Zagg invisibleSHIELD

I've been working with a new camera for a few months now and have concerned about scratching the ever-important LCD screens.  In this case there are three screens, two of which share a continuous plastic cover on the rear of the body.  After researching protective covers for such screens I came across a brand called Zagg.  According to legend, they originally started by making protective films for the US military, particularly for helicopter blades.  Research and innovation lead to a product ideal for covering consumer devices such as cell phones, laptops and cameras.  The product, known as invisibleSHIELD is a clear, protective film that is very durable, invisible and scratch proof.  They also provide a lifetime guarantee. 

The kit comes with a surprising amount of packaging, documentation and installation supplies.  I'm not sure if this was in part for the complicated application of the screen or to show justification for the $15 price tag.  The supplies include a chamois cloth, squeegee, and a spray bottle of solution.  Application was fairly straight forward when following the very detailed directions.  Cleanliness is paramount as you don't want oils from fingerprints secured between the film and the screen.  The process involves spraying both sides of the film with the application solution, which is sort of tricky since you don't want to touch the side with adhesive.  Once applied to the screen you have just a brief moment to slide or otherwise adjust the positioning before the adhesive begins to lock things down.  I had to pull up the larger film twice and re-apply the spray to make it mobile enough to make oriented exactly where it needed to be.  That being said, the films are cut to very precise tolerances and matched the the screens on the Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II perfectly.  Once positioned, you utilize a small, rubber squeegee to flush all of the application fluid and any air pockets out from under the film.  I had a fairly high success in getting all of the bubbles out, however there are one or two that still remain.  The directions indicate that these will disappear in a day or two as the moisture breathes out.  

Overall, I'd have to say that these are a very good design and seem to be made of the best materials.  I have little doubt that they'll provide ample protection for my camera's screen against scratches.

Spring

All photos were taken with a Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II digital SLR camera with a 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro lens during the first hours of a Spring day.

 

 

Colorful in Black and White

Within the span of just a few seconds, this boy came flying before me and graced an entire spectrum of emotions - without cue. 

Good grief.

One Month Down

Or is it eleven months to go?  It doesn't seem like it has been a full month since I started my first "Project 365", but it's true.  On February 8th I embarked on a mission to take a photo every day for the course of a year.  Furthermore, those photos had to be taken through a 50mm lens (considered "normal") and processed/presented in black and white.  

Day21.  Canon EOS 5D with EF 50mm f/1.4 USM lens.
Taken wide open for 1/80th second, ISO 1250, partial metering, hand-held.

A couple of things have occurred in the first month, at least that I have consciously taken notice of.  The physical process of taking at least one photo per day (and I alway took many more) has quickly become habitual.  Maybe that is simply because I love to take photos: the physical motions of drawing the lens before me, searching for light, metering, composing, feeling the cold magnesium body in my hands, listening as the shutter cycles at my commanding finger.  However, it takes more than that.  I have to feel like taking a photo.  Honestly there were some days that were pure struggle to make a photograph.  Hopefully you wont be able to tell by looking at the set on flickr, but early on I had a hard time just remembering before falling asleep for the night that a photo needed to be produced.  Other days, I felt contrived and wielded the camera around for a while until I found something "worthy" of my lens.  But that is precisely what I feel changing.  I'm no longer obligated, but inspired, to make photographs.  During the events of my day I would be struck by an image, a scene, a moment and go running for the camera - often while internally or verbally shouting "holditrighthere!" and come back ready to capture it "on film."

Day12.

Another aspect that became clear was that I need to do more with these photographs than just take them, post onto a website, then forget about 'em.  Instead, I found that I had a real desire to see these images come to full life in print.  And this feeling was not limited to photos from this project, but from a lot of other recent works as well.  I decided to get a bunch of prints (mostly 8x12 and a few 12x18 inch) made from a trusted photo lab so that I could make tangible the images captured.  This was one of the best things I've done in recent memory.  I've had many prints made in days past, but much of my work in the last year or so has ended in digital form, either on my hard drives, publicly on the web, or on a clients server.  What I needed was to confirm the quality of the prints, to feel how my work could be implemented and, more importantly, presented to a customer.  I found out how "true" and image would look; colors, balance, composition, lighting, focus - all aspects of the photograph seem more concrete in print.  Flaws are easily exposed in a print, but what I found was how incredible a great photograph, on the right paper, presented well, could look. 

I'm proud, but learning. 

I'm struggling, but inspired.  

Peace,

Jeff

Coffee Beans Close

Canon EOS 5D, 50mm + 25mm Extension Tube @ f/8, 1/30 sec., ISO 250.  

I've recently been doing some work with a 25mm extension tube giving space between my camera body and its lens.   There are no optics involved, just air.  The Canon EF 25mm Extension Tube maintains all electronic communication between the camera and lens, for autofocus and aperture settings.  This does a couple of things.  First, by moving the lens further away from the digital sensor plane it causes the focusing distance to be shortened.  Meaning that objects can now be put into focus much closer to the lens than they could otherwise.  In the case of the 50mm f/1.4 lens, the minimum focusing distance shifted from 1.5 feet to roughly 3 inches.  The compromise, however, is that the lens can no longer focus to infinity.  Rather, the maximum focusing distance is chopped down to about 5 inches.  Yes, this brings incredible constraints on practical usage, but the intent here is to gain macro capabilities.  This is the second major shift that an extension tube brings, magnification.  Objects will now be recorded larger on the sensor since they are significantly closer to the lens and in focus.  A whole new world unfolds under macro photography.  Not only can small subjects and details fill an entire image, but the mundane can easily be turned into abstractions and compelling art. 

Canon EOS 5D, EF 100mm f/2.8 + 25mm Extension Tube, f/16, 1 sec., ISO 250.

Canon EOS 5D, EF 100mm f/2.8 + 25mm Extension Tube, f/13, 2.5 sec., ISO 250.

Canon EOS 5D, EF 50mm f/1.4 + 25mm Extension Tube, f/22, 2.5 sec., ISO 100.

Card Holder

Everyone needs one.

One part of self-promotion that I need to get into better habit of is getting these things into the hands of others.  Often, I struggle with the quality of my work or services and refuse to believe that others may yet still want them.  And the only way I can help them realize they want them is to expose them to what I do.  Megan continuously gives me marketing and networking ideas and it is about time that I make some moves. 

She Rocks!

 

Nonna Chic has officially launched!  Yes, 'tis true, the woman of my life has formally posted business on ETSY.  Here, you'll find the initial offerings of her creative designs and craft.   It's exhilarating to witness the process of launching a new enterprise and to be spurred along in the action.  Keep an eye on her on ETSY shop as well as her fresh blog, she's got lots of new essentials coming!