Hello, my chickadees. Uncle Danno, user of multiple systems, has a gig in New York City. For those of you unfamiliar, New York City is a small hamlet semi-sorta-near where the Mayflower landed. Look it up. I do many talks. Some of you have even attended in the past. My talks are changing—less Blurb and more what I will call general ideology, general workflow, and general creativity. It’s not like all of these things don’t lead back to Blurb; they do, but I don’t necessarily need to drill the platform into your head. The way I see it, if you can’t find a use for a platform like Blurb, well, that’s on you. Here is the official link from the B&H site.
I’m going to start this talk with a funny/tragic story that dates back to the original X100 model.
Without blowing the surprise, my experience with the original model was short-lived. I’m not sure I had models two, three, or four, but I’ve certainly had the X100V and X100VI. I’ve come to love this little thing. Is it perfect? No, but what camera is? The X100V was the first X100 model I committed to. Back in 1997, I committed to using a Leica rangefinder. I’d had Leicas before but never fully committed. In 1997, I sold all of my kit except for an M6 and a 50mm. For the next four years, that’s all I used. It wasn’t until then that I fully understood how to use this camera. I committed to the X100V when it was the only camera I took on a trip to Peru. I can tell you how weird it felt to board a plane for South America with ONLY an X100. I ended up shooting multiple exposures, something that’s easiest to do with Fujifilm cameras. This was a technique I had done several times before, so I knew what I was doing. These images went on to be featured in several of my books and several Blurb campaigns. In fact, when I sent them to the designer, they wrote back and said, “Whoa, what are THESE?”
My wife has since stolen the X100V, so I now own an X100VI. While in Europe a few weeks ago, I ran into a damn fine photojournalist who is also a Fujifilm user. He said, “The X100 is my favorite camera.” “What?” I asked. “I thought you were an XPro guy.” Turns out, he was an XPro guy for a specific assignment, but the X100 was his favorite camera. The images on his walls were X100 images. I was surprised but impressed because the images on the wall were worthy of frames. As I mentioned before, the X100 isn’t perfect. There are things I’d change if anyone asked, but it works just fine as is. In fact, this camera allows me to make a specific kind of picture that I don’t make with anything else. It’s also the ONLY camera I change my aspect ratio on. I’ll switch from 16×9 to 5:4 or whatever else feels right. In Morocco, I shot 16×9. In Hong Kong, I shot 5:4. All of these changes are tied to what publication I envision. Everything ends in print.
One more small thing before I leave you. The built-in strobe. I can’t tell you how important this is. I now have a Leica Q3, which I find myself leaving at home most of the time, and one reason is… no built-in strobe. An image like the one above is SO improved with fill strobe. To have that right here, all the time, is a godsend. The image below is another example, from Tangier. A bit of fill to pop in those shadows, especially with a darker skintone. Look at the sparkle on his lower leg. The light on the ball. All the difference in the world. Not a great image by any means, but an example of what fill strobe does for you. Without it, you get flat.
So, if you want to know how and why I do this, well, come to the talk. We are also going to discuss a few other things, secrets for now. And expect to be called on. This will be an interactive talk. No sitting on your hands waiting for it to end. There should be some interesting people in attendance, which is another reason to attend. See you there. Don’t forget to RSVP at the link above.
Comments 12
Can I still come even if I shoot Canon? 🙂
Author
Okay, I guess so…but you can’t talk…..or make eye contact…..
I know what New York is, but what’s the Mayflower? Not all of us who read your blog are Americans.
Author
It was this pesky little boat that brought a bunch of us pilgrims.
Danielsan, I’ve been to NY some (8) times only to change planes and hop the “pond.” As you know, a lot of traditional (American) dry fly patterns were tied for East Coast streams including upstate NY. When I was young, those patterns were the ones everyone learned to tie. Caught my first trout (fly fishing / proper) on a Catskill’s-style, “Light-Cahill” size 14. I can still vividly remember that rise and take…Oh sorry, back to photography. I hope one day to visit the “B&H super store”. I’ve been a customer for well over thirty years. All the big-guys speak there,(I guess that’s why you’re on the schedule)…I’ll be watching when it shows on YouTube.
Author
B&H should be experienced at some point. It’s a one-off. Will miss you but will think of your flies fondly.
Hope you have a great time at the NY gig!. Also hope you have some time to share a little online with us unlucky folks who cannot attend.
Heading to Europe later this year for two weeks with the X100VI and, for the first time, leaving my beloved H2 at home. A little nervous and excited at the same time.
Author
That’s all you need. And a story.
So, is ‘chickadee’ a downgrade from ‘jackal,’ or is the move lateral?
On a serious note, I do have a couple of questions for you. I will catch you at another NY shindig because I do not own an X100:
1. Do you have any stories to share about strangers asking you to delete their picture when you were out taking photographs for your personal enjoyment? I have had people ask. Coincidentally, my worst interaction was with someone who is a photographer and confessed they used to do street photography. We talked for almost half an hour. I still do candid street photography anyway. I dodged your hook kick.
2. When you exclusively used a film Leica M and a 50mm, did it often upset you that it was hard to arrange perfect compositions in scenes with leading lines, ‘gap’ scenes shot through openings, or precisely position objects in the frame? Or did you alter your style to suit the camera? I purchased an M3 and a 50mm with a one-year commitment to understand how the rangefinder experience feels compared to using an SLR. That was 13 months and several hundred feet of film ago. Now I am reflecting on the journey and the images.
Author
I see jackal as complimentary. Same for chickadee, so let’s say lateral. You don’t need an X100 to come to the event. You don’t even need a camera.
1. Never. I engage with people, so I don’t have this issue. I might run into someone that asks not to be photographed, which is no big deal. I do doc work, not street photography, so I don’t really have this issue.
2. Never. I’m a people guy. Not shooting things like architecture, so there wasn’t much of a need for perfect anything. Doc work is messy. It did take me a few 50mms to finally figure out how to use one.
Just keep plugging, you will get there.
Hi Dan, Having previously made a derogatory comment online concerning your Emperor and the perceived “Golden Age” of the USA I doubt that I would be granted a visa to enter Gilead to attend, so my question is will this event be made available online?
Author
the good news, you are on the list. the bad news, it’s the shit list.
Yes, it will be streamed later…