Antietam National Battlefield In Winter, Lumix DMC-G1 and 20mm f1.7

View from Mumma Farm, Antietam, Sharpsburg, Maryland

by Reed A. George

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1, Lumix 20mm f1.7

iso100, f16, 1/100 sec

On September 17, 1862, one of the bloodiest battles of the United States Civil War began here at Sharpsburg, Maryland.  This view is from the Mumma Farm, which was deliberately burned by Confederate forces, to prevent Union sharpshooters from gaining the advantage of the shelter.  The Mumma family had already fled, and returned to rebuild the farm in 1863.

Detail - Mumma Farm Outbuilding

by Reed A. George

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1, Lumix 20mm f1.7

iso100, f3.5, 1/200 sec

 I walked the Bloody Lane Trail at Antietam in December, 2009.  From the Mumma farmhouse, the trail leads over the bald hillside where 10,000 Union soldiers marched to the Sunken Road, an old farm wagon road, already occupied by some 2,200 Confederates.  After the battle, there were so many dead from both sides, the road was renamed "Bloody Lane."

 

 

 The Union Approach to Bloody Lane

by Reed A. George

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1, Lumix 20mm f1.7

iso100, f16, 1/80 sec

In total, there were nearly 100,000 soldiers involved in the battle here; 23,000 were killed.  While the Union held the field at the end of the fighting, both sides took horrendous damage, and the line of possession changed very little as a result.

Sunset Over Split Rail Fence of Antietam

by Reed A. George

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1, Lumix 20mm f1.7

iso100, f8, 1/1300 sec

DMC-365.blogspot.com

Please support this blog.  Click below to order your products from Amazon:

 

Tyson Robichaud Continues His Transition to the Lumix G3

 

Chicago in Winter - Tyson Robichaud

Image Source:  

http://tysonrobichaudphotography.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/p1020114.jpg?w=680

In his latest post, Tyson Robichaud shares some great night photography from the Windy City, all taken with the Lumix G3 (except one with the GF1).  

(Click Here) to see the whole post, with several great images.

Tyson comments on how it worked for him to leave his full-frame DSLR at home, and use only Lumix cameras.  In addition to the Lumix 14mm f2.5 and 20mm f1.7, he used adapted legacy lenses - the Canon FD 50mm f1.2 and Contax 45mm f2.

 

Like Tyson, I have really embraced the Lumix DMC-G3.  I am becoming more comfortable with leaving my Nikon DSLR behind much of the time.  However, it is not a complete transition for me.  Probably the biggest thing preventing me from leaving DSLRs all together is flash photography.  I have yet to figure that out on the G3.  Some of it is my need to explore it.  However, I know for sure that Panasonic does not have anything as highly evolved as Nikon's wireless and iTTL systems.  

 

Regardless, I am thankful for all that the G3 does so well, and enjoy using it very, very much.  I will keep pushing the limits of the technology.

 

Thanks, Tyson, for sharing your experience and unique images of Chicago in winter!

 

DMC-365.blogspot.com

 

Please support this blog.  Order your Amazon items here:

 

 

 

 

All The New Gear Announcements - I Want to Take Pictures...

 

 Soapsuds Row, Fort Reno, El Reno, Oklahoma

by Reed A. George

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1, Lumix 14-140mm f4-5.8 at 41mm

iso100, f8, 1/160 sec

As I have admitted in the past, I am a gearhead.  But, I must admit I am ready for a break.  While the news from camera companies this week is very exciting, I really just want to get outside the house and office and shoot!

Yes, the Olympus OM-D is truly exciting.  How could it have taken so long for them to make a modern camera with the great features of the old classic?  But, now they have.  It is beautiful.

And, Nikon's new D800 is a super machine, the only one I've seen that even begins to shake my resolve in thinking my D700 is about the highest performer I could ever need.  And, at $3,000, it is three times the performance of the Leica M9, which I have lusted over for months, at 40% of the price.

There are so many choices out there.  Honestly, there are too many choices already in my closet!  I refuse to upgrade until I find a way to shoot what I have more often.  I resolve to work the Lumix G3 to its limits this year.

Maybe this is just cabin fever talking.  I certainly haven't been shooting enough.  But, it looks like Kirk Tuck is taking all the news in a similar way.

(Click Here) to read his post on the Visual Science Lab about new gear overload.  Kirk, I couldn't agree more.

DMC-365.blogspot.com

If you just can't hold back, please order that new OM-D or D800 (or anything else) by clicking through to Amazon.  I could use the support:

Great Studio Shot with Lumix DMC-G1

 Poster StudioHeraBell shared this great image on mu-43.com:

Abracadabra Moment

Image Source:  http://www.mu-43.com/f57/abracadabra-moment-20765/

I really like this image.  The little boy loks like he knows he is in for a rough ride when the magic takes hold. He is hanging on for dear life!

DMC-365.blogspot.com

Why Tyson Robichaud Chose the DMC-G3, As Did I

 

 Image Source: http://tysonrobichaudphotography.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/img_96661.jpg?w=680

 

I recently found Tyson Robichaud's excellent blog:

(click here)

 

Mr. Robichaud and I seem to think alike.  I have recently standardized my Micro 4/3 kit on two Lumix DMC-G3 bodies, after using a DMC-G1 and DMC-GF1 for a few happy years.  Tyson explains in very clear detail how he made the decision to replace his GF1 with a G3, rather than a GX1 or other manufacturer's camera.  I made the exact same decision, after similar analysis.

 

(click here) for Tyson's article about moving from the GF1 to the G3

 

Mr. Robichaud states that one of his main reasons for upgrading at all is high iso noise performance.  He finds (and demonstrates) a nearly full 2-stop improvement in noise when comparing the GF1 to the G3.  He states that iso1600 is "very useable."  I fully agree.  In fact, I have made decent images at iso6400, which was previously impossible.

 

Like me, he was tempted by low holiday prices on the excellent GH2, but decided to go with the G3 mainly for size reasons.

 

Contrary to frequent complaints by others, he finds the grip on the G3 to be about right.  I have no complaints in this area, either.

 

We also agree that some of the buttons on the back of the G3 are too small and low profile - especially the two very useful custom buttons.

 

Tyson finds that the long shutter noise reduction is very good.  I have not tried that, but his post will make me get to it.

 

It is always nice to find a great new blog like Tyson's.  It is also good to find someone who can affirm my logic and direction in choosing equipment!

 

DMC-365.blogspot.com

I Sold A Print!

 I sold a nice 11x14 print of this at a local art exhibit.  If it looks familiar, it is because it was used in my very first post on DMC-365!

 Mount Fuji Over Lake Ashi, Hakone, Japan

Lumix DMC-G1, 14-140mm, iso 100, f8, High Dynamic Range (HDR) composite of three images, processed by Nik HDR Efex Pro 

I am quite pleased that someone liked it enough to buy it for their home.

DMC-365.blogspot.com

Support this blog - order your Lumix 14-140, or anything you buy from Amazon, by clicking here!

One of My Images That Sticks in My Mind

 

Chilled Milk

Lumix DMC-G1, 14-140mm f4-5.8 at 14mm, iso400

f5.6, 1/80 sec.

 

I can't say why I like this one, but I do.  Hope you enjoy it too.

 

DMC-365.blogspot.com

Winter's Dream - One of My Shots

 Winter's Dream, Bristoe Station, Virginia

Lumix DMC-G1, Pana-Leica 45mm Macro-Elmarit f2.8

iso100, f5.6, 1/100 sec

I took this shot on a cool winter morning, while visiting the Bristoe Station Civil War battlesite.  For some reason, this image made me think of what those confederate soldiers, far from home, many from Alabama, thought as they camped here soon after the first battle at Manassas.  Many of them died from disease, which was rampant throughout the encampment.  

This view could be anywhere.  I wonder if any of them saw something similar, which made them think of home.

DMC-365.blogspot.com

The Crooked Mile - One of My Shots

The Crooked Mile

Lumix DMC-G1, Lumix 14-140mm f4-5.8 at 14mm

iso200, f16, 1/25 sec

 

This shot was taken in Solomons, Maryland.  I opened my zoom as wide as it would go, closed down the aperture to f16 for maximum depth of field, and got down low for a perspective that hopefully draws you into the scene.  

 

The walkway is as ricketty as it looks; I did not venture further out onto it.

 

DMC-365.blogspot.com

Wish I was There Now...

 

 Sunrise at Kapaa, Kauai, Hawaii

Lumix DMC-G1, 14-140mm zoom at 29mm 

iso100, f11, 1/15 sec

 

I was talking with a colleague last night about places that I feel my soul is at home.  This is one of them for me.  Of course it's easy to feel that your soul belongs in such a gorgeous place, but I really feel it, even in the small local town.  

 

I hope to make it back there sometime soon.

 

DMC-365.blogspot.com

The Great Train Raid of 1861 - American Civil War

I am working on a photography project about the 150th anniversary (sesquicentenial) of the United States civil war.  Living in Northern Virginia, I am in a prime location.  I am an hour or less from several major battlesites, including Manassas (Bull Run), Antietam, and Gettysburg.  This project will last over the coming four years.

On May 23, 1861, under the command of Thomas (soon to be "Stonewall") Jackson, confederate forces appropriated a large set of railroad equipment, including locomotives, cars, tools, and track, from the B&O Railroad for use in the rebel cause. As a result of damage to the tracks, the equipment had to be moved overland. For a full description, see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jackson's_operations_against_the_B%26O_Railroad_(1861) Pictured here is reenactor and historian Arthur Candenquist who presented on the Great Train Raid at Zion Church in Aldie, Virginia on November 13, 2011. He was dressed as, and spoke from the perspective of Confederate Captain Thomas R. Sharp.

Captain Thomas R. Sharp, Confederate
Lumix DMC-GF1, Pana-Leica 45mm f2.8 Macro-Elmarit
iso800, f2.8, 1/40 sec

 

Confederate States of America (CSA) Belt Buckle
Lumix DMC-GF1, Pana-Leica 45mm f2.8 Macro-Elmarit
iso800, f2.8, 1/40 sec

Captain Thomas R. Sharp, Confederate
Lumix DMC-GF1, Pana-Leica 45mm f2.8 Macro-Elmarit
iso800, f2.8, 1/40 sec

Captain Thomas R. Sharp Surveys Confederate Graves
Lumix DMC-G1, Pana-Leica 25mm f1.4 Summilux
iso400, f2.2, 1/80 sec

Confederate Grave, Zion Church, Aldie, VA
Lumix DMC-G1, Lumix 14mm f2.5
iso100, f9, 1/8 sec

Captain Sharp's Boots
Lumix DMC-GF1, Pana-Leica 45mm f2.8 Macro-Elmarit
iso800, f2.8, 1/125 sec

 DMC-365.blogspot.com

Talented Young Artist

I photographed this budding artist (with her permission), while she worked on a drawing of this sculpture entitled Peacocks by French artist Gaston Lachaise (1882-1935).  The sculpture is on loan to the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC.

Talented Young Artist

Lumix DMC-G1, Panasonic 14mm f2.5

iso800, f2.5, 1/40 sec.

 

Even though the G1 has the older series Micro 4/3 sensor, it did a nice job at iso800.  The 14mm exhibited sufficient depth of field for my purposes, even wide open at f2.5.

 

DMC-365.blogspot.com

 

Thursday, January 12, 2012

My Lumix DMC-G1 Image Wins History Channel / Civil War Trust Recognition!

This image won Second Place in the Civil War Trust / History Channel / Google competition, in the division dedicated to celebrating the 150th anniversary of battles in 1861. The image is displayed on the Civil War Trust webpage of winning images, was published in the journal "Hallowed Ground," and featured in the trust's 2012 calendar.

Henry House, Manassas National Battlefield

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1, iso 100, High Dynamic Range (HDR) composite of three images, processed in Adobe Lightroom, Nik HDR Efex Pro.

There's a great description of the Henry Hill site here at wikipedia (click here).

You can see the announcement of Contest Winners on the Civil War Trust website (click here).  Calendars are for sale at this link: (click here).  Proceeds benefit the Civil War Trust.  I do not receive any compensation for sales.  But, I urge you to consider buying one, as they are very nice calendars, and benefit a great cause.

DMC-365.blogspot.com

Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)