The Relentless Pursuit of Insanity

Our obsession with lens sharpness is a photography tradition that dates back to my earliest days. 

Whether you pick up an old issue of Popular Photography from the 1970s or peruse today's online forums, you'll read photographers debating the clarity of one optic versus another.

As we evolve as artists, we know that there are other aspects of an image that are just as important, if not more. Color, gradation, composition, exposure, and yes, emotional impact are elements that should not be overlooked. And we're fine acknowledging those, that is, once the sharpness question has been answered, and we're secure with the quality of our lens.

I'm thinking about this as I prepare a review for the new Pentax KP DSLR with its host of premium AL lenses. You know, the ones with the pretty metallic red trim. I spent a big part of the day yesterday trying to determine if they were indeed worth their price tag. And what criterion was I using to judge them? Yes, sharpness.

High magnification, pixel peeping sharpness.

This put me on the rails to insanity. As I tweaked menu settings, aperture, stabilization, and focus accuracy - not only for the Pentax, but for the comparison cameras as well - I found myself lost in the tiniest corners of the frame, wired on coffee, with nose pressed up against the computer screen trying to focus my watery eyes at 11:30 pm with my only company being a pair of fighting cats somewhere behind by backyard fence.

"Stop it!," I yelled at them, then closed the door behind me and returned to the work table.

My laptop only had 6 percent of its battery remaining.

"Time to go to bed," I thought.

The next morning, I decided to look at the test images as I would a normal photograph. Not at 400 percent magnification, but as a full screen image on my laptop. 

They were beautiful. All of them. I adjust the tones a bit as I normally would, and they responded like a thirsty plant soaking in a cup of water.

I don't know what gets in to us sometimes. Why are photographers so plagued by technical obsession? The image could be boring as hell, but if that street sign in the distant background has legible type, we're somehow OK.

I went back to my notes. Lens sharpness: Good. Case closed.

I then posted a few of the shots online. They are interesting. I'm getting some nice comments.

And not one word about sharpness.

-Derrick

Canon: It's Been a Good Run

I pre-ordered my Canon EOS 5D Mark II in late 2008. I didn't know it then, but a few weeks later, I would lose my full-time job with O'Reilly Media.

Once I found out about the department-wide layoff, I wondered out loud on social media, "Should I go through with the purchase of the 5D Mark II?" After all, that $2,500 would come in real handy for other things, like paying the mortgage.

My friends were unanimous in their response: "Keep the camera. You're going to need it." And they were right.

For the next 8+ years, I depended on the Canon and my arsenal of lenses to deliver the goods to  commercial clients. In the beginning, I thought 21 megapixels was overkill. Near the end, it wasn't quite enough.

That's right. The end.

I sold the Canon 5D Mark II on Amazon yesterday. I've also let go of the 24-105mm L zoom, and my 70-200mm f/2.8 IS L is listed online right now. It's the end of an era for me that began in 1995 when I started shooting weddings. So what happened?

Over the last few years, the 5D Mark II has started to feel like old technology, especially compared to my Olympus Micro Four Thirds gear that I use for travel and event photography. I really liked my Canon, and kept using it regardless. But I just can't anymore. It's too weird going from the OM-D E-M5 Mark II to the 5D.

I waited to see what Canon had to offer in terms of new models. After the recent wave of announcements, I decided that I just wasn't excited by their stuff. I knew I had to replace the 5D Mark II, but with what?

The answer came when Pentax announced the 24MP KP. It was love at first sight. It featured an upgrade in resolution, great low light performance, sensor-based image stabilization (which I came to appreciate through Olympus), and a set of super compact HD limited edition lenses that are a fraction of the size of my Canon glass.

In fact, I have been wanting the Pentax DA 20-40mm f/2.8-4 ED Limited since the day it was announced. Now, I finally have it. (Man, that was a long wait...)

What I like about this transition is that my DSLR gear is better aligned with my Micro Four Thirds kit. I enjoy shooting with an optical viewfinder at times, and will probably always have a DSLR to complement my mirrorless. But these days, I want efficient, compact gear. And that's what I get with Pentax and the limited edition lenses.

I will always be fond of Canon. I shot the Beijing Olympics with Canon. My first trip to Iceland was with this gear. I have billboards thanks to the 5D Mark II. But we just ran out of road.

It's been a good run, Canon. Thanks for the great images. 

Maybe our paths will cross again someday.

-Derrick

The Last Frame

I find it impossible to stop experimenting. Not only does my business depend on it, but my creative sanity as well. Boredom is not my friend.

At the same, my passion for photography is paradoxical. On one hand, I'm constantly striving to put together the perfect kit, discover the ideal adventure, capture the ultimate image. I've said to myself many times, "Now that I have this camera, I'm set. I don't need anything else."

And for the moment that's true.

Then, I read about this, someone tells me about that, and the whole plan is tossed in the air,  fluttering to the floor like scattered papers.

To be honest, I own many cameras. And I like them all. It feels a bit like a harem. One day I'm in love with the OM-D E-M5 II, then the next the Fuji X-20. Oh, that beautiful Pentax Super Program is calling to me now.

When I pack my Nimble Shoulder Bag for a daily bike ride, I'm never quite sure what's going inside. My only constant is the iPhone in my pocket. After that, it could be anyone's guess.

Many times of late, I've reached for a 35mm film camera. Those SLRs are comrades in my creative quest. My current favorites are the Pentax Program Plus, Pentax ZX-5n, Minolta X700, Contax G1, and Yashica FX-3 Super 2000. Film has added an element of excitement to this adventure. It's like kissing in an elevator and not knowing exactly when the doors will open.

In addition to all the things you already know about analog, such as not having an LCD to review the image right after you've captured it, there's one more aspect that I find intoxicating: the last frame.

Each roll of film has 36 exposures. I don't carry spare rolls for my adventures. If I see something interesting, I use a few frames to record it. If it's very interesting, a few more. 

Sometimes I'm less than half way through my ride, yet have just a few frames left. How do I meter them? How many do I save just in case something spectacular happens?

Yesterday, I saved just one frame. "I'm fine. Nothing's going on. I'm nearly finished with the ride," I said to myself.

Then, on cue, a woman approached up the path with four dogs. Two were tall, and two were short. They moved in unison like a gliding pyramid. She was in the center with a tall dog on each side, and the two shorties were flanking them.

They was coming right toward me.

One frame left.

I steadied the camera and waited for the perfect moment. She was staring at me too. When they were about 20 yards away, I squeezed the shutter button and recorded the last frame.

The film was still rewinding in the camera when she reached me.

"That's a shot I could not pass up," I said to her.

She smiled. "Oh really?"

"Are those your dogs, or are you a walker?"

"They're mine. We walk everyday. We keep each other healthy."

I smiled, thinking the same thing about my bike rides.

"Thanks for the great photograph," I said, holding up the camera.

"How did it turn out?" she asked.

"I have no idea. Won't know for a week or so. I only had one frame left."

She smiled curiously. "Film? Are you an artist?"

I pursed my lips. "I don't know."

"I just keep trying new things, hoping something good will happen."

She nodded in an understanding way, then continued down the path. I pulled out my iPhone to document the time and place, still thinking about frame #36.

The last frame.

-Derrick

Rediscovering an Old Friend

I've been a fan of Fujifilm digital cameras since they showed me the first X100 at Photokina years ago. And just last week, they released the latest version, the X100F along with the X-T20. Both cameras look beautiful.

As much as I would love to purchase each of them, it's not feasible, especially considering the excellent Micro Four Thirds kit that I currently use (and love).

But I do have a way to combat these cravings, and it's been a blast doing so.

I've had a Fujifilm X20 since it was first introduced in January 2013. There was a time when a 4-year-old digital camera was no longer practical. But we've reached a point where that isn't true anymore. My 2008 Canon 5D Mark II still takes outstanding pictures.

So, I packed the X20 for my recent trip to Monterey. More often than not, it was the camera I reached for. At one point, I remember noticing it on the nightstand at the hotel. It was so handsome!

Later, as I explored the shoreline, I shot monochrome, soft background, and some good old-fashioned Velvia film emulation with it. The images are beautiful. Processing wasn't an issue either. Photos for macOS has no problem handling those X-Trans RAW files.

And it just made me so happy to have this camera in my hands again.

I doubt that I'll be able to finagle the X100F any time soon. But I'm OK for now. Because thanks to the announcement of that new camera, I've rediscovered an old friend. And it feels so good to be together again.

-Derrick

The Best Thing About CES was Las Vegas

We like to make fun of Las Vegas for its indulgence and over-the-top nightlife. But the fact of the matter is, Sin City seemed more real to me this year than the very reason I was there in the first place: to cover the Consumer Electronics Show.

Sounds like I had one too many watered-down gin and tonics, right? Well, let me explain.

I'll start with CES. Was the show well organized? Yes. Did it have its entertaining moments? It did. Was I treated well as Press? Absolutely.

But after attending numerous media events and exploring North, Central, and South Halls, CES reminded me of cable television - all those channels with nothing to watch. If I were in the market for a new car, or in the mood to cobble together a smart home, I might feel differently. And in the past, I have. There were years when I loved CES.

But this wasn't one of them.

I feel like we've reach a plateau where it's technology for technology's sake. Look at any of the best product lists for CES 2017. Is there anything there you need to have? And that's the good stuff. There were miles of items that paled in comparison. 

I did see some well-engineered upgrades and refinements to existing products. The Blue Ella Headphones, Panasonic GH5, Kingston DataTraveler Ultimate GT, and the Nikon D5600 DSLR all appear to be excellent improvements over the models they replace. Plus, Kodak promised to bring back Ektachrome and Technics announced the Grand Class SL-1200GR audio turntable. Very nice.

But it wasn't until I left those halls that life became truly interesting. I had great meetings with old friends. I talked to Lyft drivers about their life aspirations. And I photographed residents and visitors alike as they immersed themselves in the Las Vegas vibe. These encounters are what made the journey worth my time.

For the moment, I have enough electronics to get my work done. I'd rather spend the rest of my time with humans... even the crazy ones wandering up and down Las Vegas Boulevard on a brisk winter night.

-Derrick