On Medium Format, First Snow, and Getting Old

[gurtch]

The reason I love this forum is because it is not just about gear, it is also the comradery here. People helping people. Let me reminisce. I have been married 65 years. When we were young, I joined The Miniature Camera Club of Philadelphia, there, the older members taught me most of what I know about photography, and Darkroom Work. My wife would accompany me on photo shoots (mostly seascapes on Long Beach Island, where my Mom and Grandparents lived). We retired here. I turn 88 next month, my wife is 65. Well, yesterday we had our first snowfall of the year, about 4 or 5 inches, enough to beautify the beach but not so much that I could not get out. I announced last night that I was going to take my medium format outfit and go to the beach. Sharon insisted she would drive, sit in the car with her cell phone nearby in case I fell. I put on my real shoes (not slip ons), a real winter coat, ear muffs, and mittens with a flap to take your fingers out. Did I mention it was VERY windy? As cold and windy as it was, a flood of nostalgia swept over me....it also hit my wife. When I got home I took out the memory card and connected it to my PC: NOTHING ON IT! This has happened before (my age again). I tried card number 2 and guess what? Yes I did it again--recorded to the wrong card. Because of the cold and watering eyes, I am glad I had auto-focus, but I was sloppy. I used my usual f11 to f22 (I know, diffraction), but did not pay attention to my shutter speed. Because it was near dusk, my exposures ranged from 1/25th second to 1/12th second! I know IBIS is great but hand holding at speeds around 1/10 to 1/5th is pushing the envelope. I am thinking of down loading a trial of one of these "Miracle" AI Programs that promise to sharpen blurred images. Any suggestions? As much as I love my MF kit, I can see myself using my Sony A7RIV outfit more often. If anyone is interested, I will follow up and post several shots from today's outing. Advance Warning: Typical old timer camera club instincts still prevail: rule of thirds, super saturated, center of interest (red coat!), etc, etc.

Happy New Year

Dave Gurtcheff

Beach Haven, NJ

 

[gurtch]

The reason I love this forum is because it is not just about gear, it is also the comradery here. People helping people. Let me reminisce. I have been married 65 years. When we were young, I joined The Miniature Camera Club of Philadelphia, there, the older members taught me most of what I know about photography, and Darkroom Work. My wife would accompany me on photo shoots (mostly seascapes on Long Beach Island, where my Mom and Grandparents lived). We retired here. I turn 88 next month, my wife is 65. Well, yesterday we had our first snowfall of the year, about 4 or 5 inches, enough to beautify the beach but not so much that I could not get out. I announced last night that I was going to take my medium format outfit and go to the beach. Sharon insisted she would drive, sit in the car with her cell phone nearby in case I fell. I put on my real shoes (not slip ons), a real winter coat, ear muffs, and mittens with a flap to take your fingers out. Did I mention it was VERY windy? As cold and windy as it was, a flood of nostalgia swept over me....it also hit my wife. When I got home I took out the memory card and connected it to my PC: NOTHING ON IT! This has happened before (my age again). I tried card number 2 and guess what? Yes I did it again--recorded to the wrong card. Because of the cold and watering eyes, I am glad I had auto-focus, but I was sloppy. I used my usual f11 to f22 (I know, diffraction), but did not pay attention to my shutter speed. Because it was near dusk, my exposures ranged from 1/25th second to 1/12th second! I know IBIS is great but hand holding at speeds around 1/10 to 1/5th is pushing the envelope. I am thinking of down loading a trial of one of these "Miracle" AI Programs that promise to sharpen blurred images. Any suggestions? As much as I love my MF kit, I can see myself using my Sony A7RIV outfit more often. If anyone is interested, I will follow up and post several shots from today's outing. Advance Warning: Typical old timer camera club instincts still prevail: rule of thirds, super saturated, center of interest (red coat!), etc, etc.

Happy New Year

Dave Gurtcheff

Beach Haven, NJ

No I did not marry a child, my wife is 85, not 65! We have been married 65 years

 

[Rob de Loe]

Happy New Year to you Dave.

My Dad is 90 and I'm 60 and I've been doing the math on how long I can keep making photographs. You are giving me confidence that I have some time yet.

I went out for the first time on New Year's Eve, at night, in the cold. I experienced some of the challenges you describe, including not being able to see where any of the buttons are. Thank goodness for muscle memory. It won't get easier with a smaller camera.

I smiled when I read how your wife drove you down to the beach and waited in the car with a cell phone. It's dark and cold and icy tonight and I'm getting ready to go for a walk. I can tell that my wife would like to follow in the car with a cell phone. "I'm fine, really, I promise!"

Regarding miracle AI programs, you can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear, unfortunately. Having said that, I used one a few months ago to transform a very low resolution photograph into a version that made a decent largish print that looked OK if you didn't come to close. It would never pass muster as a "serious" photograph, but it was the only good picture we had of this person who had passed away, and for that purpose it worked spectacularly well. Mind you, the problem it was solving was low resolution, not out of focus or motion blur.

Best wishes, Rob

 

[Doppler9000]

The reason I love this forum is because it is not just about gear, it is also the comradery here. People helping people. Let me reminisce. I have been married 65 years. When we were young, I joined The Miniature Camera Club of Philadelphia, there, the older members taught me most of what I know about photography, and Darkroom Work. My wife would accompany me on photo shoots (mostly seascapes on Long Beach Island, where my Mom and Grandparents lived). We retired here. I turn 88 next month, my wife is 65. Well, yesterday we had our first snowfall of the year, about 4 or 5 inches, enough to beautify the beach but not so much that I could not get out. I announced last night that I was going to take my medium format outfit and go to the beach. Sharon insisted she would drive, sit in the car with her cell phone nearby in case I fell. I put on my real shoes (not slip ons), a real winter coat, ear muffs, and mittens with a flap to take your fingers out. Did I mention it was VERY windy? As cold and windy as it was, a flood of nostalgia swept over me....it also hit my wife. When I got home I took out the memory card and connected it to my PC: NOTHING ON IT! This has happened before (my age again). I tried card number 2 and guess what? Yes I did it again--recorded to the wrong card. Because of the cold and watering eyes, I am glad I had auto-focus, but I was sloppy. I used my usual f11 to f22 (I know, diffraction), but did not pay attention to my shutter speed. Because it was near dusk, my exposures ranged from 1/25th second to 1/12th second! I know IBIS is great but hand holding at speeds around 1/10 to 1/5th is pushing the envelope. I am thinking of down loading a trial of one of these "Miracle" AI Programs that promise to sharpen blurred images. Any suggestions? As much as I love my MF kit, I can see myself using my Sony A7RIV outfit more often. If anyone is interested, I will follow up and post several shots from today's outing. Advance Warning: Typical old timer camera club instincts still prevail: rule of thirds, super saturated, center of interest (red coat!), etc, etc.

Happy New Year

Dave Gurtcheff

Beach Haven, NJ

Lovely story - thank you for sharing.

 

[creative edge]

The reason I love this forum is because it is not just about gear, it is also the comradery here. People helping people. Let me reminisce. I have been married 65 years. When we were young, I joined The Miniature Camera Club of Philadelphia, there, the older members taught me most of what I know about photography, and Darkroom Work. My wife would accompany me on photo shoots (mostly seascapes on Long Beach Island, where my Mom and Grandparents lived). We retired here. I turn 88 next month, my wife is 65. Well, yesterday we had our first snowfall of the year, about 4 or 5 inches, enough to beautify the beach but not so much that I could not get out. I announced last night that I was going to take my medium format outfit and go to the beach. Sharon insisted she would drive, sit in the car with her cell phone nearby in case I fell. I put on my real shoes (not slip ons), a real winter coat, ear muffs, and mittens with a flap to take your fingers out. Did I mention it was VERY windy? As cold and windy as it was, a flood of nostalgia swept over me....it also hit my wife. When I got home I took out the memory card and connected it to my PC: NOTHING ON IT! This has happened before (my age again). I tried card number 2 and guess what? Yes I did it again--recorded to the wrong card. Because of the cold and watering eyes, I am glad I had auto-focus, but I was sloppy. I used my usual f11 to f22 (I know, diffraction), but did not pay attention to my shutter speed. Because it was near dusk, my exposures ranged from 1/25th second to 1/12th second! I know IBIS is great but hand holding at speeds around 1/10 to 1/5th is pushing the envelope. I am thinking of down loading a trial of one of these "Miracle" AI Programs that promise to sharpen blurred images. Any suggestions? As much as I love my MF kit, I can see myself using my Sony A7RIV outfit more often. If anyone is interested, I will follow up and post several shots from today's outing. Advance Warning: Typical old timer camera club instincts still prevail: rule of thirds, super saturated, center of interest (red coat!), etc, etc.

Happy New Year

Dave Gurtcheff

Beach Haven, NJ

I am 62, stay in shape, but often wonder for how long will I have the strength to go out and shoot. Thank you for sharing your story, it gives me hope and made me smile..
Thank you Dave, for sharing..
Michael

 

[dbateman]

Yes I would like to see some of the images.

At first it sounded like an arranged marriage, being married for 65 years and your wife is 65. But you clarify that. I will be married 20 years this year.

I didn't get any snow images yet,so will have to fix that. We got 8 inches were I am.

 

[SeeingSomeThingsMissingMany]

Hey there Dave.

Wonderful.

Because it was near dusk, my exposures ranged from 1/25th second to 1/12th second! I know IBIS is great but hand holding at speeds around 1/10 to 1/5th is pushing the envelope. I am thinking of down loading a trial of one of these "Miracle" AI Programs that promise to sharpen blurred images. Any suggestions? As much as I love my MF kit, I can see myself using my Sony A7RIV outfit more often

A 92 year gent wrote this on dpr m43 forum very recently.

I am so custom to excellent 5-axis IBIS from Olympus. So much that when you are over 92 years old, you still can shoot like I use to in my youth.

Seems excellent IBIS is the way. Perhaps a suitable larger m43 body as Olympus E-m1 mk3 or latest OM System OM1 mk2 with fast Olympus m43 primes, fast Panasonic m43 primes. There's plenty folk on m43 drp forum glad to help you out.

--

Photography after all is interplay of light alongside perspective.

 

[Hoka Hey]

Looking forward to seeing your images.

 

[alpshiker]

Wonderful life story, thank you for sharing it, Dave. May this blessed companionship last for many more years. And yes, sharp or slightly blurry, your pictures inspire!

 

[gurtch]

As promised here are some images taken hand held (Not on purpose) at very low shutter speed, around 1/20 sec. The first image was shot 1/3 sec and was hopelessly blurry. I decided rather than try to fix it, I would cash in and use the blurry image to represent cold snowy, foggy weather. I added snow and the gull. Herring Gulls are here year-round. The other images were taken from1/15 to 1/20 second. Here the IBIS saved the day. At actual pixels, they are sharp enough to make a big print.

Thanks for all the encouraging words

Dave