Category Archives: Random Shots
The New Outdoors… A Pleasant Surprise!
So recently I went to an unknown place with another photographer for an engagement shoot… A secret place he agreed to disclose! What a lovely place it sure was – Pescadero, California.
Took a few shots in the middle of assisting my photog. friend. Definitely will be going back there to spend some time alone and shoot more.
Hope you guys like the photos… 🙂
Warming Up To The Ricoh GR
Been a very long time since I posted anything in here, I know. Truth of the matter is, I’ve been lazy (wont deny), and didn’t know what to really post here. Didn’t take any really amazing shots or such and there have been major changes in life – for the better. I was troubled more with less photographic aspects of life.
One of the 2 major things that happened with me in 2014 is that I got a new camera – Ricoh GR. I was crying my heart out after losing my lovely and amazing little Ricoh GX200 (got stolen) that I just couldn’t help but stop taking pics.
It’s funny that there has been so many point & shoot sized cameras coming out that it’s almost impossible to decide which one you should buy. It’s like there will always be some sort of serious compromise with any system or camera model. It can be a good thing too, if you are very defined about your shooting habits and what you shoot. Otherwise, cramping everything into ONE system/camera is impossible!
Back in 2010 or so, when I was debating to buy the GX200, I had my eyes on the GRD III and I went with the GX200 (never regretting). So, when I lost my GX200 and the GR came out with an APS-C sized sensor, it was a no-brainer! I had to get it especially since I wanted to really try street shooting and yes, these Ricoh were a legacy with street shooting. And thus, I went for it.
It’s been a total different experience with the GR than it was with the GX200. Don’t ask me why, because I haven’t a clue! I just LOVED the super intuitive menu on the GX200 and I did expect the same with the GR. The GR menu I feel, is a bit more complex and deep-rooted than the GX200 was. Perhaps, it will take time to fully comprehend and grasp the camera.
I wanted to share a few pics that I did take and it would be nice if my readers left some feed back about the shots and their experience with their Ricoh GR … 🙂
An Encounter With Film – Once Again!
It had been a VERY long time since I picked up my film camera… and to be honest, it happened because I don’t have a DSLR anymore and to top it off – my digital point-n-shoot got stolen from the car as well.
There was a model-photographer meetup that I wanted to attend, but not having a DSLR was disappointing esp. because I knew I wouldn’t be able to give away the “files” anytime soon. Nevertheless, I head out and bought rolls of film – Kodak Ektar 100 and Ilford Delta 3200.
I wanted to see if I still “had it in me” … if I could still shoot film – and mind you, I NEVER have used a light-meter. I always have taken educated guess and metered it using my eye. Never has failed!!
I didn’t take lot of shots of Hayley at the meetup but these two were my favorites. Taken with the Ilford 3200 b/w. I did crop it in LR and did do a little bit of touch-up, but not to much.
The colored shots are from the Kodak. The Cat tails and the leaves with the sun peeking… both hand held and I must admit I am proud of myself that I pulled it off without any trouble.
In both the shots with Kodak I used the 50mm f/1.2 Ai-S lens. Whereas with Hayley, I used the 50mm and also 35~135mm f/3.5~4.5 Ai-S lens.
There was the added cost of developing and scanning of the 2 film rolls, it took a whole month before I sent them to the lab! This is something that really annoyed me. I don’t know if it was the cost issue or what… but film does hold you back!
One thing that definitely annoyed me was that I couldn’t change from color to b/w and vice-versa! I had to complete the roll or kill it if I really wanted to shoot in a different mode or film. So different an experience from using digital. But then again, it’s a whole other experience to begin with – Slow and Easy !!
Experience With The Olympus Mju-II
So finally after buying the Olympus µ-II from Ebay and running two rolls of (unknown) B/W film through it… I finally got the developed film back, scanned on the CD.
I must say, I am a little disheartened by the results; but maybe I shouldn’t be, considering it took me quite an effort getting accustomed to the “parallax”, and then there’s this film I never used and it stood on the table for a while before I sent it out for developing.
Out of 2 rolls of film, I could salvage 4-6 “decent” pictures that I can show around… definitely feeling a really big blow on self-esteem!! 😦
Let me know what ya’ll think ?!
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Black On White
Waiting for my ride to come and get me from the station, I thought why not and snap away the boredom!!
Tried out the very seldom used scene on my Ricoh GX200, the Text Mode… never did figure it out till now! I don’t know, but I kinda liked these. Straight out of the camera, just cropped it in LightRoom 2.0
Another One In Blackness
A silhouette of a tree against the sky… taken with HTC Incredible using the Retro Camera app
The CMYK Look !!
Oh! well, looking at LOADS of pictures on Flickr! and other websites just makes one more and more frustrated… esp. if he can’t do his art the way he likes and wants to!! I guess that’s what happened to me the other day, sitting on my bed, and started shooting the bedsheets!
Seemed really bizarre at first, but then I thought what the heck, who cares and who’s gonna say anything anyways… but yeah, I put it out on the internet for all to see and let me know what they think 🙂
A Visit To Tahoe
It was a very longed for trip that I took with my parents to Lake Tahoe recently. I had been wanting to go and see Lake Tahoe in Nevada, USA for a very long time. The beauty and grandeur the place had earned had always beckoned me for a visit.
Unfortunately, however, I was without any “decent” camera that I could take along and shoot to my heart content. All I had was my Ricoh GX200 that I could use. The whole plan to go to Lake Tahoe was so sudden that I didn’t even get time to rent a camera. Life is so ironic I thought to myself, that all these years of waiting and wishing to visit the place and I being a photographer, didn’t have a camera to myself!
Well, so be it I thought, of course with a lot of anger and regret to say the least. I consoled myself by saying that this wasn’t going to be the ONLY visit I could or would make and there will be more visits.
So with whatever I had, I took these snaps and yes my Ricoh did make me happy as much as it could… I hope that you will enjoy the shots as much as I do !!