LIFE-STYLE | TRAVEL | AERIAL
Photographer/Videographer specializing in Life Style, Travel, and Aerial Imagery. FAA 107 Certified for sUAS flight operations throughout the US. Fully insured. Videography work is limited to Aerial productions.
Based in Maine (May-December) and SWFL (Jan - April). Available for travel year round.
Salsa Fargo in the Atlas Mountains, Morocco
An amazing ride this thing we call life. Reflecting today, as many of us do, I am incredibly grateful for the path of life, all that has come, all that is, and all that is yet to be discovered.
As with time, motion is all around us. Sometimes, we just have to sit in stillness to see that which moves.
No matter where you sit in life, time marches on -- It will pass you by if you are incredibly careful. Live, laugh, love
Three guys, all experiencing completely different emotions, captured instantly with the snap of a shutter, or in this case, a timer ;-) There are always certain themes that find their way into any trip. For us and the Lost Coast, it became hills, food, beer and new friends.
Erik, Andrew, Glenn (L/R) all expressing completely different emotions as food is devoured
I love the power of the camera to freeze a moment in time. When viewed by the photographer it represents a slice of reality -- time stands still, captured in the moment that the shutter was pressed and light was passed to film or sensor. A moment that we then attempt to share with others in the hopes that they can see reality as we saw it; that they can see time as we saw it; and in the ultimate triumph, that they can feel the moment as we felt it.
Sometimes we succeed and sometimes, well we fail. Still, we keep pressing the shutter.
Man, I can't believe it has been 6 weeks or more since this trip completed. I am, unfortunately, just getting around to editing the images and writing the story of this amazing trip. A special thanks to Erik and Andrew for including me on what was an epic trip along the Lost Coast of California. The Mukluk hung tough, outpaced by friends with skinnier tires, she did the best she could and while not the fastest, she certainly earned the most STYLE points. More to come soon....
As with all things in life, sometimes you just have to listen to your gut and go with it, even if it may not make logical sense.. With that said, I have decided to commit myself to a year long trial of the Leica M system as my primary image making tool. I have long thought about this switch, but I was so wedded to my love of all things Nikon, that I could not bring myself to do it. Now, I feel with the way I am shooting, methodically and focused and my love of MF glass, that the M system is simply a better match for me than the AF world of Nikon. Unfortunately, renting kit for a week is just not enough time to really commit and to learn, so I will jump in with both feet and see how this plays out.
Thus, I am putting up my entire Nikon/Zeiss collection for sale. Please email me for pics and more details. All gear has been well taken care of and has no issues other than cosmetics. Reasonable offers will be accepted and discounts will be applied for bundling components.
The following post took place on my life changing trip, kayaking up the Inside Passage, from Seattle to Glacier Bay. It was this trip that saw my life move from complete and utter darkness to the light of present day. I am forever indebted to the Universe for helping me through those difficult and dark days.
After the trip, the phrase "Be The Source" became so important to me that I had it permanently tattooed on my wrist as a constant reminder of where I was and where I am.
Journal - Inside Passage:
I got this quote yesterday from a book I was able to read in a single sitting. It was one of those books that caught my eye and drew me in right away. The idea behind this saying is found in many religious and spiritual teachings. Give of that which you wish to receive. If you desire love; give love; if you desire compassion, give compassion; if you desire money, give money; the list goes on and on.
While I choose to simplify the message and meaning today, I throw it out there in hopes that anyone reading this will take this challenge. Go forth today and give of these things to those that you meet. You will be enriched in ways you can not begin to imagine.
The waters are calm today and the sun is shining. The seals were out early playing in the water with the sailboats and ocean as their back drop. These islands are magical, drawing you in, not wanting you to leave. The simplicity of life here is as amazing as it is rich. I will sit for one more day here, relaxing, loving, living. Tomorrow I paddle for points unknown, someplace not thought of today. I look forward to that which will be found.
Here is a small extract from a journal entry on my way to AK:
August 6, 2009 Sturgess to Adams Inlet
I woke at 4:30, got up by 5:00. I love this time of morning. The calmness is overpowering, you have no choice but to relax. The whales were out feeding with the otters. The grey of the wild fires is still in place, making the bay seem even more mysterious. You can only make out that which is close to you. All else appears without detail, just dark forms.
The morning paddle is exquisite. As I work my way to the shore, I get my first look at the glaciated landscape. Simply amazing. I can't wait to see the peaks. I work my way to Muir Point for an early lunch. I was just reading about this spot last night. Oh, how I am sure it has changed from the time John Muir wrote about it.... I push on for Adams Inlet while the flood is still strong. Stop for water, then loose my MSR coffee filter :-( Oh well... The current is like a river and it wisks me down the inlet. Simply breathtaking views. I don't even have to paddle, just steer.
The views are amazing even with the haze. I turn back into the large and am greeted with views of White Glacier. I want to camp at it's feet, so I set course for the shore and find a pleasant little nook to camp. The ground is so interesting, sort of crunchy, mossy, as if things were trying to take root. I push up a little and set camp on a field of green and dandelion. Higher, where the glacier once was is so hard to describe. It looks as if a huge bulldozer and rock crusher has cleared a winding path down from the top of the mountain. Now all that is left is a creek running down and tons of rock and debris, obviously left when the glacier retreated. Very exciting!!
Fat Bikes + Photography + Down East Maine = FUN!! Lubec Maine, December 2012
Winter is only boring if you can't get out and take advantage of all she has to offer. I love riding the Mukluk in all conditions, believing in my heart of hearts, that it is the ultimate go anywhere bike. Last year I had some great winter adventures on the Ti Muk and with any luck, this winter will be no different.
Lets start the whole discussion off with why? Why another camera? Why the 1 series? Why not just use a Waterproof Case? Why not just stay home, in the dry and not take pictures? Why?.... The list goes on and on, with each of us having our own unique take on the questions that are relevant to our own needs.
For me, the answer is simple and profound. The AW1 represents nothing more than a tool that helps me to accomplish a goal. In my case, and that of the AW1, take the highest quality photographs possible in the types of crappy conditions I sometimes find myself shooting. The worst offender of all is on the kayak where the environment, especially in salt water, is simply brutal. To date I have tried just about every possible permutation known to anyone that takes pictures from a kayak, and not one of them has been successful nor a reasonable compromise.
I have used little waterproof point and shoots that either produced extremely low quality images or that actually were not that rugged and waterproof after all. In the worst of all worlds, they did both, leaving me wanting for more, much more. I have tried using wipes and dry cases to carry nicer cameras (NEX-7, NEX-5) that would be stored, delicately removed, images taken, wiped down and then placed back in there container. Now I will admit, for some calm scenarios, this worked well, but it placed your gear at tremendous risk. A bobble here, a drip there, one little mistake, and the saltwater would destroy your camera in an instant.
Just ask my Nikon D3 that I still can't bring myself to throw out after it got a little (and I mean a little) saltwater in the camera via the battery compartment (which is not sealed like the rest of the camera). The note back from NPS telling me that after initial inspection they were optimistic, only to open it up all the way and discover the sea of corrosion... Yep, that was a real bummer to say the least, and yes, I still have the body!
I have tried baggies and all kinds of cases, which do an admirable job of protecting your camera, but place constraints on the optics or add significant bulk to the body and impede upon the entire shooting experience. Short of spending $2k for a soft housing for a large camera, I have tried it all. In the end, everything was a compromise and left me wanting and waiting for something else. Thus, enter the Nikon 1 series AW1.
I picked up a Nikon V1 used a while ago and began shooting this much maligned camera almost immediately. I was simply shocked to discover how much I enjoyed the little beast and how much I was loving the images, especially in B&W mode. There was something very magical about those images that I just found incredibly compelling. No, they were not the same quality as a D800E paired with a Zeiss lens, but dang, they were really good. I was loving this little camera, and the more I used it the more I loved it.
V1, crazy artificial light, ISO 1600
The optics were sharp and it had a near 'film like' quality to the images. The files are very pliable in LR and Capture, especially when shot below ISO 800. Even ISO 1600 worked for me, although I can hear the pixel peepers complaining about the amount of noise they see when zoomed in 100% on a 27 inch monitor viewed 12 inches away... Don't get me started on the whole pixel peeping thing, because if that is you, you are not paying attention to making images. You are stuck in the noise of your gear (no pun intended).
So, with all of the love I was feeling for the little V1 and the fact that I was convinced that Nikon had produced a gem of a camera, I was super stoked when I saw that Nikon was taking the 1 series and building a rugged version of the camera and two of the lenses, sort of a Nikonos Lite model. There are plenty of sites that will give you the technical details on the 1 series (V1,V2, J2, AW1), but suffice it to say, this little camera series rocks. Why does this matter to us adventure folks? Well, a couple of key specs that are worth pointing out.
First, read any review and they will say that the 1 series has the best AF out there. Coupled with Nikon's legendary metering system that is proven over and over, you have a fantastic one two combination. Two things that no other little waterproof P&S camera can boast. I mean this thing rocks from a focus and shutter perspective. Put the camera in Electronic shutter mode and you can choose between 10|30|60 FPS. Now, can you really achieve that, I don't know, but let me tell you, the camera will fire off a sequence of images in a second that make tracking the action absolutely a cinch. That alone, from my perspective is a huge plus.
Second, the AW1 sports both complete waterproofing (down to 15m), is shockproof and freeze-proof. These three features mean that all of a sudden, no more bags or dry cases or other forms of 'How do I keep my camera dry' protection. Sea Kayaking -- no problem, just stick a paddle leash on the camera and slap it under your deck lines. Time to shoot, well you can wipe off the lens if time permits or you can use the surf photographers technique of spit, wipe, dip, shoot. Yes it works, but you gotta do it almost every time. Out biking, well, just use a black rapid strap and hang the camera off of your back. Who cares if it is raining, snowing, dusty, etc. Just grab the camera and shoot!
However, and too the point, none of these things matter if the image quality isn't there; if the camera doesn't produce images that are worthy of your needs. Each of us has very different needs and requirements for what we expect from our images. Are we printing them; submitting them to magazines; selling stock images; creating blog and web content; or just documenting our travels.
While I have only had the camera for a week, I am comfortable in saying that I believe I can do all of the above. Now, the one question is how large can I print before things begin to degrade, but I have seen some pretty amazing prints from sensors smaller than the 1 series, so I am not too worried.
Some details about my first week of shooting in no particular order:
You can probably tell from everything above that I like the camera. It is not perfect and in the end, it is still a tiny sensor, but compared to the other options for a waterproof and rugged camera, this is a rocking little device. The images that I am getting are more than useable for my needs. I still prefer B&W out of the 1 series over the color profile, but I just need to dedicate some time to tweaking my LR color profile. The color rendering is just a bit vivid for me where as the B&W is so sharp and gritty. I just love those B&W files.
The camera has a great feel to it with a very nice and balanced heft. Yes, you have to shoot from the LCD, but it is big and bright, and on the bike or in the kayak, that is the way I would use it most of the time anyway. The detail rendered from the little sensor is pretty amazing. I shot most of my images on auto ISO, 400-800 so as to maximize my shutter speed, and it worked brilliantly. I have not done any real high ISO testing with the AW1 but based on what I am getting from the little V1, it should be fine.
Negatives, well, I don't have a lot of them right now... Their are currently only two lenses out that are rugged, the 10/2,8 and the little 11-27.5 zoom, which I have. I will acquire the 10/2,8 as soon as it is available. The AW1 will support the use of all Nikon 1 lenses, but it does not work the other way. This means that you cant use the rugged AW1 lenses on a regular 1 series camera. This is a function of the way Nikon chose to waterproof the lenses. A reasonable compromise in my opinion.
Nikon AW1 with kit zoom. Nikon V1 in background with Nikon 70-200/4 mounted via the FT1 adapter (a whole different conversation).
The camera is not going to replace any of my other photographic tools. However, what it does do is open up shooting in environments where previously I had really crappy camera choices. Heck, I even think with the little 10/2,8 lens, this thing could be a bit of a GoPro killer for me. Yep, you heard it here. Now, I am not mounting one on my head or my chest or at the end of a ski, but on my kayak or bike or car? Heck yes and I get so much more functionality and such better image quality that it is a no brainer. Yep, I already ordered a few mounts with an eye towards using this on the bike and kayak in some killer ways. Oh, and HD video, which I have not even addressed...
Time to go shoot.
Below are a few more from the AW1 -- More to follow
Mixed light, great detail in the fabric and good vibrant colors in the magazines
Nice B&W capabilities - converted in Silver Effects Pro
Nice real world use capturing the setting sun
Additional Info and/or answers to questions:
Q: How did I carry the camera on the Kayak
A: Basically I used a Black Rapids toggle that screws into the tripod adapter. I attached one end of the paddle leash to that and the other end to my deck lines. I stored the camera everywhere, under the deck bungy, in my lap, even over the side. Now remember (I know you know), the camera does NOT float!! When I wanted to hop in the water, I just unscrewed the adapter and then used the Jobo wrist strap (which is really cool on its own).
We went out in the woods today for an unusually warm November day ride. So nice to wear a light top, knickers and a wind vest. The winter is rapidly approaching, but for now we will take these last vestiges of fall. The little AW1 continues to impress me with its results. This is clearly a camera capable of taking excellent travel images. The full review is coming shortly....
Another successful gathering of paddlers and coaches down in Stonington CT. This event, hosted by Greg Paquin of Kayak Waveology, has become the go-to premier rough water paddling event on the East Coast. For the 3rd year in a row I have attempted to capture the event to the best of my abilities. Lots of images left to edit, and as with the AW1 review, I hope to get them all done by Monday. In the meantime, a few teaser images to get things going....
I am diligently working on the review of the Nikon AW1. Hopefully I can finish by Monday. In the meantime, here is one of the nice on-water captures.
Don't, I repeat, don't, listen to the negative internet chatter regarding this little camera. I am getting absolutely stunning B&W images from this little beast. The V1 is fast, quiet, easy to manually focus, and works brilliantly with the FT1 adapter. Looking at color images, their is definitely some negative things going on, but since I am focusing on using this camera almost exlusively for B&W, those issues don't affect me.
Shooting with the 10/2,8 and the Zeiss 50/2 w/FT1 adapter, the images have a character that just really works. While I don't like a ton of filters, especially when I get sharp images, this Nik Film Noir caught my eye. The capture was of my grandson this past weekend.
