Ricoh GR Digital IV released

The Ricoh GR Digital IV, also available in white.

Looks like the rumors were right on, Ricoh announced the GRD4 today, September 15th. Much like the last even-numbered iteration, the GRD2, this seems to be an evolutionary step, rather than revolutionary. It already appears to be taking a bit of a beating on the forums.

So let's look back at my GRD4 wish list from March and see how I did. Not too well I'm afraid.

• 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.

Hmmm. 12 megapixels at 3:2? Looks like we're still stuck at 9 since it's the same sensor. Faster AF? Should be, with the added hybrid AF. That's one of the headline features. Usable ISO to 3200? We'll see. Two distinct models - 28mm f/1.7 and 40mm f/1.7, black and white sensor, a hot shoe mounted hybrid OVF? I was dreaming on these. Ability to use the GXR EVF? I really thought they'd add this. And maybe image stabilization? Well there you go, 2 out of 8. Maybe 3 depending on how the high ISO looks when it actually starts shipping. I'm a better dreamer than futurist.

Ricoh has all the specs on their site. They've also issued a press release.

As for me, if Ricoh had included at least one of my dream features, like the black and white sensor or 40mm lens, I would be very tempted. As it is, I'll probably keep shooting with my GRD2 until it quits and then upgrade to a used GRD3. Unless a really good deal falls in my lap.

How To Ruin A Monopod

MGCCC QB Raymond Cotton (7) stiff arms an East Miss. defender Sept. 1.

I've done a lot of different photo work over the years, but this was my first time ever shooting football from the sidelines. I've gotta say, it was way more fun than I would have imagined, and I hope I get the opportunity to shoot more.

This was opening night of the 2011 MACJC season. Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College vs East Mississippi Community College at Scooba, MS. It was also the first game played at EMCC's new Sullivan-Windham Field, and it's a great facility. There was also a documentary about juco football being filmed at the game.

In the second quarter, I got trampled by our new QB, Ray Cotton. I thought he was trying to cut up the field, but he got pushed out of bounds by a defender. I managed to stay on my feet, but I've got cleat marks going up my left leg. My borrowed monopod wasn't so lucky - it didn't survive. The D700 and 70-200mm lens were both fine. And one of the photos from this sequence ended up being used as the lead photo for the story on the front page of mgcccbulldogs.com.

It was great working with the D700 again. It's just a pleasure to shoot with. All these shots were at 1000 ISO.

Photography Book Now

Screenshot of blurb.com

Voting is open now for the People's Choice award in Blurb's annual Photography Book Now competition. From their website.

PBN is an international juried competition celebrating the most creative, most innovative, and finest self-published photography books – and the people behind them.

Lots of good stuff to look at. Here are just a few that caught my eye.

• In The Navel Of The Moon By Tom Feher
• Mute By Martin Usborne
• Victims and Avengers By Chris Anthhony
• BALI By Peter Steinhauer
• Likeness By Jody Ake

Martin Usborne's book has gotten some press recently. And that Jody Ake book is really something. Wet Collodion is a process I really want to try someday.

New Biloxi Civic Center & Library

civic_center_ribbon_cutting, originally uploaded by infrar3d.

I made it to the ribbon cutting for the new Biloxi Civic Center and Library last night. The Civic Center is a beautiful, first-class facility, but I'm personally more excited about the Library.

It's been six long years since we had a real library in East Biloxi (I guess I'm not counting the temporary trailer), and although I really liked the old library, which also housed the George Ohr museum, I have to admit that the new library is nicer. It doesn't hurt that it's also closer, a short seven block walk from my house. Now if I can only find my library card.

Use Film

004_R1173827, originally uploaded by infrar3d.

Probably any of these old film cameras can be had for under $25.00. Try to shoot some film this week. Personally, I'm carrying my Ricoh FF-3AF in my bag this week. Loaded with bulk, expired T-Max 400.

Terry Richardson's Cameras

Photo: Terry Richardson

I like following Terry Richardson's Tumblr - lots of great photos, updated constantly. Sometimes a little behind-the-scenes stuff too. And he always leaves his EXIF data.

Terry is probably almost single-handedly responsible for me not being able to afford a Yashica T4 on ebay, but I think he actually traded those in quite a while back for a Nikon D3x with a Custom Brackets CB Mini-RC. He still uses point and shoots for a lot of his personal stuff though. Mostly a Ricoh GR Digital III and a Panasonic GF1.

While looking at one of his posts today about a new Katie Perry shoot he did for the current issue of Rolling Stone, I noticed that one of the published shots is actually from the GF1, not the Nikon. It's always cool to see point and shoots get published.

Eudora Welty Exhibition

004_R1173983, originally uploaded by infrar3d.

I made it to the Eudora Welty exhibition at the Pass Christian Historical Society this weekend. It was my first time there and it's a really nice facility, although a bit small for the exhibit. The staff were extremely friendly and helpful. The prints are great, and some the photographs themselves are truly good, although I've never thought of Eudora Welty as being in quite the same league as some of the very best WPA photographers like Dorothea Lange or Walker Evans. Of course neither Lange nor Evans won a Pulitzer Prize. Besides, who am I to argue with John Szarkowski, often quoted as saying that Eudora Welty's photographs "show us only the rarest and most evanescent truths."

It's a free show that runs till the end of July, and I highly recommend it.

It's actually three exhibits combined into one show. I didn't realize until I was there, but the photography exhibit is a show that was put together in 1995 by the Mississippi Department of Archives & History entitled Eudora Welty: Other Places. When I saw the catalog, I realized I had a personal connection to the show; a good friend of mine worked in the darkroom when the new prints were made for this show in 1995, and when they were done he made a couple of prints of one of my negatives with some of the left over materials. It was a portrait originally commissioned by Coast Magazine, and I still have a framed copy at home.