One of the promised mannequin shots you know you were waiting for....

 At a shop called "Snowflakes" on Georgia St. 

Rainy Day at the Beach. Vancouver. Lumix S5. Voigtlander 40mm.

 

umbrellas at the beach.

Back from Vancouver. Well rested. Well fed. And ready to get back to work. Which camera?

I found Tim Horton's. I ate a donut. It was just okay. But I got to check another

"international" experience off my culinary bucket list. (Caution: hat hair). 

I approached last week's vacation in a different way than I would if I had gone solo with the intention of shooting randomly, in the street. Instead of planning the trip around photography I thought it might be nice and relaxing to just go with the vacation flow and enjoy seeing a new city while spending quality time with the most important person I know. B. 

To that end, and for the first time in over 40 years, I took only one camera and one lens. No back-ups, no second options, no safety net. My thought was that carrying anything extra would just wear me down, slow me down and distract me from soaking it all in. I did pack two extra batteries and on the first day I carried one of the extras with me but the camera I used was fairly parsimonious with energy and after that first day I just left the extra batteries in the room. I still came away with about 1300 photographs but they are mostly fun snapshots and personal memory images. 

So, let's get to the camera and lens stuff. Since I made photography a secondary priority I decided to lock in on one focal length and make my vision correspond to the focal length option at hand. No wide angles, no telephotos. I went with the 40mm f1.4 Voigtlander and I'm pretty happy with me choice---with a few caveats. I really like the focal length and didn't feel at all restricted when looking and shooting. 

There are two things I would have changed but we learn with each adventure. The first is that the minimum focusing distance is too long. I kept comping stuff only to find that I didn't have the focusing resources with that lens to get as close as I'd like. Since nothing in particular was riding on the outcome of any of these shots it's more an observation and a reminder should I use the lens for work. Secondly, I too boldly discounted the advantages of weather proofing in lenses and between camera bodies and lenses. 

It matters so little in drought-stricken Texas where you can stick your camera under a hat for the few minutes a month it might rain but in Vancouver last week we were treated to lots and lots and lots of rain and even a nice, floaty downfall of big, fat, soft snowflakes. I worried from time to time about water intrusion and kept a small cotton handkerchief in my pocket to wipe off excess moisture. The issue was the need for an adapter which let me use the Leica M mount lens on an L mount camera. So many interfaces for sneaky moisture to slide in between. For the most part though the camera and lens were under my umbrella. And nothing went awry. 

Still, for most things the Sigma 45mm f2.8  might have been a better choice as it has some weather sealing and, to be truthful, I could have used AF to good effect from time to time. 

But, being somewhat eccentric and enjoying counter-intuitive photographic strategies, I'll probably bring the same lens along on the next adventure as well. Mostly because it's tiny and cute and still way sharper than it needs to be.

I'll post some night shots because that's where it really shined. Shone? 

On to the camera. I have lots of L mount cameras to choose from but the one that made the most sense to me on this trip was the mighty Lumix S5. Why? It's weather resistant, the batteries hold a ton of charge, it's full frame and has a really good 24 megapixel sensor that's also a low light champ. It's smaller and lighter (by far) than my Leica full frame cameras and.... finally, I know the menus and the operation forward and backward. 

Some might bicker about the AF but since I was using a manual focus-only lens it didn't matter. On the flip side its implementation of focus peaking and image magnification during focusing is nearly unrivaled which might make it the winner of the "all around manual focus full frame" camera niche. If you carry and use the camera every day you quickly make the focus punch-in an automatic gesture. Which is great because the adapter I was using for the M to L (or maybe it's the lens calibration itself...) wasn't accurate vis-a-vis the marked focusing ring. I tried zone focusing for a while and quickly found that it wasn't nearly accurate enough. Which is kind of sad since that can be such a quick way to shoot. But, as soon as you figure out an issue you figure out a workaround and move on. 

When we left our hotel (great choice of location and venue!!!) each day I just tossed the camera on with a strap and left everything but my wallet and room key back at the hotel. No pocket clutter. No camera bag. Just unfettered camera access and ease of movement. 

I'd love to write one of those paragraphs where I try to find something negative to write about the S5. People seem to love those "pro and con" articles. But try as I might I can't find a single thing wrong with the S5 for photography. The one mark against the camera is only in the video realm and that's just the tiny HDMI plug. Otherwise Panasonic may have devised the perfect, economical, user camera for still photographers. It even fits nicely in my hands. Oh, and I was able to use it just fine with my chunky gloves on. 

In use I'd drape the camera across my chest (as I've told people not to do for years....) on a Peak Design leash strap (which I've pooh-poohed for years), left the power switch in the "on" position and just grabbed the camera when I wanted to shoot something. I tried to stay in the f2.8-f4.0 zone since I'm not really a landscape photographer and kind of resent having to look at most images where everything is in sharp focus. 

Also, while I shot almost everything in color I tried imagining each shot as a black and white photograph. I guess that is a super of mine. I can't wait to pull some of the images into Lightroom and start converting. It should be fun.

Vancouver was just great. Everyone (except the guy on the beach who spit at me ---- well dodged --- because he thought I was photographing him....) was extremely nice and helpful. Just so, so nice. And with the strong dollar vacationing in Canada was cheaper than staying at home. We winced when we realized how limited Austin's restaurant scene is by comparison. We loved (absolutely loved) the rich cultural diversity. And just the general, day-to-day consideration and respect the Canadians seem to show for each other --- and their visitors. 

Some people questioned our choice to travel in an off season/dicey weather part of the year but you have to consider the huge advantages: cheaper hotel rates, uncrowded attractions, no lines for entry, easy dinner reservations at the best restaurants, quick cab arrivals, unhurried and uncrowded airports, lots of available upgrades, etc. etc. 

On sunny, bright days we rode bikes around and around Stanley Park, grabbed ferries to Granville Island and the north shore and walked every cool street in downtown. On rainy days we explored galleries, museums, the aquarium (loved the sea otters!)  and just savored the thrill (to Texas traumatized by heat and drought) of walking around being slightly chilly and feeling the mist of rain. Followed by rewards of good coffee and Lucky Donuts at 49th Parallel.

Our outwear was perfect. Our waterproof shoes did fine service. Our small umbrellas got lost frequently but were easy to replace at about $6 each at any store. And our choice of hotel couldn't not have been better for location, level of service and quiet comfort. Dang. It was just a really nice vacation. 

More images to follow...... don't fret. I was sure to grab shots of some mannequins. 

Proof to the hundreds of seasoned travelers as well as the mountain of guide books

which insist we must, as good tourists, circumnavigate Stanley Park on bicycles.

they were right....

As workmanlike as a good hammer.

Buy one, they're really useful.

What's ahead? I'm working on post production for a national ad campaign for a medical products giant. We're shooting product on Tuesday next week and three talents on location Wednesday. Lots and lots of pre-production to keep me busy between now and then. 

My favorite assistant is already booked on someone else's shoots for those days so I'm in the process of meeting new assistants. Ditto with our make-up person. I'm more or less assembling a new team. And then there is the ongoing effort to keep the studio space clean and efficient. That may be the single biggest Herculean task of my career. Staying organized...

More from Canada shortly. 

Nice to be home. 

 

Snow today in Vancouver. Then sunshine.

 

Having fun in sunny Vancouver.

 We’ve had two days of crystal clear clear sunlight and two rainy days that didn’t slow us down in the least. Vancouver is a wonderful city!!!

Yes, I have only one camera and one lens with me but it’s actually a nice change. Can’t believe Leica got me a beta SL3 just in time for our trip. Wow! 22 stops of dynamic range, 120 Megapixel sensor and 10 terabytes of built in storage!! And an IP 1200 rating for resistance to electro magnetic 🧲 pulse weapons. All that and a 24 megapixel EVF. 

Oops! I forgot about that NDA I signed….

I ordered mine with the Komodo Dragon leather. Sucks for the endangered species but DAMN it looks good…

Back to reality and home in a few days….

Packing for vacation is a whole different thing than packing for work. Cameras and luggage...

 It's been a couple of years since I traveled extensively for business. I think back to the Fall of 2018 when I did something like 18 round trips around the USA working on an annual report. Trips that took me from high up in the Virginia mountains one day and into the heat soaked Florida Everglades the next. 

Those trips were planned for the ultimate efficiency in getting time on the ground during the daylight hours for shooting. And, when traveling in and out of small airports on small planes, the turnaround times and luggage restrictions were quite a bit to juggle. 

One had to pack for multiple climates and with the knowledge that you might need both dress shoes and waterproof boots in the same day, along with a cold weather wear and also sunscreen and a sun protective hat. 

When it came to camera gear I needed to pack enough stuff to be able light subjects in different environmental conditions and I needed to bring enough back-up great to keep the job from going south if we lost, damaged or otherwise destroyed a light, a camera or a lens. Or all three. We also needed light stands, modifiers and a tripod. And batteries. Lots and lots of batteries.

I'm used to being highly strategic and pretty tightly wound on work trips and that makes it hard to unwind and be relaxed about vacation travel such as we'll be embarking on in the next few days. 

We're flying on big planes and in both directions there is only one stop (darn it! Air Canada had a direct from Austin to Vancouver but only during "high" season --- not when I want to use it...). I keep trying to get it through my head that if we miss a connection the bottom won't fall out of a "once in a lifetime" job. Nothing bad will happen. No clients will be lost. There's very little on a vacation trip that can't be solved with the application of credit card magic. 

B. is a great, calm and relaxed traveler at all times. I am her polar opposite but I'm trying as hard as I can to channel her travel mentorship. We booked a top rated hotel in the middle of the area we identified as the absolute best location. We booked good seats. We don't have a budget we're trying to hit. There's no huge project looming over me when we get back home. And then... there's packing. 

B. is petite. Her shoes are smaller so she gets to take two pairs. Her clothes are smaller so her bag can hold more quantity. She's convinced me to try and get everything I'm bringing into one regulation carry on bag. She has already demonstrated her ability to pack the identical model of Osprey luggage with room to spare. I'm struggling because I wanted to bring more shoes, more variation in weather gear, etc. 

She laughs at me because I can walk into a store and buy everything I might need off the rack. She insists that I don't need "back up" anything because if I find the lack of something that didn't make it into a suitcase I can buy said product just about anywhere.

I just finished re-packing clothes for the third time. I tossed out the second pair of hiking boots and one layer of insulation. We won't even see weather under freezing; if the forecasts are correct. But we've got enough SmartWool to open an REI outlet. 

Cameras for B. are simple. Walk out to the studio. Find the Sony RX100 in a drawer. Grab the two extra batteries and the charger. Insert the 16GB SD card. Set menu. Charge batts. Toss in suitcase. Done.

Me? I've made a whole ordeal of it. Too many choices, for sure. Just when I think I've narrowed it down I turn and look at a shelf and think, "Maybe I should go the other direction and pull out that old Deardorf 8x10 that's been sitting around unused for 20 years. I wonder if there's enough time to order 100 sheets of black and white film.... And  how would I pack it?"

I think I've made my final choice but I won't mention it right now because I don't want to jinx it and open myself up to a whole new episode of, "which camera and lens is the magical one?" Again. 

Let's just say that I've got one camera picked out and one lens. I've got three batteries total. I've never packed this small. But as one wag told me in an email: "Don't worry if you mis-packed and now regret your choices. There are three Leica dealers in the Vancouver area." Instant comfort zone. 

One more post tomorrow... unless I have to re-pack...

Any luck getting to MJ's site (TheOnlinePhotographer)? Seems like Typepad is struggling....

 Just a quick note. I know that Michael Johnston let everyone know last week that Typepad (his blog host) would be down for maintenance this weekend but it appears that "maintenance" has spilled over into this week too. 

MJ will return as soon as Typepad gets their poop together; I'm certain. So don't go anywhere. 

There seems to be a bit of chaos all over the net today. Instagram is dropping accounts and followers left and right. Twitter is seeing some outages (Elon Sucks). And there's a general feeling of connection disquiet that can be felt.

I guess we all need to take a deep breath and relax. Maybe turn off the feed and hop in a pool. Get some yards in. Feel the chill, as it were. 

On a different note, the new lens has been accepted into the fold. A filter for it arrived today. I don't normally use protection filters but it's supposed to rain a lot while I'm in Vancouver and I thought I'd rather keep rubbing a filter with a cleaning cloth instead of grinding my microfiber cloth into the front element. I'll ask for forgiveness later. Lens shade also arriving --- just in time.