New York NYC CameraPlusExpo 2016/ AKA January Meet-Up/ Camera Olympics

Not sure why but many cameras I like (but do not buy, yet!) are controversial cameras...the Df being one of them...another one is the Leica T....and another is....
robert
 
jsrockit said:
I love it... and you know I don't care what others think of my camera. I'm sure I'm annoying in many ways... I have my shortcomings as well. So, I guess the Df matches me. 🙂
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John,

In my book annoying is good. Too much mediocrity in the world. Who wants to be just average and blend in?

Also many people lack style, and to me the DF has plenty. Pretty funny that the DF inspired me. I think you will appreciate the look of my newest "monster." Kinda looks like a DF on steroids.

BTW the solid bulky feel is no joke and for hand held shooting this rig is hot. Feels great with the AF-D 28/1.4.

BTW my rescue dog is mighty annoying, but that is why I love him. The "Evil Beagle" is a good name for my camera for this reason.

Cal
 
Piezography is running a Black Friday sale so the time to load up the truck as they say on Wall Street is happening soon. Will likely pull out the plastic card with the magic numbers to stock up on paper and ink to feed the "Jersey Barrier" (the name of the Epson 7800 that blocks traffic in what is a bedroom that has become a giant walk in closet).

Over the weekend I started printing 13x19.5 on 17x22 and the results kinda crush the 13x19's with a small border that I consider just work prints.

It seems all the printing I did over the past 11 months and spending thousands of dollars has sharpened my eyes, and I now have been tweaking further the files to the point where there is a big jump in IQ, tonality and smoothness.

The added large border for framing presents a sculptural quality also. I hope to have a potfolio together by January. The 13x19's seemed to be evolutionary as proofs, and the new prints crush the 13x19's. I am very pleased by the results.

As one prize I will offer one of my prints. The winner can pick from the portfolio.

Also as a prize I will process and print a 13x19.5 on 17x22 from a Raw DNG file as the better prize.

Cal
 
jsrockit said:
How is the actual photo any better? It's just a border change no? or are you saying you've just gotten better at printing?
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John,

The 13x19's worked as proofs and taught me a lot about post processing. From the repetition of printing so much over the last 11 months (crazy intensive) I have gotten a lot better and also I have become fully intergrated into the Piezography system.

The tweaking of the files is just that-minor changes, but it is really like the final polish that creates a more refined end product. The minor tweaks surprised me because the end result is mucho signifigantly better in a big way that ended up being dramatic.

There now are wide borders that frame the print, but overall the small size increase of the image actually looks kinda huge and way larger where the print seems more sculptural. The 13x19's had a small 1/4 inch border, the 13x 19.5 image size on the 17x22 inch paper is a tiny bit bigger, but the prints are at the point where I don't feel that the image has to be printed larger like I use to think. They look fully developed.

Anyways the small changes add up and seem to be rather drastic in the end result. I am kinda fixed at this size to exploit the stock frame size of 18x24 to avoid custom framing and going broke.

The breakthrough happened over the weekend because this rather famous street photographer, Jamal, tracked me down and called me because he wants to frame the print I got to him via Luis Mendez. Since Jamal was going to have the image of Anthony taking a picture with a Crown Graphic of himself and Luis Mendez with another Crown Graphic in front of the Leica Gallery museum framed I offered to make a print slightly larger with big borders.

The light was challenging because dusk was descending and I was photographing three black men in dimming flat lighting, but the new print displays more detail and is less flat than in the work print. I like the image a lot better. Anthony loved the image I showed him after I took the shot, but I was reluctant to e-mail him the file, and instead I made him a print. I went further and made a print for Luis and included one for Jamal.

Jamal is reknowned because he is a Corrections Officer at Rikers where he uses street photography to sort out the conflict of being a black man and his career. I find it quite an honor that Jamal is framing this shot for display in his home. I think he will find the new print mucho better in every way.

Cal
 
Sunday, January 17th 2016 is the big event. To make this the best event ever I'm offering some really big prizes.

I will donate $100.00 worth of printing from Digital Silver Imaging that is part of some leftover credit that I have on my account as a Gold Metal prize. This high end service is about getting silver wet prints made from digital files.

For the Silver Metal I will print a 13x19 on 17x22 paper using Piezography (B&W only) from the winner's Raw file and this includes a 13x19 proof in perfecting the image.

I will also give away one of my 13x19 Piezography prints printed on 17x22. The winner or this prize can select from the most recent batch of about 30 images for the Bronze Metal.

Let the trash talking begin.

Cal
 
Cal,

That's very generous of you. I got the message now, it's all about PRINTS.

Your last batch shown yesterday was fantastic. Any of these three prizes will make me go home very happy. If I got Bronze Medal, Helen's favorite (Louis Mendes in action) would be my choice as well. BTW, that should have been the Gold, IMHO 🙂

John
 
SuperUJ said:
Cal,

That's very generous of you. I got the message now, it's all about PRINTS.

Your last batch shown yesterday was fantastic. Any of these three prizes will make me go home very happy. If I got Bronze Medal, Helen's favorite (Louis Mendes in action) would be my choice as well. BTW, that should have been the Gold, IMHO 🙂

John
Click to expand...

John,

Trying to transition our annual silly event into something more serious. Also yesterday's Meet-Up was very informative and I would like to thank everyone involved because I really learned a lot from other experts. If it was not for the support of the group from the NYC Meet-Up I would not have advanced.

As a debt of gratitude for all my friends and their support this is just a small token.

If it were not for Chris and Joe I would not now own a Epson 7800; If it were not for Christian who I used as a "help desk" I would of gotten muddled in technical difficulties. Also John has been a real great influence of artistic inspiration. Really great to have a support group that shares passion.

You kinda get what you give... Last year's grand prize was a cool camera that was a shelf queen. It was a great honor to be beaten by Sam by 6 cents sales tax in the cheap camera competion. LOL.

Cal
 
All you North East NY City Area Club people, I'm really looking forward to meeting you in about a month's time. Thank you again for pulling your February gear-fest forward, but really it will be nice just seeing you all in person and shooting the breeze.
Calzone, your prizes are really generous. Your Peizography prints sound amazing.
Excited beyond measure, I am!
 
helenhill said:
LOVE You Cal ❤️❤️ Thanks again !!
for Graciously giving Me your Photo & Print of 'Louis Mendes & Company '
The Photo that Portrays Louis & Friends shooting outside the now closed down historic Leica Gallery

It's a Beautiful Print ... w-Border 17 x 23
so COOOOL , Tres Atmospheric , NY & Hip
will have to show Louis he Graces my Wall

now I'm on the hunt for a PURRfect Frame...,
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Helen,

Always fun and crazy having you around.

What kind of EXPO would it be without an exhibit. I say we all hunt down all those shots we took of Louis and bring them to the Olympics, I will bring out my collection of street portraits that Louis took of me. It would be great to have Louis grace our meet-up.

Have you ever seen Louis without his camera? I have. It was the time when he had me hold onto his camera while he went for lunch, and I was a Louis Mendez Impersonator. LOL.

That camera sure had mojo, and the crowds of strangers hovered around me magically.

Cal
 
Calzone said:
Trying to transition our annual silly event into something more serious.
Click to expand...

Serious(ly), we have way too much digital stuff going on lately. Let me throw in 10 roles of fresh Tri-X 135 film as prize to balance things out. I am afraid that an evil digital will come on top for the first time this year.

John
 
SuperUJ said:
Serious(ly), we have way too much digital stuff going on lately. Let me throw in 10 roles of fresh Tri-X 135 film as prize to balance things out. I am afraid that an evil digital will come on top for the first time this year.

John
Click to expand...

John,

Thanks for contributing to our event.

As far as evil goes, I think shooting both digital and analog is mucho evil. Call me a bad boy, but shooting both digital and analog is like having two girl friends at the same time.

Just because you have a new M-246 that's awesome does not mean you will win over the will of the mob. LOL.

Cal
 
I'll bring the Nikon D3 I'm working on, I received it yesterday, anybody know
how to remove gaffer/duck tape from the rubber??, also did you set a date yet?.
I want to put in the date early at my job. I'm also taken the D3 to work today
give it a work out.
 
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