Shoot the Moon made simple... No Mumbo-Jumbo

Happy Wednesday from Prospect.

Here's the simplest description of how to shoot the moon.

I've recently viewed a lot of overly complicated how to's to shoot the moon. Everyone goes on about how hard it is to shoot.

It's simple. Don't shoot it as if it were night. It's high noon on the moon so shoot it as if it were the middle of the day.

Heck, you could probably shoot using the rule of 16 and get it. Or at least be close.

Original HighRes Jpeg (5616 x 3744). Canon 5D mark II, Canon 70-200 II f2.8,  ISO 320, f5.6 at 1/500th

High focal length will help for detail. 200mm plus will work, aperture should be at the lenses sweet spot (f2.8 lens is usually f5.6 or f8). Shutter should be no less than the focal length, 200mm = minimum 1/200th sec. ISO around your usual for daylight. 400 usually works well.

The shot you see in this post was shot at 200mm, ISO 320, f5.6 and 1/500th, hand held (no tripod, although it would't hurt to stabilize at that focal length.

I cropped in as much as possible afterwards to get my composition and converted to black and white. Done.

If you want this kind of detail with a night shot of skyline then you need to shoot two shots for correct exposure and marry them in your favourite editing software,

Thinks about it. That moon is at least 2 stops brighter than dusk. I mean it's high noon up there with the sun straight on the surface and reflecting at an acute angle to us.

Anyway, hope this helps, it did for me once I got the duh moment over with.

Photos below compare two f-stops (5.6 is the sweet spot for this one)

Enjoy, Derek

100% enlargement of original jpegs. f4.0 on left, f5.6 on right (sweet spot)

200% enlargement of original jpegs. f4.0 on left, f5.6 on right (sweet spot)

DSLR vs Mirror-less? Really? My introduction to mirror-less photography...An eye opener

Good Friday from Prospect. Looks like summer has finally found us, and it's hot.

Today's post is more on the review side than anything else. I don't do reviews as a practice but if gear falls into my hands I'm all about it.

For those of you who have been following me for a while you'll recall I purchased a Canon G1X in April of 2012. I was looking for something light weight that gave me decent resolution on a C-size sensor that had the manual controls I need when I shoot but would be light and fit in a small case or pocket. Unobtrusive.

Canon 5D mark 1 50mm f1.4
click here for full size jpeg

My choice at that time was that G1X and for the most part it gave me what I wanted for a reasonable price. The kit, with filter adapters and such, took me into the under 1000.00 range. It has fully manual adjustments using readily available dials and buttons right on the body with almost no need to go into menus. It has 2 Custom, saveable setting groups for quick set-up, not unlike my Canon 5D M2. Sensor has a ratio of 1.8, slightly smaller than a typical C-size DSLR at 1.5 crop. Lens was a fixed zoom at 15.5 - 60mm (28 - 115 approx) with an aperture of f2.8 - 5.6.

This camera worked well for me and introduced me to mirror-less cameras without a big bundle out of pocket and no fuss about glass. I've shot everything from the Route Halifax Saint-Pierre race to the Tall ships primarily for this blog with potential to print (resolution is 14.3mp and shoots jpeg + RAW).

Canon 5D mark 2 Sigma 50mm f1.4
click here for full size jpeg

But as any photographer will tell you, stick to the gear you have and only move as you grow and can afford. At the time of my purchase I was trading/selling all my Pentax gear (that story is in the past and you can read about it HERE).

So the cost wasn't significant. But at the same time the Fuji X100 and XPro 1 were out at a significantly higher investment and just didn't fit what I was looking for at the time. I needed to learn what the fuss was about.

Now fast forward the June 2013. Time to move up. I had the G1X long enough to understand what I really did and didn't like about that camera and knew what I wanted. 

Fuji XPro-1 Fuji 35mm f1.4
click here for full size jpeg

I have no issues about the whole mirror-less concept, which as far as I'm concerned it is just a reincarnation of the range finder with a live view LCD on the back. Call them point and shoots if you will but that really doesn't describe them. I know of a bunch of DSLRs that fit that point and shoot description. If you're sticking your camera on auto everything, regardless on interchangeable lenses, it's a point and shoot. Hell, a cardboard, film,  pin hole camera is as close to a point and shoot as you can get.

Canon 5D mark1 Canon 16-35-II f2.8
click here for full size jpeg

Now to the review part. The problem I had with the Canon G1X was, to be honest, minor to most. Manual focus was truly non existent, the optical view finder is a joke and if I wasn't shooting stand still subject matter it just fought focus all the way. You need to really think about your focus and framing beyond the usual. Simply zooming in ever so slightly to reframe would change your aperture which would adjust your depth of field which would change your composition and on and on. Not cool! But it did have a leaf shutter and if I were to use it in a studio setting that would work. But that's not what that camera is about. They're about shooting without flash, for the most part, with available light. Street photography is where they belong.

Mind you, once I took the shot it gave me above average quality. I do compare these to top end DSLRs, that I use to put food on the table, so I'm a lot fussy.

Canon 5D mark2 Canon 16-35 II f2.8
click here for full size jpeg

Well I'm glad I chose this route of seeing if I could really rely on such a camera. June I traded in my G1X for a Fuji XPro-1. The pricing has dropped significantly and the control and quality are stunning.

Some say they are willing to give up their DSLRs for this camera. I can't say that much, unless you're comparing any of the crop sensor DSLRs on the market today. Then yeah, dump em.

I shoot with full frame Canon 5D M2 and M1. Those full frame sensors are tough to beat. They're not about resolution (being 21mp and 12mp respectively) they're about fidelity. They're about buttery mid-tones and smooth flesh-tones. And nothing beats full frame for Bokeh, especially with the right lens. 

But I've gotta tell ya this thing just performs. I doubt, IMHO, there is any C-size DSLR that can knock this camera off it's pedestal. It has every control at your finger tips, 16mp res on Fuji's new xtrans CMOS, c-size sensor. That means no anti aliasing filter in from to blur the image to get rid of moire. If you're not sure what that means it simply means sharp images right out of the gate without weird patterns from things like clothing patterns, house siding and fences to name a few.

I've posted 6 images on this post with links to the full high-res for you to view. All high res Jpegs exported from Lightroom with nothing more than  a watermark and identifying titles. All were shot in manual mode as set by one of my hand held incedent light meters to make these fair. All were RAW+jpeg modes in fine at 2000/sec, f4.5 and ISO 200. The lenses I used were Fuji's 35mm f1.4, Fuji14mm f2.8 on the xpro 1,  Canons 16-35 II f2.8 and my Sigma 50mm f1.4 (best 50mm lens on the market, bar none, IMHO) on the mark 1 and 2. The only unfair thing here is the 16-35mm ( Only wide angle I have for my Canons. I don't own the Canon 14mm f2.8. Just don't have that bread). It is a zoom which inherently don't produce the sharpness of a prime lens so the real comparison is the 50mm vs the 35 (53mm on fuji crop sensor, sort of).

Fuji XPro-1 Fuji 14mm f2.8
click here for full size jpeg

I did notice that the fuji raw from sensor colour balance is a bit colder than the Canon ones (maybe it's just how Lightroom translates the raw file). But quite expected if you are familiar with fuji as a film company. It's where they live in colour balance. I made a point to not adjust it to be fair. The colour rendition of the jpegs are much closer but since each camera modifies the image to produce the jpeg, and I've adjusted my set-ups to be closer than default, I thought that didn't make a good comparison.

I've also included a screen shot of file sizes from the three digital cameras at my disposal. If the RAW file sizes are any indication of information these are chalk full of data. This is definitely game changing technology.

Anyway you be the judge. I'll be carrying this thing every where and should be at a full comfort level real soon.

If you have any comments don't be shy. I'd love to hear them.

Enjoy, Derek

New Just That site Launched

Happy Wednesday from Prospect

I'm happy to announce the launch of our new creative services site. Just That Communications has been in business for 8 years and we couldn't be happier.

New Just That website

This most recent instalment rounds up the three online spaces we occupy to show our talents.

Explore our new site and check out the WHAT?. It's everything you were looking for in visual marketing services.

Don't be shy either. If you like what you see just "GET IN TOUCH".

derekmasonphotography.com

This Blog

Hope to hear from you.

Derek

Another Great day on Halifax Harbour

Good Friday from Prospect.

I'll end the week with a little lighter post.

No need to rush with that spinnaker hoist, now is there.

Enjoying the weather on the Halifax Waterfront

Mar II

Georges Island in the middle of the Harbour

Thought I'd share this one with you from 2010. We were out on another exceptional day on Halifax Harbour. Well exceptional for everyone except the J24 National competitors. 

You see, you need wind to race sail boats. No wind, no competition. It was the last day of the Nationals and I don't think they got enough in the afternoon to run more than one race until the time limit. Wind picked up afterwards.

Anyway, that was the reason we went out, to watch.

The Sylva

Fortunately for us we had a wonderful afternoon, as well as anyone else that had the opportunity to enjoy this cities waterfront.

Enjoy the pics, Derek

The rain has stopped but the storm hasn't left just yet.

Good Monday from Prospect.

Prospect NS, f11, ISO 50, 1/200 sec at 16mm

f13, 1/25 sec ISO 50 at 26mm

Recently we've had days of heavy rain after the wonderful sun the past week.

Today is an exception before we go back to rain, sun and 16C. I hope this isn't a prelude to the summer here.

Well I found a few moments to run out and get a sense or mood of the days break.

f16, 1/125 sec, ISO 125 at 16mm

These are definitely samples of the past few days weather.

Anyway, enjoy, Derek

Chasing Tech or integration with analogue?

Good Friday from Prospect.

I want to start this post by saying one thing. I am and always will be a student of photography.

With that said I choose what I post as a statement that is always IMHO but built of the facts and experiences I compile.

Set-up for the shoot. I'm shooting Ilford PanF50. Gotta get it quick with those rain clouds looming.
Canon 580IIx through 36 inch umbrella as main light

So, todays piece. Allot has been said about the death of film and the wonders of digital photography. Without the maturity of digital photography I would not be where I am today in my craft. The cost associated with photography has always been high but until recently you needed a ton of money to move forward. You still need cash just some of it is far more affordable. Good glass and cameras come at a cost and if you aren't wealthy or a busy full time photographer it seems, at times, unjustifiable to invest that much money.

But with the growth of digital photography and the price reductions, due to that popularity, practically everyone can have decent gear. Especially with the resurgence of the range finder design of cameras (mirror-less they call it) . That's what a range finder always was, it has no mirror. ( A mirror is used in a SLR to reflect the image in the lens through a viewfinder. A range finder has  it's viewfinder separate from the lens plane so you don't see exactly what the camera will capture.)

What I want to point out is with all the available gear, we've found ourselves chasing the latest and greatest.  Which IMHO has pushed photographers into tech geeks and pixel pushers.

Mind you I love chasing tech. I am a geek when it comes to electronic toys and I can't get enough info about them. Doesn't mean I want what I see, I just appreciate the technologies themselves. 

Using a digital camera as the polaroid
to test exposure and comp (Canon G1x set to 6x6 format)
Manually set with hand held meter
(BW conversion with Silver FX 2 as Ilford PanF50)

(Side note: did you know that medicine is exploring the use of our new sensor technologies to correct many effects of macular degeneration. Yup, they are experimenting with transplant surgery to replace/enhance the human retina with the sensor technologies we use to capture images with our cameras…cool!)

Today, everyone needs that next new toy to be a great artist. Yes, great gear makes life easier and in many ways allows us to explore more creative avenues. But, and here it is, I believe it has watered down the true expression that is photography. Images express stories not pixels and sensors. I do believe the megapixel race is over. The sensor itself, how it processes the images we capture, has a bit more to go. But that's all about fine tuning. A 35mm DSLR at 12MP is more than enough for the average photographer. 21+MP is plenty for a professional full frame DSLR. Now don't get me wrong, higher MPs are great for HUGE reproductions, but as a whole we don't need them to resolve DMax and fidelity (larger sensors do that). Available B&W sensors don't need to deal with moire along with the new crop of Fuji sensors with the new pixel arrangements that eliminate pattern caused moiré. Funny, just like the ability of film. BTW, offset printing resolved the same patterning/moiré issues with line screens many years ago with the use of stochastic screening (random patterning of variable sized dots to generate a printed image) similar to Fuji's solution.

The photography industry has found a way to get us in this chase. Prior to digital photography you found a great camera that shot film. You saved for that great glass and used it until you wore it out. When you wanted the advantage of a new sensor, you switched out one film for another. And although the resolution was the same through the lens you picked a different ISO film for both sensitivity, grain size as well as colour balance (manipulated with on lens filters and tweaked in the darkroom). In case you don't see it, that drove the manufactures crazy. How could they sell you more stuff if that stuff just lasted? The only money making part was the consumable end…chemistry and film.

I am going to take a step forward and offer an opinion here. Film is not dead but in fact is the next great MEGA PIXEL sensor. Oh wait, it always was. I guess that's a step backward? I'm confused.

Here it is. All forms of photographic media can express the story telling I mentioned. If you've read any of my recent posts you'll already know that I've gone back to film. Not tossed out digital, but reintroduced film into my work flow. I feel that the love of photography for me has always been about the taking of images and telling my story with those pics.

The camera, for me, is my inspiration. The process of picking it up, studying my surroundings, observing the light, thinking of the subject matter and expressing the story with my camera in hand. It seems to make me a part of the moment. The act of taking the picture is just as important as processing and viewing the image I was after. Having that result appear before me only completes the experience. Hell, lets be honest, I just dig the sound of mirror slap and shutter action.

I guess my point is this. Stop chasing gear and bashing other mediums you don't use, I drive myself crazy when I chase new stuff. Just find what inspires you. That thing that drove you to a camera in the first place. Get your hands on that and go capture those stories.

Remember whats new is old and whats old is new. It's all good.

Thanks and enjoy, Derek

Question - When does social media photo sharing become good photography?

Good Monday from Prospect.

Winter here in Prospect. Glad that's over for another year.
iphone and best camera app

So here's the deal. I hinted at my desire to rant as of late, which has been holding me back from updating this blog.

I like to add positive content not negative, but this has been bugging me for a while. 

Before I start I want to be clear, to each his own and far be it for me to lay the map of whats right and wrong. Creativity is subjective in it's nature, but bad is still bad. This is simply my personal opinion and nothing more. Take it or leave it.

Waiting in the airport before, Christmas,
for the plane to arrive.
iphone with best camera app

Seems to me these days that anyone with a phone can be an artistic photographer. Really? Personally, I dig the use of mobile devices to share, visually, the events that shape our lives and this planet as a whole. Personally I thoroughly enjoy the freedom of using my iphone to explore new ideas and document locations (GPS built in). I also understand, generally, the concept of Lomography as an art form.

Social Media allows us to tell our stories, to share our experiences, with anyone who'll listen, Instantly. I mean the simple name Instagram explains it all, no lag in sharing an event as it happens.

This recent past Superbowl, as a great example, was shared by thousands in the stands to millions that couldn't be there. It allowed us to see what went on outside of the networks choices in broadcasting the event ( mind you they spread their story to millions of sports fans). By Instagrams' accounts, over 3 million photos at approx. 450 per second were taken and shared. It's that "being there" experience that happens.

Wow, what an amazing event share. Now that's the power of social media! Hmm, one picture worth a thousand words times 3 million? Now there was a story, albeit there was lots of duplication that would need to be edited, but you get the picture. As well, I suppose, that adds endorsement and credence to the event share (another story for another time).

Story Link here from intragram (http://blog.instagram.com/post/42254883677/sbroundup).

But I have an issue with individuals, especially self proclaimed professional photographers,  randomly taking pictures with their phones, dragging it through some obscure, god awful preset developed for their phone and claiming it the most wonderful artistic photograph of all time that they simply must share.

I have even heard some claim that they use their good gear to make these low end, noisy, pieces of trite and say it's okay because they used expensive gear. Once again I say, Really? (A snow covered bush with trite preset post processing, with a funky ragged frame, does not a good photo make.) "Substance over style. Content over Technique!"

I have never been a fan of presets of the extreme. Yes I have been as guilty as the next guy for experimenting with the weird and unusual technique to explore another avenue of image processing ( I do have one image on my photo site with over the top HDR to accentuate the high contrast and crisp reflections of the car in the photo and the texture of the surroundings. It was an experimental personal project). But fortunately for everyone concerned I dropped the continuous use of presets art conversions back in the 90's where it belonged. I still experiment with a multiple array of post processing techniques to enrich the image, I see within my own vision, to come up with that final minds image. I'm even not beyond shooting film and cross processing to experiment. Creativity reigns.

I will pay tribute to Chase Jarvis's concept of the idea that the best camera is the one you have with you when it comes to sharing an event or exploring an idea to come back to. But,  Great images take time, planning and thought. They are not random in nature but are deliberate. The democratization of photography is just that, sharing real ideas free of limits. With that said, in a random moment, and using Murphy's law, the best camera is the one you left at home (unless you are truly prepared and committed to photography).

A good friend of mine and landscape photographer, never just grabs his phone, or a cheap lomographic piece of junk for that matter, and shoots a "pretty" sunset. He invests his time and energy searching for just the right light and frame to capture the most elegant and enriching moment in time as our planet expresses itself to us it's guests. Ooo, that gave me the chills. But it's true. His work is deliberate and thought out. He views the subject in his mind and arranges what he wants through his lens to share that scene and moment with us.

Waiting yet once again for my daughter and wife. See a trend.
Maybe this will be my next personal project.
Waiting, waiting and waiting again. Where is everybody?
iphone with best camera app.

Maybe this all stems from being a designer. I look at every project from a logical perspective. I analyze my client and their needs and try to express those outcomes visually to help them with messaging that expresses what they want to say with a solid graphic voice. I never simply drop a random image on a client, that has no bearing with their message, because it looks nice. The brands I develop are planned and deliberate.  Expressions of a message from the client to their audience, nothing less. So why should photography be anything less.

For that matter why should graphic design or fine art be any different. Once again another story for another time.

So as not to point at anyone in particular, although I think you know who you are, I've simply posted a couple of images I have taken with the camera at hand to express my feeling at that moment in a place and time that needed to be shared. May turn into a personal project, who knows. I did use the software I installed on my iphone to clean up an image or two, and photoshop some others, to express how I felt (simple b&w conversions are usually the best way to fix lousy quality, phone images, IMHO).

BTW, if you want to look extra dorky here's a skin for your phone, at least you'll look like you have a Leica in your hands (personally I have a skin of a cassette tape, since I have music on my iphone, Ha ha).

http://store.petapixel.com/leica-look-alike-skin-for-the-iphone-4-4s/

Remember, art is deliberate and not trite. Randomness is how you explore an idea, not what you use as the final presentation.

Photography is as much an art form as any when it's treated as such and carries a deliberate message.

On a lighter note the cover came off the boat this past weekend. That should get me out of my winter funk.

Okay, I'm done and it's off my chest, Thanks and Enjoy, IMHO, Derek