01.16.09 - some tests on gear...

So the nice thing about staffing a photography school is I'm are surrounded by passionate photographers, which in turn inspires me to get out and shoot. And also... there is a lot of gear around for me to borrow and test. Which sometimes causes me to covet... but at least I am seeing what is out there.

My first test was with the 40d. I have a Canon 20d and I wanted to see how much better the 40d handled noise at high iso levels.

I would post the results but you can't really tell unless you are zooming in at a 2:1 view. But the 20d actually handled noise better. Which is quite nice, because otherwise I would want to dish out the cash to buy a new camera body... its good to be content with what you have.

Second test... the 70-200f4 IS... i have the 70-200 non IS. Both shot seconds apart on my 20d from a standing position. This one is humbling.

IS - ISO 400 - F4 - 1/40s
(notice the sharpness in the text even though handheld with a slow shutter speed)

non IS - :( - ISO 400 - F4 - 1/50s

The 70-200F4 IS is selling new at BH for $1025.00

jim baker

01.10.09 - Start of SOP I and Famous Landscape Photographers

so now I'm staffing the School of Photography I in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.
These are the guys in the school. From left to right.

Dustin (canada), Jake (US), Max (UK), Charlie (US), David (Canada) and me.

Here's MY blog from when I was a student in SOP I in 2008.

This morning I took the guys out for small group and went to see the Peter Lik gallery.

His work was absolutely amazing but as we walked away from the gallery we all started to feel sad for him. 50 years old, rich, single and living in las vegas. The gallery directory told us that this guy was so motivated that if you got in the way of a picture he'd take out a knife and stab you. (Was he being dramatic, probably...) The volcano shots he got he paid someone $1,000 to take him out where he wasn't suppose to go. Doing anything to get the shot.

Then some of the class went to see Jennifer Wu who is sponsored by canon. We heard a canon rep speak and then heard Jennifer speak about her work as well. It was very informative, and motivating me to go out and shoot again.

People ask me how we "incorporate Christ" into this school. Since its being taught at a Christian university. We aren't just teaching photography and then making it Christian... and there's no clear cut answer to this question either. Our aim is to disciple people, who have a different worldview, a different set of values, different motivations. Very early on in the school we look at Christ's characteristics and talk about how that should play into our photography. I'm not condemning Peter at all... but I don't envy him. There is enough people in the world that will run over others to get whatever they want. I don't want to be one of those people.

If becoming a "master photographer" takes me sacrificing everything else and running over people to get there, then I don't want it.

jim baker