Monthly Archives: May 2017

 

 

 

 

I really want to get better, I don’t want to get stagnate, I want to keep growing!  I found out something really interesting when reviewing my images from last fall in Acadia, 95% were shot with a single lens, the 18-135.  Now that is not a bad thing, ghe 18-135 is a really good lens, almost great, but not quite great.  That’s not the problem, the problem is a lens that covers that much ground makes you lazy, after all you can stand in one spot and do everything from 27mm to over 200mm coverage.  It’s a matter of perspective, if you shoot from one position you get one perspective, but if you move forward or back up, the perspective changes and the photo changes!  Lens that cover a large range of focal lengths can lead to being lazy.

 

The first two weeks of June I am teaching two workshops with Jack, the Oregon Coast and the Palouse. I’ve decided to pack differently and “smaller” for this trip.  I am leaving my beloved 18-135 home.  I’m going to try this one trip, more simply.  If  you are sick and tired of my bag articles, feel free to skip ths one!!!  For those interested, here is my thoughts on this trip.

 

I’ve been down the coast for this trip three times and to the Palouse seven or eight times.  I know what we shoot and I know what lenses will get the job done.  For me the temptation is take a big rolling bag and stuff it full of every lens I love in the Fuji X-System.  I’m afraid I’ve done that before!!!  So for this trip I will take the Think Tank Airport Essentials backpack with two X-T2 bodies, 10-24 f 4, 18-55 f 2.8-4, 23mm f 2, 50mm f 2, 60mm Macro f 2.4, 55-200 f 3.5-4.8, 100-400 f 4.5-5.6, 12 batteries and filters and accessories.

 

That will provide coverage from 15mm to 600mm (o.k. with the 1.4 tele-converter – 840MM!!)   I will pick up an inexpensive lugage rack to roll the backpack through the airports and I promise to do a blog entry mid June and reveal if I was pretty smart or prove, once again, I’m not all that smart after all!

 

Either way,  it’s gonna be fun!!

 

Blessings,

 

the pilgrim

 

Along the Coast!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I red two articles last night and I watch Youtube photography sites all the time and it brought me to a conclusion!  There is some valuable information on the web and there is some that is not worth your time and effort!  I want to address that but first let me make something clear;  I do a blog to communicate with like minded phootographers, to try and give honest, unbiased advice and encourage people to enjoy the craft and get better at it, that’s it!  I do not get reimbursed by the people that make any of the products I talk about, I do not get a dime if you buy from B&H or Dury’s or anyone else.  I do not think it is wrong to make money on the internet by having sponsor, I do think it is wrong to not be open and admit it.  Below are the three sources and articles I want to talk about;

 

Thom Hogan’s Blog (http://www.bythom.com/) ,  Dennis A. Mook’s blog (thewanderinglensman.com), and Theoria Apophais,  (The Angry Photographer’s Youtube Channel).

 

http://www.bythom.com/    

The X-T2 Review

 

thewanderinglensman.com  

The Fuji X-Camera System Has Evolved Into The (Almost) Perfect System For Me.

 

Theoria Apophasis      Any of his numerous Youtube vlog posts

 

First let me say I read all these guys, watch their videos and benefit from them.  If I am going to spend time with a blogger or vlogger, I need to know a few things;

 

1.  Do they know what they are talking about?
2.  What is their experience level?
3.  Are they good photographers.
4.  Do they approach the subject matter in a way that helps me?

 

I think Thom Hogan is a smart guy and it appears he is a really good shooter, he also is brave enough to say what he thinks no matter whose feathers it may ruffle.  I like that, need more of it in this world.  He is a tad too Pixel Peeper for me, but his insights are valuable and I don’t have to think too much about the stuff I think is less relevent to me.  Overall I think he has contributed to the cause in a powerful way!

 

I think Dennis A. Mook is a good shooter and articulate and I enjoy his articles, and that’s about as far as I can take this, don’t know much about him, but like what I read, like his approach a lot, and we both love Fuji so we agree on that!

 

Where do I start with Theoria Apophasis, he is opinionated, funny, does know a few things, but in many cases thinks he knows more than maybe he does.  I do enjoy the guy, but anyone that tells you over and over that his opinions are fact and that he knows more than almost anyone else, Just saying.  For my money he could tone down the profanity, but I’ll give him this, he does have some intresting and valuable info.  Not sure if he can shoot, never seen his work on the vlog.  In spite of all that I will keep watching, I do enjoy him.

 

I really love photography and I really love the gear we use to do it, BUT IN THAT ORDER!  Photogrpahy first, gear second.

 

It is probably fair for you to ask the question;  What gives you the authority to pass judgement on these guys!!??  For the record, I was not judging any of them, just trying to lay down some ground rules to help you know how to decide who to believe and who to take, shall we say more lightly!

 

I’ve been a working photographer, writer, editor and teacher for the past 47 years.  I shot Nikon for 43 years and worked for them for the last 11 years of my working life as the NPS (Nikon Professional Servies) rep for the Southern U.S. so yes Virginia, I do know Nikon!  I’ve shot NFL Sports, consulted with shooters for Sports Illustrated, Sporting News, Golf Digest, the AP, major newspapers, law enforcement agencies.  The North American Nature Photographers Association gave me a Fellow Award. I became a dedicated Fujjifilm X-Series shooter early in the life of the system. I have as much experience with that system as “almost” anyone.

 

I’ve taught over ten thousand students in workshops, seminars and programs. if you would like to see my work come here anytime, lots and lots of examples.  Bragging???  No, just trying to establish that I do have some credentials to write a blog and spout off about photography and gear.  Should you believe me? Well that’s your choice! More important love  his craft, get as good as you want to, but never stop loving it, it will be good to you, I promise!!!!

 

Blessings,

 

the pilgrim

 

 

Jack and I just completed our second workshop in the Smokies in April!  This second one, which ended yesterday, was a smaller group about nine folks and it was one of the best workshops we have done in a long time!  What made it such a great workshop?  Well let’s see; great shooting conditions, perfect weather for 90% of the three and a half days, a really nice group of people who were determined to learn and worked very hard at that task!!!  We also had some very productive image reviews, some good meals together and lots of wonderful fellowship!  You can’t beat that!  Here are some samples of what we were able to capture together!

 

 

What trip would be complete without a shot of jack shooting a stream!!!!!

 

 

Having just done some portrait work with Joe McNally at a Eastern Kentucky coal mine, I really wanted to try my hand at some portraits, (not my forte’), and I am not a lighting guy, but in the old Missionary Baptist Church we had wonderful window light, so I used the 56mm f 1.2  lens, (shooting at f 2), to try to express my inner Joe McNally!!  I was pleased!  Hope you like them!

 

 

We had a great time, with great people, Jack and I were on fire and it has me pumped for the next workshops coming up in early June on the Oregon Coast and in the Palouse!!

 

I love it when a plan comes together!!

 

Blessings,

 

the pilgrim