• Camera Equipment,  Fujifilm X-E1,  Fujifilm X-T10,  landscape,  mountains,  Photography,  sunsets

    A Better Photographer

    Sunset over the Colorado Front Range
    Well Fujifilm did it again. Yesterday they announced the new Fujifilm X-T30. Of course this is the perfect camera for me and in a price range I can afford. And, we know it will make me a better photographer. 🙂 So, in my mind is a debate on whether to sell one of my grandchildren, my car or my condo, rob a bank, take out a second mortgage, buy another lottery ticket, and other insane ideas. But, getting back to reality and sanity, I have to admit my Fujifilm X-E1 and my X-T10 are good cameras, functioning well, take excellent images (in spite of my sometimes ineptitude) and are paid for. So, the need to upgrade to this camera is not as much a priority as other pressing priorities in my photography and life. The truth is my next purchase needs to be upgrading my laptop. I’ve been talking about this for some time. It is 10 years old. This past week my laptop shutdown and rebooted and seems to runs slower each week. But the primary justification for a upgrading my laptop is knowing it will make me a better photographer by improving my post-processing skills. 🙂 So my insanity tells me to be a better photographer, with an empty wallet, I really should just buy both. Sigh! GAS
  • Black and White,  Candid Portraits,  Fujifilm X-E1,  Fujifilm XF35mm f2.0,  lifestyles,  People/Portraits

    I’ll buy next time

    Alex
    Alex

    It feels like summer. Temperatures have been in the 90’s for several days. However, I’m thankful there is no humidity and the nighttime temperatures cool us off. The cool nights and mornings are a plus for living in Colorado. 

    I have for some time now wanted to  take more black and white portraits. Actually,  I have been taking more black and white images. Yesterday, a friend and I went downtown to Mugs for one of their chocolate eclairs. Let me tell you they are the best and made locally. 🙂 Anyway, as we sat outside I took a quick image of Alex then asked if I could. He told me no! Too late, my friend! Thanks, I’ll buy the eclairs next time.

  • Camera Equipment,  flowers,  Fujifilm X-E1,  Plants

    … you have to see.

    Dahlia
    Dahlia

    “The camera doesn’t make a bit of difference. All of them can record what you are seeing. But, you have to SEE.” – Ernst Hass

    I have been shooting with the Fujifilm X-E1 almost exclusively since October of 2013. My Nikon gear has sat collecting dust except for a few sunset and sunrise excursions. I find the X-E1 so much easier to grab due to its weight and size. I feel the images (jpeg) meet the standards for my use for posting on the web and any prints I wish to make. So, I sold all the Nikon gear. I intend to add one more lens, either the 23mm f1.4 or the 35mm 1.4, and probably the new X-T10. So, I apologize for the decrease in my quality of postings. 🙂

  • Camera Equipment,  coffee shops,  Fujifilm X-E1,  quotes

    Coffee Cup
    Coffee Cup

    You only know your true strength in times of hardship, for no man ever became strong by doing nothing.

    I used the black and white film simulation for this jpeg. I’ve been playing with the different film simulations in the Fujifilm X-E1 to see how they look.

  • architecture,  Fujifilm X-E1,  Silver Efex Pro 2,  Software

    Silver Efex Pro 2

    Bed Post
    Bed Post

    I’ve liked what I’ve seen done with Chris Klug’s black and white images. If you’ve not been over there for a visit I suggest spending a few minutes over there. I like the results He gets from  Silver Efex Pro in his post processing. So, I bought it knowing it would make me a better photographer, like him. About a year later I received an email offering a free NIK software package that included Analog Efex 3, Color Efex Pro 4, Dfine 2, Sharpener Pro 3 and Viveza and an upgrade to Silver Efex Pro. I took it. Needless to say, I’m not any better photographer because of these software tools and I have done almost nothing with any of them except Silver Efex Pro.

    I’m finding there are a ton of options available in Silver Efex and I’ve touched very few of them. There are helpful tutorials in the internet in using this software. I just have to dig into it.