stephen schaub

The Open System

by EveNSteve

There’s lots of talk today online and in print about open camera system architecture…that is to say, a camera system that will accept different camera backs (medium and large format) and perhaps even lenses made by different manufacturers (see new Zeiss and Voigtlander offering for Nikon).

Very Cul!

Hasselblad of course screwed up this warm group hug and collective back rubbing with the introduction of the H3 which is a closed system (read: they want all your money) – definitely a lame move on their part.

The best (most flexible and cost effective) open system to date is: analog FILM married to a good scanner. Lots of options with a minimal investment and proven, time-tested technology to boot.

The best- or at least coolest- digital open system so far?…consider the Hy6 (you know, if you have $30,000.00+ just kicking around)!

I, for one, will stick with the film option.

Fake Film!

by EveNSteve

Just came across some new software that will give your digital files the look of many classic films with respect to color, contrast and yes, even grain.

I mean, what? What?

Want film? Want the film look? Here’s a crazy idea: shoot film!
Shoot- Scan- Print…it’s that easy. So much for the death of film. Imitation- even digital imitation- is the highest form of flattery… don’t ya know.

Focus: How To and Should You!

by EveNSteve

I, for one, feel that focus is highly over-rated. As a matter of fact- for almost 2 years I would argue that none of my images were “in focus” or at least not sharp. Did that make them less photographic or less of an Artwork?

No.

Focus is just one element of an image and not the most important by any means. I often find the bokeh (or the out-of-focus qualities) of an image much more engaging than an image with sharpness throughout.

All of this being said- how do you focus a camera to ensure the exact point or plan of focus that you have chosen is sharp? Easy! Just follow these 4 steps:

1. Turn off the F$#cking auto focus.
2. Turn your lens to the point of focus and then just beyond.
3. Now turn your lens back in the opposite direction and just past the point that appears sharp.
4. Now turn your lens back to the point of focus.

By focusing back and forth and with each pass closing in tighter and tighter to your chosen point of focus it allows you to see just exactly where the point of focus is and what it looks like just before and just after. This technique is really quite fast and will ensure the best possible focus…something which is really important when you are working with a fast lens say at f2.0 – there is no margin for error with a depth of field that shallow.

And one final tip…use good glass!

The Economy of Art

by EveNSteve

The Economy of Art? Why, Money! Fame. Money. More Money!!

NO.

The Economy of Art in this case refers to the amount of art you show- or rather- how much you don’t show. Look at it like this: why show 30 or 40 prints when 20 is enough, and probably represents a stronger, more concise body of work…30 is sure to confuse your viewer. Ever wonder why most galleries want to see only 20 images or fewer for review?

1. It represents the maximum amount of time they are willing to spend on reviewing your work for consideration.
2. It tells the gallery that you know how to edit your own work and thus have an idea about what your work is about.
3. It keeps their editing focused on a tight body of work and helps them decide- fairly quickly- if you suck or not.

So keep this in mind when you are submitting work to a gallery or assembling a show of your works…LESS IS MORE!

And taking my own advice… Nuff said.

WTF

by EveNSteve

By Stephen M. Schaub

I think I’m going puke. Scanning though my current issue of PDN I came across an ad for a stock agency proclaiming the end to high prices and fees. They promote that you can get an image with usage for as little as $1.00…That’s right! For the price of a value meal at McDonalds, you too can use one of these images to death.

The sad part is that the photographer (who is obviously an idiot for agreeing to these terms) can’t afford to go with you.

Protect Your Work

by EveNSteve

By Stephen M. Schaub

Every photographer knows to make backup copies of their digital files and to always put a copyright notice with each use of one of their works but what most photographers don’t realize is that the fire safes they have their negatives and CD’s stored in will not protect them from a fire. That’s right, they will melt- as they were designed for protecting paper and not your negatives or CDs.

For example: I was just reading a story on line about a photographer in California whose house was tragically destroyed in the recent fires. When he returned to his home he was delighted to find his fire safe intact… only to open it and find the negatives and transparencies inside were all melted…30 years worth of work gone!

What can you do?

Simple, buy a Media Safe. These safes are specifically designed to protect items that will melt at a lower temperature than paper will burn. Yes I know they can be expensive and quite heavy but it is the only way to ensure your negatives, transparencies and CD/ DVD’s will survive a fire. Additionally, most companies who make media safes will also give you a new one if yours was damaged in a fire- nice.

So, what’s more expensive: losing 30 years worth of irreplaceable work? Or the cost of proper protection a good media safe provides? I have had one for the last 10 years and believe me, the peace of mind is worth every penny.

Photo Expo…Same old, same old

by EveNSteve

By Stephen M. Schaub

Yesterday was a marathon trek from Vermont to NYC and back to witness first hand Photo Expo 2007. Was it worth it? Am I a changed person? Are my images now sharper?

In one word, NO.

Some new products that are worth mentioning (note how small the list is):

New E3 by Olympus and new lenses by Olympus
New Satin Canvas by IJ Technologies

That’s about it for things new and worthy. Much of the show was a rehash of PMA from last winter. Sure there were new systems from Nikon and Canon and tweaks to current software and stuff but nothing earth shattering. Everyone I met kept asking “have you seen anything good- anything new?” Universal answer- NO.

It seems to me that the industry (The Photo Industrial Complex) is suffering from the recoil effect of the last few years…when there is huge growth there is always a healthy contraction for a breather. Lets hope that accompanied with this breather is a bit of long term planning or else we may find ourselves very soon on a respirator!

I also notice that several companies had come out with or were about to launch in the coming months cheaper versions of their current products…is this to strike a new market, or to help keep their current and now impoverished one? You decide.

I know there will be web sites proclaiming this amazing new gizmo or that fantastic new optic but in the end the best part about expo for me was chance to reconnect with some friends and just talk.

Nostradamus of the Photo Universe

by EveNSteve

By Stephen M. Schaub

My predictions are usually right…I have successfully predicted over the last few years with clairvoyant accuracy many of the new trends in the photographic community (it’s a gift… and a curse).

So what is next, you ask?Let me gaze into my crystal monitor…

I see in our collective future…LENSES and more LENSES. Think about it…you’ve upgraded everything you own and the world is not perfect…a-hah! Caught you enjoying the remaining few dollars left in your wallet, didn’t we? Never fear …it’s time for new digitally optimized glass (lenses). This does make sense? Well, as most glass used by photographers today was designed for film and not digital capture… yes there is a difference, especially on the wide angle. But who will this really affect? Not all glass is created equal. Which systems will benefit the most from these new “future” offering (code for: the current glass is kinda sucky)?

Nikon and Canon users get ready for new glass. Nikon and Canon do have some good lenses to offer (a few) but nothing I would regard as really amazing and as such it’s UPGRADE time. Leica users are pretty much ok especially with many of the new lenses released over the last decade or so…even old Leica glass can go toe to toe with the best made by most other company’s lenses. I know Nikon and Canon users will bitch forever that I said that their lenses are of a lesser qualtity than Leica but they ARE- so get over it. Ever see an M8 digital capture using a great 50mm Leica lens, say a Summilux 1.4 and compare that to any Canon or Nikon with their best 50mm…have ya?… once you’ve seen it, all becomes clear.

Also interesting is that Zeiss and Schneider are getting into the SLR game and offering what is predicted to be some amazing glass (Schneider already offers a 28mm PC lens in Nikon mount that I looked at a year ago…it was simply stunning with a huge image circle.

Olympus and their 4 thirds system seems in my opinion to be right on track as their lenses are optimized already for their current digital generation cameras. No hold-overs here, they built the whole system from ground up…this took guts I’m sure but from what I’ve seen they may have been right.

So now that you’ve spent all your money on software, printers and a new camera body and were filling pretty smug with more resolution than you need, get ready for one of the biggest real advances in photographic technology that will really make your images sharper…new digitally optimized glass.

"I’m doing it all for you buddy!"

by EveNSteve

By Stephen M. Schaub

As a young boy I collected comic books among other things and in my home town there was a dealer who’s closing sales line was always…”I’m doing it all for you buddy!” Give me a break! Teleport decades into the future and I sometimes have the same feeling when the Photo Industrial Complex releases their newest offerings…they’re doing it all for us? Really? Are you sure?

I will be at Photo Expo Plus in NYC this coming week delivering to needy companies everywhere (yes I double as Santa with an attitude) their own personal copy of the Figital Revolution Manifesto (sure to win me friends) and also looking to see if there are any real “diamonds” amongst all the repackaged junkyard we call a Photo Convention. I am preparing to hear sales lines like “simply the finest color possible anywhere” or “sharper, faster, quieter” and maybe even “I’m doing it all for you, buddy!”