I was going to walk this afternoon with a photographer friend who can be difficult with which to schedule. Everything has a contingency attached. And last minutes schedule changes are rampant. When I didn't hear from him I decided not to waste a perfectly good afternoon sitting around the studio. Instead I decided it would be fun to grab a camera that had been recently neglected and pair it up with a completely counter-intuitive lens. I'd walk around and get a different perspective from that delivered by wide angle and normal lenses. I was so sure the world of visual delights would just open up for me and that I'd come home with a basket of keepers.
It didn't work out that way. I should preface all this by saying that even though the skies were clear and the temperature a nice 60° we had some pretty powerful wind gusts all day long. The "breezes" whipped up a lot of dust and pollen but it also had the effect of chilling me down when I walked on the shaded side of the streets. But of course you want to walk on the shady sides of the streets so you can see the way the sun strikes the buildings on the sunny side of the street.
I selected a camera that has worked admirably for me in the past; the Leica CL. And I paired it with one of my sharpest and best performing lenses; the Sigma 65mm f2.0. I should have realized early on that the equivalent focal length (comparing APS-C to full frame) was 98.5mm. Very tight for urban street photography. Too tight. Which limited me to grabbing detail shots instead.
The picture taking process was frustrating and, of course, as I walked through the familiar streets every shot looked like it would be best captured by something like a 24mm lens, or even a 20mm. But not a veritable telephoto. The silver lining to the day was getting out and walking three plus miles in nice (but windy) weather. That, and coffee.
The only lesson I learned today was that I really like using the Leica CL camera body and that the files from the camera are sharp and detailed even though it's a smaller format than the one in the bigger Leica cameras I have mostly been using lately. I love the way the CL feels in my hands and the exposure metering in the camera is right on the money. It's rare that I do an entire walk without having to mess with exposure compensation. But I didn't need to tweak even one frame.
In retrospect what I should have done is bring along the CL coupled with the 16mm f1.4 Sigma and then, since I was wearing a jacket with big pockets, dropped the 56mm f1.4 Sigma into a pocket and brought it along as well. If I had been working on a job I would have put each lens on its own CL and balanced the load over my two shoulders. Another lesson learned...
An alternative solution would have been to bring the Sigma 18-50mm f2.8 zoom along instead. But there is always next time.
Coffee at Mañana Coffee, a brief stop into the West Chelsea Contemporary Art Gallery on Sixth, a romp through the REI store (my favorite pants are back in stock) and then back home. Not a completely lost afternoon but what I really got done would have fit onto a Post-It note if you wrote it all down with big letters.
Here's some photos from the afternoon. Be nice....
Swim practice this morning was fun. The wind made little wavelets in the pool. The wind made our exit from the pool exciting and enervating.
What does the brain trust here know about vitamin K2 M7? If you have information to share that would be great. Seems promising for heart and bone loss issues. It's pretty new research but I've read some promising studies. Chime in if you know stuff.
Thanks, Kirk
I like today's photos, but then I'm more of a telephoto/detail guy.
ReplyDeleteDick
Thanks Dick. I usually am as well but for some reason it just didn't come together for me today... There's always tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteengaging shots nonetheless
ReplyDeleteAgree with D Barbour. Liked the smaller format/tele combo. But chuckled at the APSc sized photos to view, cropped from the usual sized photos you post.
ReplyDeleteBeen taking K2 M7 for a couple years. Supposed to channel blood calcium away from cardiovascular places, and put it to work rebuilding bones. Does it work? I don't REALLY know, but I'm approaching 81, and my dexascan numbers aren't bad.
ReplyDeleteI know a little about the whole Vitamin K thing. If you eat a healthy diet, you probably get enough, although uptake may decline as you age. If you, say, have a Subway footlong with cheese, raw spinach instead of lettuce, and meat, for lunch, you get a solid boost of K without too many calories. I get extra K from multivitamins, and I think most multivitamins include it. I did some research into all of this because I have osteoporosis, and while most of my life I have bashed around and occasionally broken bones, I've broken two sets of ribs and one arm in the past three years, which was unusual. (I posted a X-ray of the broken arm on my Sandford Facebook website.) My doc ordered a bone scan, and I now have to take Fosamax, which is really a pain in the ass and you don't want to do. However, with my multivitamin and a solid diet (include a protein supplement) I think I'm good. (By the way, there's some evidence that Diet Coke is bad for your bones. The only think I share with Donald Trump is that we're both Diet Coke addicts.)
ReplyDeleteIf you have decent bone health now, I wouldn't go much out of my way to boost your K levels, because some websites allege side effects including possible liver damage. Of course, some websites take witchcraft seriously, so I can vouch for the liver thing.
Should have been, "can't vouch for the liver thing."
ReplyDeleteThanks JC. I was interested in K2 M7's effects for reducing artery plaque. Family history and all. I've never been a soft drink fan so I dodged a bullet on the diet Coke thing. I've heard that the liver damage part of the equation is specific to people taking huge doses and poses little threat at 100 to 200 mcg.
ReplyDeleteAll that said I've read that Jarlsberg cheese is a great source of the vitamin and is very bio-available. I've also suggested to Henry White that he go on the same regimen with me. I don't want him to freak out on some spy assignment and dislodge a clot!!!
Thanks!
Mike R. If you're still getting good scans I'll take your experience as a recommendation from the universe. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI like virtually everything you produce with the Leica CL, today's output included. Something happens when you pick up that camera.
ReplyDeleteComparisons may be odious (apologies proffered), but something similar could be seen in Ming Thein's work in his heyday. Every time he picked up an Olympus M4/3 camera - even well after he decided to dislike them - a bit of magic began to bloom. Even something as simple as shooting with the Olympus 45m and 75mm lenses for a review would produce gorgeous images.
Likewise, your walkabouts with the Leica CL among familiar scenes and familiar subjects produce one glowing example after another. It doesn't seem to matter what lens is attached. They just jostle one another saying, "Pick me! Pick me!" for inclusion on a gallery wall.
Sorry, hate to bring this up, but, if I give you the answer to the K2 M7 question can I assume payment would be a Chicken, Goat, House Cleaning, or maybe a CL? Hahahahahhaha It never hurts to try. :)
ReplyDeleteVit K1 comes from veggies.
Vit K2 comes from animals (eggs, lean meats, dairy products, yogurt)
Vit K is needed for clotting, to much and you may develop blood clots, but I've read that it can work as a Vasodilator.
Vit D3 is ok, but you live in a sunny area so I wouldn't worry about that. 2000mg is ok.
So if it were me, and it is, I have late on set Adult Metabolic Syndrome (old age) onset. I take a highly rated multivitamin, eat veggies, even if you don't want too, workout every day, and take pictures. I do not eat bread as there are to many Carbs, I don't do sweets never like them. I eat Turkey, Ground Turkey, and fish (Tuna steaks, Salmon) and a lot of eggs. I love eggs. I use No Salt mixed with dash seasonings, not table salt, and drink veggies mixed with Almond Milk, low calorie, fruit, Berry low cal low carbs, low salt, yogurt, mix apple, blueberries, banana, all mixed in a blender then drink.
To remove Triglycerides, (fat in the blood), I use Inulin from the Chicory Root. I mix the Inulin with Monk Fruit for a sweeter to use in my coffee or Tea. Everything I use, everything I take, has Science backing it up. No guess work. All my labs are in the good range BP is 128/62-148/65 HR 42-60 O2 sat 97-99. I still do 1-3 miles in the morning, 50 sit ups, 50 push ups, 20 minutes yoga, 50 deep knee bends, and 15 minutes on weights. Then I work on the 3 acres, and I'm restoring my 1976 Ford F150 that I bought when I was 25 years old.
Oh ya, lots of walking doing photography. On that note, I got a new toy, a Nikon Zfc it's fun. It has everything my CL has, but it's all Plastic and weather sealed, but fun.
Your images look great, always fun. The CL just has a great look no matter what lens you use.
Good Luck
Roger
Currently, there are no high quality studies available to support the supplementary intake of Vitamin K2. That is me saying it, not a quote, but it is the sort of statement I might make about a clinical intervention.The current evidence is very weak and appears to derive mainly from poor quality observational studies.
ReplyDeleteIn order to establish a benefit for supplementary K2 intake, a number of large randomised controlled trials would need to be undertaken. These trials are expensive and difficult to do: I know because I have been involved with them over the years. It is unlikely, in my opinion, that these will take place for vitamin K2.
Thanks for the input TMJ.
ReplyDeleteAs for your dismal photo day, a friend of mine likes to say, "They can't say we're not trying." And indeed, they can't. I got thoroughly chilled yesterday but enjoyed a conversation with a fisherman and maybe have a photo to show for it as well.
ReplyDeletePeople's diets can be a source of endless discussion, and perhaps argument. I believe you need to be thoughtful about it, and not follow fads. I've found that functional medicine has some good ideas, which I've selectively adopted. Many come from the book, "The End of Alzheimers."
ReplyDeleteI've also gotten some insights from Dr Peter Attia's ideas on life extension, his particular focus. [ https://peterattiamd.com/ ]
According to Dr. Michael Greger, who is a nutritional specialist: To summarize, there is no good evidence that vitamin K has bone, brain, or heart benefits beyond its blood-clotting function. And, even if such evidence arose, we can get all of the vitamin K we need from greens, since there’s no requirement specifically for vitamin K2. Further, if some evidence did arise that there was some unique benefit from K2, our microbiome makes K2 from the K1 in greens. What’s more, even if we had a problem with our microbiome, our own cells can make K1 from K2, just like other animals do. So, the bottom line is: Eat your greens.
ReplyDeleteDr. Greger does thorough research on his topics and his mantra is that he reads the literature so you don't have to. He's got a video on Vitamin K where he presents all the research on it. It's worth a look. https://nutritionfacts.org/video/the-purported-benefits-of-vitamin-k2-should-you-take-supplements/