A couple of years ago I re-kindled my interest in photography. I bought a superzoom bridge camera and got into the new gear spiral. Now I have 4 digital cameras, a Lumix DMC FZ38, Canon Powershot G10, Canon Powershot G 12 and lastly a Ricoh GX100 VR with a 19mm wide angle supplimentary lens. Thats a few to many for me, so I am going to change a few things.
First and foremost two of the cameras I love, the other two I like. It may surprise you that I prefer the G10 to the G12. It just works better for me. The image quality is far better than reviewers would have you believe, though the G12 is better, especially in low light.The other camera that I love and currently use most of the time is the Ricoh GX100. It's this camera that has changed my perspective on gear. Of the four cameras, the Ricoh is very different with its 24-72mm lens, removable electronic viewfinder and controls with some unique features. As I have said in other posts, its sensor is prone to noise and its easy to blow out image highlights and shadows. But the images have a look and feel of their own, much more like film, especially in black and white where they are on the gritty side rather that silky smooth like the G12. But thats it's appeal to me and I want to master it, especially in black and white.
So for the month of November I will have the GX100 as a constant companion, set to shoot black and white jpegs. There will be no Photoshop editing. I will use only the elementry tools in Picasa for cropping, straightening, vignetting etc. I know that going backwards to the days when I took my time, shot monochrome film and used filters and exposure compensation then pressed the shutter release, produced some memorable images, long since lost, on a Halina 35X that cost £6.00 new. I was forced to slow down, look and see because film and prints were not cheap and as a youth money was in very short supply.
Luckily I have a filter/lens mount for the Ricoh, and a Cokin Filter holder an a pile of filters including ND, graduated ND and a polarising filter from the days when I shot on an OM1. The purchase of an adapter ring for a few pounds makes the whole lot work together.
"Hell's bell's," you may be thinking, "thats gonna be a lot of messing around before you can hit the shutter release."
Yes it is. But I would spend equally as long shooting cards full of crap only to delete them and still mess around with the keepers in Photoshop.
The picture above was taken on the Ricoh, shot as a black and white jpeg with no need for any filters. But I took my time, picked my spot and waited for someone interesting to come along and step into the "killing zone." I took two shots. One of a girl in her 20's, leopard print leggins and a sim fur waistcoat. The composition was all over the place and the exposure was off too. So one adjustment to the camera, a slight change of position to improve composition then along came this couple, hand in hand.
All the shot needed was a small amount of cropping. I like the result a lot.
Its time for me to slow down, look a little harder, correct for blown highlights on camera and shoot less (little and often).
Photography is about capturing "the" moment. The ones that say something. Trying to capture too many moments on the hoof is filming.
No comments:
Post a Comment