Just wanna have fun…

FIRST the camera, the window into the soul. Casio once again gives us a chance to capture the true moments we see in everyday life. Is the quality of this capture true fully the most important feeling that we need to get? Isn't the essence of the moment the true goal? One day cameras will capture "mood" and "feeling" as well as just an image. Lets not look down upon this capture device because of 10.1 megapixels, but look at the price and see that many will be able to share there moments with loved ones and youtube (the void of strange men) I ask again friends, let us embrace technology and enjoy our time in the 21st century. we can belong to love and peace, and now capture it for future generations.

:) Read.

Afghanistan => Incredible + moving photography

The Boston Globe’s Big Picture blog puts up incredible photography relevant to what’s going on in the world now.

They just put up two photo-series current Afghanistan and days of the the Allied soldiers there.

In Afghanistan, Part One

In Afghanistan, Part Two

These are powerful photos. Makes the whole thing seem human.

Must you be taking that picture?

Look at how almost everybody in the audience is busy filming or taking pictures.

The most famous legend-of-a-man in the world is in the same room, right in-front of them and they’re not present - completely off somewhere else busy operating some finicky gadget so that they can have some crappy amateur footage to upload to Facebook or show their friends.

They should be present, listening, reveling in the moment, absorbing every glorious detail. Instead they ruin the experience by trying to be the photographer when in most cases they’d be mediocre at best.If you really want photos to take home, assign a friend or two to take all the photos and be done with it.

This happens everywhere else too. How many times have you seen someone out on a vacation they’re never really having because they’re busy “capturing the moments?”

If new dads spent less time behind the camera and more time being a dad, they’d have more precious moments and experiences instead of empty photos of times gone by.

Most pro photographers takes hundreds of shots when out shooting something professionally, and they still often can’t find pictures that satisfy themselves or their bosses. It takes a lot of effort and time and skill and luck to get what you really want. Odds are you aren’t going to be that lucky most of the time.

Instead of spending the whole time looking at reality through an LCD screen, remember that 4 or 5 well-timed shots should be enough. You don’t always need to upload that clip onto YouTube. It’s okay if you miss some shots. You can’t have everything.

So spend less time behind the camera, and more time enjoying the moment.

Or do you still not see it?

This why I still suck at photography

Nearly a complete decent panorama, ruined because a big chunk of the background is missing.

I didn’t have enough experience to see this coming and not enough practice to know what to do in this situation.

Sure I should be able to patch it up somewhat in Photoshop, but it’ll still be very noticeable to the experienced eyes, and still very flawed.

Today I'm just an aspiring hack

Someday I'll be making pictures like these. Until that day, I'm all but failures.

Ryan Brenizer talks about this, and this is expected and normal.

It's a shame - that until that day comes, I'll only produce shoddy crap out of all the wonderful subjects I come across. Doesn't do them an ounce of justice.

BREAKING: The New Nikon-Canon DE-1

BREAKING: The New Nikon-Canon DE-1

NEW F2-iEOS mount - 18 MP - ISO 25600 - 1080p 60fps

Nikon and Canon team up for a joint effort to make the next-generation of cameras that could eventually replace Digital SLRs.

Unlike a Digital SLR, an Electronic Viewfinder Interchangeable Lens Camera has no Mirror/Prism box. Instead there is a high-quality electronic viewfinder in these compact and significantly smaller cameras. The technology works almost the same way live-view works on some of the newer DSLRs.

The most impressive feat of the new DE-1 is its new F2-iEOS mount. This is a wholly new mount, based on Canon's current EOS mount. This new mount allows the use of both Canon's and Nikon's wide array of lenses.

The mount itself modifies and repositions itself slightly so that Nikon's legendary F-mount lenses can be effectively used.

Full auto focus works for both systems, and infinity focus is possible with all lenses.  Additionally, both companies announced a new line-up of high-quality pancake lenses to compliment the new camera system.

The innovation doesn't stop there. The 18 MP APS-C CMOS sensor inside the DE-1 is same basic sensor used in Nikon's flagship D3X, with added resolution to make up for the crop factor. The sensor goes up to ISO 25600 in normal shooting, opening a never before possible area of low-light photography. Sensitivity can be bumped up to ISO 51200 in a special mode.

The camera houses not one but two image and video processors. Nikon's EXPEED II and Canon's new Digic 6 processors are both used for an unparalleled image quality and responsiveness. Both sensors share the load to make the camera shoot 8 FPS while maintaining live-view.

The camera can shoot 1080p video at 60fps.

Photographers and enthusiasts can now buy and use practically any lens they want. The companies are hoping this would boost lens sales of the two companies in "today's tough and slow market."

The camera is slated to sell in late '09. Further details and price will be announced before the camera starts to sell.

The DE-1 has been developed in close collaboration of both companies. The new Nikon sensor, for example, is fabricated on Canon's assembly lines.

It's an impressive but tough achievement, and in light today's slow economic times, it's an effort well made!

It should be noted that almost any lenses for 35mm SLR cameras can be adapted to be used on the new DE-1. The press release however urged the photo enthusiasts to not do such a thing and stick to the offerings by the two companies.

This effectively ends "the long and pointless" Nikon Vs Canon debate, according to Internet blogger and annoying know-it-all Ken Rockwell. "We all made huge mistakes in the past going digital," he said. "Film is for all photographers who cares even the least bit about the quality of their work."

A senior Canon spokesperson acknowledged that it was Rockwell's recent movement against digital photography solutions that scared the two companies into joining together to work on this project. “Desperate times call for desperate measures. We believe a collaboration like this will truly benefit our customers.”

The powerful impact of Cropping

If you instantly understand how after just a simple cropping, these become two completely different images, you, my friend, understand cropping.

You are good. A star for you!

Burned

Compare this with this one I took on 2005.

The joy of Digital Photography

 

This NEVER happens with film.

Money money money

Wonder how much a new lens would cost. As Nikon just started shipping the new 35mm AFS, I’m starting to think what an autofocusing f1.8 would be like.

This is Bangladeshi Money. 27000 Taka. Just a tad short of $400.

P.S. This is more of a test post, just installed Windows Live Writer again. Like it already!

Give them a print!

If you take a nice photo of someone, if you can, give them a print.

Makes them happy.

First shots from flickr: Nikkor 35mm f/1.8G AF-S

The 35mm is being shipped out now. The first shots by the early adopters are popping up all over flickr.

Nikon D40 + Nikkor 35mm f/1.8G AF-S DX, originally uploaded by Lukas Hron.

The D40 looks so tiny and cute with this on! I love it!

http://www.flickr.com/groups/nikon35/pool/

http://www.flickr.com/groups/afsnikkor35mm18/pool/

I've found these two little groups where the new shots are being submitted to. There's a discussion going on at the Nikon D40/x/60 group.

And I also really like this set. Also by Lukas Hron.

, originally uploaded by -12°C.

First shots show: this lens can bring out incredible depth-of-field. Excellent potential bokeh. All the reviews praise the contrast it produces considering it's a 1.8 lens. Everyone but me seems to love it 'cuz its got 50mm equivalent field-of-view on DX.

But here's the problem. I don't see myself being excited by the 35mm on DX.

Opel Speedster, originally uploaded by Lukas Hron.

The focal length just isn't exciting to me. When I see the photos, I feel: "OK, now where's the rest of the picture?" (No offense Lukas, thanks for letting me use the pics for this post.)

I'm used to using the 18mm end of my kit lens, and zooming out near to the max of my 55-200mm. I like the extreme ends of my lenses, for the dramatic effect it adds to the pictures.

Plus, I checked out the 35mm focal length on my 18-55mm VR. It's very unflattering, and is maxed out at f5.3 already. So far, I don't enjoy it.

This lens is my only option at $200 for a 1.8 that autofocuses. I would like a 50mm 1.4, but that's almost $600 now. What I'd like even more is the 85mm. But that's $400, and won't autofocus on my D40x either. 

Both of my current lenses cost about $200. Maybe it's time to add another. 

I DO often push to ISO 3200, 'cuz I need it quite often. Maybe this'll really help. It DOES have such nice bokeh!

PMA Check: The awesome SONY HX1

PMA Check: The awesome SONY HX1

I wonder why from all the cameras I've seen so far in this PMA, this Sony impresses me the most.

Probably because it's evolution at it's best. There's not much revolutionary new ideas here. But every little thing has been improved at the best possible spec.

"Only" 9 megapixels. BUT it's some sort of new crazy sensor that can shoot CONTINUOUSLY.

It'll continuously take multiple photos of the same subject, carefully add them up to give you otherwise physically impossible results. This is called Superimposing.

Immense effort put in to eliminate all blurring in photos.

Built in panorama stitching, up to 224-degree horizontals, with a maximum resolution of 7152 x 1080.

FULL HD movie recording. In 1440x1080 AVC/H.264 no less! You'd be surprised how many cameras skip this.

Plus, an insane 28-560mm lens; all of it available during video shooting as well! Starts at f2.8.

A tad expensive at around $500. But this is a great camera! I can't find any compromises made!

Seen @ DPreview

What they used for Obama's official portrait.

This here is Obama's official presidential portrait, taken with a 5D Mk II. If you zoom up close, you'll notice you can see so much detail! Especially on his face.

Well, they used a macro on him. 105mm Canon. Just goes on to show how powerful a macro lens can be when used as a portrait lens.

[Word of advice: DON'T use a macro lens for a portrait of anyone even remotely self-conscious.]

The photo is also brilliant lit. That's not the work of the 5D Mk II, though. If you zoom in on the eye and enlarge it, you can see what really were used to make the pic so brilliantly effective.

There's a umbrella on the left. With a strobe attached to it, definitely. That gives the main source of the light. And on the right a large reflector's been used. This adds some nice light on the other side of the face, so that there are no harsh shadows present.

There. Simple and efficient! And you've got yourself a great portrait, something that could even be used by the President of the United States!

It's the photographer that really matters...

Little photography insight on Chrono Trigger for the DS.

"It's how you use the sword that's important, not just that you have the strongest one!"

The iPhone ought to have a really crappy camera, right? Check out what these guys did with them!
http://photocritic.org/amazing-iphone-photos/

Chobi Mela Ends

Chobi Mela Ends, originally uploaded by -Niloy-.

What a show!

It really saddens me to see this end. But it has grown rapidly through the years. It brings together such incredible people with such powerful and haunting stories to tell... it becomes the celebration of photography itself.

Don't you let yourself ever think that here, in this world of 285 billions of photos every year, the power of photography has ever faded. If you came here, you'd know.

"... and the whole world fits neatly into an FX.."

I misread that.

Ken Rockwell was talking about the old Nikon 8mm f/2.8. And he said "whole circle," instead of the whole world. But this here goes one to prove that he can take beautiful pictures!

Btw, I love this lens already! This on a D3X!! Instant WOW!

I can has 10-18mm plz?

Rumor: Images for what should be a Nikkor 10-18mm surfaces.

Nikon always has been beat fairly and squarely by Sigma's offers: the unique 30mm f1.4 and the 10-20mm ultra-wide. Sure they were DX only, but they were so EXCITING! Nobody else had anything remotely close!

Nearly every awesome photographer [slight exaggeration] I've came to know had either the 30mm f1.4 or the 10-20mm by Sigma. Sometimes both. There just weren't anything like that by anyone else!

Of course, Nikon can't let things stay that way, can they?

So here comes the 10-18mm. Ready to take the popular and awesome Sigma lenses off their respective pedestals.

Nikon already just released its own Sigma-30mm-killer. Now this!

Sure this isn't official yet, and somebody just dug this up from the depths of QQ, an MSN equivalent from China. But if this is just photoshop, WOW, that's one hell of a job!

Found at NikonRumors

The NEXT cameras

Hover-mode, so that you don't need tripods.

Thought-sensors, so that it picks up what you want from the photo before you realise it yourself.

Super flash, that adds to and intensifies every photon present in the scene.

Just a few thoughts.

What do YOU think we're gonna have in the next cameras?

How come the N55 film camera look so much like the D40?

Coincidence?

Or is it just becauase they're both the cheapest models?


The N55 on Ken Rockwell's site.

NEW Lens - Nikon AFS 35mm f1.8 DX $200

Nikon just went official on it's new lens. It's specially made for us folks with the D40/x/60. Only a DX format lens, but it's mighty cool at only $200.

Finally we guys with a D40/x get a proper prime that autofocuses.

More info at:

Official Nikon USA site

Brochure as a PDF

One unimpressive sample image.

Nikon Rumors official on the new lens.

Posted it in a flickr group.

Don't be one of us

Every press photographer I talked with warned me not to be like them. Everyone.

Notes from Chobi Mela V

I've been taking notes of the interesting stuff said by the people coming to Chobi Mela V. These are bits from speakers and presenters of the evening sessions.

View full.

Chobi Mela V - Inauguration

Chobi Mela V - Inauguration, originally uploaded by -Niloy-.

[Photo: The young Lebanese photographer looks through the official Chobi Mela V book.]

Went to the inauguration event of Chobi Mela V. [Jan 30, 09, at the National Museum in Dhaka. They have a brilliant little auditorium there.]

Unfortunately with only a slow f5.6 lens. Not nearly enough light. This is the best I could do at ISO 3200 with a D40x.

More details at this flickr group

Chobi Mela V - inauguration

This depresses me

A photographer is never really DOING anything. Just celebrating what everyone else is up to.

Want something?

Want something?, originally uploaded by -Niloy-.

Just a little street observation.

Read the notes in flickr.

What an HONOR: Photographer unknowingly made an historic icon

 

Shepard Fairey’s posters of Barack Obama became the iconic image of a historic campaign. After a bit of digging by a photographer and a blogger, it turns out that Fairey’s source material was a photo by Reuters’ veteran photographer Jim Young.

“I saw that poster all over the place, all year. For a lot of people it symbolized the campaign. It meant so much to so many people,” Young told Philadelphia Inquirer photographer and blogger Tom Gralish, who has led the search for the photo.

“I’m honored, but I’m glad it didn’t come out until after the campaign,” Jim added. “I think even if I had known it was mine, I would have kept quiet. It would be just my little secret.”

Shepard Fairey, an artist who first came to fame for an altered picture of wrestler Andre the Giant, has said in interviews that he found the Obama source photo using Google Image Search and then “did his thing to it.” His “Hope” poster is now in the permanent collection of the National Portrait Gallery.

Iconic Obama poster based on Reuters photo

Shepard Fairey

How to use BIG ASS lenses

"The challenge is to bag a clean, tight frame of Frances president Sarkozy surrounded by the mounted Republican guard as he waves from a command car..."

Read how guys from Reuters used a RARE 1200-1700mm f5.6 IF-ED Nikon on a crazy assignment.


Unleashing “The Beast”
Posted by: Mal Langdson

Just Fourteen.

Half Faced Alex, originally uploaded by David Chu Photography.

50mm f/1.8 Series E
On the bus, going home.

C. Strife says:

how old are you?

David Chu Photography says:

Fourteen.

C. Strife says:

wow.... : ( and already on primes!

good start.

Expressive Photojournalism

You can say so much using effective photojournalism!

The tiny text reads:

May 2, 2008: An Iraqi boy looks skeptically as he is dwarfed by a US soldier in Baghdad.