Featured Forum Thread: "Greetings from Italy" by Ray Sachs

[Ray Sachs]

Didn't really shoot yesterday at all - just enjoying spending time with our daughter, who left this morning. So I took the Sigma out and climbed a LOT of stairs in today's afternoon heat and damn near killed myself, but I got some shots I like. Starting to enjoy this camera more. Perhaps if I lived in a place with more landscape type opportunities, I'd buy one. As is, its a great camera to have along on a trip like this...

20130719-SDIM0500-Edit by ramboorider1, on Flickr

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20130719-SDIM0476-Edit-2 by ramboorider1, on Flickr

This is a near replica of a shot I took when I was here three years ago:

20130719-SDIM0516-Edit by ramboorider1, on Flickr

20130719-SDIM0478-Edit by ramboorider1, on Flickr

20130719-SDIM0525-Edit by ramboorider1, on Flickr

20130719-SDIM0507-Edit by ramboorider1, on Flickr

20130719-SDIM0526-Edit by ramboorider1, on Flickr

And a near replica of a shot I took a few days ago with the Nikon - that one was out of focus and lacked any human content - this one is crazy sharp and includes a guy on the stairs...

20130719-SDIM0473-Edit by ramboorider1, on Flickr

-Ray

 

[pictogramax]

All are great as always, Ray, but the square BW is spectacular.

 

[christilou]

Yes, the square is quite captivating!

 

[Luckypenguin]

Not sure what levels of processing you are applying for each camera but the Sigma seems to be producing the most pleasing colours to me. Gorgeous, gorgeous place.

 

[LisaO]

I agree with ChristiLou the B&W sqaure is really nice and well balanced. Did you shoot it square or just crop to square?

 

[Ray Sachs]

I agree with ChristiLou the B&W sqaure is really nice and well balanced. Did you shoot it square or just crop to square?

Cropped. Shot it in portrait format trying to get some orange flowers in the foreground foliage, but they really didn't add anything, so I cropped them out and converted to B&W.

-Ray

 

[Ray Sachs]

A couple of hours down in the heart of Positano today with the Nikon. Some scenic, some street - it scares me how much I could actually do with just this camera... Looking at these back to back with the Sigma shots from yesterday, I understand how some people prefer the Sigma colors. But I don't. I like them both just fine and the light I was shooting in was actually a fair bit different yesterday - midday flat sun as opposed to earlier today with a bit more of morning still left in the light. But they are different and at some point its just down to taste...

This one is just for the memories - that's our deck up there under the purple with the umbrella opened:

Nikon Misc-1-Edit by ramboorider1, on Flickr

Nikon Misc-36-Edit by ramboorider1, on Flickr

Nikon Misc-54-Edit by ramboorider1, on Flickr

Nikon Misc-34-Edit by ramboorider1, on Flickr

Nikon Misc-112-Edit by ramboorider1, on Flickr

There are some fan-CEEEEE hotels in this town:

Nikon Misc-41-Edit by ramboorider1, on Flickr

 

[Ray Sachs]

An evening out. The RX1 came along - just a wonderful low light camera, the best I've ever used...

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RX1 Evening shots-21-Edit by ramboorider1, on Flickr

RX1 Evening shots-36-Edit by ramboorider1, on Flickr

RX1 Evening shots-69-Edit by ramboorider1, on Flickr

RX1 Evening shots-64-Edit by ramboorider1, on Flickr

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RX1 Evening shots-46-Edit by ramboorider1, on Flickr

RX1 Evening shots-53-Edit by ramboorider1, on Flickr

RX1 Evening shots-59-Edit by ramboorider1, on Flickr

-Ray

 

[ReD]

Ray have you thought of popping into the local tourist board with these?

Could be another revenue stream here

 

[taphoto]

Great shots. It does pay to wait sometimes with landscapes doesn't it.

 

[Ray Sachs]

Ray have you thought of popping into the local tourist board with these?

Could be another revenue stream here

My wife and daughter are always recommending ways and places to sell my stuff. But I just don't want anything to do with the process of trying to get it out there and I can't imagine it would ever bring in enough to make it worth the effort. But I always tell them that if THEY want to take it on, they should feel free and I'll split any money with them (well, with my daughter - my wife and I feed from the same troff, so no need for us split it up). I just enjoy MAKING the photographs and when I'm done with 'em, I'm done with 'em.

Speaking of which, here's one I don't think the Tourist Board would want out there. I didn't think enough of it to post it the other day with the other street stuff I did, but it's since started going semi-viral on Flickr, so I'll post it here now too. I never understand what causes that Explore bot to choose a shot - they've grabbed various shots of mine in the past that I just didn't get at all. They've grabbed four of these Italy shots so far, and I actually thought they got it sort of right on the first three, but this one is just kind of sad, I think...

Nikon Misc-136-Edit by ramboorider1, on Flickr

-Ray

 

[Steve Noel]

Ray, the color ones are just lovely. Looks really inviting, for a casual evening.

 

[BBW]

This one does have a feeling of sadness...and despair. I'm sure your black and white processing and the grain add to that feeling, however you're only emphasizing what you saw. This one would definitely not be for the Tourist Board.

You're certainly having a wonderful trip, Ray!

 

[Ray Sachs]

Barely left the apartment today except for coffee and groceries in the morning. Then it was crazy hot and got very stormy (it missed us, barely, but it sure seemed like we were gonna get hit). So just two shots from today. First, a great rainbow over Praiano - if we'd still been there we might have gotten the pot of gold, but really this whole trip has been a total pot of gold to begin with:

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RX1 Evening shots-6-2-Edit-2 by ramboorider1, on Flickr

And, second, one of the sublime pleasures of life in this part of the world - Bufala (ie, Buffalo) Mozzarella. I've had good mozzarella before, but this stuff is a revelation. They say its cheese, but I think it should really be classified as a fruit - the Italian Mango, or something like that. Its soooooo sweet, soooo juicy, so chewy yet tender. Impossible to describe, but among the best things I've ever tasted. And that's standing out among a LOT of amazing food around here. But this stuff is just SO good, I figured I had to attempt a product shot of it, just to torture myself with the memory when I get home and can't get it. Incredible!

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RX1 Evening shots-3-2-Edit by ramboorider1, on Flickr

-Ray

 

[Livnius]

mmmm.....buffalo mozzarella is simply superb on a pizza.....a few leaves of basil, a little olive oil and...bliss !

 

[Ray Sachs]

I did what I never do last night - set up a mini-tripod and did a bunch of time exposures of the nearly full moon over Positano. I tried it with the RX1, XE1, and Sigma, all at different focal lengths. I think I blew it with the Sony and Fuji by trusting them to get focus right, but they didn't. I guess in such total darkness manual focus set to infinity is the only way to go with these - my bad. But the Sigma got the focus right and OH MY GOODNESS what amazing files! All of the great detail you get with it in daytime shots, no noise, so very easy to work with. Minor adjustments in Color Efex Pro and Viveza to darken the skies, light up the town and surrounding topography a bit, and add some texture and color to the reflected moon. But basically not much work. And since they're shot at base ISO, no noise or any other issues. I wish I could upload some full size files (edit - full size file added 7/29) but I just don't have the bandwidth. I'll do it when I get home because this one is worth pixel peeping, just to check out the detail in the buildings, the light trails, etc... Not my thing, but a fun change of pace. I'll try it again tonight with the full moon and slightly different framing and I'll see if I can get focus right with the Sony and Fuji...

Join to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

20130721-SDIM0550-Edit by ramboorider1, on Flickr

EDIT - Actually found a few Fuji shots that are in focus - they're just so much less detailed than the Sigma that I missed some at first. But one worth working on, because it showed the church up on the hill to the right, which I didn't get in any of the Sigma shots. Tons and tons less detail in this - no need to pixel peep it. But an ok overall shot of the town...

-Ray

 

[bartjeej]

Can't wait to see the full res of the Sigma shot, it already looks pretty spectacular at this size... the Fuji shot ain't half bad either!

 

[Ray Sachs]

Today I walked around Positano and shot a lot. As time gets shorter, I have more of a sense of urgency. Shot mostly with the Fuji and 14mm today, but some with the Sigma as well. I think I'm gonna lean on the Sigma a lot the next few days. Just to get all of the classic views around here in those incredibly clean and detailed files. Here's a sampling:

Fuji 14 Positano by ramboorider1, on Flickr

Fuji 14 Positano by ramboorider1, on Flickr

Fuji 14 Positano by ramboorider1, on Flickr

Fuji 14 Positano by ramboorider1, on Flickr

Fuji 14 Positano by ramboorider1, on Flickr

Sigma DP1M Positano by ramboorider1, on Flickr

Fuji 14 Positano by ramboorider1, on Flickr

View attachment 72717
Sigma DP1M Positano by ramboorider1, on Flickr

Sigma DP1M Positano by ramboorider1, on Flickr

-Ray

 

[entropic remnants]

Ha ha! I know I suck as a photographer because the flickr bot never selects any of my photos. I can get hundreds of views or thousands -- it doesn't matter. I have no idea what the criteria is but I know my photos don't meet it.

There have been two from my stream: one of mine and one of my daughters -- and I never quite got why the one of mine did, lol.

I'm just catching up with like 4 pages of your photos. You got a large quantity of photos but that's not the amazing thing -- it's how many REALLY GOOD photos you got. Wow. I'd call that a successful photography trip, lol.

If you just want to display locally, I know Lynn at the cafe' would love your stuff and give you a show where I'm showing. If your wife and daughter decide to print and frame your stuff you should talk to Lynn or I will for you if you prefer. See, you'll even have an "agent", lol.

 

[Ray Sachs]

I have no idea how it selects stuff, but I think it feeds on itself. I just got a fifth one selected from this trip today, after one a couple of days ago. And they're not ones I'd have chosen. So far, out of the now quite a lot I've had selected, there's one I'd have definitely chosen and one or two others i could see the appeal of, sort of. The others all make me scratch my head and wonder what strange logic they're programmed with...

I look forward to seeing your show - the handful of shots you previewed for us are all excellent. If Flickr isn't choosing your stuff, it makes me question the stuff it DOES select that much more. I'll see you some time in the next few weeks...

Ray