Then, out of the blue, it happened.  I stumbled upon a link to a video that fascinated me.  Still does.  I’m going to share it with y’all, don’t worry.  First, how about a little background.  I’ve been re-reading David duChemin’s “VisionMongers” book lately.  Taking notes actually.  In a fancy new moleskine notebook and everything.  The combination of that material and this video have provided with quite a few thought provoking moments.

Often, I get asked “What type of camera do you shoot with” – as if that is solely responsible for the success (or failure) of my images.  I usually politely reply, giving the make and model of my camera.  The person usually nods, knowningly, as if to say “Ah, yes – thats why your images are so much better/worse than mine/this or that photographer’s.  Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m known to be a closeted gear head at times.  I read the reviews, research equipment all the time (research mostly involves adding things to my B&H or Amazon “wishlist”).  ”Professional” photographers, and peers of mine, all go back and forth with the advantages, disadvantages and such with various camera systems.  I have even been known, on occasion, to needle my close friend Alan for being a “traitor” and switching from a Nikon to a Canon system.  That is not to say that the camera makes the (wo)man so to speak.  Alan and I shot (gloriously and joyously, I might add) a complete project with cameras that are less sophisticated than almost any other, and cost only about $20.  There has been a myth, predicated by manufacturs of camera gear, that new, and more expensive is better, and therefore will make you a better photographer.  Bull#@$%.  Yes, photography is placed uniquely at a crossroads of “art” and “technology” – but its a symbiotic relationship, not one soley dependent on what model of camera you have.

Which, as it turns out, brings me (finally) to the video I was referring to before my longwinded rambling.  This proves, without a shadow of a doubt, that its not the technology, but how you USE it, that matters.  These guys produced a complete fashion shoot, with a CELL PHONE.  Yes, thats right, a CELL PHONE.  An iPhone 3GS to be exact.  Now, while the iPhone’s camera is pretty snazzy, it certainly not up to par with the latest and greatest medium format digital backs being used for fashion shoots these days.  Yet, as you will see, theses images ROCK.  Things to take note of: while the camera itself is just a cell phone, notice that the same amount of detail is paid to the model (stunning), her hair and makeup, and most importantly the lighting.  Yes, once again, in photography, it all comes back to the light.  The results are just stunning.  Now before you go and discount this with thoughts about “the retouching” – let me just say – they are upfront from the begining that the images get retouched.  By an absolutly phenominal retoucher as well.  That being said, they show you the “raw” images straight out of the camera too, and honestly, there isn’t a lot of dramatic retouching done.  Contrast and tone, sure, maybe the removal of some background objects, but certainly nothing crazily major.

Anyway, check out the video, cause I’ve been rambling for too long (but check down below for one last thought)

So what did you think?  Pretty amazing right? Made me sit up in my chair and take notice, for sure.  [insert 5th cup of tea here]  Thoughts are welcome down below, just leave me a comment.   Check out their full post and images HERE. Kudos for the Olympus dig, too guys.

One last thing – remember that whole “who would want to learn anything from me” comment back at the begining of this post?  Well, I am actually kinda interested to see if that statement is right or not.  So here’s the deal.  Leave a comment below and ask me anything (photography or lightroom/PS post related at least) and I’ll see about coming up with a tutorial for it.  Anything.  If I don’t know the answer right away, and that would be embarrassing after 4+ years of graduate MFA seeking schooling, I’ll look up the answer and STILL do a tutorial for it.  Bring it on.  :)  I’m not trying to generate any blog traffic, or get 5000 facebook friends, I just wanna give back and have a little fun.

So now that we’re all here, let’s do this.

J

So I know I promised a blog update on some new equipment I have been working with, so here it is. I finally got a camera that I am not constantly wishing I could upgrade. I got my hands on a brand-spanking new Nikon D700
. Its AMAZING. The quality of files coming out of this beast at high isos and in low light it simply mind boggling. I know it doesn’t shoot HD video like the Canon 5D mark II, but hey, when I go video, I’ll see about all of that then.

So I finally got to test out the camera – I went around town with my buddy Mike, attended Chinese New Year in Chinatown with Kelly, and a Superbowl party at Nick’s place.

Massive amounts of photos after the link :

CLICK ME –>

This one is for Rebecca Nolan.

Breakfast in Chinatown!

Superbowl Action:

Hope you enjoy!  More soon.  I can’t stop playing with this camera!!

J

(My mind is completely blown right now)

Did a little “spring” cleaning today – got the “man-cave” all squared away, sorted photography gear, and came upon a treasure chest of goodies.  37 different goodies to be exact.
I
Found
FILM!

Click the link for full story:

I found a Ziploc bag full of old (at least a year) 120 & 35mm film.  23 rolls of sweet, undeveloped medium format goodness, and 14 rolls of sexy, still in the can hotness.  (Enough description words for yaw?)
Now it would have been even cooler to find a new D700 in the mix, but beggars can’t be choosers.

The coolest part of this discovery (besides indulging my slightly obsessive need to categorize, sort and organize photography gear) was the unbelievable, exciting UNKNOWN to it all.  I have no idea what ANY of these rolls of film contains.  4 have “Maine” written on them, so I know that they were taken last summer at The Workshops.  I can’t figure out though, if they are Holga shots, images from my pinhole, or just randomness.  Exciting! Other than that, it points at my obviously need to label film cartridges.It’s an interesting experience – finding a ton of undeveloped film, not having any idea of what it contains.  Exciting, yet stressful all at the same time.

This is due to 2 distinct possibilities.

1) Film is developed, contains wondrous amounts of hidden gems, and exciting-but-forgotten shots.

2) Film is developed, and comes back as messed up rolls, film/camera errors, and other horrible technical difficulties.  That, and it ends up being 37 rolls of grey card film tests, or photos of my ceiling fan.  Lame.  Money/Time (or both) is wasted in large amounts.

Like I said, time to label more.

All in all, I’m going to hope for option #1, and send these to the ATL to get developed. Well, I will when I get some cash, as its going to cost a couple hundred dollars to get it all developed and contact printed. Note: I am not being lazy, but I don’t have the time or energy with my current projects to take time out (a lot of it) to sit in a pitch-black closet hand developing black and white rolls of medium format film. Especially as I don’t know if they will be beneficial to my current projects.  As it is all at least a year old, I doubt it.  So someone else can do it.

Other than that, I am getting pretty happy with the state of my photo library.  I am still working on getting archival boxes for the prints I have made/traded/collected over the past 4 years but the photo book department is currently looking pretty good.  90% of these were purchased at Timothy Whelan’s book store (Rockport, Maine).  His store is like a Mecca for photo geeks.  All photo books, all the time.  Half of the books you pick up are signed by the authors, and aren’t even marked up in price.  Awesome, awesome store.

Other than that, just working on the morocco photos, organizing my catalogs, working on develop settings, and generally just geeking out.

John