Forum Replies Created
Super Light Rain Gear for Photographers:
Back on the fall S2 trip with D Farkas and crew, we were shooting in pretty heavy rain one day. If one is spending money for an S2 water resistant camera, one can justify spending a fraction of that on a jacket that keeps the photographer dry.
On that trip, I had brought along a heavy rain parka that the Green Bay Packers use on the sidelines during downpours in a game. I worked very well. It was truly waterproof, the hood worked very well, and the vertical “Napoleon Pockets” were very handy while shooting photographs, much more reliable than the usual side pockets most jackets have.
But unfortunately, not everyone want to have a jacket with “PACKERS” printed across the back of their jacket. One of the participants said if I ever saw a similar jacket in black with red accents to let them know. Well I will let you all know, and this jacket is much lighter and probably more flexible that the Packer one I used.
This 15oz zip through all weather jacket is made in Vancouver. Westcomb’s Switch LT hoodie is officially the lightest neoshell jacket in the world. Waterproof, durable Fly weight nylon ripstop, another one to add to the list of performance outerwear taking hi spec to new levels. It’s easy for fancy active clothing to end up looking frumpy but these hoodies are as goodlooking as they are feature packed. A solid range of colours, each one comes with Micro Seam Taping (a thin waterproof barrier), articulated sleeves and YKK smooth pull AquaGuard Vislon zippers. Looks great in black with the red zippers. $430.
See detail here:
http://www.westcomb.com/product/waterproof-breathable-neoshell/84/switch-lt-hoody.htmlThe initial photo was taken on that rain day. The only better protection from the torrential rain during 30 minutes than a hooded rain jacket was this overpass which I used during a lens change. Then I realized it was a good photo-op.
JackMarc,
Everyone who was on the New England Fall trip with David worked with ND and variable ND. They were so valuable, every one bought into David's system. I suspect he will be answering you too. But from a user perspective there was no vignetting issue with the 35 using screw in polarizing and ND filters. We also used David's “external” system for ND and variable ND, with no vignetting and which can be viewed here:
http://www.dalephotoanddigital.com/_e/Kits/product/68-885603/Schneider_Landscape_Control_Kit_4x5_65.htmThe plus of this system is one set of filters can be used on all lenses with a simple adaptor. The glass quality of the filters is great. Totally different than plastic or resin.
If you use it on a 120mm, you need a filter spacer which Josh sold me.Hope this helps
JackJackAs I said, I am using some blah winter days to reexamine some shots from the fall shoot. This is oddly enough, a merge of two horizontal 120mm shots, then cropped into a vertical panorama. Yes, if I had had a 70mm I could have gotten it in one shot, but less resolution. And I don't have a 70mm. For those of you who want to see the original shot, I have included it. Some may prefer the original merge to a square. Apparently I don't, but if it sells I might.
Several years ago, David knowing I shoot and sell triptychs, suggested that I do vertical triptychs as well as horizontal so that's what I then did with this, Had to…Kipper and Mark would have been disappointed if I hadn't. Here the choice of panorama or triptych depends on the installation of the print. I added the second panorama to allow for a border to ease comparison to the triptych. It is not full resolution.
Anyway, thanks David for the encouragement to try vertical.For those of you not there, the sun had gone behind a mountain, and this waterfall was in darkness. So much for those saying an S2 can only be shot in full light. I sec and f4.8 ISO 160 120mmS
JackAnd another for the “Looking Up” series.
The series so far can be seen here:
http://www.macdonough.net/Landscapes/Ceilings-of-Mil/20371090_n3XCMX#!i=1624277297&k=b7xGBt9
JackJosh, since you like red objects…
And it probably costs more than the Ferrari,This is of a series discussed elsewhere.
JackJackThis is a 60 sec exposure with a 35mmS at 320 ISO f4.8
I used LR to color correct the sky and photoshop to quadruple the star brightness.
In 60 seconds the star trails are pretty short.By quadrupling, I did a color select, selected the white of the stars, Duplicated the stars three times and moved the dupes sideways to get four times the width of the trail. This brightened the stars and sort of squared up the trails. If anyone else had a technique for this, let me know. Other than using a tracking mount.
JackI assume since you say you are a Leica Guy and in past posts looking for an MP and noctilux, you might not have any Nikon lenses? And you certainly appreciate Leica lenses? And if you are a Leica Guy you can afford both options?
Next I would ask what you are going to be using the camera for? If sports, go Nikon.
But I detect that your real issue is buying the S2 when you fear an S3 is coming out the moment you buy the S2? If that fear is really an issue, wait one or two years for the S3 to be available, and buy a used S2 then. Of course, you will have missed the pleasure of the S2 for two years. By the way, imagine how Leica is looking at their decision? Do we just pop a slightly newer sensor in now, or wait a year for the next sensor development?
Most of the S2 photographers I know, and I know 1% of the S2 shooters in the USA, will tell you quite a bit of their decision was based on the S lenses. They are developed from the ground up for digital, and I have heard they were designed to be good for two magnitudes of improvement in sensors. When an S3 arrives, I may or may not need an upgrade, but I in either case, I will have my investment in Leica glass that does not need an upgrade.
I suspect that if you want an S2, the Nikon will not satisfy that desire, no matter what the resolution or quality of the Nikon camera. You will still want the S2.
You will rationalize that you will have the Nikon now and wait for the S3, and in the meantime have invested in a system that you really didn't want to build on in the first place. Unless you already have a number of Nikon lenses, then it is a different equation.
JackIt's winter and I have time to go back and work some shots again from the S2 New Hampshire trip. Unfortunately I was on the computer rather than Indianapolis.
These are a few versions of the same shot from Mirror Lake. Thanks to David Farkas who pointed out the shot to me.
I'd appreciate some suggestions as to which version is preferred.
!. Added punch to the dull day
2. B&W
3. Pretty much straightThanks,
JackJackSeagate Go Flex might be a solution for file swapping between computers for me.
I have an 2010 iMac without thunderbolt but with firewire 800 and also a 2011 MacAir with thunderbolt and USB 2.0.
My challenge was how to swap files between the two machines in the fastest manner?
Seagate is now making a thin 500Gig drive that can act as a time machine for the Air and be connected ever so slowly via USB 2.0 out of the box. Then for transferring files to the iMac, there is a $20 swappable firewire 800 that will allow for faster uploads to the iMac. I also discovered that modern portable drives are truly portable as they do not use as much power as my old portable drives that really could not be driven via a single USB.
That will have to do the trick until winter 2012. I thought this was the winter of 2012, so we will see when the promised Thunderbolt adaptor is released/shipped. I have ordered it direct from Seagate's website.
Then I will have a very small handy external hard drive of twice the capacity of the Air using both Thunderbolt and firewire 800. I might add that the firewire adaptor is almost as expensive at $99 as the 500 Gig hard drive at $119. Ah, the price of convenience. But the adaptors can also be fit to more and larger drives.
http://www.seagate.com/www/en-us/products/external/external-hard-drive/?intcmp=bac-en-us-prod-h-fa_goflex_exploreAlso a good way to switch files from Mac to PC and yes they have a USB 3.0 adaptor as shown in the illustration. It comes with 2.0.
Jack
JackWhoa…
Well this photographer is using the tool well.
Glad you posted here as well as GetDPI.
I hope when you print them, you post a shot of how they look in exhibition.
JackJackWell, I much preferred the game result of the Viking game.
But i once again brought my M9 with WATE and took this sunset Lambeau Field shot set at 16mm.
If you enlarge the photo you will see Aaron Rodgers making one of his signature runs. He had more running yardage than any of the Packers.
This one photo completes my football photography for the 2011 season. As they say, one and done.
JackThe first shows the Leica bokah but all are quite nice. Time for a self portrait in the new landscape.
I think Kipper is correct on your B&W process question.
I'm off to a football game this weekend, too bad you are too far away for me to borrow your 180 again.JackStuart,
Your point about battery life is well taken. It is amazing. When one finally runs down, I always think something horrible has happened, as I see the camera so rarely down. Then I realize it's just the battery. This occurred once when shooting an event where i actually ran through a 64 Gig card before the battery ran down. I do have a backup battery which I bought assuming it would be necessary daily rather than rarely. But unless shooting events, there is not much reason to have a backup.At your request, here is one of the overpass shots from a series currently called Looking UP and discussed in the M9 image forum. I have also shot these with the M9 and 16mm, but have concluded that effective 28mm is a better choice and using the S2 and 35mm. And as I plan to blow these up huge, I need the resolution. After seeing your night shots, I will return to this area and try some night shots. Then as David will anticipate, I will have the opportunity to have another triptych.
Jack
http://www.macdonough.net/Landscapes/Ceilings-of-Mil/20371090_n3XCMX#!i=1611727575&k=NdbJjLTJack
