Autumn Color

I got out in the autumn colors today, from a vantage point at Bear's Den overlooking the Shenandoah Valley, less than an hour from home.  Here's the overall scene (don't forget that it's interactive - you can zoom and scroll around in the 360 degree panorama image if you click on image):

Post from RICOH THETA. #theta360 - Spherical Image - RICOH THETA

And here are my favorite shots from the day, all shot with my Nikon D810.  The first two with the Nikkor 200-500mm, the rest with the Zeiss Milvus 50mm f1.4 (amazing lens!).

World Pinhole Day 2016

Tree Triptych, by Reed A. George

Reality So Subtle 6x17 Panoramic Pinhole Camera

Kodak TMax 100 Black and White Negative Film

 

April 24, 2016 was World Pinhole Day (WPD). Here's the shot I submitted.

 

I inadvertently made it a triptych (series of three images) by improperly loading my film behind the two posts (vertical black stripes) instead of in front of them. I like it, though.

 

See all of the WPD submissions by (clicking here).

 

DMC-365.blogspot.com

 

Digital Panorama with Nikon Df - Korean War Memorial, Washington, DC

I've been working on my technique for shooting digital panoramas. Today I shot this one, at the Korean War Memorial on the Mall in Washington, DC. I shot it with my Nikon Df, Nikkor 35-70mm f2.8 AF lens at 44mm, f/11. I found the approximate nodal point (ideal point of rotation for panoramic images) by using my gimbal head, usually reserved for the big telephotos. That worked quite well.

 

I am searching for a viewer to allow my blog readers to see it up close and scroll around - the detail in this huge image is amazing.

 

Just for fun, I printed it on my Epson P600 printer with roll paper. In order to get the height to 12 inches, the length of the print is nearly 10 feet! It is really cool to see on paper. I can't do that everyday. The cost of this one print was probably ridiculous. I think it was about $20 in paper, many times that in ink cost.

 

 

If you click on the image, it should take you to flicker, where you can see it bigger.

 

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Another Panorama - Bronica ETRS This Time

I really like shooting panoramic images.

 

Rudy, Ben, and Will, by Reed A. George

Bronica ETRS, 135W Panoramic Back, Kodak Color 400 Film

 

I'm dragging the Bronica gear out after a few years of neglect. I'm having a problem with the film not advancing predictably with this 35mm wide back, but sure like how this image came out. More to come from this camera.

 

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Do I Miss My Hasselblad Xpan? I think I Do.

Some of my Xpan Shots, With 45mm f4 Lens

 

I used to own a Hasselblad Xpan and 45mm lens. It's the only Hasselblad I've ever owned. I liked it, but didn't love it at the time. It was valuable enough, I decided to sell it. Now, I wonder if that was a good idea. I was just getting into the panoramic composition. I have continued to play with panos, with a few different cameras that give me the option - the Reality So Subtle 6x17 pinhole camera is my favorite. I also have a Lomography Sprocket Rocket, and a 35mm wide (panoramic) back for my Bronica ETR. But, the Xpan was a nice combination of small size, flexibility (it can also shoot normal 35mm frames), and very high quality optics.

 

As I prepare for my upcoming vacation and hiking trip, I'm thinking about the Xpan again. My plan is to take my Fujifilm GS645S medium format rangefinder, and my Lumix DMC-LX100 on the trip. Both are excellent travel cameras. But, an Xpan would be great, especially for the hike.

 

Nick DeMarco of the Rangefinder Chronicles shoots an Xpan regularly. (Click Here) to see a nice post of Nick's work.

 

DMC-365.blogspot.com

 

One More Wide Pinhole in This Series -

W-I-D-E Perspective, by Reed A. George

Reality So Subtle 6x17 Panoramic Pinhole Camera

Kodak TMax 100 Film, 35 sec., f/250

 

The orchid on the table at right is what caught my eye. So, I set up my Reality So Subtle camera very close to it, and opened the shutter. I then walked to the window at center. If you look hard, you can see my translucent silhouette.

 

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Frog's Eye View - Reality So Subtle 6x17 Pinhole

Frog's Eye View, by Reed A. George

Reality So Subtle 6x17 Panoramic Pinhole Camera

Kodak TMax 100 Film, 30 sec. Exposure

 

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Reality So Subtle 6x17 Pinhole at the National Arboretum

Finally finished the roll of 120 film in my Reality So Subtle pinhole camera. Who'd guess it's a challenge to finish a 4 exposure roll? But, the results are pretty cool. More coming soon.

 

National Arboretum Bonsai Collection, by Reed A. George

Reality So Subtle 6x17 Panoramic Pinhole Camera

Kodak TMax 100 Film

 

DMC-365.blogspot.com

 

World Pinhole Day - Reality So Subtle 6x17 Panoramas and My Entry

I've posted several times about Worldwide Pinhole Day. Here are four images I made with my Reality So Subtle 6x17 pinhole camera, on TMax 100 film. (Click Here) to find out more about this awesome camera. It has my high recommendation.

 

All were taken at the National Arboretum in Washington, DC.

 

The fourth and final image is the one I chose to submit to the Worldwide Pinhole Day gallery for 2015.

 

To see all of the entries for Worldwide Pinhole Day 2015, (Click Here).

 

DMC-365.blogspot.com

 

 

Nick DeMarco (Rangefinder Chronicles) Uses His Hasselblad Xpan on the Street

 

 

 

DC Street Vendors, by Reed A. George

Hasselblad Xpan

 

I used to a Hasselblad Xpan panoramic camera. Shooting 24x65mm images on regular 35mm film, it was interesting. I've always been partial to panoramic images.

 

I sold mine, for two major reasons: 1) it was worth too much money for the amount I used it, and 2) I found a panoramic back for my Bronica ETRS. I feel like I had just begun to get how to compose with the XPan when I sold it. Probably too soon. And, I have not used the Bronica pano back nearly as much as I expected.

 

What I did shoot with the Xpan was mostly landscapes.

 

I recently read a post on Nick DeMarco's Rangefinder Chronicles blog about how he uses the Xpan for street photography. (Click Here) to read about it on Nick's blog. He's got some great work there.

 

This doesn't have me back in the market for an Xpan, but it does make me motivated to get out with the Bronica. It's been sitting for far too long.

DMC-365.blogspot.com

 

Another Example of How Technology Affects Vision

I've posted this picture before, taken with the Nikon Df and Nikkor 50mm f1.2 AIS lens.

 

Here's the same statue, shot with the Reality So Subtle 6x17 panoramic pinhole camera.

 

 

I love figuring out how to use different tools to make images that appeal to me.

 

DMC-365.blogspot.com

How Technology Affects Vision

Each and every camera and lens we choose brings with it a unique vision, and unique constraints. It's the combination of these influences, and creative vision, that interests me the most. Here are two shots of the same subject, made from approximately the same distance and location, but with very different cameras.

 

First, an image made with the Nikon Df and Nikkor 24mm f2.8 AF-D Lens.

 

 

And now, one made with the Reality So Subtle 6x17 panoramic pinhole camera, on 120 (medium format) film.

 

 

Quite a difference, I'd say. I like them both.

 

DMC-365.blogspot.com

 

Vietnam War Memorial In Panoramic Pinhole View

 

Vietnam Memorial, by Reed A. George

Reality So Subtle 6x17 Panoramic Pinhole Camera

Kodak TMax 100 Film (120 Size), 10 sec. at f256

 

I've been shooting more pinhole images lately, using the wonderful new "Reality So Subtle" camera that I received from my wife for my 50th birthday.

 

(Click Here) to read about the camera.

 

Don't forget, Worldwide Pinhole Day is coming up on April 26, 2015! (Click Here) to read about that. I'll be shooting pinhole images that day, for sure.

 

More to come.

 

DMC-365.blogspot.com

 

Some Panoramic Pinhole Images - Buddhist Temple

Here are three 6x17 shots I recently made at my meditation class:

 

These were made with the "Reality So Subtle" panoramic pinhole camera that my wife bought for my on my 50th birthday. It shoots four exposures on a roll of 120 film (TMax 400 in this case, which I developed in Kodak D-76 diluted 1:1 for 13 1/2 minutes). The top and bottom images were made with about ten seconds of exposure; the middle one took one hour.

 

(Click Here) to read more about the camera.

 

(Click Here) to see the images above at full size on my flickr page.

 

DMC-365.blogspot.com

 

 

Final Couple of Pinhole Shots for Now

Poster Session, by Reed A. George

Reality So Subtle Panoramic Pinhole Camera, Kodak TMax 100 Film

 

These examples show just how well the pinhole camera can perform. Again, there were people in these pictures, too, but they're barely visible. You can see a ghostly apparition in the center of the bottom pic.

 

I like this camera.

 

DMC-365.blogspot.com

 

Pinhole Camera in Odd Places

Following on my post from yesterday, here are a couple of shots I made by placing the Reality So Subtle 6x17 pinhole camera in odd places. First, I put it on top of the coffee grinder. It's impossible to see, but there was a steady stream of people who walked through the fifteen minute exposure, including one of the staff who was about to call security, wondering what this odd box on the coffee grinder was. Luckily, I was sitting nearby (that's me to the far right), and let him know it was mine. No problem, once I noticed his concern.

From the Coffee Grinder, by Reed A. George

Reality So Subtle 6x17 Pinhole Camera, Kodak TMax 100 Film

 

This next one was made by placing the camera on a stainless steel serving table, under a shelf. The lights in the ceiling are reflected back up from the stainless surface, giving an interesting effect.

From the Serving Table, by Reed A. George

Reality So Subtle 6x17 Pinhole Camera, Kodak TMax 100 Film

 

I'm really enjoying using this odd camera. For more information on the camera itself, (Click Here).

 

DMC-365.blogspot.com

 

One Hour Exposures - 6x17 Pinhole

Two Hours at the Symposium, by Reed A. George

Reality So Subtle 6x17 Panoramic Pinhole Camera, Kodak TMax 100 Film

 

I had some fun last weekend, shooting my new panoramic pinhole camera at a work symposium. Each of these are one hour exposures. On top, I set the camera in the front row of seats, pointed directly at myself (the middle blurry person, in dark clothes). You can see my Leica CL in the picture, a little left of center.

 

The second is another one hour exposure, this time from the speaker's podium.

 

You can click on these images to see more detail on flickr.

 

In both cases, the images were significantly underexposed, because I didn't take reciprocity failure (film's loss of linear response to light in very long exposures). They would have been much better as two hour exposures. But, I think they're kind of fun and weird.

 

More long images from the symposium coming soon.

 

DMC-365.blogspot.com

 

First Shots - 6x17 Panoramic Pinhole - "Reality So Subtle"

Some cameras take a while to figure out. Pinhole cameras are definitely different from everything else I shoot, and require a different frame of mind. That's one of the things I love about shooting them. And then there's panoramic format. I remember when I purchased a Hasselblad Xpan, a camera that I never fell in love with. It took me several rolls to get used to composing in the long panoramic format. I did eventually get comfortable with it, but then moved on to a panoramic 35mm back for my Bronica ETR.

 

Anyway, I digress. The subject of this post is the "Reality So Subtle" 6x17 medium format panoramic pinhole camera that my lovely wife gave me for my birthday. (Click Here) to read my post about the camera.

 

Here are some images from my first two rolls of film through the camera. Remember, there are only four exposures per roll of 120 film, so this hit rate may not be too bad. I shot one roll of Portra 160, another of Portra 400.

 

These first three were shot at Great Falls National Park in Virginia.

 

 

 

This next one came from the new Metro station in Reston, Virginia. It's my favorite of the bunch. There were actually some people walking through as I shot this one; they didn't show up because they were only there for a small fraction of the time the shutter was open.

 

 

So, I'm pretty pleased with this camera overall. That said, I need to use my head to find the right applications for it, and learn to use it just right. And that's not cheap. At four exposures per roll, plus the fact that my favorite film processor, thedarkroom.com, charges $10 extra per roll for panoramic format (!), I figure these cost well over $6 per exposure. That leads me to the conclusion that I'll start shooting black and white film in it for a while, and develop the images myself. That will bring it back to the "reasonable" level of about $1.50 per shot or so. That's less than a Polaroid image.

 

So, wish me luck! More to come.

 

DMC-365.blogspot.com

 

 

6x17 Panoramic Digital? Wow. Price? WOW!

 

Image Source: http://www.roundshotusa.com/products/6x17/index.htm

 

I've written a little about my new panoramic pinhole (film) camera, and am anxiously awaiting results from the first couple of rolls of film. (Click Here) to read about that. I hope to have results to share this week.

 

In discussing this new beast that produces giant 6cm x 17cm negatives with my friend, Charlie, he mentioned that someone was making a 6x17 digital camera. It's staggering to think of the production cost of such a beast. At 17cm in length, that would mean that the wafer the sensor is produced on would have to be over 7" in diameter (probably standard 8"), and each wafer could only contain one sensor. That's costly.

 

Sure enough, though, Seitz is making such a camera. And, it's costly. At $27,300 for the economical solution (18 Megapixels),without the optional data storage and control, an additional $5,114. The highest resolution version (160 Megapixels) is $44,415, plus $5,114 for the optional modules. These prices don't include lenses.

 

(Click Here) for the details.

 

I can only imagine how cool this thing would be to shoot.

 

DMC-365.blogspot.com

My New 6x17 Panoramic Camera Arrives

I wrote in the past about the "Reality So Subtle" medium format panoramic pinhole camera. (Click Here) to read about the camera.

 

I decided that it would be my 50th birthday present, and ordered one. It arrived a couple of weeks later, just before Christmas. I was pretty concerned when I saw this collapsed, wet package show up:

 

Opening the package, I did find that the enclosed user guide and exposure guideline documentation were ruined by the wetness. However, the camera was very well-wrapped in another layer of bubble wrap inside. It came through just fine.

 

I contacted James Guerin, the maker, to let him know it had arrived. James was concerned about the package, and said that he'll likely pack differently in the future. But, as I said, my camera's just fine. James will also send me the documentation again, electronically this time. If you're interested in this camera, you can check out James' website at aupremierplan.fr to learn more.

 

I've already put two rolls of 120 film through the camera. At only four images per roll, that was pretty easy to do. I will send them off to The Darkroom (thedarkroom.com) in the next few days. I can't wait to see what those enormous negatives will look like. You'll see them soon after I do!

 

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