Pasadena Museum of California Art - Brett Weston

August 23, 2016

There is a terrific exhibit of the work of Brett Weston at the Pasadena Museum of California Art. He is one of my all time favorite photographers who is vastly under appreciated in today's photography world.

Born in 1911 he was the son of one of the most famous photographers ever, Edward Weston. Edward had 4 sons, Chandler, Brett, Neil, and Cole. While still in his teens Brett started to make a name for himself and his work was shown with his fathers and later in solo shows. There was no father and son rivalry, Edward respected his son and his work and they worked side by side for many years. When Edward was diagnosed with Parkinson's in the late 40's Brett put aside his work and helped his father with printing his negatives. After the death of his father in 1958 Brett resumed his work.

Brett's work is very graphic in nature and quite beautiful to look at. It is such a shame that there have not been any books printed in the last 20 years showcasing his work. There are 42 prints in the exhibition at the Pasadena Museum of Art. They are contact prints and the detail in the work is incredible.

Back in 1991 on the occasion of Brett's 80th birthday he gathered dozens of friends over to his home and did the unthinkable. He burned all of his negatives. He was upset that his family had been reprinting Edward's negatives for so many years and did not want the same fate for his work. He felt that only he should print his negatives. So into the fire they went. He continued photographing and when he was done printing each project he burned those negatives also.

If you live anywhere in the Southern California area please go to the Pasadena Museum of California Art and see the work of Brett Weston. This is a rare opportunity to see some masterful black and white photography.

The show runs thru September 11.

Color Management - X-rite ColorChecker Passport

August 3, 2016

Color management is so easy to control these days it is surprising that everybody is not utilizing monitor calibration and using a color checker.

Before digging into exposure and cold practices from my past, notice anything odd about the above photo. A Macbeth ColorChecker? That is an original 9 x 13 color calibration chart. Macbeth is no longer around, they are now part of X-rite. I have been utilizing a managed workflow a lot longer than computers have been around.

This is the very first image that I took at the start of my photography program. Yes the date says 1981. All assignments started with an image of the exposure box. This was a box in the far corner of one of the studios that had controlled daylight balanced illumination that had a grey card and a gray scale. This was to make sure that the camera light meter was calibrated and would show if you processed your film correctly. The school that I attended was geared towards turning out working photographers. Consistency in results is a sign of quality work.

This is how we standardized the exposure of Black and White proof sheets. All proof sheets included a Kodak T14 exposure scale. When step 7 was neutral gray the proof sheet was properly exposed and it would show if the film was properly exposed and developed.

This image shows the process for the beginning of color management. This project was to show how to filter for florescent lights. There are many different bulbs that emit light at different color temperatures. This is all done automatically with todays digital cameras. It is only a problem these days when you have mixed lighting. Daylight and tungsten in the same scene is very common problem. Yes the slide is faded, but you get the idea.

Kodak grey cards had multiple purposes. Before matrix and multi-zone metering the use of grey cards was wide spread in professional photography. It was the surest way to get a correct exposure in difficult lighting situations. Another trick was to include a grey card in a photo to assist printing. Many of times I would have a grey card in the corner of a product shot on large format film. The card would be cropped out during printing.

I now have all of my screens calibrated with X-rite products. The are easy to use and are reliable. I remember back in the 90's using a control panel on my Mac to visually color balance my monitor. Technology marches on. One of the great features of the Colormunki is that it has an ambient light sensor that monitors lighting conditions and adjust your monitor accordingly. I carry a ColorChecker passport with me on all shoots so that when I get back I can profile my camera for best results. One of the best examples I have ever seen to justify the use of a monitor calibrator was when I was shooting official portraits for soldiers. On the uniforms soldiers wear awards that are various colors. When comparing a calibrated monitor verse an uncalibrated monitor the color of the awards would change. The red awards appeared pink. A calibrated monitor doesn't just remove a color cast, it renders individual colors properly.

Add a calibrator to your workflow. It is not a calibrate once and never use it again. Monitors change as they age. Rental laptops need adjusting. Make your work look better on the web. The more you learn about exposure and color the better photographer you will become.

LACMA - Richard Serra and Japanese Exhibit

July 27, 2016

Just visited the LACMA (Los Angeles County of Modern Art) to see the Robert Mapplethorpe show that is the sister program to the show at the Getty Center. While there I stopped to look at the work by sculptor Richard Serra. I could look at his work for hours. His art is just mesmerizing.

Below are details in the Japanese pavilion. I saw the work of Daido Moriyama here some years ago when he gave a talk at LACMA.

Ona Bag Review - Ona Prince Street

July 26, 2016

The ONA Prince Street may be the end of my search for the perfect bag for my Leica. I could fill a closet in my house with discarded camera bags. This is just the perfect size for my Leica gear. Not to big and not to small. To save you a trip to the Ona web site here are the specs.

Exterior dimensions: 12.5"L X 10"H X 4.5"D
Interior dimensions: 12"L X 9"H X 4"D
Weight: 3.3 lbs

The leather Prince Street comes in Dark Truffle and Antique Cognac. Both are nice looking bags. I chose the Dark Truffle because although I like black camera bags I wanted something just a little different.

Ona bags use buckles instead of Velcro to secure the top flap. This makes for a much quieter bag in use. Opening pockets on a camera bag is something that is repeated many times a day and I personally get tired of hearing Velcro being ripped open. The latches take a little getting used to but seem secure.

The cover is secured in place by two brass buckles. They are adjustable so that as the amount of equipment that is being carried changes you can get just the right fit for the cover.

The shoulder pad is 8 1/2 x 2 3/8 inches. It slides freely on the strap for best comfort. I would like it to be a little thicker, but it has a nice feel. Some rubber stitching on the underside would help as it has a tendency to slide off of my shoulder.

At first use I did not like the hand strap. It was just to stiff. But after a couple of days of use it has really softened. Just the normal use of the strap has broken in the leather that it is now soft to the touch and comfortable.

The workmanship on the bottom of the bag is what you would expect for a bag in this price range. The bottom of the bag looks as nice as the top. It is details like this that should insure that I will be using my Prince Street for a lot of years.

Nice touch having to their name stamped on the side.

The back pocket goes the entire length of the bag and is much larger than it appears. I have been carrying my Leica Tabletop Tripod, Moleskine and a Xrite ColorChecker Passport in the back pocket. The pocket is deeper than expected. You can just make out the outline of the magnet that is sewn into the back pocket. This little touch is handy, it keeps everything from sliding out if the bag falls over when placed on the ground. Again, no annoying Velcro.

I don't go anywhere without a Moleskine.

Here is the front flap laying open. At the top of the photo you can see the tabs that fold over to seal the bag and keep dust and rain out. The bag isn't waterproof but this helps protect the equipment.

There are two pockets on the front under the top cover. They are not large but this is a small bag after all. I have been able to put all of my small gear from my previous bag in my Ona. When I want to carry my iPhone in the bag I just lay the filter cases under a lens on the inside.

I carry a Leica M (240) with lens and three other lenses and I can still hide a battery and other small gear inside this bag. I like the neutral gray padding. The Ona Berlin bag that is very similar to the Prince Street has a red interior. Personally I hate the look of the inside of the Berlin bag.

For such a small bag it is impressive that Ona found room for an iPad inside of the bag. This is the 9.7 inch iPad Pro and it fits perfectly. I carry the Lightning to SD adapter in the front pocket so that I can post to my web site while on location.

I'm very happy with this bag. It holds all of the gear that I shoot with on a regular basis and looks great. And the more I use this bag the more worn it will look and that is part of the appeal to a leather bag. It is roomy on the inside and the equipment slides out easily. A $400 camera bag is not for everyone, but hey, I'm shooting with a Leica. Sometimes in life you just throw logic out the window and get what your heart wants.

Film is Not Dead - Retouching

July 25, 2016

You think your a good retoucher. Take away your Mac. Take away Photoshop. Take away your Wacom. Now this is real retouching.

I've shot a lot of film over the years. This image was taken over 30 years ago. Retouching 4x5 negatives was not easy but could be done. Retouching 120 negatives would drive you to drink. If you even thought of working on 35mm you should be locked up. The negative was inserted into a carrier that held it in place and the magnifier was swung into position. When the machine was turned on it would vibrate the film so that you would move the pencil very little and the vibration would do the work. One of the knobs adjusted the vibrating and the other the intensity of the light behind the negative. Think about this image the next time you use the clone tool.

Scrivener for iOS

July 20, 2016

Here it is, Scrivener for iOS. Literature and Latte has managed to bring their wonderful program to the mobile world. When they opened the beta program to outside testers I immediately signed up and was fortunate to be chosen as a beta tester. Scrivener runs on both the iPhone and the iPad and syncs with the desktop version of Scrivener by way of Dropbox.

If you don't know what Scrivener is all about it is a program that is designed for long form text documents. It is widely used by novelists, researchers, and script writers. Everyone who collects information and ideas to write is a candidate to use Scrivener. It has many unique and useful features like a cork board to get an overview of a project and it outputs to various formats such as PDF's, scripts, and e-pubs. It is so much more than just a word processor.

Here are some screenshots to help you get started.

A new project is created by pressing the "+" in the create project box or with the "+" in the upper right corner.

To setup syncing control is on the bottom of the opening screen.

If you choose to use Dropbox your information is entered here. This can be used to backup your file or to sync with the desktop version of Scrivener. Scrivener for the desktop has been updated to work with Dropbox.

Here is the Binder and the editing environment where project management is performed and you write and edit your text.

The project settings are changed here. There is lots of customization available, this isn't just a simple text editor.

The Compile settings dialog.

Next up is the import dialog.

The next icon creates a new folder.

The last icon creates a new document.

The icon with three lines enables you to compile your document.

In the lower right corner is the Share dialog.

Upper right "+" is another create New Document.

The eyeglass is used for searching for text in the current document. If you wish to search the whole project, pull down on the Binder list to expose a project search bar.

The Recent Documents menu.

The italicized "I" opens the inspector.

Swiping left in the Binder reveals more options.

When "More" is pressed even more options are available. "Quick Reference" creates a split screen so that another document or image can be referenced while writing.

Adding comments or footnotes.

Adding a text link or an image.

Formatting shortcuts are at the top of the keyboard. By scrolling left or right formatting options are available while typing. 24 options can be shown by breaking them down into 3 groups of 8.

The formatting bar can be customized for your own individual needs. Just press and hold on the icon you wish to change to bring up the customization menu.

Tapping the word count brings up this dialog box. Project as well as session word count is shown.

You can even set a word count for the current session.

This shows the spilt screen in action with a reference image and the outline in its cork board mode.

The opening home screen includes a helpful tutorial to get you acquainted with Scrivener. Be aware that work needs to be manually synced to Dropbox. There are numerous locations throughout the program that have sync buttons so remember to save your work frequently. All of the screenshots are of the Golden Master and may change in the final release. Scrivener for the iPhone and the iPad will sell for $19.95 and will be available starting today in the Apple App Store. If you already own Scrivener on Mac or Windows you already know how great a program it is but for everyone else I say come and join the Scrivener universe.

Scrivener for Blogging

July 13, 2016

Recently I was asked what is my process for writing my blog posts. I write everything in a program called Scrivener. I have been using it since 2009 after a recommendation by Andy Ihnatko on Macbreak Weekly. I have never liked Microsoft Word or Google Docs. The best thing about Scrivener is that all of the research that goes into a review can be kept in the program so when you are done it is all in one place so that the actual writing is so much easier. This isn't a review so much as some incouragement to give Scrivener a try.

Research is a big part of writing reviews and Scrivener has an elegant system for handling all of the text, photos and links that can be referenced while writing. There is a special folder conviently titled "reference". While writing the reference folder can be adjusted to have all of the material available in a window next to the main editing window. I collect all of the data that I feel is needed for an article so that when I start writing there is no jumping from one screen to another.

There is a cork board that is great to see a visual overview of how the article is layed out and it is simple to just rearrange sections by dragging them to a new location. The image on the cork board can be text or images and this makes it easier to experiment and change the flow of an article.

I write sponsored post that require a specific word count and Scrivener has a palette just for keeping track of the length of the articles that you write. Not only do you get a word count but a word count for a session can be configured. This is really useful for long form writing such as with novels. Set up a daily word count that you wish to achieve and the program will let you know when you have achieved your daily goal.

The snapshot feature allows saving the document at set intervals and labels them as you work so you can go back in time and see how your work has progressed. This is a very useful feature that I sometimes use because it makes revisions easier. A standard feature of most word processors is the full screen mode and Scrivener has the ability to change to a distraction free environment when the mood arises. Once your work is completed the project can be compiled into many different common formats. Anywhere from plain text to PDFs and book formats from the popular platforms such as Amazon Kindles or iBooks for the iOS products.

The best news of all is that soon there will be a mobile version of Scrivener. It will run on iPads and iPhones. The feature set is very close to the desktop version and will fully sync all the data. Talk about the best of both worlds. Give Scrivener a try. It is available from the Literature and Latte site and from the Mac store.

Lexar and Leica

July 11, 2016

Leica M (240), Lexar SD cards, Ona Prince Street (Dark Truffle), Think Tank Photo SD Pixel Pocket Rocket

As you can tell I'm a big fan of Lexar memory cards. Once I find something that is reliable it's added to my workflow until it lets me down. Lexar cards have been my go to memory cards on both my Leica and Nikons. Just buying whatever is on sale doesn't work for me. The images I create define me and are too important for a Costco mentality.

Large capacity memory cards may be convient but I have always preferred smaller cards so that if they ever fail, well there are fewer images to loose. 32 GB cards on the Leica M seems to be about the perfect size for me.

When I teach workshops on street photography I hand out a Lexar card with some images on it so that the students have images that are standardized so when we do the Photoshop or Capture One Pro training everyone has the same images to work on. Yes I go through a lot of Lexar cards.

G-Technology for Workflow

June 16, 2016

20 years ago I lost a digital shoot because of a hard drive. Never again. These days I have standardized on G-Technology products and I feel safe. Nope, not a spokesman for them, I am just a satisfied customer.

In the upper left is the G-Technology EV Dock. It consists of two 1 terabyte drives that are docked with the computer with a Thunderbolt connection. What makes the drives so versatile is that they also have a USB 3 connector. Most of my shooting is to a tethered Macbook Pro that saves my files to the internal hard drive and the G Drive at the same time. This is achieved with the program Carbon Copy Cloner. When I finish shooting I just eject the drive and plug it into the G Dock. The files are then copied to the big drive that is right below in the photograph that is below. This is a G-Raid Thunderbolt drive. It is formatted as Raid 1 so all of my files are copied to two drives at the same time for maximum safety. The G-Raid is my working drive and the Thunderbolt interface really makes Photoshop fast. I have another Large G-Raid under the desk for backup and two large drives that I rotate for offsite storage of backups.

No matter what drives you use always have multiple backups. The 3-2-1 method is what works the best and is simple to implement. Have your original media copied to 3 different hard drives. Have 2 different types of media in the workflow and have 1 set of your files that are stored offsite. You never know when disaster will strike.

My backup strategy has gone from floppies to zip drives, then to CD's, then DVD's to finally hard drives. That has been a lot of transitioning from one media to another but it is something that just has to be done to keep my work safe.

Savage Translum Do It Yourself

June 15, 2016

Over on the Savage Universal blog they have posted my article on a project with their Translum material. I am a Featured Photographer on their site and have a couple of articles there. Go check out the article.

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