• architecture,  Barn,  Fujifilm X-T10,  landscape,  sunrises

    Windy Morning

    January 14, 2016
    Windy Morning Sunrise
    Windy Morning sunrise with Venus in the upper right corner

    I have several images of this farm at sunrise. It is a place I enjoy going to and is not that far from home. Here is a link to one of my favorite images of it.

    I decided last night to drive out there in the morning and prepared everything before going to bed. I woke before the alarm to the sound of blowing wind. Discovered later those winds were gusting up to 30 mph. I made a mocha latte, put it in my mug and headed out.

    Needless to say, way too many images were not usable as it was difficult to keep the camera and tripod steady. For the image of fence below I parked the car on the west side of me as a wind block and then placed my tripod low to the ground to reduce as much shake as possible. I’m down low in the snow, in a bar ditch where most landscape photographers hang out.

    Drifting Snow and Fence
    Drifting Snow and Fence

    Even with nylon wind pants, the wind found ways to penetrate and, as usual, it did not take long for my hands to get cold. I shot everything prior to sunrise and then headed home to warm up, shower and download images. These are the two images I think best represented the morning.

    I also seem to have a rather large dust spot on my Fujifilm 18-55mm lens. It’s not a drastic spot and is almost impossible to see it. Only noticeable on light open skies and when you look for it. It has shown up that last few times I’ve used it and gone through the process of cleaning it. This morning I spent more time trying to make sure I have it cleaned. If not I may have to take it in. Stay warm and hang on to your hat.

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  • Art/Design,  Camera Equipment,  Fujifilm X-T10,  winter scenes

    I’m Impressed

    January 12, 2016

    An Unshoveled SIdewalk
    An Unshoveled Sidewalk

    I was impressed with the focusing ability and speed for the Fujifilm X-T10 combined with the Fujifilm 35mm 2.0 lens. I saw this low contrast scene with the light shadows on the snow and wanted an image. I turned the camera on with my index finger and increased the exposure with my thumb while I raised the camera to my eye. In my mind I was thinking I’d have to manually focus this scene because of the lack of contrast but this pair immediately snapped on focus. Yes, I am impressed. Stay warm

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  • Fujifilm X-T10,  quotes,  snow,  winter scenes

    Tracks on the Pond

    January 6, 2016

    Tracks in the snow
    Tracks in the snow

    Seeing, in the finest and broadest sense, means using your senses, your intellect, and your emotions. It means encountering your subject matter with your whole being. It means looking beyond the labels of things and discovering the remarkable world around you. – Freeman Patterson

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  • Art,  Camera Equipment,  Fujifilm X-T10,  Sculpture

    December 12, 2015

    The Thinker
    The Thinker at the Bean Cycle coffeehouse

    A few facts for those who are interested. I did not know this but the Thinker was initially a figure in a large commission, begun in 1880, for a doorway surround called The Gates of Hell. The sculpture, Auguste Rodin, based this on The Divine Comedy of Dante, and most of the many figures in the work represented the main characters in the epic poem. Some critics believe The Thinker, at the centre of the composition over the doorway was originally intended to depict Dante at the gates of Hell, pondering his great poem.

    It is snowing large beautiful snowflakes as I type this post. I like these flakes as they are much needed by us. Again, I frown on the cold that comes along with these systems. Down into the teens tonight. Stay warm.

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  • Camera Equipment,  Fujifilm X-T10,  journal

    Simplified

    October 22, 2015

    The X-T10 with 27mm f2.8 lens and my journal.
    The X-T10 with 27mm f2.8 lens and my journal.

    This is pretty much all I carry with me in my backpack, anymore. One camera, one lens. My journal and pen. Kindle paperwhite. A light jacket. Sometimes I throw in a small “10” Chromebook. The kitchen sink. And, I don’t usually carry this much cash with me, either. 🙂

     

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  • Fujifilm X-T10,  Transportation

    San Marco

    September 24, 2015

    San Marco
    San Marco

    My walk across campus allows me to see hundreds of bicycles. The dorm rooms are inundated with them. Riders are everywhere along with skateboards.  And, there are colors from one end of the rainbow to the other.

    I like this one
    I like this one

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  • Camera Equipment,  Fujifilm X-T10,  Photography

    Film Simulation

    July 29, 2015

    Cone Flowers
    Cone Flowers

    I have been shooting almost exclusively in jpeg format for over a year now after buying the Fujifilm X-E1. I find the quality of the jpeg files to be all that I needed and my post processing time go way down. However, if I come upon a situation where I want a raw file I simple press a function button and changed it to capture images in raw plus jpeg.

    I recently upgraded to the Fuji X-T10 for the improved focus system and because the dang thing was “cool” looking. And, as we all know, cool makes you a better photographer. I am shooting in jpeg with this camera also. It is easy  to setup the X-T10 to use one of the 7 function buttons to allow me to quickly change to raw and jpeg. I was able to do the same with the X-E1 but with only one function button. More bells on this model. I can also do this with the Q menu.

    Anyway the focus of this post is about the film simulation of jpeg files. Since I’m primarily working with jpeg files I’ve set BKT 2 on my Drive Dial for film simulation.  When bracketing in film simulation, one exposure is made then 3 files are output each with the film simulation I choose from the available eleven. I currently have it set for Provia, Velvia and Astia. So when I come across a situation I’m not sure about, or just for the fun of it, I switch to BKT2. As long as I’ve exposed properly, I will have three images to choose from.

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