Seattle Foggy Morning

No comment. More EOS M content

Achtuning and nwmotiv.com toydrive

Here are some photos taken with the Canon EOS M.

Seattle Pier

I went out tonight to kill some time. Here is a sample photo i took with the EOS M with 22mm lens

Post by Monkifoto.

Sunrise

Sunrise Yesterday Morning

Shot with Canon EOS M with the 22mm lens 

through my bedroom window

Monkifoto

I don't remember if I have ever shared my facebook page with folks reading this blog. But if you want to see more of my photos check out my facebook page here: Monkifoto Facebook Page  You can also contact me and leave messages and idea that you would like to see. Also feel free to add me on Flickr

Dear Santa

Every year Santa brings me exactly what I want. I know most people my age no longer believe in Santa. But I do. To me he's not the big fat jolly guy with the white beard, wearing a red and white suit, whipping the reindeers into submission. To me Santa is the skinny code monkey i see in the mirror every morning. That's right. I don't believe in fictional characters but i do believe in myself. And with that i can get and do anything i want. (ALMOUST)

So last Xmass Santa got me a 2013 GOLF R. Which is awesome and i enjoy every day. This year I'm asking for camera toy's. It should be easy for Santa with the help of the patented One Click Technology by Amazon. :) I bet my friends who work there if they knew how much i spend on Amazon.com they would love me.

Anyway time to list all the things on my Amazon Wish list.

Canon EOS M Adapter

 

http://amzn.com/B008NF8CEK

• Allows Canon EF and EFS lenses to be mounted on the Canon EOS M Compact System
• Fully compatible with all lens functions including image stabilization and autofocus
• Detachable tripod adapter provides support for longer Canon lenses

Canon Speedlite 90EX Flash

 

http://amzn.com/B00GFWBOFC

• Lightweight Flash f/Mirrorless D Camera
• Guide Number 30' 
• Wireless Master Function (Optical) 
• Covers 24mm Wide-Angle Lens (35mm Terms) 
• Canon Hot Shoe Mount--Fits EOS Cameras

Lowepro  Dashpoint 20

 

http://amzn.com/B008OQUZEI

• Multi-functional, outdoor-inspired pouch offers a lightweight, yet rugged carrying solution for a wide variety of electronic devices
• Versatile, t-Lock attachment system provides vertical webbing and horizontal flaps (each with hook/loop fasteners) to easily secure pouch to the most common attachment points: loops, straps, daisy chains, etc.
• Wide-mouth opening with reverse zippers offers easy access to gear

Watson LP-E12 Lithium-Ion Battery Pack (7.4V, 800mAh)

 

http://amzn.com/B00G4L27HI

• Replacement for Canon LP-E12 Battery
• Limited 1-Year Warranty

Manfrotto MP3-D01 Pocket Series

 

http://amzn.com/B0049SVU8K

• Low profile design can be left on camera at all times
• Fits standard tripod socket
• Includes attachment tool
• Non Slip Foldable Rubber
• Feet Holds cameras up to 3.3 lbs.

Rainbowimaging TMC LCD Timer Remote Control for Canon EOS 60D

 

http://amzn.com/B00004WCID

• Remote switch convenience
• Replicates all shutter release button functions
• Compatible with some Canon EOS cameras.
• Compact design Simple plug-in attachment
• Remote switch convenience
• Replicates all shutter release button functions

Heavy Duty Muslin Clamps 4 1/2 inch

 

http://amzn.com/B004AZ38Z0

• Heavy Duty Muslin Clamps 4.5 inch long
• 2 inch mouth opening maximum
• Very strong to fit most stands
• Pack of 6 clamps

List of Books

• Extraordinary Everyday Photography: Awaken Your Vision to Create Stunning Images Wherever You Are
• Focus On Lighting Photos: Focus on the Fundamentals (Focus On Series)
• Focus On Photographing People: Focus on the Fundamentals (Focus On Series)
• Composition: From Snapshots to Great Shots
• Focus On Composing Photos: Focus on the Fundamentals (Focus On Series)
• See It: Photographic Composition Using Visual Intensity
• Light It, Shoot It, Retouch It: Learn Step by Step How to Go from Empty Studio to Finished Image (Voices That Matter)
• The Beginner's Guide to Photographing Nudes
• Figure Photography: Techniques for Digital Photographers
• Posing Techniques for Photographing Model Portfolios
• The Art of Boudoir Photography: How to Create Stunning Photographs of Women
• 500 Poses for Photographing Women: A Visual Sourcebook for Portrait Photographers

Canon EOS M Samples

Today on my way home from work i stopped by the local park and i took a few shots of the sunset and it's reflection in the frozen lake. These were taken with the Canon EOS M.  Not bad, check them out.

Vegas 2013

I haven't posted anything in a couple of weeks because i have been either gone or super busy. First was Vegas then Whistler. Other than traveling I have been focusing on my other hobbies... my VW. :)
Anyway in Vegas i took the Canon Powershot G10. To be honest the camera did an ok job. Needless to say i no longer have the camera. I have upgraded to the Canon EOS M with a 22mm 1:2 STM lens. Yes, i know it's discontinued.. but the IQ of this camera is way better.  You will get to see pictures from this camera soon.  But for now here is a few samples of the G10. Keep in mind in Vegas it was always raining and gloomy weather so for the conditions I think it did an OK job.

All of these photos were shot in RAW mode and adjusted in LightRoom. :)

I know that for the last weekend I had set up a little challenge. The challenge was to take hazy photos using a sandwich back.  Well I never got around to doing so. On Friday morning I found a little Gem on Craigslist for an OK price and I had to get it. This little gem is the Canon PowerShot G10. The G10 is more than a Point and Hope camera. It’s a ‘semi’ professional point and shoot camera. It has the ability to control the aperture, shutter speed, ISO and exposure compensation, but wait there is more it can shoot raw. I know that there aren't many point and shoot cameras out there with this capability. The downside, kind of it does not shoot raw in AUTO mode, only in Program Mode which is not really a problem because I didn’t buy this camera to use it on AUTO mode. Even though this camera was released in 2008 it still has a better score than the Nikon J1 that was released 3 years later or the newer Nikon 1J3

 http://snapsort.com/compare/Canon_PowerShot_G10-vs-Nikon-J1

http://snapsort.com/compare/Canon_PowerShot_G10-vs-Nikon-1-J3

http://snapsort.com/compare/Canon_PowerShot_G10-vs-Nikon_Coolpix_P6000

 Now to the problem that I have…. I’m leaving for Vegas in 2 weeks. The problem is do I want to carry this little guy with me and take photos, or carry my Canon 60D with 4 lenses and 20lbs of accessories. … hmm tough decision.

Here is a sample shot with the G10 in a low 

light restaurant on AUTO mode. I say not bad.

Candid

Today as part of my morning routine i found an interesting blog on Light Stalking about candid photography. This is not easy to do. Mike offers some great insight on this subject. Candid is not 100% candid. He mentions the keyword "ACTING", however I don't think that the photos of a person "acting" candid and taking candid photos of people doing what they do portray the same feelings. Look at this example that i took a while back and compare it to the photos in his blog. Which one looks more natural?

Weekend Challenge.

This weekend it's one of my friend's birthday. And i would like to try this trick that i found on PetaPixel.
Shooting photos with a sandwich bag attached to your lens will create a hazy look and feel to the photo. I must try it out. Here is the instructions on how to do it.

shoot hazy and ethereal photos using a sandwich bag and colored markers

I Heart Faces & Talk Photography

Last week and this week, and i know it's early, i found 2 interesting Blogs/Sites that have lot's of helpful entries for all photographers from beginner to advanced.

The one entry i wanted to share in specific is 2 important questions to ask when editing photos. I think this article written by Brook Snow well written and very valuable for anyone to read.

Brook's 2 Editing questions are

1. Where am I supposed to look?
2.  What am I supposed to feel?

What do you ask yourself when you edit your photos?

Also i find myself reading a lot of the articles on photography talk. There are some that are quite funny like 41 reasons to date a photographer or 41 reasons not to date a photographer.

I have also discovered 2 books i need to get .

1. 500 Poses for Photographing Women
2. Posing Techniques for Photographing Model Portfolios 

Washington Arboretum

I didn't get around to post much this weekend but, as always i'm out there dragging that camera around.
This weekend i visited the Washington Park Arboretum and walked around for a bit. When i get there around 2 pm it was raining and i was ready to go home. I decided this is Washington and a little rain won't hurt and i should still go for my walk. The rain quit after 10 min and we had some beautiful weather and amazing sunset.

These were shot with my new lense 11-16mm Tamron DX that i picked up used on CL for $400 Not bad.

This was shot with a Canon 50mm 1.8 ||

If you are like me, a newbie without training for "punctum and studium" (Which there is a book that was recommended on called Camera Lucida: Reflections on Photography on) you are probably looking for subjects and ideas to photography to practice. Well i here are some ideas i got from multiple sources.

1. Bad habit
2. Shadows
3. Love
4. Happiness
5. Self Portrait - with or faceless
6. Door / Window
7. Sun Flare
8. Something from a high Angle or Low
9. Hand
10. Water
11. Something Broken 
12. Motion - (dance, cars, sports)
13. Freedom
14. Job
15. Food
16. Youth
17. Sight
18. Support
19. Cause
20. Shoes
21. Up Close
22. Alone
23. Lines
24. Pages
25. Slow

These are just some of the things i picked out to try for myself. But there are many more idea. Anything and everything can be on the list. I think that starting with a limited few will help better discipline and train the eye. So when i'm out there with my camera will try to keep these in mind.

The aperture of a camera was the most confusing for me. I think this chart explains it well. I wish i had this cheat sheet with me when i started. I think it's still useful today.
http://www.digitalcameraworld.com/2012/03/17/free-f-stop-chart-master-your-aperture/

Every now and then i got through my photos and delete what i think i would never use. in the past year i have gathered 16000+ photos  out of which maybe 500 are keepers. Anyway while I was doing that I found this photo i took at my photography class that i took at the UW.  I thought id share.

1/100 sec f4.5 ISO 400

24mm

I came home from work today and decided to take a walk in the park behind my house.
I managed to get one or two keepers.

1/10sec f11 ISO 100
28mm

I converted it to black and white then changed the background color. The image below was a previous shot.

Two other keepers from this set.

Browsing the web today looking for interesting photography blogs i found something really cool. Actually a couple of things. One is called "Time is a Dimension" and one is Steel Wool Photography.

Time is a Dimension is a "Multi Photo" collage,  I really wouldn't call it a collage but more of a photomerge if you will. From looking at the pictures it looks like this is a really time consuming process, but the images can be really amazing. It seems it would take a whole day to capture this. It's a timelapse merge in one photo.
If i ever have extra time to kill i would certainly consider doing this.

Steel Wool photography seems super cool. I'm considering doing this here soon. I need to get some motivation and get out there and get the tools and do it. SOON.

Today i discovered my new addiction http://1x.com/photos. There are some amazing artist out there. Seeing their work it completely changes the way i look at my photos. If you guys didn't know about this website go ahead take a look and be amazed.  It's like http://500px.com/ only on steroids. :) Happy viewing !

Blurry Awesomeness

I was going through some of my photos that i took few weeks ago and i didn't get a chance to look at.
This one particular one was taken in Seattle from Dr Jose Rizal bridge. I was in a rush going home and trying to catch the sunset. Problem was i had a $39.99 tripod that was feeling every breeze. On top of that the traffic on the bridge was causing it to shake.   So here is a blurry photo i wish i could go back to retake but who knows when a sunset like that will come again.. Maybe next year.

Since then i upgraded my tripod to Manfrotto Mk294. A very nice tripod. I can't wait to test it out.

6.0 sec at f/22 ISO 100

18mm 

One other thing i learned recently is that, if you are using a tripod, it's good to turn off the IS if your lens has this feature. It could also be one of the cause of blurriness.

Sunset 10/22/13

Even though I said i would start on 50mm journey today I decided to stop by and get a picture of the sunset on the way home from work. This is the outcome.

1/160 sec at f/ 5.0 ISO 100 @ 18mm

Challenge #1

The sun and Seattle have said their goodbyes, which leaves me with a whole lot of time to kill. Having started to get more involved in this photography hobby, I decided to look myself up some challenges to improve my skill. I think i found just the right thing. The article "How to Challenge Yourself To Be A Better Photographer" if found on +Light Stalking , has provided the perfect challenge for me. 11 months ago I bought a Canon 50mm 1.8 II lens for $80 on Craigslist and i think it would be prefect for the challenge. I'll post here the results.


Click Here: How to Challenge Yourself To Be A Better Photographer