Happy New Year 2017!

Happy New Year to all of you! We continued our yearly tradition of running a 5k together (my best time yet), followed by traditional Japanese new year food (Osechi ryori):

 

From my family, please have a wonderful 2017!

 

 

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Happy New Year 2016!

It is one of my favorite family traditions - Japanese Osechi Ryori on New Year's Day. Hope everyone has a perfect 2016!

 

 

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Going Out in the Weather for Chinese New Year

The weather outside is horrible. Yesterday, we got several inches of snow, followed by some freezing rain. Today, it's warming up, but the roads are still questionable.

 

But, I have cabin fever. With a new DMC-LX100 having arrived, I'm packing it up, along with my trusty Leica IIIG (loaded with black and white HP5+ film), and meeting my friend Charlie for the drive into DC. We'll attend the Chinese New Year celebration there. Here's a shot I made there last year:

 

(Click Here) to read a post on the Leica blog about this subject. The images embedded in the text aren't much to look at, but the gallery at the top of the post, especially those images by Su Li, are.

 

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Happy New Year!

 

Happy New Year!

Holiday Trimmings, NYC, by Reed A. George

Leica IIIG, Summicron 50mm f2 Collapsible

 

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Opening at the NYC Public Library: "Public Eye: 175 Years of Sharing Photography"

From December 12, 2014 - September 4, 2015, the New York Public Library is hosting an exhibit of a selection from the library's enormous collection of photographs, collected since the 1800s. I saw the banner announcing the show on my visit to NYC last weekend, but the show had not yet opened at that time.

NYC Public Library, by Reed A. George

Leica M9, 50mm Summicron f2 v.3 Lens

iso 400, f8, 1/125 sec.

 

The exhibit will be arranged around contemporary themes from social media: crowdsourcing, image sharing, and street view. It will be interesting to see how these themes are interpreted and which images from such an expansive collection will be included.

 

The exhibit will be held at the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, Fifth Ave at 42nd Street, NYC.

 

(Click Here) to read more about it on the NY Times' blog "Lens."

 

I really hope that I can get back up to NYC before the show ends next September.

 

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I Like This - Bizarre Panorama With iPad Air in NYC

Bizzare City, by Reed A. George

Shot From a Moving Bus

 

This image is really worth looking at closely.

 

(Click Here) to see it on flickr, where you can zoom in.

 

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Now It's a Tradition - the Annual New Year's Oseichi (Japanese Food) Post

Third year in a row, I like to share my family's tradition of eating Japanese holiday food at breakfast on January first. This year, I shot it with my new Bower fisheye lens (Micro 4/3). I've been looking at a fisheye lens for a couple of years, but decided it would not be used often enough to justify the $300-$700 cost (depending on which brand I chose). This holiday season, it dropped to $200, including shipping, so I bought a Bower manual focus fisheye lens.

 

These were all shot with the Bower lens on my Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1:

 

Oseichi Ryori (Japanese Traditional Food), by Reed A. George

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1, Bower 7.5mm f3.5 Fisheye Lens

 

Happy Family, New Years Day, by Reed A. George

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1, Bower 7.5mm f3.5 Fisheye Lens

 

Salmon and Salmon Eggs, by Reed A. George

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1, Bower 7.5mm f3.5 Fisheye Lens

 

Hope everyone's having a nice year so far!

 

DMC-365.blogspot.com

 

 

 

Gaining Trust, Even For a Short Time, Leads to Better People Pictures

Photographers are sometimes perceived negatively by those they're photographing, especially when they are anonymous, unfamiliar to the subject. I thoroughly enjoy street photography, and frequently do shoot images of people in public, without any discussion or introduction. At other times, I do choose to introduce myself, talk a little, and gain a level of trust that eases the subect just a little.

 

Each approach yields a different type of image. The anonymous approach shows people living their lives, without the influence of the photographer's presence. Genuine expressions and interactions are possible. Talking makes a connection, however slight, between the photographer and subject. Sometimes this connection can show through in the image.

 

I shot the two images below in Harlem, New York City.

 

Sunday Morning Game of Catch, by Reed A. George

Nikon D700, Nikkor 24-85mm f2.8-4 Zoom Lens

 

 

On this particular morning, I was on a photo walk with Marla Mossman. Marla is a master of approaching people in the street, establishing rapport, and getting their picture. I learned so much more from her than how to think about depth of field, which happens to be the most consistently-discussed topic in photo workshops, in my experience.

 

(Click Here) to see Marla's work. If you get the chance to meet her, take it.

 

There's a nice entry on the NY Times photo blog, Lens, about this subject.

 

(Click Here) to read about how Demetrius Freeman, a contemporary photographer, learned from looking at Gordon Parks' photos about establishing connection with his subjects. Mr. Parks' photo of Ingrid Bergman (included in the post) is stunning.

 

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A Family Tradition - Oseichi Ryori - Japanese New Year's Breakfast

 

Japanese Oseichi Ryori, by Reed A. George

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

iso 160, f2.2, 1/60 sec.

 
My wife is Japanese. Living in Northern Virginia, we don't get all that many chances to celebrate Japanese culture. One opportunity we take every year is on New Year's morning. We order out traditional Japanese food, oseichi ryori. Now I'm kind of a conservative eater, especially at breakfast. But, I thoroughly enjoy welcoming the new year in with fresh seafood and Japanese sencha (green tea) one day per year.
 
I also always grab a camera and take a shot of this year's selection. That tends to be the DMC-LX5. For these shots, I used iAuto, where the camera sets EVERYTHING for you. Obviously, I also used macro focus. Not bad for complete point and shoot automation.

Japanese Oseichi Ryori, by Reed A. George

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

iso 200, f2.2, 1/60 sec.

 

 
 

Ohashi (chop sticks), by Reed A. George

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

iso 80, f2, 1/100 sec.

 

I almost sprung for an upgrade to the LX5 over the holidays - the LX7 was obscenely cheap at less than $300. But, the additional nearly $200 to upgrade the accessory finder from the DMW-LVF1 to DMW-LVF2, necessary with the LX7, was just a little too much. I've got no complaints about the LX5, and the LX7 has a faster (f2) lens, but no advantage in sensor size. So, I held off.

 

Happy 2013!

 

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Luminous Landscape's "Best and Worst of 2012"

Luminous Landscape has posted their annual "Best and Worst of ..." results for camera equipment introduced in 2012.

 

(Click Here) to read the full story on Luminous Landscape.

 

In their "Best" category, they include two new DSLR models from Nikon, the D800/E and the D600. Nikon is really on a roll with great full-frame (24x36mm) digital cameras. Personally, I'm still shooting my D700, and am completely satisfied, no, actually amazed, with it's performance. It's nice to know that Nikon's still pushing the technology even further.

 

Nikon D800

Image Source: http://www.luminous-landscape.com/essays/best_and_worst_of_2012.shtml

 

Also under "Best," they include the new Sigma DP2 Merrill, which uses the sensor originally designed for a $7,000 SLR (see "Worst"), stuffed into a very compact pocket-sized camera. I am very interested in this camera.

 

Also in the compact camera market, they like the Sony RX-100. This 20MP little wonder includes a Zeiss lens. For me, however, the lack of any type of finder, relegating me to only shooting from the LCD, is a major drawback. Otherwise, I would probaly already be shooting one. My experience with Sony digital cameras in the past has been excellent, including one of my first digital cameras, many years ago.

 

Finally, the new Sony RX-1 is being considered as a contender for next year, since it was just released in December 2012.

 

What does Luminous Landscape think of Micro 4/3 developments in 2012? They put them in the middle. First, they like the technical improvements in sensors, but feel that Panasonic is pushing camera body size outside what Micro 4/3 is known for - compact, lightweight equipment - with the DMC-GH3. They are more positive about the Olympus OM-D, which is certainly a hit with users. I agree that the GH3 seems a little bulky - if I can live with larger size, Nikon wins hands-down. So, I'm looking forward to a Lumix DMC-GX2 with the same sensor, in a more compact body. Everything I hear about the Olympus OM-D is positive, and I'm tempted to give it a try.

 

They also place the new Fuji mirrorless cameras in the middle. I'm very impressed with Fuji's product designs and lens quality. Once they iron out any peculiarities with their unique sensors (and the software needed to best use them), I predict Fujifilm will be a powerhouse.

 

Finally, the "Worst." That doomed $7,000 Sigma DSLR that I mentioned above. Hard to imagine buying a Sigma body for the price of two Nikon D800s.

 

The remaining two cameras in this category were not even on my radar screen this year - the Blackmagic Cinema Camera, which is reported to be failing due to small company problems rather than technical capabilities, and the Hasselblad Lunar, which is a trumped-up Sony NEX7. Neither of these interests me, personally.

 

My only question - what about the Lytro? This new camera technology that allows multiple focus areas was supposed to be revolutionary (and maybe it is?). Personally, I have not heard much other than the initial announcements.

 

Anyone out there tried one? Please let me know your thoughts if you've use a Lytro.

 

DMC-365.blogspot.com

 

 

Well! The First 365 Days Has Passed. Happy New Year - and Where DMC-365 Is Going This Year

Image Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Pizarroshipbuilding.jpg

 
I made a commitment to focus on Panasonic Lumix cameras in 2012. That was fun, but I found it limiting to try to focus on one camera maker, or even on Micro 4/3. At this point, I have not dropped any of my other formats (which include Nikon DSLR, Leica rangefinder, Micro 4/3, and various film cameras), have added a Leica M9 to my list of favorites, and still enjoy writing my blog every day. So, I think I'll shift gears a little, still including Micro 4/3 to a large extent, but not excluding anything. In fact, what I want to write about is the interface between equipment and creativity. I don't believe they're independent, and know for a fact that certain equipment choices work best for specific applications. I'd hate to try to shoot eagles in flight with my rangefinder camera.
 
So, I thought I'd explain my direction for 2013 with an analogy.
 
Let's say I'm working on building an enormous boat. There are lots of other people out there building their own boats, so I don't have to worry about making mine fit every usage. I will use the skills and tools that I have to make exactly the boat that I think I want to build.
 
Now here's the deal. It is not clear that this boat of mine will be a success, or that it will set sail during my lifetime. Some of that depends on how good a job I do. The job ahead is so big, possible assignments on any given day are numerous.
 
One way of determining what I'll do to build the boat on a given day is to head to a particular section that needs work. If for example, I wander over to work in the engine room, I will need a particular set of tools. If instead, I decide to finish the woodwork in the captain's quarters, I'll need another. So, I choose the right tools for the job at hand that day.

 

The Engine Room, by Reed A. George

Leica M4-2, 50mm Summicron f2 Dual Range Lens

 
There is also another way to decide. Rather than picking an area or duty, I can pick up the tools I feel like using that day and wander around until I find a section that needs work that I can do with them. Sometimes this may mean that I take my most flexible tools, in order to increase the probability of finding a productive assignment. On other days, I may pick a tool that I really want to work with and search until I find an assignment. Each appraoch is different in efficiency (how much work I complete in a given time) and effectiveness (how important and beautiful that work is).
 
One thing is for sure. I will not be finishing work on this boat for a very long time. There's plenty of work to do. I don't have to take every assignment. I do have to go do good work on any assignment I take on.
 
So. That brings me to what my second year of building DMC-365 will consist of. I will use a broader set of tools than in my first year. I have used the first year to get my feet wet, and I've made at least somewhat of a name for myself on the job. I've also bought some lovely specialist tools during the year, and plan to increase my skill in using them. Taking the approach that I don't have to do it all (no wedding photography here, most likely), and that effectiveness - making sure that what I do take on is done to the very best of my ability - is more important than efficiency, I will share the tools, processes, and results with my readers. I will certainly focus on specific tools, cameras, techniques, and types of photography. My goal will not be to get every possible good image, but to ensure that those I do get are very well-done.



Tools that I know I'll use include Leica, Lumix, other Micro 4/3 gear, film cameras of the past, and even a few toy cameras, which I believe allow me to focus on technique, rather than the quality of the equipment. I want to be like the ping pong champion who wins his matches, even if he's forced to use a heavy iron skillet instead of a paddle (I know someone who can actually do this).
 
During the first year, I began a couple of projects; the one that grew legs is photographing live music performances. I will continue that project in 2013, as well as pursuing my other photographic interests, which include wildlife, field science, travel, and street photography.
 
So, I hope you'll enjoy watching me continue to build my boat. I'm sure that I'll make some mistakes along the way, and that my goals (the boat design) will change as we move forward. Of course, I also hope to meet some of the other people out there building their own boats of their own designs. We can compare notes.
 
Happy New Year!
 
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Chinese New Year - Year of the Dragon

I took my twin G3 kit to the Chinese New Year parade in DC's Chinatown yesterday (briefly).  A minor family emergency required me to leave early, but I got a few images I like.  All of these images are straight from the camera, unedited.  They were converted from raw to jpg in the upload process.

Dragon Masks, Year of the Dragon, 2012

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3, Lumix 14-140mm f4-5.8 at 58mm

iso400, f5.6, 1/640 sec

Here is a shot of the Chinatown Gate:

Chinatown Gate, Washington DC

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3, Lumix 20mm f1.7

iso400, f5.6, 1/400 sec

It was very crowded, even before the parade officially began.  I can only imagine that it got more so.  This boy's face and costume caught my eye:

Young Participant

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3, Lumix 14-140mm f4-5.8 at 114mm

iso800, f5.8, 1/500 sec

This photo is one of those tiny glimpses of time:

Dressed for the Festival

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3, Lumix 20mm f1.7

iso400, f4, 1/125 sec

 Happy New Year 2012!

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3, Lumix 20mm f1.7

iso160, f16, 1/13 sec

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If you are interested in the DMC-G3, which I used for this post, please support me by clicking this link to Amazon!

Real Inspiration for Chinese New Year Photography

To add to my earlier post, here is one from Boston.com with many truly excellent images from Chinese New Year.  Inspiration!

Image Source:  http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2012/01/lunar_new_year_2012.html

 

(Click Here) to see them all.

 

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Lunar New Year and the Color Red

Here in Washington, DC, this coming weekend will mark the celebration of the Chinese (Lunar) New Year.  It is the year of the dragon, most auspicious of them all.  DC will host a Japanese New Year celebration, as well as the annual Chinese New Year Parade in Chinatown.  Here is an image I took at last year's parade:

 

Chinese New Year 2011

Leica M8, Carl Zeiss 25mm f2.8, iso320

f8, 1/125sec

 My friend James, a DC resident, forwarded me this link from the Washington Post:

 

(click here)

 

The piece features some descriptive text about the color red, about our perception of it as described by eminent scientist Jeremy Nathans, and a great set of photographs by Post photographers, exploring the color itself.

 

Happy Lunar New Year, and have a great Year of the Dragon!

 

DMC-365.blogspot.com

Ice Photography

I will start with a few of my own images of ice to get us going:

Geometric Ice

Lumix DMC-LX2, iso 100

f5.6, 1/100 sec

Frozen Forest

Lumix DMC-LX2, iso 200

f5.6, 1/160 sec

Abstract on Ice

Lumix DMC-LX2, iso 100

f4, 1/125 sec

I was inspired to look these up after reading this nice article on Ephotozine:

(click here)

Source:  http://www.ephotozine.com/article/ice-photography-advice-18149?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Ephotozine+%28ePHOTOzine%29

Well, I don't know the weather where you are, but winter is threatening us here in Northern Virginia, and I won't let it stop me from going out.  Even when the trees are bare and the sky is gray, if you look hard enough, you can find something interesting to photograph.

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Japanese Food for New Year Morning

Each year, my family and I eat traditional Japanese food, osechi-ryori, for New Years.  Here is this year's selection:

Osechi 2012

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

iso400, f4, 1/60 sec

And this year's 2011-2012 "Unluckiest Fish of the Year" award goes to this guy:

Unlucky Fish 2011-2012

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

iso400, f5.6, 1/80 sec

He was very gracious (delicious) in accepting the award.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

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