Thistle evolution w/ little worm

[Steve Boykin]

X Pro + 60mm lens.

 

[Pete Askew]

Very delicately done Steve. What PP did you apply?

 

[Steve Boykin]

That is just out of the camera using the Provia setting + VSCO Film Fuji 160- setting + a slight reduction in the Highlight slider to -35 (the preset is -25). I really like those VSCO simulations or add ons or presets or whatever you call them. I'm not very computer savvy so it helps to have them as plug in for Lightroom. I suppose they are a bit expensive but I would have never figured out how to do that myself even if given a month of Sundays.

 

[Pete Askew]

Thanks Steve. So, are you shooting just JPEG on the camera? You would probably get more flexibility if you shot raw and then used VSCO.

 

[Steve Boykin]

Thanks Steve. So, are you shooting just JPEG on the camera? You would probably get more flexibility if you shot raw and then used VSCO.

It is RAW. I didn't/don't know if those film simulations are applied to the RAW file. I guess I've never really noticed.

I'm from Texas Pete, we aren't very bright.

The VSCO has presets for Canon, Nikon, and Fuji.

I do know a lot of people just say shoot Jpegs with the Fuji cameras but I guess I just go used to shooting RAW. I don't really like to go into the menus. I think that's what I like about the cameras. The controls I sort of understand are on dials. I wish I was kidding. And I still say someone could make a fortune with a digital K1000.

 

[Pete Askew]

I see, the simulations apply to the JPEG files so you are feeding straight raw files to Lightroom. Perfect.

Actually, I am with you with the various menus on cameras. There are just too many obscure options I think. The M9 is pretty minimalist as are PhaseOne backs. My Nikons have (like Canon etc) tons of options but most are irrelevant to the work I do with them so I don't bother to memorise them.

 

[Steve Boykin]

I see, the simulations apply to the JPEG files so you are feeding straight raw files to Lightroom. Perfect.

Actually, I am with you with the various menus on cameras. There are just too many obscure options I think. The M9 is pretty minimalist as are PhaseOne backs. My Nikons have (like Canon etc) tons of options but most are irrelevant to the work I do with them so I don't bother to memorise them.

Yes, I just upload the RAW file, choose from the simulations. I like the Fuji 160's for natural stuff and the Fuji 800 or 1600 Superia's for the rest. I am doing some portraits of my niece next weekend so I'll probably try out the Kodak Porta ones for that. I got roped into it by my parents and my sister. I'm not good with people so........

On the camera thing, I read this article recently (and I try and avoid the online gear wanking) where this guy wrote something to the effect of:

"If you spend more time looking at your camera than through it you probably need another camera."

It's here: Ideas & Images | Lingerie + Art + Commercial

Some nice photos of very attractive women.... I'm kind of ambivalent about fashion photography but I do recognize how hard it is to do it correctly. I just would probably prefer Diane Arbus or Weegee over Richard Avedon.

I think people get a little too caught up in the gear part of it (and it is important) without thinking about the actual art part of it. That's just my two cents. I'm not saying they are mutually exclusive but I don't think the gear should be driving the creative part. It should be the other way around.

I really want to own a Leica one day. I only need two lenses 50mm and 35mm. That's probably a few years off. I think I am going to like this black and white photography class I'm taking this fall. I got a Nikon FM2 really cheap. I shot one roll through it. LOVE IT- two controls- PERFECT. Walgreen's processing, not so much.

 

[Pete Askew]

Nice link Steve, thanks.

I'm pretty eclectic in my tastes regards photography (in most things actually). I too like Weegee and Arbus but I also like Avedon (or some of his work anyway). I have recently received the retrospective of Joel Meyerowitz (Taking My Time from Phaidon) which has an amazing variety of work in.

I'm sure you will like the B&W course especially if you get to spend some time printing. I find that the concentration (and constraints) that this requires helps in the image pre-visualisation process.

 

[Julian de'Courcy]

Good pic Steve. good link and thanks, a nice read with something sensible to say.

 

[Nihat Iyriboz]

I think the 2 blurry ones and their posture add much to the composition, Steve.