This is a favorite - the juxtaposition of the pile of boats with the modern forms is so bizarre. So bizarre you almost don't even realize they are there in your midst. It's just a blob - which comes to life upon closer inspection.
No Crop.
Nikon 1 V1, 30-110mm
Time to lighten the mood and bring out a cat picture again - yep - I’m going there, probably against other’s better judgement. I’ve said this before but if you can use the family pet as a simulator for the stress of being in the moment of shooting - there will always be something to take/learn from it.
Why - Because these subjects take no direction, can’t be predicted, and are never static enough to really get what you want from them. Hmm…. sounds like other situations I’ve been in.
So go ahead and practice - you may not want to post - and that’s ok as your skills for when they are really needed will be there during the stressful times.
No Crop.
Nikon 1 V1
This is some different content - an everyday scene which may draw some interest from those on the outside. It's funny how that sometimes happens; what you may think is crazy boring - becomes something else to another.
Nikon 1 V1 - 30-110mm
As I was walking toward the Las Vegas City Center and concentrating on the far forms ahead of me I realized of what was right in front. The woven fence became compelling once realized - and isn't it odd that many things are like that. Meaning many things become lost as in the saying; the forest for the trees.
Nikon 1 V1
This summer has been an exploration in Bee keeping. Yep - how’s that for a boring lead ?
I harvested 40lbs of the golden goodness and I set out to figure out packaging and decided upon the historic Muth jar. It’s a remake of course but a real eye-catcher. This has a shrink wrapped cork and custom label.
Labels were made at Jakprints.com and came in a $1 a piece as a final price after setup and shipping - and well worth it. It’s my own design and after thinking of others I went with the simplicity of JSA (J.Sturr Apiary), and it worked out well.
The upside down star has caught some as being satanic - hardly the case as I needed design space so I rotated it, and if so, then I guess the Medal of Honor is satanic also as that is upside down too; take that.
This was shot on the office light table - everything looks good on that thing — like a moth to a light bulb - I can never look away.
Available light - Nikon 1 V1 with the 18.5mm.
This is just some of my thoughts - I'm not a toot my own horn type, but I thought I would share as I always like it when others do the same.
The 1 series is a 50/50 mix of good and bad, and as someone has said, the cameras of late are so good now that the fault lies with the photographer. That being said - I'll never post my missed shots, out of focus, or the ones I wish were better - I always post the best stuff making it look too easy. But everyone should know better that it really isn't that easy.
Making/taking good photos is a lot of work, yet sometimes I get lucky and I'm at the right place at the right time, with the right light, with a camera - iPhone or otherwise - I get the photo and then look like a rock-star. That’s always awesome - and how can you not love awesome.
Most of my shooting is for my own pleasure - but I do market myself as a self taught architectural photographer.
I'm shooting the V1 as of late - for 16 months - with the 10-30, 18.5, 6.7-13, and 30-110mm - my other system is D3s.
I wish the lenses were faster on the 1, as I find myself constantly shooting the 18.5 for the f1.8, but lately the telephoto and zoom focal lengths have really forced me to develop a different style - a different way to see, and I’m liking that.
Nikon gear (FM-2) was a hand-me-down from my Father and that’s where it all started. But my first digital was the D2h - where I cut my teeth to make that system successfully hum. I remember the banter between those who had the megapixels of the D2x and those who had the rendering of the D2h fight it out, i.e. “it’s not the megapixels, it’s the sensor”… .”
And here were are today — and unusually enough, I’m in the same situation.
What do I most like of the V1 - the sensor has the same rendering at the D3s - it’s all Nikon. Dynamic range is a bit lacking but I’ve never really shot for hi-dynamic range. A slightly blown out photo reminds me of the organic nature of what we are all viewing.
NEF images coming out of the V1 hardly need to be touched - slight sharpening, and maybe a 1/2 stop exposure adjustment is usually all I need - else I’m doing something terribly wrong. I’ll vary between Portrait and Vivd and always shoot NEF.
I try to do all my development in ViewNX2 and any lens corrections in LightRoom. ViewNX2 squeezes that extra 10-20% out of the NEF. And I always find that extra bit surprising when comparing LR to ViewNX2. If ViewNX2 had robust lens correction I would be hooked. As I write this I hopped over to NX-D and was pleasantly surprised but at the same time frustrated with the interface - but the noise reduction is welcomed.
AF is lighting fast - it will still miss some shots, but not that often - and after shooting the V1 I’m almost afraid to compare it to or try anything else.
The lenses are very sharp - slow, but very sharp.
About 80% of my shooting is outdoors and the other 20% is indoors. But when indoors I’m using the best light gathering lens which is the 18.5 (50mm equilv.) because of the crop factor.
Searching for and experimenting with all of this hardware has given me 1 thing. The ability to recognize the “possibility” of a good/great photo. That’s all. And since this is digital I’ve been able to compress that amount of time spent with film to probably 1 tenth of what it takes to do that. I’ve been on digital since 2006.
I try not to get hung up on the hardware - of course it is difficult not too though.
The V1 will give me a native res print of 9” x 12” and I may up-rez a few photos to 12” x 18” but that’s my limit for framing, else I’m printing on frameless aluminum.
So that’s my story - so far. Oh - and for some reason, I’m on a BW kick.
Who knew ?
Nikon 30-110mm
This is from the BYU Provo campus of a feature designed by FFKR Architects - where the reflection shows the mountains to the East.
Looking toward Vegas - toward City Center.
No crop.
Nikon 1 V1 - 30-110mm
This — is Vegas — and I’ve been chomping at the bit to get this posted, (taken in early Sept.) but I wanted to wait to get them all registered first.
This - and more to come - remind me of the likes of Hedrich Blessing with the BW and the mid-day light and crazy strong forms. I try to plan everything I shoot, predict the sun, and hopefully eventually show up at the right time. If this is client based work - that’s a given - if this is vacation time, well, I try to do my best for planets to align. This was vacation time.
As I struggle to find the right camera and lens system - I am reminded of results such as this. And that’s not meaning to say that I’m tooting my own horn here - but it is meant to say that I can squeeze satisfying results out of a 1” sensor and a challenging (slow) set of lenses from the Nikon 1 V1.
Stylistically this is a departure from what I usually shoot. I have always shot wide - to encompass all of the subject - but lately I’ve been influenced by the photographer LaRoque and his style. It has really gripped me, and I’m going to explore more of the telephoto type field of view.
With that — This — is Vegas.
Nion 1 V1 - 30-110m
Here’s a photo of opportunity - sitting for dinner at a distillery in Park City, Utah - High West - some in this group may have even experienced their award winning Whiskey, but I digress. This was a matter of great light, and shinny objects - and I can’t lie - I’m a sucker for those also. This is basically out of camera - with sharpening but NEF.
ViewNX - when I can get away with not having to lens correct is the editor of choice - the secret “color” sauce is very, very welcomed. I wish LR 5 had the magic. LR gives me about 90% of what Nikon’s software produces. Too bad it is always the last 10% which determines the good stuff.
I’m always torn with the V1 system - as I wish the lenses were faster - as now I’m thinking of going B/W and pegging it a 1600 ASA, and just going to town and seeing what happens. If anything it will provide a new perspective - and that is always welcome.
Nikon 1 V1 - 18.5mm
Rarely do I ever put the subject in the middle of the frame - yet sometimes it is nice to stray from the typical.
Nikon 1 V1 30-110mm
This almost looks like film - and even though the weather was a bit cloudy and overcast there was still a bit of punch to squeeze out of the colors.
Nikon 1 V1 - 30-110m Pentwater
Over the next few weeks I’ll be posting images from my return home to Pentwater Michigan.
It’s a sleepy resort town on the Eastern shores of Lake Michigan.
This image is off the North pier looking West. I’ve never seen this area so empty during a Summer day - be it Labor Day weekend.
I went superwide - 6.7-13mm with the V1 - and when you get the image; you know it.
Nikon 1 V1 - 6.7-13mm
Nikon 1 - V1 6.7-13mm
This is a typical view of the Salt flats on approach to Wendover. Naturally dramatic and the clouds this day give it a great twist. A thunder storm had just moved thru.
B/W brings out even more drama where this is a Silver Efx Pro -2, Kodak Tri-X convert, with LR2 lens correction to eliminate some of the distant haze boost contrast.
I'm a sucker when stuff just seems to sneak up on me - as I was driving thru the West Desert towards Wendover, NV last weekend, the near by rest stop surprised me with these flying concrete roof forms.
I'm really happy with how this turned out.
Shot with the Nikon 1 - 6.7-13mm, lens correction in LR 5, and a slight crop and a boost in color to bring out the film like aspect of the two.
Nikon 1 V1 - 6.7-13mm
Thomas F. Sturr, 78; Son, Brother, Husband to Dolores, Father and Great Grand Father, died this morning from complications of a tragic massive stroke. I am his #5 Son, and he will be more than missed.
Taken October 2013
And that is not necessarily by design - but just how it's been this summer. I'll have more posts upcoming for sure.
CityCreek - SLC - Nikon P330
Is it just a great photo - or is it being at the right place at the right time ?
Interesting thought isn’t it — as this statement never even considers anything about the gear; hmmmm.
I’ve taken thousands of images — most of them are crap, some of them are so-so, and a handful are keepers, and of those handful, a handful are, “I want you to see this”, images.
Along the way there are a few thoughts about getting that image.
And then there is just plain luck. And I’ll admit it - I’ve had my share. And I love it. And I’ve had it all go in the shitter too and come back with nothing - but that’s thankfully never happened when I was getting paid.
Where am I going with this - you still really need to know what you are doing and be a master of your gear. And shoot — shoot a lot. Shoot a lot of everything.
After thousands of frames you will be able visualize the zoomed aspect ratios of the subjects you scan with your eyes. And when the subject bisects that vision, take note as that is most often for me the beginning what just may be a great photo.
Having your camera handy to get that shot is also helpful.