I'm Tired of Killer

I know you've read it many times.

DSLR Killer, iPad Killer, Film Killer, Betamax Killer... OK, well, maybe the last one applies.

I've used the term once, tongue in cheek, and still wished I hadn't. Why? Because it's overused and I'm tired of it.

XXX-Killer (hmmm, that didn't really come out right) implies that in order for one thing to succeed, the other must die. And since people love to read about death, even though they do not admit so, the premise being the headline will attract more readers.

(The most likely exception to this theory will be this post.)

Outside of photo prints, I'm not really a black and white guy. In business, I like win/win over zero sum. In relationships, I prefer harmony to drama. And in the world of technology, I like options.

So if something new comes along, I don't want it to kill its competition (unless of course it's no longer useful.) I would rather the competition responds to the new challenge and improves.

The term killer has come up a lot around DSLRs and mirrorless cameras. DSLRs are far from extinct. And mirrorless cameras are far from perfect. But together, they give us a compelling set of tools.

I'm just saying, I'm not seeing any chalk outlines of my Canon 5D quite yet...

-Derrick

Testing Non-Native Glass on the OM-D E-M1

I was teasing Olympus on the podcast that I was one of the first to see the OM-D E-M1, and one of the last to actually get to test it. But I have it now. 

I've used the flagship Micro Four Thirds camera for two shoots so far. The first one was an outdoor family portrait assignment and the second was a model shoot in the studio.

For the family portrait, I tried the Four Thirds mount 12-60mm f/2.8-f/4 zoom. I loved this lens when I first started testing Olympus DSLRs, and I've wanted to try it on the Micro Four Thirds cameras.

It worked fairly well. The images looked good, but the focusing was still slower than I like. Plus the lens is much heavier than the native glass designed for the camera. So it's nice to have the option to use these optics from my lens collection, but I don't think that I'll be tapping them on a regular basis. Here's a picture of Joey that I shot with the 12-60mm.

For the second shoot, I used the Panasonic 12-35mm f/2.8 zoom designed specifically for Micro Four Thirds. It was a joy to use on the E-M1. It focused quickly and yielded beautiful results. Here's a portrait of Kathleen that I captured with this set up.

There's lots more to talk about, of course, but my first impression is that the E-M1 feels like a professional camera when it has native Micro Four Thirds lenses on it. It's nice to have the option of non-native glass - but not for important assignments.

-Derrick

Why I Don't Engrave (generally)

I just placed an order for a new iPad mini with Retina Display, and Apple generously offered me free engraving. I declined. I always decline... well, almost always. 

The last time that I engraved any of my devices was October 12, 2005. The object was a 30 GB iPod Video with color screen. I still use it everyday in my Audi as the music player for its audio system. 

Why October 12, 2005? Well, that was the "One More Thing Event" where Steve Jobs introduced the iPod Video, and it was my favorite Apple media event of all time. The curtains opened at 10am that day at the California Theater in San Jose. And for the next 2 hours, I was transported to another world.

Steve looked great on October 12, and he was masterful on stage. I captured one of my favorite portraits of him that morning in the California Theater. He looked truly happy. The setting, the presentation, the technology... it all was magical. 

When I ordered my iPod Video, I took advantage of the free engraving. On the back it reads: 

One More Thing Event
October 12, 2005

I will never sell that iPod, and I will never forget that day in San Jose.

So that's the one time I did engrave. I haven't since. I like to sell my devices to someone who can use them when I buy a newer model. And I don't think most people want to buy a used iPad with a sentimental message carved on the back. 

That is, unless they were shook hands with Steve Jobs on October 12, 2005. Then they might feel differently. 

-Derrick

Holiday Family Portraits

It's that time of year.

If you're going to send out a holiday card with an updated picture of your family, you better be thinking about it... now. 

I bring this up because I have a family portrait shoot today with two little ones and their parents. We'll meet at a park, try to get everyone looking the same direction at the same time, and I'll capture as many frames as possible in that narrow window of opportunity. 

The loss during these shoots is incredibly high (frames not children!). If I'm lucky enough to record 100 images before the little guys lose interest in the project, then I might have a dozen to show mom and dad. And most likely, there will only be two or three that I like. 

But the thing is, we only need one shot. And as long as we get that, the endeavor is a success. 

I have a few tricks that I use for these assignments. First, I shoot in Aperture Priority with a moderate depth of field, like f/8.  I want to make sure everyone is in focus.

But I like softish backgrounds too. So I make sure there's lots of open space behind the family.  

And my secret weapon? Well, I love my 70-200mm Canon zoom for these shoots. It makes up for any lack of talent by the photographer. 

So wish me luck today. All I need is that one great image. (Please!) 

-Derrick

This One Hurt - The Closing of Everpix

On Dec. 15, 2013, Everpix will close their doors.

I had entrusted them with a decade of images that matter most to me. I wasn't using Everpix for my professional work. Far more importantly, they had my memories - travel, family, pets, home projects - the goofy stuff that I shoot with an iPhone that increases in value each passing year.

Every day, Everpix would send me an email containing photos from that day in history. My history. For example,  I could see what I was doing on Nov. 10 each year over the last 10 years. Quite honestly, it was often my favorite email of the day. 

I could use my iPhone, iPad, and computer to browse my Everpix library. Sometimes while waiting in line at the store, I would just see what I was doing 5 years ago. It has really given me a lot of perspective. 

I met Wayne Fan and Pierre-Olivier Latour (two of the founders) at a San Francisco PR office on June 26, 2013. I was interviewing them for a TDS podcast, and was very impressed with their understanding of the problem of managing our visual memories. I remember that, as I was leaving, Pierre said to me with a smile on his face, "Make us famous." 

They did manage to attract 6,800 paid subscribers and countless free accounts. Actually, that was a pretty good start. What they didn't have was enough working capital to get them through the first years. So as the Verge wrote, "the world's best photo startup is going out of business ."

Big ideas need big money. And this is where Everpix came up short. Every Wozniak needs a Jobs. And Everpix needed $5 million to keep the doors open.

In my world, I see businesses rise and fall all the time.  There are a few that I become attached to. Everpix was one of them. And it hurts to seem them go.

-Derrick