PreMagination » Photography

Smelly Fun

Drew Loika — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 05:20:57 +0000

Finally had my camera with me for my evening walk in the cemetary where I’ve been watching and playing with a family of skunks. From a photographic perspective these are horrible as I was shooting at ISO 1600 and trying to manually focus in the dark but I thought I’d share anyway. After doing some reading on the topic I hope some day to have a descented non-wild skunk as a pet, I think it’d be a lot of fun.

First Serious Attempt at Portrait Photography

Drew Loika — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 04:28:41 +0000

Well, they certainly didn’t turn out as bad as I’d expected, so apparently all those books I’ve been reading have paid off. Although I’ve still got a long way to go until I’m happy with it. Anyway, here’s my first attempt at portrait photography, shot at Bear Creek Park in Medford and downtown Ashland. I really struggled the entire time to find directional light outside, as there were no leaves on the tree’s, though I finally found some at the very end. And while some of the photos at Bear Creek were barely decent, the outfits were really a detraction. For example, the blue undershirt is quite distracting when visible, although none of us noticed it at the time. I guess clothing really is one of the “four pillars”. The part of the experience I found most interesting is that I’ve known both these people for years and am very familiar with them, yet when I really looked at them from a photographic perspective for the first time this weekend I saw them quite differently than I have all these years. Honestly, I was rather surprised. Ah well, I suppose that’s a peril of new undertakings. I’m loving it so far!

My First Wedding

Drew Loika — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 01:22:07 +0000

I just returned from my first wedding shoot a few minutes ago, and I can definitely say it was a complete success. I know this because I wasn’t actually taking any photos. But seriously, I didn’t take any photos, and instead followed the main photographer around all day and watched how he worked, how he interacted with people, the tools that he used, and of course the general flow of a photographer and a wedding. It was fantastic! I know SO much more about wedding photography now, and despite all the books I’ve read I just finally have an idea of what I’m supposed to do in June.

My heartfelt thanks goes to Casey and Fall Photography for such an educational experience, and to Emily Slater and Johnathan Fullman (now Emily and Johnathan Fullman) for “loaning” me their wedding. I had a wonderful time!

Camera Conundrum

Drew Loika — Tue, 23 May 2006 23:40:49 +0000

While I don’t think I mentioned it here, the digital camera I’ve been using for the last two years was the victm of an unfortunate hottub accident that rendered it nonfunctional. I’ve spent the time since that unfortunate event trying to decide on the replacement(s). Originally, I was most interested in the [Panasonic DMC-LX1](http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/panasoniclx1/)

!["Camera Picture"](http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/PanasonicLX1/images/3q-001.jpg)

which has two particularly interesting features, specifically wide-format and manual controls. (Well, more manual than most cameras in that category) Not to mention Panasonic’s highly-regarded image stabilization. However, the LX1 inerihited another Panasonic trait, *noise*, so I decided to wait until the successor to the LX1 was released which is rumored to have greatly improved noise processing.

Enter the Panasonic DMC-FZ30. While I’m not considering a DSLR due to initial price and more importantly following lenses prices I none-the-less very much miss the form and functionality of my film SLR. Which was why I was intrigued by the FZ30′s SLR-like features.

!["FZ30 Picture"](http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/PanasonicFZ30/images/3q-001.jpg)

While being a fixed lens EVF camera with the normal small censor, it still shares much with a DSLR. The EVF, while being electronic is high enough quality to use, the lens range is better than I could afford for a DSLR, and the physical format is distinctly like an SLR. But herein lies the rub. Just like the LX1 above, the FZ30 has the Panasonic noise problem, AND a new model is due out in July.

Oh, the agony! Most likely I will make my final decision shortly before my trip to the east coast where I intend to take more pictures than I know what to do with. (An activity distinctly better suited for the FZ30, at least until I come back and want to try taking a camera with me without a large camera bag)