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Standards – a quick rant

When it comes to standards and companies not following them, I could have a good old rant about many top companies, computer and software companies being the worse.

The other day a photographer friend of mine was demonstrating his new photo editing software.

While key wording and adding other important metadata, we wondered where it was writing this data.

As I suspected, it was using a sidecar file to accompany the jpg’s and raw’s.

What really rilled me was instead of using an xmp sidecar file (an open standard developed by Adobe) which many other software programs can read, not just Adobe Lightroom or Camera Raw, it uses it’s own proprietary format.

Why!  Lock in, thats why, but the worry is, will the companies own future software support their own proprietary formats, past history suggests not.

From Wikipedia:
XMP sidecar files. For file formats that have no internal support for XMP data, the data is stored in separate .xmp files with the same base file name. Many photo cataloging applications have support for this file format.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extensible_Metadata_Platform

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Macro – Early Spring Flowers

Well last week I did say I was going to photograph the Daffodils. Well the blooms were not yet open but this weekend they were so, with the trusty Nikon D200, 100mm f/2.8 macro lens and the macro flash gear I spent some time trying to get some good shots.

Near the back door next to our poor dead bay leaf trees that have been killed by the hard winter were a likely bunch of Daffodils.

Setting up the tripod, nearly as low as it would go, I composed on the open flower.  I wanted a black background so I laid a black cloth behind.

The cloth together with a fairly high shutter speed to under-expose the background, this made the background a nice black.

 

With only one Daffodil in bloom, I then switched over to the bush that had lots of yellow flowers.

Once again I employed the black cloth and a high shutter speed to underexpose the background.

My attention was then next drawn to the bush next door which seemed to have an inordinate number of lady birds on it.

 

 

 

With so few flowers to chose from my last flower to photograph was the crocuses, a rather pretty purple.

A pleasant afternoon shooting.  Nothing to dramatic but good practice.

The lighting was nothing special just front lit via the macro flash.  Later in the month when we have more blooms to choose from I will definitely try something a little more challenging.

A few cut flowers, cut glass crystal vase and some studio lighting is in order

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Elinchrom IOS App

During my recent research into studio flash equipment, I came across an announcement by Elinchrom.  They are planning to release an app to control your Elinchrom Flash heads.

No real details yet but another posible reason for a photographer to have an iPad around.

Oh and don’t forget, iPad2 released today; at least in America. Oh well just have to wait.  Still tempted.

Decisions, decisions:

iPad2 or GF1; We will just have to see.

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Micro Four Thirds – another look

Well today I had another look at the Micro Four Thirds range.

I am still looking for that perfect travel camera, small pocketable and with high quality large sensor and interchangable lens.

I had a close look again at the Panasonic GF-1.  Not the GF-2 as I don’t feel thats as good ergonomically.

I am still very tempted but the lack of decent wide angles, still puts me off.  Its the x2 crop factor, I feel wide angle does not really start until you get to 24mm, and on micro four thirds thats 12mm.

There is currently not much to choose from in that range and what there is is very expensive.

Still I going to have to decided soon or if I do want a GF-1, it may have to be a second hand model as they are going fast.

 

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Motorcycling – Are you a Motorcyclist

Are you a motorcycist?

  • A motorcycle hobbyist
  • A motorcycle enthusiast
  • A motorcycle poser
  • A motorcycle boutique biker
  • A motorcycle “Power Ranger”

Or just a Motorcyclist.

 

Apart from the last three weeks which has been the longest break off the bike in the last ten years, I normally ride every day.  I commute to work, go on riding day outs, even holiday on the bike, touring round europe.

I ride every day not matter it its raining, hot or cold.  When I want to go anywhere, even if its just to the shops my thought is always to go on the bike.

Many people question what a real biker is.  Some really buy into the lifestyle, they buy the bike, matching outfit, then spend there time talking bikes, polishing bikes but hardly ever riding their bikes.

They often look down on other bikers who might have older bikes, mismatched leathers.  Of course anything less then 600cc’s is not a real bike.

I find if you ride, then your a biker, and you should treat all other bikers as such; no matter if a 50cc scooter, 1000cc superbike or that rather tasty Moto Guzzi.

Until I recover, the bike is staying in the garage but sad as I am I did sit on her at the weekend and start her up.  It felt good.  Hopefully I will be riding again soon.

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Week Over – Feeling much better

Well, I managed a full week at work without being admitted to hospital, yeh!

We are both feeling much better.  Caroline had a hospital appointment this morning and was given the all clear, while I have my MRI Scan next Wednesday, to make sure there is nothing seriously wrong.

I must admit the hospital were amazed that two members of the same family were admitted to hospital within two hours of each other with different medical emergencies.

All of this means its now been three weeks since I rode any of the motorcycles or have even driven the car.  I am not too bothered about the car, but its killing me not to be riding my bike.

Hopefully I’ll be feeling up to it soon.

I was planning a photoshoot this weekend, with a top London Model, we have been trying to make our calendars match now for a couple of years but we both have very busy schedules.

Instead I might have a search round for some spring daffodils and practice my flower photography some more.

As you can see here I still need more practice.

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The UK NEC Focus on Imaging Show

While I have managed to get to the Lincoln Photography show twice now in the last three years it has been some time since I managed to visit some of the bigger shows.

This weekend the Focus on Imaging show starts.  I was hoping to get but due to my current ill health once again I will miss it.

If it is anything like the last time I managed to visit, it was a great day out and a chance to try out the latest equipment.

If you manage to get there have a great day out.

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Apple’s iPad update – iPad2 and ios 4.3

Well as expected Apple announced their iPad update, the new iPad2.  I am sure the Apple haters will trash it and the Apple lovers announce its the best update since sliced white bread.

For me these devices are more about what you can do with them and that means the applications.

As a Hassleblad medium format camera user, I received an email from them today, announcing there new iPad app which basically allows remote control and viewing of the taken image from your Hassleblad on the iPad.

With apps like this, a great 9.7 inch display, then not only does it make a great device for showing photos to clients but a productive and creative device too.

Looks good. Will I get one.  Don’t know, there are still a couple of apps I would like to see, are you listening Adobe and Elinchrom!

Update: New iTunes available now to support the new features.

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The Photo of the Month

Well as you can see I managed to get the photo of the month.  The Snow Drops are coming out now and I have to admit it is hardly an original idea.

Equipment used was a Nikon D200 SLR, 105mm f/2.8 macro lens together with my Manfrotto Tripod and Arca Swiss head.

Snow Drops are not the easiest subject to capture.  The problem is getting low enough.  To get stunning photos of flowers you either need to shoot from the same level or for added impact shoot from below.

As Snow Drops are so small I scouted around trying to find a bunch on a slope.

So setting the tripod as low as it would go, with the help of the small slope I managed to get on the same level as the flowers.

The next problem was the wind.  I had my assistant holding my coat as a wind break and also with her free hand hold the base of the stem of the key flower I was trying to photograph.

If I was shoot this again, I would also take with me my Macro Flash equipment, I would then be able to use flash to freeze movement.