Fujifilm X10: It's really, really good BUT, BUT, BUT . . .



Burj Al Arab Beach, Dubai, UAE.  As techy as the camera is, it can also be as simple as the most idiot-proof gadgets.  Here, I had no problem handing it to someone who's not familiar with the camera to take my picture with the Burj Al Arab.


The title of this blog should have been "Dubai and Abu Dhabi Through the Lens of the Fujifilm X10", but I thought it was very long and sounded more like a travel blog than a camera review.  I've had the X10 for over a month now and have been using it for some casual shoots.  I've been liking it so far but when I took it to Abu Dhabi  and Dubai for a weekend trip, that's when its negative qualities began to show up.

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2012 Abu Dhabi Tour

My wife's going on a business trip so I'm basically just tagging along.  This would be the 3rd we are visiting this beautiful place and I'm as excited to go as I was the first 2 times.  Arrangements to meet up with some friends there have already been made for Friday (18th May) but Saturday is still virtually open.  Drop me a line if anyone's interested to meetup for coffee or photoshoot :)

My plan is to shoot with the Fujifilm X10 and see if I can live on a pleasure trip without a DSLR.  But for this trip, I'm still bringing my Canon EOS 7D . . . just in case.

Cheers,

alexdpx

Concept Driven Lighting 3: Let the Sunshine In

I will admit upfront that I'm borrowing this lighting concept from the notebook of American corporate photographer David Tejada.  He lights a scene in ways that doesn't look artificially lit.  They come out naturally realistic and believable.  Recreating the warm glow of sunset in a fairly shaded scene is one of those that stuck to my head and have been using in a few of my previous photoshoots.

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Concept Driven Lighting 2 - Pool Table

We're back again with Mitzi as model.  This time, we're on the pool table trying to make her look like a real billiard player.  From the start, my lighting thoughts were to make it look like an actual pool table scenario so there can only be one way to light this and that is to hang one soft box right on top.  Sounds simple enough but that lighting setup was designed for playing billiards, not for photography.  Obviously, there are obstacles to overcome if that lighting is to work.

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In The Beginning . . . .

My first camera, Ricoh 35 EFL with a fixed Rikenon 40mm f/3.8 lens and built-in electronic flash.

My interest in photography started when I was very, very young . . . I'm pretty sure it was in my elementary school days.  But I would say that my "addiction" with the shutter bug began to worsen in 3rd year high school when I managed to convince my parents to buy the above pictured camera as their birthday present to me - that was way back in October of 1983. 

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The Concept Driven Lighting

Two photoshoots in one day, each one different from the other.

There was a time in my photographic career when my idea of a terrific lighting would always include an umbrella or a soft box.  It's a safe bet and you could almost never go wrong.  Everyone loves soft light.  It makes skin look creamier and softer because light virtually "wraps around" your subject, hiding some signs of aging and imperfections on almost anyone's skin.  Shadows blend smoothly to highlights, it's simply beautiful.

It's just a shame that a lot of photographers can't get past this stage.  To those, every light has to be soft.  I've seen a good number who would light in the same way whatever the concept is, wherever the location is and whenever the shoot is.  As if, it's the only lighting technique anyone needs to know.

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My Chosen One

Fujifilm Finepix X10

My new camera is the Fujifilm X10!  I know it's not a Canon!  Anyone who knows me knows I'm a Canon fan and would have chosen the G1X instead but the truth is . . . I was surprised myself with this unusual choice!  So why the unlikely choice?  Well, let me tell you why . . .

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TAKE YOUR PICK

I'm curious how different people react to pictures - a portrait, in particular.  So a week ago, I posted these 2 pictures side by side in my Facebook photos as an experiment.    The two photos were taken under the following conditions:

1. They are of the SAME person.
2. SAME location.
3. SAME viewpoint.
4. SAME lighting condition.
5. SAME camera.
6. SAME lens.
7. SAME settings in values and white balance were used in the RAW to JPEG post-process and conversion, although variations in the brightness of the background occured during the process.
8. The 2 photos were taken merely seconds apart with the camera not leaving my eye.  The left one being first.
9. The left photo is, indeed, slightly sharper.  This was due to the single-shot focus lock I imposed on my camera causing it not to track the subject's eyes as she tipped her head slightly down.
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NOCTURNAL: Night Photography Workshop

Cheers,
alexdpx

Beyond Snapshots - Basic Photography Workshop

While it was originally intended as a one-time event only, inquiries about this workshop have continued to pour-in, whether directly to me or through my friends.  We have done three (3) succesful sessions and yet people are still asking.  I guess that's proof how much digital photography has caught the interest of a lot of people.

Because of this, I have decided, in cooperation with the Filipino Cultural Center (FCC) in Qatar, to make this a regular weekly event.  So for those who are interested, just read on for more details.

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