There is one type of person who spends their time writing (or dreaming) of the adventures in life and then there are the people who are too busy doing those adventurous thing to write about them. I previously was the former, I am currently latter and I attempting to write a bit.
A word about sharpness, I was recently reading an article about he didn't like the sharpness of canons SLR images even with the best and brightest of there lens lineup.
He was saying something about sticking with a semi-pro HP something or other. I regard this as foolishness. If you are fortunate/unfortunate enough to have a point&shoot if you can possibly change the sharpness+/- set it to the lowest possible setting in doing so you are making it possible to enlarge you photo to a greater size without all the jaggies. if you have the in camera sharpness set on high you are putting distinct limits on your photos.
more on this later
PhotHog
(maybe:)
December 30, 2006
September 22, 2006
Long Time, No Post.
I have had a rather busy summer. Lots of photoging, less blogging. but I survived to tell the tale, that I can live with out blogging... (I knew that any way) but it is a remarkable thing to go from 3 hours a day on the computer to around 1 hour a week.
But I am looking around for a new camera, as the one I have is old, developing small cracks in important places and I want a new one.
It will have to be a Canon, nothing too big, nothing too small, good shape, and perhaps(but not necessarily) a full frame sensor.
5D, 20D, 10D, 400D, 1D,...?
But I am looking around for a new camera, as the one I have is old, developing small cracks in important places and I want a new one.
It will have to be a Canon, nothing too big, nothing too small, good shape, and perhaps(but not necessarily) a full frame sensor.
5D, 20D, 10D, 400D, 1D,...?
July 21, 2006
Digital Rangefinder
Another "Film Cameras are better" excuse bites the dust...Epsons new Digital Rangefinder Epson® R-D1
July 6, 2006
CCD
Here are a few pics of a camera sensor I was experimenting with. It is pretty small but looks neat... enjoy
Phothog
June 19, 2006
THE FUTURE
Alright I know I should try to be humble about this but I just read about about a record breaking CCD chip with 111 million pixel resolution. Here is a link.
I am quite sure that it cost a pretty penny, however as the world shifts to digital, you medium and large format photogs out there be prepared to change, Or face the realization that you and you antiquated systems will be lost in the sands of time...
PhotHog
I am quite sure that it cost a pretty penny, however as the world shifts to digital, you medium and large format photogs out there be prepared to change, Or face the realization that you and you antiquated systems will be lost in the sands of time...
PhotHog
June 13, 2006
I have over the last few years been doing exhaustive testing on the freeware image software "Gimp" as well as a hack version called "Gimpshop"(very closely resembling Photoshop in style).
As is well known, I do not generally go for image enhancers of any kind. (If you need to enhance, you did something wrong)
There is I believe a place for everything and there are times that an enhancer not only should be used, but it must be used. (this is of course under the assumption that you are going do better next time)
This last month I received a test copy of Photoshop in the mail from Adobe. I have always had an attitude about Photoshop, I have seen too many Photogs go by the wayside because they relied on Photoshop to fix their mistakes, and instead of improving their skills they slowly sunk from Photog to PhotoRepairGuy. Sad. Real Sad.
Never the less having used Gimp for a couple years now I thought testing PhotoShop against Gimp would be useful.
For the last three weeks I have been putting PS through its paces and I am here to tell you that Photoshop CS2 creamed Gimp (as well as gimpshop) and in that process I gained a bit of respect for this software...
WARNING
use only as a tool or you will start taking shortcuts , devolution of any accomplishments will occur and skills that you may have had will begin to die...
As is well known, I do not generally go for image enhancers of any kind. (If you need to enhance, you did something wrong)
There is I believe a place for everything and there are times that an enhancer not only should be used, but it must be used. (this is of course under the assumption that you are going do better next time)
This last month I received a test copy of Photoshop in the mail from Adobe. I have always had an attitude about Photoshop, I have seen too many Photogs go by the wayside because they relied on Photoshop to fix their mistakes, and instead of improving their skills they slowly sunk from Photog to PhotoRepairGuy. Sad. Real Sad.
Never the less having used Gimp for a couple years now I thought testing PhotoShop against Gimp would be useful.
For the last three weeks I have been putting PS through its paces and I am here to tell you that Photoshop CS2 creamed Gimp (as well as gimpshop) and in that process I gained a bit of respect for this software...
WARNING
use only as a tool or you will start taking shortcuts , devolution of any accomplishments will occur and skills that you may have had will begin to die...
May 23, 2006
Remember me saying something about designing a Gigapixel camera? well here is a link to a project that will use a 3.2Gp camera...
The future is coming large format...
Phothog
The future is coming large format...
Phothog
May 22, 2006
Class and style
I believe that there are very few ways of being poor(Don't confuse being broke with being poor) and yet still be "classy", a student or an artist being perfect examples, I, being both, understand the difficulty to keep up with style.
I was doing a wedding a few weeks ago where the dress style was nice-but not rigid, I was wearing acceptable clothing but many people there were not exactly "dressed up" for the occasion. after perusing the results of my work I wondered-why am I the one spruced up here? I know professionalism would not allow anything less, but thinking over the fact it seem ironic that the guy who is behind the camera should fit the situation better than most of the subjects...
Anyway I'll handle it and continue to be classy...
Phothog
I was doing a wedding a few weeks ago where the dress style was nice-but not rigid, I was wearing acceptable clothing but many people there were not exactly "dressed up" for the occasion. after perusing the results of my work I wondered-why am I the one spruced up here? I know professionalism would not allow anything less, but thinking over the fact it seem ironic that the guy who is behind the camera should fit the situation better than most of the subjects...
Anyway I'll handle it and continue to be classy...
Phothog
May 10, 2006
A recent trend
Hi there, I've been busy with non-photog stuff, (I do live a life outside of my computer.
Ok, down to business. A recent trend that I have noticed (and finally decided to comment on) is the use of infrared technology to get good pics.
Go ahead and use infrared as a tool, but don't rely on it.
too many wannabe-photogs are relying on infrared to get pics that look neat, but are not using their skills. Just because it looks different to the beholder w/Infrared, does not make it interesting to the people looking at the end product.
Sharpen your skill(or get some) and use as a tool, an asset, but do not rely on it to get your pics...
Ok, down to business. A recent trend that I have noticed (and finally decided to comment on) is the use of infrared technology to get good pics.
Go ahead and use infrared as a tool, but don't rely on it.
too many wannabe-photogs are relying on infrared to get pics that look neat, but are not using their skills. Just because it looks different to the beholder w/Infrared, does not make it interesting to the people looking at the end product.
Sharpen your skill(or get some) and use as a tool, an asset, but do not rely on it to get your pics...
April 4, 2006
Tamron
Here are a few interesting links from Tamron
www.tamroneurope.com/flc.html Useful for the mm challenged (focal length comparison)
www.tamron.com/lenses/how_to_buy.asp#top Good stuff-Read this before you go out and buy a lens.
Tamron has alot of nifty stuff on their site, and they have some darn good lenses
www.tamroneurope.com/flc.html Useful for the mm challenged (focal length comparison)
www.tamron.com/lenses/how_to_buy.asp#top Good stuff-Read this before you go out and buy a lens.
Tamron has alot of nifty stuff on their site, and they have some darn good lenses
March 29, 2006
Photography Books
I recently was at a used book sale, I was perusing the books on photography, and was amazed at the diverse selection and what good shape they all were in, but after going through each one, I was disgusted to find that they were archaic, non futuristic, and thought more of talking about film types then lenses.
So my lesson from this, if you need help with a specific problem or camera, go ahead and buy a book, but if you want data on photography or the latest tricks on getting the "perfect shot" -use the internet.
PhotHog
So my lesson from this, if you need help with a specific problem or camera, go ahead and buy a book, but if you want data on photography or the latest tricks on getting the "perfect shot" -use the internet.
PhotHog
March 27, 2006
Neat article
Here is an interesting article, not really of "Photographical" interest, but a good example of the many places and careers, that photography can come in handy... www.seedmagazine.com/photography/jakes_flying_snakes
March 24, 2006
The sands of time
This will be a short one, I was just looking at the results from a informal online poll, and I though I would share it,
The Question: what kind of film do you use?
The Results-What film do you use ?
None, I use digital 69%
Fuji 14%
Kodak 9%
Agfa 5%
Other 2%
Konica1%
Interesting, no?
PhotHog
The Question: what kind of film do you use?
The Results-What film do you use ?
None, I use digital 69%
Fuji 14%
Kodak 9%
Agfa 5%
Other 2%
Konica1%
Interesting, no?
PhotHog
March 20, 2006
A Battery of Tests
If you have a Digital camera, you probably know that Dcams use a lot of juice, I can't begin to process the number of times I have heard how "this camera drinks power as fast as you supply it" or "this camera eats batteries like candy" I was fully aware that digitals used a lot of juice, and was not disappointed...
I shall tell of how I was introduced to the battery sucking camera problem, and how it is solved...
The first batteries came with the camera, they were high grade lithium, and lasted a good two weeks, after that I was using batteries like crazy, several pairs week, I tried all kinds of brands,(including some that I acquired in Florence, Italy, that couldn't even power up my camera!) after looking around at the piles of spent batteries, I thought I would give rechargables a try.
I purchased 4 rechargeable batteries along with a recharger, and after a couple of years I was somewhat impressed that they were still working to order...
I still think that High grade lithium is the best JuiceCylinder for your camera, but re-chargers give decent life, save tons of money and won't litter the floor of your studio...
So, final thought,-get High Grade Lithium and/or Rechargeables.
(or keep using nonrechargers and use the spent ones on making some type of modern art to sell on eBay-you're going to pay for you're bad habit somehow.
PhotHog
P.S. If you don't use up batteries like a water through a sieve- you should be taking more pictures.
I shall tell of how I was introduced to the battery sucking camera problem, and how it is solved...
The first batteries came with the camera, they were high grade lithium, and lasted a good two weeks, after that I was using batteries like crazy, several pairs week, I tried all kinds of brands,(including some that I acquired in Florence, Italy, that couldn't even power up my camera!) after looking around at the piles of spent batteries, I thought I would give rechargables a try.
I purchased 4 rechargeable batteries along with a recharger, and after a couple of years I was somewhat impressed that they were still working to order...
I still think that High grade lithium is the best JuiceCylinder for your camera, but re-chargers give decent life, save tons of money and won't litter the floor of your studio...
So, final thought,-get High Grade Lithium and/or Rechargeables.
(or keep using nonrechargers and use the spent ones on making some type of modern art to sell on eBay-you're going to pay for you're bad habit somehow.
PhotHog
P.S. If you don't use up batteries like a water through a sieve- you should be taking more pictures.
March 17, 2006
Cameras vs. Time
Noticing over the last 6 years or so, the pricing of cameras, it is interesting to note, that while the actual camera is the same, over time the price drops considerably.
I know this is how supply and demand, economics, and the building of new technology, effects things, but it is an interesting thing to witness.
I remember the first Megapixel cameras, how it was such a huge deal. And now, aside from cameraphones, no one would be caught dead with a 1mp camera -well, maybe dead.
Canon's digital Rebel, 6.something megapixel, the first subgrand pro dslr on the market, can today be found in unused condition for around 400$. It is now considered subpro, that is not to say protogs can't use it, but I would be hard put to find a photog artist wanting anything less than 8mp.
I found, last year, my first digital camera at a thrift store. (this is probably a common occurance now in the larger cities, but I was waiting for it to happen, in my area)For nothing but historical value I purchased it, it was 2.99$ and was worth, as a camera, quite a bit less.
After fooling around with it, opening it up, laughing at the miniscule sensor, (It was a 0.1mp interpolated to a 0.2mp camera!) I looked it up on Amazon, and found that in 2000 it was being sold for 89.00$, after looking at comments I found that some people had paid closer to 100.00$ for this camera!
I wonder if some Photog will someday look at my Canon 5D or Nikon D2X and laugh... or will I someday see, in a thrift shop, a Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II and think, "kids toy" ? Time will tell...
PhotHog
I know this is how supply and demand, economics, and the building of new technology, effects things, but it is an interesting thing to witness.
I remember the first Megapixel cameras, how it was such a huge deal. And now, aside from cameraphones, no one would be caught dead with a 1mp camera -well, maybe dead.
Canon's digital Rebel, 6.something megapixel, the first subgrand pro dslr on the market, can today be found in unused condition for around 400$. It is now considered subpro, that is not to say protogs can't use it, but I would be hard put to find a photog artist wanting anything less than 8mp.
I found, last year, my first digital camera at a thrift store. (this is probably a common occurance now in the larger cities, but I was waiting for it to happen, in my area)For nothing but historical value I purchased it, it was 2.99$ and was worth, as a camera, quite a bit less.
After fooling around with it, opening it up, laughing at the miniscule sensor, (It was a 0.1mp interpolated to a 0.2mp camera!) I looked it up on Amazon, and found that in 2000 it was being sold for 89.00$, after looking at comments I found that some people had paid closer to 100.00$ for this camera!
I wonder if some Photog will someday look at my Canon 5D or Nikon D2X and laugh... or will I someday see, in a thrift shop, a Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II and think, "kids toy" ? Time will tell...
PhotHog
March 16, 2006
Lens, length & Nikon
Ok, now I shall be nice.
I will, out of the kindness of my heart, and the pity that I feel for neophotogs, give this link -http://consumer.usa.canon.com/app/html/EFLenses101/
I will, out of the kindness of my heart, and the pity that I feel for neophotogs, give this link -http://consumer.usa.canon.com/app/html/EFLenses101/
It is useful for those wondering about how lens length works, I will advise however, this is dependent on the size of your cameras "film" this shows how these lens sizes work with a 35mm film, so if you are digital, recompute to your sensor size, it should be easy to find...interestingly some Canon cameras have full sized sensors, ( this merely means that the old lenses will have the same effect as they did on 35mm models.)
I will say that I have, I believe,a bias toward Canon equipment (esp. their lenses) Though in a spot, and in need of a camera, I have been known to actually use film.
in spite of my aforesaid Bias, I applaud Nikon in their forward thinking move in favor of digital. Elimination of all but two film based cameras in Nikon's lineup is deserving of praise...
PhotHog
I will say that I have, I believe,a bias toward Canon equipment (esp. their lenses) Though in a spot, and in need of a camera, I have been known to actually use film.
in spite of my aforesaid Bias, I applaud Nikon in their forward thinking move in favor of digital. Elimination of all but two film based cameras in Nikon's lineup is deserving of praise...
PhotHog
Film?
What is film, grandpa? that is one question I am sure my grandkids will ask me, maybe my kids will ask me that, although some die hards, fanatics and large format nuts will probably be crawling around out there at that time.
I think, that although film is the best for large format, digital is cleaning up the medium format spectrum, and as for some (like the digital H1 haselblad) are moving into the large format sector.
I recently came across a moderately successful photographers website, while was successful, (this guy specialized in two things, architecture of old churches and a certain location in the U.S.)(I shan't give to many details of this guy, I won't be blamed for people losing interest in his art because of his archaic practices!)He had a total attitude about digital. (probably because he was unfamiliar and uncomfortable with it)
His excuse was that digital might be all well and good for family snapshots and all other "low" forms of his craft, but he worked in LARGE FORMAT, and could not possibly use anything less. The kicker was this- His large format was made to order.
He had his large format machine to be sure, but why not have large format digital camera be built to order!
I myself, in my own nontechnical mind have designed several gigapixel cameras... obviously there are many things that have to be considered, but it is totally possible.
"And perhaps (quoting from The Count of Monte Christo)some good can be had of this tragic affair" -A love affair with Film...
PhotHog
I think, that although film is the best for large format, digital is cleaning up the medium format spectrum, and as for some (like the digital H1 haselblad) are moving into the large format sector.
I recently came across a moderately successful photographers website, while was successful, (this guy specialized in two things, architecture of old churches and a certain location in the U.S.)(I shan't give to many details of this guy, I won't be blamed for people losing interest in his art because of his archaic practices!)He had a total attitude about digital. (probably because he was unfamiliar and uncomfortable with it)
His excuse was that digital might be all well and good for family snapshots and all other "low" forms of his craft, but he worked in LARGE FORMAT, and could not possibly use anything less. The kicker was this- His large format was made to order.
He had his large format machine to be sure, but why not have large format digital camera be built to order!
I myself, in my own nontechnical mind have designed several gigapixel cameras... obviously there are many things that have to be considered, but it is totally possible.
"And perhaps (quoting from The Count of Monte Christo)some good can be had of this tragic affair" -A love affair with Film...
PhotHog
March 15, 2006
Caution!
just a thought to all wannabe Photogs, don't ever post your stuff for contests, unless it has a chance.
I personally am tired of going through galleries of hundreds of "fine art" photos, and finding that 90% of them to be personal family pics!
I suppose that it makes finding the "Gem" all the more exciting, but I think that really it is a waste of time.
sorry about this little rant...actually, I not sorry in the least...oh well...get over it...
PhotHog
P.S. just because you got to go to a foreign destination doesn't mean your pictures are any good!
P.P.S. if you want better pictures, take more, lots more.
P.P.P.S.Go digital for crying out loud.
I personally am tired of going through galleries of hundreds of "fine art" photos, and finding that 90% of them to be personal family pics!
I suppose that it makes finding the "Gem" all the more exciting, but I think that really it is a waste of time.
sorry about this little rant...actually, I not sorry in the least...oh well...get over it...
PhotHog
P.S. just because you got to go to a foreign destination doesn't mean your pictures are any good!
P.P.S. if you want better pictures, take more, lots more.
P.P.P.S.Go digital for crying out loud.
March 14, 2006
Spring
As the snow melts, I can practically taste spring in the air, and I can feel it dripping down my neck(which is exactly what happened to this drop moments after I took the picture!)
PhotHog
Agenda
My agenda for this blog is that I will give my take on various sites, articles, equipment, art, and anything that I may find interesting, also I will post some of my work here as well.
PhotHog
PhotHog
PhotHog?
PhotHog means that I am a photographer, but also that I am passionate (ok, fanatical Has been suggested)in anything to do with my art.
PhotHog
The Hog part is merely an illustrative part to make the oft used Photog (an attempt to make photographer sound cool) interesting and has nothing to do with motorcycles (a question too often put to me, for me to not put it here)
PhotHog
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