Redscaling the X10

White balance works a little differently on the Fujifilm X10 than it does on the D90. Once you set it, you can push it further with the WB Shift.

If you set the D90 to 10,000K then start playing around with the WB Trim, it can drop down below 10,000K. On the X10, any adjustment you make seems to be in addition to the overall setting, which makes for some interesting possibilities. Like Redscaling simulation.

Set the Kelvin WB to 10,000K, then set the WB shift to +9 (red) and -9 (yellow). (the WB is still indicated as 10,000K) then, set the film simulation to Velvia, and bring the color saturation all the way up. You can also play around with sharpness and contrast.

In-Camera Redscale Effect with the Fujifilm X10

The results are some interesting redscale simulations, better than I can get with the D90 using an orange filter. Unlike using a filter alone, more color separation information is captured, making for a more faithful redscale effect. you get nice greens, and the reds pop from the oranges. The highlights turn to a bright greenish yellow just as with film.

The really cool thing is you can set this all up in one of the two custom presets, so you can switch over anytime. Minor post-processing gets you very close to the effect you get with film.

Just another cool thing about the X10.

Life with the Fujifilm X10

The more I use this camera, the more I learn about the amazing things it can do. None the least of which is fooling passers by into thinking it’s a Leica.

For a while, I thought bracketing may not be part of its feature set. But I found it, hidden in plain sight, under the drive button where it logically belongs. With this button, the top selection on the multi-selector/sub-command dial, you can choose from single or multiple frames (with frame rate selection), best shot selector, or AE, ISO, film simulation and dynamic range bracketing. Wow!

Each mode has its own settings. So if you want to shoot Aperture Priority at low ISO, and Shutter Priority at high ISO, and Program Mode with auto white balance, you can set them each up that way.

Then there’s the C1 and C2 custom user settings. Say that you want to set one up for infrared with a custom white balance. You can do that. Or the other one with a custom white balance for redscale. You can do that too, because each custom white balance you set up can be saved under a different mode, includind C1 and C2. And they’re right there on the mode dial, no menus to dig through.

They’re best used to choose from amongst the extensive RAW processing options. That’s right, I can use the camera itself to process its own RAW files adjusting their exposure, white balance, WB trim, film simulation, dynamic range, color saturation, hue, highlight contrast, shadow contrast, sharpening and noise reduction. It gives new meaning to shooting RAW, especially with the “RAW on Demand” button, which is sheer genius. Wish my Nikon D90 had that.

This camera has so much to offer, and it’s truly a pleasure to use. Even the leather case is easy to live with.

Defining iPhoneography

Now that iPhoneography (much like Lomography) has more or less been officially established as a photographic genre, I need to differentiate it from my other categories.

On one hand, the iPhone is just another camera. But on the other, unlike my other cameras, it is in fact a lightroom, a photo album and a wirephoto service all in one. Used in this way, the works derived from it become more than just photos, and I need to define them as such. So, I have a new “genre” folder in my library named “iPhoneography” and in it I will place works that have been captured and/or post-processed solely on the iPhone.

This means establishing a firm definition of just what iPhoneography is to me. It may bridge many other genres and styles, but the one underlying principal that these images will have in common is that they will not have been touched by any other post-processing applications other than those running on the iPhone. Once an image captured on the iPhone is post-processed on the iPhone in any way, it becomes iPhoneography. Images which are captured but not processed on the iPhone may be categorized as iPhoneography, but may also be categorized under the other genres and styles in my library.

Kodak Leaving the Camera Business

Pretty soon, you won’t be seeing a billboard like this anymore...

Kodak has filed for bankruptcy protection, and their financial advisors have told them that manufacturing cameras is not profitable for them.

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Vello 52mm Snap-On Petal Lens Hood

Vello Snap-on Petal Lens Hoods; a breakthrough product.

The original snap-on petal lens shade series by Pearstone was a breakthrough product in that it could be easily installed simply by clipping it on like a standard lens cap. In contrast to the awkward thread-on style which requires you to tighten a locking collar to secure it, these were a pleasure to use. However, unlike an OEM bayonet hood, you couldn’t reverse install them on your lens to keep them at the ready.

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Queen of Hearts

Detail: Liliana Porter, Alice: The Way Out, 1994. Ceramic Mosaic, 50th Street Station.

Infrared Photography

When we think of photography, we naturally think of photographs taken with light visible to the human eye. However, there’s a whole world of imagery beyond the visible spectrum, which can be captured with UVIR photography. This tutorial covers the more accessible of the two, Infrared Photography.

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Review: Marumi 40mm MC-UV Filter

Well it took some doing, but I finally received this from 2filter.com. If you own the Fujifilm X10, this is an important filter to consider.

After reading some posts about the Fujifilm X10 filter issue, I learned the following:

• According to Fujifilm, the “official” filter size of the Fujifilm X10 is 39.5mm.
• 40.5mm, popularized by the Nikon 1 and others, will not fit.
• Some 40mm filters will fit, even if only for a quarter turn or so.
• Marumi filters are one of the 40mm filters that works quite well.

And so, armed with this knowledge, I set out to order an import Marumi 40mm filter from FiltersNow, the supplier mentioned in the thread. Apparently, Marumi had to start another manufacturing run due to its popularity in Japan. So, about two months after I first learned of its existence, I now have it in hand

The filter fits perfectly, although it seems a little on the loose side, which is not a bad thing. It screws on all the way with no binding whatsoever, which seems strange given that it’s supposedly 0.5mm larger that the X10’s threads. The other burning questions are:

• Will the Fujifilm push-on lens cap fit over the Marumi Filter?
• Will the Fujifilm LH-X10 lens hood fit onto the Marumi 40mm filter?
• Will the Marumi 40mm filter accept a lens cap?
• Does the Marumi 40mm filter effectively block UV?

The answers to these question are yes, yes, yes and…maybe. It failed the blacklight test, as do many UV filters these days. Without test equipment I can’t say just how much UV it does suppress, only that it’s definitely not as effective as the classic single-coated Hoya UV(0) in the bandwidth that causes white paper to fluoresce. This is not really a concern, as I’m really only using it for protection. If I need real UV protection, I can always use the 52mm Hoya Pro1 D UV(0) with the LH-X10.

As far as the lens cap goes, the Fujifilm fits on due to its extra depth, but is not nearly as secure. I probably wouldn’t use it in the field. However a standard 39mm center-pinch lens cap should work fine if you can’t find a 40mm one. The 39mm cap from my Voigtländer Ultron 40mm f/2.0 fits fine and looks great, but the Fujifilm leather case doesn’t close completely with it on. A better choice would be a Leica 39mm lens cap, as it’s slightly thinner. They’re both about the same price, although the Leica is available on eBay for about $9.95. However, I believe this is a reproduction. The real question is, do you even need a lens cap with the leather case? The filter essentially behaves like a transparent lens cap you never have to remove, so I’d skip the cap entirely when using the X10 with the leather case.

The Fujifilm LH-X10 hood fits on the Marumi filter, but it’s a little tight. It starts to bind after about a half-turn, but once you get past that it screws on all the way. It’d recommend a drop of silicone, and keep a rubber jar lid remover at the ready. Tolerances being what they are, your experience might be different. With the added extension of the filter, the LH-X10 hood does not cause vignetting.

Otherwise, the filter is well made, with clean tampo printing. The multi-coating is of the blue-green variety, similar to the Hoya Pro1 Digital’s. The glass is secured with a split ring, just like like the Hoyas, so it has a relatively slim profile. Definitely worth twenty-six dollars and change.

Given the ineffectiveness of UV suppression I’m a little wary, but would otherwise consider Marumi filters for future purchases.

My experience with FiltersNow (2filter.com) was favorable. They seemed to have some difficulty at first getting product from Marumi, but after my second call they explained their dilemma, and called me back to officially take my order once the item was in stock. It was shipped in a reasonable amount of time, but not with the blinding speed of some web fulfillment.

Unfortunately, their website is one of the worst I’ve ever seen, and I can’t make heads nor tails of the information they provide. Online ordering is therefore very impractical, and not worth the small savings over B&H. It’s actually easier to call them at (800) 882-2832 to place an order. They don’t even have an eMail address.

Valentine’s Day Roses

Nikon D50 Infrared; 1/100 s @ f/1.8, ISO 400

Valentine’s Roses at Whole Foods Market has become an annual tradition. They have a wonderful selection of varieties, and they’re always fresh. This year, I happened to have my camera with me and since it was a beautiful, sunny Monday, I had equipped it with a Hoya R72 infrared filter.

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First Impressions: Nikon D50 DSLR

Nikon D50: The Ideal Choice for Infrared Photography

Introduced in 2005, the Nikon D50 was a more affordable and easier to use version of the D70. Although some of the features were omitted, there were significant performance enhancements, most notably in its autofocus operation which then offered motion tracking. Also, the LCD display size increased from 1.8" to 2", metering had been upgraded to second generation 3D Matrix Metering, USB had been upgraded to version 2.0, and it now accepts Secure Digital cards instead of Compact Flash.

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iPhoneography

The cultural phenomenon of engaging in an ongoing visual dialog through the use of the iPhone is one of the hot new topics in Photography.

Many people may never own a dedicated camera. Others who are passionate about photography view the iPhone as yet another means to extend their photographic reach. Either way, there’s no denying the iPhone’s impact on modern photography.

The iPhone is more than just a camera. It’s a camera, a lab, a darkroom, an editing room, a portfolio and a wire photo service all in one. It’s both extendable and upgradeable. And it’s rapidly taking photography to a new level in visual communication.

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View our works of iPhoneography in the gallery.

Pearstone is Now Vello

A great product gets even better…

Vello Snap-on petal lens shade

Vello (formerly marketed under the Pearstone brand) now offers an improved version of their universal snap-on petal-shaped lens hood.

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New Arrival: Nikon D50 DSLR

I’ve been toying with the idea of purchasing a used Nikon DSLR to use as a dedicate IR shooter. While many cameras can be converted for IR, the D50 is one of the most popular, and was a logical choice for me. And today, I received mine from Amazon.

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