Good friend and fellow event planner Terry Lam created this great logo for the event today, and I think that it is perfect for us.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Saturday, June 25, 2011
What I learned last year
So last year I participated in the Vancouver 12x12, and I learned a few things while being there. I learned that you really need to know your camera inside out!
I am not new to photography, not by any means... I started to shoot when I was 15, and at the time of this writing, I am 36. I have been a professional wedding photographer for the last decade, and I know photography.
But I thought it would be really cool to use a rangefinder style camera last year. So 2 weeks before the 12x12 I bought myself a Contax G1, which is a great little autofocus rangefinder that uses Carl Zeiss lenses; these are some of the best lenses I have ever used.
I did put a roll of film through the camera before I did the 12x12 with it; but I did not KNOW the camera like I know my other film cameras I have or have had in the past.
Like... I did not know that the shutter button was so twitchy, barely what I would call a half press, and the shutter goes off. YUP, botched two frames before I learned that one; I think Tyler and Chris almost had a coronary while laughing so hard at me, and I... I just died a little inside.
So I thought I would take my knowledge and pass on to you what I have learned (the hard way) about doing events like the Vancouver 12x12 or this one, the Victoria 12ByU, or by shooting weddings over the years; but for some reason, I just ignored some of these last September.
Tip #1: Use a manual focus camera, that way you do not accidently trip the shutter while trying to focus. If your camera is an autofocus type, switch it to manual if you can. This way you don't accidently misfire like I did. You are only pressing the shutter button to make the camera go then.
Tip #2: Bring power bars! Granola! a Banana! a couple Sandwiches... just bring snacks that are easy to pack in your bag, and give yourself something to eat while you are running across town and back again, to get the next theme. You don't always have time to stop and eat, unless you take an hour off and just relax find a place to eat; OR, you're eating junk all day from 7/11 or McD's. My suggestion is just to bring something easy to eat with you in your bag.
Tip #3: Bring a jacket that repels water... Lets be honest... if you are doing the Vancouver 12x12... It's still Vancouver, it can ran, and at the drop of a hat! Be safe, rather than looking like a drowned rat.
Tip #4: Keep the gear simple, 1 camera, 1 lens would be ideal... remember, you are going to be running back and forth across town for 12 themes.. FRAK the idea that 'Oh, but I might want to use this lens, or this one... oh, or this one'... if you are using some smaller lenses like the old primes or a rangefinder, ok, maybe 2-3 lenses if they don't weight you down too much. Or you will just be complaining that you lugged all this crap around and only used the one lens all day, and your shoulders hurt from the weight of the bag. Remember that simple little rule of K.I.S.S. ... it applies here too. If you really want to lug all that around all day, go for it... I tried to warn you though.
Tip #5: WEAR FOOTWEAR YOU CAN WEAR ALL DAY AND NOT HURT AT THE END OF IT! 'nuff said...
I hope these help, good shooting and I will see you all for the 12x12 and the 12ByU!
Cheers
John R.
I am not new to photography, not by any means... I started to shoot when I was 15, and at the time of this writing, I am 36. I have been a professional wedding photographer for the last decade, and I know photography.
But I thought it would be really cool to use a rangefinder style camera last year. So 2 weeks before the 12x12 I bought myself a Contax G1, which is a great little autofocus rangefinder that uses Carl Zeiss lenses; these are some of the best lenses I have ever used.
I did put a roll of film through the camera before I did the 12x12 with it; but I did not KNOW the camera like I know my other film cameras I have or have had in the past.
Like... I did not know that the shutter button was so twitchy, barely what I would call a half press, and the shutter goes off. YUP, botched two frames before I learned that one; I think Tyler and Chris almost had a coronary while laughing so hard at me, and I... I just died a little inside.
So I thought I would take my knowledge and pass on to you what I have learned (the hard way) about doing events like the Vancouver 12x12 or this one, the Victoria 12ByU, or by shooting weddings over the years; but for some reason, I just ignored some of these last September.
Tip #1: Use a manual focus camera, that way you do not accidently trip the shutter while trying to focus. If your camera is an autofocus type, switch it to manual if you can. This way you don't accidently misfire like I did. You are only pressing the shutter button to make the camera go then.
Tip #2: Bring power bars! Granola! a Banana! a couple Sandwiches... just bring snacks that are easy to pack in your bag, and give yourself something to eat while you are running across town and back again, to get the next theme. You don't always have time to stop and eat, unless you take an hour off and just relax find a place to eat; OR, you're eating junk all day from 7/11 or McD's. My suggestion is just to bring something easy to eat with you in your bag.
Tip #3: Bring a jacket that repels water... Lets be honest... if you are doing the Vancouver 12x12... It's still Vancouver, it can ran, and at the drop of a hat! Be safe, rather than looking like a drowned rat.
Tip #4: Keep the gear simple, 1 camera, 1 lens would be ideal... remember, you are going to be running back and forth across town for 12 themes.. FRAK the idea that 'Oh, but I might want to use this lens, or this one... oh, or this one'... if you are using some smaller lenses like the old primes or a rangefinder, ok, maybe 2-3 lenses if they don't weight you down too much. Or you will just be complaining that you lugged all this crap around and only used the one lens all day, and your shoulders hurt from the weight of the bag. Remember that simple little rule of K.I.S.S. ... it applies here too. If you really want to lug all that around all day, go for it... I tried to warn you though.
Tip #5: WEAR FOOTWEAR YOU CAN WEAR ALL DAY AND NOT HURT AT THE END OF IT! 'nuff said...
I hope these help, good shooting and I will see you all for the 12x12 and the 12ByU!
Cheers
John R.
Monday, June 20, 2011
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Victoria 12 By U
Ok, so here is the new blog location for this event.
Here is the short and sweet version of this event:
12 Hours
12 Themes (pulled at random)
A SINGLE roll of 12, to complete them all with. Yes folks, that is right, this is a film challenge!
You with the D3000, yes you, the one that has never shot a roll of film in your life... WALK AWAY, and go to the nearest camera store and walk to the back of the store, and look at the back wall, buy something that reminds you of your grandfather. Make sure they dust off the camera for you nicely before selling it to you.
If you want to participate in this event, you need a film camera! You need to know how to use it, liiiiiiike... how to load the camera with the film for starters, maybe even know how to set the ISO on it for the film we will be using.
We're not going to tell you what kind of film camera to use at this event, just a film camera that work. It could be you're old P&S from when you were a kid, to a Holga/Lomo style camera; and all the way up to a EOS 1Rs... but the big key here, is that the camera has to take film!
You are going to hear me say that a lot over the next while, FILM FILM FILM... FILM! I just want to be fully clear what kind of event we are running here.
And just in case you have no idea what film is, please read this page on Wiki and read up on film.
Now that I have ingrained enough that this is to be a film event, we can go on.
We are starting to line up some sponsors nicely, and the prizes are going to start rolling in, and props to Ryan at BlackRapid to being the first up to bat and have the first box of prizes sitting here next to me on the book shelf.
We are hoping to have the event up and running for June this year, I was originally aiming for May, but work has been keeping me from working on this as much as I like. But I am hoping to get this really rolling here shortly.
I have a crew of 6 assembled (including myself), so we should be able to get ourselves organized here in short order. Now we just have to line up the tasks each of us are to do, and we'll be laughing.
I am attempting to be able to offer both 35mm format and 120 format, but don't quote me at this point on the 120, we're still trying to get a film sponsor. If we do run both formats, I really want both to be running the same type of film.
For those of you that do not know, this event we are working on is closely based off of what Morten & Angie (and crew) have created with the Vancouver 12x12, that I was apart of for the Sept 12, 2010; which was their second year running.
And let me tell you, their event was not for the faint of heart, it is a grueling 12 hours; my body was sore, I was hungry, dehydrated, soaked to the bones from the rain, my mind turned to mush at about hour 9... and yet, it was really rewarding. Will I do that again if the chance arrises... HECK YES.
And I think you should be part of this event, and theirs if you think you are up to it. Even if you do not think you are up to it, but you want to challenge yourself and your photography... Lord knows I am going to try to be apart of their event again. I just might pack some protein bars in my bag this time, and a camel back hydration system.
For now, I am going to go to bed, and I am going to get back to work on this tomorrow.
So until I post again, good shooting, and keep that film flowing.
Here is the short and sweet version of this event:
12 Hours
12 Themes (pulled at random)
A SINGLE roll of 12, to complete them all with. Yes folks, that is right, this is a film challenge!
You with the D3000, yes you, the one that has never shot a roll of film in your life... WALK AWAY, and go to the nearest camera store and walk to the back of the store, and look at the back wall, buy something that reminds you of your grandfather. Make sure they dust off the camera for you nicely before selling it to you.
If you want to participate in this event, you need a film camera! You need to know how to use it, liiiiiiike... how to load the camera with the film for starters, maybe even know how to set the ISO on it for the film we will be using.
We're not going to tell you what kind of film camera to use at this event, just a film camera that work. It could be you're old P&S from when you were a kid, to a Holga/Lomo style camera; and all the way up to a EOS 1Rs... but the big key here, is that the camera has to take film!
You are going to hear me say that a lot over the next while, FILM FILM FILM... FILM! I just want to be fully clear what kind of event we are running here.
And just in case you have no idea what film is, please read this page on Wiki and read up on film.
Now that I have ingrained enough that this is to be a film event, we can go on.
We are starting to line up some sponsors nicely, and the prizes are going to start rolling in, and props to Ryan at BlackRapid to being the first up to bat and have the first box of prizes sitting here next to me on the book shelf.
We are hoping to have the event up and running for June this year, I was originally aiming for May, but work has been keeping me from working on this as much as I like. But I am hoping to get this really rolling here shortly.
I have a crew of 6 assembled (including myself), so we should be able to get ourselves organized here in short order. Now we just have to line up the tasks each of us are to do, and we'll be laughing.
I am attempting to be able to offer both 35mm format and 120 format, but don't quote me at this point on the 120, we're still trying to get a film sponsor. If we do run both formats, I really want both to be running the same type of film.
For those of you that do not know, this event we are working on is closely based off of what Morten & Angie (and crew) have created with the Vancouver 12x12, that I was apart of for the Sept 12, 2010; which was their second year running.
And let me tell you, their event was not for the faint of heart, it is a grueling 12 hours; my body was sore, I was hungry, dehydrated, soaked to the bones from the rain, my mind turned to mush at about hour 9... and yet, it was really rewarding. Will I do that again if the chance arrises... HECK YES.
And I think you should be part of this event, and theirs if you think you are up to it. Even if you do not think you are up to it, but you want to challenge yourself and your photography... Lord knows I am going to try to be apart of their event again. I just might pack some protein bars in my bag this time, and a camel back hydration system.
For now, I am going to go to bed, and I am going to get back to work on this tomorrow.
So until I post again, good shooting, and keep that film flowing.
Cheers
John R.
Taking life 36 frames at a time
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