Tag Archives: Ricoh

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The Ricoh GR as a Street Camera

June 11, 2013 streetshooter Leave a comment

The GR allows me to almost vanish or at least blend into the environment that I’m working in. That really means that I don’t have to argue with the camera and look stupid. This is also a device to use when you get caught making a photo….more about that later.

I am really finding the groove with the GR. It’s easy if you don’t resist the energy on the street and just work with the camera and not practice. I am having issues with the DOF but it’s not something I can’t adjust to and teach the camera because I am right and the Ricoh engineers have their head up that place where the sun don’t shine.

Here’s an example…….

I stood about 4 1’2′ from this planter. I shot at f/4.5, 5.6, 8.0, 11 The idea is that each stop will give a very close focus at the similar distance of 4 1/2′.

The difference in f/stops should show some sharpening at the close distance and more importantly….it should show more focus at the rear part of the DOF. I used 2 meters and kept that as the focus distance. Photos Straight OOC.

So we can see that Streetshooters Law of street physical optical anti-engineering is true in the practical sense.

I see that at f/11, we start to see that diffraction thing everyone talks about. F/8 seems to be ideal at 2 meters and so it should be. The reason I did this is because if I can leave the camera at 2 meters and just change the f/stops to get the dof desired or as many call it….Zone Focus…see, ya did learn something….so did I.

The GR is a great camera and I have adapted to it’s way of working and it has done the same with me.

I did find 1 serious problem and I went to my Shrink at the VA Hospital. I said Doc, I’m seeing colors doc. I’m seeing these colors in my photos and on the street and we….it ain’t pretty doc….

Doc asked me if I was doing that stuff from the 60’s……..hmmmmmmmm

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The Ricoh GR, an Elegant Street Camera …. Part 2

June 10, 2013 streetshooter Leave a comment

ISO 25600

I can’t even count that high let alone shoot that high. But it’s fun trying.

I’m pretty much at ease with the GR. I am having some thoughts about the Zone Focusing. I have used that method since my very first photos with my Dad’s cameras. The GR doesn’t get along to well with DOF Master computations. So I’ll try again tomorrow on the street. The HORROR…I have to go out and work again…tsk tsk, whatever shall I do…..?

The camera feels natural and my images are familiar to me with the exception of DOF. That in itself may lead to a new way of seeing the familiar.

I’ve been asked to write a review for the GR and I’d be glad to do so but only after I feel that the camera is mine. That means that we can work together without intrusion from each other.

The GR is a classy camera. Unfortunately this one ends up with a guy that ain’t gotz no class……

Tomorrow I’m on the street and will post some findings on the Zone Focus/Hyperfocal Distance issues….

Later….don

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The Ricoh GR …. an Elegant Street Camera

June 9, 2013 streetshooter 2 Comments

Elegance! The one word that describes the camera and the experience of using it. Elegance!

I was out yesterday for a few hours on a practice run with the Nex 6. I say practice because I am just trying to see how the camera and I work together. I had my NewsWear Fanny Pack on. This is an elegant way to wear and use a camera bag. I put a Billingham double insert in side with velcro and it’s the best camera bag out there. Anyway, the GR was in one of the pockets.

The Nex 6 is a nice camera. I’m using the Sigma 19 & 30 and I gotta say, this is a very good combination. So as I was getting the communication link established with the Nex, I kept feeling the camera bag bumping against my waist.

The GR is getting impatient. Beings the woman that she is, (Gr is named Tanya after my wife)….she’s very impatient and wants to get out of the bag and see the light because that stupid Nex thing of a camera has taken up the day and now it’s time to work with a real elegant camera so open the damn bag and LET ME OUT. ….NOW!

Well, it’s hard to resist and pointless also…so the Nex went to the bag and Tanya was set free. She was right.

I have the neck strap on because Ricoh makes great cameras but the stupid engineers use that asinine way to attach a strap to the camera so it’s impossible to switch from neck to wrist with any real elegance at all and your forced to use one or the other and every time you take the time to switch you realize in 5 minutes it was a wrong decision and that leaves you in Ricoh Strap Limbo…and that my friends ain’t a pretty picture.

So a couple of my friends on Flickr invented this place to make photos. It’s called…”Inter-Alios”. Now I’m not the smartest shooter on the street but dang it….I do know my way around Philly. I’ve done all that an Inter-Alios shooter is supposed to do and I haven’t found that place yet.

What I did find was myself with the very capable, very Elegant Ricoh GR.

Friends, I hope you find yourself in a similar situation with the GR. I know it’s hard to get and you may get impatient. Trust me, it’s worth the wait and it’s even worth the work but that’s another story and that I’ll tell soon.

It’s Sunday morning here in Philly. I’m told it’s the same in many places but I don’t believe that. I think everybody should have their own favorite place and time and the GR will help you live in it.

That place is the Here and Now…..

Go in Peace but go with a camera in your hand….don

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The Ricoh GR and the Nex 6 work well together.

June 6, 2013 streetshooter Leave a comment

I just love testing 2 cameras at the same time…..NOT! The GR is an amazing camera that fulfills all that one expects from it and more. The same is true true of the Nex6. Both are very intuitive and I was amazed at how easy the Nex works. I had a Nex 5 when it came out and Ray Sachs and I wrestled with them but figured out the way to make them work. No such issue with the Nex 6. Roger forget to send me the manual so I went solo and it all works in the end.

The GR needs no such thoughts…well, if you ever used a GRD#…you’ll feel right at home.

I never opened the manual……

I really need a break and I am having a naming issue for the Nex. I guess something will twist my brain……….

For Eva

I have a lot to say and post but I have to process images and gather my thoughts…..the last part is scary…..

don

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The Ricoh GR Saga … If a picture speaks a 1000 words ….

June 4, 2013 streetshooter Leave a comment

…. here’s 17,000 for ya.

Words tomorrow along with more photos………

don

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The Ricoh GR Saga

June 3, 2013 streetshooter 9 Comments

Yeah, yeah….it’s color. Here’s why….if your gonna be a B&W shooter, you must have an understanding of color and it’s conversion into b&w. Yo’ don’t get it wrong…this ain’t no technical session on color to b&w. In fact, that’s enough of that.

The GR is a unique camera in the fact that it has no history. No, it’s not an upgraded GRD4. It gets much of it’s intuitiveness from the GRD’s but after that, it’s a whole new experience. The image quality is a challenge and I’m real good at seeing and finding my images whether from the camera or from the processing.

I haven’t found it yet. This is because the files are so clean and sharp that they are almost to digital. Almost I said. I am not the easy guy to please but I am having some things happening that are showing me the way ahead……

Visually I’m still as focused as ever. The issue is in the back end. Backend is a term Pro’s use to mean the processing etc. I’m a hard core Pro….about not being a Pro.

The photo above is a part of my vision. The face, the hand…then the reflection, the buildings swallowing up humanity….it’s there…the camera did it’s job flawlessly. In LR4, I am still searching for my processing vision to meet my capture vision and find harmony together.

I’m getting close but that really means to SEE the images from this camera without pre-conceptions from everything that I’ve done before because that’s the way I like things to be because sometimes I think I’m a good control freak and in reality I’m just a streetshooter.

Let me say this before I end this post. The GRD4 is an amazing friend. We have done a lot together and we have been thru war on the streets and in the household. Yes, I’m a married streetshooter.

The new GR should be seen as a new camera because it is. If your familiar with the GRD series, you’ll have no problem setting the camera up and get it going.

My cameras are not tools. They are my friends and always have been. I go for walks with my friends. There’s a new friend on the shelf. Her name is Tanya. The GR’s female. She likes to go out for walks and have me put my hand all over her…not her lens tho’. She responds very fast but….she doesn’t like to be judged by any other camera before.

As soon as I really learn that, we’ll be dancing together….

More tomorrow after a walk on Market Street with Tanya. A few of my friends have this camera and are writing about it. I think between all of us…you’ll be more confused then if you just get the camera and use it. Please visit… Wouter @ http://wouter28mm.wordpress.com/ and Jorge @ http://ledesmaphotography.wordpress.com/

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A Streetshooter off Street is still a Streetshooter

May 31, 2013 streetshooter 3 Comments

Ya know…. I never get bored with photography. I never feel that there’s nothing to make photos of. If I’m not on the Street, I’m off Street. It’s more dangerous around the house then around junkies, hookers, cops, he men, she men whatever. Around the house is a cat that is all to used to having a camera shoved in his face….there’s this woman that resembles my wife but if I make a photo of her or even poit the camera anywhere near her airspace…well….it sure as heck ain’t pretty.

This photo is considered…Illegal photographic procedures. This photo means I order pizza for dinner and probably lunch the next day.

This is the photo that was presented upon the photographic inquisition. I explained that I didn’t make a photo of her and that this is what I did. See me in the mirror…well that’s what my camera and I looked liked before the camera was shoved down my throat.

The camera down your wind pipe is capable of doing very interesting Macro stuff but the flash won’t pop out because the camera is jammed against your lung or whatever they put inside of us.

So to make peace until the next episode, I always make a few garden photos. This keeps Barsik the Cat and the Russian Conquistador happy and I get to make photos in LR and post them because I’m stupid and I think she will never read my blog because it’s a waist of time and we could be doing something else more important like shopping…..

So I guess I’ll sign off because Barsik the Cat is hot and I have to sweat all day until he needs the Air Conditioner.

Life is grand…..hey…Is that a new camera?………….uh oh….later……

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Ricoh GRD4 …. is in the Pocket

May 29, 2013 streetshooter Leave a comment

Making images that reflect your intent and that brings forth your inner vision is what it’s all about. Not everyone is into photography this deep and to those I say, next post will be easier. I’m not a fancy technician at all and I’m just a guy that knows what he wants and finds a way to get it.

This is the DNG exported with nothing done to it.

This is the Ricoh JPG direct from the camera

This is what was in my minds eye at time of framing and release. This processed in LR 4.4 and using my Presets. The Preset is Brownie R. This one is designed to give the appearance of my Portriga prints in my own Brown Developer.

I think that’s Minor White’s shadow but he left before I could make a positive identification. The idea here is to see what everyone else sees with the camera and then to find your visual interpretation of what you are making images of.

This is the DNG file out of the camera. I knew there was a photo happening but had to see it to make it…..

This is the Ricoh JPEG out of the camera. Most would stop here or maybe play a little bit either in or out of the camera.

This is my interpretation of the scene. It’s the same preset as above. No additional work was done other then a pres on the preset name. I’ve worked very hard to get my images to look and feel and breathe the way I want. I’m not trying to sell you presets or anything. I’m only trying to show how to expand your mind to find what lives beyond the surface of your vision.

Don

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Tis a Color world we Make our Black and Whites from

April 23, 2013 streetshooter

I’m a wee bit out of place here so bear with me. I’m very aware of the difference of working in color vrs b&w. I’m not teaching a course here, just merely explaining how I work within each method. Your findings may be different but this is how I see it.

I’ve been doing b&w street for almost half a century. During this time I have only on rare occasions used or even seen color. Part of this is that I really don’t think in color. Of course I see it but I discount it’s intensity and meaning when I’m shooting. I remember more then a few decades ago, my friend Paul McGuirk (actually my brother for all intents and purposes) started shooting color slides and then color negs. I felt betrayed by his images. I felt that I would not let this color disease enter my world. Then one weekend in Washington DC, he showed me his photos. We did this often, share thoughts and discuss our work together.

Things changed for me as far as vision goes. We were looking at some photos and one just sang out to me….”I’m a color shot, don’t you see that”? Well, it’s a photo of the Lincoln Memorial. That photo in itself changes the way I thought. It didn’t change the way I worked but it had a very profound effect on me. Issue two of The Inspired Eye will have an interview and photos by Paul in it. The vision changing thought provoking photo is in the issue.

Move ahead many years and here I am. A great thing for me is to have my screen on the camera see in b&w. Then when I go to LR, I see a color raw file. At this point a decision can be made as to the life of the photo. I still don’t see color out there but when I re-photograph in LR, that’s where color has a chance. I started making presets in color because if I am going to work that way, I want it to be my way.

I think these 2 images express how I relate to color. You may or may not agree but it’s how I respond to it. Long gone are the days of having to make a decision before exposure with films……

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Walker Evans In The Garden

April 21, 2013 streetshooter

If you know me at all, you know that I name my cameras. My White GRD4 is named Walker. It doesn’t matter if you know who Walker is, but nice if ya do.

Tanya, my wife..not a camera and I work hard in the garden. We plant bulbs and watch as the squirrels dig them up and eat them. We plant grass seed so that we get a nice thick furry covering of Kentucky Blue Grass just so I can hack it down with the mower and weed whacker. This also feed the birds.

I always make a rock garden so that I can pick up a rock and find a squiggly worm to hold in my hand and watch Tanya freak out. I get to order pizza for a few days after that episode. Tanya calls lettuce salad. I think the rabbits agree with her….I don’t really know because after 7 years, I’ve yet to taste the lettuce from the garden. The rabbits always smile at me whenever I walk by them.

There’s something about Russian Woman and Cucumbers. When I talk to Tanya’s sisters or mother, they always ask about cucumbers. Money in the bank means nothing if you don’t have cucumbers. That’s a good thing that we get lots and lots of cucumbers.

We adopted a cat so that the squirrels would be afraid to come to the yard. I look at Barsik as the Killer Cat that hates anything moving. The squirrels see Barsik as a friend and a guard for them as they eat the garden. I think the squirrels see the garden as a grocery store. It must be a co-op because they don’t pay or work for anything. Tanya said we are the welfare dept for the local animals.

I like the garden because I get to nurture the flowers with ever so gentle a hand. I water and put miracle grow so that the flowers grow tall with wonderful colors.

I do this so that I can cut them down, put them in a vase, bring them to the dining room table and as I watch them die, I get to use Walker to make photos of them.

Street Photography Chronicles by Don Springer