In the Street and On the Table

Ricoh GR21 / Kodak BW400CN / Canon 8800F

As far as I remember, I've only tried three times of taking pictures by my hip. This is the most recent and successful one.

For street photography, hip shooting is one of the frequently used techniques. I'm still learning. With a 21mm lens, it should be more easy to capture the target. Whether the subject is in the right place of the frame is another question.

The more I use my GR21, the more I love it. I used to attach my GW-1 to my GRD for getting 21mm vision. Although the wide conversion lens works pretty well and is very sharp, the whole camera becomes a bit too bulky that it's not truly compact anymore. Also, it's definitely heavier than GR21.

Now GR21 is my main razor except for the following kinds of pictures or situations that I have to use my GRD instead:

1. Highly private pictures;
2. Candids;
3. Documentary shots that I need to record the exact shooting time and probably need to take a lot of pictures too;
4. Macros;
5. Shots I can't have mistakes;
6. Casual shots for family or friends;
7. No more film or power for my GR21;
8. Too dark;
9. Need instant review or sharing.

So today, I took pictures like this one with my GRD:

Ricoh GR Digital

Joker

Ricoh GR21 / Kodak BW400CN / Canon 8800F

During Chinese New Year, the Chinese like to try their luck in gaming. Macao is a good place to visit then. Macao, Asia's Las Vegas, is full of people from Hong Kong and the Mainland China trying their luck these days. Looking at this kind of people, the local residents have diverse feelings. We hate the see all the shits resulted from the gaming industry but our government has to reply on the industry which is the main income source to the whole society.

I took the picture at a game arcade near my home. It's basically for kids. But I found some machines like the one shown in the picture. I don't think it should be there.

Happy Man & Unhappy Kid

Ricoh GR21 / Kodak BW400CN / Canon 8800F

Do you love McDonald's? Their slogan "I'm Lovin' It" makes me sick. Yes, I don't like them for their junk food. When I smell them, I just want to walk past as soon as possible. But I still have to go to their restaurants because my friends like junk food or I don't have much time to eat. Fast food is one of the ways to go. Fast indeed. I think once in a while eating at McDonald's is not too much.

I took this picture when I went to the McDonald's near my home. I saw the kid. He looked strange. All the kids I've seen and know love McDonald's. His look made me think he's an exception. Pretty weird, isn't it?

Abandoned

Ricoh GR21 / Kodak BW400CN / Canon 8800F

Scooters are popular in Macao because Macao is small and the roads are not wide. It's more convenient to drive a motorcycle than a car. However, many motorcyclists, especially the young ones, don't follow the rules well. Road accidents then often involve motorcycles. This is sad.

When I saw the scooter, I felt sad too. It looked like abandoned. The suitcase looked abandoned too. They wanted to tell me a story. I didn't give it a second thought. Did what I wanted to do with my GR21 in hand. The rest is story... Is it?

Hurry Up!

Ricoh GR21 / Kodak BW400CN / Canon 8800F

Two days ago, it's Chinese New Year's Eve. People were busy preparing all the stuff for the big day. One of the stuff was flowers, especially blossoms. It's another Chinese tradition. Decorating our home with blossoms and other beautiful flowers means bringing us luck and good fortune. How could we miss it?

With GRD, I check each photo right away after taking it. If it's not good, I'll delete it and try to shoot it again. Based on my observation, people also like to take a look of what they've just taken and try another if not satisfied. If you're not aware of this, take a look of people, especially those with a DSLR, taking pictures and you'll know.

With GR21, I can't review the photo instantly. So what do I do? My decision has to be more precise. The time my decision is made is the time the shutter is released. Once it's released, I just forget it all and concentrate on my feeling towards another target. No more checking this and that and then probably missing something worth for record. Just take it and leave it!

When I look at the pictures after scanning from my negatives, my joy is bigger than directly from digital cameras. Although not all of them are as per my expectation, I'm delighted so much even with one single picture I like.

I'm glad that among the pictures from my "last" b/w film, I like more than one. Here is another one under the same subject:

Ricoh GR21 / Kodak BW400CN / Canon 8800F

Just like the woman. Have two today. Will post more.

Happy New Year

Ricoh GR Digital

Should have posted this last night. I didn't feel well to do so. So here it is! Yesterday is Chinese New Year Day. Noises of firecrackers. Lion and dragon dances. Full of festive mood. I took this picture at Macau Tower Convention and Entertainment Centre. It's a tradition to have the lion and dradon dances on the big day.

In the Dark

Ricoh GR21 / Kodak BW400CN / Canon 8800F

After 3 rolls of film, I've got used to my GR21 quite well. No need to make a few adjustments to the angle between the viewfinder and my eye for getting a clear view. :P It's quite a snap now. I'm glad.

Got probably my last black and white film processed. In the first 4 shots including the one posted here, I pushed the film from ISO400 to ISO1600. Unfortunately, the good shop as seen in the photo told me I couldn't get it developed accordingly at any shops in Macao. Too bad! :( So the first 4 photos are inevitably underexposed.

Ricoh GR21 / Kodak BW400CN / Canon 8800F

Thanks God that I asked the right question not too late. After my mistake, I set my GR21 back to ISO400. Other shots are exposed normally. This is one of the examples of night street scene. I didn't add film grain and do any adjustments this time. I just like the smooth black and white tone.

Square of Ruins

Ricoh GR21 / Fujicolor Superia Reala 100 / Canon 8800F / ArcSoft PhotoStudio 5.5

21mm is good for landscape or cityscape. So far I've never taken any good shots to demonstrate the dramatic effect of such wide lens with my GR21.

Although this picture is not good, it is the best cityscape shot among my test colour pictures. I prefer it in black and white with coarse film grains. I tried different settings of the Auto Enhance function of the ArcSoft PhotoStudio 5.5 bundled with my Canon 8800F scanner. The result is what I want in my mind.

Ricoh GR21 / Fujicolor Superia Reala 100 / Canon 8800F

Another test photo. I tried the internal flash of my GR21. In close range, the flash intensity is acceptable. But the photo shows one of the limitations of GR21. The macro focus distance is only 30cm... What a contrast to the fabulous macro capability of GRD at about 1.5cm! So for close-ups, GRD is the way to go.

I'll show more samples to distinguish the differences between both classic film and digital cameras and see how GRD can help me to get pictures I can't do well with GR21.

Here's Looking at You, Kid

Ricoh GR21 / Fujicolor Superia Reala 100 / Canon 8800F

The toddler was two years old but she didn't look like that old. Her look was so wild and at the same time so cute to me. I couldn't help taking a picture of her.

To take pictures of people, especially in portraits, with 21mm is not recommended generally. But as long as we put the main subject in the centre or don't aim it at too much tilt, I think it's OK. One of the advantages of 21mm is to capture more. This is especially useful in street photography as we may not be able to have enough time to frame as we want in split seconds. We can always crop later for what we really want.

Hose

Ricoh GR Digital

Two photos today again. First, this is a photo I've wanted to take for quite some time. I find it looks like a kind of the subliminal visual elements usually found in promotional materials. :P

Ricoh GR21 / Fujicolor Superia Reala 100 / Canon 8800F

Then, here is yesterday's photo but scanned at 4800 dpi without Auto Tone. (The photos posted yesterday was scanned at 200 dpi only...) I resized it to about the same size as yesterday's photo.

I'm very happy with the result for its sharper and more detailed image from higher resolution and more accurate colours from disabling Auto Tone function. I think it's worth the extra time (6 minutes compared to 1 minute a scan of a 35mm nagative film frame). I guess such quality is enough to justify my GR21 in the context of online photo sharing.

GR21 in Colour

Ricoh GR21 / Fujicolor Superia Reala 100 / Canon 8800F

Ricoh GR21 / Fujicolor Superia Reala 100 / Canon 8800F / ArcSoft PhotoStudio 5.5

Already had my first colour film processed. Not all the negatives were scanned. I only chose a few frames and tried different settings to see which one turns out the best result. Here is one of the test pictures. I took it on 18th (When talking about shooting date, I feel not convenient to record all the shooting info by hand. This is another disavantage of film. If I take digital pictures, all the info is automatically embedded in the picture file.) After checking out the available scanners in a computer mall, I walked by this street cobbler. The Chinese words mean "All families' luck". I agree. We're lucky to have such handiwork for our shoes that are worn out but fit as our second skin.

The colour photo looks good to me. But I don't shoot many colour pictures. I tried to see how it looked after grayscale conversion. The bottom one is the result with noise added. Looks good to me too. I think I can save money on the more expensive and harder to find b/w film. :P

I've had an idea to push the speed of film and see its effect of higher contrast and more grains. However, I found that no shops in Macao can help me to precess such film accordingly... :( So I have to do it in post-processing.

Butterflies

Ricoh GR Digital

With a film camera in hand suddenly after getting used to take digital pictures day by day, I have had more thoughts on my motives for taking pictures. First of all, I enjoy seeing photos as works of art. I particularly like those works with emotional depth that I'm simply moved. I'm so moved that I'd like to do something like that to express my own feelings. With good tools like GRD, I can freeze an image that I'm somehow attached to emotionally or aesthetically in the way that I think works. After inspired by Cristian's Ricoh GR-Diary, I wanted to share my freezed frames of time and space daily. Frankly speaking, I can't always be inspired, moved or lucky enough to take good pictures every single day. However, I have enjoyed taking pictures everyday for keeping my blog with daily entries and at the same time learned from experiences and comments from viewers. So basically my blog (my old PhotoBlog or this blog) has pushed me to take pictures.

After getting my GR21, taking pictures is no longer only for maintaining my blog. I still take pictures daily and enjoy it. But now it's not because the pictures contribute to my blog but I simply want to take them. The role of my blog has then become not as important as before. I have no pressure to use GRD (for obvious reasons) instead of GR21 for posting today's picture. I just take pictures with GRD or GR21 depending on the situations and limitation.

Today (20/1, the Inauguration Day of Obama) the colour film was still in my GR21 but I'd like to take b/w pictures (I do like b/w pictures much more than colour ones.). Thanks to the compact size of GRD and GR21, both cameras were with me. I naturally took my GRD out to take the picture of the butterfly glass charger with the floral curtain as part of the background.

What about the photos by GR21 today? I may like them more than this photo. Should I wait for them and decide which one is Picture Of Today? No. Among the pictures I've taken AND been able to see finally (in case of GRD, it's not that finally... :P) today, I post my most favourite one. The pictures can be those I've taken and/or scanned today. In other words, my picture of today is from what I have been able to see finally today rather than what I've taken today. This is my new guide for this blog.

What if I can't see any pictures today? Such case happens when I have't used GRD to shoot any pictures and the film in my GR21 hasn't been processed yet. Then no picture will be posted for today but I may still write.

In short, I won't push myself to use my GRD to take a picture in order to post a picture for this blog. I just follow my feelings and use either or both cameras I think fit.

New Work Flow

Ricoh GR Digital

I don't want to print all I've taken on film, especially during the time I'm yet to have enough skill and experience on the medium. I have thought about setting up my own darkroom but my home is not big enough for that. I then decided to work like those film photographers in the early stage of digital photography. Combining the analogue and digital ways, I shoot on film, have it processed, scan it with my newly bought scanner, Canon CanoScan 8800F, and do post-processing if needed.

I tried the scanner with the bundled software and a renowned third-party software called VueScan. Although the latter is more flexible with more setting options, I prefer the former for convenience and satisfactory result. Of course, the quality can't be compared to professional film scanners but it's still usable and actually good enough for posting on web or sharing via email.

Again I took pictures with GR21 today. Like yesterday, nothing from it yet...

For keen photo bloggers, film is really not a good medium. :P

(This should be my entry yesterday. I was too busy to do it...)

GR21 "in Colour"

Ricoh GR Digital

Today I didn't take any pictures with GRD except this one. I loaded another roll of film in my GR21. This time was a colour film (Fujicolor Superia Reala 100). I took pictures with it. One of them should be posted as picture of today. I don't know if I really like it yet until it's scanned or printed. So the photo here is only a substitute. Once the real one has come out, it may be replaced.

Although I still haven't got used to it completely, I felt better each time I took pictures with it. Aside from the fact that it's my new camera, I have a feeling that it would be my main camera instead of GRD as expressed last night. GRD would then be a camera for situations that I can't do well with GR21...

Will see.

GR21 & GRD

Ricoh GR Digital

Ricoh GR21 / Kodak BW400CN

Tried my GR21 with a roll of Kodak BW400CN film today. As this is more a test than anything else, I don't care much about the composition. I just took pictures more or less as I have been doing with my GRD. I have to confess that I still haven't got used to take pictures with a film camera yet.

I have to look into the small viewfinder. As I wear glasses, I have to press my glasses onto the viewfinder in order to get a clear view. The data shown in the viewfinder is not easy to see with their light colour and their position around the view. After seconds of looking into the viewfinder with another eye closed, I had blurry vision. Also, when I look through the viewfinder, a small part of the view is blocked by the lens barrel. Composition then becomes rather tricky.

Surely I can't have an immediate review of the shot I've just taken. But I feel better when pressing the shutter release button of the film camera than a digital camera one. My decision seems to be stronger. If I take pictures with a dc, I can check the photo(s) just taken and delete it or them right away and try another. The crucial decision would be loose.

I had the film processed. The result is better than I thought especially considering that this is my first film experience after years of solely digital photography. Here is a comparison between GRD (top) and GR21 (bottom). The GRD photo is a jpg straight from the camera only resized nearly to the same size as the GR21 one which was a scanned jpg directly from the negative very probably by the Fujifilm minilab. Both were taken at P-mode in ISO400 with multi-point AF and 21mm focal length. I like the photo by GR21 much better.

GR21 has its limits which GRD can overcome. In short, GRD is an all-round camera for today whilst GR21 rules for its incomparable touch and expressive potential particularly as the result of using film, a completely another world from digital format.

Film and digital format. Like vinyl and CD. Different worlds.

I think I'll reserve my GR21 only for some really special moments. GRD is still my main razor.

I'll have another test with colour film. Stay tuned.

My Seven Year Itch

Ricoh GR Digital

A boring picture today. Or another boring picture again? Anyway, this is my first film camera after 7 years of digital photo taking. It has become a companion to my Ricoh GR Digital. Both belong to the GR family. For daily photos when convenience and immediate review are more important, my GRD is still my best tool. What about the GR21? Film has already been loaded. I'll see how much or how little I can do with film again...

Soft & Hard

Ricoh GR Digital

I like contrast. This applies to photography, music and other things I like. Regarding photography, the contrast is not only about the difference in colour and brightness but also the contrast between the subjects in a picture.

I'm afraid knitting is not as popular as before as a pastime. Most girls today prefer other hobbies which don't need much skill. Knitting does need skills. Patience and endurance are the other keys. We're all short of all these. Is this the inevitable result of the computerized and automated ways of doing nowadays? We all talk about speed, efficiency and quality stability. The jobs with our hands are then only found in the minority now or even gone long ago.

When I looked for a light bulb in this electronics and hardware store this afternoon, I saw the girl concentrated in her knitting behind the counter. She probably didn't notice me taking a picture of her. For whom was she knitting? Whoever he or she is, must be a very lucky person occupying a special place in her heart.

Traffic

Ricoh GR Digital

The traffic in Macao is one of the worst to me. The roads just can't afford so many cars while people can easily afford a car. Public transport is rubbish. People would like to buy their own cars rather than take bus or taxi. Also, most drivers have really bad driving manners and don't follow the rules. Simply put, a mess.

For many Macanese, motorcycling is the best way to commute. To me, it's the mess of mess. The motorcyclists don't give a damn to the traffic. Their bikes can pop in wherever the bikes can go no matter how narrow the space is or how dangerous the situation is.

I took this picture in a bus. I'd like to summerise my feelings on the local public transport, cars, motorbikes and the general traffic in Macao, a small city with a lump of traffic mess.

Fihgt

Ricoh GR Digital

The motorcycle helmet was hanging at the gate of the metal workshop downstairs around the corner near my home. It's dirty and worn out. An image of a soldier's helmet suddenly appeared in my mind.

I've never fought with people. I don't like any fightings with hatred and violence. The fights between Israeli and Gaza are ugly. I don't know much about the background. Whatever it is, it is wrong.

Fight is wrong. Wrong to fight.

Home Moving

Ricoh GR Digital

I've moved my own home for 6 times. All were nightmares. Packing, moving and unpacking. After each settling down, I could find something damaged during the road. The stuff left now should be the ones I wanted the most. They survived after each merciless "finalisation" of all I would ever need. They inevitably have new company as time goes by.

I don't know whether I'll move again. I sometimes think I need to imagine I have to move to another flat. I can then trash or give away something I once wanted but now can live without. Living space is limited. Trying to learn who we are and what we truly need becomes more and more important.

Took this picture during my way back home. The man looked annoyed whilst the lady didn't care at all. After all, it's more a man's job.

Run, Run, Run!

Ricoh GR Digital

Today the weather was very fine. Sunny. A little chilly. Not as chilly as in Europe though. The attack of very cold weather and the gas problem in Europe is absolutely not a good match. Hope the gas problem will be solved soon.

Here we have a photo taken in a park. Walking in the park with the wonderful sunshine pouring down was really nice. Many children there had a great time. They seemed to have unlimited energy. Running around. Chasing each other. Gave their guardians a hard time.

Once upon a time I was at the same age as the kids. Running with laughters. Felt like flying. But what truly flies is the time.

Pole Fishing

Ricoh GR Digital

I always think I'm good at fishing because I have a lot of patience. However, I've heard that once one is interested in it, one will be addicted to it. I believe it and I just can't afford the time. So I dare not try it.

I took this picture when I was walking along a road beside a river after work. I was curious about the sticks in the water. What was their use? Were they just garbage that was disposed that way? Why did the men fish near the sticks? Didn't the sticks affect their fishing? I didn't ask them. I kept a distance from them just like I've been keeping a distance from fishing.

Miniature Angkor Wat

Ricoh GR Digital

Been to Angkor Wat in Cambodia. Amazed so much.

In Macao, we can find some Wat-like scenes in miniature. My amazement is not proportional to the scale though. The trees are so strong that their roots spread on and into the exterior walls. They don't look weak at all. Full of leaves in healthy green.

On this particular mini-Wat scene, the cables dangle around the roots. I'm not sure what kind(s) of cables they are. Most of them look like antenna cables.

Roots of nature. Roots of mass communication.

Cat by the Wheel

Ricoh GR Digital

Stray cats are easily found under vehicles either for food given by people or rest. They surely feel safe there. However, do they wonder why people don't lie under the large creatures with round legs? Maybe they have seen people there. But it would be rest in peace...

Cats have nine lives and they're pretty fast. Good choice, kitty!

Burden

Ricoh GR Digital

This is my first blog entry on Blogger. More or less a test. But the photo is for real. It's my most favourite among the few I took today (7th). Or yesterday? From tomorrow's post, I'll try to upload my photo(s) of today before midnight to make it more like what we mean by "today" in a general sense. And this helps me to set it as a deadline.

For those who don't know my past, I have maintained my PhotoBlog until this very photo after reading the news that the website is heading towards the subscription way that I can only upload 3 photos a day if I don't put money on it. This is definitely limited when I'm suddenly inspired or lucky enough to have more than 3 pictures I like taken during the day... So I've decided to call it quits and see if I can do something on Blogger, on which my favourite blog, Cristian's Ricoh GR-Diary, is kept.