The blog continues to be pummeled by thousands of page views which all seem to originate from Chrome browsers in Vietnam. The real number of human visitors is around 2700 today. The numbers with the artificial visitors included is over 75,000 today. Strange and disquieting to say the least.
I had coffee with my good friend James today. We talked about the industry. He's still making a living producing videos and making spectacular photos. I told him I was trying to get rid of lots of gear from the studio and asked if he knew some younger, just starting out, photographers or videographers who needed gear. He did. Even someone close to his family. I was able to divest of three shiny C-stands, an Atomos monitor, a bag full of wireless lav microphones, receivers and transmitters, extra Pelican cases, a tripod with a cool video head that hadn't seem the light of day since January 2021, and some other odds and ends. Every time something leaves the studio I rejoice a bit. I get more square footage back and someone gets to use the potential locked up in gear that would otherwise sit dormant until it decays and fails.
I wrote the headline too soon. I just heard thunder rumbling out to the West...
After lunch I decided to get out of the house and go for my second walk of the day. I did a long one this morning with B (spouse) and I wanted to do a photo walk by myself in addition. Damn it was hot out there. First time we've seen bare sun in two weeks. Pretty amazing run of weather for Austin in the Summer.
Today I decided to gear up "old school". By that I mean I pressed a Leica CL into service along with a Sigma 24mm f3.5 contemporary lens. They are made for each other. The camera is small and unobtrusive. The lens is small and discreet. The 24 = a 35mm focal length on the CL's APS-C sensor. Just right for a walking around combo. I set the camera to take raw files and headed over to S. Congress Ave. I forgot that it's Monday and half the shops are closed. The tourist traffic is very low at the beginning of the week and especially in the mid-afternoon.
I'd almost forgotten what a great camera the CL is. Smaller and lighter than the M cameras and absolutely petite when compared to the larger SL and SL2 cameras. The Sigma lens can be used with full AF and AE automation on the CL and that 24mm is nice and sharp even at its widest aperture of f3.5. A happy trade off of aperture speed for handling on a daylight camera and lens rig.
I did my usual loop and I worked hard to protect the recent scar from direct sun. I applied sunscreen before I left the house and used my hat with the biggest brim. I think I skated by unscathed. If not I'm sure I'll hear about it from my doctor.
I don't know why I'm always surprised and delighted at the files I get out of the CL. The color is great and the overall integrity of the raw files is delightful. I'm very happy I held on to this combination.
I'm beginning to sound like a broken record but I'm very excited that, barring any catastrophic event overnight, I'll be back in the pool swimming the eight a.m. masters workout tomorrow morning. So, so, so happy.
Not sure how much longer I'll continue to present the VSL blog. The weird stat numbers and the near total concentration of views from one source is spooking me. If you visit later and the blog is closed I'm probably just trying to dissuade the perpetrators.
Can't wait to read those Epstein files. They should make the Summer a bit more fun...
Wall of music posters at Jo's Coffee...
There is actually a street here named, "Music Lane."
FEMA shut down their phones right after the July 4th floods struck.
Nothing like bad timing to accent poor politics and a profound lack
of being able to "read the room."
blue table.
Formal footwear for Austin Summers.
Still having trouble finding steel toed Birkenstocks for work at the factory...
10 comments:
Nice photos, Kirk. For some reason, I thought you sold your CL. I sold mine because I was concerned I’d be left holding the bag with a number of APS-C lenses for L-mount - and no APS-C L-mount cameras. A number of times recently I have regretted letting the CL go, along with the very nice Sigma 10-18mm and 18-50mm f/2.8 zooms. I have kept all of my compact (and full frame) Sigma primes. I still don’t understand why Sigma or Panasonic haven’t produced rangerfinder-like cameras in L-mount. Meanwhile, the many VSL page views from Vietnam are concerning. I assume there’s been no evidence of anyone hacking into your computer or a denial-of-service attack? Perhaps you can change your URL and see if the traffic follows you. But, if the truth is that you’re also tired of blogging, we would have to respect that.
I’ve become quite a fan of Sigma L mount, too - both the compact I series primes and the Art series, too. I keep hoping someone will do a compact EVF-on-the-shoulder L mount body, personally I’d love to see the exquisite Sigma BF UX carried over into a body with integrated EVF and IBIS. That might be enough to get me to walk away from M.
Here’s hoping your pool return was good!
Ken, I agree with everything you wrote! The swim this morning was near perfect. I'm a tad bit out of shape but time heals all sloth. Thanks for checking in!!!
Hi Biro, I had two CLs and I sold one of them to my friend, Paul, last year. Couldn't give up the other one. They are way too good and way too cute. Crazy numbers on the blog. Might have to pull the plug. I'll announce it the day before if I do. Thanks for hanging in there.
The Epstein files? You mean the ones that do not exist? After all, Barbie Bondi would not lie to the US public........
My heart always aches when you say you're shutting down VSL. Good, consistent motivation can be found here and I hate the thought of losing it.
Have you had a chance to play with the BF? It really was an eye-opener for me - I’ve been purposely moving to simpler control sets, and they managed to blend smart automation and an extremely well thought out UI. In my opinion it leaves the S9 in the dust and resolved any long standing desire I had for a T, TL or TL2.
For a moment there I thought "Blue table" was a pool shot.
Merle, In my mind just about anything blue could be a pool. Thanks!
Kirk, I would super interested to read your thoughts on how the Leica CL stacks up against D-Lux 8 in your experience. What stands out to you about each one, and where do you think they diverge in feel, function or shooting style? Did you prefer one viewfinder over the other?
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