A (Holga) Day in the Life

I decided to pull out an old, neglected camera today, the cute little Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1.  I was in the mood for some low-thought, low-effort shooting, so I mounted the 25mm f8 Holga plastic toy lens.  Here is what I captured today:

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Back to Color, Digital, Lumix? Well, Maybe a Little

I've been offline, mostly, working with black and white film in the darkroom. And, enjoying it immensely.

 

But, I decided to give Micro 4/3 a go again, after never being able to quite fall in love with the DMC-GX7 body. The image quality is fine, quite fine, in fact, but the camera feels weird in my hand, and I don't like the electronic viewfinder (EVF) on that particular camera. So, I decided to jump on a Black Friday deal and get the similar but somewhat less full-featured DMC-G7. Much better, for me. I gave up in-body image stabilization (which the GX7 has), but gained a camera that feels right in my hand, with what I feel is a better EVF.

 

Here's a shot I made with the new G7 today, using the Lumix 100-300mm f4-5.6 zoom lens, at 800 iso:

Mockingbird in Winter

 

I'm still really having a blast in the darkroom, but this was SO easy, and shooting color again is also fun...

 

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Desolation - Lumix LX100

Desolation, by Reed A. George

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX100

 

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Wood - Shot With the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX100

A series of photos of trees, close up, from my trip to The Desolation Wilderness in Northern California. All shot with the LX100.

 

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Another Corn Crib Shot - HDR

I added one more shot to the corn crib set, this one a high dynamic range (HDR) image from inside the corn crib.

 

Inside Looking Out, by Reed A. George

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX7, Lumix 20mm f1.7 Lens

HDR from three separate exposures

 

I'm looking forward to getting refamiliarized with the GX7 on my upcoming vacation.

 

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More Parkour - Fisheye Shots

Here are some fisheye images I made with the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX7 and Bower fisheye lens. These were taken at the same parkour workout that I wrote about yesterday.

 

 

I shot these at the end of the workout, choosing to use high iso and no flash. I really need to try some fisheye images with rear curtain, slow shutter flash. That will be cool.

 

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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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Hiking Practice - Sky Meadows State Park - Lumix DMC-LX100

I've been practicing for a hiking and camping trip I'm going on in August. I'll be going to the Desolation Wilderness in California for a two night journey. At my age, you need to get the body used to carrying a full backpack and walking multiple miles before heading out into the wilderness. I also need to break in a new pair of boots.

 

I've been doing most of my practice in a neighborhood "nature preserve," which consists of a boardwalk over some wetlands. Very flat, but convenient to home. Today I went out to Sky Meadows State Park in Delaplane, Virginia, to add some elevation and hills to the practice. Here are a couple of shots I made there with my Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX100.

Sky Meadows Barn, by Reed A. George

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX100, Edited in Snapseed

Sunflower, by Reed A. George

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX100, Edited in Snapseed

 

The LX100 is the perfect hiking camera. I can wear it on my backpack belt, and it really doesn't get in the way. It may be the only camera I take on the actual hike. But, I'll probably also take along the Fujifilm GS645S medium format film camera.

 

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Cottonwoods Blooming on the Potomac River

On my most recent kayaking trip on the Potomac River, I shot this image of a cottonwood tree, blooming and losing its blossoms to the river surface.

Cottonwoods on the Potomac, by Reed A. George

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS5

iso 160, f3.3, 1/160 sec.

 

As you can see, I made this image with the compact, waterproof Lumix DMC-TS5 camera. It's a great companion on kayaking trips, as it's really well-protected against water, dirt, sand, and shock. I think it makes very nice pictures for a compact point and shoot.

 

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Kiyomizu-dera Temple in Kyoto, with Lumix DMC-LX100

Here's another shot showing the capability of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX100 for travel.

 

Kiyomizu-dera, by Reed A. George

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX100

iso 200, f5.6, 1/640 sec.

 

Now this is a situation where most cameras would do just fine - bright sunny day, outdoors, wonderful subject. But, the detail, sharpness, and color representation of the LX100 really come through here in my opinion. None of my (much) heavier, more complicated cameras would have done significantly better with this scene.

 

I'm quite pleased with the LX100 as a travel camera.

 

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Japanese Street Scene - Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX100

 

Intersection, by Reed A. George

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX100

iso 200, f8, 1/1000 sec.

 

I used my Lumix LX100 a lot on my trip to Japan. It is a great little street camera, and is quite capable of good results at high iso settings, though this image was shot at iso 200. I really enjoyed carrying the LX100, which is very compact and light, and exploring what I could do with it. I have not reached its limits yet.

 

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Storm Approaches the Manor House - Lumix DMC-LX100 and Snapseed

I ventured out from the office today as a storm approached. Here's my interpretation of the scene.

Storm Approaches the Manor House, by Reed A. George

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX100

iso 200, f8, 1/250 sec.

Manipulated in Snapseed on iPad

 

Here's the original image from the LX100.

 

The springtime seasonal allergies are killing me right now, so I paid the price for being outside. But, the clouds were so dramatic, I had to run out and get the shot. The Panasonic DMC-LX100 made that very easy.

 

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Today's Image From Japan - Lumix DMC-LX100

Matcha Tea, by Reed A. George

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX100

iso 400, f1.7, 1/60 sec.

 

We wrapped up our last day in Kyoto with some very nice Japanese tea and sweets.

 

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Image of the Day From Japan

 

Kiyomizu-Dera, by Reed A. George

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX100

iso 200, f8, 1/400 sec.

 

Yes, it is a little postcard-like, but I loved the view.

 

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Lumix DMC-LX100 Portrait

I will be posting my single favorite shot from each day I'm in Japan. For my first day, here's a portrait of my daughter at lunch with me.

 

Christine, Jet-Lagged, by Reed A. George

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX100, Zoom at 45mm Equivalent

iso 1600, f2.7, 1/640 sec.

 

I knowthat this image shows nothing of Japan; it could have been taken anywhere. I'll be sure to share some that say more about Japan in the coming days.

 

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Another One From a Year Ago

Santa Fe Diner, by Reed A. George

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX7

 

I guess I was smart enough to travel to Santa Fe last winter. I took this shot with my GX7 sitting on the restaurant table. I like that you can see each of the couple's heads three times (the heads themselves, reflections in the mirror beside them, and reflections on the table surface). Pretty cool.

 

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Back to New Orleans

Scooter in The Quarter, by Reed A. George

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX7

iso 400, f4, 1/200 sec.

 

I just made my room reservations (on AirBnB) for a trip to New Orleans next month. I'll be attending the LHSA (International Leica Society)'s Spring Shoot.

 

(Click Here) to learn more about the LHSA, and the Spring Shoot event. If you're a Leica enthusiast, you may really enjoy the Society. I do.

 

I also have a couple of great friends in the area, so will also get to spend a little time with them.

 

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Ruslan Pelykh and the Leica D-Lux 6

Made with the Lumix DMC-LX7, Sister to Leica D-Lux 6

 

As you may know, I recently purchased a Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX100, which is the approximate equivalent to the new Leica DLux (Type 109). It was a tough decision to buy the LX100, as the previous camera in the LX series, the LX7, is so darned good. The LX100 has the LX7 beat hands-down in image quality; the Micro 4/3 sensor stuffed into the LX100 assured that. But, the LX7 has some features (built-in ND filter, manual focus memory, real depth of field preview) that the LX100 lacks. All that said, I'm very happy with my purchase of the LX100.

 

I was just reading about Ukrainian photographer Ruslan Pelykh, and how he's used the Leica DLux-6 (equivalent to the Lumix LX7) to make both films and still photographs that are most impressive. Pelykh now lives in NYC, and is "obsessed" with the hazy weather that sometimes comes to the City. While Pelykh focuses a lot of effort on his movies, I find his still work to be very good. He tends to plan his shoots roughly, but then let the unexpected factors take control. He likes to add some chance to his plans. Pelykh likes to use the DLux-6 in low light situations, usually at iso 200, which necessitates very long exposures.

 

(Click Here) to read the article on the Leica blog, and see Pelykh's movies and still shots with the DLux-6. I bet he's really going to love the DLux (Type 109) when he gets his hands on one.

 

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Winter Bamboo

I was one of the few who made it into the office today. We had several inches of snow, and it's still coming down. I shot this from the warmth of inside, looking into the atrium.

Winter Bamboo, by Reed A. George

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX100

iso 200, f2.8, 1/125 sec.

 

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Changes Coming in Leica's Financial Future?

Maybe We'll See More of This in the Future?

Image Source: http://assets.hardwarezone.com/img/2014/03/thumb-0112.jpg

 

My friend Bill sent me a very interesting article about a potential riff in the company management at Leica.

 

(Click Here) to read "Leica in Troubled Waters - Strategic Investor Blackstone Ups Pressure" on the Theme blog.

 

Now, I want to be clear here. I love Leica, and am not hoping for trouble in the company. Unlike many, I don't automatically hate industry leaders (think Microsoft), or even those who carve out and own a niche (think Leica). In fact, I can see good things coming for Leica. There's a hint at the bottom of the article on Theme about Panasonic becoming more official in its relationship to Leica (as in sending funds in some form, which will certainly increase Panasonic's influence, who knows to what degree). That could be good for Leica. My opinion of Panasonic's materials science and manufacturing capability couldn't be higher. And, that opinion comes from some real hands-on experience, as twenty one years ago today, I was living in Japan for a year and training at a Panasonic Factory Automation facility. Anyway, I digress.

 

I drove a Jaguar during the period that Jaguar was owned by Ford. I would say that my car was reliable, not something that most would have said about Jaguars built before that period.

 

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