What a great dump!
The recent way-lotza snow is really nice. But then, my work is close by and I have all the modern conveniences within striking range. On Saturday and Sunday I did a quick (and I mean QUICK) run through five different cemeteries but none were plowed so I didn't stick around waiting to get stuck in the snow. And my boots aren't exactly waterproof either.
Cemeteries have been my refuge lately as I struggle to find photographic material with the little time I have available. City sweeps are hit-and-miss, but there always seems to be something in the cemetery. The other day I saw a hawk glide in and I tried to track the bird but to no avail. I recall one Sunday morning a few years ago, driving through a cemetery, I spotted a large hawk just standing there on the ground. I stopped the car and the bird did not move. Strange. After shooting off a few shots, the bird did a lift off and it was only then that I noticed a dead squirrel in tow.
I need some photographic excitement. I also need some more time.
Detroit.
I read an interesting article over the weekend about Detroit's plans to shrink the city. The major, Dave Bing, wants to draw in some of the residents to more centralized areas to cut back on city service expenses. He has some incentive programs in mind. I recall driving through sections of Detroit, particularly on the east side, and seeing lone houses, or just a few houses, occupying what used to be populated streets. It looked like a war zone, from the loser's perspective. But that is not what the article was about...nope. Theme: bottom feeders. The story was about entrepreneurs who have been gobbling up land cheap in Detroit and who stand in the way of the city's plans to move forward. And much of the land has been carefully selected and sits in areas that are planned for development. It's not a stretch of the imagination to realize Detroit is bankrupt. Now, in order to move ahead with their plans to shrink, they will have to deal with these land grabbers who will no doubt be holding the land hostage, wanting to get rich. I know this is the way of capitalism, but something about this really offends me. It's one thing when life is in easy-flow mode but just now we're all struggling.
Detroit just ended a fleecing by it's former mayor Kwami who helped himself to quite a bit of the city's resources, but he's in prison now. Kwami was tending the store when I was roaming around the city starting in 2004 taking pictures of unbelievable filth and destruction. The city is clean compared to what I used to see on the streets of Detroit, and Mr. Mayor was helping himself, dipping into the city till. Naughty naughty, mr. former mayor. How do you live with yourself now?
I'm not a very good capitalist. I don't care about the bottom line and too often that bottom line is fed by someone else getting shafted.
I continue my quest to find time, and subject matter for some photos. There has to be something I can shoot besides dead things and Detroit, which isn't quite dead yet.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Winter Wonderland
For me, winter photography is mostly about visiting cemeteries and walking through the woods. That's the way I see it. And as of late, with personal changes in my circumstances, visiting Detroit just is not an option. I really do not mind the break, either.
Seeing the devastation wears my soul thin.
And not having much time for photography lately crystallizes my options as I can it seems I can usually find something to catch my eye in a cemetery (as long as I vary my choices in locations.) Shooting Detroit is spotty. Recently I went through my older photos, which are arranged by shooting date. I could see that I did have an occasional dry run (digitally speaking) and the shots I took were so I did not come home completely empty-handed. That's the issue with roaming shoot.
And as is my custom, I think too much on many things, and recently, while posting a comment to a fellow-Flckr, I stopped to think about what it is that compels us to take a photo. Something catches our eye. We see it, or the group of its, and our [usually] subconscious minds conjure what we guess might be a worthwhile reason to push down the shutter button. I usually do not think when I'm shooting, or at least I try not to. "Zen" is a good way of categorizing the state of mind I most prefer when out with my cameras, and is the principle reason I only shoot alone. I took friends along a few times and the yack-yack-yack drove me bonkers. That and the fact that since we were both confined to a car, whatever caught my eye was the target for both of us, pretty much limiting my guest's choices in subject matter.
I think we have inner subconscious filters that draw us to certain types of images. My themes seem to be death, destruction, and non sequitur images, things that are together in the same frame but shouldn't be.
Most of the time, I am unaware of these filters. I note that when I drive through more affluent neighborhoods with mansions and gated communities, besides keeping an eye out for the security forces who want to examine my papers and who demand a reason for my presence in the land of gold, I see nothing I want to shoot. Well, it might be interesting to contrast these neighborhoods with what I find in Detroit, but besides that, the manicured "beauty" leaves me Zen-Flat.
Back to the winter (it's hard to ignore right now with so much snow everywhere), I am totally stoked driving through cemeteries in the winter. When snow is abundant, it just adds to the isolation and beauty afield. A common theory about these days is that we are born and die alone. Why pretend it is a group effort?
I am active in cemetery groups in Flickr and that adds an appeal to my desire to post so much in this topic. You know I have an affinity for plastic flowers!
If my cemetery work does not appeal to you, come back in the spring. I'll see what I can do about rotating my subject matter.
Seeing the devastation wears my soul thin.
And not having much time for photography lately crystallizes my options as I can it seems I can usually find something to catch my eye in a cemetery (as long as I vary my choices in locations.) Shooting Detroit is spotty. Recently I went through my older photos, which are arranged by shooting date. I could see that I did have an occasional dry run (digitally speaking) and the shots I took were so I did not come home completely empty-handed. That's the issue with roaming shoot.
And as is my custom, I think too much on many things, and recently, while posting a comment to a fellow-Flckr, I stopped to think about what it is that compels us to take a photo. Something catches our eye. We see it, or the group of its, and our [usually] subconscious minds conjure what we guess might be a worthwhile reason to push down the shutter button. I usually do not think when I'm shooting, or at least I try not to. "Zen" is a good way of categorizing the state of mind I most prefer when out with my cameras, and is the principle reason I only shoot alone. I took friends along a few times and the yack-yack-yack drove me bonkers. That and the fact that since we were both confined to a car, whatever caught my eye was the target for both of us, pretty much limiting my guest's choices in subject matter.
I think we have inner subconscious filters that draw us to certain types of images. My themes seem to be death, destruction, and non sequitur images, things that are together in the same frame but shouldn't be.
Most of the time, I am unaware of these filters. I note that when I drive through more affluent neighborhoods with mansions and gated communities, besides keeping an eye out for the security forces who want to examine my papers and who demand a reason for my presence in the land of gold, I see nothing I want to shoot. Well, it might be interesting to contrast these neighborhoods with what I find in Detroit, but besides that, the manicured "beauty" leaves me Zen-Flat.
Back to the winter (it's hard to ignore right now with so much snow everywhere), I am totally stoked driving through cemeteries in the winter. When snow is abundant, it just adds to the isolation and beauty afield. A common theory about these days is that we are born and die alone. Why pretend it is a group effort?
I am active in cemetery groups in Flickr and that adds an appeal to my desire to post so much in this topic. You know I have an affinity for plastic flowers!
If my cemetery work does not appeal to you, come back in the spring. I'll see what I can do about rotating my subject matter.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Fuji Follies
Have you ever heard those stories of a person in an abusive relationship, who in spite of clear evidence that the situation will never improve, go back for another dose, another beating? That is the sort of relationship I have with the Fuji Corporation.
Right after I got interested again in photography, this time digital, after struggling with a 1.3MP Kodak point and shoot digital camera that was seven steps below one of those disposable one-timer cameras, I bought my first feature rich digital camera, a Fuji S5000, back in 2004. I unpacked that box with so much anticipation, only to learn that it was defective. Great a defective camera! What fun!!!
It took me three weeks to figure out it was the camera and not the power supply causing the problems, and I was able to use it...when it started freaking out, I just rebooted it and it worked okay. Sort of. Oh, I didn't mind that when I was composing a picture it occasionally went off medication and I watched the screen scroll through the various modes...auto/program/aperture/shutter/scene.
I sent it back twice and the problem was never resolved. However, I was resolved not to buy a Fuji camera again.
Instead I bought a Minolta Dimage, a Canon Power Shot S50, A Lumix FZ28, a Canon Rebel, three different Canon Power Shot SX series, and a few small pocket cameras. No Fuji. I occasionally drank Fiji bottled water (is it really bottled in Brooklyn from some guy's backyard water tap?) but no Fuji cameras. Well, one little pocket one but that was just for espionage work and it was never a serious camera.
Then last year the Fuji HS10 was announced, with 30X optical zoom. It was one of the first super zoom point and shoots. I think the Olympus might have been first. But it looked good, with a larger CMOS sensor. Zoom Zoom. I love zoom ZOOM. Z--O--O--M. I can Zzzzzzooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooommmm right in on the action in Detroit without getting shot or car jacked!
I watched the forums (DPReview) carefully as the nuts went ape-shit for this new camera. It hit the shores of China first and images started appearing. Looked good. 30X zoom! Then it hit the UK. More photos, and slowly at first, the posts started popping up with the theme of buyer's remorse. And the Fuji HS10's started heading for the return-department, partly due to some seller's no question asked return policies. I think once that started, returning cameras, some buyers felt obliged to follow suit and they returned their cameras as well, before they got to know it and use it.
I bought one, full retail price as I didn't want to wait. We had nil Fuji dealers so I couldn't touch/hold it before ordering one. How can a corporation as large as Fuji not have a single distributor in Michigan?
It came. I went out and shot with it and the very first time...the LCD screen cut out when I tilted the camera. How could this happen? And then the NOT AGAIN!!! feelings swelled. But if I kept rotating it and with pure thoughts, I could fire off some pictures. Besides, I didn't have a good back up camera. My Canon was not shooting straight. And besides besides, I'd have to pay to ship it back, even though it was defective before I opened the box.
Finally, last month, I sent it in. Two weeks went by and I got word it was coming back to me. Did I mention that I really enjoy shooting with that camera, that I rarely pick up my Canon and aim it into the air since I got the Fuji? I got it late last week (in spite of Fed-Ex's attempt to keep it out of my hands by playing a rousing round of 'catch me if you can' for three days) and finally...I got a chance to shoot off a few pics. I fired it up and the first thing it did...was go blank, the LCD screen I mean. Then yesterday I got a chance to use it a bit more and the more I used it, the more the screen went blank.
What's up with the Fuji company? Not only do they lack quality control on new products, but they can't even fix their own stuff?
Hmmm....that new Fuji HS20EXR is sure looking mighty good, an enhanced version of the camera I have that doesn't work properly. I wonder how Fuji engineered the enhanced defects built right into their products?
Right after I got interested again in photography, this time digital, after struggling with a 1.3MP Kodak point and shoot digital camera that was seven steps below one of those disposable one-timer cameras, I bought my first feature rich digital camera, a Fuji S5000, back in 2004. I unpacked that box with so much anticipation, only to learn that it was defective. Great a defective camera! What fun!!!
It took me three weeks to figure out it was the camera and not the power supply causing the problems, and I was able to use it...when it started freaking out, I just rebooted it and it worked okay. Sort of. Oh, I didn't mind that when I was composing a picture it occasionally went off medication and I watched the screen scroll through the various modes...auto/program/aperture/shutter/scene.
I sent it back twice and the problem was never resolved. However, I was resolved not to buy a Fuji camera again.
Instead I bought a Minolta Dimage, a Canon Power Shot S50, A Lumix FZ28, a Canon Rebel, three different Canon Power Shot SX series, and a few small pocket cameras. No Fuji. I occasionally drank Fiji bottled water (is it really bottled in Brooklyn from some guy's backyard water tap?) but no Fuji cameras. Well, one little pocket one but that was just for espionage work and it was never a serious camera.
Then last year the Fuji HS10 was announced, with 30X optical zoom. It was one of the first super zoom point and shoots. I think the Olympus might have been first. But it looked good, with a larger CMOS sensor. Zoom Zoom. I love zoom ZOOM. Z--O--O--M. I can Zzzzzzooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooommmm right in on the action in Detroit without getting shot or car jacked!
I watched the forums (DPReview) carefully as the nuts went ape-shit for this new camera. It hit the shores of China first and images started appearing. Looked good. 30X zoom! Then it hit the UK. More photos, and slowly at first, the posts started popping up with the theme of buyer's remorse. And the Fuji HS10's started heading for the return-department, partly due to some seller's no question asked return policies. I think once that started, returning cameras, some buyers felt obliged to follow suit and they returned their cameras as well, before they got to know it and use it.
I bought one, full retail price as I didn't want to wait. We had nil Fuji dealers so I couldn't touch/hold it before ordering one. How can a corporation as large as Fuji not have a single distributor in Michigan?
It came. I went out and shot with it and the very first time...the LCD screen cut out when I tilted the camera. How could this happen? And then the NOT AGAIN!!! feelings swelled. But if I kept rotating it and with pure thoughts, I could fire off some pictures. Besides, I didn't have a good back up camera. My Canon was not shooting straight. And besides besides, I'd have to pay to ship it back, even though it was defective before I opened the box.
Finally, last month, I sent it in. Two weeks went by and I got word it was coming back to me. Did I mention that I really enjoy shooting with that camera, that I rarely pick up my Canon and aim it into the air since I got the Fuji? I got it late last week (in spite of Fed-Ex's attempt to keep it out of my hands by playing a rousing round of 'catch me if you can' for three days) and finally...I got a chance to shoot off a few pics. I fired it up and the first thing it did...was go blank, the LCD screen I mean. Then yesterday I got a chance to use it a bit more and the more I used it, the more the screen went blank.
What's up with the Fuji company? Not only do they lack quality control on new products, but they can't even fix their own stuff?
Hmmm....that new Fuji HS20EXR is sure looking mighty good, an enhanced version of the camera I have that doesn't work properly. I wonder how Fuji engineered the enhanced defects built right into their products?
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