i want to buy something...

oltimer said:
Joe you live in some of the most beautiful shots of Canada and the US ever taken in Black and White photography. Yes, I know it has been shot before; but look how Adams did it forever to be remembered? Just load your favorite camera in film and go do it.
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GOOD ADVICE!!

Forget the camera, take a walk, a bike ride. Go fishing with a friend, or just boating. Remember where you live, leave the cement.

I do it almost every weekend, just seeing the trees and the river on the Palisades does it for me. Just a 45 minute subway ride to be in beauty.
 
An excellent idea - doesn't have to be expensive. There is something special about seeing your images in book form and it is always a good reminder of why you take photographs when you lack inspiration.
 
How about this. As many of us suffer from a unusual amount of GAS, and every soft often get trapped by a wall not of our own making, and often new to us gear shakes out the cobwebs and puts a smile on our face what about we put what we learned in Kindergarten to use and start BAFG2SC.

Back Alley Fuji Glass/Gadget Sharing Circle. The idea is that folks in the circle purchase one item for use on that style of camera (e.g. lens, flash) and send it to the next person in the circle for them to make five good pictures with. Each item shared in the circle has a site where everyone's shots are exhibited. Say every three weeks the you send the item on to the next person in the circle. One week is added to the three for shipping. People can join or leave the circle at any start/end of the cycle. People could try one of those mirror lenses, or an adapted FSU ltm lenses, or an off camera flash.

As some of us are not flush with cash the monthly cost is just shipping and the initial purchase of your item. You start the circle out and post the first five shots.

It would take some noodling about how to blend folks in and out, what is sharable and what might be more problematic, perhaps specalized (e.g EVF) stuff jumps folks who can't use it.

You could use RFF perhaps to host the pictures and discussion threads about what different folks tried with each item.

Just a thought.

B2
 
Rather than continuing to search for the magic bullet why not take a workshop or a trip and workshop to improve on what you already know. Sometimes this can be a much better investment than equipment. The better you execute your images the more satisfying it will be.
 
I think that a workshop would be a good idea for when one is really stuck. If you're not shooting anything anyway, may as well let someone take the lead, while you follow suggestions and directions.
 
i have been shooting but have not been happy with what i'm producing...plus the little eos m seems to be fighting me (and winning) when it comes to sharp pics. i know the camera work fine because it produces sharp images when on a tripod but wont when in my hands.
my horizons never seem straight no matter what i shoot...i don't know if it's a mental thing or my body just not working properly any longer.
 
back alley said:
my horizons never seem straight no matter what i shoot...i don't know if it's a mental thing or my body just not working properly any longer.
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I think it is a mental thing, I am 48 and a couple years ago, I went through a period of when my horizons were tilted and I was like "WTF???" so I made a concerted effort to pay closer attention to it and it has helped. But man is it an odd thing, I still don't know why it happened...

Yeah...take a workshop ( when you can, I know you are tight on coin ). Between the actual self betterment and the camaraderie I have come to really love them when I feel I am due.
 
back alley said:
i have been shooting but have not been happy with what i'm producing...plus the little eos m seems to be fighting me (and winning) when it comes to sharp pics. i know the camera work fine because it produces sharp images when on a tripod but wont when in my hands.
my horizons never seem straight no matter what i shoot...i don't know if it's a mental thing or my body just not working properly any longer.
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U have mentioned your frustration w/ the eos m on several occasions now.. I am beginning to wonder if the frustration w/ the camera is giving u a mental block...maybe too much thinking (even sun-consciously) about how to fix the issue prevents u from really enjoying your photography.

Gary
 
GaryLH said:
U have mentioned your frustration w/ the eos m on several occasions now.. I am beginning to wonder if the frustration w/ the camera is giving u a mental block...maybe too much thinking (even sun-consciously) about how to fix the issue prevents u from really enjoying your photography.

Gary
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i do seem to be fixated on the eos m...i like that little camera and the small lenses but not the images i make with them.
otoh, the fuji was made for me but i have been ignoring it to concentrate on the canon.
by now, normally, i would have put the eos on the block but i have resisted, thinking time with the camera would change things.
 
icebear said:
Get yourself a Japanese knife sharpening stone and watch instruction videos how to use it properly. Once you get the hang of it, it turns out to be a very meditative action. Watch you fingers though! Take care of all you dull knives in the house. Something that usually gets pushed out or never taken care of. And once you have done it, check! Yeah!
You can of course reward yourself with a new pocket knife ... haven't you contemplated before about pocket knives, I think I remember something. Anyway, got myself a Kershaw Leek recently. Not a exactly a workhorse but fabulous opening action and pretty darn sharp out of the package.
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Klaus, hmmm, something about photography and kitchen knives. If you can find them, try out the Hattori KD damascus series. Hardened to Rockwell HRC 65 or so, and they keep their sharpness for a long time.
 
back alley said:
i do seem to be fixated on the eos m...i like that little camera and the small lenses but not the images i make with them.
otoh, the fuji was made for me but i have been ignoring it to concentrate on the canon.
by now, normally, i would have put the eos on the block but i have resisted, thinking time with the camera would change things.
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Since u know the camera is taking sharp pictures via tripod and u shoot fine w/ the Fuji xe1...

Personally I think it is the way u hold the camera.. U maybe more natural shooting w/ a traditional 3 point mode using an ovf on the hot shoe. If u have a camera store that sells the 35fov ovf, I would go in their and ask to try one out. Bring your eos-m w/ the 22 stm. Shoot some shots in the store, ask for a salesman to accompany u out and try some shots out. If those shots look better than what u have been getting, the ovf maybe the right path for u. It may not work for your zooms, but u could frame loosely w/ the zoom and use the ovf to take the shot (a bit of an excercise to say the least).

U could try the neck strap tension method if u don't want to go the ovf approach.

Me, I shoot w/ an ovf on cameras like the Sigma DP2 or Ricoh GR...I at that age where I just can't hold a camera as steady as I used to..shooting w/ the LCD held in front of me just makes things worst.

Cameras that have built-in stabilization, I can still shoot w/ the LCD screen..

Good luck
Gary
 
Nice knife!

I have a very old hand-made boot knife that I like a lot. It's only 440 stainless, but it's survived and held a sharp edge for 35 years. A friend of a friend made it for me once upon a time.

G
 
back alley said:
...... my horizons never seem straight no matter what i shoot...i don't know if it's a mental thing or my body just not working properly any longer.
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Joe: I received an excellent dissertation about "level horizon people" vs. "tilted horizon people" a number of years back. It was from a very perceptive person, incredible photographer, ex-spouse of a "level horizon person", who has helped me clarify my direction over the years. Interestingly, we graduated from high school together back in '61 but were not in the same cliques back then.

I have found the "level horizon" vs. "tilted horizon" to be a fairly accurate personality indicator over the years. Have you changed?

edit: I will say my friend referred to above quit shooting with her Mamiya 7 because it "got in the way of her photography" and now does incredible work with a simply digital P&S.
 
i had a sony rx100 with no ovf and did fine with it...i think i just might be more shaky these days and in fact need an ovf for that 3 point stability.
 
Joe
I still think you should try the Ricoh GR.
It's amazing how such a simple tool can deliver so many keepers.
You may just find it genius :)
 
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