New year, but no resolutions: I keep saying “I’m gonna do this. . .” and keep not-doing whatever it is.
So I’m just going to try to do, and see what happens.
I have done some things: I’m slowly getting to know my camera. I’m less intimidated by it than I was initially, but there are basic things about my XT4 that I’m still messing up. Some of these errors could be fixed in post-production, but a) that would require me to learn post (I currently have GIMP) and b) I’d really prefer to get the photos right at the source.
And oh ho ho, am I far from getting things right at the source. I’m currently working in manual mode: I bought the camera without a lens, instead buying an adapter for my favorite 23-85mm lens from my old Olympus. I like having the control (even if I’m screwing up) and, honestly, the auto-everything was too much. I am looking at an 18-55mm auto-lens, but, again, I feel like I have to get better with the set-up I have before trying to expand beyond it.
Anyway, far-from-right: I screwed up the ISO for. . . awhile, because I thought the sensitivity tuner was, in fact, the “film” speed. I’d repeatedly nudge the button from single-shot to burst-mode without knowing I’d done it and not know how to fix. (I started carrying the manual with me after the second time this happened.) The XT4 allows me to choose film “type” and I’d choose the wrong one—tho’, to be fair, this is inherently a trial-and-error issue. And I haven’t used the exposure compensation dial at all. At least I could work the f-stops.
I’m also still working on my “eye”. I’m not useless when it comes to framing a shot, but what I can do is pretty basic. And I’ve mostly failed when it comes to getting the contrasts right.
Still, the great advantage of digital is that I can take a lot of shots I suspect will be throwaways without having to worry that I’m wasting film. I appreciate the discipline that film provided when I first started taking pictures, but I also appreciate the freedom to take the same shot with different settings.
So, for example, I took this one in Prospect Park, and it’s. . . fine:
I got the reflection, but the colors of the land and trees was dull. I adjusted the ISO and got this:
It’s a mite dark, but more visually interesting. It captures more of the detail of the trees and leaves, which in turn creates a better contrast to the reflection.
You can see a similar dynamic with the next two shots: one slightly brighter and duller, the other darker and starker:
I prefer the stark.
I won’t bore you with more shitty/less-shitty shots; but let’s end on a not-great one of my kitty, because: kitty!
AbsurdBeats 