Panorama

 

Aloha Lake, Desolation Wilderness, by Reed A. George

 

The iPhone does an incredible job with panoramas. Click on it to see the detail.

 

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Contemplative Geology

Contemplative Geology, by Reed A. George

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX100

iso200, f5.6, 1/800 sec.

 

Just part of the geology at the Desolation Wilderness in Northern California. This place is pretty zen.

 

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Those Northern California Clouds

 

All photographed with the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX100.

 

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16:9 Format - Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX100

 

Landscape in 16:9, by Reed A. George

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX100

iso 400, f5.6, 1/100 sec.

 

I've just uploaded a set of images from my recent trip to the Desolation Wilderness in Northern California to my flickr page. (Click Here) to view them all (or if you want to see this image larger). Every single one of the images in this set was captured with the LX100. What a wonderfully compact and capable camera this is, perfect for a long hiking trip like the one I was on (3 days, two nights camping).

 

I love the native 16:9 format in the LX100, though I did crop a larger image to get it in this case.

 

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Preparing for Some Travel

Belizean Scene, by Reed A. George

Panasonic DMC-G1, 100-300mm f4-5.6 Lens at 100mm

iso 2000, f5.6, 1/400 sec

 

I'm mentally gearing up for my trip to Maui and California. This is mostly a family trip, followed by a couple of days of hiking in the Northern California mountains. I'm trying to figure out how little gear I can get away with and be happy on the trip. We'll be in transport quite a bit, especially flying the small airlines between Hawaiian islands.

 

For the camping portion of the trip, it's already decided. I'll be taking my Panasonic DMC-LX100 and Fujifilm GS645S. The LX100 is the super-compact, super-capable solution. With its Micro 4/3 sensor and 24-75mm equivalent, fast (f1.7 at the wide end) lens, I'm almost convinced it's all I need for the entire trip. The GS645S will fill my need for a more manual camera, and as a bonus, it shoots medium format film.

 

For the Hawaiian portion of the trip, I'm tempted to take a camera with a longer focal length lens. Since the GS645S is a wide 60mm (35mm equivalent on 35mm format), the longest I'll have is the 75mm equivalent on the LX100. As you can see above, sometimes I like to shoot longer lenses on travel. So, this has me considering a small Micro 4/3 interchangeable lens kit.

 

For some travel gear tips from a real pro, (Click Here) to check out an article and video on B&H's "Explora" website.

 

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This Photo Project Could Work Well in Any City - But Started in San Francisco (Project24)

I absolutely love and miss San Francisco. Though I've lived in many different places, and was not born there, I consider the Bay Area to be home.

 

Check out this cool photography project in San Francisco, "Project24."

 

Image Source: http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=149616

 

In this project, each of 24 photographers gets an assignment consisting of two pieces of information: the hour of the day and the neighborhood they are to shoot in. That's it. They shoot with black and white film for one hour. I think this is a great idea.

 

(Click Here) to read more about Project24.

 

I want to do one in DC.

 

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And Now for Something Very Abstract

I have been into meditation for quite a while now. It helps me to keep my mind clear. On a trip to California earlier this year, I visited this labyrinth in an urban garden and did a little walking meditation, camera (Lumix GX7 and 20mm f1.7 lens) in hand.

Berkeley Labyrinth, by Reed A. George

 

I decided to capture some long exposures of the labyrinth markings as I walked twisting and turning through them. I attached a 3-stop neutral density (ND) filter, and shot several images at 1/4 second and f16.

 

Then I manipulated the images in Snapseed on my iPad. Here are the results:

 

 

 

Quite abstract, I know. I feel that they do say something about the state of mind I was in during the walk.

 

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Back Bay Sunrise - Newport Beach, California

No words today.

 

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Lone Cypress, Pacific Grove, California

Here's a shot I made this afternoon of the Lone Cypress on the 17 Mile Drive in Pacific Grove (near Monterey) California.

 

Lone Cypress, by Reed A. George

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX7, Lumix 14-42mm f3.5-5.6 Aspheric Series II Kit Zoom

at 23mm, with 3 stop ND + Polarizing Filter

iso 200, f22, 0.5 sec.

Edited in Snapseed on my iPad

 

This same spot is photographed hundreds or thousands of times every day. I tried to think hard about composition. I used the ND and polarizing filter to allow me to shoot a long exposure (1/2 second), in an attempt to make the water motion smooth and ethereal. It worked at a certain level.

 

What a gorgeous place this is.

 

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More UC Berkeley Trees

A couple of days back, I posted about the tree sit-in protest at Berkeley from 2006-2008. You may or may not think the protesters crazy for living in the trees for so long, but you have to admit that the landscape on the campus is beautiful and is worth protecting. Here's a shot I took on my walk around UC Berkeley.

 

Berkeley Trees, by Reed A. George

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1, Lumix 20mm f1.7 Lens

iso 400, f1.7, 1/640 sec.

 

This is an unedited image straight from the camera. I shot it wide open to render the leaves in the foreground sharp, and slightly blur the trees in the background.

 

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Another Berkeley Favorite - Used Book Stores

Actually, this bookstore (Pegasus) is at Rockridge in Oakland, just across the border from Berkeley. I find used bookstores to be a sign of true culture. Of course, that' just my opinion.

 

View from Pegasus, by Reed A. George

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX7, 14-42mm f3.5-5.6 Series II Kit Zoom

iso 800, f5, 1/320 sec.

Unedited image straight from the camera

 

The light on this foggy morning was very subtle. It was the soft shadows around the bench the first caught my eye. Then the line of the bookshelves provided a nice lines, intersecting with the window ledge to focus attention near where the people outside were walking by.

 

Not an important shot, but a fun one none and an exercise in composition none the less.

 

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Newport, California - Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve

We arrived last night in Newport Beach, California, where we're attending the wedding of a close family friend.

 

I awoke early, being on East Coast time, and decided to find a nice place to take a sunrise walk. Pulling up Google Maps, I immediately found the Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve, just a couple of miles from our hotel. While the web said it didn't open until 10:00 AM, I took a chance, and was rewarded with an open, yet empty parking lot. Here are a few scenes from the morning walk, all shot with the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX7 and Series II 14-42mm kit zoom.

 

 

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Mike Selsky - Leica Photographer, Winner of LA X-Vario Challenge

Image Source: http://blog.leica-camera.com/photographers/interviews/mike-selsky-hunting-for-the-strange-and-obscure-in-los-angeles/

I like to read the Leica camera blog, where they regularly feature interviews with other Leica photographers. I like to see what I have in common with others, as well as our differences. The latest is an interview with Mike Selsky, fine art photographer in Los Angeles. Mike recently won the Leica X-Vario City Challenge there, which earned him a free X-Vario.

(Click Here) to read about Mike's approach to photography and his interests.

Mike's regular camera choices are a Leica M6 TTL film rangefinder, and Monochrom, Leica's black and white-only digital rangefinder. His lens of choice is the 50mm Summilux Aspheric (f1.4). This is similar to my favorite rangefinders, the M6 TTL (titanium version, in my case) with matching Summilux 50mm, and the Leica M9 (which allows me to shoot both black and white and color).

Mike seems to be a wanderer, saying:

"I enjoy exploring California with a friend, planning road trips with vague photographic goals in mind."

We also have that in common.

Mike makes images that ask more questions than providing answers. Mystery is important in his style of photography. I find it a challenge to make the questions engaging enough to draw the viewer in. You don't want a response that just says "I don't know what that is." or "Why did you take a picture of that?" Sometimes, it's better to elicit "What am I looking at here?" or "How did you make X look like that?"

One final thing Mike and I have in common: we both value the effort that goes into making a great image. For me, an image is much more valuable to me personally if I know that it was a difficult one to capture. Mike says:

"My favorite images are the ones that took the most effort to make."

Mike seems to be enjoying the new X-Vario that he won in the challenge. Congratulations to Mike. I look forward to seeing more of his work.

(Click Here) to visit Mike's blog, 2WK.

One additional note. Mike mentions that with the Monochrom, he exposes for the highlights, and brings lots of detail out of the shadows in post-processing. A quick look at his blog indicates that he underexposes a lot with that camera. A little too much for my taste. I think he needs to bring up the shadows quite a bit more in many cases. Just a little critical thought on his work.

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Photography as a Passion

Point Reyes Contemplation, by Reed A. George

Nikon D70, Sigma 600mm f8 Lens

iso 400, f8, 1/640 sec.

 

I took the shot above ten years ago. I remember the thrill of getting my first DSLR, the Nikon D70. Quite a machine it was. I also remember the feeling of hiking at Point Reyes, California on that day.

 

Eric Kim has posted 35 Magnum photographers' advice to aspiring photographers. I haven't read them all yet.

 

(Click Here) to read the full post on Eric Kim's blog.

 

Here's the one that will be my thought for the day, by Alex Webb:

 

"Photograph because you love doing it, because you absolutely have to do it, because the chief reward is going to be the process of doing it. Other rewards — recognition, financial remuneration — come to so few and are so fleeting. And even if you are somewhat successful, there will almost inevitably be stretches of time when you will be ignored, have little income, or — often — both. Certainly there are many other easier ways to make a living in this society. Take photography on as a passion, not a career."

I do feel that I "absolutely have to do it." I find that part of the quote very interesting. Taken out of context, that could mean that photography is your career, thus you have to do it. I think the follow-on is important: "...the chief reward is going to be the process of doing it." Certainly true for me. The process is the thing for me.

 

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Blast From the Past - Sometimes I Really Miss California

 

Mount Diablo Landscape, by Reed A. George

Nikon D70, Nikkor 300mm Lens, f8, 1/60 sec.

 

I decided to go back and look at the earliest images I uploaded to flickr. Here's one that I shot in 2005. It was taken during a workshop at Mount Diablo, some 20 minutes from my home in Pleasant Hill, California. Man, what a magical place.

 

I can't remember if this was shot with my 70-300mm f4-5.6 ED zoom, or 300mm f4. I also can't seem to find the iso setting in the EXIF info.

 

But, the old D70 (my first DSLR) really did a pretty nice job, didn't it? I love the way the path zig zags over the hills to the tree.

 

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The Point Reyes, Shot with Leica M6 and Summicron 50mm f2 v.3

 

The Point Reyes, by Reed A. George

Leica M6 Titanium, Summicron 50mm f2 v.3 Lens

Kodak iso 400 Color Print Film, Converted to Monochrome in Lightroom

 

While in California a while back, I took the opportunity to meet up with two fellow LHSA (International Leica Society) members, Gary Hough and Andy Godlewski, in Marin County to explore one of my very favorite places, Point Reyes.

 

This old boat has been beached here as long as I've been coming to Point Reyes, well over ten years for sure. I found Point Reyes when I lived in the Bay Area from 1997 to 2005. I sure miss the place.

 

We spent the day hiking, catching up, and shooting pictures together. I have a few other images that may be worth presenting, but mostly it was a good time to get out with friends.

 

I think the black and white conversion of color print negatives in Lightroom works extremely well. I do still shoot a lot of Kodak Tmax 400 black and white film, but I'm not sure I can explain the logic, given these results.

 

I really enjoyed shooting the M6 film camera alongside my digital M9.

 

DMC-365.blogspot.com

 

 

Chinatown San Francisco - Leica M9 and Summicron 50mm f2 v.3 - Whole Lotta Leica

In October, I traveled to San Francisco for the annual meeting of the LHSA (International Leica Society). One of our events was an evening photo tour of Chinatown. All of these shots were made with my Leica M9 and my Whole Lotta Leica lens for October, the venerable Summicron 50mm f2 (version 3).

 

Pre-Tour Briefing, by Reed A. George

Leica M9, Leica Summicron 50mm f2 v.3 Lens

iso 400, f2.8, 1/125 sec.

 

There was enough interest that we split the group into two, and headed out on the short walk from the Marines Memorial, host hotel for our meeting.

 

I have an affinity for Asian culture. You'll see that when I visit a major city, I usually end up in Chinatown. Stayed tuned for a future post of NYC's Chinatown, for example.

 

One of the things I always enjoy is seeing signs written in the native language of the immigrants who live there. To me it means I'm really visiting where these people from a very different culture actually live, not just cook for and sell to Westerners.

 

Native Language, by Reed A. George

Leica M9, Leica Summicron 50mm f2 v.3 Lens

iso 400, f2.8, 1/60 sec.

Straightening the Sign, by Reed A. George

Leica M9, Leica Summicron 50mm f2 v.3 Lens

iso 400, f4.8, 1/350 sec.

Of course, there are plenty of signs and advertisements aimed at welcoming non-Chinese guests to the area:

 

Chinatown Mural, by Reed A. George

Leica M9, Leica Summicron 50mm f2 v.3 Lens

iso 400, f3.4, 1/125 sec.

 

If you've read my post about tea-tasting at Ten Ren's in Chinatown, here's the back of the tea shop, replete with graffiti:

 

Ten Ren's by Reed A. George

Leica M9, Leica Summicron 50mm f2 v.3 Lens

iso 400, f2.8, 1/125 sec.

 

Far more interesting to me than the signs, however, are the people. Here's a sampling of how I see the people of Chinatown, part of and separate from their city environment.

 

Through the Shop Window, by Reed A. George

Leica M9, Leica Summicron 50mm f2 v.3 Lens

iso 400, f2.8, 1/125 sec.

 

Twins, by Reed A. George

Leica M9, Leica Summicron 50mm f2 v.3 Lens

iso 400, f3.4, 1/125 sec.

 

Fishmonger, by Reed A. George

Leica M9, Leica Summicron 50mm f2 v.3 Lens

iso 640, f2.4, 1/125 sec.

 

Our tour went into the dusk. As the lights come on in Chinatown, the feeling completely changes. I need to work on a night time series in Chinatown at some point, maybe my next visit to San Francisco. I hope that trip comes soon.

 

Chinatown Lights Up, by Reed A. George

Leica M9, Leica Summicron 50mm f2 v.3 Lens

iso 640, f2, 1/125 sec.

As you can see, I decided to shoot with one lens and one camera on this tour, to minimize the need to fiddle with gear. That worked out pretty well for me. There is so much you can do with a rangefinder like the M9 and a fast 50mm lens like the Summicron. The lens is unmatched in my collection.

 

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My Education in Tea, October WLL Results (Summicron 50mm f2 v.3)

One of my friends recently got me into trying some fine and exotic teas (thanks, Bill!). While I was in San Francisco, I decided to do something special, and stopped into the Ten Ren's Tea shop in Chinatown. Yes, I know it's a big potential tourist trap, but I found it to be a very enjoyable experience. And yes, they did succeed in selling me some fine teas.

Ten Ren's, San Francisco, by Reed A. George

Leica M9, Leica 50mm Summicron f2, v.3 Lens

iso 400, f2.4, 1/4000 sec.

 

Here's what the tasting room looks like from above. A selection of teas is stored in glass containers (at the front of the serving stone) for you to see and smell the differences between different types of leaves. Notice the lady at top right, taking notes.

Tea Room From Above, by Reed A. George

Leica M9, Leica 50mm Summicron f2, v.3 Lens

iso 640, f2, 1/60 sec.

This is Mary, the very classy and friendly lady who served me my selections.

 

Mary, by Reed A. George

Leica M9, Leica 50mm Summicron f2, v.3 Lens

iso 640, f2.8, 1/60 sec.

I told Mary that I was interested mainly in two types of tea - green and Pu-erh, which I'd heard about but never tasted. Mary served me two different greens - the first from the most famous green tea fields in Taiwan (Formosa), the second a Dragon Well variety. I preferred the Dragon Well, as it tasted a little less "earthy" (also read, "grassy") to me.

 

Next, we moved on to Pu-erh, which is fermented tea. Unlike other types of tea, where the leaves should be kept as fresh as possible, and where storing 1-2 years in proper (cool, dark) conditions is a maximum, Pu-erh gets better with age. Mary had Pu-erh teas from 10-60 years old. I believe the one I tried was 30 years old. The brewing process is different from green teas. First, you use boiling water (green teas should be brewed at a lower temperature, around 85 degrees C), you also throw away the first brew, which is essentially a rinse of boiling water. Finally, you brew it approximately two times longer than greens.

 

The most important thing I learned from Mary is this - you can reuse your tea leaves many times throughout a single day. For greens, 4-5 uses is normal. For Pu-erhs, it can be 15 times or more. That's an important tip. I also learned that as you reuse them through the day, the caffeine content is reduced with each brewing. You can further reduce caffeine by shortening the brewing time. So, by the afternoon when you've brewed several times, your tea is essentially nearly decaffeinated. I like how using the tea throughout the day automatically lessens the caffeine, so you can finish up in the evening with very low amounts of it.

 

So, I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. I got an education along with experiencing some very nice, high end teas. Did it cost me some money in the end? Yes, I bought two teas and some ginseng powder, which Mary suggested adding to evening teas to help you sleep. But, I get to continue to enjoy those teas for months to come (maybe years for the Pu-erh tea I bought). Well worth the expense.

 

Tea Education, by Reed A. George

Leica M9, Leica 50mm Summicron f2, v.3 Lens

iso 640, f2.4, 1/60 sec.

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Whole Lotta Leica - Summicron 50mm Version 3 at Point Reyes

I'm traveling as I write this, currently in San Francisco for the annual meeting of the LHSA (International Leica Society). I had the opportunity to meet up with LHSA members Gary Hough and Andy Godlewski the day before the meeting started for a hike and some photography at Point Reyes, about an hour north of the city. Point Reyes is one of my very favorite places.

 

I have several images from the day that I'm looking forward to seeing in more detail, on a screen larger than my iPad. In the meantime, here's a single image from the historic Pierce Point Ranch. I shot this with the Summicron on my M9, and edited it in Snapseed on the iPad.

 

Pierce Point Ranch, Point Reyes, California, by Reed A. George

Leica M9, Leica Summicron 50mm f2 v. 3 lens

 

 

I find it most difficult to keep up with my writing when traveling. This is where the strategy of writing several posts in advance really works.

 

Now I'm off to the city (San Francisco) to meet up with more friends, shoot, and join a Chinatown photo walk with the LHSA this evening. Great fun.

 

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Golden Gate Bridge, Vintage Postcard Style - Whole Lotta Leica Lens for October, the Summicron 50mm f2 v.3

I just returned from the LHSA (International Leica Society)'s annual meeting in San Francisco. I got a couple of great opportunities to shoot the Golden Gate Bridge, including a sunset shoot from the Marin Headlands.

Golden Gate Bridge, Vintage Postcard Style, by Reed A. George

Leica M9, Leica Summicron 50mm f2 Lens

iso 400, f16, 1/125 sec.

Post-processed in Snapseed

 

The Summicron was my Whole Lotta Leica lens for October, and it served me very well.

 

I really like this vintage effect, and am considering doing a project to make a set of images like this from the various places I've visited. Could be a good winter time project when it's too nasty to get out and shoot.

 

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