SiJy 2019 Discussion

Forgive me for I have sinned. Cheated a bit today by taking Q with me for stroll #2. It wasn't necessary to restrict oneself to one body - one lens for a month but I gave myself that extra bit of conduct to maintain. All this talk about relaxing into the end of the challenge made me lapse! šŸ˜°
 
I've hit a slump. I haven't uploaded anything for the past four or five days. Hoping to get something in for the last two days. I think the camera is to blame for my slide ... it's just too easy to use. I keep thinking I'll get something later on, since no prep is really needed with the camera. Then it gets too dark out. And the GRii is not the best low-light tool.
 
I've hit a slump. I haven't uploaded anything for the past four or five days. Hoping to get something in for the last two days. I think the camera is to blame for my slide ... it's just too easy to use. I keep thinking I'll get something later on, since no prep is really needed with the camera. Then it gets too dark out. And the GRii is not the best low-light tool.
I agree that the GR (II) doesn't have the best sensor for low light shooting (that's one of the main reasons why I have finally decided to replace it with the GR III). But it does have a flash ... that said, using that isn't my cup of tea, either. But here's another thought: Use the high-contrast b&w JPEGS SOOC - they're good enough to make things work in low light, and I've actually more or less copied that mood in a custom setting for my M8 - it helps rescue shots in dark conditions the Kodak CCD can't cope with in colour. I'd say that's one of the least compelling sides of the GR/GR II: chroma noise in murky conditions, starting at ISO 800; you really shouldn't underexpose with the GR/GR II if you can avoid it (ETTR helps).

EDIT: Ah, you *did* get shots - and SOOC JPEGs to boot (some of them). Should have known you knew the camera well enough ...

Anyway, one day to go - and to tell you the truth, I'll be happy to finally swap the 75mm for something more in line with my usual preferences (35mm - or 50mm). So, while not exactly taxing, it has become a challenge to keep shooting with this rather specialised setup. But it was highly enjoyable, and the M10 has served me well again, as well as the lens, obviously. And I certainly have got the feel for the Summarit now, so I'll happily use it for reportage as well as second lens in a minimalist two-lens travel setup (that and a compact 35mm, and I'm set).

I'm looking forward to seeing everyone's final shots tomorrow - and of course, I'll watch out for everything that drops in from the last couple of days.

M.
 
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I agree that the GR (II) doesn't have the best sensor for low light shooting (that's one of the main reasons why I have finally decided to replace it with the GR III). But it does have a flash ... that said, using that isn't my cup of tea, either. But here's another thought: Use the high-contrast b&w JPEGS SOOC - they're good enough to make things work in low light, and I've actually more or less copied that mood in a custom setting for my M8 - it helps rescue shots in dark conditions the Kodak CCD can't cope with in colour. I'd say that's one of the least compelling sides of the GR/GR II: chroma noise in murky conditions, starting at ISO 800; you really shouldn't underexpose with the GR/GR II if you can avoid it (ETTR helps).

EDIT: Ah, you *did* get shots - and SOOC JPEGs to boot (some of them). Should have known you knew the camera well enough ...

Anyway, one day to go - and to tell you the truth, I'll be happy to finally swap the 75mm for something more in line with my usual preferences (35mm - or 50mm). So, while not exactly taxing, it has become a challenge to keep shooting with this rather specialised setup. But it was highly enjoyable, and the M10 has served me well again, as well as the lens, obviously. And I certainly have got the feel for the Summarit now, so I'll happily use it for reportage as well as second lens in a minimalist two-lens travel setup (that and a compact 35mm, and I'm set).

I'm looking forward to seeing everyone's final shots tomorrow - and of course, I'll watch out for everything that drops in from the last couple of days.

M.
Yeah ... all caught up now. Thanks for the kind advice. Day 27 was the bummer. I did go back and used one of the in-camera edits for that one. Now only one day left ... don't feel so desperate now :)
 
Whew! It's finally over -- can't believe I made it. :)

Certainly developed a very good appreciation towards the lens and the focal length I committed to. Now the big thing will be, how will I adapt back to 35, how's that going to be like. I certainly love to get a focus tab and focus-by-finger-feel back on the table but hope I won't be missing the general reach the 50 gives me.
 
Shooting today felt great - so, at any rate, the challenge ended well for me, and that does certainly feel good. As they say ... (but let's not).

Of course, I'm glad to be rid of the restrictions - but they turned out not to be such a big deal, I have to admit. I may have to be more courageous next time - or just relaxed enough not to care about how hard it turns out to be. After all, I do want to enjoy shooting as much as possible, and the M10 and 75mm f/2.4 Summarit certainly make a powerful combo. I've once more learned a lot about the camera and, crucially, the lens, which all will come in useful in the future. Still, I'll be very happy to use two of my most loved lenses, the Zeiss C Biogon 35mm f/2.8 and the VoigtlƤnder Nokton 50mm f/1.2 (the new one), again on my favourite body.

As for "camaraderie" (which, by way of being our covert motto, is always key), I found the overall atmosphere engaging, supportive and, more often than not, entertaining. Wonderful turnout and fantastic work, everyone, and I hope to see you around next time!

M.
 
First time I entered a Single In challenge and I must say it has been an enlightening experience. Lots of fun too to see what my fellows-in-the-same-boat have been doing, saying and showing.

I easily withstood the temptation to go for tractors :). Also as a member of my photoclub I hardly ever participate in themed shoots or assignments unless they are broad enough to encompass what I want to do myself. For me there's simply no point in doing something else. I have a very narrow field of interest and I don't want to waste energy by doing things I don't like or aren't good at. I know there are people who like my work and many others that are indifferent to it, and that's how it is.

The best thing was that the challenge forced me to go out almost each and every day. The old adage "go out and shoot!" is still valid and I have made some photos that I'm quite happy with and that I wouldn't have made otherwise. I have to add that most of the photos are shown in the Day threads only because I had to come up with something and that there are only a few that may be good enough to stand the test of time.

Which brings me to another point. Normally it takes me days, weeks or months before I decide that a photo is good enough to show to someone else. Now I had to decide within a day and I'm sure I didn't always make the right picks. Going by the number of likes and the comments, my outtakes were regularly received better than my Day picks, which goes to show that it's very difficult to judge if a photo is good all by yourself. I often ask my wife and as she's honest in a kind way, I'm used to receive surprising opinions :).

The choice of camera was an easy one: the Sony A7R2 that I always use. Not that it's the ideal camera but it does the job of delivering quality output confidently without too much of a hassle. That said, I never really bonded with the camera like I did with earlier ones (think Minolta SR-T303b and Nikon F3) and I can't get past the idea of trying a Leica M at some point.

I chose the Zeiss Loxia 21mm as the weapon of choice because I wasn't sure if I ignored its potential; by now I've come to know that 21mm is just not suitable for most of my photography but sometimes it comes in handy when space is tight. I must say though that I mostly didn't like the wild perspective that came with framing the majority of shots. It'll be interesting to see how much I'll use the 21mm in the near future, but I'm relieved to go back to the Zeiss Loxia 35mm or VoigtlƤnder FE 1.2/40.

The challenge wasn't as difficult as I imagined, mainly because I quickly discovered that I could make something passable at any point in time if I put in a little effort, a confidence boost really. This last day of the challenge coincided with reading Thorsten von Overgaard's "The Moment of Emotional Impact" (free e-book by signing up to a newsletter), which proved to be an inspiring read and I hope I can sustain the drive to go out and shoot as much as I can.

These are my thoughts now but I'm pretty sure that in the next few weeks I'll start to really appreciate what this has brought me, as so often these things have to sink in, at least with me.

Thank you all for this experience!
 
The best thing was that the challenge forced me to go out almost each and every day

This was "it" for me, too. I ended up bonding with the TZ90, which I didnt expect, so am pretty happy about that, but the big thing for me was getting out most days and shooting. I think I need to continue that for the forseeable...
 
This has been a challenge for me, more due to the shoot daily thing than the focal length (although I didn't do the XF90/2 justice). I missed a couple of days, and resorted to interior shots more than I would have liked. Even so, these are always fun with regards to interacting and viewing everyone else's photos, and I enjoyed this one. Looking forward to the next SI.
 
It was a fun experience, and more challenging than I first expected. I knew I was going to be sticking to displaying various steps in the construction process of my musical instruments. Many of my images were taken between 0400 and 0430 when the only ones stirring were me and my cats, one of which always insists on following me into the workshop. My biggest challenge was framing the work I wanted to display for the day, while eliminating all the various items that I have on/around my workbench. The last week or so I came up with the idea of stretching out a roll of plastic-covered paper that I usually use to protect things when I'm gluing. It made for an effective backdrop. For those few days we were out of town, I chose to display my ukulele in natural settings.
 
This was a much more difficult challenge than the last few for me, since I was traveling so much and buried in work. But overall it was rewarding to make myself take photos every day. For me, that is the big motivator. The Coolpix A held up to my expectations nicely. But I do wish it had IBIS.
I was really impressed by the number of people who stuck with it and those that continued despite missing a day or so. I looked forward each day to seeing all the posts! Congrats to all.
 
My original choice of the "ancient" Panasonic GF1 camera coupled with a Samyang 12mm f/2 manual lens and an optical viewfinder was in some respects a retro choice to show it could still produce results and given the confines of web reproduction I felt it held its own quite well. I did miss an evf particularly for framing a shot and interestingly harking back to the original Single in January in 2012 I choose a Panasonic G1 for that over the GF1 for that very reason. Mid way through I swapped the camera for a GX7 and then felt a greater freedom and produced more hand held shots.

Initially the lens proved to be very problematic since the infinity mark and the one metre mark proved to be in error and some shots were obtained in a rather hit and miss manner whilst others lacked proper focus which also appeared to afflict some shots on random days even after I had realised the problem so I still don't quite understand what was going on there. To that end I don't think the lens will get much use in the future although it performs better at the edges than the Voigtlander 12mm f/5.6 I used in 2012 and which I still have.

I tend not to photograph people and yet these days many of my favourite photographers of old were staffers for Picture Post or Life with street photography much in the forefront of their work. However my all time favourite has to be James Ravilious who documented rural life in my home county of Devon some 40 years ago using a Leica M3 (a camera I have owned in the past) using it with early uncoated lenses. He left an archive of some 80,000 negatives at the Beaford Arts Centre in north Devon and published several books of his images including "An English Eye" and "Down the Deep Lanes" both of which influence my images. I also have a passion for monochrome images and looking at the work of these photographers shows the beauty of monochrome reproduction at its best.

I have mostly taken pictures in my own local parish which is quite a small one and is very rural. I am now exhausting the subject matter available to me without repeating myself. There were one or two exceptions and my stolen hour between buses in Plymouth showed me just how many more opportunities there are in a city. Given that's a 30 mile journey it's not an option for obtaining one photograph a day. The next scheduled challenge (April 2020) means it coincides with one of my busiest months of the year, I conduct a parish breeding bird survey, so I might find it too difficult to combine the two and the bird survey would take precedence. If I did do it I'd need a small camera and I've already used a Leica D-Lux Typ 109 unless I tried taking taking images later in the day, and as you'll have realised almost all my images are taken quite early in the day. I get rather tired by the afternoon/evening. Following that we're back to the dreaded Single in January (2021) and I'll be 73.5 years old by then and even less willing to venture out every day in the depths of winter than I have been in the past. Therefore this might have been my last "Single in" challenge.

I've also been rather exhausted due to an ongoing and as yet unresolved medical issue which has a side effect of allowing me only 4 or 5 hours uninterrupted sleep every night, I'm writing this for example at 02:30 hours UK time.

Finally I seem to have started, quite unwittingly I assure you, a sort of challenge within a challenge to photograph a tractor just because my first two images featured a tractor. All I can say is many thanks to those of you who rose to the challenge and in some cases appear to have gone out of your way to photograph one, I raise my glass to you :drinks: and indeed everyone else who took part.

Barrie
 
As in the past, within a few days of the challenge I completely forgot what everyone was shooting with. Or even that we put gear restrictions on ourselves. The Si challenge becomes a way to see what people produce under pressure. To see how long it takes people to realize that in the Si challenge, it's okay to post a photo one might normally delete. The process of getting a daily photo is what prevails in the long run. With that said, it seemed to me that the photos got noticeably better rather quickly. I would say that the videos got noticeably better also. But @Briar killed it from the start, producing great content from day one. Great job everyone!!!
 
Well, here we are at the end of the month. Itā€™s been quite a challenge for me, at least to start with. As the days wore on my mobility increased quite a lot. In fact itā€™s now fitness (or lack of it) that is more of an issue, since my hip now moves where I want it to without complaining. I found that I really, really like both cameras I used. The G7 in particular is a delight. I spent a happy hour setting up the buttons and now itā€™s almost intuitive to use. The only issue I have is the rather slow nature of the 12-60 lens. Iā€™m going to give my Industar 53mm lens a go on it, I think.
Now onto August and a very similar exercise run on Twitter, this time with film!
Finally, I think there have been some outstanding photos on display, in many genres. Special mention, of course, to @Briar for her dedication to getting very watchable videos produced every day.
 
Yeah. They say Ginger Rogers had to do what Fred Astaire did but backwards in heels. @Briar did a video with music every day and that was so impressive.

I fully agree and I could sense some testing and huge development on the run. I encourage you @Briar to continue your journey, you have so good taste for visuality and lots of creativity (I envy a bit), and little bit fine tuning technical things you would be on a pro level, if you arenā€™t actually already. But be warned, you never watch a movie on the same way again :D
 
I actually found this Si the easiest one I've done, mainly I think because I've found that something, however mundane, always turns up. I supposed being retired helped in that there is usually more likely to be some time during the day to look for something.
I chose the Canon G7X because it is new and I wanted to see how I got on with it. Unfortunately, although it seems a good camera and was faster than I expected I just haven't gelled with it. It hasn't given me that 'feel' for lack of a better word.
There have been so many photos that I have really liked but the real stand out for me has been those wonderful video's that Briar did. Superb.
The Si April next year will be Spring time here so could be interesting if the weather cooperates.
Now where is my GRii :D
 
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