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A 'lil HooHaa

Messing with the blogging world since 2005

Cameras

30 Minus 2 Days of Writing: Cheesy (1/28)

February 1, 2013

I refuse to write about cheese.

Last year, the first day of this challenge, the theme was cheese. Straight up cheese. Not that there’s anything bad about cheese, but let’s be honest — this isn’t a cheese blog.

I like cheese, don’t get me wrong.

But there’s something, well, odd blogging about an obsession with cheese.

The soft feel and dreaminess of the Diana lens makes it a great addition to my digital setup.

I digress.

So I needed something else. And being today is Friday and I sometimes have my Foto Friday on this day, I figured I’d talk a little about photography. It stems from something I saw on Twitter the other day — somebody saying how there was no point in taking a pinhole photo with a pinhole lens on a digital camera.

I see the point. I can see where somebody might question it or think it’s a bit cheesy. I’m the opposite.

Before I go further, allow me to note that I grew up in the non-digital age. I remember using typewriters. I remember when film cameras were still the norm. And different films, at that. My first video game system was an Atari 2600. I used a typewriter. I handed in reports that were handwritten.

My first newspaper job was at a local weekly. When I first started, they had a typist whose job was to type up things people sent in that were handwritten or done on a typewriter.

Imagine that?

I remember when AOL was cool. Seriously. Dial-up was lightning fast. The sound of the modem was really sweet. Busy signals stunk!

So I’ve had a chance to watch technology grow. And during that time, I’ve embraced it. Especially digital photography. Living in a digital age, I’ve become accustomed to instant gratification with my photography. I can mess around or play with settings. I think of photos I’ve taken now and know there’s no way I’d be able to do what I do with a film camera.

The vignetting with my new Holga lens makes me think I took it with an actual Holga. Just without the developing and film costs.

That being said, I still love film. I don’t mind using my Holga. If any of you follow me on Instagram, you know I recently posted a photo of a film camera setup a friend sent me. It’s a body and many lenses. Funny enough, soon after that, my brother gave me some unused film that he and his girlfriend recently came across — two rolls of black and white and two color. So I have some film to shoot.

But here’s reality — it’s not cheap to develop film. I don’t develop my own film anymore and, in fact, I haven’t done it in probably more than 10 or more years. And honestly, I’d rather not get back into it. I have enough hobbies already and I don’t want to add film developing to it. Though, I will admit, I used to love it and I’m sure it would be fun to do it again.

Back to cheesy.

Over the past few years, I’ve purchased or received as gifts, three “lenses” for my digital camera. One is a Diana lens, one is a pinhole lens and the other, added most recently, a Holga lens.

The pinhole lens gave me the opportunity to take a shot like this, which I truly love.

And I love them all. Beyond that, I honestly don’t care if it’s cheesy.

I understand why people would question the pinhole. After all, the idea of many pinholes is the light creating the photo on the actual film. But this gives me the same result. Right away. On my screen. Awesome.

The Holga lens is freakin’ excellent.

And the Diana lens is soft and dreamy, just like it’s supposed to be.

Call it cheap. Call it cheesy. Call it non-traditional. I call it kick ass.

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog [at] gmail.com. Also, please “Like” HooHaa Blog on Facebook!

Filed Under: blogging, challenges, My world, Photography, We Work For Cheese Challenges, Writing Tagged With: 30 Minus 2 Days Of Writing, blog, blog challenge, blogging challenge, camera, Cameras, challenge, cheesy, diana lens, digital camera, film camera, holga lens, photography, photos, pinhole lens, writing challenge

28 Comments

Finding photo inspiration

June 28, 2011

I’m doing everything I can.

Seriously.

I just can’t seem to get the inspiration to get out and take photos. I don’t know if it’s the weather or something else, but I’m having a hard time going and taking photos. My Flickr stream has been quiet for too long. I tried taking photos of my niece and nephew’s eighth-grade graduation, but the lighting stunk and I forgot my flash (smart move, eh?)

I did take a few photos at the horse track, but that’s been it for a while.

<sigh>

I’ve been in these funks before. But I want to go out and shoot photos, I’m just stuck.

It could be this area. I can only take photos of a rural scene for so long before having to do it over and over. I do plan on taking a bike ride one night and shooting photos of all the fire hydrants on our main drag as they’ve been painted. Some are really cool and nice.

To help, I’ve also rented a Lensbaby lens for this upcoming weekend, which includes GeoWoodstock and then the Fourth of July.

I’ve always wanted a Lensbaby, which is an artistic lens that one can tilt to get interesting blurs, a small focal point and cool angles. I’m looking forward to using this lens and am hoping it will give me a little oomph when it comes to taking photos.

I’ve also been looking at a few photo books and websites for inspiration. It’s a funk I’m sure I’ll be out of soon, but I’m hoping the Lensbaby will help me break out.

With the lens baby, I’m looking forward to trying some geocaching photos with it. Maybe a few portraits. If I really dig how the lens works, I might try and extend it for a few more days as I have a thing or two I want to do the weekend after as well. I wouldn’t mind trying it with a little disc golf, too.

If I like it as I think I will, I know once I get a job again, it’s a lens I’ll look into buying. There’s so much you can do with it.

I’ll post shots I take from it on my Flickr as well as probably do a post on the blog.

For those of you who are photographers, what do you do to get out of these funks? Leave a comment and let me know.

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog [at] gmail.com.

Filed Under: My world, Photography Tagged With: Cameras, inspiration for photos, lens, lensbaby, photo funk, photography, photos

4 Comments

There’s always one in the crowd…

March 27, 2011

Hold up boys, we got a photographer who needs all to bow down for the shot!

I’ve never claimed to be a professional photographer.

I consider myself a pro-am of sorts. Kind of in the middle. I’ve done a lot of “pro” work, for newspapers, magazines and websites. I’ve also done weddings and the such. But, for the most part, my photography is for fun. I love sports, people, nature and other things. I take photos of things that I’ll like.

But there’s always someone out there that just knows too much.

I encountered one of them Saturday.

A road rally was held locally Saturday, so I wandered down to watch for a bit and take some photos. Last year when I went, the one spot was awesome for spectators. The course was different this year and getting to this spectator spot was easy enough. Alas, it wasn’t the best for people to watch. I should have maneuvered around a little, but I didn’t feel like standing in the snow. I ended up doing that for a little while anyway.

When the test-run drivers went through, I pulled out my camera. A fella next to me was also shooting some images. Cool deal.

Then one of the pros — you know, the ones with the press credentials (I really do miss working for a paper during times like this), went walking by with his camera on a monopod.

Now, do I think the monopod was necessary? No. But some people like to use them. It’s steadying, especially for the bigger, bulkier professional cameras. The fella shooting next to me apparently didn’t think so.

He noted that, too, saying how the ones “who buy the press credentials always do stuff they don’t need to do.”

Said the guy with the two pro-sumer cameras and a zoom lens just like mine — solid, but mid-pack.

Another one of those people “who buy press credentials,” had a flash and was also setting up a couple of off-camera flashes to use was nearby and our fella mentioned how the flash wasn’t needed — “You really need that to stop the action.”

<sigh>

Actually, the off-camera flashes are good. See, some of the cars were coming through shadows, big guy, and the flashes offset that. Seriously, try it… it works!

He then mentions to me how those pro guys just don’t get it. I assured him — as someone who obtained press credentials for this event in the past — that one doesn’t pay for credentials and they aren’t hard to obtain.

Turns out this guy shoots — so he said — for some magazine.I overheard him later telling his posse that he didn’t think it was worth going through the hassle for the press pass (he commented earlier that he had been chased away from a spot at another viewing area. Gee, no press pass and you wonder why? He mentioned how they need to start promoting the sport, not chasing people away).

My press credential was approved last year with one e-mail. I sent it to the organizer, said who I was and what I was doing. He e-mailed me back telling me what I needed to do. Pretty tough stuff there, eh?

The first of two sets going through there was canned because of ice on the road and the drivers had to change to their snow tires. So the crowd filtered to their cars to get warm (I should have done the same), but instead I stuck around and moved off the snow to get a better hopeful shot of when the drivers came at us.

This apparently didn’t sit well with our pal. See, he started mentioning how he’d be telling the magazine (this was a trial run, you see) that it probably wasn’t going to be worth covering down the line. Unprofessional. Would have to track down drivers. Send a writer. Blah blah blah.

So, I inquire… what does a magazine like this pay for a story?

He brushes me off with some per-word price that he dug out of nowhere (if they paid what he said, a short 500-word story would land a writer nearly 200 bucks. Where do I sign up? Then he said one would have to make it all make sense etc. I assured him I could write. Of course, he brushed that off. So I went to staring down the road. I can only take so much big-timing in a day.

His posse showed up and he was telling one guy that this probably wouldn’t be worth covering. He complained a bit more about the lack of professionalism with this group putting on the show. And again he made sure to talk about the pros and how they are clueless and that it wasn’t worth the hassle of getting the press credentials.

*shrug*

Working with any sort of media has advantages — press credentials being one of them. It’s not hard to get credentials to fringe sports, especially considering this is an under-the-radar racing circuit that would probably love some ink. The big part of it is that you just have to sign a waiver, basically saying if you get run over or killed, they can’t be sued.

But it’s too much of a hassle.

Hey, this fella could have been one hell of a photographer. And maybe he’s in with some magazine etc. But man, I can only take so much of it — especially when it’s 20 degrees and windy out. Needless to say, I watched one run through and I called it a day. I then went and played Risk with Marc, Leap and James in a warm house.

On a different note, a few guys behind me during the race had some excellent one-liners. But the best of the day, I thought, was when a driver went extremely slow into a corner on the course. One of the guys noted: “Hey, turn on your blinker!”

At the time, it was laugh-out-loud funny.

Oh, and for the record, if I had been getting paid for this blog post for what that one fella noted I could get paid by the magazine, I’d be looking at more than 350 bucks! And I’m pretty sure this all made sense. Oh well, I guess it must remain free. For now!

Allow me to leave you with another photo I took Saturday… I had to get the Volkswagen in!

VW power, baby!

More later!

Filed Under: My world, Sports Tagged With: Cameras, photographer, rally cars, rally new york, rally racing, road rally, walton, walton ny

No Comments

Canon 30d in need of help!

January 11, 2010

Murphy’s Law, I guess.

Just when I’ve turned up using my main camera, things go wrong. Go figure.

Last night, I put my 430ex flash on my 30D for a few photos. When done, I went to loosen it and take it off. It wouldn’t budge.

Hmmm, I wondered aloud as I tried to work it a big and nothing happened.

I tried a pair of pliers, in the hopes I could help it loosen. Nothing.

So, I walked away for a bit to do some research and see what I could find. Alas, it seems to be nothing at this point. Time to try it again.

You know those pieces of thin rubber people use to loosen jar tops? I still have one I got from the school when I was in college. So, mix that with a wrench and I have the flash being loosened.

Not so fast.

But wait, the flash still wouldn’t come off the mount. What the heck?

So, I needed to use a little extra force and it finally popped off.

Here’s the problem — it looks like the bottom of the 430 at the front (the part that is pushed in first) has a small bent rod as it’s pushing forward and a piece of the plastic isn’t looking so good. Cripes!

Also, and this is the part that is really bothering me, the popup flash isn’t working now. So I think something is wrong with the camera, too.

I don’t have 300-400 bucks to send this into Canon to get fixed right now, but I need the use of some sort of flash sometimes. It doesn’t look like anything is in the hot shoe area to make it think there’s still something there and when I switched to “auto” inside to see if the flash would pop, all it did was switch to a very long exposure, as if to show that there was no usable flash.

I estimate the cost because a couple of years ago, I had damaged the pop up and hotshoe. Both needed to be replaced and it cost around $360. Figure in shipping costs, and you’re at the $400 mark. THEN, I’d have to also figure about the flash.

Not cool.

I had been smart enough recently to realize that spending $1,700 on a new camera at this point is nuts as I have a trip to Ireland I’m saving up for. I really wasn’t looking forward to this, though, as it will take a little away from the vacation kitty — something I don’t need.

I’m going to show the camera to a couple of photo friends and get some imput. I charged up the battery for the point-and-shoot and the Digital Rebel (haven’t used this camera in YEARS!), so I should be able to continue my Project 365 without any problems, but still… not looking forward to sending this in for repair.

This is when I really wish there was a local camera shop to take my stuff too. Alas, those — like many other businesses — are becoming harder and harder to find.

Guess I’ll have to decide soon.

Just when I was getting back into using the camera, too. Argh!

More later.

Filed Under: Cameras Tagged With: Cameras, Canon 30D

6 Comments

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Harper is counting down to Santa Paws! You know, Harper is counting down to Santa Paws! 

You know, of course, Santa Paws travels with Santa Clause, making sure to find treats and toys for all the good little doggies! (We know they are all deserving, right?) So, Harper put out some milk for the big guy, carrots for Rudolph and the reindeer, and special cookies for Santa Paws! She is ready! 

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Couldn't resist stopping on the way to work to sna Couldn't resist stopping on the way to work to snap this shot. The colors in the sky were fantastic and the scene was nice looking (though, to be fair, I drove by what I think would have been a better scene -- the valley and hills full of snow etc.)

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Just a break on our morning walk … #goldenretri Just a break on our morning walk …

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Tired. Tired.
Harper is ready for tonight! Let’s go Phillies! Harper is ready for tonight! Let’s go Phillies! 

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I look at her and sometimes still can’t believe I look at her and sometimes still can’t believe I have her. It’s been a year and four months and she makes me smile and laugh more each day. It’s amazing how much a dog changes your look on life, and how much joy they can bring. 

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I’ve recently realized how many photos I have to I’ve recently realized how many photos I have to post here, as well as on Harper’s (@harper_dublin) account). So, as I start to transfer photos, I’ll try and catch up. So photos coming could be from all seasons and who knows when. 🤣

This one is recent from the courthouse square in Delhi. We had some pretty good fall colors this year. 

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From a few weeks ago. I was trying to get Harper t From a few weeks ago. I was trying to get Harper to put her paws on the bridge and looked out, but she was more content jumping on me and looking up. I do love the way she seems to be looking at me.
Instagram post 17992900117561614 Instagram post 17992900117561614
Couldn’t resist a quick stop this morning with t Couldn’t resist a quick stop this morning with the fog and frost settled in. 

Hamden Covered Bridge 

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Harper’s friend Lucy is around this weekend! #g Harper’s friend Lucy is around this weekend!

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So… @harper_dublin wants to know why she can’t So… @harper_dublin wants to know why she can’t have @mallons_homemade_sticky_buns.
This is why we can’t have nice things. Saw this This is why we can’t have nice things. Saw this on me morning walk Friday with Harper. Likely some college kids, but also as chance at local hooligans. I had Harper so not a lot I could do, but I managed to get the cart off the chair. (See second photo) This was in a local park.
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Finally learning this Canon M6 MarkII before my tr Finally learning this Canon M6 MarkII before my trip starts this weekend. Really like it now that I took the time to set it up and learn the differences between this and my 7D MarkII. This and the iPhone will do most of the work on the trip. 

Photo is inside on a dark and dreary day. Transferred to phone and edited with #snapseed. 

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A video looking at my first year and a half of owning a golden retriever, my first dog. It's had its ups and downs, but I've truly loved the ride and look forward to the future. 

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I hate being in front of the camera, but also realize sometimes it's not the worst thing in the world. So, I'm getting better with it. Week 4's theme was all about us and having us in front of the camera, so I tried to come up with a creative way to do it. 

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