01/11/12

The Apple Of My Eye

The FujiFilm X-Pro1

The FujiFilm X-Pro1 - the perfect camera?

I recently wrote elsewhere that for the past three years or so, new camera releases have left me stone cold. I was perfectly happy with the cameras I had. Lately, however, my eye has started to wander. Since yesterday, it has more than wandered. The FujiFilm X-Pro 1 has been announced and I don’t think I have ever coveted a camera more.

A documentary dream

Mirrorless cameras have many benefits for documentary photographers.

For a start, the absence of a mirror means the camera is quieter, practically silent if built well. There is less vibration, too. A single lens reflex (SLR), on the other hand, can sound and feel like you’ve just let off an Enfield.

No mirror also means no prism or mirror chamber, making the camera smaller and lighter than an SLR.

The same applies to lenses for mirrorless cameras. Optical design is simplified, which means that mirrorless camera lenses can be teeny.

With fewer laws of physics to tussle with, the optical performance of lenses for mirrorless cameras tends to be excellent, and in many cases better than that of lenses built for SLRs – certainly this is the case for wide-angle lenses and most definitely for Canon wide-angle lenses. In my experience, anyway.

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01/9/12

The Times They Are A Changin’

After more than two weeks away from the blog, I feel like a caged animal. While the break has done me good, I’ve also built up a huge reservoir of blogging energy that is barely containable. There’s so much I want to write about, it’s hard to know where to start. I’m like a child in an ice cream parlour who wants to try all the flavours at once.

Some discipline is required.

Ctrl Alt Delete

I could tell you about my plans for 2012, about how it’s going to be the best year ever and that it will change everything. Thing is, while my horizons will no doubt expand, some of them even intentionally, I’ve come to realize that unless I outline specifically, point by point, what my plans and goals are and then revisit them at the end of the year on this blog, it’s a fairly shallow exercise.

Besides, I have a resolution for the new year.

Less is more.

Not less blogging per se. Rather less of me, more of things that aren’t me, specifically more documentary photography.

The first rule

So, there’s a new rule. I get one post a week about me, my work and what I’m up to. This one doesn’t count, by the way. I’m merely sketching the landscape here. The new regime starts… now.

01/2/12

Temporary Resumption Of Service

I’m breaking my self-imposed holiday social media lock down to mention that episode 12 of The Circle of Confusion went live last week, with episode 13 to follow at the end of this week.

If you missed it, you can listen to episode 12 by clicking on the player below or you can go to the podcast website.

The Circle of Confusion Podcast #12 by The Circle Of Confusion

 

12/22/11

Happy Holidays And Best Wishes For 2012

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Santa Claus

Father Christmas at home in the Polar Circle, photographed in November during a visit to Lapland © Roger Overall 2011

That’s it for this year on the blog. I’m taking an extended leave from it, so there won’t be any new content here until Monday, 9th January.

Thank you so much for taking time out of your life to read, watch, listen to and comment on what was posted here in 2011.

I sincerely hope you are able to enjoy lots of food, family, friends and fun over the holiday period. To get you in the mood, my daughter explains why Santa doesn’t come every week:

EmilyBoo – Christmas 2011 (mp3)

See you in 2012.

12/22/11

Looking For Something For The Photographer In Your Life?

I think this is terrific value:

Dynamic Range Episode 1

I have to admit, though, that I directed it. I also have an equal share in the production company that made it. So, you know, you might want to take any comment I provide about it with a pinch of salt the size of a sand dune.

That said, where else are you going to get first-rate instruction from two top landscape photographers and watch them duel it out at dawn using tripods? Dynamic Range Episode 1, the first installment of an irreverent educational series under the Circle of Confusion umbrella, is that kind of video.

The underlying philosophy is that the best learning comes from a combination of education and humour. Surely that’s worth the price of admission alone? (If you agree, you can purchase a download by clicking here: Dynamic Range Episode 1).

The return of the podcast

Meanwhile, there is news about The Circle of Confusion podcast that Peter Cox and I produced for much of last year. It is back. And we have Neil McShane, the third partner in our video production company, on board.

Another change is that it is going to be a weekly podcast of around 20 minutes, released every Thursday.

You can listen to our relaunch episode by clicking here: The Circle of Confusion Episode 11.

It’s a rough-and-ready affair recorded yesterday to celebrate the release of Dynamic Range Episode 1. We’re looking to refine it in the weeks ahead.

12/20/11

Review: Vanguard Skyborne 51 Backpack

Vanguard Skyborne 51 Full View

Vanguard Skyborne 51 - the reverse Tardis. It carries less than you'd think. But it does so in style © Roger Overall 2011

There are certain milestones in your online career as a photographer.

For instance, the first time someone other than you reads one of your blog posts.

The first time someone you don’t know leaves a comment.

The first time someone you don’t know leaves a nice comment.

The first time a gear manufacturer, usually a bag company, asks whether you’d like to review one of its products.

I have arrived at the latter. In my case, the bag manufacturer is Vanguard, who appear to have been on a bit of a mission during 2011. Some research showed that, in recent months, lots of bloggers have written about the bag I was offered: the Skyborne 51 backpack.

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12/20/11

I Can’t Compete With Children

Fota Island Resort is one of those clients you have to cherish when they come along*. They are capable of some really original ideas**. When did you see a hotel do anything like this?

Much though I’d like to say the photographs make the whole thing, they don’t. You cannot compete with children. Ever.

Doesn’t mean you can’t ride on their coattails, though.

*I’m biased.
**I’m biased.

12/17/11

Increasing Your Dynamic Range

I think that it is important for photographers to expand their range of activities. Especially in a tough economy and in the face of increasing competition.

Ideally, any new endeavours would have a link with photography. That isn’t always possible. As a professional photographer, the important thing is to get yourself into a position where you are still able to produce photography, even if it is on a much reduced scale. The worst thing you can do is cling to a sinking ship without taking some form of action.

For me, the sinking ship is wedding photography. Note that I say “for me”. While I don’t see wedding photography as a viable business for me to be in beyond 2012, that doesn’t mean others with different circumstances and skillsets can’t make a sensible and fulfilling living from it.

I’ve been looking at a range of alternatives that will allow me to continue to provide professional photography. Video is an obvious one.

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12/15/11

No Awards

I can say with certainty that I won’t win any prizes in the 2012 Irish Professional Photographers Association (IPPA) National Photographic Awards.

The reason is simple.

I didn’t enter.

Instead, I was asked to participate in the final judging as a stand-in judge. A real honour.

It was a terrific experience and gave me a real insight into the judging process.

You can read about it here: Judging the 2012 IPPA National Photographic Awards.

12/13/11

Behind The Scenes At Rachid Zaouia’s Recipe Book Shoot

Rachid Zaouia At Work

Rachid Zaouia At Work © Roger Overall 2011

This evening, Fota Island Resort’s executive pastry chef, Rachid Zaouia, will launch his recipe book Simply Pastry. I’ve written before that this excites me greatly. He asked me to do the photography.

It was one of the best commissions I’ve had. Top Five, easily. Rachid is a tremendous pastry chef, passionate about what he does and appreciative of photography. Working with him was amazing. Not least because I got to eat every single dessert we photographed.

One of my resolutions for 2012 is to produce as much useful content as I can across my blogs. Instead of waiting until 1st January, let me start now by telling you how the photographs in Rachid’s book were lit. (If you’re not a photographer, or find off-camera flash a snooze, this post is about to lose all appeal for you – maybe today’s Dilbert will be consolation).

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