These were all developed with X-Equals presets.






I just received Duncan Davidson's IPhone 2007 print and here is the unboxing.
Update -- on the inside cardboard is a signed Certificate - I almost missed that if not for a tweet from the Artist - whew !!
I've been wanting a shift lens for a while - and I found an Olympus Zuiko 35mm f2.8.
The only trick was figuring out how to mount an Olympus lens to a Nikon and I found an online company in Spain called Leitax - www.leitax.com. The mount wasn't cheap - but it was take it or leave it - so I took it.
So far from initial tests - the lens appears to be amazing - and on full frame I'm at 35mm and on an APS-C sensor I'll be somewhere at 52mm.
This lens hasn't been made in years - a testament to Olympus' optics capability.
- more to come -
I shoot architecture - and evey once in a while, people get in the shot.
So -- I had about 30 seconds to set up this shot. I knew I would be a distraction and I wanted to get in a and get out as quickly as possible.
I entered the studio - with the 14-24mm f2.8 mounted on the D3s - it was all set - Aperature Priority and since I was going to be all wide, depth of field is good even at aperatures you wouldn't think of.
I set the frame rate to High-speed - approached the middle of the room - framed, and burned 5 frames - Done.
This morning my wife dug out some empty picture frames - and as It turned out I just bought a new ink set last weekend for the Epson 2880, I think you can see where this is going.
I haven't printed in about 6 months - and printing for me is never a very fun process because my results are never the results I want.
So -- the request came in while sitting on the couch as I was having a cup a coffee - and I knew I couldn't wave this one off... I had the ink - and paper... and this "Fancy Printer".
Long story short - while I'm one-offing the two 5x7 vacation pics - I decided to switch black ink tanks and print one of my favorites of a few weeks ago in B-W on Epson's new Hot Press Bright - of course I can't post the print - but here is where I"m starting from.
The printer hasn't budged a bit after 5 minutes -- after I hit the print button... it kinda has me worried...
it's Sunday - say a prayer for me.
Update - the print turned out amazing. Just amazing. The planets must have aligned - go figure.
My tripod has worn out - it has served me well for when I purchased it as I really didn't know if I would
be using it much upon purchase - so I bought something in-between both quality and price. I'm now finding out that it's starting to really "loosen" up becoming a bit too flexible.
I'm shopping -- and looking at this model by Giottos - MTL-9371B
And of course I need a Head - it needs to pan and hold at least 20lbs - by Giottos - MH-1000
There is nothing more frustrating that getting all set up - and then making all kinds of adjustments to keep your frame square.
***
This comes about because I shot the BYU Idaho Campus - Manwaring building last week the tripod let me know it just isn't handing the task anymore. Time for some new blood.
Challenges of the shoot - were keeping control of the 24mm PC-e tilt shift lens. If everything isn't
square, then it can ruin your framing and once that happens the image is un-correctable, even in post.
If the lens is not perpendicular to the subject and it is tilted or askew then all the shifing in the world isn't
going to help. Take your time and frame it up - and then shoot a frame, veryify the exposure, adjust
and then shoot for real.
***
This exterior photo was taken at close to 7:30 pm - ASA was fixed at 200 f16.
I'm pround of this image because it represents a different aesthetic - that being a balance of reflective setting sun.


Ok -- I'm back at home - what a great trip - and I'm finally downloading the memory cards and at first glance off the Ipad import these photos look pretty good. But -- upon inspection compared to a developed raw file - they look like hell.
I've starred the fave's and now I sort two more times for the selections to create a photo book for everyone. There are some good pics - but only room for the really good ones.
No wind and a new area this morning about 5 miles out. It was chilly and a bit foggy at first but cleared up as we headed out.
The action was slow at first but a half hour into it Ryan brought up an 80lb 'er and get this - the skipper pulled out a harpoon to land the fish - go figure - it was a sight. An hour later - I pulled up one similar.
Yes - you jab the fish with the Harpoon and the tip of the dart comes off while attached to a rope - meanwhile the fish goes crazy as you and another guy haul the thing over the side into the boat. We were 200 feet deep with 2lbs of weight.
We pulled lines at 230 and took some pictures at the meat packer. Yesterday we netted 125lbs and today should be over a 100lb - over all we should have 460lbs of fish - at 50lbs a packed box that means 9 boxes to ship home with our checked baggage.
We leave tomorrow - and this is Rooster's last year as we know it. The house is sold but he may be back next year for day charters. He will no longer be boarding his guests.
Friday
Today's forecast was up in the air - it rained past 2am and winds were strong through the night. It was good we pulled up early, as the rain started and didn't stop.
This morning at breakfast we discussed how we were probably in for more of the same - not so. Entering the mooring the winds were calm - and our catch of herring was really pleasant as there was no wind - hmmm.
As we left the harbor and made the corner to the same area as yesterday the ocean was - like glass - no wind. It was going to be a good day.
The pin in the lower right is the harbor, and the pin in the upper left is our area of fishing for then last three days, on the map image.
The fish hit hard and if not for what is thought to be a shark - biting two lines and taking baits on the sea bottom - it would have been non stop - but it picked up again after the shark left. Halibut and cod filled the boat. We pulled lines at around 1pm to move.
The fog became thick as we motored toward port - and stopped in between to catch some Rockfish and Ron hooked into a Lin Cod - the photo with the big teeth. Rockfish are like a purple-black small mouth bass -- but bigger.. The Lin Cod look prehistoric with red teethed mouths - Very strange these sea fish.
Lines were pulled at 4pm as we hit our limit of 20 Rockfish - 20 Halibut - 42 Cod - and 2 Lin Cod.
The skipper filleted a Halibut on the back deck on the fly of the return trip and filled out the State forms of the catch in the cabin.
At the fish processing dock the report from yesterdays net was 115 pounds - so the running total is approaching 260 - not including today's catch and that should be at least 100. We may be around 500 lbs when we leave on Sunday.