Print Page - How to be happy when there’s nothing really to be happy about (playing w/ camera

January 1st. 2024

The new year starts with a motorcycle. Always …

This is a sort of “normal” snap shot (for me, anyway).
Should have moved the orange rubber cone before taking photos.
(I tend to overlook those small things when taking photos quickly.)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53436804041_ee08ff2165_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2pq2A8B)DSCF1943 (https://flic.kr/p/2pq2A8B) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

This one, I spent more time, to get the “look” I wanted, which is “Dark, sinister” look, something that looks like a still shot from a movie.
That darkness & cold looking light are intentional. (Shot with “Cinestill 800T film sim).

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53437126594_a841b8825a_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2pq4f1S)DSCF1944 (https://flic.kr/p/2pq4f1S) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

I came back home, late at night.
Got out from the car, went to check the mail box.
When I turned around, I saw this “smiling face”.
(Two “eyes” are the suction cup mount of Valentine One. The white part is just condensation on the wind screen. I didn’t realize this while I was driving home.)

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53417604321_8b0f67f339_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2pokbHX)DSCF1894 (https://flic.kr/p/2pokbHX) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

Sometimes, I take still photos for Youtube thumbnails.
Sometimes, as “test shot” of certain “look” I’m trying to create.

Inspiration

“Sabotage” (2014) Last gunfight scene

“The good The bad and The ugly” (1966) Angel Eyes “When I’m paid, I always follow my job through.” scene

“Sicario”(2015) “La hora de conocer a Dios / Time to meet God” scene

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53421719788_ce734d0fa4_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2poGh7h)_DSF0005 copy (https://flic.kr/p/2poGh7h) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53352374062_65a44533b4_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2phyS3j)_DSF0025 1 (https://flic.kr/p/2phyS3j) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53435925202_3153d864ee_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2ppX5Td)Jan.1st (https://flic.kr/p/2ppX5Td) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

I took some photos when I was leaving the parking lot after I got off of work tonight.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53473371554_68eb3e4179_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2ptg1nY)DSCF2015_1 (https://flic.kr/p/2ptg1nY) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

Shot with Tiffen Black Pro Mist ¼ filter, with CineStill 800T film sim.
(I also tweaked the image with Peter McKinnon’s LUT. So, it’s a little bit cheating.
One is diffusion filter, which I use every once in a while, not all the time. Another is PM LUT pack set. Again, I do that sometimes, but not all the time.)

All three photos I posted here today, are basically the same theme, “Shoot Emotions, rather than the Subjects”.
And the “emotion” would be, … “isolation, solitude, darkness, cold, something that could be in Michael Mann film, “Thief”, “Heat”, “Collateral”… there’s something I really like about the night scenes in his films.

Quote from: S21FOLGORE on January 18, 2024, 11:39:44 PM

:o :o :o :o [bow_down]

Godox TT350F

So, I picked up this Godox TT350F about a week ago, for about $56, from B&H used department.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53490107807_778aa8b7ee_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2puJMu4)_DSF0001 (https://flic.kr/p/2puJMu4) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

I haven’t used flash for SO LONG, I forgot pretty much everything about flash photography.

I’ve been practicing how to use flash, in a situation like this (for now).
The main subject is back lit. (There’s a big light source, which is windows, in the back ground. I want to capture both the main subject AND the background, WITHOUT making the picture looking like obviously shot with flash.)

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53491309364_fc3b87116b_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2puQWEy)DSCF2052 (https://flic.kr/p/2puQWEy) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

I placed Apture MC (output lowered to 7%) at 11 o’clock, put a white towel over “Welcom sign” (this is inside of the restaurant) and placed it at 9 o’clock, swiveled the head of TT350F at the towel so that I can bounce the light.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53491419780_b43b98ea40_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2puRvuh)DSCF2049 (https://flic.kr/p/2puRvuh) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53490107722_0918111867_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2puJMsA)DSCF2048 (https://flic.kr/p/2puJMsA) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

Done very quickly, in a “improvised / guerrilla film making” style.
(When I shoot videos and photos, almost all the time I do it without permission … so I had to do it that way.)

04-05-2024 Friday
Part one
“Shige Suhi in Sonoma, CA”
(All photos shot on Fuji X100V, except two reference photos at the end)
Yesterday (April 5th Friday) evening, I went to my friend’s place in Sonoma.
When I’m working, I can never go out Friday night.
So, this was one of the really rare opportunities.
(Also, I didn’t inform him beforehand. I went there on kind of impulse.)
I got there shortly after 7pm, and the place was packed, really busy.
BUT, it wasn’t the same kind of “busy-ness” like Sushi to Dai for.
(Shige-san doesn’t do door-dash, Uber eat. That’s why kitchen & sushi bar stuff, servers, everyone was not overly stressed out.)

I waited until there was a space at Sushi bar.
Started with Age Dashi Tofu.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53636089018_c050fdded3_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2pHCYBu)Age-dashi (https://flic.kr/p/2pHCYBu) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

Then, Chirashi (There’re no photos of Chirashi. Because I was kinda hungry. So I started eating right away, then, realized that I forgot to take photos.)

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53635879021_fba409a82e_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2pHBUbR)Nigiri_Tetsu (https://flic.kr/p/2pHBUbR) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

Sort of “Nigiri Sampler”, all white meat fish. (Renko-dai, Sawarai, Hirame, & Striped Bass)

What I really, REALLY like about his place is the interior decoration.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53635878706_f02c1314f6_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2pHBU6q)Shop (https://flic.kr/p/2pHBU6q) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53634985287_7562853ce1_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2pHxjvD)Wall_1 (https://flic.kr/p/2pHxjvD) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53636325900_c07474ccc2_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2pHEc2E)Wall_2 (https://flic.kr/p/2pHEc2E) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53634985322_7f86f78c33_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2pHxjwf)Wall_3 (https://flic.kr/p/2pHxjwf) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

A lot of movie posters and advertisement stuff from 1960s and early 1970s.
The way walls are decorated, the way inside of the dining area is lit, creates real retro feeling, even though you actually haven’t been in 60s and 70s in Japan.

(https://www.city.yamatotakada.nara.jp/material/images/group/7/s53_rc.jpg)

(https://odawaracho.cocolog-nifty.com/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/2014/02/11/photo_3.png)

[Part 2 of 04-05-2024]
Now, these were taken before leaving home to Sonoma.

The last thing I purchased before losing job …

Manfrotto Nitrotech 608 Fluid video head

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53636679040_378107abb1_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2pHG11h)_DSF0004 (https://flic.kr/p/2pHG11h) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

This is normally out of my budget range. But, I found it on B&H used section, at a little bit over $400.
(The reason I wanted this one is because it allows me to move the camera diagonally (doing tilt AND pan AT THE SAME TIME.
Most (pretty much all) budget fluid heads can’t do that. You get that “staircase effect”.)

And, the first thing I purchased after losing job…

Vintage Canon FD 80-200mm f4 S.S.C.

50 bucks …nice and clean…

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53635335427_024c008bed_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2pHz7Ax)_DSF0005 (https://flic.kr/p/2pHz7Ax) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

As you can tell from the silver locking ring, this is an earlier version of FD (which I like better, than N-FD)

It’s got an integrated hood…

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53636441368_050cc10d6e_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2pHEMmu)_DSF0006 (https://flic.kr/p/2pHEMmu) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

… and it’s an internal zoom. And the front element doesn’t rotate together with focus ring, like some of the vintage zoom.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53649602504_299f8d3589_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2pJQeGC)Choco_04-11_V2 (https://flic.kr/p/2pJQeGC) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53649602709_bc52187449_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2pJQeLa)Kuma_04-11_V2 (https://flic.kr/p/2pJQeLa) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53649602479_93eb12a996_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2pJQeGc)Kuma_04-11-2_V2 (https://flic.kr/p/2pJQeGc) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

They are not mine.
My friend and the entire family had to go Riverside, for three nights / four days.
So I’ve been dog-sitting now.

The first picture. When I looked the dog through the view finder on my X-T4, the first mental image that came to my mind was 1990 film, “Jacob’s Ladder”.
(It may sound crazy, but that’s how my mind works.)

Reference photos
(https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/sm/upload/lt/vr/xw/qk/jacobs-ladder-1200-1200-675-675-crop-000000-1200-1200-675-675-crop-000000.jpg?v=c89177286f)

(https://cdn.theasc.com/45_Jacobs-Ladder-Stairway.jpg)

Somehow, I’m a big fan of dark, grainy, moody look. (Oh, and haze, I really love that hazy look in certain movies.)

But this is not my place. So I had to do with what I had.

Turned off the living room lights (the room the dog is sitting).

Turned on the back room light (so that the dog is back lit.)

I placed Apture MC(about 20% power output, 3200K color temp), behind the wall, to light up the dog a little bit from the left side of the frame. (The light is on the table. I moved to the position where the light gets just behind the wall.)

The other dog, I couldn’t get him to pose, or place, something cinematic.

The middle picture, I tried to do “dark-bright-dark-bright” contrast look.
(https://i.pinimg.com/originals/08/b8/1c/08b81c645e8c1d9a3b636323b766f30b.jpg)

(https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:1400/1*LHqs_DTVSvqhs2m2NQK8Pw.png)
(https://nofilmschool.com/media-library/batman-anatomy1-videosixteenbynine3000-v2.jpg?id=34053233&width=1245&height=700&quality=90&coordinates=2%2C0%2C0%2C0)

The last picture. I was trying to do some “frame within a frame” look.
But, it didn’t really workout.

Wanted to do something like this…
(https://blog.shotdeck.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/27-Good-Morning.png)

Shot this afternoon at the garage, after came back from the ride.
I needed to cool down the engine before putting the cover on, let the helmet liner, inside of the gloves and the boots dry. So I decided to take some photos with X100V while I’m waiting.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53659594639_c041f13405_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2pKHs1P)Garage04-16_1_v2 (https://flic.kr/p/2pKHs1P) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53659234916_9aa996f4e8_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2pKFB5G)Garage04-16_2_v2 (https://flic.kr/p/2pKFB5G) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

I shot these photos with 10 sec. self timer.
But, lately I (sort of) learned I can also use interval shutter, to take self portrait type photos (instead of using self timer).
So, next time I’m going to try that.

I wanted to make them look like a screenshot of the movies.
(That’s why I intentionally placed myself in the shadow and out of focus.)
What I should have done (with the second photo) was, placing myself on the stairs, so that it looks like I’m just coming down from the upstairs with that crossbow in hands.
I think that would make more interesting “story”.

Shot yesterday, with X100V.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53716110271_f32067825c_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2pQH79g)Vespa_1_v2 (https://flic.kr/p/2pQH79g) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53716321378_44d4b9d841_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2pQJbU3)Vespa_2_v2 (https://flic.kr/p/2pQJbU3) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53716556820_6750c94354_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2pQKoTo)DSCF2423 (https://flic.kr/p/2pQKoTo) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53716462299_90bdfdbcda_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2pQJUMH)DSCF2427 (https://flic.kr/p/2pQJUMH) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

(Should have turned around the tray, so that “Made in China” sticker wouldn’t be visible.
I’m always like this. I really need to check these details before start shooting.)

Made a short video at the same time
https://youtu.be/JIMWiYOus5M

A little story about the camera gear storage...

I went to Seawood Photo in San Rafael today.

Wasn’t looking for anything particular, but I go there every once in a while, because that shop is a great place to buy used gear.
(Most of my vintage lenses were purchased there.)

I found two Pelican cases, 1510 and 1520.

$135 for 1510, $35 for 1520.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53728664836_294744b59f_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2pRPsbh)DSCF2498 (https://flic.kr/p/2pRPsbh) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

I bought them both. Took them back home.

I washed them,...

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53728663911_e177f8972f_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2pRPrUk)Screen Shot 2024-05-17 at 8.15.36 PM (https://flic.kr/p/2pRPrUk) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53727749472_c05e701565_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2pRJL59)Screen Shot 2024-05-17 at 8.16.47 PM (https://flic.kr/p/2pRJL59) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53729098615_0f156daf0a_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2pRRF8e)Screen Shot 2024-05-17 at 8.15.18 PM (https://flic.kr/p/2pRRF8e) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

...towel dried them, then, applied 303. (That stuff works really well. A LOT better than Armorall.)

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53728999264_724c20e829_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2pRRaAh)Screen Shot 2024-05-17 at 8.19.45 PM (https://flic.kr/p/2pRRaAh) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53729000374_a6054a1e84_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2pRRaVq)DSCF2500 (https://flic.kr/p/2pRRaVq) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53727750572_9b1ec56dbe_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2pRJLp7)DSCF2506 (https://flic.kr/p/2pRJLp7) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

I’m going to use 1510 for camera gear, most probably.

1520, maybe knife storage? Maybe movie prop storage? (prop guns, holsters, police badges, etc.)

Overall, I’m pretty happy with the purchase.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53727750607_8cf2be9f1d_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2pRJLpH)DSCF2512 (https://flic.kr/p/2pRJLpH) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

So, the day I purchased this lens, while I was at the garage I did some still photo comparison test, too.

The lens:Legendary Canon FD80mm F1.2 “L”

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53770589860_85787e8f77_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2pVwk2w)DSCF2536 (https://flic.kr/p/2pVwk2w) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

https://youtu.be/h3davNPYKNc

[The video performance part is in my short film / fillmmaking thread.]

[Back story]
So, I’ve been trying NOT to buy things I don’t really need for my day to day life.
And, to be honest, I’ve been doing pretty good.
(After March 31st, I’ve spent a whole lot less than befor…)

“Create, rather than consume”, someone on Youtube said that.
I don’t remember who it was… (could be Peter McKinnon, but not sure…)

But this one, I couldn’t resist.
The last day of my “2-month time off”, I was drinking my first cup of coffee in the morning, while casually browsing through Craigslist ads.
And, I saw the title,

“Canon FD 80mm F1.2 L $695”

That particular ad was from Seawood photo in San Rafael, which is “kind of” my go to camera store. (Have been their customer for roughly 20 years or so…)

Five out of six FD lenses I own, I purchased from them, over the period of long time. (I’m not a vintage lens collector, I’m a vintage lens shooter, so normally don’t actively look for some particular lenses on eBay, etc.)
Dimly lit garage

[Note]
The camera is Fuji X-T4, all my FD lenses are used with Metabones Speed Booster. (So 80mm is an 80mm, not 80 x 1.5.)

Focused on Ducati logo on the tank, standing far back

Fuji X100V (35mm equivalent, f2)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53770589940_aa091e72a5_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2pVwk3U)DSCF2525 (https://flic.kr/p/2pVwk3U) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

Canon FD35mm f2 concave+Speed Booster

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53770379663_253997112d_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2pVvfxr)35mm_F2_2 (https://flic.kr/p/2pVvfxr) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

Canon FD50mm f1.4+Speed Booster

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53769265232_e07204121d_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2pVpxg7)50mm_F1.4_1 (https://flic.kr/p/2pVpxg7) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

Focused on me
(In all the photos, the distance between myself and the S4R is the same)

Canon FD35mm f2 concave + Speed Booster
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53770596100_9a908827f7_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2pVwmT7)35mm_X2 (https://flic.kr/p/2pVwmT7) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

Canon FD50mm f1.4 + Speed Booster
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53770595455_c19a670d43_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2pVwmFZ)50mm_F1.4_4 (https://flic.kr/p/2pVwmFZ) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53769264467_c9b59880fe_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2pVpx2V)50mm_F1.4_5 (https://flic.kr/p/2pVpx2V) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

Canon FD80mm F1.2 + Speed Booster
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53770503724_edf1c806a9_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2pVvTqq)80mm_1 (https://flic.kr/p/2pVvTqq) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53770595440_59ba5b170b_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2pVwmFJ)80mm_2 (https://flic.kr/p/2pVwmFJ) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

Yeah, so there's a reason why I film myself mostly with 50mm.
I just don't like the way I look with wide angle lenses.

The funny story about this "focal length that I prefer (to film myself)".
Today, I was at my new work (the brand new restaurant that's just about going to open.
The owner hired the professional photographer, to shoot both foods AND people (including myself).
While I was being photographed, we were talking about casually, and when I mentioned about my lens choices for Youtube video creating, he said "let me switch to 85mm lens".
Only my photos were shot with 85mm. (All the others, including the owner, were shot with 50mm).

Hi, Thanks.

The score, today

Again, I went to "Seawood photo" in San Rafael.
I went there just for two items.Ended up getting a lot more.(They are all used gears. Some of them are pretty old, dating back to the1970s.)

ThinkTank Retrospective 7M
(This one is for hauling X100V with filters and flash, and maybe with audio recorder.)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53788747122_c78a58c211_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2pX8oxL)Retrospective 7M (https://flic.kr/p/2pX8oxL) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

...and,...
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53788747197_8a24050d69_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2pX8oz4)What's inside (https://flic.kr/p/2pX8oz4) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr
[size=16
pt]
MINOLTA binoculars[/size]
(I use binoculars in a very peculiar way. When I'm filming myself, quite often, I'm too far away from the camera(monitor) to see the details, because I HATE filming myself with a wide angle lens(so typically I use 50mm or longer focal length). I use binoculars to check composition, framing, etc, etc, on the monitor. I've been using cheap binoculars from Amazon. This one is much nicer.)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53788747117_4b7bcb241f_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2pX8oxF)Minolta Binoculars (https://flic.kr/p/2pX8oxF) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

Canon FD24mmf2
This one is pretty hard to find.Especially in this condition AT this price.(24mmf2 is quite rare. 24mmf2.8 is a lot more common. 28mmf2.8 is a lot easier to find and is pretty cheap. And, 24mmf1.4 Aspherical is a unicorn.)

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53788747592_b0bf2af8f9_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2pX8oFS)FD24mmf2 (https://flic.kr/p/2pX8oFS) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53789902568_43c482ee0c_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2pXej2f)24mm face (https://flic.kr/p/2pXej2f) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

Canon FD135mmf2.8 U.S. NAVY
The box is a little bit beaten up.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53790103765_067a61a131_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2pXfkQa)FD135mmf2.8 box (https://flic.kr/p/2pXfkQa) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

HOWEVER, the lens itself is brand new !
AND, look at the locking ring!
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53789688126_d04721e95c_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2pXddgY)FD135mmf2.8 US NAVY (https://flic.kr/p/2pXddgY) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr
(Apparently, DLA purchased some photography equipment from Canon, back in the 70s. There's 13-digit DLA NSNs on the box.)
Back in the days of films (when I was a teenager), once I shot everything with 135mm, because that was all I had. So, 135mm focal length has a special place in my mind.

Manfrotto 501HDV video head with 055XB legs.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53789688911_90c72f7a95_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2pXddvv)055XB (https://flic.kr/p/2pXddvv) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53789688711_6d27e84021_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2pXdds4)501HDV (https://flic.kr/p/2pXdds4) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

The leveling head was not included. I added it after coming back home.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53789901488_f9031d4621_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2pXeiGC)Leveling Base (https://flic.kr/p/2pXeiGC) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

I was looking for a secondary tripod, for (so called) run-and-gun filming, AKA guerilla filming.
I had been checking B&H used section, but I'm really glad I found what works for me locally, for a lot less price.
(501HDV is pretty old, over 10 years old. So, you don't find that much info on YT, etc. But, this is actually a pretty nice video head. If I were just reading the spec online, I would have disregarded this head simply because of the spec.
(For example, this is NOT a true fluid head. There's no fluid in the head. The drag is controlled by friction. BUT, Manfrotto used some sort of teflon coating on the sliding parts, the movement of this head is quite smooth, to be honest, better than some of the newer "budget" fluid heads I've handled. )

I went to Lincoln Elementary school, in Petaluma, CA, to “test” (AKA; playing around with) Canon FD24mmf2.0 lens, which is new to me.

As usual, it is mounted on Metabones Speed booster.
It is interesting, because I didn’t like Sigma 16mmf1.4, at all. (Everyone on Youtube highly regarded that lens. Well, I guess I’m just different.)

Before
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53821219280_f21a1d9412_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2pZZPoy)XH2C4348 (https://flic.kr/p/2pZZPoy) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

After
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53820774706_870a53619e_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2pZXxeu)CanonFD24mmf2.0_Asteroid City_school copy (https://flic.kr/p/2pZXxeu) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

Before
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53819861992_fce985b8b8_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2pZSRV3)XH2C4339 (https://flic.kr/p/2pZSRV3) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

After
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53820774726_93544aac72_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2pZXxeQ)CanonFD24mmf2.0_Asteroid City copy (https://flic.kr/p/2pZXxeQ) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

Before
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53821116489_ddba034fa2_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2pZZhQi)XH2C4344 (https://flic.kr/p/2pZZhQi) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

After
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53820774671_fd400db795_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2pZXxdT)CanonFD24mmf2.0_Asteroid City_selfP copy (https://flic.kr/p/2pZXxdT) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

They were shot with X-H2, not X-T4.
And I heavily edited, because I wanted to learn about Wes Anderson’s Asteroid City color grading.

As you can see, it didn’t really work with the last picture.
If I spend enough time, maybe I can make it work, maybe not.

I normally go for dark, high contrast image (as I’m more of a film noir, 1950s and 60s PI hard boiled PI story type of guy, not a bright, pastel colored image type of person), but it was quite interesting to learn Asteroid City’s colors(how it is done).

Carry less, Create more
Vintage Canon FD 24mm f2, with Metabones Speed Booster
On Fuji X-H2 (Oh, and with Nisi VND on)

All these images were shot yesterday late afternoon (in my lunch break, which is around 3-5PM. Some of you may be able tell at around what time they were shot, by lighting.

This is where I work right now.

Outside

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53869526759_aec2222440_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2q5gpw8)XH2C4550 (https://flic.kr/p/2q5gpw8) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53869422533_b1a3d71863_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2q5fSx8)XH2C4548 (https://flic.kr/p/2q5fSx8) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

Patio (https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53869180221_9af5d28289_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2q5eCvk)XH2C4544 (https://flic.kr/p/2q5eCvk) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53869589450_2a3158dd7c_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2q5gJa1)XH2C4545 (https://flic.kr/p/2q5gJa1) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53869180151_b5585ffb6c_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2q5eCu8)XH2C4546 (https://flic.kr/p/2q5eCu8) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

Moved the camera closer, AND really low (like, an inch off of the ground)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53868273347_f6dcabe6ea_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2q59YVz)XH2C4547 (https://flic.kr/p/2q59YVz) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

Same patio area, but later (around 5PM), different lighting

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53869178681_2e87168ebf_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2q5eC3M)XH2C4552 (https://flic.kr/p/2q5eC3M) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53868271867_acb695a839_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2q59Yu4)XH2C4551 (https://flic.kr/p/2q59Yu4) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

Yesterday, I took my X-H2, with 24mmF2 FD, to work.
I work in the restaurant. (As a sushi chef.)
Most people in my line of work DON’T bring anything (other than their knives) to work.
I’ve been known to bring “too much toys” for work.
Camera(s), laptop (for editing videos in the break time), (Non-kitchen) knives, even air pistols…

That’s why I’ve always been wearing backpack.

But, I’ve stopped that when I started working for this new place in June.

…………….

Now, I actually have to leave for work.
So I will write more, when I come back.

I’m not going to stay in this restaurant.
I will have to tell the owner(s) today.

Shot July 21st, with X100V.

Trying to improve composition / framing, and lighting.
And, most importantly, “story telling”.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53876233593_8a057fb6c4_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2q5RMec)Lunch Break (https://flic.kr/p/2q5RMec) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

I didn’t have a tripod with me.
So, I partially flipped out the back screen, and tilted the camera up so that it would rest on the screen bottom edge, stay at an angle.
Worked out pretty good.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53875997676_65a81ee6af_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2q5Qz6E)Lunch Break2 (https://flic.kr/p/2q5Qz6E) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53876342754_963ac5fa29_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2q5SkFh)Lunch Break3 (https://flic.kr/p/2q5SkFh) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53876342769_2f503e122e_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2q5SkFx)Back Lighting test (https://flic.kr/p/2q5SkFx) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

BTW, I’ve been testing a pair of new eye pro, Gatorz Specter, with OPZ lenses.
It’s been probably over 10 years since I tried polarized lenses the last time.
(I’ve always been wearing non-pola gray lenses.)

So far, they have been working great.
No problem with operating the camera.
No problem at Trader Joe’s cash register.

If they are good for Jack Carr, they are good enough for me, too.
I guess.

White Balance…

This was shot in the morning, around 8AM.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53917949700_9aaf3be31a_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2q9xzYq)Turkey family_2 (https://flic.kr/p/2q9xzYq) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

This was shot in the late afternoon, around 4PM
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53917753818_fb828d8fde_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2q9wzK9)Mill Valley-Sausalito Path (https://flic.kr/p/2q9wzK9) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

They were shot in different days, with different cameras, but …

Can you tell, by just looking at images, one was taken in the morning and the other was taken midday?

When I was a Sony Shooter, I almost always used custom white balance. Setting white balance using a gray card, pretty much every single time I took photos / videos.
And I didn’t use picture profile.

After switching to Fuji X-T4, just like everyone who picks up Fujifilm cameras, I started playing with “film simulation” and “film sim recipes”, for both still photos and videos.
https://fujixweekly.com/recipes/
I enjoyed them, just like most of Fuji users.

Fast forward to 2024 summer.
I purchased X-H2 (Fuji).
Started shooting video in F-log2.
(which wasn’t an option with X-T4. X-T4 shoots only F-log, NOT F-log2.
And there’s quite a bit of difference between F-log and F-log2.
Basically, F-log is not worth bothering.
You can get better result with one of the flatter film sim such as Eterna.)
Shooting in “Log” means no more film sims, for video.

When I shoot still, I shoot in both Jpeg and RAW.
And when I edit photos, I do it with RAW file.
Again, Film sim doesn’t affect RAW file, so it doesn’t matter which film sim I used while shooting.
I started feeling very differently about “Film sim recipes”.

Then, I watched this video, by one of my favorite Youtube photographer.

https://youtu.be/6N97tp0OkZU

After watching the video, I started reading comments.
People reacted in the comment section, saying,
“Fuji film sims are customizable! People have been making great “film sim recipes” and …blah, blah, blah…”
And he pointed out “customized film sim recipes” are, essentially just changing white balance and shifting red and blue.
Yes, you can add things like film grain, and can adjust tone curve.
BUT, it’s not like you have vector scope and color wheels in your camera…

Then, I watched this the other day.

https://youtu.be/eQPPa_8Z13o

What he described in the video made a lot of sense. At least, it seemed, to me, right now.

So I decided to try NOT to change(adjust) white balance.
I just set all my camera’s white balance at 5500 kelvin. And don’t bother changing it whether it’s in the morning or midday, sunset or indoor at night, I just shoot everything with 5500 Kelvin white balance.
If the color looks obviously off, I’d correct it in the post.
In order to do this, highly stylized “film simulation” gets in the way.
So, I now tend to shoot in “flatter” profile film sim….

More about “shooting without messing around white balance”, and “fix in the post” and “Fujifilm film simulations”.

So, for someone like me, “setting the camera’s white balance at one fixed value and don’t change it” works really well.
It cuts down preparation time (I can shoot quickly), less prone to make mistakes, and, perhaps most importantly, it frees my mind (one less thing to think about).

These photos were taken yesterday morning.
I saw deer through the kitchen window while I was making coffee.
I turned off the stove, run to the bedroom and grabbed X-H2, and walked outside as quickly as I can without making sound.
What that means is I had no time to make any adjustment in camera setting.
(BTW, when I turn off the camera, I always turn aperture ring to wide open, and turn the focus ring to infinity. (I don’t use zoom lenses, I don’t use auto focus lenses) So that when I pick up the camera next time and turn it on, remove the lens cap, focus ring and aperture ring turn to ONLY ONE DIRECTION. (With Canon FD lenses, that means I rotate focus ring to CW, aperture ring to CCW.)

JPEG image the camera generated
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53921245369_4819e0f25b_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2q9QtEi)XH2C4680 (https://flic.kr/p/2q9QtEi) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

Edit RAW file, but only the brightness and aperture
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53921144003_95d1b62b23_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2q9PXwB)Clueless_1 (https://flic.kr/p/2q9PXwB) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

LUT applied, then some filters applied in PS.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53921144058_054b44a1bb_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2q9PXxy)Clueless_1_1 (https://flic.kr/p/2q9PXxy) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

JPEG generated by the camera
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53920031037_4162b292ec_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2q9JfFx)XH2C4683 (https://flic.kr/p/2q9JfFx) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

After editing with LUT and filters
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53920926481_c5d9d437f9_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2q9NQSe)Clueless_2_2 (https://flic.kr/p/2q9NQSe) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

Original photo (Camera generated JPEG)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53920058127_78b3402f12_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2q9JoJB)XH2C4691 (https://flic.kr/p/2q9JoJB) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

After the edit
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53921200668_4f8fcca446_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2q9QfnA)The Deer Hunter_1 (https://flic.kr/p/2q9QfnA) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

Original photo (camera generated JPEG)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53920967651_f5b84c7dd7_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2q9P474)XH2C4695 (https://flic.kr/p/2q9P474) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

Cropped, brightness and aperture adjusted
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53921418675_f317cd6d69_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2q9Rnbk)The Deer Hunter_2 (https://flic.kr/p/2q9Rnbk) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

LUT and filters applied
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53920967406_d9bc0c2f5c_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2q9P42Q)The Deer Hunter_2_2 (https://flic.kr/p/2q9P42Q) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

Some people may think they would be perfectly okay with camera generated JPEG image, after seeing “before and after” images.

So far, I like the idea of shoot everything with 5500 Kelvin white balance.

August 17th. Photos

So I went to my “Secret Base” today.
(every superhero needs secret hideout. Mine is located right behind San Rafael PD. Not as nice as Porco Rosso’s hideout. But, it works for me.)

Prco’s hideout
(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/5wzRnhEhzmY/maxresdefault.jpg)

Mine
https://youtu.be/yy_dlYL-dT0
https://youtu.be/12rElR3zPYg

The main reason was to do quick sight-in of newly acquired Weihrauch HW45.
But, I also took some pictures.

I guess you can tell which one is the original and which one is edited.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53930157269_d7845369be_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2qaC9RK)Deer_1_2 (https://flic.kr/p/2qaC9RK) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53930157254_b6b6c037a2_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2qaC9Ru)Deer_1 (https://flic.kr/p/2qaC9Ru) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53929814476_79937dadd7_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2qaAoXw)Deer_2_2 (https://flic.kr/p/2qaAoXw) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53930264980_f2448bca95_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2qaCGSQ)Deer_2 (https://flic.kr/p/2qaCGSQ) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53930264810_8d191c4e06_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2qaCGPU)Deer_3_2 (https://flic.kr/p/2qaCGPU) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53930057188_a607034f88_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2qaBD7d)Deer_3 (https://flic.kr/p/2qaBD7d) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53930157069_362073d64a_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2qaC9Ni)Deer_4_2 (https://flic.kr/p/2qaC9Ni) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53929814266_c53cac72da_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2qaAoTU)Deer_4 (https://flic.kr/p/2qaAoTU) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

These two images are straight out of the camera. (X-H2 with vintage Canon FD50mm f1.4)
No edit, at all.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53928907877_4063bc93a7_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2qavKsv)Summer of 1983 (https://flic.kr/p/2qavKsv) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53928907887_004347134f_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2qavKsF)Summer of 1983_2 (https://flic.kr/p/2qavKsF) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

Kinda off topic. But, YAMAHA motorcycles’ advertisement phots were more artistic than the others (back in the early 1980s) …

I originally wrote this for another motorcycle forum.
But, I thought this might be useful to some of you, or at least entertaining.

Now, I am not good at editing photos, at all. But I do color grading on video regularly.(Again, I don’t claim myself any sort of expert…)

Anyhow, here’s one example how I do. (Creating B&W image)

After the edit
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53938555340_37ee41156e_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2qbncj5)Deer_4_Noir (https://flic.kr/p/2qbncj5) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

Before the edit (Adjusted brightness / exposure and contrast in RAW file, then exported as JPEG. If you are going to print, I guess you want to export as TIFF?)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53929814266_c53cac72da_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2qaAoTU)Deer_4 (https://flic.kr/p/2qaAoTU) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

Starting point
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53937198847_b742aefc49_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2qbff5g)Screen Shot 2024-08-21 at 8.34.25 AM (https://flic.kr/p/2qbff5g) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

Load 3D LUT (to make it B&W image)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53938352613_c051174bb7_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2qbma3M)Screen Shot 2024-08-21 at 8.34.42 AM (https://flic.kr/p/2qbma3M) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr
Bring the opacity down to 70%[/b][/i]
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53938352658_4c49340098_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2qbma4y)Screen Shot 2024-08-21 at 8.37.05 AM (https://flic.kr/p/2qbma4y) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

Create background copy layer, go
Filter>Gaussian blur, change blend mode to “soft light”, bring opacity down to 50%
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53938435879_fbfccbd155_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2qbmzNp)Screen Shot 2024-08-21 at 8.37.53 AM (https://flic.kr/p/2qbmzNp) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

Now, it looks like this
(This layer needs to be above Background layer and below LUT layer)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53938352303_b6e484c6eb_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2qbm9Xr)Screen Shot 2024-08-21 at 8.38.16 AM (https://flic.kr/p/2qbm9Xr) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

Create new visible layer above Gaussian blur layer, below LUT layer
Shift + Command + U (Desaturate), go
Filter>Other>High Pass, change blend mode to “over lay”
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53938102596_0a34327e1c_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2qbjSJ9)Screen Shot 2024-08-21 at 8.39.30 AM (https://flic.kr/p/2qbjSJ9) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

Go back to “Background copy” layer(Gaussian blur layer), adjust opacity

Opacity increased to 75%
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53938557425_663a004c87_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2qbncW2)Screen Shot 2024-08-21 at 8.41.14 AM (https://flic.kr/p/2qbncW2) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

Opacity decreased to 20%
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53938352263_05ca0940f6_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2qbm9WK)Screen Shot 2024-08-21 at 8.40.51 AM (https://flic.kr/p/2qbm9WK) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

I settled down at 36%
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53938352263_05ca0940f6_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2qbm9WK)Screen Shot 2024-08-21 at 8.40.51 AM (https://flic.kr/p/2qbm9WK) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

Go to LUT layer and adjust opacity
Opacity increased to 82%
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53938102291_1d497a06a5_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2qbjSCT)Screen Shot 2024-08-21 at 8.42.33 AM (https://flic.kr/p/2qbjSCT) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

Crop
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53937198107_16c42c9a6a_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2qbfeRv)Screen Shot 2024-08-21 at 8.44.10 AM (https://flic.kr/p/2qbfeRv) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

“Dirty Harry (1971)” last scene filming location

These photos were taken Aug. 19th.
This is where the last scene of “Dirty Harry” was filmed, although, there’s nothing resemble the movie scene anymore, except for one.

“The cottage”
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53940820903_c581c94452_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2qbyNMv)Dirty Harry Cottage (https://flic.kr/p/2qbyNMv) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

Screenshot
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53940842063_ee532810dd_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2qbyV5k)ScrrenShot Dirty Harry Cottage (https://flic.kr/p/2qbyV5k) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

Painted in different color, but you can see, this cottage is still there, virtually unchanged.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53940901724_c63617e066_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2qbzdNY)Dirty Harry Cottage2 (https://flic.kr/p/2qbzdNY) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

In the movie, right after that screenshot (you can see Scorpio and Harry are trying to point their guns at each other, through windscreen of the school bus), Scorpio turns school bus abruptly to the left, right front of the pickup truck in oncoming lane, hitting the fence of Hutchinson Co. Quarry.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53940887358_584a20945f_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2qbz9xh)Final showdown (https://flic.kr/p/2qbz9xh) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

See the white building back there?
That’s where the last scene was filmed.
(Now it is Larkspur apartment. It IS a private property, although there’s no gate, no security guard or anything, (There might be security cameras, though), so it is possible to walk up there and take some photos and videos, but… there’s nothing, really. Just a modern, complex apartment and parking in Marin county. Nothing worth photographing.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53939665227_a9e7a4c225_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2qbsTf4)Scorpio'sPOV1 (https://flic.kr/p/2qbsTf4) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53940569896_ad349d690f_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2qbxwaN)Scorpio'sPOV2 (https://flic.kr/p/2qbxwaN) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

I made a video, took some photos of “school bus scene” last year.
https://youtu.be/iidr9-a2ov4

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53179865833_c73cda217d_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2p2jHmv)_DSF0055 (https://flic.kr/p/2p2jHmv) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53179561404_3e8fd2d674_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2p2i9RJ)_DSF0067 (https://flic.kr/p/2p2i9RJ) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

Hill People Gear CARGO kit bag mini update, using as sling bag (Pocket Sling)
https://youtu.be/nGLCfx-a3JY

(1st Video)
https://youtu.be/WpwD2r07stA

So, I’ve been using this as “sling bag” lately. I purchased this shoulder sling (HPG calls it “Pocket Sling”) with the kit bag, at the same time.
I am normally not a fan of one shoulder sling bag, messenger bag style bag, etc.
BUT, I really like this one.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53943874590_a2bdd3b1fd_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2qbQsxh)Bag front (https://flic.kr/p/2qbQsxh) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

I also changed para cord zipper pull on the main compartment. (Changed to bright orange. And the top zipper pull has “glow in the dark” skull bead, from Prometheus Design Werx.)

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53943420886_fd805668b2_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2qbN8EN)Renger bead & zipper pull (https://flic.kr/p/2qbN8EN) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

“Ranger bead” is not for land navigation, it’s for “counting scene# and take#”.
(If you don’t shoot videos, alone, this is totally irrelevant.)

This is a simpler version of DIY Para cord pace counter. I like this version better, than the one with decorative knots. (which is more common. I’m moving away from decorative knots, knife lanyard, etc.)
Beads are made by simple cow hitch knot, and main part is just overhand knot, nothing fancy, anybody can do it.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53943874570_1abe91dcde_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2qbQswW)Bag rear1 (https://flic.kr/p/2qbQswW) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53943874450_0fd22c26de_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2qbQsuS)Bag rear3 (https://flic.kr/p/2qbQsuS) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53943420721_18908b617b_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2qbN8BX)Bag rear2 (https://flic.kr/p/2qbN8BX) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

And, I wrapped the top handle for X-H2 with leather strip.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53943874600_116611c707_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2qbQsxs)leather wrapped top handle (https://flic.kr/p/2qbQsxs) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

…just like my X-T4
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53943766474_a669631f0e_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2qbPUpd)X-T4 handle (https://flic.kr/p/2qbPUpd) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

For thumbnail picture of my next YouTube video, which one do you think has the most impact?
I just quickly edited RAW files in Capture One. I will (most probably add text, and do some tweaking in PS.
Just wanted to ask people’s opinion.
Thanks in advance.
(I’m off to work now.)

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54013324727_88c2695098_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2qhYpDr)Youtube thumb (https://flic.kr/p/2qhYpDr) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54014557384_651dea7df2_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2qi5J59)Youtube thumb2 (https://flic.kr/p/2qi5J59) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54014232786_bb5fc682c3_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2qi44zC)Youtube thumb3 (https://flic.kr/p/2qi44zC) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

Quote from: S21FOLGORE on September 22, 2024, 01:44:15 PM

Was a very good video, "rookie" ... [laugh] [laugh] [laugh]
I wished I had the patience to actually learn how to correctly sharpen knives or aim correctly with short sight glasses[I can only see the 3 dots, no more]

What is this?

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54073739556_5d52738974_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2qoj3Sq)1-The Box (https://flic.kr/p/2qoj3Sq) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

It just came in Tuesday.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54073992408_404c695430_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2qokm2W)3-Inside (https://flic.kr/p/2qokm2W) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

A new belt…

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54072856277_250fd2b0ef_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2qoewit)4-The Belt_1 (https://flic.kr/p/2qoewit) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

Why do I spend so much money on just a “belt”?

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54072853922_5a24af9036_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2qoevAS)8-The Blet-Smoke_2 (https://flic.kr/p/2qoevAS) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

BTW, I used the “fog machine” for the first time…
(The photo above is “the right amount of effect”, I think.)

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54074061804_365acfd3bb_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2qokGEq)6-The Belt-toomuch smoke (https://flic.kr/p/2qokGEq) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

…too much smoke, obviously…

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54072853907_8490a10c1c_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2qoevAB)7-The Belt-still too much smoke (https://flic.kr/p/2qoevAB) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

,,,still too much (overall image looks too hazy)…

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54073738856_382041679d_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2qoj3Em)5-The Belt_No_Smoke (https://flic.kr/p/2qoj3Em) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

No smoke effect. This picture is the cleanest, of course.
But I’m not after the “spotlessly clean image”.
The subject is backlit intentionally, and I shoot from the "shadow side".

And, why I can’t buy my belts at Banana Republic or Nordstrom, Amazon?
Look at the size… the belt that fits properly on 27-inch waist is not easy to come by.
(Also, can you see how thick it is?)

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54074061809_418a575c22_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2qokGEv)9-The Belt_size reference (https://flic.kr/p/2qokGEv) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

Yup. My waist is that skinny…

Product photo challenge
Turning ugly, boring kitchen into (somewhat) cinematic !

Turn this …

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54076440160_2410b896eb_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2qoxTEy)1_Ugly Boring kitchen (https://flic.kr/p/2qoxTEy) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

…into these…

With Peter McKinnon LUT, “clean & tidy”, 72% opacity
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54076242158_555a0bad5b_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2qowSNJ)BRCC_GUNSHIP_1_PM_Clean&Tidy72 (https://flic.kr/p/2qowSNJ) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

No LUT
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54075105247_3daf0e113d_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2qor3QP)BRCC_GUNSHIP_1 (https://flic.kr/p/2qor3QP) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

With PM LUT “clean & tidy”, 68%
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54075105352_3954bcef65_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2qor3SC)BRCC_GUNSHIP_2 PM_Clean&Tidy68 (https://flic.kr/p/2qor3SC) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

No LUT
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54075105327_80b59df52c_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2qor3Sc)BRCC_GUNSHIP_2 (https://flic.kr/p/2qor3Sc) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

It’s NOT the steam coming from the coffee.
It’s this…
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54075985931_a09d95db92_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2qovyD2)BRCC_GUNSHIP&LENSGO (https://flic.kr/p/2qovyD2) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

This is my second time using this cheap handheld fog machine.
Overall, I’m very happy with it.

The Dark Knight Challenge (Camera Test)
Turn this ugly, boring kitchen into…

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54107495431_fc40add157_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2qri4jg)DSC00234 (https://flic.kr/p/2qri4jg) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

…something dramatic!

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54107742118_73f18a3679_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2qrjjDu)Camera test 10-31-2024_EDIT (https://flic.kr/p/2qrjjDu) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

First, turn off the ceiling lights. (Just too ugly.)

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54107746028_381f3fcc14_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2qrjkNU)XH2C5323 (https://flic.kr/p/2qrjkNU) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

You can see where I mounted teal color kicker light.(aputure MC) Intensity lowered to 8% or so, with defuser on.

Turn on the key light (Aputure MT pro), tungsten light color, around 70% intensity, with grid on.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54107488916_d3d87630cd_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2qri2nW)XH2C5322 (https://flic.kr/p/2qri2nW) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

That’s too bright. Lower the intensity (down to 45%)

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54107745963_cc6427bd20_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2qrjkMM)XH2C5325 (https://flic.kr/p/2qrjkMM) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

That looks better. Now, add some smoke…

Too much smoke…
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54107940380_c3ca29884d_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2qrkkzN)XH2C5330 (https://flic.kr/p/2qrkkzN) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

This looks all right…

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54107746008_3107a1aff4_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2qrjkNy)XH2C5336 (https://flic.kr/p/2qrjkNy) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

Adjust the exposure, bring down the highlight, bring up the shadow just a little bit, adjust the curve in Capture One.
Then, crop, making it looks like widescreen movie screenshot.

Obviously, light spill from the blind is a problem.
I need to put blue gel on the outside of the window, or completely block with moving blanket.
(Or, shoot before sunrise.)

Also, one might criticize, “Where all these lights are supposed to be coming from? This lighting Is so unrealistic.”

I guess I can move MC closer to the window. (So that it looks like the kicker light is coming from the light spill from the blind. That way, I don’t have to block or gel the window. The less prep work, the better. )
As for the key light, … I think the viewers can assume it’s from the ceiling (outside of the frame), even though the position of the light source is too low for that.

X100V Photo/Video Quick Shooting … in the kitchen
(Turn the ugly and boring kitchen into Photo / Video shooting set)

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54155715376_f43b06a905_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2qvycqC)Sukenari Salmon cut test_LUT (https://flic.kr/p/2qvycqC) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

This is how the “set” looks like.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54158506461_7f65ec0077_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2qvNv7M)Set (https://flic.kr/p/2qvNv7M) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

You can see the main star (Sukenari R2 Yanagiba), co star (Salmon) on the cutting board.
You can also see Zoom H1N (audio recorder) on the window frame, Aputure MC on the bottom side of the cupboard.
(MC has magnets on the back, and it’s attached to the steel bar that I taped on the underside of the cupboard.)

Hi, thanks for the comment which is actually pretty deeply meaningful, to me.

I post photos on ADVrider forum’s photography thread also.
When I posted this photo,

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53917753818_fb828d8fde_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2q9wzK9)Mill Valley-Sausalito Path (https://flic.kr/p/2q9wzK9) by T K (https://www.flickr.com/photos/186129755@N02/), on Flickr

One guy commented like this.
“<SNIP>
(The photo) looks like bad WB. The sunlit areas don't look sunny at all. I'd warm it up a bit and boost the saturation.

What were the WB settings for those? “

He didn’t read my description, or rather, ignored.
(Also, I DIDN'T ask an advice how to "correct" photo.}

“That photo (Mill Valley-Sausalito Path) was taken at around 4PM.( You probably missed that part?)
The sunlight at that time isn't "warmer hue" at all. It is still blue-ish white light. Not like warmer, orange-ish light in the morning or near sunset.
And, this particular area (Mill Valley, CA) is surrounded by hills and fogs, it's almost always "cool or cold".
At the time this photo was taken, it was chilly (despite the fact that we're in the middle of August and this is in sunny California :D)
So, the photo looks "cold", "isolated" "inhuman" on purpose.
I didn't want this photo to have "nice and warm" feeling.

He insisted, saying
“From my digital perspective, looking for accuracy:
(That Mill Valley-Sausalito path photo) feels like real life would have been warmer.” (Despite that fact that I stated it WASN'T WARM AT ALL.)

After reading this post, I just decided to ignore this guy.
Digital sensor does NOT accurately reproduce what our eyes see.
NEVER.
Him chasing the “perfection” is one thing. (And it’s totally fine.)
But, commenting “BAD” on someone’s work, just because it doesn’t match with his preference is, well, I don’t know what to say.
It is like commenting on Pablo Picasso or Salvador Dali’s picture,
“That picture’s perspective is BAD, this picture’s figure proportion is off, it should be this way.”

Some people have very poor vocabulary. (So they tend to call everything that doesn’t please them as “bad”.)
Some people know how much they know, so they start preaching / criticizing others, but they don’t know how much stuff out there that they don’t know…

Quote from: S21FOLGORE on November 26, 2024, 07:49:53 PM

Lol. I think that guy's an idiot. I don't know anything about photography and I enjoyed that photo. Looking at it before I even read any of your description I could describe it as cold. Waning as if life has moved on. I like it.

Keyboard warriors gotta keyboard.

Ducati Monster Forum

Kitchen Sink => No Moto Content => Topic started by: S21FOLGORE on January 12, 2024, 04:04:21 PM