Wandering Around Looking at Nothing in Particular

Still exploring with the Fuji X-Pro1.  Love the camera and how if feels and functions in my hands.  At this point, the only lingering quirk is the focusing scheme.  Somewhere around 3 feet and closer I need to switch to the electronic view finder to reliably focus.

So here's a sample from today's wander...

 Wandering through Walnut Springs Park in State College, Pennsylvania.

 Looking around in the doctor's parking lot.

 An exceptionally clean storage trailer.

 Junior in the morning.

 Lily in the morning.

 Lily after several dozen tennis ball throws...

 Junior attempting telepathic communication reminding me that it's time for breakfast.

Watching the Catholic kids get off the bus.

Letting the Camera Lead the Way

 Kicking back, keeping the camera with me, photographing whatever catches my eye.  The photographs are neither stirring or evocative -- just the result of my efforts to defy the inertia that's kept me hypnotized for months.

 Even looking up at the sky feels new.

 The guard at the door.

 What's right in front of me and what's always with me.

 Dog portraits.  Willing, non-judgmental subject.

 Ditto.

A quick grab shot of an old colleague I ran into on the street.

Looking Around

 Still exploring with the new Fuji X-Pro1 camera.  It's enjoyable to use and the image quality is outstanding.  This reflection was seen at the Southern Alleghenies Museum in Altoona, Pennsylvania.

A new lens arrived today -- an 18mm F2 Fuji XR lens.  This photo at the Pennsylvania Military Museum in Boalsburg, Pennsylvana was one of the first exposures I made with it.  It's wide field of view is a nice complement to the 35mm F1.4 lens.

Not sure where I'll go with the new camera and lenses.  Doesn't matter right now.  I'm just happy to be out in the world and making photos.  Something will emerge along the way.

Dogs as Subjects

Once they become comfortable with the camera, dogs make readily available subjects...

 Lily doesn't remain still for long.  I've begun to master the focusing scheme for the Fuji X-Pro1 so I can reliably capture images.  Still some work to do.

The X-Pro1 is less threatening than the Nikon DSLR.  I think because it's quiet.  Neither dog can talk yet to fully explain why they respond differently to different cameras...

Fog at the Military Museum

More low light, high ISO handheld work with the Fuji X-Pro1.  Having fun seeing what can be done.

Slowly Adjusting to the Fuji X-Pro1

There's no doubt in my mind that the Fuji X-Pro1 can make images in a wide range of lighting situations.  This photograph of Junior was made in extremely low light at a high ISO at F1.4.  I've found myself pushing the shutter button in response to subject matter that I've not done since I was still using the Leica M6.  There's a freedom when I use an optical view finder to look at the world.

That said -- focusing the X-Pro1 is frustrating.  I had read a lot about concerns with the auto-focus speed, but how you apply the auto-focus is quirky to say the least.  At this point I'm still exploring but anyone considering this camera MUST understand that it does not focus in the same manner as a DSLR.

I'm closing in on a reliable focusing process though.  One that many other X-Pro1 shooters use with great success.

The 35mm F1.4 lens provides exceptional sharpness and at large apertures a really fine, shallow depth of field.  In the morning I walk with the dogs and take advantage of them as subjects.  Here Junior was watching the runners from the Catholic School do their morning practice.

I set the dynamic range of the Fuji X-Pro1 on auto.  It handles contrasty light very well.

During a ride on the Vespa scooter I ran across this old farm outbuilding.  It's slowly being devoured by vines.  I've made dozens if not hundreds of this sort of photograph.  Something about the lone object in space is attractive.  If I had more time I suspect I could find a metaphor for life here.

Another example of how well the Fuji X-Pro1handles contrasty light.  I never planned to use this camera for my Scooter in the Sticks blog photos but it provides a different way of seeing so I may just haul it along.

A self-portrait made late yesterday evening.  It was almost dark but the camera did a fine job of capturing an image.  The image -- retirement has meant fewer interactions with the razor and barber shop.  I've not decided if I'm sporting rugged outdoorsman look or crazy old coot look.

I'll have to test it in the world.

Wandering Views

In the garden, still tinkering with the Fuji X-Pro1.  Focusing is a challenge -- not sure how the autofocus works.  This photo of the LilyHammer was made on full auto.  Auto exposure, dynamic range, ISO, the works...

Wandering through Shingletown Gap.  Light sprinkle of rain under a heavy gray sky.

Test Images from Fuji Xpro 1

The Xpr 1 feels remarkably similar to working with my old Leica M6.  It's far more complicated to operate, but these images reflect the first shots.  Most are on auto, all camera JPEGs, and the night shots at ISO 3200 to 5000.

I'll have to explore post-processing options with RAW files.  Some initial reading on the web of others using the Xpro 1 -- they utilize the camera JPEGs.  They do look pretty good.