Playing With An Old Image - Pigeonholed

It's fun to go back and see what you were shooting several years ago, and with what gear.

 

Here's a shot I made ten years ago with my Nikon D70 (my first DSLR) and Nikkor 70-300mm ED lens:

 

Pigeonholed, by Reed A. George, 2004

 

I decided to play around with it a little in Snapseed on my iPad. Here's what I came up with:

 

Pigeonholed, Ten Years After

 

I understand that many will prefer the straight, original shot. For me, it depends on my mood. Tonight, I like the dark, slightly ominous version.

 

That old D70 was really a decent camera. Nothing to compare to my new Nikon Df, but still quite a camera. And the 70-300 ED lens was a pretty good zoom, too. Now I have replaced it with the VR version, which is even better.

 

DMC-365.blogspot.com

 

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.

 

DMC-365.blogspot.com

 

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.

 

DMC-365.blogspot.com