Construction Site
March 20, 2009 CommentsULTRA newsThe 2010 Winter Olympics are just over 10 months away, and construction projects continue to disfigure and disrupt this beautiful city as if Mothra and Godzilla had chosen to wage a street hockey battle in our little metropolis. Alas, in spite of the poetic imagery inherent in these words, this is really just an article announcing some new features in the ULTRAsomething photography website — features like Gallery support, a Client site, RSS feeds, and the all-important donation option.
The Freedom of Free
March 5, 2009 CommentsMusingsI'm sure my accountant would argue that there's nothing good about volunteering for a free photography assignment. And, should one wish to pay for such mundane things as rent and food, she would be right. But for me, both rent and food rank slightly below coffee on my list of life's essentials. So when my friend Mike, who owns Coo Coo Coffee on Davie Street, mentioned that he needed a few photos to boost his business, I jumped all over it. Fortunately, there are some non-remunerative advantages to working for free. For example, your client can't be even remotely particular about what you shoot. "Shooting for free" means "freedom of choice." And "freedom of choice" means you get to pull out all those wacky little photo tricks that you never get to use on "real" jobs.
Like a Leica (Addendum)
February 22, 200917 CommentsPhoto GearA month after publishing my impressions of the Panasonic DMC-G1 and its ability to adapt M-series lenses, I revisited some of the issues in this article. Paramount among them was a manufacturing issue with the original Novoflex M-to-MFT adapter, which caused many of the focussing problems discussed in earlier articles.
Tempted by Texture
February 17, 20091 commentMusingsPhoto TechniquesTo many photographers, photographic artifacts such as grain, grit, softness, and noise are about as welcome as a rabid Rottweiler. To me, they add texture and intrigue to an image. This article discusses how, after spending several years seeking images of the highest fidelity, I've come full circle and, again, embrace the "texture."
Termino Morbus
February 15, 2009 CommentsMusingsAfter a week of malady compounded further by the medicine meant to combat it, I finally felt like venturing out of the condo yesterday. Well, maybe I didn't exactly feel like it, but I was beginning to suffer from an opportunistic affliction known as termino morbus. Don't worry, it sounds worse than it actually is. Like all things medical, it's a latin term that, roughly translated, means "closure sickness." Its folksier name is "shutter withdrawal" and, as any obsessive photographer knows, it's an affliction that causes one eye to close and the index finger to flex up-and-down. Without a camera in-hand, such behavior appears "eccentric" at best. Fortunately, I was finally strong enough to carry a camera and, like a newborn fawn (but not nearly as adorable), take my first tentative steps into the great outdoors — even if it was just to the Vancouver Public Library.
For Dan
February 4, 20094 CommentsMusingsMy good friend, Dan Timis, passed away yesterday. I was fortunate enough to have worked with Dan on two separate occasions over the last twenty years — at both Opcode Systems and at Muse Research. Dan was a brilliant digital audio programmer, and a very clever fellow. He could see a solution to a problem before many of us even knew that a problem existed. He always had an interesting idea; another angle; or a unique take on a design.
Signs and Times
January 30, 2009 CommentsMusingsSometimes a walk is just a walk. Other times (particularly those when you carry a camera), it's a metaphor for everything from the latest financial meltdown to a miserable Vancouver Canucks losing streak.
Like a Leica (Part 5)
January 25, 20091 commentPhoto GearMy discussion of the Panasonic DMC-G1 was originally a four part review. But the fourth post was so long that some people had trouble downloading it. So, I've split Part 4 in half, creating this new "Part 5." It contains my conclusions about the G1's "street" shooting abilities and a (scant) few images.
Like a Leica (Part 4)
January 25, 2009 CommentsPhoto GearThe nitty gritty. The dirt. The details. Everything you want to know about using the Panasonic Micro Four Thirds DMC-G1 as a "street" camera in a single post... well, OK, "two" posts. The article was so long, it got sectioned into a separate Part 5. Dive in. Enjoy.
Like a Leica (Part 3)
January 22, 20091 commentPhoto GearAfter rejecting an SLR, a portable "enthusiast" camera, and a rangefinder film camera, I'm left with only one alternative — micro four thirds. In this article, I discuss the allure of the MFT format and my decision to go there.
Like a Leica (Part 2)
January 21, 20091 commentPhoto GearIn this article, I discuss why a rangefinder is ideal for street shooting and, as such, why a street photographer might actually consider a return to film.
Like a Leica (Part 1)
January 20, 20092 CommentsPhoto GearDo you love your SLR? You must not be a "street" photographer. Do you love that little portable enthusiast camera with the faux rangefinder stylings? You, too, must not be a "street" photographer. In this, the first of a five part series, I discuss what I expect from a street photography camera, and why neither the SLR nor the enthusiast cameras have worked for me.
Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM
January 2, 2009 CommentsPhoto GearA short, subjective review of the Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM with sample images.
White Christmas
December 24, 2008 CommentsMusingsVancouver has recently seen about a foot-and-a-half of snow, and more is falling as I write this. The air is fresh and crisp. The dogs are happy. The trees are enrobed in a shroud of white where, just last month, they were warm in their brightly saturated red, orange, and yellow jackets. Naturally, I couldn't help but take a couple of photos.
Canon EF 135mm f/2L USM
December 18, 20081 commentPhoto GearA short, subjective review of the Canon EF 135mm f/2L USM with sample images.
Lensbaby 3G
December 18, 2008 CommentsPhoto GearA short, subjective review of the Lensbaby 3G with sample images.
Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II
December 18, 20081 commentPhoto GearA short, subjective review of the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II with sample images.
Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L USM
December 15, 2008 CommentsPhoto GearA short, subjective review of the Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L USM with sample images.
Canon TS-E 24mm f/3.5L
December 15, 2008 CommentsPhoto GearA short, subjective review of the Canon TS-E 24mm f/3.5L with sample images.
Canon EF 15mm f/2.8 Fisheye
December 15, 2008 CommentsPhoto GearA short, subjective review of the Canon EF 15mm f/2.8 Fisheye with sample images.