Barbie fashion doll by Mattel, Inc.
Barbie an American Icon, based on a German toy (Bild Lilli) and manufactured in Japan. The original 1959 Barbies were brunette as well as blonde, and had an even slimmer waist than the modern doll. Interestingly, the original Barbies were always glancing to the side, but from 1971 she looks straight ahead.
Barbie fashion doll by Mattel, Inc.
Tsuneo Kinjo Hanshi 9th Dan Okinawa Goju-ryu Karate – Jundokan
A busy couple of days shooting at the Jundokan dojo in Naha City. On Thursday I photographed 9th dan masters Tsuneo Kinjo and Tetsu Gima. The following day I photographed 88-year-old 10th dan Tetsunosuke Yasuda.
Tsuneo Kinjo Hanshi 9th Dan Okinawa Goju-ryu Karate – Jundokan
Tsuneo Kinjo Hanshi 9th Dan Okinawa Goju-ryu Karate – Jundokan
Tsuneo Kinjo 9th Dan & Tetsu Gima 9th Dan Okinawa Goju-ryu Karate – Jundokan
Tsuneo Kinjo 9th Dan & Tetsu Gima 9th Dan Okinawa Goju-ryu Karate – Jundokan
Pentax 645Z ( image by Ricoh / Pentax )
I’ve been asked the same couple of questions several times over the last few weeks: Will you buy the Pentax 645Z? followed by Do you recommend that I buy one too?
Will you buy the Pentax 645Z?
Short answer: Yes
Long answer: Yes. The 645Z will be my main camera, and the 645D will become the spare body.
The increase in megapixels from 40 to 51.4 does have some advantages, although no client has ever said to me that 40 megapixels wasn’t enough. Future clients, however, particularly those advertising travel destinations on posters or billboards may desire the extra pixels. For exhibitions bigger is usually better, the B0 (39×56) prints at my Matsuri Exhibition in Tokyo were amazing, and later this year hopefully I’ll be exhibiting several A1 (23×33) prints in Naha, Okinawa. Above all, using the best equipment available to me is important for The Karate Masters Portrait Project. The goal of the project is to create a historical record of these martial arts masters. I no longer study karate, but striving for the best, and pushing the boundaries incrementally, is a mindset that these sensei and I share.
Seiyu Nakamura, photographed as part of The Karate Masters Portrait Project
The faster image sensor will be the biggest improvement when working with the camera in the field. Chimping with the 645D is slow, especially if you take a sequence of shots. Being able to quickly check focus and exposure will enable me to get a few more keepers when working under pressure. The ability to work at higher ISOs will be useful in low light, or when I need to use a fast shutter speed.
The tiltable LCD panel and live view are features new to a Pentax 645. Only hands-on experience will teach me if these are valuable, but I imagine there will be times when being able to focus accurately with live view before taking the shot will be advantageous.
Short answer: If you want to, of course. Even better do it using the affiliate links 645Z at B&H or Amazon Japan
Long answer: Is it the right camera for you? Is it the camera you need? To be honest, I’ve no idea.
If you’re using the camera as a tool then you have to determine if it’s actually the right tool for the job. If you need a 50+ megapixel camera, the 645Z is by far the cheapest option on the market. If you need a rugged, weatherproof 50+ megapixel camera system the Pentax 645Z is probably the best money can buy.
If you’ve already invested in the Pentax 645 system than this is an obvious choice, and it’s at a lower price than the 645D was when released.
I imagine the 645Z will also be tempting for those currently shooting landscapes and portraits with the Canon 5D Mark III or the Nikon D800E. The jump in image quality may be enough to make some make the switch. I have a feeling that the 645Z with the increased ISO range would also be a fantastic high-end wedding camera.
There are some things the 645Z can’t do. If you need more than 3 frames per second (composite shots of a snowboarder flying over a jump) this is the wrong camera. Comparing the 645Z with the Nikon D3X or Canon EOS-1D X, is not sensible as although they have similar prices, they are designed for very different jobs.
The 645 system lenses are excellent, but there are some lenses you simply don’t have available to you including fish-eyes, fast long telephotos, (new) leaf shutter lenses, and tilt shift lenses. If your current workflow is based around any of these lenses then you should check out other cameras.
Can your back take the strain? The 645D or Z is large and heavy. The lenses are similarly large and heavy. Not a problem if your shooting in the studio or from the back of a car, but it does make it a challenge if you’re using it all day in the field. If I’m going out shooting in natural light, maybe I’ll use the Lowepro 200 bag, and inside place the 645D body with the 25, 55 and 90mm lenses. This comes to 8 kilos / 18 pounds.
A photographer’s workout gear.
Add in the 300m lens (1.5kg), and another 645 body (1.5kg) for redundancy, and you are looking at 11 kilos. Add extra batteries, chargers, a liter of water etc. and you are getting close to 15 kilos (33 lbs). I have friends who will laugh at this, because they strap on three times as much weight, then HALO jump from a C-130 or march across Helmand Province. However, carrying heavy camera gear can still be exhausting, and there are times when a smaller sensor, a smaller body, and smaller lenses just makes sense. The Pentax K3 with a pancake lens comes in under 900 grams, and the waterproof WG-II is less than 200. Again it comes back to what is the right tool for job.
A far better choice for a day at the beach – Ricoh / Pentax WG-4
As I don’t know what you want or need, I can’t claim to know what is the right camera for you. Staff at a camera store can discuss your needs and will be able to give better advice. Staff at a reputable camera store will hopefully steer you to the best camera for you, rather than the one that gives them the most profit.
V-22 Osprey at Futenma Flightline Festival
Military bases cover approximately one fifth of the main island of Okinawa. The most unpopular of the bases is Futenma, and the V-22 Osprey is its most controversial aircraft. Once a year, however, the base opens its gates to all for the Futenma Flightline Festival.
V-22 Osprey at Futenma Flightline Festival
There were plenty of Americans and local nationals checking out all the different planes and helicopters on display. There was a lot of interest in the Ospreys, which most people had never seen up close. Posters on the sides of the aircraft showed images from humanitarian missions.
V-22 Osprey at Futenma Flightline Festival
Of course, the relocation of Futenma, and the military burden placed on Okinawa is a complex and contentious issue. I’ve photographed several anti-base protests, so it was interesting to see another viewpoint, or at least the other side of the barbed wire fence.
V-22 Osprey at Futenma Flightline Festival
Seiyu Nakamura, 10th Dan Okinawa Dentou Shidokan Karate and Kobujutsu at his dojo in Kochinda, Okinawa, Japan.
Seiyu Nakamura is a master of traditional shidokan karate and kobudo. More than a decade ago, Nakamura-sensei was my briefly my karate instructor. It was great to meet each other again, although he did note that we’d both got a little grayer over the years.
Seiyu Nakamura, 10th Dan Okinawa Dentou Shidokan Karate and Kobujutsu at his dojo in Kochinda, Okinawa, Japan.
Seiyu Nakamura, 10th Dan Okinawa Dentou Shidokan Karate and Kobujutsu at his dojo in Kochinda, Okinawa, Japan.
Seiyu Nakamura, 10th Dan Okinawa Dentou Shidokan Karate and Kobujutsu at his dojo in Kochinda, Okinawa, Japan.
Once again after shooting the black background portraits indoors, I switched the plug-in 7a generator for the battery powered B1, and we went outside. A huge storm was quickly approaching, but we managed to get a few shots in the sugar cane fields before the heavens opened.
Seiyu Nakamura trains with the bo staff outside his dojo in Kochinda, Okinawa, Japan.
Classical Dancers of the Apsara Theatre, Siem Reap, Cambodia
Angkor Village’s Apsara Theatre has evening performances of classical dances. I asked the manager if I could take a few portraits after the artists had finished their show, and they said okay.
Classical Dancers of the Apsara Theatre, Siem Reap, Cambodia
To make things a challenge, I had about 5 minutes to photograph everyone, the external wall of their changing room to use as a background, and the only Khmer I knew was hello and thank you.
Classical Dancers of the Apsara Theatre, Siem Reap, Cambodia
I used the Profoto B1 to illuminate the darkness, and my tuk tuk driver as light stand and translator. I asked them to look into the light, and captured a few quick pics.
Classical Dancers of the Apsara Theatre, Siem Reap, Cambodia
Pentax 645Z ( Image from Ricoh / Pentax )
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
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 autofocus system and metering systems have also been improved.
The body remains rugged and weather-sealed. The main change is the introduction of a high resolution tiltable LCD monitor.
The body can use any of Pentax’s 645 mount lenses including the new 25, 55, and 90mm lenses, along with all their legacy lenses ranging from 35 through to 400mm. You can also use lenses from the Pentax 67 system with a 67 to 645 adapter.
Prang pyramid of Prasat Thom the principal monument of Koh Ker
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.
Ruins beside Prasat Thom the principal monument of Koh Ker
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.
Prasat Linga at Koh Ker
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.
Minefield cleared sign at Prasat Neang Khmau part of Koh Ker
After my visit to the landmine museum I was well aware of the possible consequences if you did wander off.
Prasat Kra Chap Temple part of Koh Ker
Lovely early morning light.
Prasat Kra Chap Temple part of Koh Ker
One of my favorite images. Scripture carved into the stone, next to a doorway at Praasat Kra Chap temple.
Prasat Banteay Pir Chean part of Koh Ker
One sad thing the guide did point out was that so many carvings from the temples had been destroyed or stolen. Statues would be missing heads or faces, while others sculptures lay where they fell.
Prasat Neang Khmau part of Koh Ker
SMC PENTAX DA 645 25mm F4 AL (IF) SDM AW ( IMAGE BY RICOH / PENTAX )
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.
SMC PENTAX DA 645 25mm F4 AL (IF) SDM AW ( IMAGE BY RICOH / PENTAX )
Interestingly, this is a DA 645 25mm F4 and not the DFA 645 25mm F4 lens I borrowed from Pentax a couple of years ago. This means it is not a full frame 645 lens unlike the DFA 645 Macro 90mm, the DFA 645 55mm, or any of the older 645 lenses.
Pentax SMC DA 645 25mm F4 AL (IF) SDM AW
There is some softness in the corners as is to be expected on such as wide angle lens. Chromatic aberration also occurs in the corners when there is high contrast (backlit foliage shows purple fringing) although this can be easily fixed in Lightroom.
Pentax SMC DA 645 25mm F4 AL (IF) SDM AW
It’s exactly one month before the release of the Pentax 645Z. If you are keen, or worried they’ll be in limited supply, you can pre-order the 645Z at B&H. The sensor in the 645Z is the same size as that in the 645D, but the higher resolution and overall jump in image quality (if the rumors are true) will mean that the latest digital lenses will really shine.
Tombai walls outside the home of Hitachi Tsuji 常陸 辻 15th generation ceramic master, Arita, Saga Prefecture, Japan.
Tombai walls were built with bricks from dismantled kilns. Behind one such wall in Arita is the home of Hitachi Tsuji.
Hitachi Tsuji 常陸 辻 15th generation ceramic master, Arita, Saga Prefecture, Japan.
Tsuji-san is a 15th generation ceramic master, and creates porcelain that graces the tables of the Japanese imperial family.
Tennengosu (cobalt stones) held by Hitachi Tsuji 常陸 辻 15th generation ceramic master, Arita, Saga Prefecture, Japan.
Blue and white porcelain is made by applying an blue underglaze of cobalt to white porcelain and then a clear glaze.
Porcelain by Hitachi Tsuji 常陸 辻 15th generation ceramic master, Arita, Saga Prefecture, Japan.
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.
Hitachi Tsuji 常陸 辻 Sake cup at the Arita Ceramics Fair, Arita, Japan
TRAVEL 67 : Chris Willson Photography 