Monthly Archives: February 2015

 

Canon has announced that they will have two new camera models released by June, the 5Ds and 5Dr  both 50 mega pixel full frame censored cameras!  Equally shocking the price,  The 5DS is $3,699 and the 5DR is $3,899.  The difference?  The R model has the low pass filter cancelled for more sharpness.  * I bet Nikon has something similar waiting in the wings,  (No I do not know anything, I have no inside information, but this is how the industry works!)

 

Here’s a list of the specs (from Canon) * Thanks to Scott Kelby for this info.:

 

> Newly designed 50.6 Megapixel full-frame CMOS helps deliver ultra-high resolution images for large-scale printing and extensive, creative cropping, while Dual DIGIC 6 Image Processors enable spectacular image quality and processing speed.

 

> EOS Scene Detection System features a 150,000-pixel RGB+IR Metering Sensor for excellent precision.

 

> 61-Point High Density Reticular AF including up to 41 cross-type AF points and EOS iTR allows for high precision autofocus.

 

> Advanced mirror control mechanism and new user-selectable shutter release time lag helps suppress camera vibration for reducing image shake.

 

> Anti-flicker helps compensate for flickering light sources and provides consistent exposure and color during continuous shooting.

 

> Built-in intervalometer and bulb timer helps deliver expanded creativity.

 

> 1.3x and 1.6x crop shooting adds superb flexibility, while still delivering high resolution images required for demanding applications.

 

> Intelligent Viewfinder II with approximately 100% viewfinder coverage.

 

> Full HD 30p movie capability and Time Lapse Movie function, which takes still photographs at set intervals and combines them into a Full HD movie file.

 

> High-speed continuous shooting up to 5.0 fps allows you to capture fast action.

 

> 3.2-inch ClearView II LCD monitor, 170° viewing angle, 1,040,000-dot VGA, reflection resistance with multi coating and high-transparency materials for bright and clear viewing.

 

> Customizable Quick Control Screen allows you to quickly change frequently used camera settings and functions.

 

> Support for USB 3.0.

 

 

So here is my take.  Who needs 50 mega pixels, or 36 mega pixels, the former reigning champ before today?  I  know what you think I’m going to say! Nobody, actually no, that is not true.  I personally t think that the number of photographers that actually “need” this kind of resolution is minuscule, but some folks can take full advantage of it.  Commercial, landscape, and product photographers that are going print print extremely large, say 12 X 18 feet, and larger can certainly take advantage of that kind of resolution.  I imagine that it will mostly be bought by people that want to shoot something and then look at it at 400% and then feel the rush!!!  I have high regard for Canon  gear, I had to compete with them when I was  at Nikon and I’m sure they took the time to get this right!

 

I think the industry is furthered by these exercises in stretching the limits.  Research brings progress and progress brings us better cameras.  Is this new 5DS or 5DR good for someone that really doesn’t need that kind of resolution?  No.  It is going to tax your computer to the max, requiring massive storage, (if you shoot very much), and if you think getting sharp result from a D810 is tough, wait till you try to eliminate camera movement with this bad boy!  It will be even harder to tame.  I can’t imagine and holding it at less than 1/2,000 of a second.  I could be wrong, but my experience with the Nikon D800 series says this is going to bring a whole new lesson on discipline to it’s new owners.

 

Am I even in the least tempted?  Not one bit.  But then the new D810 which I know to be a wonderful camera didn’t tempt me either.

 

For me, at my age, and shooting what I shoot, the Fuji X-T1 at 16 megapixel is a high mega pixel camera.  Some the best images I made in my life were made with a D3 or D700, (same sensor), clocking in at 12 mega pixels!

 

Rod Planck said it best, “Technique beats equipment, every time!”

 

But then, if you get one, let me know what  you think!!!!

 

Blessings,

 

the pilgrim

 

Now available at the bookstore:

 

 

 

 

Image by Mark Alberhasky of me flying at sunrise.

 

Hey Guys, thanks so much for joining my campaign!!!  Seriously when I did the America From 500 Feet I & II I really got a charge out of publishing some of the images of Wes and I flying,  I’d love to share a few of them with you!  We had a blast!

 

Wes landing in Tennessee.  My image.

 

Me flying over a farm field in Texas, shot by a friend in another Powered Parachute.

 

Wes’ self portrait flying over the Sawtooth Region of the Rockies in Idaho.

 

My self Portrait flying over Hombre Hills in California.

 

I thank God I got to see America from this vantage point!!!  It was fun too!

 

 

Blessings,

 

the pilgrim

 

 

 

O.K.  I’m not really running for President, but there are a lot  things I sure would like to see changed, so here is my mock campaign promises!

 

1.  If elected I will ask Congress to draft and pass laws that states any law passed by the Congress must apply to all citizens including members of congress, and all elected officials including the President and Vice President.  I will promise to sign it the day it is passed!

 

2.  I will press that election laws be drafted that would require anyone running for office, once elected, to submit to a full  forensic audit.  Once their personal wealth was determined, they would have to sign a document stating that after their term in office, any gain in net worth of more than 10% would have to be submitted to the general fund.  In other words you can no longer come to Washington to leave filthy rich!!!!

 

3.  I would require a balanced budget and a plan that would “assure” the reduction of the national debt over a 10 year period of time.  All options are on the table.

 

4.  Any out and out lie told to the American people by any office holder, if caught and it could be proven, would be cause for an immediate expulsion from office and the loss of their pension. That would strike fear in the entire District!

 

5.  On the subject of pensions, all federal office holders would be in the Social Security system, no exceptions.  I bet they would fix it then!!!!!

 

6.  After a solid, holes free policy is established, (Congress will have 6 months to do this), Any person on welfare will have a period of two years to train and seek employment.  Except in the most extreme circumstances, Welfare will be cancelled after the two year period.  All government assistance programs would go under a full review.

 

7.  I would require a flat tax of some type that taxes all citizens regardless of income, at the same rate.  No loopholes so that the exceedingly wealthy can get out of taxes and no free ride for low income. After the welfare clean-up program ended, I think it could be considered to tax the truly poor, at lower rate.  My goal would be to reduce the numbers of the truely poor significantly.  After all these years since the Johnson administration and the War on Poverty, we have more poor than ever before, we’re loosing that war!!!!!

 

8.  The day I took office I would call in the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the military.  I would ask for a master  plan for defeating  terrorism, at home an abroad.  I would say my number one goal was the eradication of Isis.  I would say “all” options were on the table.  There would be few limits on what our soldiers could do in war, with the exception of human cruelty!

 

9.  I would ask the Boarder Patrol to close the borders and return to a immigration policy as before the current madness.  I would ask for my advisors to find the most humane way to deal with the 20,000,000, 30,000,000 or 40,000,000 illegal aliens that are currently in the U.S.  There would no longer be mass entrance into the U.S. without proper immigration policies followed.

 

10.  I would ask for a plan be studied to fix our monetary policy, which might involve not renewing the Federal Reserve Board’s Charter, since they’ve done such a bang up job!

 

11.  I would state, “God Bless America” as often as possible, I would try to lead by example and personally put an end to political correctness.

 

12.  I would ask the American people to pray for America, and would support and attend the National Day of Prayer breakfasts.  I would respect others right to believe as they wish, and protect those rights, but I would no longer allow the Christian community to be the brut of punishment.

 

Wow and a lot of other cool things!!!

 

If you don’t agree with any of this, don’t bother responding, I’m not in the mood for it!!!!!  Burning the Jordanian pilot alive, has my dander way up!!!!!!

 

Blessings,

 

President Pilgrim

 

 

Hey Guys!  I’m back from Nashville, had a great trip, more on that in a minute.  First, the America From 500 Feet Book Volumes I & II is out and in the bookstore!  Please check it out!  Next Up;  Learning To See Photographically a guide to seeing and making  better images!

 

O.K. Jack Graham is back from his two tour duties in Iceland and you need to check out his website for some spectacular images from the two trips.   http://www.jackgrahamphoto.com/photo-workshops   Once on his website go to the upper left hand corner and click on Ultimate Iceland.   His work from there is stunning!

 

A few items regarding 1015 Workshops, below is the workshops that still have spaces:

 

March 20th – 21st  Nelson Ghost Town and the Las Vegas Neon Museum Bone Yard   Jack & I

 

March 25th – 29th  Arches & Canyonlands National Parks  Jack & I

 

April 8th – 12th   Memory Lane an incredible re-created 50’s town!   Jim Begley & I

 

April 29th- May 3rd  Roanoke, VA  Trains and Americana    Fred Sisson & I

 

May 27th – 31st    Grandfather Mountain / Blue Ridge   Jack and I

 

June 10th – 14th    The Palouse Region of Southeast Washington State  Jack & I

 

More info on the remaining workshops later!   For the workshops with Jack and I (green)  contact  Jack at Jackgrahamphoto.com  For His Light contact me!

 

The Nelson event has small numbers and will be a very intimate shooting experience!!!!   If interested contact Jack ASAP.  This what we shoot in Nelson and the Neon Bone Yard!

 

 

 

I had a great dinner last night in Nashville at Rotiers with Ricky Skaggs, Country Music/Blue Grass Legend and our Nashville host of the annual July workshop in Nashville!!!  Justin, Stacey, Jackie all of Fuji,   Nick Coury, our Nashville man with the plan!!!   Brad Mikel and his lovely wife Toni!  What a nice evening enjoying great food and wonderful friends!  Below our crazy gang!  Shot By Jackie with her Fuji X100T controlled with her iPhone!!!

 

 

 

Finally, I slipped off from Imaging USA show for a while yesterday before dinner and went over to Antique Archaeology, to shoot a few images.  Armed with only my Fuji X100T, (fast becoming one of my favorite cameras of all time),  and no tripod, I captured a few hand held images that I’m happy with, I’ll let you be the judge!  All shot at ISO 3200!!!!!

 

 

 

Blessings,

 

the pilgrim