Tag Archives: Intent

Black & White, Color, Dreamcatcher, Garden, Inspired Eye, Off Street, Philosophy of Street, Photography, Street, Street Photography, Street Presets, Streetshooter, Uncategorized

April 18th, 2014 … The Fuji X-Pro 1 Finds It’s Strength by Discovering It’s Weakness

April 18, 2014 streetshooter 6 Comments

There is a law in Photography and life but who cares about Life when your a photographer. The Law is called the Inverse Square Law. This means that Less is More and More is Less. Take the camera for instance. The larger the hole in the lens, the smaller the F/number and then again, the more light that it lets in.

The 18mm takes in more than the 35mm that takes in less. Really good cameras cost more but have less intrusion than less expensive cameras that have more intrusion. Hopefully you get this. I didn’t invent this, I just had to learn to live with it seems like my entire life. Ya know, the more I think about things like this, the less I give a uh..uh darn.

So as I was walking along the National Historic Park a young woman approached me and sked if I knew where the Liberty Bell was. Funny, I thought. We are 20′ away from it and on the outside. She said, I really want to see it. So I said, follow me and I shall show you the way. She asked if I was like a real photographer. I stated, when I was young I wanted to be a great photographer and make magic with my camera. Now that I’m older, I just want to breathe and enjoy what I’m make photos of. We walked into the tiny observation cove cove and we could see the Liberty Bell from outside where we were. She was mesmerized. Her mouth was open and like her jaw dropped. She starred like there was no tomorrow.

I felt like the American Patriot Guide that I am. She said, see that girl over there with that guy hugging her. Of course I said, she’s very cute. She said, yeah she is….and that’s my boyfriend holding her. Well, my mouth opend like a gasp and my jaw dropped but I backed up and waited for her to turn….she said….as she was turning, how do I get to the train station….CLICK!

I promised to send her the photo of her boyfriend and this one of her.

It’s still kinda cold out and I am not in my normal form. I mean that the weather has taken a toll on my well being and I haven’t recovered fully …yet.

The Inverse Square Law plays a large part with cameras that effect what and how and we do. Here’s what I’m talking about. I am putting this out for the XP1 because I can and I want to and because this is a few key elements about the XP1 and the Inverse Square Law.

A weakness in the camera is the EVF. The screen ain’t nuttin to write home about either. Yeah, lets just rip this sucker apart. HOLD ON!

The strength of the XP1 is that it helps you to see and make better photos. Now better is a stupid thing to say but it’s true. See, if you struggle somewhat with the screen, you naturally start to rely on the finder. Tricky thing that finder. See, many will auto mode to the EVF but it’s not a fance dancy automatic, electroplated, 4 speed, syncro mesd finder. It’s a plain almost really good but maybe needs work to make it better if your not a serious shooter.

Serious shooters will draw to the OVF with the auto guidance pushing the EVF and Screen out of the way. I know…I know….I must be outta my dang it mind.

Well, if we had a very bright, high resolution type EVF, thenwe could just get complacent with what we are doing because all the work has been smoothed out. When you use an XP1 with the OVF, you are learning to see again. You do not take for granted the frame or the parallax. You don’t fear this because you know the camera is trying to wake you up and wake up your mind and eyes.

So, the Inverse Square Law shows that of the 3 viewing systems,the one with the least assumed accuracy will provide the most good images because you were awake and concentrating using the camera and concentrating on the subject and not the screen. Let it be known on this planet and any that youse may be from. I have been know to be a LCD Screen advocate for a long time.

It’s Friday, Happy Hoildays to all. Today is RED SHIRT FRIDAY and I know all my Patriot Family from the Warriors Watch are wearing Red Shirts to show support for the troops.

Black & White, Color, Dreamcatcher, Garden, Inspired Eye, Off Street, Philosophy of Street, Photography, Street, Street Photography, Street Presets, Streetshooter, Uncategorized

April 16th, 2014 … Fuji X-Pro 1 and 18mm … a Meeting of the Eye, Heart and MInd

April 16, 2014 streetshooter 20 Comments

Well, Garry woke early this morning again. He had the un-named 18mm on and I gotta tell ya…I don’t plan on naming my lenses only because I have to many to deal with. My Leica glass alone is like a well equipped shop, in fact it used to be. So back to Garry and the 18mm. I spent decades with a 35mm Summilux or Summicron on my M bodies and never felt the need to switch FOV except sometimes. Well That became my NATURAL FIELD OF VIEW. Of course now just like then I carried a few other lens in my small bag. Well, that’s easier said than done with the X-lenses except the 18mm and the 27mm. So for many years with a variety of cameras I’ve come to learn to see the 28mm FOV as natural.

Now this doesn’t mean that I can’t use other lenses, it just means that my NATURAL FIELD OF VIEW has actually changed due to habits. It’s now really 28mm or the 18mm that Fuji makes but gets trashed by many users on forums because it doesn’t have that snappy sharpness that has nothing to do with the real quality of a photograph. What is true is that the 23mm (35mm) is an amazing lens and I’m lucky to own it and understand it. because of that….I will now revert back to the magical 18mm.

Fortunately I am of the mindset, that the content of my photos always without exception takes precedence over the Pixel Peeping that gets in the way of the Art of Seeing. The mechanical aspects of photography have never grabbed me and held me long enough to effect what and why I do what I do or try to do.

Fuji XP1 & 18mm

I have to say that many months ago, I used the 18mm a lot. When the 23mm arrived on the shelf, I fell under it’s spell and was enamored by it’s charms. On the street I felt as if an old friend had come to visit me. I felt the FOV just work for me without hesitation. I could come upon a scene and when I raised the camera, I was where I was to be. That brought back the Natural Field Of View to me and I cherished every frame I made with it. There was something I started to notice. I noticed that many times, I was too tight. It felt uncomfortable and I spent a lot of time analyzing the situation to try to find a solution.

I had figured on having the Trinity. This is like my 1st release Tri-Elmar 28-35-50. So I would want to get the 18-23-35 to equal the Trinity. I have it but with the Leica and all my Leica’s and lenses…I used 35mm as the Pivot Point for Lens change. So, I would be at 35mm and could go wider to 28mm or longer to 50mm. As it happens now, I still have the Trinity but my Pivot Point is different.

I would use the 18mm as normal, then go to the 23mm or 35mm. Of course the 14mm is an option but not for me at the moment. There are a few shooters that make use of the 14mm that should be studied. Chris Dodkin and Gene Lowinger really have it down. For me it’s a bust time with street shooting, preset designing, magazine stuff. interviews and Tanya the Russian Wifey. I simply don’t have the time to investigate the 14mm. Besides, I’ve used the Heliar 15mm for a long time and it’s virtually the same but different.

Fuji XP1 & 18mm

So with all this going on, I am glued to LightRoom making Presets. It’s going to be a nice set and should be released soon. What I do with my presets is to find a formulae I like then, take it in another direction but still keep the characteristics of what I started with, just enhanced. This way, when someone loads the presets in their program, it will work as a continuation . Think of it as a series of images, related but different enough to be interesting and re-interpret the image.

The X-Trans requires different approaches as there are many that use the DR 200 & DR 400. Of course that requires a different approach that I am working on. Today I got out just a little and ya know for Spring Tome here in Philly, I froze my nuggins off. Tomorrow promises to be about the same but I’ll go out anyway because sometimes I do stupid things like that.

You should all know, Duane is flying his Jet all around trying to find Spring. He’s a flying Marine and if anyone can find Spring, he can. I don’t know how he’ll get it back here for us but the Marines Improvise and Overcome.

Have a good day and thanks for your friendship.

Black & White, Color, Dreamcatcher, Garden, Inspired Eye, Off Street, Philosophy of Street, Photography, Street, Street Photography, Street Presets, Streetshooter, Uncategorized

April 14th, 2014 … The Fuji XP1 named Garry and the 18mm Get Their Way …

April 14, 2014 streetshooter 22 Comments

I was drinking a cup of Kona at my desk in the back bedroom that’s converted to my office when Tanya let’s me use it. I heard a rumble going on and I wanted to see what the ruckus was about. Well, The Fuji XP1 named Andre’ was arguing with the Fuji XP1 named Garry. See, Garry wanted to get out and on the street but…..that’s not the argument. See, Garry wanted to go out with the 18mm that thinks its a 27mm but acts like 28mm but we doin’ have to go there….not yet. Andre’ insisted that he should go because he has the 23mm that acts like a 35mm and he’s convinced that the Shooter fella like that FOV. Of course, so far…I have nothing to say to my cameras and lenses. They have to resolve this to keep peace on the camera shelf.

Well, Garry pointed out that his job was to provide a 50mm fov with the 35mm and also a 28mm fov with the 18mm. He said that he respected Andre’ the senior XP1 on the shelf too much to ask jim to change lenses. Of Andre’ being the gentleman camera that he is, let the younger less experienced Garry take the day. As it turns out, the lens decision was made by the cameras and I was not included in the process. So as I under stand it….Garry was going out with me with the 18mm that thinks it’s a 28mm but is really maybe….a 27mm.

I stopped for an illegal breakfast that was as always, well as it was always great. 1 egg, over easy, 2 slices of Philly pork roll fried crispy on the edges, a cup of coffee and a glass of water. 2 slices of wheat toast with pure 100% butter tops it off. I told Garry that if he told Tanya the Russian wife that has no tolerance for me not following the rules of good health, that he would never be on the street again. Garry turned his switch off until breakfast was finished.

My heart doesn’t like this breakfast combo. In fact nothing in my body needs this breakfast but….it sure as heck taste good and makes me feel good in spirit. 1 time a month I can be a bad …bad…man.

So, I was asked by Garry to make a selfie and he wanted to be the star. So I asked him….how the heck am I to make a selfie and not be the star? Garry easily explained, focus and frame….close your eyes and leave the rest to me. I did and that’s the result…up there….

Garry hasn’t been out that much. I guess ya can tell that. The 23mm that acts like a 35mm has stolen the show for the last….who knows? The 18mm that sees like a 27mm but really we should think of it as a 28mm…hasn’t been out since the 23mm arrived on the scene. I have to admit. As good as the 23mm is, the 18mm is a better lens on the street.

Shhhhhhh don’t talk about IQ as Image Quality, talk about IQ as Intelligence Quotient. This way, you can use your mind to think in terms of how a lens supports your efforts on the street and not about how sharp it is. Besides, the 18mm has an amazing contrast thing going on.

Can ya see in the above shot that there’s little or no flare. I don’t use hoods on my lenses. This makes the 18mm the most amazing lens for the XP1. I didn’t name my lenses or cameras up there because I’m talking about yours.

The RICOH GRD4, the Queen of the streets give a similar feeling when you compare it to the XP1 & 18mm. No, not the size or interface but the images you find with the camera. Let’s face it. The camera/lens combo really does make a difference on whet you find. I’m not talking about names of the cameras but in the way they seek what you are looking for. I have a White GRD4 that is named Penelope. When I work with Penelope, the feeling is very similar to working with Garry & the 18mm. They bot take me to the same places and the same lighting. They have the same FOV and the added OVF of the XP1 is the biggest treat and incentive for working. Penelope fits in my pocket and is always ready.

Penelope is named after Penelope Cruz. I wanted to name it after Halle but well…Penelope got into my heart faster.

I will hit the streets again tomorrow and get back to my 4-6 mile walk. Till then……I don’t know…you tell me……later.

Black & White, Color, Dreamcatcher, Garden, Inspired Eye, Off Street, Philosophy of Street, Photography, Street, Street Photography, Street Presets, Streetshooter, Uncategorized

April 12th, 2014 … Andre’ the Fuji XP1 & the 23mm Explore Market Street

April 11, 2014 streetshooter 5 Comments

To start, I am not responsible for the following photos. I probably have to assume half of the responsibility but certainly not all because Andre’ the Fuji XP1 has to accept his share.

The day started off weird. Imagine that, around me…something weird, hrump! I planned on going down town and doing about 3-4 miles walking. Andre’ said he wanted to go. Like I would go without him or maybe Garry or even Daido, Walker, Ansel etc. You get the idea. But, Andre’ insisted he go with me. So I asked him what lens he wanted and he laughed and said…what am I wearing FOOL? The 23mm is almost a permanent fixture on Andre’. If you don’t name your cameras, that’s cool. If you have 2 way conversations with your cameras, that’s cool as long as you know who’s asking and answering. I have my good Doctor at the VA to sort this out so I don’t have to sweat this stuff.

So we started our trek on Market street. It seemed like there were more than the usual amount of nutz on the street, not counting me. Maybe it’s the warm weather but I’m aware of the changes around me. So this guy is standing against the doors, he’s reading a book which is just about normal but he’s reading to a large audience that’s not there in reality, at least as far as I can tell. He sounded like that guy from UK before it was the UK, that Shakespeare fella. His voice has a certain tone that if there was anyone besides Andre’ and me, they would listen just to hear him speak. Be that as it may, I made a photo and he looked at me. He asked if I was a photographer. I said no, my camera just needs me to carry it and operate it. I introduced him to Andre’. He smiled as I walked away. Yeah, there’s too many nutz on the streets.

This is at the front entrance to the old Reading Terminal. I was wondering what the heck this guy was looking at. I decided to make a photo before I walked in front of him to see what had him captivated. The light was just magic and I got hypnotized. I knew the 23mm on 100DR would give me what I needed to process this. After I made the exposure I decided to see what he was fixated on. So I walked around the column and then I saw two young girls, maybe 25 doing some kinda of tribal dance. I stood there fixated for about 27 years and then decided my heart can only take too much. I looked at the guy and he said to me…”Did you get a good pic of me”? I said I think so but I really enjoy what your fixated on. He said yeah…tuff day on Market Street.

I didn’t get too far before I saw this woman talking to herself. Ok, ok…I didn’t see any headphone wire hanging or nuttin’. She was arguing with herself because she was alone except for Andre’, me and the Gap girl. Well, I didn’t think to make a photo but I felt that she deserved the attention and Andre’ loves situations like this. So I waited and waited and actually, I couldn’t stop looking at the Gap girl.Now I know how that dude felt looking at those young girls….So, the lady turned to me and broke the Gap girl’s spell and then I was getting ready to make the photo but she was looking at me. If I made it that way, it wouldn’t work because the eye travel would be drawn to 2 positive sets of eyes. Then, I think she surrendered to the scene and just turned and leaned against the rest stop that Andre’ the Fuji XP1 and the Gap girl and myself were framing the photo….CLICK!

The garden calls this weekend so I probably won’t post again till Monday. If you get lonely for my post or need to feel better just send me a note and I’ll give you my DR’s number……

Don’t ever take yourself too serious and where you can’t make a joke about yourself. “Live long and prosper”………….

Black & White, Color, Dreamcatcher, Garden, Inspired Eye, Off Street, Philosophy of Street, Photography, Street, Street Photography, Street Presets, Streetshooter, Uncategorized

April 9th, 2014 … The Fuji X20 named Daido captures Mr Bokeh

April 9, 2014 streetshooter 10 Comments

Well, I’m sure it’s no secret about the Mr Bokeh dude. There’s millions and millions of shooters that buy a lens just so that Mr Bokeh will stop by and spent time in their photos.

Let’s get this straight right from the gitgo. I don’t believe in Mr Bokeh. He’s prejudice and only lives in longer lenses. If you wanna see him in wider lenses ya gotta know how to trick him into showing up.

Anyway, I had just gotten back from town and I even made the post yesterday on this here blog about the escapades we found. Then on the shelf Daido the Fuji X20 was anxious to go back out and be in the garden and told me to get going. I did, I always listen to my cameras and that keeps my shrink at the VA busy because if I was cured then I wouldn’t need him and he would be sent back to the factory instead of me.

Daido was ready I tell ya. He was wearing the nice black soft leather strap and looked very stylish if I say so myself. So I put him around my neck so he could see what I’m seeing but he gets to see it better than me because he has a zoomie lens and I don’t. We made a few shots of the strawberry patch because we wanted to and this way any shots we make all year get cataloged in LR so that it’s easy to see in a chronological order what was going on. So there’s not much going on in the garden yet cause it’s still way early in the season and that’s just what I thought until!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I thought I saw something move against the wall of the garage. It was just like a shadow or something and I wasn’t sure what it could have been. Man, was I in for a surprise. I changed Daido to a 28mm FOV. Se, Daido has many tricks up his lens. He can be a 28mm and even go out to 112mm. I know, I know….multi tasking may not be my forte but it sure is Daido’s.

So Daido and I slowly walked to the garage wall and that’s also where the raspberry bushes live. Barsik the Cat who thinks he’s my BOSS and that I should do everything in my power to satisfy his ever growing belly is following us to the Zone of Confrontation! I saw a Raspberry cane that looked like it had something to say. So….Daido switched into Super Macro Mode and that gets my line of sight and FOV focused to a very small narrow area. Well, I decided I had to make a photo because that”s what I do. I make photos and I work with my friends the cameras that have names and feel like they are friends and not tools so that’s THAT!!!!!!

Man Daido was at the ready. He was focusing wherever I put the focus box. No matter close or closer. He was hot and ready to work. I could feel the heat from the battery and the LCD just warming my hand to keep Daido charged and on point. Well, a few weeks ago, John the family and sports shooter from DC sent me some stuff for Daido before he was named Daido. Imagine that.

There was a magic Red and Silver button that many call a soft release. For lack of a better word, I’ll use that also. So Daido and I are getting ready to make an exposure of the Raspberry cane that lives near the garage wall and then…..to my surprise, catching me totally off guard….and making me catch my breath so as not to tremble and ruin the macro shot that Daido does so well ……

Just as I was ready to press the button that many call a soft release, on the far left of the screen I saw this guy start to appear as if he was a shadow and was going to sneak in the shot and not tell me about his presence but just be there and he thought I was stupid and that Daido the Fuji X20 wouldn’t even know he was there.

Well…Daido waited and I waited and I moved a little so that the sneaky shadow guy was in the frame and then>>>>>>>CLICK. ONE SHOT! That’s all we had, just one shot but Daido was up to the task.

Me, well…I’ll have nightmares for a long time about that guy in the shadows. See, he looks like it could be me but alas…it’s not…look close, pixel peep if you will and you’ll see that that is MR. BOKEH..alive and well on Montour Street in North East Phila, Pa USA.

shooter out………………………………………………………………………………….

Black & White, Color, Dreamcatcher, Garden, Inspired Eye, Off Street, Philosophy of Street, Photography, Street, Street Photography, Street Presets, Streetshooter, Uncategorized

April 8th, 2014 … The Un-named Fuji X20 is a Friend on the Street and gets NAMED…DAIDO!

April 8, 2014 streetshooter 16 Comments

So Andre’ the Fuji XP1 and Garry the Fuji XP1 were very tired and wanted to nap. I didn’t have much time today as Tanya had other plans for me besides being on the street. So, what to do, what to do? I thought about taking the Un-named Fuji x20 but geeze, I don’t even know it’s name. It has not even given me a clue and it’s been a good while.

How the heck am I supposed to go out and be serious about my photography and the camera is like a …a….a…tool! The HORROR of it all! This can not be, this will not be this is being resolved right now. Well, not actually right now because theres a time lag between you and me and writing everything and processing in LR5.4..(new update….) and a cup of Green Tea and watching CNN for a spell to get my news fix but you get the point.

So here we are and I took everyones name into consideration. The Fuji X20 which is Black with the hood and filter and stuff that John from Washington sent me is named…..the name that Tommi suggested is the one I’ll use for no other reason than it’s the right name but don’t sweat because if you submitted a name and didn;t win the grand prize, you win anyway because if you send me an email with your address and only if you LR because the presets don’t work in LR unless Olivier the wizard from Florida waves his magic wand and then all things in the digital world are fine…..well, the camera is now named Daido. This was a hard choice because I try to name a camera after a photographer that has knowingly influenced me. Daido influenced me without trying.

So just send an email or post your email address in the comments box and I’ll send you a set of presets. They only work in LR. I said that but for disclosure of the highest order, I must repeat. Well, not now because I already repeated it and I’m not a complete idiot, not even friends!

The thing with the X20 is that is really is an all around camera. Daido can do tele shots, normal shots, wide angle shots and even 2 ways to do macro. He’s even got this little flash hiding inside the top plate and if ya don’t know it’s there, it will never bother you. Where the heck is the on/off switch? He ain’t got one….turn the lens barrel and eureka…it’s a freakin’ miracle I tell ya.

The ISO is very good to ISO 800. Many shoot higher than that and it’s cool but noise and funky artifacts start growing and….imagine..me the image transposer worrying about noise. Yeah, I actually do. I like to control the look of my photos and not have the camera mandate what will be the result. High ISO is good if your prepared to get that look and can work with it. I can but I want to choose when and how.

Daido does Manual Focus like he owns it and no one else can come close. It’s true, it’s true. Andre and Garry the Fuji XP1’s get angry and tell me to forget about Daido and his fancy schmancy ISO tricks. check this put…I have to post this so the XP1’s don’t get to read it or the camera shelf will be a war zone.

here’s the Hyperfocal Distances for the Fuji X20.
2.0 10.1′
2.8 7.1′
4.0 5.0′
5.6 3.5′
8.0 2.5′
11.0 1.8′

The left column, such as it is, is the f/stop on the camera. The right column is the Focus Distance, in this case the Hyperfocal Distance. If you go to any f/stop and set that on the camera, then focus the camera to the corresponding distance, it’s easy to see why Daido claims to be King of the Hyperfocal Distance. Divide that focus distance in half and you see your DOF is very nice.

So, let’s say we are at f/5.6. Then if we focus the camera to 3.5′ we see that we have from 1.75′ to infinity in focus. Amazing!

I think another reason that the un-named Fuji X20 was given the name Daido is because he works the way I like in destroying the preconceptions I try to do with my Dreamcatcher Series. Of course we both fail because trying to destroy preconceptions just creates new preconceptions but…..BUTT! The files from Daido lend themselves to crazy processing that i like to do.

Anyway, tomorrow is another day and I’ll go to the streets with Andre’ because I miss him. Please contact me for your free presets…..

shooter out………………..out of mind but out!…………………………

Black & White, Color, Dreamcatcher, Garden, Inspired Eye, Off Street, Philosophy of Street, Photography, Street, Street Photography, Street Presets, Streetshooter, Uncategorized

April 7th, 2014 … Andre’ the Fuji XP1 & I Share a Dream on the Street

April 7, 2014 streetshooter 13 Comments

We left the house early this morning around 0830 to do a nice 4 mile walk. Andre’, Garry and myself. The weather called for cloudy conditions….ISO 400 1/125 f/11 to give you an idea. Then it was supposed to start raining around 1300. I figured to be home before that happened. Well, as things go, it started raining by 0930. I had just a short time to try and find a few photos. Well, that’s exactly what I found, a few photos.

Ya know, when that wind gets going and there’s a dampness in the air…it’s anti street shooting. What, How and Why are you saying that shooter? Well, when I use a camera bag to haul gear and rest the uncamera holding arm on the bag, one must pay attention to weather conditions. Here’s why. I use a Luigi’s wrist strap on my cameras when I’m using a bag. So, the camera is now in my hand with a thumb grip and the strap. What happens is that, wind etc will blow against your hand and it will get either tired, cramped, agitated etc. It ain’t a pretty feeling I tell ya.

Well, I started walking into the National Historic Park area. It was just about empty. I am not used to seeing it so bare except in the coldest days of winter. I started walking to the glass houses that protect the diggings that no one was ever supposed to find because it proved that President George Washington had slaves.

So these two guys are standing right at the glass and the glass is sweating from the humidity and Andre’, oh yeah…Andre’ is seeing something I really didn’t. He does his twitch thing and I respond like Pavlov’s Dogs and get him up to the face and ready. See, I’m trained to respond to the subject matter and the camera. Sheeeesh…how else could ya got photos if ya aren’t trained to respond right away? So I raised Andre’ the Fuji XP1 with his 23mm lens that acts like a 35mm lens and together we framed the OVF finder that many people say can’t frame correctly because they haven’t learned how to see the way the camera sees and that means the camera ain’t any good but we don’t care because we gotz dem brains and we be a figgurin’ out howta see right.

I open the aperture like I said already and framed. Funny thing, in all seriousness, I am using the OVF because it’s just a manly thing to do and I frame and after I got up from the ground from when the guy bopped me on the head that I made the picture of, I checked the photo on the screen and it was perfect to what I remember from before getting knocked down.

We walked up the path towards Chestnut Street and this is where looking right, is the Liberty Bell. Just before that window, as I’m on the outside with Andre’ the XP1 and the 23mm lens that acts like a 35mm…I looked into one of the exhibition chambers. This National Park Service Guard is standing there and looking at the light. Click..yup that fast as I trusted Andre’ to get the exposure right. I didn’t have time to set aperture and or shutter speed. Andre’ whispered, “I got this, don’t sweat it”. Sure enough, he set the ISO to meet my exposure. I had to do a little work on these photos in LR and NIK because I wanted to discover what was in my head and sure enough….it happened.

Tomorrow the weather promises to be better and I can walk more that 2 miles. Maybe I can hit 6 miles and just find photos out there….till then, I wish all of you the peace and happiness I never found….

………………………………………………………………..shooter ouy!

Black & White, Color, Dreamcatcher, Garden, Inspired Eye, Off Street, Philosophy of Street, Photography, Street, Street Photography, Street Presets, Streetshooter, Uncategorized

April 6th, 2014 … Fuji X-Pro 1 … Andre’ & Garry hit the Streets

April 5, 2014 streetshooter 20 Comments

Well, at the last minute I switched bags from the TurnStyle 5 to the Retrospective 5. It just is a little easier to swap cameras from the Retrospective 5. I don’t need any Enter & Exit Bag Procedure Intrusions. On the street I adjusted the dividers a little and now everything just works great. So, Andre’ has the 23mm on and Garry has the 50mm on and the extra pocket holds the EF-X20 Flash & the 18mm. I’ll never use all this stuff out on the street but….if I don’t use both cameras, one will go and I know it. So, I need to learn again to depend on using 2 cameras. Besides, what better way to change lenses eh? It was very convenient to swap cameras when I felt like changing Field of Views. It’s not hard to take, that I’ll say.

So I’m in Independence Historical Park and there’s already a growing swell of tourist. I couldn’t be happier. Actually I will be happier when the weather is tourist time. 75f +, sunny. That’s as good as it gets around here. This guy is looking at me like I’m from Mars. He’s at first looking at my hat. I’m wearing the OD Green VietNam Veteran Hat. I raised the camera as I drew closer and then he walked over to his friend. They had a map because they didn’t know where they were. Then the guy looks dead at me and ….CLIICK!

He says to me, “Thank You For Your Service”. Now I won’t repeat this and you darn sure didn’t get it from me but, every time someone says that to me, I get a tear in my heart. Hey, hey…I’m a man guy and we doin’ let tears come from the eyes….well, except if my cat Barsik licks my face when I’m sleeping.

At this time I’m starting my Observing mode. I’m not seeking the photos that I feel define me but rather the photos that define me that I just make naturally.

I just like to feel present in the Here and Now and these photos do that. That’s all I want from them. They have a chance to be seen for a spell and then I’ll click into high gear and put all the preconceptions that others and myself place upon my work and get back in the rut of working hard. Right now…it’s about innocence of the moment. Innocence of the subject and innocence of me and my pure enjoyment of being a shooter.

The Fuji XP1 OVF

There is much discussion about the OVF and much of it is warranted but then again….? I do not crop my photos. It’s not that I’m a purest or some nutcase that feels that cropping will bring the devil to the photos. Nah, I’m not cropping because I choose not to and besides…..I need to learn to see what Andre’ & Garry see. I know one thing. They will always get the last word.

I find the OVF to be as good as any Leica M I’ve used and thats many. I have both cameras set to do the OVF only. Of course in an emergency like if say, Penelope Cruz asked me to do a photo of her, well…I’d use the EVF just to be safe. Of course I’d stumble a little just to get the session to last longer but you get the idea. Other than that, the OVF is as good as it needs to be, for me. It’s the frame lines and parallax that are the achilles heel of any OVF camera. Ya know, who would want things to be that easy that all ya had to do was point and shoot?

See how terrible the AF compensation works on the XP1. Yeah, trash this camera and the stupid finder because the parallax doesn’t work the way I think it should. Get a LIFE! Go learn how to use the camera and stop complaining about it and do something about it.

The Camera is deadly accurate. I think I maybe have 2 frames that i missed the focus on. No, not 2 today, 2 from maybe 8 months. So focus check procedures passed with both cameras. It’s gonna be a great season here in Philly. I’m primed and ready. One of the things I need to be attentive of is the decision of changing lenses. Of course that means changing from Andre’ to Garry. This will no doubt be a very interesting experience this season and the lesson learned will stay with me until my time on the planet is finished.

There’s an innocence on the street now. It’s a thing that happens when tourist come in droves. I mean the folks that live here are weather worn and maybe bored with it all. But the Tourist, they bring new life to the city. I always felt that the City Government brought all the tourist here so that I could make photos of them and about them. Then I found out years ago that only some come to get photos made by me. It’s cool because I adore the tourist because I am a tourist. Besides, I’m not that good that I could catch them all and do a portrait of them. I’d love to get the commission for that project tho’.

Listen, many shooters hate looking like a tourist because they think it’s almost degrading. Hogwash…Rubbish I tell ya! We are all tourist in life, no one gets a permanent visa. So that’s like a valuable lesson from the streets. When you travel, do you feel kinda paranoid that someone will try to rob you, steal your camera, kids etc? Of course, it’s a natural state of awareness. So as a shooter, we have to act like a tourist so that tourist don’t feel that we are different from them. I act like a tourist for decades and I can get as close as I want to anyone without sneaking because I am totally into people that are into exactly what I’m into.

Tourist come to Philly to see the sites, appreciate the History of The United States and see all the different people from all over the world and make pictures of everything and everyone. ….. yep, you got it. I just described myself also…..!

I made this photo and then this man looked up at me and asked where I was from. I told him from Northeast Philly. He said, get the f…out, I thought you were a freakin’ tourist.

I haven’t gotten a compliment like that in a while. I walked away smiling but after I slipped him a few bucks. He made my day.

This is at the Municipal Services Building. That’s where people go to get licenses for all kinds of things like sleeping on statues and being totally drunk. It’s cool, it’s Philly and it’s life.

This guy is dressed pretty good and ya can see he’s not homeless, just drunk and tired. I knew he was drunk because there was a Vodka bottle behind his back. I used to party like that but now I just make photos of people that party like that.

All in all, Andre’, Garry and I had a productive day. They were both happy to get out and I was to.

…………………………….end transmission……………………………………………………………………………

Black & White, Color, Dreamcatcher, Garden, Inspired Eye, Off Street, Philosophy of Street, Photography, Street, Street Photography, Street Presets, Streetshooter, Uncategorized

March 31st, 2014 … Andre’ the Fuji XP1 and I are At One.

March 31, 2014 streetshooter 17 Comments

So the time was running out in my mind to get really settled in with Andre’ the Fuji XP1 and his 23mm that acts like a 35mm. See, as much as I like the camera and lens, if it doesn’t respond to me in the manner I want and need….it can go to eBay and find someone else to work with. Fortunately for us, that is an impossibility. See, when I’m working…I don’t want a camera to disappear or be numb. I don’t want it poking my hand either or making stupid choices or worse, force me to make choices at the wrong time. Well, that’s called intrusions.

What’s an intrusion? Your sitting on the toilet, reading your ipod, iphone etc and no one is home. Then when it’s time and really important, you realize that there is no paper around. That my friends is an intrusion.

So Andre’ and I were walking for a few hours and covered the terrain we both know oh so well. The 23mm has now found it’s home on Andre’ and with me. We are at one. We are complete and we are content to forge ahead in the new world of seasons and find the hidden photos that we will bring to life together.

Andre’ was relaxing in my right hand with the Luigi Strap making him and I feel secure about not being separated. I felt a vibration start and I saw the light that Mother Nature provided to help us on our journey. I leaned over the railing of the lower courtyard of the Municipal Services Plaza and saw a shadow that looked like us. I thought…geeze, that’s odd. That shadow looks like us Andre’, what do you think about that?

See, here’s the thing. The Fujifilm X-PRO 1 is a camera that will either make or break a shooter. I am dead serious. I use Andre’ in AI mode of Manual. AI is a robot that is somewhere in time. Ok..OK…. Andre’ looked at the shadow and made me move a little so that the 23mm 35mmFOV lens could accommodate the scene. I was looking at them shadows I tell ya. I saw the making of a photo and kept looking at the shadow wondering how they looked like us.

Andre’ had enough and said..”Look at the man STUPID……that’s the shot. Of course he was right and the 3 of us framed it and came home to our counterpart…the PC with Light Room …but that my friends is another story.

Black & White, Color, Dreamcatcher, Garden, Inspired Eye, Off Street, Philosophy of Street, Photography, Street, Street Photography, Street Presets, Streetshooter, Uncategorized

March 27th, 2014 … Fuji X-Pro1 … Tales From The Streets

March 27, 2014 streetshooter 8 Comments

See what happens when your blood levels shoot to the sky and your Doctor tells you that you must walk about 2-5 miles a day to lower the Triglycerides and eat right to lower your Cholesterol and you live in the Northeast Section of Philly where the absence of culture prevents you from having an enjoyable walk and your wife is Russian and tells you that you simply must take the bus etc downtown to do your walk so that you will do it every day. Geeze, must I. Maybe I should take Andre’ the Fuji XP1 just incase. hmmmmmmmmm

Well, Andre’ was let’s say,,,more than happy to oblige. It looks as if I’ll be stuck everyday having to walk around town and maybe, just maybe find some photos. hmmmmmmm

Sometimes Mother Light and that Bluebird of happiness just drops a load on ya and ya just smile. So Andre’ the Fuji XP1 had his 23mm that acts like a 35mm on and I headed to the streets. I shot 33 frames and that’s way more than a days shoot for me. Some stuff I can’t show because I just can’t and other stuff I won’t show just because I won’t but here’s a few that I like for some reason or another.

I’m really at the point of being 100% happy with my process. Well, I’m 100% sure that I’m about 50% happy with my process. But I am 14million 750thousand 496 give or take a few that I love my camera and the way it works. I feel that I at last have a symbiotic relationship with the XP1. This to me is crucial. I’ll bet it is to youse all too but some of youins don’t know that yet.

We were walking and just groovin’ with the vibe and music of the street. Car horns, sirens, loud talking, cursing, buses, trucks and everything else that Philly could muster up. So andre’ the Fuji XP1and his 23mm that acts like a 35mm told me to pay attention to the glass elements because it could get dirty and smudgy. I always carry a LenPen ad a micro fibre cloth just to be safe. See, Andre’ the Fuji XP1 doesn’t like his 23mm that acts like a 35mm lens to have a hood on.

See, there’s a thing called Parallax and the blocked finder screen and image from lenshoods. In my Leica M daze…I almost never used a hood with any lens. The Summilux has a tendency to flare slightly but I never sweat that because I would use Benzotriazole in my soup to cut back on flare but Andre’ the Fuji XP1 just likes the look of no lens hood on because it’s just a guy thing and he feels macho. For me, I just let him have his way.

We have the new issue of the Inspired Eye magazine just about ready to publish. That’s a time consuming job in itself and we are taking on even more work for our friends and community. I’ll probably write almost on a daily basis because my Doctor insist that I get out and walk…..he he he

From Northeast Philly, shooter out…………………………….

Street Photography Chronicles by Don Springer