Why Is This So Bloody Fun? Holga Plastic Lens on Micro 4/3.

So, on a whim and a suggestion (from Andrea Costa, one of my readers), I recently picked up a Holga plastic lens for my Lumix DMC-G3 Micro 4/3 camera. Total cost? $22 including shipping, and a couple of weeks waiting for shipment from Hong Kong.
 
(Click Here) to go to Holga Direct if you want one.
 
I used mine on our last day in Barcelona. I can't really explain why, but it's sort of freeing to not worry about the technical quality of your images. It's a blast to just snap whatever comes in front of your eyes. One very rough focus knob is all there is. The f-stop is always f8. I used aperture priority sometimes, manual shutter speed settings, other times. Most of the time I used iso 400, but went up to 3200 in dark places.
 
This shot was taken from the cable car going up to Montjuic Castle. These guys were working on the roof of a building in the part.

Roof Repairs, by Reed A. George

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3, Holga 25mm f8 for Micro 4/3

Going Up, by Reed A. George

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3, Holga 25mm f8 for Micro 4/3

I find that this lens works best with bold shapes and colors. Maybe that's one of the things I like about using it. It just kind of captures blurry little memories of what you're experiencing. I really, really like using it.

Vines, by Reed A. George

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3, Holga 25mm f8 for Micro 4/3

Montjuic Castle Arches, by Reed A. George

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3, Holga 25mm f8 for Micro 4/3

 

Lamps, by Reed A. George

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3, Holga 25mm f8 for Micro 4/3

Tomatoes, by Reed A. George

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3, Holga 25mm f8 for Micro 4/3

I highly recommend that you get one of these. I can feel it being a great solution for creative block, when I just can't think of anything to shoot, or what to say with my photography. I wondered about whether I'd regret using it on a trip to Barcelona - didn't I want all nice, sharp images? The answer is no. The Holga lens really added to my trip, and the shots here will be part of my memories of the trip.

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Trying to Decide on a Christmas Present for a Photog? Look Here!

 

Classic Rangefinder T-Shirt

Image Source: http://www.dodgeandburn.com/?ref=38b097607d4faf2fedf6f3872c00a3aff11ab6f7

 
I love these shirts. There's a selection to choose from, but the one above is my favorite, followed closely by the twin lens reflex (TLR) model.
 
(Click Here) to see them all.
 
Yes, I'd love one. Thanks. :)
 
DMC-365.blogspot.com
 

Got An Old DSLR Gathering Dust? Help Out A Great School

 

The Duke Ellington School of the Arts

Image Source: http://www.ellingtonschool.org/home/index.html

 
My friend and fellow DC-area photographer, Aboud Dweck, is teaching photography at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington DC. They desperately need DSLRs (of any functional variety) and Apple computers.
 
(Click Here) to read Aboud's post on GetDPI.
 
I have walked by this school before, and can tell that it's something different. The students seem engaged in life. There's an ENORMOUS wooden chair outside, that I think 15 kids could sit in at once.
 
Anyway, if you can help them out, please do. I'm going to see if the old iMac I have could be of any use, but it's probably too old... Maybe I'll have to pick up a D70 for cheap and donate it.
 
Support the future of your art.
 
You can contact Aboud at dweckphoto@gmail.com
 
DMC-365.blogspot.com
 

Street Portrait, Barcelona

 

Killer Scarf, Beautiful Smile, by Reed A. George

Panasonic DMC-G3, Lumix 14-140mm f4-5.6 Lens

 
As we were leaving the Segrada Familia (incredible cathedral by Gaudi' in Barcelona, Spain), this was a shot that I just had to get. What first caught my eye was the design of her scarf. Her face was hidden, as she looked down at a map or guidebook. I walked past her, but just could not go on without at least asking if I could take her picture.
 
I simply said "May I take your picture? I love your scarf." She nodded, smiled, and we were off. If I'd missed this shot, it would have been in my mind forever. I'm so glad I caught it.
 
Oh, by the way, I promise to post something without Snapseed processing tomorrow...
 
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Snapseed and Barcelona - Do They Mix?

Well, by the time this posts, I'll be home. But, I wanted to show a few images I've processed using Snapseed, an app on my iPoad, on our family trip to Barcelona, Spain. Snapseed makes it fun and easy to really add some character to your images.
 
These were all shot on Panasonic cameras (either DMC-G3 with 14-140 f4-5.6 or 25mm f1.4 Summilux, or the DMC-LX5). I'm too tired this evening to look up the details... jet lag, you know.
 

Enlightened, by Reed A. George

Le Meridien Stairway, by Reed A. George

 

Textured Steel, by Reed A. George

 
I know, I always say that I'm not into processed images. But, Snapseed sure makes it fun. I hope you don't mind this departure from "straight photography." I think they all give a nice feel for my experience so far in Barcelona. What an incredible place.
 
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More Unfulfilled Promise - the Maxell Airstash

 

Maxell Airstash

Image Source: http://www.amazon.com/Maxell-AirStash-Expandable-Capacity-Wireless/dp/B006473T92/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1354189519&sr=8-2&keywords=maxell+airstash

 
So close, but yet so far. Let me save you some reading if you like: AIRSTASH DOES NOT ALLOW TRANSFER OF RAW FILES FROM THE IPAD.
 
My Airstash arrived yesterday, and after a few blips in upgrading the firmware, was ready to go. Very promising. The app (Airstash+) actually has a simple interface. Click the little camera icon, and you can say whether you want to import (from Airstash to iPad) or export (to the Airstash), select your images, and go. So, I did a test with ~250 images stored on the iPad (in both jpeg and raw) during a meeting. I was elated. Within 40 minutes it was done. So cool!
 
The transfer rate was not fast, but certainly acceptable. The devise design is nice - it's very small, light, not much more in your bag than a normal SD card - USB adapter.
 
Then came the final part of the test. Plugging the Airstash into my desktop, I looked at my transferred images. What? No raw files! Just jpegs. The transfer changed all of my raws into jpegs.
 
I thought there must be a setting that I missed. There isn't. In fact, there are so few settings that I scanned all of them three times in a few minutes. So, reluctantly, I called the 24/7 Maxell service line.
 
After a several minute hold, I got a real person. He immediately told me that I'd have to do some internet research, and that this functionality was on the app end, which is produced by a third party. I replied that I had read the MAXELL web page extremely carefully before making this purchase, and that it clearly indicated compatibility with raw files. After pushing back, he agreed to talk with someone else there at Maxell. He came back on the phone after consulting with the Airstash Support Manager, and informed me that the software automatically converts raw files to jpeg upon export to the Airstash. There is nothing you can do to change that. I calmly informed him that this "feature" makes the device completely unhelpful to serious photographers, and it's on its way back. He said "Okay, thank you!" and we were done.
 
A couple of you have suggested divorcing from Apple for this function. I'm afraid I may have to agree with you. I'm so hooked on the iPad interface and apps for other purposes, it is difficult to consider something else. But, it just won't seem to help me out here.
 
I thought Apple's strongest core of users came from the arts, science, and imaging worlds. How can they not see the need to give this to us photographers?
 
I'm going to take a break from this pursuit for a while. I'm not doing any more big travel until spring...
 
DMC-365.blogspot.com
 
 

Well, the Seagate Go Flex Didn't Solve My iPad Photo Back-Up Challenge, Maybe The Maxell Airstash Will...

 

The Maxell Airstash

Image Source: http://www.amazon.com/Maxell-AirStash-Expandable-Capacity-Wireless/dp/B006473T92/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1354189519&sr=8-2&keywords=maxell+airstash

 
As I mentioned yesterday, the promising combination of the PhotoSmith app and the Seagate Go Flex wireless hard drive let me down, in that they no longer allow you to write files from the iPad to the drive. This is obviously critical for the iPad to be a great back-up tool for photographers.
 
Here's my next attempt - the Maxell Airstash. This is a different approach, which allows you to connect an SD card to your iPad wirelessly. The description clearly states that the iPad will write files to the SD card. I sure hope it's true.
 
With the Airstash, my plan will be to carry a lot of SD cards of matched size. I'll shoot with one in my camera, then use the iPad to copy all of the files to both the iPad and to a second SD card. That's significant back-up (three copies).
 
Here's some of the pluses of this approach:

• Solid State (SD Card) media
• No moving parts
• Fast read and write speeds
• Easy to carry a lot of data in the form of SD cards
• Does not rely on using the PhotoSmith app, which I have found to be less than 100% reliable
• Easy to upload when I do get home. Just grab one copy on SD card and pop it in the desktop card reader.

Here are some negatives:

• Solid State (SD Card) media - low storage capacity (per card) compared to the 500 Mb Go Flex
• Wireless - I would be happier if I simply had the ability to write to an SD card from the iPad, using the Apple Camera Connect Kit. It would be faster. I simply don't need wireless for this application. However, I may use it for other things in the future.
• Internal rechargeable battery - will have a limited lifetime. I wouldn't mind plugging in to AC, or better yet, have it powered from a USB connection.
• Since you can't easily delete photos from the iPad without connecting to a host computer, I'm still limited in overall capacity to what's on the iPad (64 Gb max).

I'm returning the Go Flex, and have ordered the Airstash. I'll let you know how it goes. If this doesn't work, I will seriously consider the Macbook Air with 256 Gb storage. I'd still much rather have the iPad be my solution.

Let's hope the Airstash lives up to the marketing info.
 
 
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