My favorite camera (Fuji HS10) has been 'out' for a few weeks and will finally return to me this week. What a horrible feeling...not having that camera in hand. I suspect when I get it back, and with it [hopefully] functioning properly for the first time, I'll be inspired to get out for some shots. It's not that I have been uninspired, but more that I just have a very full plate at the moment.
Fuji has me by the short ones...this is the SECOND Fuji camera I have purchased brand new and defective right out of the box. The first was my first 'real' digital camera, a S5000, with a whopping 3.1 MP and 10X optical zoom. That camera was my window of opportunity in heading into Detroit for photos. Even though that one went back twice for warranty service, it was never properly fixed. After the warranty expired, I retired the camera and vowed to never do Fuji again.
And then the HS10 hit the market. It is supposed to be a bridge camera, 30X optical zoom, and a CMOS sensor. It was quite entertaining to see the forum posts about this camera at DPREVIEW just about the time it was hitting the market, first in China and then the UK. There was quite a bit of excitement about it, really. Photos started appearing, samples of what the camera can do. Orders rolled in...and then a very curious thing happened...some users returned the camera, mostly siting 'image quality' as the culprit. I got mine and started using it right away, adjusting to the new zoom feature, a manual zoom control. And I never once had the thought of returning it. I do use a tripod when at all practical, and that has helped me capture images I really like. It's really a nice urban ghetto camera to have in hand, IMHO.
Two strikes on Fuji. I'm not vowing to never guy from them again, but I guess I'll have to have some money first. That is in short supply. I think my allotment of money is sitting is some arse-hole Wall Street bankers offshore account.
(Don't you get it...the rich are taking over the world!!!)
Maybe I'll exercise my right to the American Dream, the new one that replaces the concept of working really hard and realizing your dream. No, the new one is...play the mega-million lotto...and WIN! If I do win (I suppose I'll have to start buying tickets now) after I purchase those Leica and Hasselblad cameras and lenses, I'll look into the new Fuji HS20EXR that will probably be out this spring, an updated HS10. But considering how much money I'll have after I win, I think I'll hire a third party agent to check out the camera before and make sure this one works, the very first Fuji that isn't defective out of the box!
So, I'm excited about getting my camera back. My other camera, a Canon Powershot SX30 IS just doesn't excite me. I think my days as a Canon user are coming to an end...with a S50, S3 IS. SX10 IS, SX30 IS, and a Rebel XTi.
I really would rather be a rebel, but not of the Canon nature. I like to support the underdogs like Fuji (when I can get one that works properly) or Pentax.
Since I just started a new Flickr group Cemetery - Winter I think I'll get me cold arse into a cemetery and see if the [hopefully] fully functioning Fuji will catch me some nice shots.
Monday, January 24, 2011
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Where's My Camera?
Sorry if I seem to be a bit absent from the photo scene lately. I did not go into hibernation and have many personal obstacles in my way that prevent me from roaming/combing the streets of Detroit in search of who knows what.
I have had a touch of shooter's block, too, but that's the least of it.
And equipment failure. My favorite weapon of choice is the Fuji HS10. I had a lot of fun with that one because when it first came out, there was a lot of excitement about it, the ultra 30X optical zoom, etc. I followed it closely in the forums of DPREVIEW. The first wave of cameras were showing up in China and people were posting examples. Then the camera hit the UK and people seemed to be ordering them in droves. And then in the USA. But soon after, a new wave started, of dissatisfied customers who were returning it. I think the whole thing was like some kind of a contagious infection and when certain photographers bailed on the camera, it became more fashionable to return it and toss praise to Panasonice or whatever camera was next, than it was to keep the camera and see what it could do.
My problem with this camera was not that I was dissatisfied with the images but that it was defective out of the box. Not having a decent back-up camera, I wrote them immediately but didn't return it. Return it...hmmm...I wanted to buy the camera locally after touching it but that was not an option since Fuji did not have one dealer in Michigan. Return it. Who wants to return a camera they just purchased because it doesn't work properly? I was able to work around the problem (the LCD screen cut out when the camera was tilted) so I started shooting with it. My back-up, a Canon Powershot SX10 IS, was failing me. It had been into warranty repair once and a few of the issues were not resolved. I was about to send it back in at the end of the warranty when a brand new issue arose. Repairs on it would have been not much less than buying a new one, so I got a warranty replacement, the newer SX30 IS. It's a nice camera but I don't like it. I don't like the way it handles, the hesitation in the zoom, and the excessive weight. That's funny becuase my first camera in this series, one I used before the SX10, was a really fun camera. If you're getting the impression that I've owned quite a few digital cameras, you're spot on. I am what you'd call a heavy user, shooting at least three times a week, taking hundreds of photos on a run each time.
Two weeks ago I sent back the Fuji finally. It's been painful to be without it, to only carry my Canon SX30 IS and a little pocket Lumix I use for tight spots. Actually, the Lumix is more fun than the Canon, and it only has 12X and a quite small sensor. Lumix DME - SZ7. Nice camera.
And this week I'll get my Fuji back. I'm sure I'll have to go out and shoot something with it.
It's not the winter that slows me down because I love the winter, and it only takes second place to the glorious colors and sensations of the autumn, my #1. Summer takes last place for me.
Not going into Detroit puts a damper on my work because that is what sells the best, in a manner of speaking. Maybe I've not attracted the kinds of viewers who would like my other stuff, or maybe my other stuff just isn't that good. I sure don't know.
Left to my own devices, I am now leaning more to a vernacular style of color photography in the style of people like Stephen Shore, William Eggleston, Joel Sternfeld, etc.
I am still mentally active in photography and besides all the reading I do (books on the aesthetics, not the technique) I have been reviewing all my old photos and going through to review them. It has been interesting to see which photos I selected vs. which ones I really like. I can see my choices were more based on what I thought people wanted to see.
I can look through my photos, my favorites, anytime.
I always have a few cameras with me.
I have had a touch of shooter's block, too, but that's the least of it.
And equipment failure. My favorite weapon of choice is the Fuji HS10. I had a lot of fun with that one because when it first came out, there was a lot of excitement about it, the ultra 30X optical zoom, etc. I followed it closely in the forums of DPREVIEW. The first wave of cameras were showing up in China and people were posting examples. Then the camera hit the UK and people seemed to be ordering them in droves. And then in the USA. But soon after, a new wave started, of dissatisfied customers who were returning it. I think the whole thing was like some kind of a contagious infection and when certain photographers bailed on the camera, it became more fashionable to return it and toss praise to Panasonice or whatever camera was next, than it was to keep the camera and see what it could do.
My problem with this camera was not that I was dissatisfied with the images but that it was defective out of the box. Not having a decent back-up camera, I wrote them immediately but didn't return it. Return it...hmmm...I wanted to buy the camera locally after touching it but that was not an option since Fuji did not have one dealer in Michigan. Return it. Who wants to return a camera they just purchased because it doesn't work properly? I was able to work around the problem (the LCD screen cut out when the camera was tilted) so I started shooting with it. My back-up, a Canon Powershot SX10 IS, was failing me. It had been into warranty repair once and a few of the issues were not resolved. I was about to send it back in at the end of the warranty when a brand new issue arose. Repairs on it would have been not much less than buying a new one, so I got a warranty replacement, the newer SX30 IS. It's a nice camera but I don't like it. I don't like the way it handles, the hesitation in the zoom, and the excessive weight. That's funny becuase my first camera in this series, one I used before the SX10, was a really fun camera. If you're getting the impression that I've owned quite a few digital cameras, you're spot on. I am what you'd call a heavy user, shooting at least three times a week, taking hundreds of photos on a run each time.
Two weeks ago I sent back the Fuji finally. It's been painful to be without it, to only carry my Canon SX30 IS and a little pocket Lumix I use for tight spots. Actually, the Lumix is more fun than the Canon, and it only has 12X and a quite small sensor. Lumix DME - SZ7. Nice camera.
And this week I'll get my Fuji back. I'm sure I'll have to go out and shoot something with it.
It's not the winter that slows me down because I love the winter, and it only takes second place to the glorious colors and sensations of the autumn, my #1. Summer takes last place for me.
Not going into Detroit puts a damper on my work because that is what sells the best, in a manner of speaking. Maybe I've not attracted the kinds of viewers who would like my other stuff, or maybe my other stuff just isn't that good. I sure don't know.
Left to my own devices, I am now leaning more to a vernacular style of color photography in the style of people like Stephen Shore, William Eggleston, Joel Sternfeld, etc.
I am still mentally active in photography and besides all the reading I do (books on the aesthetics, not the technique) I have been reviewing all my old photos and going through to review them. It has been interesting to see which photos I selected vs. which ones I really like. I can see my choices were more based on what I thought people wanted to see.
I can look through my photos, my favorites, anytime.
I always have a few cameras with me.
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Fog-O-Riffic
I am trying something new here, sharing my love of fog with whoever reads this blog anyway.
With my interest in the super-sensible worlds, I suppose it is not such a stretch to see how I would love fog. Fog has to symbolize delving into worlds unknown, going blindly into something, a place or a situation, and going wherever the fog leads. Objects can be illusive in the fog, with portions hidden from view.
Whenever I see fog, I head to the cemetery first. Unfortunately, because fog can dissipate so rapidly, and some areas are foggier than others, I find it difficult to shoot over to any cemetery I want. So I hit the closer ones, while the hitting is good. Another consideration is that many active cemeteries have business hours and sometimes the fog is best before they turn over the 'open' sign.
A few years back we had a brief period of intense fog and I was out having intense fun, and nabbed a few of my older favorites:
and
The later reminds me of a movie set from a classic Hammer horror film.
Not of the dead:
Back to the dead:
Larger images of these can be viewed in my Flickr gallery.
With my interest in the super-sensible worlds, I suppose it is not such a stretch to see how I would love fog. Fog has to symbolize delving into worlds unknown, going blindly into something, a place or a situation, and going wherever the fog leads. Objects can be illusive in the fog, with portions hidden from view.
Whenever I see fog, I head to the cemetery first. Unfortunately, because fog can dissipate so rapidly, and some areas are foggier than others, I find it difficult to shoot over to any cemetery I want. So I hit the closer ones, while the hitting is good. Another consideration is that many active cemeteries have business hours and sometimes the fog is best before they turn over the 'open' sign.
A few years back we had a brief period of intense fog and I was out having intense fun, and nabbed a few of my older favorites:
and
The later reminds me of a movie set from a classic Hammer horror film.
Not of the dead:
Back to the dead:
Larger images of these can be viewed in my Flickr gallery.
Filters
While viewing a fellow Flickr-head, it dawned on me how each of us filters what images attract our attention with very different sets of inner eyes. I know when I drive through affluent suburbs with massive homes and strong indications of privacy, with a strong 'keep out' feeling conveyed through signs, fences, and order, I fail to see images that catch my fancy. My photos are tainted by my reaction to the area in which I visit and my inner filters finds little of interest in such a setting, with no death, destruction or decay.
Is that what I'm about most of the time?
Back to the point, I noted that this one particular Flick has a very distinctive approach to imagery and I do believe I could pick out his photos from a general mix. I do not mean to pigeon-hole anybody and think they are limited by what I believe to be their photo-gathering filter.
However, we must have some sort of inner thing going on that draws us to a particular style of photo.
I can't judge just who I am and how others see me, especially when interacting with me in person, but I sense that judging me just from my choice of images, the death, decay, destruction one would think I'm morbid, wear only black clothes and listen to obscure Goth and art rock, have black fingernails and watch every vampie flick that comes out. (Well, actually, I do tend to do the later, though I do pass on teenage romance vampire films like "Twilight.") That is not me at all.
So I have a style, I scan the terrain looking for a certain type of image.
One interesting self-imposed exercise I sometimes do is to fix in my mind beforehand something I want to find on a trip out for photos. Perhaps it is a specific color, or shapes, maybe globes on a partciular day. My filters shift and I notice new things with that filter on. I can alter what sorts of images I'm likely to find on that particular day.
Most of the time, I am unaware of my own filters.
I particularly enjoy finding scenes with incongruity is the theme, things that are not normally linked, perhaps a leisure chair out in the middle of nowhere, or objects that I force interaction with in a photo, signs, words, advertisements, statues, anything. I like the unexpected. The surprise. The big "huh?"
This is an example of what I mean, totally.
We create our own filtering systems, though largely on a subconscious level, and I do believe that just being aware of this, we have a great deal of control of the whole process.
Still, I do not think I'll ever be comfortable driving through affluent neighborhoods looking for interesting things to shoot.
Is that what I'm about most of the time?
Back to the point, I noted that this one particular Flick has a very distinctive approach to imagery and I do believe I could pick out his photos from a general mix. I do not mean to pigeon-hole anybody and think they are limited by what I believe to be their photo-gathering filter.
However, we must have some sort of inner thing going on that draws us to a particular style of photo.
I can't judge just who I am and how others see me, especially when interacting with me in person, but I sense that judging me just from my choice of images, the death, decay, destruction one would think I'm morbid, wear only black clothes and listen to obscure Goth and art rock, have black fingernails and watch every vampie flick that comes out. (Well, actually, I do tend to do the later, though I do pass on teenage romance vampire films like "Twilight.") That is not me at all.
So I have a style, I scan the terrain looking for a certain type of image.
One interesting self-imposed exercise I sometimes do is to fix in my mind beforehand something I want to find on a trip out for photos. Perhaps it is a specific color, or shapes, maybe globes on a partciular day. My filters shift and I notice new things with that filter on. I can alter what sorts of images I'm likely to find on that particular day.
Most of the time, I am unaware of my own filters.
I particularly enjoy finding scenes with incongruity is the theme, things that are not normally linked, perhaps a leisure chair out in the middle of nowhere, or objects that I force interaction with in a photo, signs, words, advertisements, statues, anything. I like the unexpected. The surprise. The big "huh?"
This is an example of what I mean, totally.
We create our own filtering systems, though largely on a subconscious level, and I do believe that just being aware of this, we have a great deal of control of the whole process.
Still, I do not think I'll ever be comfortable driving through affluent neighborhoods looking for interesting things to shoot.
Monday, November 15, 2010
Living in the Fog
Ah, golly gosh darn, the fog made only a short stopover here. There is meat and potatoes (if you are so inclined), coffee and cigarettes (again, if you are so inclined), spring and love, and fog and cemeteries. Truly a natural for the mysterious question of what happens when...we die. The fog enhances the mystery.
So much going on, and I don't know why anybody would be interested, and I don't even know why I'm writing about it. Maybe to sort things out inside my head a bit.
Detroit. My adventures came to a standstill when I developed some serious car issues this past summer. With an older car, I had no desire of breaking down in the areas where I go for photos. I'm on edge enough when I do so without having to wonder about the mobility of my being.
Equipment. I haven't had such good 'luck' with my cameras these past few months. The newer Fuji HS10 is really a fun camera and I love the manual zoom because it gives me much more control of my composition while I'm shooting. However, the shutter is slightly delayed and I miss shots with the camera. Overall, I am really pleased with the photos. And like an earlier Fuji I had years ago, a S5000, it was defective from the start. It has to go back for repair, though it doesn't appear to be a major problem affecting the image itself. Before I could send it back to Fuji (with a nasty letter about all these defective cameras I have been buying!) I had to secure my other camera, which also was having issues, the Canon Power Shot SX10 IS. It was already back to the factory for warranty repairs, and Canon only addressed one of the three issues. About the time that the factory warranty expired, a new problem arose, one that I would have to pay for no doubt, had I not purchased the extended warranty. Whew. I'm not a firm believer in those services, or at least I wasn't. The camera went back and was evaluated for repair, which was too costly, and the repair was declined and the store gave me a brand new SX30 (with that wonderful 35X optical zoom!) I am definitely a zoom-aholic. Great. Then I took it out for a spin a few days ago and the zoom mechanism was a mess, freezing up at times, moving in the opposite direction when engaged. Very strange. I got a replacement and so far this one performs as I expect.
So there that accounts for the equipment issue.
Back to Detroit, I can only visit for so long until it starts getting to me, seeing how people suffer, how people have so few options anymore. The world economy and recent events weigh heavily on my soul. We all seem to be morphing into something else, something unknown, something bad. I wish I could stop the world so I could get off, or just stop the world and have everyone evaluate where we are going.
And there has been so much else going on in my personal life, which has been swirling in a blender set to 'pulverize.'
On top of that, I really needed to move my photography into a different direction, and unlock the grids where it seems only my Detroit photography is deemed worthy a look. I don't kid myself about my skill level as I have no aspirations to that of a professional or 'arty' photography. I do what I do and I derive immense satisfaction most of the time. I started out my photography days in the cemetery, some decades ago, and I really enjoy it, the atmosphere, the elements that I like to bring together to create images that transcend 'just a grave marker' type photo. I like to set a mood, create a feeling perhaps.
But that's the tip of an un-melting iceberg of my photographic interests. I enjoy so much more, and in fact am just enraptured with the process of taking pictures. Some themes and topics come more naturally, but the whole practice of freezing an unique moment in time...is so intriguing.
So that's what's up.
So much going on, and I don't know why anybody would be interested, and I don't even know why I'm writing about it. Maybe to sort things out inside my head a bit.
Detroit. My adventures came to a standstill when I developed some serious car issues this past summer. With an older car, I had no desire of breaking down in the areas where I go for photos. I'm on edge enough when I do so without having to wonder about the mobility of my being.
Equipment. I haven't had such good 'luck' with my cameras these past few months. The newer Fuji HS10 is really a fun camera and I love the manual zoom because it gives me much more control of my composition while I'm shooting. However, the shutter is slightly delayed and I miss shots with the camera. Overall, I am really pleased with the photos. And like an earlier Fuji I had years ago, a S5000, it was defective from the start. It has to go back for repair, though it doesn't appear to be a major problem affecting the image itself. Before I could send it back to Fuji (with a nasty letter about all these defective cameras I have been buying!) I had to secure my other camera, which also was having issues, the Canon Power Shot SX10 IS. It was already back to the factory for warranty repairs, and Canon only addressed one of the three issues. About the time that the factory warranty expired, a new problem arose, one that I would have to pay for no doubt, had I not purchased the extended warranty. Whew. I'm not a firm believer in those services, or at least I wasn't. The camera went back and was evaluated for repair, which was too costly, and the repair was declined and the store gave me a brand new SX30 (with that wonderful 35X optical zoom!) I am definitely a zoom-aholic. Great. Then I took it out for a spin a few days ago and the zoom mechanism was a mess, freezing up at times, moving in the opposite direction when engaged. Very strange. I got a replacement and so far this one performs as I expect.
So there that accounts for the equipment issue.
Back to Detroit, I can only visit for so long until it starts getting to me, seeing how people suffer, how people have so few options anymore. The world economy and recent events weigh heavily on my soul. We all seem to be morphing into something else, something unknown, something bad. I wish I could stop the world so I could get off, or just stop the world and have everyone evaluate where we are going.
And there has been so much else going on in my personal life, which has been swirling in a blender set to 'pulverize.'
On top of that, I really needed to move my photography into a different direction, and unlock the grids where it seems only my Detroit photography is deemed worthy a look. I don't kid myself about my skill level as I have no aspirations to that of a professional or 'arty' photography. I do what I do and I derive immense satisfaction most of the time. I started out my photography days in the cemetery, some decades ago, and I really enjoy it, the atmosphere, the elements that I like to bring together to create images that transcend 'just a grave marker' type photo. I like to set a mood, create a feeling perhaps.
But that's the tip of an un-melting iceberg of my photographic interests. I enjoy so much more, and in fact am just enraptured with the process of taking pictures. Some themes and topics come more naturally, but the whole practice of freezing an unique moment in time...is so intriguing.
So that's what's up.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Critique THIS
The photo critique!
Maybe it's just a way of saying 'if I was you, I would have done this.'
It's a chance for someone to pretend they are you behind the lens, a way for the 'critic' to fault your work!
The photo critique is a strange practice, one I have never been fond of engaging in. It's one thing if a person specifically ASKS for suggestions on improving his/her work. I am NOT that person. It's not that I think my shit don't stink, butt that I really don't care. I got my image the way I want it and that's that. Would 'you' go to a live music performance and tell the band after a piece how they could have improved their performance.
Somehow THE CRITIQUE has become part of the whole photo experience.
Hell, why don't those critics get off their asses and get their eyeballs behind the lens more often and learn about photography through self discovery?
Maybe it's just a way of saying 'if I was you, I would have done this.'
It's a chance for someone to pretend they are you behind the lens, a way for the 'critic' to fault your work!
The photo critique is a strange practice, one I have never been fond of engaging in. It's one thing if a person specifically ASKS for suggestions on improving his/her work. I am NOT that person. It's not that I think my shit don't stink, butt that I really don't care. I got my image the way I want it and that's that. Would 'you' go to a live music performance and tell the band after a piece how they could have improved their performance.
Somehow THE CRITIQUE has become part of the whole photo experience.
Hell, why don't those critics get off their asses and get their eyeballs behind the lens more often and learn about photography through self discovery?
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Eastern Thinking
Now that I've decided to take a break from Detroit, I am realizing a few things, mostly that sweeping through Detroit felt more like a dare than working on a photo project.
I've always felt an oddness to the east side of the area (Detroit) where I live, that it is another world, a place that I can't totally relate to. It really is different. I'm more interested in books, art, gourmet coffee and foods, art films, world music, art rock, alt. rock, etc. The east side ain't like that at all.
The east side is more hard working class people (or it used to be...before the erosion of the middle class in Amerika), lots of flat one story ranch homes lined up in a row, churches, party stores, big screen televisions for sports, etc. That is not me.
The west side is not all artsie, mind you, but there are (or were, before the corporatism of Amerika through monopoly capitalism eradicated so many small businesses)or were more bookstores, alt rock music shops, ethnic restaurants, art galleries, and a wider diversity of houses and buildings.
It's to the 'burbs I go now. I want to capture my feeling of this strangeness I sense in the east. I most want to capture documentation of how people create space in their personal space that exemplifies or displays their personal belief systems. Religious statuary is more common in the east (side of Metro Detroit) and I love the challenge of finding some compelling photos/images of what I find in this land that makes me feel like a stranger in a strange land.
Detroit isn't going anywhere, so a diversion will be nice.
I've always felt an oddness to the east side of the area (Detroit) where I live, that it is another world, a place that I can't totally relate to. It really is different. I'm more interested in books, art, gourmet coffee and foods, art films, world music, art rock, alt. rock, etc. The east side ain't like that at all.
The east side is more hard working class people (or it used to be...before the erosion of the middle class in Amerika), lots of flat one story ranch homes lined up in a row, churches, party stores, big screen televisions for sports, etc. That is not me.
The west side is not all artsie, mind you, but there are (or were, before the corporatism of Amerika through monopoly capitalism eradicated so many small businesses)or were more bookstores, alt rock music shops, ethnic restaurants, art galleries, and a wider diversity of houses and buildings.
It's to the 'burbs I go now. I want to capture my feeling of this strangeness I sense in the east. I most want to capture documentation of how people create space in their personal space that exemplifies or displays their personal belief systems. Religious statuary is more common in the east (side of Metro Detroit) and I love the challenge of finding some compelling photos/images of what I find in this land that makes me feel like a stranger in a strange land.
Detroit isn't going anywhere, so a diversion will be nice.
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