Benjamin Marks
Veteran
Every year I put together a book of pictures for my kids. It contains the best pictures of each of them from each month and little text. Blurb does a nice job of this. The grandmothers typically get a copy, but I always order two extras: one for each of the kids. I anticipate that these will actually become the books that they use to remember their pasts -- not the GBs of data stored on my various hard drives. The books are about 9x12 hardcovers.
The cameras I used this year were primarily a Nikon D3, a Leica M9, an Olympus EP-2 and a Sony NEX 5. The final selection of pictures have taught me some things about the gear I am using. First: each has adequate pixels for this project. Yup. The best that the Olympus produces is just fine for a book this size compared to the others. However (and it is a big however), the highest percentage of failed shots also come from the Olympus (pix that seemed OK as thumb-nails, but that turn out to have focus or other problems when viewed at working sizes). So: lesson one: the Olympus can work fine, but a more attention must be paid to technique in order to get the best out of it.
Second: The "keepers" -- that is, the pictures that make it into the book break down this way: Nikon D3: 53%, Leica M9: 22%, Olympus E-P2: 20%, NEX: 5%. Why is this? Partially it has to do with the camera I pick up when I leave the house. Partially, it has to do with how easy the camera is to use in a given situation. Partially it has to do with other variables, like high ISO performance. But as to the results: the keepers do not necessarily come from the camera with the highest MP count, or the newest camera.
Third: The M8 got used on exactly one outing in the prior year, now that the M9 is in the bag. Thus, it is time for the M8 to go, sadly.
Fourth: number of rolls of B&W film taken in the past year: approximately 40, including several rolls of 120. Number of rolls of B&W film actually developed: 0. Arg. The convenience factor of digital has completely swamped the technical excellence of B&W film in my "workflow." I love the look of B&W film -- even scanned, it is just "how I see the world." But a busy life trumps artistic fidelity it seems. Is this a problem worthy of a New Year's Resolution? Don't think so, but I may have to do something about it.
Finally: for the way I work, the D3 and the M9 are sooo well suited to one another. The types of pictures I have taken with the M9 (less intrusive, subtle, quiet) and the types taken with the D3 (kids in constant motion) are so much less work when I am using the right tools.
I am interested to see what 2012 will bring!
Ben
The cameras I used this year were primarily a Nikon D3, a Leica M9, an Olympus EP-2 and a Sony NEX 5. The final selection of pictures have taught me some things about the gear I am using. First: each has adequate pixels for this project. Yup. The best that the Olympus produces is just fine for a book this size compared to the others. However (and it is a big however), the highest percentage of failed shots also come from the Olympus (pix that seemed OK as thumb-nails, but that turn out to have focus or other problems when viewed at working sizes). So: lesson one: the Olympus can work fine, but a more attention must be paid to technique in order to get the best out of it.
Second: The "keepers" -- that is, the pictures that make it into the book break down this way: Nikon D3: 53%, Leica M9: 22%, Olympus E-P2: 20%, NEX: 5%. Why is this? Partially it has to do with the camera I pick up when I leave the house. Partially, it has to do with how easy the camera is to use in a given situation. Partially it has to do with other variables, like high ISO performance. But as to the results: the keepers do not necessarily come from the camera with the highest MP count, or the newest camera.
Third: The M8 got used on exactly one outing in the prior year, now that the M9 is in the bag. Thus, it is time for the M8 to go, sadly.
Fourth: number of rolls of B&W film taken in the past year: approximately 40, including several rolls of 120. Number of rolls of B&W film actually developed: 0. Arg. The convenience factor of digital has completely swamped the technical excellence of B&W film in my "workflow." I love the look of B&W film -- even scanned, it is just "how I see the world." But a busy life trumps artistic fidelity it seems. Is this a problem worthy of a New Year's Resolution? Don't think so, but I may have to do something about it.
Finally: for the way I work, the D3 and the M9 are sooo well suited to one another. The types of pictures I have taken with the M9 (less intrusive, subtle, quiet) and the types taken with the D3 (kids in constant motion) are so much less work when I am using the right tools.
I am interested to see what 2012 will bring!
Ben
