As photographers it can be instructive to go back through some old files and attempt some do overs in post processing. A lot has changed over the past number of years with more software programs using AI (artificial intelligence) technologies. Sometimes these advancements in software can make a significant difference, especially with images captured with small sensor cameras. Do overs can be very beneficial.
Pairs in Flight
While going through some older, unprocessed files yesterday, I came across some images of swallow pairs in flight. Since swallow season ended some time ago, I thought it may be fun to share these images with readers… and contemplate the arrival of these little pocket rockets next spring!
Enough
The concept of enough tends to be undervalued in an era rife with consumerism, and deficit advertising that tells us that we are somehow lacking as human beings. Buying something more is promoted as the solution for our feelings of inadequacy.
Anticipating Behaviour
Anticipating behaviour (an important component of knowing our photographic subjects) is one of the three most important factors that contributes to us being successful bird and nature photographers. In my view, it is the most important factor.
Personal ISO Limit
Setting a personal ISO limit for our bird-in-flight photography takes some experimentation in the field and in post processing. I’ve found that my personal ISO limit can shift over time as I get more accustomed with my camera gear and how to work with my files in post. This article shares twelve new images from some additional high ISO testing I did this weekend. It also discusses where I’ve currently set my personal ISO limit for my OM-D E-M1X when photographing birds-in-flight.
Compatibility and Differentiation
It is interesting to consider camera product compatibility and differentiation, as sometimes these factors can work at cross purposes. There are photographers who feel that OMDS should make its proprietary computational photography technologies compatible with lenses from other manufacturers. And, that OMDS should expand the compatibility of these technologies further down its own product line to include less expensive lenses.
Some other photographers are upset that Canon appears to be ready to bar third party lens manufacturers from using its new camera mount and suing them if they attempt to reverse engineer the design. Some folks wonder if this could eventually lead to third party lens manufacturers disappearing down the road.
Joy of Creating
The joy of creating is resident inside each of us to some extent, and manifests itself in a variety of different ways. Some of us express ourselves through designing and building physical structures. Inventing recipes and cooking. Painting. Sculpting. Storytelling. Writing. Composing photographs… and a host of other pursuits.
Gear Purchase Decisions
Gear purchase decisions can be complex, and can have significant financial impacts if we don’t take the time to think things through. Taking a longer term view, like 10 year purchase decisions, are actions that we seldom do as photographers. Like many folks I typically had a 3-5 year perspective when buying camera gear. I had fallen into the ‘incrementalism’ trap by thinking that if a sufficient number of incremental improvements in specifications occurred it would make upgrading equipment every 3 to 5 years logical and worthwhile.
Conjoint Analysis
This article discusses conjoint analysis and how this research technique may have been used by OMDS to determine the features in the new OM-5 camera. Some folks are up in arms about certain attributes of the OM-5. Like using the same sensor as in the E-M1 Mark III, maintaining the older menu, and using an older USB Micro connector. As is often the case, the wish list that consumers may have for a new product can be totally unrealistic given business realities. It is prudent to remember that no camera is perfect, and that all things photographic come with some kind of trade-off.
Emerging From Darkness
It can be an enjoyable creative experiment to produce a series of images in keeping with a theme like Emerging From Darkness. Using a mirrorless camera system for this type of creative execution is ideal since we can see how our images will look in real time without any guesswork. Obviously this is important when purposely underexposing images.