Ontario Fall Colours

Just came back from a 3-day trip in beautiful Haliburton countryside and report - we have another great foliage season!

Unusually warm calm weather, blue skies and foliage in full bloom make absolutely perfect conditions to enjoy colour photography. But hurry up, it won't last long.

The foliage season has arrived!

My favourite season. Most of the trees are still green here in Toronto, but I prefer to start early, you never know how long the full bloom will last. All my weekends are pretty booked for the next three-four weeks.

Both pictures were taken with X-Pro1 and Nikkor 180/2.8 ED AI-S. Another very busy season for my Fuji :)

Cheers,
vkphoto

X-PRO1 vs. D800E vs. DP2M

Finally I got time to compare raw output from Fujifilm X-PRO 1, Sigma DP2M and Nikon D800E.

The test below is very much unscientific, it was conducted just out of my own curiosity. All three cameras are totally different beasts and putting them side by side might be not fair, but I as many others was wondering how uncommon CFA (X-Trans and Foveon, APC-S) sensors stack up against leading 24x36 Bayer.

In the cottage country with Fuji X-Pro 1

I just came back from a short trip to my friends in Haliburton (Ontario). Summer is not my favourite season for photography in the country, but I managed to snap a few.

I  mostly used XF 55-200 with X-Pro 1, but also tried my new-used Minolta 35-70 f/3.5 Zoom. I will post results in the next few days.
All raw files were post processed in Iridient Developer with a little help of Nik filters.

MC TELE ROKKOR-PF 135 mm 1:2.8 revisited

I bought the lens about two years ago and was happy with the results but didn't use it too often since I acquired XF 55-200.

After reading some less than stellar reviews about this particular version (6 elements in 5 groups ) I decided to revisit the lens.

Below is the result of shooting exclusively with this lens during the Canada Day weekend. All photos were taken with X-Pro1, most of the time the lens was set to its max aperture, files were post processed in Iridient Developer.

Green snaps from the garden

Green is my new favourite colour. The summer has finally arrived and new life is flourishing after the long winter. What a great time for my Fuji X-Pro1 and XF 55-200!

All photos were post processed in Iridient Developer.

In anticipation of spring (with Fujinon XF 35mm)

Unusually cold, windy and rainy spring delayed our planting season. But there are signs that better days are coming...

The set was taken with Fujifilm X-Pro1 and Fujinon XF 35 @ 1.4 post processed in Iridient Developer.

Snowdrops in Ontario

The spring is just around the corner!

X-Pro1 + XF 55-200 (@f/4.8) + Iridient Developer

Thanks,
vkphoto

Hot Pepper

Crazy hot Jamaican Scotch Bonnet Pepper

Thanks,

vkphoto

B&W still life with bottle

One more from the "Simple objects in my kitchen".

Thanks,
vkphoto

Red & Red

Very red still life with pomegranates :)

X-Pro1+ MC ROKKOR-PG 58mm 1:1.2

Thanks,
vkphoto

First signs of spring in Ontario?

Look, the icicles are melting!!!

X-Pro1+XF 55-200

Cheers!
vkphoto

Ontario apples

Traditional still life with colourful and delicious Ontario apples.

X-Pro1 + XF 35/1.4

Thanks,
vkphoto

Still Life with MC ROKKOR-PG 58/1.2

Finally I got time to put together a small set of B&W still life images inspired by a visit to friend's rustic cottage and taken with my favourite camera and legacy lens:

Enjoy!

Happy Holidays!

I wish you and your loved ones a joyous festive season and the very, very best for 2014.

X-Pro1 + XF 35/1.4 @ 8

Warmest Regards,

vkphoto

Morning after the ice storm

The ice storm hit Ontario, my area now looks like one big hockey rink. Streets, sidewalks everything is covered with thick ice, one big hockey rink. The storm left thousands without the power. Luckily we still have  all services up and running.

It's still raining but I managed to take couple shots around the house with my trusty X-Pro 1.

Toronto Distillery District with Minolta 16mm 1:2.8

Finally I found time to re-process files from the last year trip to the Distillery District in Toronto. The set below was taken with Fujifilm X-Pro1 and Minolta MD 16/2.8 fish-eye lens.

All images were post processed in Silver FX Pro, with low key filter to add some drama, may be too much :)

Ilford PanF Plus 50 vs. X-Trans vs. Foveon

I like to shoot film and still shooting at least couple rolls a year. After reading that Ilford opened film processing lab in US I decided to try their service to test my favourite PanF+50 (35mm film) against my favourite digital sensors, Fujifilm X-trans and Sigma Foveon. Obviously I used my favourite cameras for the task: Fuji X-Pro1, Nikon FM2 and Sigma DP2M :)

Here is my results.

The Fuji colours

When I switched to digital the foliage season here in Ontario has become a very challenging photography exercise for me. I just couldn't capture the palette of colours when nature explodes and leaves beginning to change from green to fiery hues. I've tried various  cameras from every leading brand but never got it done right. Until the Fuji X-Trans is arrived. After using X-Pro1 for more than a year, I have to say that this camera+sensor+lens(s)  is truly a perfect "colour capturing" combination.

Here is some pictures (actually many pictures) from my recent trip to the Ontario cottage country, hope you like them :)

Taking pictures in the rain

Although Fuji X-Pro1 is not weather sealed it did survive in some pretty nasty condition, including the hail storm. But would I do it again? Absolutely not! Followed on recommendation from one of the dpreview forum member I bought very inexpensive rain sleeves from OP/TECH and tested them today.

They may look almost like a regular plastic bag, but surprisingly do the job well. I spent about an hour under the drizzling rain taking pictures in my garden and both camera and the lens were absolutely dry.

Drawstring is pretty snug and if you add filter to your lens it will be even more protected. Overall the product is good, compact (fits in the pocket) but can be very handy in harsh weather conditions.

All the best,
vkphoto