Saturday, December 28, 2013

METAMORPHOSIS

 A Renaissance cloister distorts, changes colour ,trees sprout , water cascades from the roof and the building explodes into a thousand pieces.  
"Illuminare Hic Et Nunc" Chiostri di San Pietro, Reggio Emilia

"Illuminare Hic Et Nunc" Chiostri di San Pietro, Reggio Emilia

"Illuminare Hic Et Nunc" Chiostri di San Pietro, Reggio Emilia
Just some of the effects of Architectural mapping where video images are projected onto a building, in this case the Cloisters of St Pietro Church in Reggio Emilia. 

This installation by Apparati Effimeri from Bologna is present for just a few days around Christmas  and I am glad I made time to go and see it.

"Illuminare Hic Et Nunc" Chiostri di San Pietro, Reggio Emilia

 
I saw something similar in Aosta this summer that limited itself to changing the buildings colour, but this show really gives the impression of a building changing before your eyes.


"Illuminare Hic Et Nunc" Chiostri di San Pietro, Reggio Emilia

"Illuminare Hic Et Nunc" Chiostri di San Pietro, Reggio Emilia
"Illuminare Hic Et Nunc" Chiostri di San Pietro, Reggio Emilia

"Illuminare Hic Et Nunc" Chiostri di San Pietro, Reggio Emilia

"Illuminare Hic Et Nunc" Chiostri di San Pietro, Reggio Emilia

"Illuminare Hic Et Nunc" Chiostri di San Pietro, Reggio Emilia

"Illuminare Hic Et Nunc" Chiostri di San Pietro, Reggio Emilia

"Illuminare Hic Et Nunc" Chiostri di San Pietro, Reggio Emilia
The show lasts a few minutes and repeats itself,  so I was able to photograph it as well. The light levels were very low and even with a slow shutter speed and 2.8 aperture I still had to use a high 3200 ISO. The IBIS stabilizer in my Olympus OM D E5 does miracles as I can hand hold at 1/15 and still get sharp photographs.

Tuesday, December 24, 2013

A Year with Micro Four Thirds



Just before Christmas last year whilst looking for a cheap but decent camera to keep in my briefcase for work use , I discovered the Micro 4/3 system.

I started off with a humble Lumix GF3  a tiny little camera with a serious sensor and as I quickly discovered  it could  be used for serious photography.  It was also great fun to use,  almost pocket sized and weighs nothing.  It is for me the modern incarnation of Barnack’s Leica camera concept ; a camera that you can carry without noticing it too much.

I saw some large prints done with an Olympus  OMD EM5 and I was sold on this format. The image quality was equal to what I was getting with my bloated and heavy Nikon system. 
Susu a Maine Coon one of my first shots with the EM%
I part exchanged all my old film cameras and manual focus A1 lenses that were just gathering dust for an EM5 and the superb Lumix 12-35 2.8 lens together with   a 9-18 wide angle, a 45-200 and a 100-300 zoom lens.  I haven’t looked back since to my old Nikon system.

So here is my first year with Micro 4/3.

The humble Lumix GF3 went to Berlin and acquitted itself well in the short time I had to see Berlin.

Sony Centre Berlin

Sony Centre Berlin

Berlin

Berlin

Berlin
 The EM5 is very discrete and does not get one noticed, a perfect camera for the Carnival pictures.
 
Carnivale, Castelnovo Sotto RE

Carnivale, Castelnovo Sotto RE

Carnivale, Castelnovo Sotto RE

Carnivale, Castelnovo Sotto RE


The stabilization is great for low light and telephoto shots.
 
Capriolo
It did not get in the way going up a narrow “Orrido”  and it took some strange photos of the coloured clay Calanchi at Biaso.

Rio della Rocca, RE

Rio della Rocca, RE

Baiso

 Baiso

Baiso
Trying out the EM5 I rediscovered my town.

Reggio Emilia
Reggio Emilia

Reggio Emilia

Reggio Emilia
Reggio Emilia

Reggio Emilia

Reggio Emilia

Reggio Emilia

Reggio Emilia

The 100-300 is a 200-600 equivalent lens and  being able to hand hold a 600mm lens meant that I could shoot  some architectural shots from a distance, to eliminate foreground clutter and get the effect that I wanted.

Sarzana, RE
I have found the 9-18 lens to be a fine lens.

Castello di Montegibbio, MO
I enjoyed a nice long walk along the flooded River  Po without my shoulders and back aching.
 
Dosolo,MN

Dosolo,MN

Gualtieri RE

Dosolo MN

 The  four thirds systems low weight and bulk means that it is perfect for when I go hiking in the mountains.
I was getting tired of climbing up steep mountains with the weight of my old Nikon system. In winter I just carry less stuff.  In summer it is hot even at 2000 metres , so with less camera weight, I can carry more precious water.

I caught the last snow in May at 2000m.

Lago Martini, PR

Lago Martini, PR

Lago Martini, PR

I got wet in a thunder storm in the high Apennines.
 
Passo di Annibale, MO
I finally got to the top of the Alpe di Succiso after two  attempts  thwarted by bad weather.

Pratizzano, RE

Alpe di Succiso, RE

Rio Pascolo, RE

Alpe di Succiso, RE
I enjoyed the three lakes near Prato Spilla, PR
Lago Verdarolo, PR

Lago Scuro, PR

Lago Scuro, PR

Lago Palo, PR


Monte Malpasso, PR
On a very hot June day in Piacenza, I spent a pleasant morning exploring the city without  my camera equipment becoming a burden.

Piacenza

Piacenza

Piacenza

Piacenza

Piacenza

Piacenza

Piacenza
I managed to have a day in Berlin this time with the EM5 and the 12-35 2.8.
 
Berlin

Berlin

Berlin

Berlin

Berlin

Berlin

Berlin

Berlin

Berlin

Berlin




I explored the hidden courtyards in my city.
Reggio Emilia

Reggio Emilia

Reggio Emilia

Reggio Emilia

Reggio Emilia

Reggio Emilia

Reggio Emilia

Reggio Emilia

Reggio Emilia

Reggio Emilia

Micro four thirds proved to be a good camera system to take on holiday; everything fits into a small camera bag and the low weight means that carrying a camera around does not become a chore. Also taking pictures inside Italian monuments where photography is usually banned  becomes a lot easier as you play dodge the Jobsworth

Roman Forum Aosta


Aosta
Gran Paridiso park, Rhemes Notra Dame valley.AO

Les Combes,AO

Val D Aosta

Aosta


Monte Bianco, AO

Monte Bianco, AO

Val D Aosta

Val D Aosta
Monte Bianco, AO

La Morra, Langhe CN

La Morra, Langhe CN

La Morra, Langhe CN

La Morra, Langhe CN

San Remo IM

San Remo IM

San Remo IM

San Remo IM
 
San Remo IM

The IBIS in the EM5 worked well for some low light shots of a light show, I did not need to take along a tripod to get some decent results.

Roman theatre Aosta

Roman theatre Aosta

Roman theatre Aosta

Roman theatre Aosta

Saw the Mega Yachts at Portofino, and also saw the village at seven in the morning free of crowds.
Portofino

Portofino

Portofino

Portofino
 I caught the autumn colours of the Bluberry bushes at their best, walked along the mountain crest with cloud on one side and sun on the other and then at the end of the walk discussed the problem of wolves in the Apennines with a Sheppard.
 
Monte Soraggio, RE

Monte Soraggio, RE

Le Porraie, RE

I bought a 7.5mm fisheye lens to make some out of this world landscape and architectural photographs and with the advice obtained on DPR discover some software (Huggin) to make even more out of this world photographs.
 
Canossa, RE

Canossa, RE

Canossa, RE

To end the year I went for my favourite lunchtime walk, up to the olive Grove at Bianello Castle.

 
Bianello, Quattro Castella, RE

Bianello, Quattro Castella, RE

Bianello, Quattro Castella, RE

Bianello, Quattro Castella, RE

Bianello, Quattro Castella, RE

Bianello, Quattro Castella, RE

Bianello, Quattro Castella, RE

Bianello, Quattro Castella, RE