Monthly Archives: May 2017

6 years, 10 months ago 5
Posted in: Uncategorized

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The joy of Acros on the Fuji X PRO 2

 

 

One of my favorite shooters of all time and fellow Nikon Tech Rep was, and is, Sam Garcia.  Sam has a great eye, impeccable technical skills and  vast knowledge of the photo industry.  When Sam speaks, I listen.  I got this from Sam today and I wanted to share it and make my own additional comments.  Sam’s original post is in blue my comments in red!

 

 

I simply love shooting mirrorless cameras. They’ve made photography a genuine delight again.  Me too!  
For those who have asked, no, I don’t consider using another company’s gear as disloyal to Nikon.   Me either.
When and if they get a professional mirrorless on the market I will be the first to get on board if it measures up to their (currently) significant competition.
 
Nikon’s seeming inability to recognize the sea-change aspect of this technology is especially frustrating since my personal involvement with mirrorless goes back over ten years to the Coolpix cameras. Shooting such ‘pocket’ cameras seriously when most photographers considered them to be essentially toys taught me there was another way.
Nikon assignments allowed me to start shooting–and liking–mirrorless cameras.
The Nikon 1 showed me where might go. (The “1” series should have been APS sized sensor driven, at the least. That it was not doomed it before the first box was opened in the US.  He is one of the best Coolpix shooters you will ever see!!!!
The company should have shot the whole series in the head by year two in the US, and moved along. The series was more successful in other parts of the World. It goes like that sometimes.)
Cell phones showed the industry that customers were willing to accept ‘cameras’ in any number of different enclosures.  So true!
 
Nikon CAN make a competitive answer to both Sony and Fuji. But they got scared, and fear has cost them a good five year lag getting into the game.
Yes, their current models are good and sell well.
But
Eastman Kodak, back in the 90’s: ‘Yeah, yeah, yeah…digital is interesting. But have you looked at the sales numbers?! You know, my friend, we sell one HELL of a lot of film…!
And believe me, that market’s not going anywhere anytime soon.’
 
Just my personal opinion: the failure in the US market of the Nikon 1 system (sales nowhere near what was originally desired) made the company gun-shy about introducing yet again, another system which would require years of support, and an entirely reconfigured lens line. The financial ‘bet’ would have been enormous. I think that is an excellent analysis!
 
Or rather, will be, since, reluctant or not, everything I know about the industry says the company must get on this track if it wishes to generate future success comparable to past success.
Conventional dslr cameras aren’t going away in the immediate future, but their days are clearly numbered.  Most people do not want to hear this, but it’s true!!!
All quibbles about this or that being different on a mirrorless are simply distractions from a larger certainty:
 
Conventional dslr cameras are the, “dead man walking”, of photography.
A one eyed blind guy with a bag over his head can see that.
 
The Sony and Fuji cameras I have been using have changed the way I shoot. And the cameras have been delightful to use.
(Well, with the exception of the Sony menu system which was clearly laid out by a Sony engineer who suffers from dyslexia, and was coming down from an LSD high when he laid them out.
Unquestionably all Sony A7 menu series meeting were held under the influence of hallucinogens & saki.)  Both hilarious and true!!!!
 
[Oh, and what moron put the on-off switch on the Leica SL on the back, left hand side…? Idiot.]
 
But I digress.
All I really meant to say when getting this shot set up to go out was: mirrorless makes black and white fun again.  Amen!!!
It makes experimenting fun again.    Amen!!!
 
I’m guessing nobody at Nikon is having a great deal of fun lately and that saddens me more than you would believe.   Me too Sam!
Now, I think that answers almost all the questions from the last 4 years.
Actually I still have a few, but this was a wonderful article!
 
Sam
Excellent food for thought Sam!
Blessings,
the pilgrim
6 years, 10 months ago 1
Posted in: Uncategorized

Burger

 

Wow, I never saw this one coming!!  I took Wes out for a burger after his last chemo treatment of the week and we tried a new spot in Corbin called John Evan Jack’s Pizza – Burgers & Wings  The

 

They had a great selection of burgers with stacks of patties of up to 12 thick!!!!!  No thanks, couldn’t do tht but I got a doubole and wow was it a w inner, 5 pickles good!!!!  Nathan Brown and his crew do it right!  They have a companion restaurant in Williamsburg just south of Corbin on I-75 called Cols. Market and Grill.

 

I’ll have to try that one out soon, but for now if you happen to be traveling north or south on I-75, take exit 25 and find their place, it’s only a few hundred feet from the exits. to the right if you are traveling south, obviously to the left if going north. Trust me it will be worth a stop!  5 big pickles!!!!  Please don’t try the 12 patty one, that’s down right dangerous!!!!

 

Blessings,

 

the pilgrim

 

6 years, 10 months ago 34
Posted in: Uncategorized

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I’m very thankful to be able to give you guys an update on Wes!!!  This week he started his fourth round of chemo and met with his oncologist/cancer specialist and they reviewed his most recent scan and blood work.  Her response was, “I’m tickled pink!”  She told Wes that if you wrote the story of how you wanted this to go, his story would be better than what you would have written.  She encouraged him to stick with it and that he was well on his way to winning this battle!!!!!  I’m thrilled to share this with all of you because this is your victory too!  Your prayers, your care, your concerns, gifts, cards, emails of encouragement have all moved God’s heart and we give all the credit to Him!

 

Wes has two more rounds of chemo after this week, then he will rest for a couple of weeks before going to Markey Cancer Center in Lexington for a bone marrow transplant, that is the final step and it is to assure him that he is cancer free and his own blood can rebuild itself.  That will be toughest part of the battle but we believe we are heading for a great outcome!  Please continue your prayers and when we finally celebrate a final victory you’re going to be a big part of it!

 

I could never tell you how deeply I have been touched by all of your responses, Wes has been moved to tears on several occasions just knowing what an army has been praying for him.  Our family will never, ever be able to repay you for your joining us in this fight!

 

Wealth comes in many forms, but true wealth is friends and brothers and sister like you!

 

Jim and Sue

 

Now I have a giant additional request!!!!  My dear brother and sister Jim and Sue Haverstock are facing cancer themselves.  Sue has been diagnosed with and is being treated for cancer.  She has had three chemo rounds and is preparing for her fourth.  She is doing well, but, as all you all know, chemo is not an easy path and some days are better than others.  You will be heartened to know that their faith is strong and that they are going through this like the champions that they are, but please lift them in your prayers.  Pray for great progress for Sue, for strength to face the day to day fight and for Jim as he steadfastly supports her.  I know of no finer couple and they have been constantly in my prayers, please join me!!  Let’s win this battle together!!  My prayer is that God has this and we can rest in Him.

 

Blessings and thankfulness,

 

the pilgrim

6 years, 10 months ago 13
Posted in: Uncategorized

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O.K.  I really appreciate all the comments and emails about the last post and frankly you’ve helped me make a another decision, probably won’t be the last, but then, would you come back here if I didn’t come up with new ideas!!!!!

 

O.K. so here is my thought for the day.  Carl Turner, a dear friend and brother suggested I go with just the three Fujicrons, (love that term, making them Fuji’s answer to the Leitz Sumicrons!)  He did suggest I would take the 100-400 for use in the Palouse.  I love that idea but then I think, wow, no 16mm f 1.4 for extreme close-ups with a wide angle that is superbly sharp.  Then I just re-bought, (second time), the 18-55 and was anxious to put it to work.  Of course, you have to have a wide angle and I can never decide between the 14mm f 2.8 and the 10-24 f 4.  The 14mm f 2.8 is the sharpest and small and light, but the 10-24 is very versatile and it is a zoom, easy framing when I can’t move!!!  Now the 55-200 is a super sharp, compact lens that is perfect in harbors where you need to reach out. because I only know one man that could ever walk on water, and it wasn’t Jack, sorry Jack!

 

Since I do have a Think Tank Navigator with wheels, well you know, there will be close-up, opportunities and there is a space under the 100-400 in the rolling bag, so why not slip in the 200mm Micro Nikkor!!!!  See??? (below) & the frog!

 

 

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So here is the “current” plan, all the stuff below rolls on the plane with me, I make every attempt to use just the Fujicrons ( 23mm – 35mm – 50mm ) day to day in-the-field.  If I need to do close-ups I have the Nikkor 200mm Micro, if I need a really wide lens I’ve got a couple to choose from.  Look this whole exercise is rediculous, but I do really want to make myself think more about the images than the gear, so I hope to have discipline and learn something!  Fair enough?

 

 

THINK TANK NAVIGATOR

2 – Fuji X-T2

10-24 f 4

14 f 2.8

16 f 1.4

18-55 f 2.8-4

23 f 2

35 f 2

50 f 2

55-200 f 3.5-4.6

200 Micro Nikkor f 4

100-400 f 4.5-5.6

Fuji X PRO 2. Graphite in my backpack

 

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So stay tuned and we will try this thing!!!

 

 

Blessings,

 

 

the pilgrim