Vote for me - World Street Photography 5 book

https://world-street.photography/en/photo/209084

Please click the above link, sign up, and vote if you get the chance! One of my personal photographs is up for voting to be in the World Street Photography 5 photobook! 

It is an honour to be selected, however it is now down to the amount of votes it can pick up. This photograph is currently in my London Street Portraits gallery on this site. It is the woman getting out of the London cab, that nearly knocked the camera out of my hand when she randomly opened the door. I happened to click the shutter just before she noticed she nearly hit me. I love the shot, and the anecdote that goes with it. 

I reviewed the world street photography 4 book on my youtube channel last year, and there were some amazing entries. If you are into street photography and fancy entering a competition, please enter the site, as it showcases worldwide street togging talent! 

See you on the streets, and thank you for your time :) - Sly

 

Going C41 from Black & White

Although at heart I am still a black & white photographer, for the recent Mamiya 645 1000S videos; I have been using C41 processed film. I have used colour film in the past, I love Portra 400 very much, I have branched out a fair bit this time. I may keep this a running theme for videos, hoping this does not get in the way of my Norma street photography. 

So pushing Ektar 100 to 400 yields interesting results, but purely on an experimental level. This film was clearly not meant to be pushed two stops. However, there are not manly videos on YouTube that have done this, and pushing film is what I tend to do. 

Now the Fujifilm Pro 400H is another matter altogether. Pushed from 400asa to 800asa (1 stop), this film looks great in medium format. Pleasing, more subdued colours, but the acuity of the film itself looks great. It would be interesting to see what this film looks like pushed to 1600, but I suspect it will look more Lomography than photography - but perhaps we shall see. This is a film I am happy to shoot again. 

I would like to try 120 rolls of Portra 160 and 400. I would also like to shoot some Velvia at box speed in the summer for landscape stuff. I have already shot Ilford XP2 in 120, and found it okay, but I would like to do a side-by side comparison with Fujifilm 400CN (C41 B&W)- perhaps a shoot out video in the future?

The pros to shooting C41? The main upsides are time saved and money saved. B&W development costs a lot more, and always takes longer when putting a film in for development (certainly anywhere local to me). This makes C41 perfect for videos, as they can be recorded, edited, and film developed and scanned within 24 hours. Very handy for someone who works full time. 

The last two Mamiya 645 1000S videos have been fairly popular, and I will be pursuing this further for another couple of videos, as the formula seems to work well for me and for viewers. I will be moving back over to Olympus and Zuiko videos soon, but I am enjoying the medium format videos very much. 

See you soon - Sly.

Location videos

So I have had quite a lot of feedback regarding the Mamiya 645 1000S pushing Ektar 100 to 4000asa video. So much so, I am considering doing more location videos. 

Quite a different start to 2018 in terms of my youtube, the location of Leake Street Graffiti tunnel made for great test shots. It also seems to be picking up pace in terms of views,  and with a lot of interest means I will likely be making more in the near future. 

I am to add a little bit more humour and personality into the videos, as I feel it is important part of who I am. The real question is balancing the humour with decent content. Challenge accept 2018. 

Having been the first time I have shot Ektar, I have to say I like the film. It has some interesting results when pushed, but ultimately this film is best at asa100. 

Ideas for future videos? Well I would like to keep the theme of medium format and C41 film for now, as it is quite different to what I usually do. It would be great to shoot some film and lenses head to head, and as mentioned in my highlights of 2017 video, I would like to do a little podcast at some point. 

I am open to suggestions around what videos to do, and look forward to hearing them! 

-Sly

In London tomorrow (6th Jan)

Going to be in London tomorrow street togging! Should be capturing some on location footage, specially of me shooting medium format. 

This will be the first time I have someone with me filming me - it should be interesting. Hopefully all the equipment works, as I cannot take my DAW set up to record audio. I will be going straight into the Shure Lav mic Pro+. I have filmed using this before, but it has been hit or miss. 

I will be shooting the Mamiya 645 1000S (55mm F2.8 len), with Ektar 100 pushed to 400. It is likely I will turn these into my usual B&W, especially as it will be a great and overcast day with very grey locations. 

I will be very selective with the shots that I get. I will also either take my OM-1 or 35 RD. If the weather is bad I will likely just shoot digital and and reduce the locations to basic areas/ make a street photography tutorial. 

I will see you on the streets! - Sly

New lens on the way, second roll in M645

So I have just ordered a Mamiya Sekor C 55mm F2.8 (about 34mm equivalent on full frame equivalent). This can only mean on thing...  medium format Street Photography! If you follow me on here or on YouTube you know that I have recently acquired a Mamiya 645 1000S with a 35mm F3.5 lens (22mm FF eq). 

Although I shoot wide angle lenses, the 35mm F3.5 is a tad too wide for general shooting, However, I would like to make a couple of really wide shots in London. As always, getting a new piece of gear is always exciting. Unfortunately, it was a little more than I really wanted to pay, and I have just seen the same lens on the Mr Cad (camera shop near Victoria) for less. 

Nonetheless, it does not put a damper on the situation. I currently have a roll of Ektar 100 in there, and have been shooting it at asa400- so must remember to have it pushed during development. 

I have already shot a test roll of XP2 120 in the 6451000S, and will be picking up the roll tomorrow. This roll was shot taking various landscapes on nearby downs. But, I am still looking forward to getting it back. 

I would like to get a metered prism/ viewfinder for the 6451000S, as using a separate hand held meter does slow me down when shooting. 

So far I am enjoying the Mamiya, and look forward to getting some of the results up on the site! 

- Sly.

Olympus 35 RD CLA’d

Today I went to the camera shop and picked up my Olympus 35 RD, fresh from a CLA. RD stands for Rangefinder Deluxe. This camera packs a bright view finder and range finder combination, as well a light meter and a sexual 40mm F1.7 Zuiko lens. 

This camera sits neatly between the Olympus 35 SP and RC in terms of size, and is also smaller than the flagship Olympus OM-1 SLR. Like most of the vintage Olympus line ups, this camera takes the old mercury batteries. 

I am looking forward to putting a roll of film through this camera, as it is a particular special little beast. The lens is meant to be sharp and contrasty, and the rangefinder is nice and bright when I look through it. This camera is the second Olympus 35 rangefinder I have owned (the first being the 35RC), and is a camera I have had my eyes on for a while. 

It is the 23rd December, so it is unlikely that this camera will see much action on the London streets until January, however I may put a colour film through it over Christmas. 

Keep your eyes peeled for some hardcore rangefinder action - Sly. 

Photography this Christmas?

Do you feel Christmassy this year? A question I was asked earlier. The answer is; no. I usually enjoy Christmas - or certainly used to. It doesn’t feel quite how it used to. 

Photography-wise, Christmas makes me think of reds, greens, and bokeh Christmas lights. This time last year I was playing around with my Samyang 85mm F1.4, a beautiful lens. Great micro contrast, and lovely Bokeh. 

The other side of it makes me think of freezing cold, wet, street photography in London. There is something about the light this time of year, it gives off great shadows. However, I may not visit London this side of Christmas. It gets very busy and awkward, and I have yet to finish my Christmas shopping! 

Gear wise, I have my eye on a possible micro Four Thirds camera for videos, zuiko 50mm F1.2, or an 85mm F2. The camera shop called, my Olympus 35 RD has been CLA’d and is ready to be picked up - guaranteed photos coming in, and a possible review. 

I could do with some more 35mm film, and there are a couple of photography related apps I would like to get for my IPad Pro. 

So what photography goodies do you have your eye on this Christmas? 

Have a good one - Sly. 

Creativity and illness

Being human; our immune systems are subject to attack from outside forces. When illness strikes, creativity and drive go out the window in order for your body to focus on driving out the invading force.

There are some instances however, where you can be ill but still want to be creative. Issues that arise at this point are usually a lack of energy or a need to be near a bed or toilet. So what can you do to be creative when ill?

Firstly, rest and recovery is key. Once you are near enough back to normal you will be able to be as creative as you like. If you have an illness that is taking longer to bugger off, then there are a few suggestions I have for you.

The first suggestion is make a list of things you want to do when you are better, or perhaps a smaller list of what you are able to do with your lack of energy. Writing a blog entry like this is something that is on my list. I can just about manage a page of typing, and if I don’t have the energy or brain capacity I can just stop.

Another suggestion is drawing and sketching. Again, this is something that you can start doing and stop if you are too unwell to continue. At any point, please make sure you are focused on getting well rather than draining energy causing you to be ill longer. However, I totally understand that the need to be creative can be a strong driving force.

when it comes to photography or music, it can be a little more difficult. As both of these require a lot more energy than just sitting down and drawing/ writing. Once again, you could make lists of goals or ideas for either. You could put your camera batteries on charge or scribble down a quick riff or phrase.

The key to it all is patience. Once you are fully recovered you will be able to do a great deal more.

Sincerely rambling on, 

-Sly

Rode Smart Lav+

So I have had the Rode Smart Lav+ for a few months now. As someone with an audio engineering background, I have always recorded the audio to my videos on mostly dynamic studio microphones like the Audix OM2 or i5, and the Shure SM57, etc. I decided that always having a honking microphone in front of my face in videos was a pain. I would always bump it or move my head away whilst talking. 

Apart from a need for mic technique, I did try getting the rode video mics, but never really gelled with them. I discovered the Rode smart lav+ a few months back and decided to pick it up. This would allow me to do videos out on location if I wanted to, but would allow me to move around how I wanted. 

However, due to the fact that the app specifically designed for this mic was only on IOS, havin an android mobile phone meant that I struggle to find a decent app for recording. I would always end up importing the audio into my DAW (recording software) and editing it. 

I managed to finally purchase the app on IOS for my iPad Pro, but now I had the issue of not being able to do a bunch of stuff on my iPad Pro whilst recording. I managed to get hold of a 1st generation iPhone - yes 1st generation - and downloaded the app. Now I am able to fully make use of this device. 

The results have been much better for this. In conclusion, if you are looking into getting this for blogging or recording audio then I do recommend it on IOS. We can only hope that Rode release an app for android in the near future. However, I can’t see this happening any time soon.

-Sly

Procreate on the iPad pro

As mentioned previously in my “Duet & Astropad for photographers” blog, Procreate is one of my favourite apps. Essentially Procreate is a creative tool for drawing & designing. There are elements that pertain to photography, however I have mostly used it as a drawing and painting app.

I recently got more into drawing. I am by no means fantastic, but I do enjoy the odd sketch and paint. I have to say, utilising the layers and all the different tools within the app make it very easy, and a clean and easy way to be artistic. 

My mother paints, and is really into her art. She has spent a session or two on the iPad (technology is not something that necessarily come easily to her), and she really enjoyed the app. It was functional, simple, and produced a good quality results. 

Having spent quite a few hours with this app now, it is something I intend to use fairly often to help me explore a creative side that has pretty much been left dormant since senior school. You can use your fingers or the Apple Pencil. Using the Apple Pencil is far more satisfying, and its works fantastically well. The sensitivity in random with the screen produces very similar results to real paper and pencils. I can see a designer loving this application.

In terms of photography, you can import photographs and draw/ sketch over them. Handy to picking up where leading lines and other elements come into play within the frame. I am sure someone with a lot more skill and hours logged, could render in some really interesting elements into an actual photograph. However, I do not do this with my street photography.

Anywho, I thought I would just put my thoughts on this app on my blog, as it is something I use in a creative fashion. 

- Sly

 

Duet & Astropad for photographers

So I have recently picked up an iPad Pro 10.5”. Now this is an unusual move for me, as I am not overly keen on touch screens. However, I am finding it a useful creative tool. 

Let me start at the beginning: I was looking at the very cool Microsoft Surface Pro 2017 model. In a perfect world, I would have one of these whilst traveling, allowing me to edit using a stylus on my photos, as well as having access to creative drawing apps. However, this is the real world, and my MacBook Pro provides the power I need to get the job done, and has served me well up to this point.

Enter the iPad Pro. There are a couple of apps on the iPad Pro that allow it to be more than just an oversize mobile device. Yes, yes, it is more than a mobile, however it only runs on IOS. I am getting of course here... The apps that drew me to the iPad Pro 10.5 are Duet, AstroPad, and ProCreate. Procreate is more of a creative drawing tool, and may I will touch on that in another blog, but you can import photographs into it. 

Duet turns your iPad into a second screen for your MacBook/iMac, etc. It costs about 14.99 GBP, and is a really handy device to have. Having a second screen to look at is invaluable to me. I always have several applications up, including apps I want to interact with each other, without having to minimise and then maximise all the time. Does the iPad with duet replace a second monitor? No. However, it is a great substitute if you are travelling, and if you use the iPad Pro as a creative tool in tandem with your main mac/ computer. 

AstroPad is an app that allows you to use your iPad and Apple Pencil as an editing tool on full photoshop or lightroom when attached to your MacBook, macs, laptop, etc. Although rather invaluable compared to most apps, it is only an alternative to devices specifically dedicated for this task. However, AstroPad really is a fantastic tool for enthusiast and pro photographers. 

The only downside when using your iPad in the UK, is that you cannot at this point use the Spyder tool app for IOS. It is currently not available for UK App Store. Hopefully this will be changed in the future. So for now, please use your main mac/ computer device screen to judge colour and hue rendering (etc.), and use AstroPad to zoom in and edit blemishes and highlight areas you wish to edit. 

So are these tools worth it or can you live without them? Yes you can.
AstroPad: It is slower going using a mouse, and even more so using a track pad, however you can ultimately achieve the same results. AstroPad does allow you to get in and easily make the changes you wish to make.
Duet: Does not replace a real second monitor, but is a great substitute. A fantastic travel companion for anyone that wishes to have access to a second screen/ touch screen device.
Procreate: More for creative drawing, painting, and designing. However, this is one of my favourite apps of all time. Allows me to be creative, and I can import my photographs and draw/ trave over them. Handy to see leading lines and other similar elements come together. 

Anyone who has an iPad can use duet, however AstroPad works best with the Apple Pencil and the iPad Pro. 

- Sly

A productive day shooting

Today I had a great time shooting in London. I started in Camden, getting a few walk by hip shots, then grabbed a coffee and jumped on a 24 bus to Tottenham Court Road. Got a couple of general shots, but there was a lot of road works, so I headed to Leister Square & Trafalgar Square. 

The fountains in Trafalgar were dry and being cleaned, a peculiar scene indeed! I got a couple of shots with the gentleman cleaning the fountains, and started the march down to Embankment and Waterloo bridge. 

I got a great colour shot of the H's of P and the eye on Tuesday, but this time South Bank in general was my main visit. As always, great characters and some fantastic shots. I have noted that I have started to get more and more abstract reflection shots- perhaps this will develop into a project in and of itself. 

Anywho, photos up in the photography tab! 

 

- Sly 

Will the Ricoh GRII still be relevant in 2018?

Welcome fellow street photographers. With rumours earlier this year about the next model of the Ricoh GR, I, like many a street tog, was beginning to froth at the mouth.

The cult camera that is the Ricoh GRII has been one of the most reliable cameras in my arsenal. It's wide, snappy, sharp, and small & inoffensive. It has been my perfect candid walk by camera, and has allowed me to create some fantastic photographs. The thought of a possible GRIII in 2017 got my gears lubricated. 

Alas, 2017 will not be the year for a Ricoh GRIII release. However, the GRII remains a reliable beast. But will it still be relevant in 2018, given all the competition? The short answer is yes. The GRII still remains one of the most affordable options, and despite a few limitations, contends with the best of them. 

If you are looking at compact street cameras, the GRII really should be near the top of the list. The handy flash, macro, and snap features, allow this pocket beast to remain fairly all-ground in terms of general performance. The RAW files are top quality, and I have no problem important and editing them in lightroom. The lens is sharp, and everything renders well. 

Should you wait for a GRIII? Well, at the moment it looks very unlikely that a GRIII is closed to being released. I am unable to find any true evidence of one being made when searching online.  My suggestion would be that a GRII is a great option right now, and you can pick them up fairly cheap used (or perhaps in a Christmas sale...). It does remain relevant, and certainly a cult classic, but I am sure fans are praying to the lords of Ricoh that a GRIII will be a great upgrade to the GRII. 

 

-Sly 

JCH Street Pan 400

So I have now shot several rolls of JCH street pan 400. An extremely contrasty roll, that is made specially for being pushed and pulled. 

I have shot this 35mm film on a several cameras, and with a few lenses. Firstly, this film has a fantastic dark and gritty feel that works fantastically well for street photography. I tend to push my film to either 800 or 1600, so I have been shooting this film at those two ASA's.

I feel the best results have come from shooting this film on my olympus OM-1 with the 40mm F2 pancake lens. This is a really versatile normal focal length lens, with sharp rendering. Paired with the JCH street pan 400, it has gotten crsip, clear, contrasty results. 

Conversely, this film was not so good with the Yashica ML 50mm F1.4. This was a surprise, as I feel it is the sharpest, clearest 50mm lens I own (and I own and have owned quite a few). My only really deduction is because this lens has fantastic micro contrast, and works really well with less contrasty films. The micro contrast seems to be less pronounced due to the high contrast produced by the film. 

Conclusion: This film is specifically made for street photography, and although you could use it for other genre's, it's strengths lie in gritty, high contrast, street shots. The film is not cheap in the UK, and not easily available. However, it would be great for a unique project or novelty, certainly 5-10 rolls would make a fantastic christmas present for a street tog. 

As with anything, this 35mm film is worth trying. It may or may not be for you, but I have gotten some really interesting shots with it. 

- Sly