Author: travel67

Pentax 645Z – Just the facts, ma’am

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The Pentax 645Z digital medium format camera will be available for purchase at the end of June 2014. It’s predecessor, the Pentax 645D, went on sale in June 2010  for 848,000 yen. You can pre-order the  645Z at B&H for $8,496.95  or from Amazon Japan for ￥777,110. The 645Z uses a 51.4MP Sony CMOS sensor unlike the 40MP Kodak CCD sensor in the 645D. The sensor remains the same size at 43.8mm x 32.8mm, this means it is a crop 645 sensor. The sensor is the same one used in the 50 megapixel Hasselblad H5D-50C camera ($29,000) and Phase One IQ250 digital back ($37,000). At around $8,500 dollars, the 645Z is a third the price of it’s MF digital competitors. The use of a CMOS sensor allows the 645Z to offer live view, a video mode, and a higher ISO range. The PRIME III image processor is significantly faster than in the 645D. The camera can now shoot at 3 fs rather than 1 fs in the 645D and instant reviews will be quicker. The autofocus system and metering systems have also been improved. The …

Ancient wonders of Koh Ker, Cambodia

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127km NE of Siem Reap, is the group of monuments and ruins called Koh Ker. It’s relative remoteness compared to other temples means that it receives far few visitors, it’s less “renovated” and overall feels more of an archeological site rather than a tourist attraction. Nearing the end of my time in Cambodia, I was now used to my routine of getting up way before dawn. I hired a car and driver from the hotel, left at about 5AM and we were at the Prasat Thom pyramid not long after 7AM. After Prasat Thom I explored the various other ruined monuments in the area. We drove to each one by car, and I explored the ruins on foot. The whole area was heavily mined which means that it would be inadvisable to ditch the guide / driver and wander off looking for more ruins. There are signs at all the ruins I visited stating they have been cleared of mines. After my visit to the landmine museum I was well aware of the possible consequences if you …

Pentax SMC DA 645 25mm F4 AL (IF) SDM AW

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I recently purchased a 25mm lens for my Pentax 645 system. This is one of the new lenses designed for the digital 645D / 645Z cameras alongside the DFA 645 55mm and the DFA 645 Macro 90mm. A few important facts about the lens: At 25mm when used on the 645D it is equivalent to 19.5mm on a FF 35mm camera. This is one of the widest medium format lenses available.  I also use the excellent 645 35mm. It’s a heavy beast  at 1040g and expensive US$ 4,996.95 at B&H (although still several thousand less than the Hasselblad 24mm). Occasionally they appear used on Ebay, which is where I purchased mine. As with the 645D body, the 90mm, and 55mm, it’s weather sealed so can stand up to the elements. This really separates the Pentax system from other medium format digital systems which are more suited to a controlled studio environment. The front element is curved, which means filters are designed to be inserted internally. The filters are 40.5mm and polarizers can be rotated with a nifty dial on the holder. Interestingly, this …

Porcelain Master – Hitachi Tsuji 常陸 辻. Arita, Japan

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Tombai walls were built with bricks from dismantled kilns. Behind one such wall in Arita is the home of Hitachi Tsuji. Tsuji-san is a 15th generation ceramic master, and creates porcelain that graces the tables of the Japanese imperial family. Blue and white porcelain is made by applying an blue underglaze of cobalt to white porcelain and then a clear glaze. Prices range from several million to a few thousand yen. There are times when I wish I could take my dog with me when I’m on assignment. This was not one of them.  The wagging tail of a labrador, would probably do more damage than a proverbial bull.

Riley Marx – Fitness Model

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A few studio images for the portfolio of fitness model Riley Marx. We’ll do a second session outdoors when rainy season has finished. Always great to work with such a dedicated athlete. If you’d like to have a go at using studio lighting, the next Intro to Studio Lighting Workshop is June 14 & 15, 2014. Click on  the workshops tab for more details, then send me a message to book a place.

Tousosai festival at Touzan Shrine. Arita, Saga Prefecture, Japan.

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Touzan Shrine is a unique Shinto shrine. It is dedicated to Ri Sanpei the Korean immigrant who established the manufacture of porcelain in Japan. The shrine’s torii gates are made of porcelain as are a pair of komainu (The Japanese equivalent of Okinawan shisa). A monument stands to Ri Sanpei on the hill behind the shrine.  At Tousosai, a festival held on May 4th,  Touzan Shrine gives thanks to Ri Sanpei. The ceremony is attended by local potters, representatives from Korea, and sometimes artists from other countries. The priests offered prayers and the miko performed a sacred dance. I was given permission to take a photos by the priests of the shrine who were so kind and friendly. I love Japanese festivals, even those which are comparatively unknown. I love the costumes, the ancient traditions passed down from generation to generation, the smiles, and the general awesomeness.  

FAQs – Can I use your images for free?

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I often get requests asking if I will allow a person or a company to use my images for free. In return they will give me picture credit and possibly a link back to my website. I got one such request a couple of months ago via Flickr. For educational purposes I’m going to share the experience. I imagine the content in this blog post will be painfully  familiar to other photographers, but more importantly it may be enlightening to others. I received a Flickr mail in March: We are working with the martial arts magazine to promote Taekwon-Do and Martial arts to partitioners around the world. By searching in flickr, I found some of your beautiful martial arts pictures in your profile. I would like to ask for your permission to use the pictures related martial arts as here:www.flickr.com/photos/13377977@N04/sets/72157629295646900/If you allow to use your pictures in our website, we will publish it for our martial arts articles under following two websites:1. itfline.org | Taekwon-Do Federation website2. moosin.net | Martial arts online website.We will keep your credit of you in each article …

Old School Gamers

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All I wanted was a quick pic of my friends Rob and Shawn playing on an old Atari 2600 “Video Computer System”. Unfortunately Bear decided that it all looked too much fun and decided to crash the photo shoot. Old school gamers. Old school diva.