are not too savvy about cameras.</b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>The sensor</b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The bigger the sensor, the better. Noise, blur, 3 dimensional rendering, crispness of the image. All of this improves when the sensor gets bigger. Sensors are never names after their size, that would be too easy for you to figure out stuff. They are called micro four third, APC, APS-C etc. No matter what your budget is, you should look for the comparably priced camera with the biggest sensor. That all. Here is a chart to show you what that means:</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW87OlKzCRwUnVkxTjBLycIDpSS2gpM4aEawYls5ItQX2G95tX8j5nGrTaDoNgAntxRRXMWtH2zhcl9jwvOeH9cHFNC7fXRzdxr8x_tBgLL8Is7gRQqipsgk-GEJsbUXfCQNv7OSXKw1A/s1600/sensor-size-summary.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW87OlKzCRwUnVkxTjBLycIDpSS2gpM4aEawYls5ItQX2G95tX8j5nGrTaDoNgAntxRRXMWtH2zhcl9jwvOeH9cHFNC7fXRzdxr8x_tBgLL8Is7gRQqipsgk-GEJsbUXfCQNv7OSXKw1A/s640/sensor-size-summary.png" height="464" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Credits to Paul Fox</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<b>The lens</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
The rules with lenses are about as simple as for sensors: the simpler the lens, the better. For example, a prime lens (no zoom), will always perform better (sharpness and low light) simply because it can be optimized for a single focal length. On the other hand, a huge zoom will be average at everything, because compromises needs being made. Concretely, you need to balance functionality with image quality. Keep in mind that a X40 zoom lens on a 300$ camera is very suspicious. It probably is very very crappy. I selected cameras that privilege a decent compromise, or mostly image quality.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<b>You</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
Yes you ! You probably already have a decent camera, and you might be thinking that a better camera will allow you to take better pictures. You've never been so wrong, probably. Indeed, learn how to use your equipment before buying. Try manual settings, learn the basics, and you might realize it was right there all along.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<b>For the casual shooter with a small / medium budget</b></h3>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Let's be honest, 90% of all cameras sold will be used very casually: big vacation coming up, baby on the way, or desire to make a fancy gift, compact cameras are often the kind of product you buy because you feel like getting a nice gadget, treat yourself with something to play with. Good news everyone: those are perfectly valid reasons to buy things ! Yet, it doesn't mean you should spend your money unwisely. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
If you belong to that category, the "I just want an easy to use camera that does a job" people, keep in mind that you are the main target for marketers trying to sell you bullshit features and fake innovations. On the lower end side of things, let's be honest, image quality is about the same. You should privilege good travel companions, preferably rugged, possibly water & shock proof. Avoid mega zooms, they are useless because you won't be stabilized or have a bright enough lens to shoot sharp most of the time.<br />
<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00763ESHU/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00763ESHU&linkCode=as2&tag=acadi-20">SH-25MR</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=acadi-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00763ESHU" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
: because Olympus always made reliable cameras and good lenses over decades, because it is cheap, has image stabilization and because it's not pink. It has a touchscreen, a GPS and full HD recording. You can't possibly get more at this price. Many compacts over similar features, but for this christmas, this one is also among the most recent ones.</li>
</ul>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyyrHnqPSXt9RvlN1q8BqNYJ_kF5vjphSy8Fpk6YCUV7xHMFiF5ZwJj7S15gJLXIAHHq-hvkZ0lfTtGiwVxwDt-f6zO_AOul01STLUbFxR1DExm8nByYcs-krQSJANnIx5Gow3-swAZ0Q/s1600/OlympusSH25MR-580-100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyyrHnqPSXt9RvlN1q8BqNYJ_kF5vjphSy8Fpk6YCUV7xHMFiF5ZwJj7S15gJLXIAHHq-hvkZ0lfTtGiwVxwDt-f6zO_AOul01STLUbFxR1DExm8nByYcs-krQSJANnIx5Gow3-swAZ0Q/s320/OlympusSH25MR-580-100.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Olympus SH 25MR</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ATE7V3Q/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00ATE7V3Q&linkCode=as2&tag=acadi-20">Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS5K</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=acadi-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00ATE7V3Q" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
: in case you party / travel hard. It will resist dives in ocean, swimming pools or beer. All compact waterproof cameras have the same size sensor and type of lens, and to be honest they are pretty close to one another. The overall package on the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ATE7V3Q/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00ATE7V3Q&linkCode=as2&tag=acadi-20">Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS5K</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=acadi-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00ATE7V3Q" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
appears to be the best. </li>
</ul>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKndBy6ae1HMXVH9P3pFVPEu7xOkycI_DB5QiVQRaY9pu3KWtoibZAHeAXoHFTHRdGESBYMGzp2bKocUwHUMjByudMm_mRzOrJTqtbZIJ2_f8s3xcFDqSjwOZft40r103H1kJ5GHLLqoI/s1600/lumix.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKndBy6ae1HMXVH9P3pFVPEu7xOkycI_DB5QiVQRaY9pu3KWtoibZAHeAXoHFTHRdGESBYMGzp2bKocUwHUMjByudMm_mRzOrJTqtbZIJ2_f8s3xcFDqSjwOZft40r103H1kJ5GHLLqoI/s320/lumix.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Panasonic Lumix FT5<br />
<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<h3>
<b>For the casual shooter with little a decent budget</b></h3>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
You are still a vacation shooter, you just have a bit more money. Go for either one of the following pieces.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0090QXG92/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B0090QXG92&linkCode=as2&tag=acadi-20">Sony NEX-5</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=acadi-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B0090QXG92" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> (or 3): it has an APS-C sensor (see chart above, second biggest after full frame), and quality interchangeable lenses. It to a large extent the same cameras as the NEX 7 which is a lot more expensive, due to marketers choice to segment the range. Also, as you learn and enjoy shooting, you'll be able to upgrade via new lenses, instead of changing it all.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPTN2XTI_Fc9LlYP4SJgM9zKvju3jAHvO8RqqlZb33LNZphAUyijz4F0dADe8HWFSXegVxkoDZlpWiNE5roNRbLd9vwRHZ2mxa786aTKQcIYMXh4PWsxsEK-nsJQK80IZI9VQsk2vIkXE/s1600/nex+5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPTN2XTI_Fc9LlYP4SJgM9zKvju3jAHvO8RqqlZb33LNZphAUyijz4F0dADe8HWFSXegVxkoDZlpWiNE5roNRbLd9vwRHZ2mxa786aTKQcIYMXh4PWsxsEK-nsJQK80IZI9VQsk2vIkXE/s320/nex+5.JPG" height="251" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sony Nex 5</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ATM1MVA/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00ATM1MVA&linkCode=as2&tag=acadi-20">Fujifilm X100S</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=acadi-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00ATM1MVA" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
: if photography tickles your arty bone, and you want a camera that will allow you to explore photography as a proper hobby, I recommend models that offer manual controls, and with simpler, higher quality lenses. The most obvious product is the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ATM1MVA/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00ATM1MVA&linkCode=as2&tag=acadi-20">Fujifilm X100S</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=acadi-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00ATM1MVA" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
, that is essentially an excellent sensor and an excellent prime lens, in a well built body. In other words, a good camera. It only suffers from a autofocus that could be a tad bit faster. Yet it, its quality easily overcome that little flaw. </li>
</ul>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR9n5dqlN1G1YQW31XTdD5FJAaclYJgUW3a4YcrHYHjpWeoD_PnkbwcI9boUtwVvh_2K_eNBsFSoU7rUBBTwzxcuhgrReMnZKDjehaQqp8cWEyGQEI034ZHgcQ4XzgX3kE9vJwPfFMtq8/s1600/x100s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR9n5dqlN1G1YQW31XTdD5FJAaclYJgUW3a4YcrHYHjpWeoD_PnkbwcI9boUtwVvh_2K_eNBsFSoU7rUBBTwzxcuhgrReMnZKDjehaQqp8cWEyGQEI034ZHgcQ4XzgX3kE9vJwPfFMtq8/s320/x100s.jpg" height="247" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fuji X100S</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00EQ07PG2/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00EQ07PG2&linkCode=as2&tag=acadi-20">Olympus OM-D</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=acadi-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00EQ07PG2" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
: the limit of the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ATM1MVA/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00ATM1MVA&linkCode=as2&tag=acadi-20">Fujifilm X100S</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=acadi-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00ATM1MVA" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
is the fix lens, 35mm only, which mean no zooming. A good alternative if the constraint of a fix lens is too much for you is still the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00EQ07PG2/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00EQ07PG2&linkCode=as2&tag=acadi-20">Olympus OM-D</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=acadi-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00EQ07PG2" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
, which a already recommended in the past. The sensor is a bit smaller but still of a decent size, and the camera body is weather sealed. With a vast array of interchangeable lenses, it makes it more versatile than the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ATM1MVA/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00ATM1MVA&linkCode=as2&tag=acadi-20">Fujifilm X100S</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=acadi-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00ATM1MVA" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
. For the traveler, it might be an even better choice.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNyP3ic8OjgPcVwyc_0jWVYZIy1xxw8C5KhORq2lnSEUrO7BfwD25voJoqSEcR8JdCFX8_gIwn9E0bC9uxn9dKVL9_tOhZIjZgO_BWptgihVNRVcD2_T1NI1BS70kMju1JqordhPELVxE/s1600/OM-D.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNyP3ic8OjgPcVwyc_0jWVYZIy1xxw8C5KhORq2lnSEUrO7BfwD25voJoqSEcR8JdCFX8_gIwn9E0bC9uxn9dKVL9_tOhZIjZgO_BWptgihVNRVcD2_T1NI1BS70kMju1JqordhPELVxE/s320/OM-D.jpeg" height="266" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Olympus OM-D</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<h3>
<b>For the advanced amateur who is willing to blow way too much money on cameras (you'll recognize yourself)</b></h3>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
First of all, you need to bullshit your wife/husband on why you need a new camera. You are on your own, sorry. Once you've achieve getting away with it without too much blame, you might want to consider those babies:</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FOTF8M2/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00FOTF8M2&linkCode=as2&tag=acadi-20">Nikon D610</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=acadi-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00FOTF8M2" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
or <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GD1KASM/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00GD1KASM&linkCode=as2&tag=acadi-20">Nikon Df</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=acadi-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00GD1KASM" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
, they are essentially the same camera. The <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GD1KASM/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00GD1KASM&linkCode=as2&tag=acadi-20">Nikon Df</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=acadi-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00GD1KASM" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
looks way cooler, and the smaller resolution (i.e bigger pixels) allows better low light performance, as well as easier to process files. It's also a bit lighter. If you don't print large, I'd go with the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GD1KASM/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00GD1KASM&linkCode=as2&tag=acadi-20">Nikon Df</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=acadi-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00GD1KASM" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />, but it's 95% the same camera. Although, at 1000$ more than the D610, it's a but a of a joke, you clearly pay for design and marketing, up to you if you can afford it. Why Nikon? It is superior to Canon on built quality, customer service, sensor, metering...well you get the picture. Of course, a talented photographer will always take better pictures with a Canon over a bad Nikon user, and to be honest, who can spot the difference on picture, knowing that lenses do most of the job. Yet, if you are a lab rat, Nikon wins. If you are just a customer who care about 2 important things (durability and customer support), Nikon wins. Last but not least, the basic high quality prime lenses at Nikon are fairly cheap: the 35mm F2 full frame is around 400$.</li>
</ul>
</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nikon D600</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nikon Df</td></tr>
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You should not get a D800. It is too big to carry around, files are enormous to process (you probably would need a new computer too), and unless you print A1 format, it is simply useless. </div>
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Those who are scared of the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FOTF8M2/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00FOTF8M2&linkCode=as2&tag=acadi-20">Nikon D610</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=acadi-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00FOTF8M2" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
because of sensor issues, be reassured: the issue doesn't affect the D610, and if you were to get a cheaper D600, nikon replaces the entire defective part for free, even outside the warrantee. I had mine redone, they are really cool about it. Overall they offer the best customer service.</div>
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I thought for a second of recommending a Fuji system, such as the XPro1, but I decided not too for the following reasons:</div>
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<ul>
<li>It isn't even smaller</li>
<li>Zeiss lenses are brilliant, but so are Nikon premium lenses</li>
<li>You pay the design and premium positioning</li>
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<b>For the advanced amateur who wants to switch to {troll alert} real photography</b></h3>
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You came to your senses: 98 megapixels, hybrid sensors with TRX 8000 technology and other geeky things don't make a good camera. Format does ! But what larger format camera to go for? What are you options:</div>
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<ul>
<li><b>645 film</b>: greater portability, often with metering and auto focus, cheaper, 15 shots per roll of film</li>
<li><b>6x6 and 6x7 film</b> : even greater images as the format grows in size, bulkier, often without metering. Avoid when traveling.</li>
<li><b>Large format film</b> : stunning images, huge, requires mastery of photography basics, exposure etc. </li>
</ul>
<div>
I purposely don't mention here medium format digital cameras, for two reasons: 33x44mm is not medium format, and mostly, if you can afford one (roughly the price of a nice BMW 3 series) you can afford every camera mentioned in this post, so choice isn't really a problem for you.</div>
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<b><i>645 film cameras</i></b><br />
Go for a <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00006I5MC/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00006I5MC&linkCode=as2&tag=acadi-20">Pentax 645</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=acadi-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00006I5MC" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
or Contax 645. I like Mamiya too, but in that format, the other two are a tad better both in terms of lenses and built quality. There are many version, AF or no AF, compatible with digital backs etc. Get them used, but check the version, they are mostly called the same yet some can be a decade older.<br />
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<b><i>6x6 or 6x7 cameras</i></b><br />
Go for the Pentax 67 II if you do portraits. Go for the Mamiya 6 or Mamiya 7 if you travel and do lanscape. I'd pick the Mamiya 6 for travel since it gives you a couple of extra frame per roll.<br />
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<b><i>Large format cameras</i></b><br />
I don't have for a habit to talk on this blog about thing I don't master properly. For good advice on picking a large format camera, I recommend you read <a href="http://photo.net/equipment/large-format/choosing" target="_blank">this</a> instead, or <a href="http://www.largeformatphotography.info/" target="_blank">this</a>.<br />
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<h3>
<b>For the pro</b></h3>
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Come on, you're a pro, you should know what you need! Otherwise don't call yourself a pro, you're a phony :p<br />
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But you probably want a D800 and a Pentax 67II, just saying.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03245930628400563937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1013468136936359725.post-70914837919658249222013-11-26T12:34:00.000+00:002014-02-28T10:09:14.317+00:00The beauty and the Beercules, a reflexion on what makes a photograph unique.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Not too long ago, I visited a friend of mine in Barcelona; I hadn't seen her in a long time. I once shot her in Ireland, on the beach near Drogheda (north of Dublin). Back in the days I published very few of those pictures, but visiting her reminded me to look into my old negatives. And that takes me to a interesting point about photography: how unique can a picture actually be? </div>
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Let's take a painter, or a band: both have elements that make them who they are in a unique, hard to replicate way. When you see a Dali, well you know it's a Dali. You can either have a copy, in which case there was no intention to be creative in the first place. Or you can have an other painting inspired by Dali's style, with hopefully an extra personal touch from that other painter, which makes it unique in some way. Back to the musical comparison, no one sounds like Liam Gallagher or Till Lindemann. Sure some bands like Muse and Placebo sound a little bit the same if you don't pay attention, but the lyrics are unique, and the songs and melodies are too.</div>
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So what about photography? Let's be honest, in the field of fashion anyone could learn how to reproduce a high production value shot. It's pure technique: get the same/similar model that poses the same way, light can be learned, editing too, cameras all work the same. The fact is, I dare you to tell me in fashion magazines that you can recognize the style of each photographer, and regroup images under the name of who shot them. You just can't. Even guys like Terry Richardson - who has a little "je ne sais quoi" but it's minor and mostly based on sex and celebrities- well even his shots look the same as anybody else's when he tries to do clean fashion. Same goes with landscapes and many other genres.</div>
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With the internet we are exposed to a huge melee of good pros, awful photographers that are pros (they earn a living with it, but still sucks balls real bad), and amateurs that are much better than pros. They all post, blog, flickr, and have easy access to millions of images. It leads to uniformity and trends (lately cross processing effects and faded color halos). It is really becoming very hard to shoot with a clean mind, free of all the nice images you've seen somewhere else.</div>
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So what makes an photograph unique? In my opinion it is about:</div>
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<ol>
<li>the story it tells, and that mostly concerns documentaries and journalists. This is why I worship war photographers and those who seek to be there in that special moment, that image that will tell a story. </li>
<li>your relationship with the people you are shooting, and that is good news. You copied techniques from other photographers? You used the same post processing as many? Don't feel bad. It looks good doesn't it? Then enjoy. The thing is, when you shoot someone you care about, or even hate (as long as there is a feeling), there will be in your picture something that only you can see, whatever is personal. In addition to that, if you friend likes the way he/she feels about himself/herself thru your eyes, you added a nice little thing to your relationship with him/her. That picture won't matter to most, but to you two it will.</li>
</ol>
This is why I love photography, is it a major form of art in the sense that it's all snobbishly unique and hard to do? No. It is a major form of art because it's accessible, personal, naturally appealing to everyone. People always want to see the pictures don't they? So sure there is a lot of trash among the gazillion tons of pictures that have been posted in the past 20 years, but so much great shots in the middle that could be from anyone. And again, there could be that one picture no one but you cares about but you, because it tells your story and the story of a friend.<br />
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So I'm home looking at those old scans (Nikon FE and Mamiya 67 cameras), and as I've had a great time with my friend in Barcelona, getting to know her much better, I now project her personality and emotions onto each image so much more than before. Sometimes, shoot the ones you love instead of random people, you'll like your pictures better, and do something nice for a friend or family member. This is my friend, her name is Natalija.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaiJJPAGz5idQV28LzYsH_WNzeD-GejOyswfGvLyFGQrbNiZ8-Q493Wi15x9k2eiuqLWKQUBf43ioif5OlsfHGtwRC9Ab-pv42biDDP1NX3pQralGkjvAz6_5YD5KNADxmuM-WEttJSw0/s1600/20111022-img3645.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaiJJPAGz5idQV28LzYsH_WNzeD-GejOyswfGvLyFGQrbNiZ8-Q493Wi15x9k2eiuqLWKQUBf43ioif5OlsfHGtwRC9Ab-pv42biDDP1NX3pQralGkjvAz6_5YD5KNADxmuM-WEttJSw0/s640/20111022-img3645.jpg" height="640" width="432" /></a></div>
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Plus, here are more picture of candids from my vacation, no posing, just the moment, our story (D600 and 35mm F2 if you wonder).</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitWsP9MYAQxlECbD6mKwMdmVymTygNmzkxuquAzdX4LS5JMCqIBQFdjTJVyvoHzMryiX2pPHUvp0zFkVO_KqzNVkToAp5dJX0NvZUJDO5f2ULfCsu0DR3y87zw5k_8GqysRWViG-blj98/s1600/941756_517951734937844_1919250333_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitWsP9MYAQxlECbD6mKwMdmVymTygNmzkxuquAzdX4LS5JMCqIBQFdjTJVyvoHzMryiX2pPHUvp0zFkVO_KqzNVkToAp5dJX0NvZUJDO5f2ULfCsu0DR3y87zw5k_8GqysRWViG-blj98/s640/941756_517951734937844_1919250333_n.jpg" height="454" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu54YhnWXGriT2RW0i2E21O2DShZuuHKYLpROZksJha6QVIaIp7a0YlMMjMK4XdaM6vxPwSSy-XHao8hWXZLBtb3y1k3YEnd9FtOoOu2JaP3PVo8FV3pUxdrsZPv4TI5gDj6jJ4m1RQbM/s1600/RSM_5354-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu54YhnWXGriT2RW0i2E21O2DShZuuHKYLpROZksJha6QVIaIp7a0YlMMjMK4XdaM6vxPwSSy-XHao8hWXZLBtb3y1k3YEnd9FtOoOu2JaP3PVo8FV3pUxdrsZPv4TI5gDj6jJ4m1RQbM/s640/RSM_5354-2.jpg" height="442" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdYjKWyyzXc_VFdr_lJ_tjvONIqLqUetQbQ0QsjKUzv5BnhUBhGAkBzrMFooBy1xD_1OjiF3lSp-hNseryKyP5ALQxd3fYZPzKNuWlkyaarjV6S8mYvIyM_gcjqAMAMBCJLMFxyPPP37c/s1600/1016852_517959514937066_1340092603_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdYjKWyyzXc_VFdr_lJ_tjvONIqLqUetQbQ0QsjKUzv5BnhUBhGAkBzrMFooBy1xD_1OjiF3lSp-hNseryKyP5ALQxd3fYZPzKNuWlkyaarjV6S8mYvIyM_gcjqAMAMBCJLMFxyPPP37c/s640/1016852_517959514937066_1340092603_n.jpg" height="460" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3cJhyphenhyphenuxcc03MplDDuOuGEaC8FoEOphczwE9MBILgJbyyHoDlAxgdzKECR9DYZ1mulryke8QD6eWLMl43C1lmYRqOmpA6zYRFFQr-ltrzBxzXp0CO6oMPnFSHK7TfZs5kKKT04LA8Ga1E/s1600/20130907-RSM_8507.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3cJhyphenhyphenuxcc03MplDDuOuGEaC8FoEOphczwE9MBILgJbyyHoDlAxgdzKECR9DYZ1mulryke8QD6eWLMl43C1lmYRqOmpA6zYRFFQr-ltrzBxzXp0CO6oMPnFSHK7TfZs5kKKT04LA8Ga1E/s640/20130907-RSM_8507.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This one is mine, miiiine don't even think about it.</td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03245930628400563937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1013468136936359725.post-65037443657618928072013-09-09T09:17:00.001+01:002014-02-27T18:00:35.553+00:00Personal: Trekking in Mercantour.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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After having been raised in the French Alps and living in Ireland for 5 years, being now in Paris is somewhat against my nature. Feels like being trapped in a concrete prison and I really miss wildlife. So on my free time, I go trekking in the Alps. Of course I take a camera, in that case a D600 Nikon with a 35mm f2 full frame lens. This usually leads to very interesting light, and different subjects than young female models.</div>
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Since my better half will now be going from hospital to rehabilitation center for the next 3 months (ACL Gone Wild, I have the video of the accident, not cool). We decided to make the most of her last days of mobility. Surprising what you can do without knee ligaments, providing that you have the right custom brace.</div>
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Anyway, we went to <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/preview#!data=!1m4!1m3!1d443077!2d7.1046014!3d44.1732508!4m25!2m11!1m10!1s0x0%3A0xcabc15aee7b89386!3m8!1m3!1d26081603!2d-95.677068!3d37.0625!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!5m12!1m11!1smercantour!4m8!1m3!1d26081603!2d-95.677068!3d37.0625!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!17b1" target="_blank">Mercantour</a> in the southern Alps. We used the <a href="http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lac_d'Allos" target="_blank">lac d'Allos</a> and its <a href="http://www.refugedulacdallos.com/en/" target="_blank">refuge</a> as a (very comfy) "base camp". Sleeping the in wild of course (otherwise it doesn't count) and carrying your home on your back (otherwise it doesn't count). Here are my good shots from the trip. </div>
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<b><i>PS: I am starting to have sensor cleanliness issues on the D600, even without ever changing the lens. The sensor cleaning function gets rid of it for few ours only, it's a pain. I'll contact Nikon and see how they deal with it.</i></b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH2lFqye9xtRT3WepIEMd1fRCvfWOwE093u6AzkR664QW_k3EXximYVSVyEquNjJnLZK3uTUpECa-GHpkhXxAkKzFJ9gNzxGSNaLl6HzzshTno8X2Rekm8V_3Be5ywIq6HNRYPGTiVqis/s1600/20130905-20130905-20130905-RSM_8302.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH2lFqye9xtRT3WepIEMd1fRCvfWOwE093u6AzkR664QW_k3EXximYVSVyEquNjJnLZK3uTUpECa-GHpkhXxAkKzFJ9gNzxGSNaLl6HzzshTno8X2Rekm8V_3Be5ywIq6HNRYPGTiVqis/s640/20130905-20130905-20130905-RSM_8302.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That is me, I don't reckon there are many pictures of your host on this site.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvI3WeX3CIEosm1Ftp9DiCSSZwXwbfpukjsjCxX3qOvGFaR3WP6YujfMmAs0RaCwD7FkcYy91nz-0p3wACA00wZdxOclAvLbMmELnIoA2x2-Cx2UtxpSlNKI-xusYoG2O0QvLFTtdYLfM/s1600/20130905-RSM_8282.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvI3WeX3CIEosm1Ftp9DiCSSZwXwbfpukjsjCxX3qOvGFaR3WP6YujfMmAs0RaCwD7FkcYy91nz-0p3wACA00wZdxOclAvLbMmELnIoA2x2-Cx2UtxpSlNKI-xusYoG2O0QvLFTtdYLfM/s640/20130905-RSM_8282.jpg" width="538" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhd1QiuEe1jlXEQcb1IbxRCCuPan0Cnailur628ImvNHjzMDtO_KFwYd4QgCh98cbw1EEtfMyAK5XmjmtkOLU7hsXR6gj2BfYj5sCnI_4DrEI4BYDH6wmi4ywcpr9XEH4398FCmAENl-A/s1600/20130907-RSM_8412.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhd1QiuEe1jlXEQcb1IbxRCCuPan0Cnailur628ImvNHjzMDtO_KFwYd4QgCh98cbw1EEtfMyAK5XmjmtkOLU7hsXR6gj2BfYj5sCnI_4DrEI4BYDH6wmi4ywcpr9XEH4398FCmAENl-A/s640/20130907-RSM_8412.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Which one of you ladies will be my girlfriend tonight...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj7M-d2Fcnq1QRzhWpIW6eKLZNxwozSyTuanD88PYNr5tXW7cjdTj2CkUtoTf45VdMa4CV64yjHHWS-sitISO1w3B_kgv7TFNOdIqc3gC3d5mRIgbLHMBBrNYycJnRLQhBkb1Ijmeb0hw/s1600/20130907-RSM_8472.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj7M-d2Fcnq1QRzhWpIW6eKLZNxwozSyTuanD88PYNr5tXW7cjdTj2CkUtoTf45VdMa4CV64yjHHWS-sitISO1w3B_kgv7TFNOdIqc3gC3d5mRIgbLHMBBrNYycJnRLQhBkb1Ijmeb0hw/s640/20130907-RSM_8472.jpg" width="524" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In between weather leads to great light.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo04JazMZgqwVZnLaBZQpVVnZGL8S8HILG04EFaUzPXhDCoo2VRJab154Wj2KuVHQ3K8AY7a8T-yz0cMjfuV4R6950LWTJS8q0C6cEs2ZjgsoQ6EHxDRAxR2j6h0_A4_q7H8jtlFLQ7E8/s1600/20130907-RSM_8483.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="492" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo04JazMZgqwVZnLaBZQpVVnZGL8S8HILG04EFaUzPXhDCoo2VRJab154Wj2KuVHQ3K8AY7a8T-yz0cMjfuV4R6950LWTJS8q0C6cEs2ZjgsoQ6EHxDRAxR2j6h0_A4_q7H8jtlFLQ7E8/s640/20130907-RSM_8483.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicY1pGqcPILQYadquFv1CC0MJFw8UAMwLTbxThnb1UB8hrSPlMbNeGNeST9K9Svsw5KbSxL14cO10D18KZZJWYzAzHRkl7phgiHFLPgRARL6Vqc-tggePiCyP9Nqm4vsSZ3esrcQ5aSZA/s1600/20130907-RSM_8507.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicY1pGqcPILQYadquFv1CC0MJFw8UAMwLTbxThnb1UB8hrSPlMbNeGNeST9K9Svsw5KbSxL14cO10D18KZZJWYzAzHRkl7phgiHFLPgRARL6Vqc-tggePiCyP9Nqm4vsSZ3esrcQ5aSZA/s640/20130907-RSM_8507.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihjdFfAU2tQk9KE4PHmwjOFunTguzh3-W1AQtjEtOMk4VQiaQl5uewbIMQpefY60JtUy4uftcYUIJ6SOKdGivfx5bc8K55RJ3ZcJ9_km3tny1Yz14rMRUXGVR2V49lDaP8hBLa3Eje0j4/s1600/RSM_8396.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihjdFfAU2tQk9KE4PHmwjOFunTguzh3-W1AQtjEtOMk4VQiaQl5uewbIMQpefY60JtUy4uftcYUIJ6SOKdGivfx5bc8K55RJ3ZcJ9_km3tny1Yz14rMRUXGVR2V49lDaP8hBLa3Eje0j4/s640/RSM_8396.jpg" width="528" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Few from the refuge terrasse at lac d'Allos, 2250m</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYl6ZJxFOikqorjIGLtbIHAiRMrMbyAFNiket6Ni7fPthDVpLBKOtgv7sb4X4RXKKHEJreeIVTaEfTbyHmJMZgKMDuEC0-Vnui_YKY3tym1fIXBi6NGJaG4GlxPET62P_iVMNJqTMIamo/s1600/RSM_8432.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYl6ZJxFOikqorjIGLtbIHAiRMrMbyAFNiket6Ni7fPthDVpLBKOtgv7sb4X4RXKKHEJreeIVTaEfTbyHmJMZgKMDuEC0-Vnui_YKY3tym1fIXBi6NGJaG4GlxPET62P_iVMNJqTMIamo/s640/RSM_8432.jpg" width="456" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKBGpndZblwhEE3ujrUgdMmpU3VHA9Gb9toYSSEse6l62CsAF6wTqFRTvazvxJyYx8ibUvDad7h-oGppGtma_E0tEH_llSUqXc4KCn4-wGUYWbZ2EW8IKAhg2078yHfZIhsITp_E7DEcw/s1600/RSM_8450.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKBGpndZblwhEE3ujrUgdMmpU3VHA9Gb9toYSSEse6l62CsAF6wTqFRTvazvxJyYx8ibUvDad7h-oGppGtma_E0tEH_llSUqXc4KCn4-wGUYWbZ2EW8IKAhg2078yHfZIhsITp_E7DEcw/s640/RSM_8450.jpg" width="512" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjjqaC9464IBTlPEJuON9UagYNXgb-WMe1XkI5JMMmxB0qqHKIrEmp2p3VB6MmHiRevI_I-XJBLYQgn-MfPP9e4S_DBXp14ZCwfGImT_54JbAklG2VwPBsHoHVDKHlGFX0Dqr1ncIe6rY/s1600/RSM_8521.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjjqaC9464IBTlPEJuON9UagYNXgb-WMe1XkI5JMMmxB0qqHKIrEmp2p3VB6MmHiRevI_I-XJBLYQgn-MfPP9e4S_DBXp14ZCwfGImT_54JbAklG2VwPBsHoHVDKHlGFX0Dqr1ncIe6rY/s640/RSM_8521.jpg" width="522" /></a></div>
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Last one, not a good picture but an amusing story. We are sleeping in the wild, it's rainy and windy outside so the tent make a lot of noise. However, I got the feeling something is moving next to me, rubbing against the tent. I first blame it on the wind, it's dark, I'm sleepy...screw it, don't care. But then it becomes more obvious. First reflex: wolf? Not so close to the 2 shepard dogs that are 100m away with a herd. And we have no more meat in the bags. <a href="http://www.voyagesphotosmanu.com/Complet/images/wallpaper_marmotte.jpg" target="_blank">Marmotte</a> maybe (some sort of mountain gopher fluffy-fat animal) ...they are curious indeed. Not a sheep, it would make more noise. </div>
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Anyway I give up guessing and fall asleep again. The next day, my 10kg (20 pounds) bag has been pulled out of the tent from under the top layer, definitely not a marmotte ! We find what's left of our fruit stash 10 meters away (see picture). When we later had a chat with the shepard (some really really vintage dude, wonder if he ever got down in a village in the past 30 years) and the refuge owner, they told us that a fox (they do love fruits) roams around and steal food at night. I love wildlife :) Next time I'll put the camera on time lapse with a tripod near the tent !</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf4F9dogHrEO0Cg3UoG4bLJUnjN0DNMqzAD-9yl3t4lkYXBlo88LXkRyFBO63HkAT2hdfv35Yg_xblUJvCJlbaRafrYH573nQ578MhI2SXjhS4IsEFfGiJef4vtJY3GDyvh5YystSmGRQ/s1600/RSM_8689.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf4F9dogHrEO0Cg3UoG4bLJUnjN0DNMqzAD-9yl3t4lkYXBlo88LXkRyFBO63HkAT2hdfv35Yg_xblUJvCJlbaRafrYH573nQ578MhI2SXjhS4IsEFfGiJef4vtJY3GDyvh5YystSmGRQ/s640/RSM_8689.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03245930628400563937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1013468136936359725.post-18034654763516075242013-08-21T11:07:00.000+01:002014-02-27T16:56:38.353+00:00Why buying a DSLR body is probably a mistake.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Ok, help me help you not waste your money, and take better pictures. A bit of related entertainment first, then a story.</div>
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We all know one of those guys :) Anyway, before getting to the story, a brief but necessary reminder. If you read that blog, you know what's my approach: I like photography because I like pictures. The process of taking them, looking at them, and hearing people telling me they feel something special when looking at them, relationship with the subject (I mostly do portraits) etc. A good image is a subject in a given light, an effort to put yourself in the right place, and that moment when your imagination meets the situation, and bam ! You just took a great shot. Cameras are accessories to all of that, they can be sexy, do amazing stuff, but they are not what matters. I still use a Nikon FE, a Mamiya RZ most of the time, it does the job great, interfering little in that above described process, and those are decades old cameras. I have this blog for many reasons, one of them being education of customers, so that they make more sense of their camera purchase, and save money to go on a trip where they can actually take pictures :)</div>
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But let's move ahead with the story. Important note, this is addressing mostly the casual shooter, not so much the advanced and savvy photographer...although....well I'll let you judge.</div>
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I was on a vacation in Tuscani (that's a lovely region of Italy), and some must-see cities are of course suffering a much expected tourists infestation. Can't blame them, I am one of them.<br />
So it's been about 10 years since the first amateurs have been shooting around with DSLR cameras. You would also expect some sort of correlation between ownership of an DSLR system, income and intellectual abilities. You would expect that someone who spends 1k to 5k in a camera system would at least read the manual, or actually link the value of the product to their investment in learning how to use it, to their passion in the matter. Well it seems like it isn't the case. About 50% of all DSLR users I saw during my break were using the kit zoom, in full auto, with the flash blazing at every picture.<br />
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I just love that scene, always the same:<br />
<ol>
<li>holding the camera like a pro, with confidence, telling the wife how to pose, moving like a reporter. </li>
<li>hitting the shutter and....ZAAAAAP ! flash pops up and goes on.</li>
<li>looking at the camera like a kitten who just got surprised by a jumping object, thinking "why did the flash go off? Was it my even from my camera?"</li>
</ol>
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I would get it if this is your first DSLR, or your very first camera, and you just got it before the trip; but there's no way that's the case at this scale. I see around me people owning SLRs for years and still incapable of using more that 10% of the camera's capabilities. Not that they are stupid, they are just kinda lazy, or <b>mostly they bought it for the wrong reasons and don't actually want those features</b>. It take 10 min on Google to find a few good posts on how to play with depth of field, pick the lenses that you really need, or use manual and semi manual features to be in control of your images. It takes 1 hour to go thru them with your camera in your hand. That doesn't seem like much when you just spent 2 grands. I really believe SLRs offer functions that, if you don't need them, are a burden more than anything. I'll get to that later.</div>
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On the other hand, it is true that manufacturers did everything they could to make you want one for all the wrong reasons. Claiming that you'll take better pictures, stimulating that awful pixel peeping habit that makes you want to take pictures of newspapers to see how sharp it remains when you zoom in, and much more in that same vein.</div>
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So here we are, I've seen hundreds of tourists with a DSLR walking the streets, a vast majority having no clue what to do with it. It is even worst of a money waste when you realize that a significant proportion among those have upgraded from a good compact, or an older yet very capable SLR. Why? No seriously why upgrading to a semi-pro or pro piece of gear if 1- you don't want to learn how it works 2- since you were not using 25% of you previous camera's abilities, your limitations surely don't come from the gear in the first place.</div>
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What happens is the following. It'll sound mean, but I know that process because well... I've done it too. So take it as shared wisdom from past experiences:</div>
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<ul>
<li>We love taking images, it's just cool, a tad bit magic, fun and nice for memories. In other words, we'll have to get a camera at some point.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>We start looking at cameras, and if we have a little cash sleeping at the bank, we quickly get excited by the nicer ones. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>We start thinking that those features are necessary. Technical terms with letters and numbers, we barely understand what they mean (or not at all), but we have our mind made up: we need ISO 25600 and 1/16 000 speed and cross matrix alpha 34 sensor BS3000.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Camera manufacturers need you to replace equipment every 2 years max. If you realize a good camera can do 10 years or even much more, they are screwed. They'll do everything they can to convince you that the camera makes the picture. And you kinda want to hear that, you are a bit bored with life lately, so you want to get excited about a new product, and suddenly your old camera is full of flaws, or even broken (thank you kitty / dog / 1yo baby, you come in handy on this).</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>It's done, you ordered a expensive DSLR. It's totally justified because you've always loved photography (as the zero photo exhibits you've ever been to, or the absence of any photos of your walls can attest). You secretly want people to see you as a cool arty guy who'll go read Hemingway in a dodgy bar after capturing a few streets moments (mostly homeless dudes).</li>
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Rings a bell? I know, I'm sorry :)</div>
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So what's my point? Indeed I won't just make you feel bad about your purchase for no reason, that'd just be sadistic. <b>I want to make you aware that whatever camera you own, unless it's a very entry level compact or very first generation digital, you probably have a huge margin for improvement without spending a dime, and you can achieve that by learning how to use it.</b></div>
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<b>You have an DSLR, you want a newer one? </b></div>
<div>
You probably could do a lot by learning how to use yours, and at best get a lens that corresponds to your needs. A premium SLR does nothing better in regards to image quality. Lenses do. A premium SLR is weather sealed, super fast, includes productivity features for pros....but try taking the same pictures in the same conditions, it'll 99% similar results. Going Nikon D90 from years ago to a D600 will make no difference whatsoever, especially if you never shoot in anything else that P or full auto modes. If you already master you DSLR, what you probably need is better lenses. If not, you need to open the manual.</div>
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<div>
<b>You have a compact and you want an SLR? </b></div>
<div>
What do you use it for? Vacation pictures? Then no you don't want an SLR. It's bulky & cumbersome, consumes batteries and memory cards like crazy, requires its own backpack. I only own cameras that I chose for a single purpose: professional quality for a specific purpose. SLRs are for people shooting war, lions, sports on the side of a football pitch. I got a DSLR because I owned premium prime lenses from old Nikon 35mm cameras, but if Nikon had been making a compact full frame body, I'd have bought that over an SLR a million times. </div>
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<div>
<b>So when do you probably really need a new camera as a casual user?</b></div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>Yours is so old that the sensor is crap over 400 iso. For casual use, being able to shoot in low light is pretty nice: restaurant pics, children running inside the house etc. It's a must have for a digital camera. Nowadays, most compacts are very clean up until 3200 iso and sometimes even 6400.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>It's so old that the shutter react 1 second after you press it. That sucks, get a modern compact or mirror-less. You just can't keep missing the moment.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>You have a compact with a built in zoom, and you really love shooting portraits. You then need a prime fast lens. In that case, you probably should look into good mirror-less systems, not in SLRs. Sony Nex, Fuji X-whatever and else are a better bet. The fact that they are small is a blessing, image quality is the same as a non full frame DSLR (try proving me wrong on this, I'll quizz you on identical shots taken with both, you'll be wrong 50% of the time).</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>You have a non-full frame SLR that took more that 100 000 frames. You should start budgeting for a new one, it might start dying soon. Or you might want to pick a mirror-less if you realized an SLR is not really what you needed.</li>
</ul>
<div>
<b>In any other case, you probably should be doing this instead of buying an SLR body:</b></div>
</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>Ask yourself if there is a gap between the kind of pictures you do, and the kind of pictures that you'd like to be able to take. If yes, figure out why. It's very likely to be a matter of framing, composition, depth of field. All of this can be learned in 1 hour, <a href="http://acameradiary.blogspot.fr/p/shooting-techniques.html" target="_blank">even on this blog </a>!</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Once you've done that, if you realize that your camera doesn't allow those manipulations, you might want to consider replacing it. In that case, and remember I assume you are a casual shooter, I strongly recommend you pick an advanced compact or mirror-less over a DSLR. Keep one thing in mind: <b>manufacturers also realized that DSLR are not what people really need</b>. They'll keep selling them for as long as the can, so that you commit to a system with expensive lenses, but they are also rushing on producing premium compact and mirror-less systems. Those often include full auto options that allow some pretty cool stuff, probably what you really want as a casual shooter.</li>
</ul>
<div>
Finally, you'll never look like an idiot anymore with your cheap kit lens (since the cost of the SLR body consumed your entire budget) and your flash popping up in a sunny Italian summer day. You might not be excited by pictures as much as I am, but surely you'd like to honor your family and friend with better images, and avoid wasting your money.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03245930628400563937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1013468136936359725.post-51474105869854434662013-08-14T14:39:00.003+01:002014-02-27T18:00:35.543+00:00Personal: Turkey<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03245930628400563937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1013468136936359725.post-71849665580650066242013-07-24T16:27:00.004+01:002013-07-24T16:29:59.281+01:00Everybody Street, Trailer<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Check it out below:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" mozallowfullscreen="" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/70639661" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe></div>
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<a href="http://vimeo.com/70639661">Everybody Street Trailer</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/alldayeveryday">ALLDAYEVERYDAY</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03245930628400563937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1013468136936359725.post-72889566891033350612013-07-18T16:24:00.001+01:002014-02-27T18:00:35.606+00:00Mark Brabant + Me Time<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I am delighted, I received the prints of #41, a piece by <a href="http://www.hoveringobject.com/about.html" target="_blank">Mark Brabant</a> based on my photographs. Here it is:<br />
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If you are fast enough, you can buy one <a href="http://www.hoveringobject.com/41order.html" target="_blank">here</a> !<br />
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I am quite proud of that, someone who's work I appreciate actual enjoyed mine enough to use it as raw material for one of his piece, and well, that makes me happy :)<br />
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I'd like to thank Mark for contacting me in the first place, I'll rush to a framing shop this week end to ensure this ends up where it deserves, on my living room wall !<br />
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I also invite you to check his work <a href="http://www.hoveringobject.com/prints.html" target="_blank">here</a>, there's so pretty nice images, I am happy to own a few of those myself.<br />
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Here is the series from which is picked the shots he used:<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03245930628400563937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1013468136936359725.post-90434810471252492032013-05-17T16:45:00.003+01:002014-02-27T16:52:38.222+00:00My favorite function in modern DLSRs<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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You are either a regular of this blog, or a new reader. If you are a regular, you might want to take a sit because what I am about to say will hit you hard. </div>
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So I got a D600. First because traveling with a Mamiya RZ 67 is impossibru. Also I wanted to work on my digital skills, get better at architecture and cityscapes, and therefore, practice a lot. I have been using it for a few month now, and I realized that one function on this DSLR turns out to be an absolute must: the built-in HDR.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6RgnqvXSQ4d1L2zaoLEMYeywBvzDrtAwKnEO9UYawM271yj1fWGFLSflzwZR6I59dHJc9uVbXSQpiEi0Rqm4QO-P8U7jppFEvKDTXwjNREYY9kXvlQYJCnA-FkRB0-KAibhU3zDhYlaI/s1600/hdr+nikon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6RgnqvXSQ4d1L2zaoLEMYeywBvzDrtAwKnEO9UYawM271yj1fWGFLSflzwZR6I59dHJc9uVbXSQpiEi0Rqm4QO-P8U7jppFEvKDTXwjNREYY9kXvlQYJCnA-FkRB0-KAibhU3zDhYlaI/s320/hdr+nikon.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>- "Amagaaaaad Ronan you hate HDR and digital stuff! what da hell is this contradicting nonsense ! I worshipped you and fed from your every word and now I am as confused as when Ricky Martin made his coming out !<b>*</b>"</i></div>
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- Here we go. Well, dear follower, this is <u>not at all what I wrote</u> in previous posts. Let me remind you of my position on digital and HDR:</div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li style="text-align: justify;">Digital is great, and complementary to film. It convenient, fast, powerful in bad conditions, so much better than analog for many many things but...</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">... film as a dynamic range like no digital sensor ever had, try velvia 50 and see for yourself.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Film allows very large films / sensors from 60x70mm and larger, which with corresponding lenses leads to systems capable of stunning results, although fairly cumbersome to use.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">B&W film looks better due to a more linear and rich range of tones and nicer looking noise.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">The overly abused use of extreme forms of HDR is the photographic equivalent of Nikky Minaj. It's ugly, vulgar, and can cause the tasteful man to cry blood. </li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">HDR was intended to compensate the lack of dynamic range of digital sensor, not to make pictures look like a clown's face.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Come on Ricky Martin was way to well groomed to be straight !</li>
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So no I don't hate digital stuff. Yes I prefer the crafting of analog and mostly the feel of images due to dynamic range and B&W rendering, but I also love my digital camera; it just depends on what I'm shooting and where.</div>
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No I don't think HDR should be left aside, I think it should be used in order to compensate the physical limitation of digital sensors. And here is my point: the built is HDR function on the D600, and I am sure on any other advanced DSLR, allows a rendering of colors and light that I find very very interesting with minimal effort. If you are not using it because you are afraid it will look like that:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLzH6S9EpYoO0ueBHKO1YDpygkq2DpDqYuMd-GrPi39eCVy-88E4A5wRyoH3LsJTyt3kZTizdlIYHG2BXts6mUS7Zcl8cLhDrRNI1HQEYfGkkShNkj72_NI2fEhm8hLvEGaKgSvoHstNY/s1600/hdr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLzH6S9EpYoO0ueBHKO1YDpygkq2DpDqYuMd-GrPi39eCVy-88E4A5wRyoH3LsJTyt3kZTizdlIYHG2BXts6mUS7Zcl8cLhDrRNI1HQEYfGkkShNkj72_NI2fEhm8hLvEGaKgSvoHstNY/s320/hdr.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What is that? the next Call of Duty? </td></tr>
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Well change your mind, you must try it in high contrast situations. It leads to things like that that I find very mellow and subtle. This is what HDR used in a more classic way looks like:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4FS1kV4x8roJNxbM5nAIpKEtRtxu3nUm13JV-pt2RQ1KYUhHAGiGBbJggBpQzXgWJlfieRw-Palxa8-UFvhUITlaLmQvb2rzZUhSYGfxW_aPSuZCtY4fGISrYJbPPbucrVUAe_c4mdWs/s1600/RSM_4310+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="554" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4FS1kV4x8roJNxbM5nAIpKEtRtxu3nUm13JV-pt2RQ1KYUhHAGiGBbJggBpQzXgWJlfieRw-Palxa8-UFvhUITlaLmQvb2rzZUhSYGfxW_aPSuZCtY4fGISrYJbPPbucrVUAe_c4mdWs/s640/RSM_4310+copy.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGbTjWQz9M7rxUbmdPDZ7QNxVcN3mWn7w8sqCzvP6ox3rWiUXu_8VuZwU3eZFtoDB27UheaPT2SqskbiJOqnCnkUhrQSwwY_DRNnZlvDw6C0hy5Mw1_yy19mYZYRpQXbO3WtO6ZgjSfow/s1600/RSM_4147crop+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="496" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGbTjWQz9M7rxUbmdPDZ7QNxVcN3mWn7w8sqCzvP6ox3rWiUXu_8VuZwU3eZFtoDB27UheaPT2SqskbiJOqnCnkUhrQSwwY_DRNnZlvDw6C0hy5Mw1_yy19mYZYRpQXbO3WtO6ZgjSfow/s640/RSM_4147crop+copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>- "Hum...Ronan, this is not HDR. It looks totally übber normal to me. Nice composition by the way."</i><br />
- Oh thanks! Indeed dear reader. It does, and that is precisely the point. As I said before, digital sensors suffer from poor dynamic range, which is the capacity to render both bright and dark areas of a picture correctly. In other words, you often have the choice between:<br />
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<ul>
<li>exposing the shady areas well, but the rest is burned out</li>
<li>exposing the bright areas properly, but the rest is all black</li>
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Digital cameras, especially in ISO higher than 400, get pretty poor at that (FYI the best sensors for dynamic range are the ones of the D800, D4 and D600, in that order). It can suck pretty bad on a sunny day.<br />
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Interesting fact, what a lot of people like about the image feel from digital Leica M cameras is precisely their good dynamic range. Simply most viewers have a hard time putting a name on it.<br />
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Used wisely, that is to say when necessary, it really leads to beautiful landscapes. Yes landscapes only, it still does take 2 pictures and you need a steady subject. I prevents you from having to use graduated filters, which is a pain, or do manual HDR at home on PS.</div>
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So when do I use HDR with my D600:<br />
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<ul>
<li>high contrast landscapes, on <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jsw_r0hILQ" target="_blank">bright and sun shinning day</a>s.</li>
<li>ISO above 400 when dynamic range falls appart, even if contrast is not so high</li>
<li>when I wont need to process the image much, because you can't shoot HDR in RAW. </li>
<li>I use +/- 2 stops in general, but it's good to play around</li>
<li>Not for action shooting or portraits, I find that portraits deserve to make a choice on how to expose your subject, but then again, it's a matter of taste.</li>
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Anyway, I hope some of you who never use this, because you wonder what that's for, will now benefit from that great function. Now go out and take pictures !</div>
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PS: some exemples of film images with good dynamic range. Notice how darker and brighter areas are rendering with good level of details. Dimensions appear more as a consequence of depth of field rather than exaggerated shades.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNzSz13ABmNu0dzEYDbuD4pbxQPBDRXrPr3Qb-akcQ6gIA2lJHhMXVBXhKiKHERFowqzRgx3b2f3_e0Eb-PekVjUCuN24Nd4k-OYyMvnBD55Y81JIqeCBrkamZjqnkWeh4vWmIV3kPaM9U/s1600/daz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNzSz13ABmNu0dzEYDbuD4pbxQPBDRXrPr3Qb-akcQ6gIA2lJHhMXVBXhKiKHERFowqzRgx3b2f3_e0Eb-PekVjUCuN24Nd4k-OYyMvnBD55Y81JIqeCBrkamZjqnkWeh4vWmIV3kPaM9U/s640/daz.jpg" width="434" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo1JGV3ohcbMkDrYSdDwKEtcqt0xXL8El9uKF9PLXOQqY5702uYNpm9Ofi07-gVH9pX2-pOoRWuTGZKq5YPqDdxvuxYJ4JnYKEkxnnlQVqAued9XlQMK7q0xIyVRNrQ-YrSutftM1tTHhq/s1600/6314829047_164c554471_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="530" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo1JGV3ohcbMkDrYSdDwKEtcqt0xXL8El9uKF9PLXOQqY5702uYNpm9Ofi07-gVH9pX2-pOoRWuTGZKq5YPqDdxvuxYJ4JnYKEkxnnlQVqAued9XlQMK7q0xIyVRNrQ-YrSutftM1tTHhq/s640/6314829047_164c554471_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Courtesy of Lefty.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEaNl5J28ZzeD13rLV0hyIp8ijeomlIhp_JABNm3lNG7wqYMzKwVtJAncSVhyF3b7p2BKDlzdns4PF4X_0cLr6xIkwVeOP1DuONW6N5PvB3-ksVnyt3TkBrO1alm7M-eY9ARMf0TMLZVqF/s1600/img3009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEaNl5J28ZzeD13rLV0hyIp8ijeomlIhp_JABNm3lNG7wqYMzKwVtJAncSVhyF3b7p2BKDlzdns4PF4X_0cLr6xIkwVeOP1DuONW6N5PvB3-ksVnyt3TkBrO1alm7M-eY9ARMf0TMLZVqF/s640/img3009.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>*Visualize a Family Guy-like funny flashback of your own creation.</i></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03245930628400563937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1013468136936359725.post-34852550877442128442013-05-13T11:10:00.000+01:002013-12-02T08:43:42.848+00:00Amsterdam<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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A first attempt at architecture / cityscapes based on solid stuff (as opposed to people)</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03245930628400563937noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1013468136936359725.post-30009509463483132492013-03-07T16:37:00.003+00:002014-02-27T16:49:09.899+00:00Inspiration: Michael Magin<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibDVQDPeT7C4QPNvbwtUy8MYX-2Br7nyqRDh1W1kYHxH7t5PdaJZhMu-EU64HuEaFuNFYEMWrndTCqvwfJag69GrBkIUANcDvWaIBrdv43sT0_ctOkqKHT0FPocYI5sMXpwDWzvVc1L8c/s1600/greatestdancer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibDVQDPeT7C4QPNvbwtUy8MYX-2Br7nyqRDh1W1kYHxH7t5PdaJZhMu-EU64HuEaFuNFYEMWrndTCqvwfJag69GrBkIUANcDvWaIBrdv43sT0_ctOkqKHT0FPocYI5sMXpwDWzvVc1L8c/s640/greatestdancer.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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His website:<a href="http://www.zeitautomatik.com/" target="_blank"> http://www.zeitautomatik.com/</a><br />
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What is it about: female portraits and minimalist landscapes. </div>
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Has it been done before? Yes...well at the same time with photography it's probably been done before anyway. So is it stil worth showing? Yes, because although it's been done by many, he does it much better than most, and it's really pleasant to look at.</div>
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Notice that the ladies aforementioned happened to be lightly clothed if clothed at all. So if you are under eighteen run away. It's bad ! Click on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Booby" target="_blank">that link if you want to see boobies</a>, this is a clean blog (and I promise you that link has some great wild boobies images, the good stuff, you won't regret it).</div>
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Anyway, it is very clean work, with few pictures I wouldn't keep in the portfolio. Mostly digital work with very very proper artificial (I believe) lighting, and some medium format. Gentle color treatment, refined and all. See for yourselves :)</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03245930628400563937noreply@blogger.com0