Lumix DMC-GF1 Goes Around The World

 Image Source : http://kienlam.net/around-the-world

Kien Lam, a California-based artist, made a great video of his travels around the world.  All of the images were made with a Lumix DMC-GF1, Lumix 20mm f1.7, and Lumix 14-45mm f3.5-4.5 kit lens.

(Click Here) to see the video.

He uses a lot of time lapse images.  It makes for a very interesting five minute video.  I like how he condenses an enormous amount of travel into a single short video.  I also like that he had a very small camera kit.  Really cool.

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Three Heinies

 See What I am reduced to when it's cold outside and I am too busy to get out and shoot much?  No, I didn't drink them...

 Three Heinies, by Reed A. George

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS3

iso100, f5.3, 1/200 sec

I am finding it challenging to hold the TS3 steady enough to avoid blur.  I'm sure it is my technique that needs to improve.  I think part of the problem is that I treat the camera as a point and shoot, which it is.  But, I need to pay attention to the shutter speed it selects.  I'm sure I'll get it down over time.

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New Lumix Lens Site - "Great Lenses Make Great Cameras"

 Check out this new Lumix lens information site.  

 

(Click Here) to see it.  Watch the six minute video - it is a grat summary, and features photographer Bruce Dale.

 

 

Image Source:  

http://panasonic.net/avc/lumix/popup/great_lenses/img/manufacturing.jpg

This informative new site covers many aspects of the Panasonic Lumix lenses, including their collaboration with Leica, whereby lenses are manufactured by Panasonic, under the quality control and assurance practices of Leica; technologies included in Lumix lenses; the new X lens series; and lens manufacturing technologies.

Most photographers have heard that at the most basic level, the camera body is just a light-tight box with a shutter.  The lens determines much more about the image.  

Of course, the photographer is the most important element, and others, such as lighting, subject, and composition also matter. 

That said, lens quality is extremely important in achieving the very best photographs.  In my opinion, Panasonic has really done an amazing job of breaking into this well-established market.  Of course, they have been making lenses for many years, mainly for their video products.  But, their partnership with Leica for still camera optics has really paid off.  I am very happy with my Panasonic-Leica 25mm f1.4 Summilux and 45mm f2.8 Macro-Elmarit lenses.

The straight Lumix lenses are also very high quality.  The 20mm f1.7 is a great example.  While not produced in collaboration with Leica, this Lumix lens quickly became the first "must-have" normal focal length lens for the Micro 4/3 format.  As with most optics suppliers, they have a range of quality, from the kit zooms (at the lower level of image quality), up to the more expensive, more capable lenses I have mentioned.

So, I agree with the premise of the new site.  The lens does matter, a lot.  And, I congratulate Panasonic on establishing themselves in this competitive, established market.

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First Few Shots From the Lumix DMC-TS3

I Got the Orange One

Image Source: http://shop.panasonic.com/shop/model/DMC-TS3D

I mentioned a few weeks ago that I was interested in the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS3, which is a waterproof, freeze-proof, shockproof compact.  I also mentioned that the DMC-TS4 was announced, according to Panasonic tradition, at the end of January.  I took the opportunity to get the TS3 at a great price, since for me the upgrades that went into the TS4 were not that important.

 

I do a lot of outdoor activities, many around water.  So, I plan to put a lot of miles on this little camera.  However, it being winter, and me being busy, I haven't had much chance to get out with it yet.  In fact, all of the pictures I'll share below were taken within a few minutes' walk of my office, at the beautiful research campus where I'm lucky enough to work.  Here they are:

 

Snowfall on Campus, by Reed A. George

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS3, iso320, f3.3 1/60 sec

 

 

 Fallen, by Reed A. George

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS3, iso400, f3.3 1/40 sec

 

 Rising, by Reed A. George

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS3, iso160, f3.3 1/160 sec

For the snow shots, I used the canned "snow" picture mode.  I noticed that several of the images had motion blur, so I need to watch my shutter speed a little more closely.  I also need to figure out the focusing modes, as some were focused other than where I had planned.  

I should also report that the GPS function seems imperfect, in that it uses the latest location in memory, even if it has been inside, unable to update.  So, my images are tagged as being in Montgomery County, Maryland, even though they were taken in Virginia.  I would prefer that it insert no information if it hasn't been able to update since last used.

I plan to share some more exciting images as the weather improves, and I make it out into the field.  I wanted to post at least some initial results, and share how nice it is to be able to carry a camera out in the snow, or submerge it under the river surface, without worrying about damage.  This camera will be at the low end of image quality for me, but the tradeoff of toughness will likely allow me to capture some shots that would otherwise be missed.

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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.

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National Geographic Photographer Jodi Cobb Speaks About Getting Inside The Story

Tonight I took advantage of living near Washington, D.C., home of National Geographic.  I attended the opening talk of the Nat Geo Live Masters of Photography Series, given by Jodi Cobb.

 

Jodi has worked as a Nat Geo photographer for three decades.  She has always enjoyed getting inside, backstage, behind the scenes.  Her professional photographic work started in a commune in the Ozark Mountains, and led her to the rock and roll scene, where she photographed the iconic performers of the day, including Jethro Tull, Bruce Springsteen, Crosby Stills Nash & Young, and many others.  Many of her images show the human side of these characters, for example:

 

(Click Here) to go to Jodi's site and see Springsteen putting on his socks, the same way you and I do.

 

As her career advanced, Jodi continued to get into settings that most people could never gain entry to, and to work behind the scenes.  Her work has taken her around the world, to photograph such elusive subjects as the lives of Saudi Arabian women, Japanese geisha, European supermodels.  I purchased her lovely book on the Geisha at the event.

 

The project that she says most affected her is on human trafficking in the modern world.  

 

(Click Here) to see her web gallery from the Slavery Project.  

 

In this project, she covered child labor in Indian rug making, prostitution in India, Thailand, Israel, and Los Angeles, and many other facets of this ugly truth of modern life.  She said it was the hardest project to live through, but also the most meaningful.  She said it changed her life, and her attitude regarding prostitution (often called a victimless crime), and buying very inexpensive goods, which promotes slavery.

 

Her latest project was for a National Geographic story on twins, in the latest issue.  This image is from that story:

 

Image Source:  

http://events.nationalgeographic.com/events/speakers/2012/02/07/uncovering-hidden-worlds/

by Jodi Cobb

Jodi is now working on a retrospective about her life as a photographer.

I thoroughly enjoyed her presentation, and will think of it often as I try to go a little deeper with my photographic subjects.  She is clearly a master at getting to the inside story.

I recommend you visit her website; there's a lot to learn from her examples.

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Another Photographer Shifting to the G3!

 

Image Source: 

http://www.xdayv.com/2012/02/03/goodbye-gf/comment-page-1/#comment-28

I was just reading Dave Martinez's post about selling his DMC-GF1, in favor of the new DMC-G3.  He also switched to Lumix from Nikon, much as I did.

(Click Here) to read the whole post.

I am not quite ready to give up either Nikon or the GF1 completely, but I sure share his appreciation of the G3.  I look forward to hearing more about Dave's decision, and how it works out for him.

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