2011-03-28

Polaroid Collection Saved


004_1172591, originally uploaded by infrar3d.

The British Journal of Photography is reporting that Vienna's Westlicht Museum of Photography, along with the Impossible Project, was able to acquire the Polaroid Collection from liquidators, saving it from auction. The BJP says "A selection of the 4400 images contained in the International Polaroid Collection will go on show from 17 June."

2011-03-23

Ricoh GR Digital IV coming soon?


004_1172705, originally uploaded by infrar3d.

I recently read over at the Ricoh GR-Diary that the GRD4 is coming the second half of this year. I later found out there was a long discussion about it over at DPReview. Everyone is listing what they'd like to see in the GRD4, so here's my wish list.

  • 12 megapixels at 3:2
  • faster AF
  • usable ISO to 3200
  • two distinct models - 28mm f/1.7 and 40mm f/1.7
  • black and white sensor
  • ability to use the GXR EVF, or even better...
  • a hot shoe mounted hybrid OVF

Mostly wishful thinking, but I bet we'll get the EVF and maybe image stabilization.

2011-03-19

Thom Hogan reviews the Ricoh GXR


Photo: Ricoh

Well known mostly-Nikon reviewer Thom Hogan has reviewed the Ricoh GXR, along with the P10 module, both the 28mm and 50mm macro A12 modules, and the VF-2 Electronic Viewfinder. I won't spoil it, but he says he's come to prefer the GXR to his Nikon D3100 for times that call for a lightweight kit.

I enjoy Thom's reviews, probably because his ideas about the ways cameras should work mostly line up with my own.

In the early days of digital photography, many people bemoaned the fact that you had to buy a new body to get a new sensor, Ricoh has solved that problem with the GXR. Although a lot of the complaints I've seen in various forums seem to see the this as a limiting factor. I don't. I see the body-sensor interface as the heart of the GXR system.

Already Ricoh is working on an APS-C M-mount module, and I can imagine other possibilities. How about a full-frame M-mount module? Or an APS-C Sony Nex module? And I'm sure we'll see other bodies for the GXR system eventually as well. Perhaps an improved version of the current body, hopefully with the hot shoe centered over the lens this time. Another idea is a body with a built-in EVF and swivel LCD, something like the Panasonic GH2. Or perhaps a body with a built-in OVF or Hybrid viewfinder similar to the Fuji X100? So, you could have your X100 style body for photowalks and traveling, your GH2 style body for more considered studio work or perhaps for video, an M module, a Nex module and a couple of native Ricoh lens modules. That sounds pretty good to me.

My recent purchase of a GRD2 has made a believer out of me about the Ricoh way, and I'm definitely keeping an eye on the GXR system.

2011-03-17

Should I Post This Image?


Chelsea Fuss over at Frolic! wrote a post a few weeks ago about crediting photos in blog posts. And now there's fun flow chart to illustrate the point.

This is a topic that deserves more discussion. It's something I've thought about a lot myself, and I suspect there's a lot of wrong-headed ideas out there. There was also a post about this subject recently at Fashion Copious, which is a blog I enjoy, but I'm not sure I agree with the sentiment in that particular post. I'd love to hear someone like Kirk Tuck or Rob Haggart from A Photo Editor, or maybe even Mike Johnston, chime in on this subject. I bet they have a different take on things.

Seen at Austin Kleon.

2011-03-02

Polaroid 600 Black & White


me_dirtbag, originally uploaded by infrar3d.

I drew my Flickr icon with a mouse, in Microsoft Paint, from this Polaroid. Was this my best hair day ever?

Here's the MS Paint image. Not bad for a crappy ball mouse, although the chin got away from me a little bit.

Polaroid 600 Black & White was a great film that wasn't around very long. It was 640 ISO, but I ran it through my SX-70 Sonar since I never had an SLR 680 or 690. SX-70 cameras were made for Time-Zero film which was ISO 150. You could put a neutral density filter over the light meter on the camera, but I usually just cranked the lighten/darken knob all the way over to "darken," which resulted in this blown-out look that I like.

I really should order some Impossible Project PX film now that I've found my old SX-70 Sonar again.

2011-03-01

Jeff Bridges' True Grit Book


Photo: Jeff Bridges

Jeff Bridges' behind-the-scenes photos from True Grit have been making the rounds on the internet. Photography is one of The Dudes many hobbies, and according to his website he's been making these behind-the-scenes books since Starman. He also published a book of photography a few years ago, Pictures, the sales of which benefit the Motion Picture and Television Fund.

Every time I look at these pictures I get the itch to buy a Widelux, or a Noblex, or maybe even an Xpan.

Seen at Austin Kleon.