The Fujifilm X30 has Wedding Hair

I have two cameras that I absolutely love: the Olympus OM-D E-M10 and the Fujifilm X20.

Today, Fujifilm announced the long-awaited update to my camera, the X30. Under the hood, it's virtually the same as the model I already have: identical 2/3" X-Trans sensor, unchanged 28mm-112mm f/2.0-f/2.8 zoom, and no substantial boost in processing power.

But there are other differences between the two models. The zooming optical viewfinder with clever information overlay was replaced by an electronic viewfinder (EVF), similar to what I have on the OM-D. The battery is bigger, the camera is a tad heavier, and the LCD was upgraded in terms of resolution, size, is and now vertically articulated.

Fujifilm added a dedicated movie button on top where the Fn button once resided. The exposure compensation dial now extends to +3 and -3 instead of just two stops. The top mode dial is a bit more cluttered. A new control ring resides at the base of the lens barrel. And most importantly, WiFi is now built-in.

Many of these changes I like. Some I don't. I prefer the optical viewfinder. I already have EVFs in my Olympus cameras. I preferred the X20's top deck layout to the X30's. And the X30's back panel is totally unappealing to me.

But what really jumps out is how a few minor design changes can impact the overall aesthetics of a camera. The lack of the optical viewfinder in front, the change in proportion for the top deck, and a redesign of the back panel have really affected the camera's appearance.

I call it "wedding hair." Beautiful women in day-to-day life suddenly become less appealing thanks to a formal change in hair style. And that's the way I feel about the X30.

It has wedding hair.

So, I'll stick with the camera that I first fell in love with. Because, as we all know,

Newer isn't always better.

-Derrick

My Second Favorite Color

If you would have asked me my favorite color at age 8, I would have said, "green."

Not sure why; I just liked it. This remained true until I was 16 and bought my first car, an oxidized blue VW bug. Then green was relegated to second position. But it has remained there ever since.

If you visit The Digital Story and The Nimble Photographer websites, they are bathed in my second favorite color. There's a reason for that.

Green is alive. Most healthy plants are green. Photosynthesis is active. Green is good.

The color of conversation, renewable resources,  and recycling is green. Nobody wants to be a part of the rust movement.

Each day I attempt to embrace what my second favorite color represents. I walk to the bank instead of driving. The studio is open in the morning to air out, and closed when the afternoon heats up. I boil a small amount of water to wash dishes, and keep an eye on how much electricity I'm using. I travel light whenever possible.

The Nimble Photographer was born out of the concept of using less.

With my solar panels, twig-burning stove, and camping gear, I've wondered how long I could last if the infrastructure shut down. I hope I never find out.

I have faith that our technology will keep us one step ahead of our problems. Maybe we can innovate our way out of our shortcomings.

Which returns me to my favorite color: blue. Why does blue remain on top after all these years? It's simple.

To me, blue represents hope.

-Derrick

The Artist Inside

Theresa has a day job, as many do, managing people and budgets.

On weekends, she sits on her bed, legs straight out, typing a novel on the computer that rests lightly on her lap. Only family and a few friends know that she's an artist. And her work is brilliant.

Everyone has someone else inside - an athlete, a criminal, a mechanic, a chef. Sometimes they try to hide this other personality, and other times they can't wait for the world to discover it.

But of all these possibilities, I find the artist most compelling. 

The trap that unknown artists often fall into, is the desire to become known. Ironically, it's fame that destroys art.  And for this reason, I think modern social sites are better than we realize.

Why? 

Because they provide an audience for our art without the poison of fame. Unlike pregnancy, you can to be a little famous. It only takes a few hundred people interested in your artistry to make it all seem worthwhile. 

You can continue to create without the noxious cloud of fame blocking the very light that inspires you.  The artist inside might not have a publisher, but she does have a community. And that community hangs on her every word.

When we look back upon this period in our history, it may be recognized as one of the great times of creativity ever.  Millions of unknown artists speaking to friends, family, and community without the self-consciousness of becoming front page fodder.

Yes, an unlucky few will have fame thrust upon them.  But the great majority will be free to create openly for those who love and truly care about

the artist inside. 

-Derrick

Don't Be Afraid

Photography is changing faster than ever.

And for many, change means disruption - old habits are broken, rituals are lost.

So far in 2014, we've learned that a new, unknown app called Photos will eventually replace Aperture and iPhoto. We're still a year away from having to make any measurable decision about what to do, yet photographers are bolting for the exits like students at a recess bell.

I've had readers "unLike me because I deceived them by championing Aperture." 

But wait, there's more.

The decline of DSLR popularity, the endless surge of social media, and the love affair with mobile phone photography... all of these harbingers of yet more change to come.

Here's the thing: you don't have to switch from Aperture, sell your DSLR, start an Instagram account, or buy an iPhone. You can stand pat. You can even go in reverse and set up a chemical darkroom and shoot film. People might think you're cool.

And if you do want to catch an innovation wave to two, there are lots of folks like me here to help. 

I've never been one to say, "ditch everything you love and switch to this." I respect the history of photography. My work stands on the shoulders of others.

When someone asks me for career advice, I always have one answer: do what you love. I say the same to photographers. Use the tools you like and pursue subjects that interest you. Turn off the news if you have to.

If you doggedly follow your passion,

everything else takes care of itself.

-Derrick

Fill Flash

When people ask me, "What's the one thing I can do to improve my pictures?"

I answer: "Fill flash."

I've been thinking a lot about this technique lately. Mainly, because I don't know if I would have survived the last couple weeks without it.

I've mentioned on the TDS podcast that I'm in the middle of a big project with a local credit union. It's a series of outdoor portraits in various locations throughout Northern California.

I've faced two major challenges, and one has led to the other. The first is balancing a variety of schedules for the photo shoots. Since the subjects are not professional models, we have to squeeze our sessions in to what little time is available for them.

As it's turned out, we're shooting in mid-to-late afternoon light. In August, that's some pretty contrasty stuff. Which leads me to my second challenge, getting great portraits in harsh light.

I've depended on my trusty friend, fill flash, to survive. If you want to see the rig I'm using, take a look at this article that I just published on c't Digital Photography Magazine, The Low-Tech Solution to Wireless Fill Flash.

The thing about using flash is that it's counter-intuitive for beginning photographers. I turn off the flash when the light is low (going with fast lenses and ambient illumination), and I turn it on outdoors for portraits when it's incredibly bright. Nuts, right?

Not really. The flash evens out those terrible facial shadows when the sun is high. My other favorite scenario is for sunset portraits. A little pop of light on the subject with a colorful sky is truly magical. 

So if someone asks you, what is the one thing they can do to improve their photography?

You know what to say.

-Derrick