Making The Best Of Some Short Downtime

Personal projects are very important.   Sometimes they can be pre-planned, other times they just appear when you least expect it.  Personal projects allow you to experiment in ways that you wouldn't normally.  They also give you full control over what you are doing.  A good refreshing for mind, body and soul.

On a recent trip to Dayton, OH there was some unexpected downtime between events, so the wife and I were able to take a bit of a rest.  We needed the break, weather being high humidity and in the mid to high 90F degrees.  Back at the house we were renting, I found some "target rich" still life.

Gear Used:
Olympus OMD EM5 Mk II
Olympus 25/1.8 prime lens
Ambient Light for "Zeke"
Olympus supplied external flash with the EM5 Mk II for some of the walnut shots.

Right inside the front door, we were greeted by "Zeke", the name my wife gave him.  :D

The property owners came up with creative ways to monitor the house, using "Zeke" to hold the camera as well as the microphone.

After Zeke gave me very little outside of his A/V look, I started wandering elsewhere.  This time in search of light.

Found a nice, big window with the setting sun illuminating the formal dining room.  I liked the size and quality of the light - now I just needed to find a suitable subject.   There were some flowers there, but I was not feeling them.  Wandering through the house, I found a bowl of walnuts and almonds.

Took an overall shot of the bowl.  Trying to use some things I'm learning about video production.   Here I am looking to set the scene with a wide shot.

Then we come in with a closeup.  A single subject, standing on it's own.  Side lighting.

Bringing in some extra subjects - and kicked the EM5 Mk II into hi res mode, which gives us a bit more tonal range as well as a 40mp jpg to work with.

So, now, I'm pulling in some extra shapes, with the almonds, and looking at a different angle.  Looks like I'm trying to create a nut Stonehenge or something.

Didn't want to continue on with adding more walnuts/almonds, so started looking at incorporating the nut cracker and picks.

Almost looks like a masonic symbol of some kind.

So what did we learn here in all this?

1)  If you really want to make an image, you can.  Don't let the location or circumstances inhibit your creativity.
2)  Doing this kind of project, regardless of how small, keeps the creative thoughts flowing.
3)  With minimal gear, you can create some great images just by working with the light you have.
4)  Use times like this to try and create a feeling or evoke emotion from something that doesn't usually get associated with it.

Technical growth goes only so far, and at the end of the day, the technical stuff is really all science.  The biggest place for growth in your personal photo journey is going to be in finding creative ways of expressing things that people see everyday.  It is also one of the most difficult.  That journey is often a very personal one, and means different things to different people.

That is also what makes it great, fun, and rewarding.

"Rules" To Shooting?

Rules in photography are nice, I guess.  They can help rein things in and keep them on target.  Given boundaries, you often get a relatively structured, predictable result.

Nothing wrong with that.  If you are doing work for people, they are often wanting something they know, have seen before or is predictable.  There are those that love to define things, and definitions are good for when you are trying to describe or explain a concept to someone.  We as humans love things in orderly fashion and like to know that things fit in somewhere.

I'd like to concentrate on what most people classify as "street" photography.  Can we really classify what the definition of street photography might be?

While this can make things quite easy as a conversation piece, they sometimes can give people the impression that only those things that fit into those strict definitions are "street".  What makes this even more of a complex issue is that no one can agree on what the definition of street photography might be.  Not only can we not agree on what the definition of street photography should be, there are those out there that try and use different terms for the same damn thing!  Rebranding and rebadging things for the blog clicks or trying to redefine something old as something new to get more followers.

I've seen that done many times in my IT career, where system development life cycle (SDLC) processes and internal process get renamed by consulting companies.  They sell the same thing with a different name and get big money for it.

My thoughts are this.  It is an age old practice for people to find photographers and their work that they like and try to emulate it.  They do their best to understand how to replicate a style.  This is good, it is a learning experience.  We should, though, once you have gotten sufficient skill in the one you are emulating, turn to finding ways of enhancing/improving on what you have learned.  It is the never ending journey of finding your own unique style.

Along with the emulation period, there are also all those rules out there that like composition rules, exposure rules.  If you've read one of my previous posts that deals with ways of improving your photography - I don't like "rules", I much prefer "guidelines".  Use the guidelines to help you, but they are not something that cannot be broken when the subject suits.  Just so you don't think that I'm being a hypocrite, I'm not saying we should rename rules to guidelines.  I'm saying to take the defined "rules" and use them as guidelines.  Throw them out when they do not work for what you are doing.  Don't confine yourself to that arbitrary box.

I say to hell with all those people that tell you that the best lens to shoot street photography are either a 35mm or 50mm lens/field of view.  Why, because HCB did it that way?  Who gives a hoot what they shot with, especially if that focal length doesn't suit your aesthetic or your vision for the final image you see.
There is no best camera, only the one that works for you.   There is no best lens, only the one that works for you.  Some people will be all about telling you that the best street camera is the smallest one that no one knows you are using, others will tell you that a DSLR is the best, or a Leica.  I think you get the point.  What one person considers a favorite, someone else might find it unusable.

I hear photographers all the time complaining that they are tired of seeing the same old shots in B&W and it's too contrasty...yet these are the same people that put these "rules" on what street photography should be.  Talk about sending out mixed signals!

If you want street photography, or any genre for that matter to expand to more/different/better than its current state, the rules or barriers must be expanded/broken down.

At the end of the day, you just need to make sure that you are shooting to the end game of what you are wanting.  Sometimes the gamble pays off, sometimes it doesn't....but you have to decide if you want to be an innovator or just someone who takes pictures.  Either way, have fun doing what you love.  Not everyone has to be an innovator, while others can't stand to be just another person in the crowd.

Olympus OMD EM5 Mark II - Gear Review

It's always good to have a supportive spouse when you are a nerd photographer gear junkie!  lol
Seriously, though - I recently was the proud recipient of a brand spanking new silver Olympus OMD EM5 Mk II.

© Olympus America

Got the green light to get it as a birthday present.

Enough with the backstory, lets get to what you are here for, which is the gear review!!

As always, I shoot to the real world and to what I prefer and not to MTF charts, or spec tests.  None of that means anything to me if the overall experience of the camera doesn't work for me.

Olympus 25/1.8
1/60, f/1.8, ISO 400

Handling
First thing I noticed was the build quality.  Again, as with all the other OMD bodies, it is top notch.  Feels very solid and has a nice weight too it without feeling too heavy.  The grip on the right hand side is a bit more prominent than the previous EM5.  The texture of the outer casing feels more grippy as well.  It's almost like a leatherette instead of the textured metal like on the original EM5.

Olympus 12-40/2.8 PRO
1/80, f/5, ISO 800 @ 40mm

The extra buttons and the placement of the buttons is on the body are pleasing for me as well.  The jury is still out on the fully articulating screen.  I'm kind of liking the ability to spin it completely around and protect it - it just takes a little bit to get used to in comparison to the tilt only of the previous OMD offerings.
If you just need to tilt it, it can get a bit fiddly, but having the ability to articulate the screen is better than not at all.

Overall, I'm really liking the feel and workings of the camera.

Olympus 40-150/4-5.6R
1/200, f/5.2, ISO 800 @ 111mm

The front and rear dials are a lot thicker, which makes turning them much easier and the shutter release feels more "old school" to me than the other OMD cameras.  It just reminds me of the old film cameras like the Yashica Electro.

Olympus 12-40/2.8 PRO
1/200, f/5.6, ISO 200 @ 40mm

Image Quality
Not a whole lot to report here that you don't already know.  The sensor has not really changed much from the other iterations of hte OMD, so if you liked what you saw from the previous OMD cameras, you'll be getting that here again.  The IBIS works great and is very smooth in operation.  I'm not one to shoot test images.  I just know that it works when I need it to and it works well.

Olympus 75-300/4.8-6.7 II
1/2000, f/5.7, ISO 250 @156mm

I've taken to running the JPG engine with a -1 sharpness and putting the noise reduction on low.  I found even the basic settings are a little too aggressive for me, which could cause higher base ISO noise and artifacting.  Adding a little extra sharpening and noise reduction in post works wonders on the files.

AF Speed
Still using the same contrast detect AF, which works fast and sure in most situations.  Not your best option for tracking moving subjects.  If you want that kind of performance, you'll want to look at the EM1/GH4(no phase detect, but uses Depth From Defocus - DFD technology) with phase detect AF or a DSLR.

With that being said, action is possible with a little planning and using the S-AF mode, as seen below with this surfing image.

Olympus 75-300/4.8-6.7 II
1/2000, f/7.1, ISO 500 @ 300mm

Hi Res Mode
As you've probably already read in other places - you need to use this mode on a tripod and with a scene that has no movement in it to prevent artifacting.  You do get the ability to pull a 64MP RAW or 40MP jpg file with enhanced resolution, truer color rendering.  There are plenty of other places that have done extensive head to head images of a standard 16MP capture versus the hi res mode equivalent.

Olympus 75-300/4.8-6.7 II
1/2000, f/5.6, ISO 200 @ 124mm

I can see this being of use to product and still life photographers as well as urban exploration or cityscape captures.

Olympus 12-40/2.8 PRO
Hi-Res Mode
1/400, f/5.6, ISO 200 @ 40mm

Video Recording
You have a lot more options here than you did in the past.  I'm not a heavy video user, and am actually just getting into it.  For me, right now, the options are adequate.

Below, you'll find some test videos at some of the different modes.

Other Misc. Items Of Note
With the EM5, your top shutter speed was 1/4000.  The Mark II gives you 1/8000 and it also has silent shutter mode which is electronic first/second curtain shutter.  Not only do you get the silent operation, but you also get 1/16000 of a second shutter speed.  Some limitations can be artifacts present themselves in fast moving subjects as well as issues with fluorescent lights or monitor refresh rates.  You also lose the ability to use flash with the electronic shutter.

Shutter shock mode is available as an option in the drive mode, so no menu diving to activate it.

Olympus 75-300/4.8-6.7
1/1000, f/7.1, ISO 800 @ 300mm

The mechanical shutter is noticeably more quiet than the EM5 or the EM1.  Not that those shutters were loud, but the Mark II is a definite improvement.  As with everything, we need context. The shutters on my Nikon D300/D700 sound like pistol fire in comparison, especially when shooting a wedding in a quiet church.

The EVF is the same as what you'll find on the EM1, so definitely some visual goodness.  Also present is the built in Wifi that can be used with the OI Share app.

Same as the previous EM5, you get the weather sealing, the touch screen.

The supplied, detachable flash unit is another surprise.  Unlike the flashes that came with the original EM5 and EM1, this flag has a fully articulating head. It can be turned, angled for bounce.  Yes, it only has a guide number of 9, but if you need/want that little pop for inside during a party, this could do the trick.  Much more versatility than the older style included flash.

Olympus 75-300/4.8-6.7 II
1/2000, f/5.7, ISO 250 @ 156mm

Now, the big question....is it worth the upgrade.  I like the extras that the Mark II brings to the table, and I'm still experimenting with the viability of the hi res mode.  I appreciate all the improvements that the new body offers and I'm having as much fun shooting it as I did the original EM5.
I'd say if you are pressed for cash or on the fence, stay with the original EM5.  Otherwise, feel free to take the plunge and pick up a Mark II.

Another thing that this camera reminds me of is the feeling I get when I shoot with the Nikon Df.  The feel, the look, the responsiveness - especially when shooting with prime lenses just makes me want to keep shooting with it.   While the Df still is the supreme stills shooter for me, the EM5 Mk II has solidified itself to the #2 spot.

Olympus 75-300/4.8-6.7 II
1/2000, f/6.5, ISO 400 @ 258mm

The EM1, while a fantastic camera, feels more like a professional tool I would and do use for paying jobs.  It is in the same position as the Nikon D300/D700 are for me.  They are tools with a purpose for making money, while the Df and EM5 Mk II feel like tools I can use to create art and express myself.  It might sound dumb, but it is just the way I think and feel about the whole thing.

Update To An Old Post - Setting Up The Olympus OMD Cameras

About this time last your I put out a post on how I setup my Olympus OMD cameras.  I've learned a lot since then and have updated the older post with some new information - how to get the best out of the JPG and RAW files.

Check out the update!!