DMC-365 - Exploring the Interface Between Equipment and Creativity in Photography

DMC-365 focuses on creative photography equipment, techniques, and approaches. I believe that equipment is part of the creative process. I use Leica, Panasonic Lumix, Nikon and other cameras, both digital and film. On DMC-365, you can expect to see a lot of my own work, as well as work by others that I find interesting. I share methods, equipment developments, and creative approaches to photography.

Friday, March 23, 2012

Dual Exhibit at Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography

Exploring Steel Bridge, by Masao Horino

Image Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/fa20120322a1.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign

=Feed%3A+japantimes+%28The+Japan+Times%3A+All+Stories%29

As I have mentioned, I will be traveling to Japan in a little over a week from now. I love Tokyo, and am never without something new to explore, a new neighborhood to walk, or someone new to meet. I usually make it to the excellent gallery at Fujifilm's modern facility in Midtown. But, I have yet to make it to the Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography. The last time I was there, I made the mistake of planning to go on a Monday, the only day of the week the museum is closed.

This time, while I'm there, there are two concurrent exhibits, one showing the work of Felice Beato (1832-1909), the other Masao Horino (1907-1998).

Beato was an early war photographer, active as Brady and his cohort were busy photographing the American Civil War. Beato photographed British military activities throughout Asia, but ended up spending 20 years in Japan. In addition to military subjects, he photographed local culture, and introduced hand coloring of photographs to the region. He also manually produced enormous panoramic images, ten of which are included in the exhibit. About 140 of his photographs in total are included.

Masao Horino was most active in the 1930s, and was very interested in advancing modern photography. He put his efforts into improving low, available light. He also showed female subjects in a new, casual way, unconventional in Japanese society. Horino stopped photographing, and showing his work, after World War 2, claiming his photographs had been lost in the war. This exhibit, including about 200 of his works, is his first show in 75 years.

(Click Here) for more information on the show, at Japan Times online.

I am planning to view both shows on my upcoming trip. Hopefully I'll have a good story to tell, or at least some of my own impressions to share.

DMC-365.blogspot.com

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Luis Gomez's "One Photograph a Day" Blog and Image

Image Source:

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg7W5_nXmX9-wCZj0Wq7g6pqRHWYdcFWjdl5wuAseXqzdmRiVPwUZ3YbYMlLzbsEyMQGvXetaQ1cLDQ8XHMTa9ZrvSKjCvHIUPFciISMplZQOalFxY6Otg4BIawVVi8khFZaQUD1VO3Wmh/s795/Jogging.jpg

Washington, DC-based photographer Luis Gomez has an interesting "One Photograph a Day" site. The image above is a real winner in my opinion.

(Click Here) to see the original image, and check out Luis' blog while you're there.

Apparently, Luis happened upon another photographer working in this scene. Wouldn't you love to see the other guy's images, too? I wonder if they are as cool as this one.

DMC-365.blogspot.com

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Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Lumix DMC-GX1 / Summilux 25mm f1.4 Shots From Around Boston

Image Source: http://www.mu-43.com/f57/some-shots-around-boston-22395/

User Arvin from mu-43.com posted a series of great shots from the Boston area, all taken with the DMC-GX1 and Pana-Leica Summilux 25mm f1.4 lens.

(Click Here) to see the post.

There is a nice mix of images here, all which show that Arvin has a good eye for composition. I especially like the image shown above, and the one lower down, of the person carting a box across the alley. In that image, Arvin was able to focus on the subject, and not on the person. In this case, breaking the old rule of not cutting off the head of a human subject was the right thing to do. Very nice.

DMC-365.blogspot.com

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Dave Martinez's Tips on Choosing Photo Equipment for Travel

Dave Martinez posted a nice blog entry about how to choose the appropriate equipment for travel

(Click Here) to read Dave's entry.

Dave lists a few different combinations that he takes on travel. Like me, he usually opts for a Micro 4/3 kit these days, unless the trip demands full-frame equipment, when he, again like me, chooses Nikon.

I agree with most of the points that Dave makes, including limiting yourself to a few lenses, and not worrying about covering every focal length. You'll be surprised at how you adapt, sometimes in very creative ways, to not having a super zoom and several other lenses.

Dave sometimes goes without any lens covering the "normal" (~40-50mm full-frame 35mm equivalent); that's where our approaches differ. I cannot imagine going on a trip without at least one normal lens, usually a fast one. My favorite right now is the Pana-Leica Summilux 25mm f1.4, but the Lumix 20mm f1.7 is a great, more compact option.

I am planning for a trip to Japan in about a month. I'm thinking I will take two DMC-G3s, Lumix 14mm f2.5, Lumix 20mm f1.7 (or Summilux), and Pana-Leica 45mm f2.8 Macro-Elmarit. That will be a very powerful, yet light and compact kit.

When I'm going for the ultimate in compact, and will be shooting in mostly good light (not having to worry too much about small sensor noise), I will use the DMC-LX5, as shown above. The LX5 offers a very nice zoom range, wide enough aperture to get shallow depth of field, and excellent image quality, in my opinion. It also have very nice settings for street photography, HDR, etc. See my post from January for more details.

DMC-365.blogspot.com

Monday, March 19, 2012

Panasonic's New President Focuses on Improving Efficiency

Panasonic's New President, Kazuhiro Tsuga

Image Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/images/photos2012/nb20120301a1a.jpg

To be officially formalized this June, Kazuhiro Tsuga, currently the Managing Director and President of Panasonic's Audiovisual Products Unit, will take over as the President of all of Panasonic. He will replace the current President, Fumio Otsubo.

(Click Here) for an article in the Japan Times.

Panasonic has just predicted its largest loss ever, 780 million yen in this business year, largely due to strength of the Japanese currency, and decreased demand in televisions and semiconductors.

Mr. Tsuga stresses that the company must eliminate inefficiencies, and develop the "Environment Business" through revolutionary new product development.

When I spent a year working at a Panasonic factory in Kofu, Japan, I was very impressed by the difference in how Panasonic responded to tough economic times, as compared to my own experience in American companies. At that time (1994), the Japanese bubble economy had just burst. Panasonic executives uniformly stressed the importance of engaging customers, ensuring customer satisfaction, and making customers life-long fans of the company and its products. I hope that message isn't lost on Panasonic's new President.

Panasonic has made some revolutionary product introductions in the Micro 4/3 camera market, in my opinion. They still have a long way to go in developing excellent customer service, at least in the United States, in my opinion. Inefficiencies in dealing with service and internet systems are obvious. Sorry for the frank talk, but I want to see this improve.

I remain a loyal Panasonic customer, and look forward to a new era for the company. Their products have always been first-rate in my opinion. The latest G series camera products continue that tradition.

Onward and upward, Panasonic. Your founder, Konosuke Matsushita, would have certainly expected no less!

DMC-365.blogspot.com