“The Best Camera…….. Is The One You Have With You”

August 25, 2011 by Nigel | 3 Comments

As the title to the post states the best camera is the one you have with you and since the X100 arrived on my door step that has been my camera of choice whilst I have been out and about doing my everyday things…..

I have found that I have been slipping the camera into my work bag when I head off to London, and a weekends it is easier to just pop the quick strap on the camera and sling it across my body and head out. Now don’t get me wrong, this is not a camera to solve all you problems and replace your DSLR, however for the times when you want to travel light ensuring that you do not venture out camera-less, the X100 is the idea solution.

Depending on your shooting needs I am sure there are better compact’s out there, say for instance you would find the 35mm focal length to restrictive, then the X100 would not be for you.

I must say I love the focal length and challenges that it throws down when you are out and about in london or walking along the coast. I find it makes me look for images just that little bit harder.

I have been shooting with X100 for nearly a month now and I have been coming to grips with it’s eccentricities, learning how to overcome the shortcomings of the camera, which has been fun and not that limiting.

One thing that I have been doing more of is using the X100 in tandem with the Ipad, all of my images that I have been processing and post from the X100 have been worked up in the Ipad using a combination of PS Express and Snapseed. I have found that these two app for the Ipad take care of 80% of my processing needs, and since I am now only shooting in JPG processing on the Ipad is a breeze.

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As you can see I have been having a blast with black and white processing of late, but that is not to say I do not like the colour images produced by the X100, they are mighty fine too.

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The minor issues that the X100 has, for me are forgotten about as soon as you start shooting with this Fun Retro Design, quality compact. I am blown away by the usability of the camera and the quality of the images that the camera produces but the one this I love above all else is the silent operation of the camera, which leaves people pondering if you have taken a picture of them long after you are past them and off down the street.

I will sooner or later put together a full review of the camera detailing it’s little tick’s and quirk’s, however I am sure that all the reviews that our out there on the internet which have been produced by far more illustrious individuals than myself would sum this camera up far better than I could do it justice.

Posted in Black & White, Coastal, Day out, Landscape, London, People, Street, X100 Tagged , , , , , , |

Wapping Wander.

August 2, 2011 by Nigel | 2 Comments

Todays lunch hour was taken up with a wander in the sunshine round the back streets of Wapping.

Armed with the X100 looking for anything that would spark my interest. Now I have started a little project which will come to light at a later date which is based along the lines of street photography in a very broad manner.

However for todays images I have been playing with HDR to see how I make out with some new software….. previously I have tried to stay clear of HDR software and have normally achieved the look I am after with contrast masking, but I am trying to keep all my editing of the X100 files out of Photoshop and anything I do to the images is from within Aperture and any available plugins.

Now this may limit what I can do to the RAW files in the long run, however it will be sticking with my original idea of keeping it quick and simple with the new camera. I am hoping that as I get used to the X100, and get to learn all its ways I will be able to shoot JPG’s all the time but for now I am shooting both as it is enables me to rescue any images that I do not get correct in camera.

Anyway back to the images for today, and as mentioned HDR has been employed here.

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I must say if anyone is teetering on brink regarding purchasing the X100, Just hold your nose and jump in you will not regret the purchase it is a cracking camera that really performs well. It has a few issues but nothing that can not be overcome or worked round.

For me it has re-ignited my passion for wandering the streets camera in-hand, with the DSLR this was always a pain as you alway felt the need to bring addition lenses along just in case a scene presented itself that need a different lens.

Some people might find the fixed focal length a limitation, I find it more of a challenge that makes me find the images even if does mean being that little bit closer to the subject. One thing this camera does…. is make you less threatening to the subject, most of the time people area not even aware of the fact that an image has been made, with the cameras volumes settings all set to zero not even the shutter can be heard.

The only thing that is a give away that the camera is doing something is the light on the rear of the camera, and a square of insulation tape takes care of that little giveaway.

 

Posted in Candids, HDR, London, Manipulated, X100 Tagged , , , , , , |