• Fujifilm X-E1,  Plants,  quotes

    A Walk Along the Ponds

    December 7, 2013
    Boka
    Riverbend Ponds

    “Suddenly I came out of my thoughts to notice everything around me again-the catkins on the willows, the lapping of the water, the leafy patterns of the shadows across the path. And then myself, walking with the alignment that only comes after miles, the loose diagonal rhythm of arms swinging in synchronization with legs in a body that felt long and stretched out, almost as sinuous as a snake…when you give yourself to places, they give you yourself back; the more one comes to know them, the more one seeds them with the invisible crop of memories and associations that will be waiting for when you come back, while new places offer up new thoughts, new possibilities. Exploring the world is one the best ways of exploring the mind, and walking travels both terrains.”  ― Rebecca Solnit, Wanderlust: A History of Walking

    This image was taken about a week ago while on a walk at Riverbend Ponds. It’s a jpeg file straight out of the camera. We have been dipping below zero the past few nights so walking has not been on my list of things to do. Way to cold for me. Hope everyone enjoys their weekend.

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  • Fujifilm X-E1

    Dr. Pepper

    December 2, 2013
    Dr. Pepper
    Dr. Pepper

    Found this on a walk along Spring Creek trail. Straight out the camera. This is not a rant about the people who leave their trash wherever they are done with it. However, I will share a bit more about the Fujifilm X-E1.

    I am still finding myself accidently rotating the exposure compensation knob with my right thumb. It’s taking me longer than I expected to adjust to it’s location. I am a slow learner, ya know.

    So far the 18-55mm f2.8-4.0 lens has been a surprise. Not sure what my expectations of the lens were as I bought it in the kit. It’s heavier than expected but that is more than compensated with it’s optics. I do not find it uncomfortable to hang around my neck for a 2-3 hours on a walk. It’s sharpness meets my needs and beyond. I’ve experienced some focus wandering with low light and low contrast scenes. Moving the focus point by pressing the AF button and moving the focus point with my thumb is time consuming and awkward. Right now, I prefer to keep my focus point in the middle then press the shutter to focus on my subject and reframe the scene. I will keep playing with it as there will be those times when I need to change that focus point.

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  • Fujifilm X-E1,  People/Portraits

    On the Computer

    November 22, 2013
    Monica
    Monica

    This is my daughter, her face lit by the computer screen. It was shot handheld, 1/30 @ f4.0, ISO 6400, under exposed by 2/3 of a stop, then post processed in Silver Efex Pro 2.

    I’m enjoying the aperture ring on the lens rather than having a button or knob on the body. The switch on the side of the 18-55mm lens is easy to access for changing between aperture mode or program mode. I’m finding myself shooting mostly in program mode. I think the metering system does a good job and I’ll stay with that for a while. I will switch to aperture or manual mode when I need to be a bit more creative.

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  • Camera Equipment,  Documentary/Street,  Fujifilm X-E1,  quotes

    It’s a Cold Morning

    November 21, 2013
    Bicycle in Old Town
    Bicycle in Old Town

    “To experience growth as a photographic storyteller requires one to be a bit reflective.” Storytellers by Jerod Foster

    At 5:30 this morning it was 14 degrees with light snow. At 9:30 it had warmed up to 17 and the snow had almost stopped. The prediction is for more cold and light snow flurries throughout the day. Not going to be a good day for a picnic. May get some reading done.

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  • Camera Equipment,  Fujifilm X-E1,  Photography,  Vision

    Strange Characters

    November 20, 2013
    Strange Characters
    Strange Characters

    The X-E1 is my first camera with an EVF (electronic viewfinder). My first impression was: slow. (Notice I said was.) DPReview uses the word “laggy” in their review. I’ll call it slow. At first this bothered me as I’m use to having a DSLR camera in my hand where I can pull the camera up to my eye as I turn it on. Once it’s at my eye I can shoot immediately. This is not true of the EVF or LCD on the X-E1. I must wait a second or two for them to settle in. As I’ve gained more familiarity with the camera I’ve come to appreciate this. It has shown me a trait of looking through the viewfinder too quickly. Now, when I’m turning on the camera and raising it up to my eye I’m taking more time. This allows me to continue to look at the whole scene and not just what the viewfinder allows. So, even though the EVF is slower than an optical viewfinder it may help me be a better observer and to anticipate a scene about to appear.

    I’ve been using a G12 for a couple of years now for my travels. It has an optical viewfinder but I use the LCD 99% of the time.This was mainly due to the usefulness of the information I was able to use on the LCD that was not in the viewfinder. The electronic viewfinder on this X-E1 will display the same shooting information as it shows on the LCD. Cool! I’ve also come to check out the exposure compensation meter on the lower left corner of the viewfinder as moving the exposure compensation dial on top is quite easy to move.

    Who are those strange characters in the above image? Using your imaginations you can see some of our blogging friends, or yourself, hiding behind the goggles. 🙂

     

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  • architecture,  Camera Equipment,  Fujifilm X-E1

    Where do I start?

    November 12, 2013
    Stairway Details - Northern Hotel in Old Town
    Stairway Details – Northern Hotel in Old Town

    This is not a camera review. I’m just going to tell you what I like and don’t like about the X-E1.

    My first comment  is about the image quality. I am amazed at the image quality of the X-E1, it is outstanding. The quality of the sensor and the kit lens can make me a better photographer only because it will ask me to work on what I see and how I compose. So far I’ve only shot jpeg so I have no idea what a raw file will give me. I did shoot one raw file and was amazed a it’s size, 16 meg.

    This is my first rangefinder camera so I have had to adjust to the feel of the camera and how it handles. I enjoy it’s smaller form making it comfortable to carry around my neck, not as intrusive when pointing at people. and, I personally think it looks cool. I like having the aperture ring and zoom ring on the lens, rather than buttons on the body. Reminds me of my Nikon FE2 days. More to come.

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