This -- is Vegas

Added on by John Sturr.

This — is Vegas — and I’ve been chomping at the bit to get this posted, (taken in early Sept.) but I wanted to wait to get them all registered first.  

This - and more to come - remind me of the likes of Hedrich Blessing with the BW and the mid-day light and crazy strong forms.  I try to plan everything I shoot, predict the sun, and hopefully eventually show up at the right time.  If this is client based work - that’s a given - if this is vacation time, well, I try to do my best for planets to align.  This was vacation time.

As I struggle to find the right camera and lens system - I am reminded of results such as this.  And that’s not meaning to say that I’m tooting my own horn here - but it is meant to say that I can squeeze satisfying results out of a 1” sensor and a challenging (slow) set of lenses from the Nikon 1 V1.

Stylistically this is a departure from what I usually shoot.  I have always shot wide - to encompass all of the subject - but lately I’ve been influenced by the photographer LaRoque and his style.  It has really gripped me, and I’m going to explore more of the telephoto type field of view.

With that — This — is Vegas.

Nion 1 V1 - 30-110m

High West

Added on by John Sturr.

Here’s a photo of opportunity - sitting for dinner at a distillery in Park City, Utah - High West - some in this group may have even experienced their award winning Whiskey, but I digress.  This was a matter of great light, and shinny objects - and I can’t lie - I’m a sucker for those also.  This is basically out of camera - with sharpening but NEF. 

ViewNX - when I can get away with not having to lens correct is the editor of choice - the secret “color” sauce is very, very welcomed.  I wish LR 5 had the magic.  LR gives me about 90% of what Nikon’s software produces.  Too bad it is always the last 10% which determines the good stuff.

I’m always torn with the V1 system - as I wish the lenses were faster - as now I’m thinking of going B/W and pegging it a 1600 ASA, and just going to town and seeing what happens.  If anything it will provide a new perspective - and that is always welcome.

Nikon 1 V1 - 18.5mm 

Nikon 1 V1 - 18.5mm

 

In the Center

Added on by John Sturr.

Rarely do I ever put the subject in the middle of the frame - yet sometimes it is nice to stray from the typical.

Nikon 1 V1 30-110mm


Pentwater N. Pier

Added on by John Sturr.

Over the next few weeks I’ll be posting images from my return home to Pentwater Michigan.

It’s a sleepy resort town on the Eastern shores of Lake Michigan.

This image is off the North pier looking West.  I’ve never seen this area so empty during a Summer day - be it Labor Day weekend.

I went superwide - 6.7-13mm with the V1 - and when you get the image; you know it.

Nikon 1 V1 - 6.7-13mm

The road to Wendover

Added on by John Sturr.

I'm a sucker when stuff just seems to sneak up on me - as I was driving thru the West Desert towards Wendover, NV last weekend, the near by rest stop surprised me with these flying concrete roof forms.

I'm really happy with how this turned out.

Shot with the Nikon 1 - 6.7-13mm, lens correction in LR 5, and a slight crop and a boost in color to bring out the film like aspect of the two.

Nikon 1 V1 - 6.7-13mm

Is it luck ?

Added on by John Sturr.

Is it just a great photo - or is it being at the right place at the right time ?

Interesting thought isn’t it — as this statement never even considers anything about the gear;  hmmmm.

I’ve taken thousands of images — most of them are crap, some of them are so-so, and a handful are keepers, and of those handful, a handful are, “I want you to see this”, images.

Along the way there are a few thoughts about getting that image.

  • Right place a the right time.
    Mostly these are life changing events - Kennedy assassination, Cappa’s Normandy Beach landing, Sports events etc.  You just happened to be there, and as luck would have it - you just happened to be the only guy with a camera.
  • The subject matter is so powerful - most any image could be great, although similar to above.  
    You’re on the Moon, shooting Earth.  Pictures of Jesus (ok, I’m being a bit smart here).  The Beatles disembarking the plane, etc.
     
  • You know what you want to shoot - so you plan and execute, as subject matter is static.  
    Ansel Adams, Hedrich Blessing, and Julius Shulman come to mind.  Oh, and I might add - you really need to know what you are doing.
     
  • The situation demands the gear without peer — shooting high ASA in the dark, crazy fast 11fps frame rates and big zoom shots of surfers.

And then there is just plain luck.  And I’ll admit it - I’ve had my share.  And I love it.  And I’ve had it all go in the shitter too and come back with nothing - but that’s thankfully never happened when I was getting paid.

Where am I going with this - you still really need to know what you are doing and be a master of your gear.  And shoot — shoot a lot.  Shoot a lot of everything.

After thousands of frames you will be able visualize the zoomed aspect ratios of the subjects you scan with your eyes.  And when the subject bisects that vision, take note as that is most often for me the beginning what just may be a great photo. 

Having your camera handy to get that shot is also helpful.


BW on the Table

Added on by John Sturr.

One of my favorites from the July 4th weekend.  Very simple BW with great texture of all subjects.

Nikon 1 V1 - 18.5mm No Crop

Over the Boards

Added on by John Sturr.


Nikon 1 V1 - 18.5mm, No Crop

It’s been a while since a last posted - long work hours and the monthly delay between registering for copyright and being able to display images are the choke points.

This image is from the office, of Steve Goodwin working on final project design adjustments.  As always the exercise is recognizing the scene and then capturing it with the Nikon 1 V1, 18.5 f1.8 - and then this was converted with NIK Silver Efex pro 2.  No crop.  I’m proud of this shot - it all came together.

And - by now - you may have noticed the watermark in the lower right.  This is a bit of an experiment in branding.  I’m not an Annie Leibovitz, Herb Ritts, or Hedrich Blessing, meaning - their careers are pretty much set - ok, so - two are dead, so maybe this wasn’t a good example.  But I think the point has been made.  When a photo is viewed — I want those to know who shot it.

Next Topic - 

i blew the dust off the D3s a few weeks ago - hell I even had dead batteries, something which hasn’t happened since purchase in Nov. ’09.  I was gobsmacked - and maybe I shouldn’t have been as it just means I’m not very busy on the pro side.  As I only dig this out when I’m getting paid.  Tilt shift lenses have yet to make their presence on the small cameras - and when shooting architecture - the TS separates you from the crowd.

But back to the point — small sensor cameras are fun and all — but full frame with an 85mm f1.4 lens — at f1.4 and wow.  Just wow.  There is nothing like having the flexibility to control backgrounds with a few clicks of the aperture - and then having the sharpness to go along with it.  

I miss full frame - which reminds me that maybe I need to shoot the D3s more.

All systems have their advantages.

Next Topic - 

Nikon needs to figure out what their business plan is going to be.

  • Are they going to sell cameras - then start producing some V3’s
  • Are they going to compete in the mirrorless market - then develop a full frame
  • Are they going to replace their CaptureNX - then make it happen
     
  • Nikon — how badly do you want it — how badly ?

The D3 series was a game-changer — so here’s the tip of the day - “hire those guys back to make something else”.

Next Topic -

Speaking of cameras — Sony is on a terror.  First the Nex series, of which I had the “7”, then the A7 full frame series and now the “s” with the crazy low light capable sensor - and now the A6000, which for $600+ you have crazy APS-c performance.  Read the reviews.

So — back to the point - Nikon, figure out what you want to be; Winner or Loser.

Bricks and Beam

Added on by John Sturr.

It's just bricks and a metal beam - but - this whole scene captivated me one late morning and when it caught the corner of my eye I had to capture it.  

Sometimes it is a challenge to recognize a scene - and sometimes it seems to slap me on the forehead.

Nikon 1 V1 - 30-110mm, Silver Efex Pro 2 - Tri-X 125 - no crop.

Street in St. Louis - 3

Added on by John Sturr.

This is where the 6.7-13mm really shines -- when it's big -- you need wide -- really wide.  
 

I will say this though - wide will kick your ass.  And the funny thing is - it gets kicked in Post - never when you on site.  For some reason, everything always looks good in frame - never does it look like trash until you get it up on screen.  And then it is a palm to the forehead moment.  

Bam -- that is when you see the wide angle skew.  The safe zone is always when you are 90 Deg. to the subject - always.
 

St. Louis Arch - Nikon 1 V1 - 6.7-13mm.