Topic: Back after a long hiatus (Read 14313 times)

Jonathan Wienke · « **on:** January 08, 2015, 03:19:36 pm »

I dropped out of the photography scene several years ago while in the US Army, due to a variety of reasons.

Anyway, after several moves and career changes, I've decided to dig my gear out of storage (a 1Ds and 1D-II), blow the dust off the lenses, and start shooting again. The old NP-E3 batteries (and most of my NiMH AA batteries) seem to be completely dead beyond recovery, and the i1 needs recalibration, but most everything else seems to have survived storage fairly well.

So now I'm trying to get caught up with 7 years' advancement in technology, and reformulate some kind of creative vision after having done pretty much zero shooting for 7 years. Preferably something that hasn't already been done to death.

I've been poking around a bit, and see a few familiar faces and a lot of new ones. I'm hoping to find a bit of inspiration as I try to get my feet wet again.

Kevin Raber · « **Reply #1 on:** January 08, 2015, 03:25:30 pm »

Welcome back. I have two sons, and daughter in law in the military. Thank you for your service I know the sacrifices you must have made. Hope you get right back into the groove and become part of the forum again. We are close to launching the NEW LuLa and hope you like the changes and find even more good information.

Kevin Raber

OnyimBob · « **Reply #2 on:** January 08, 2015, 05:09:11 pm »

Is it really 7 years Jonathan?
I thought of you and a couple of others from those early days a month or so ago and now you're back!
Welcome!
Bob.

Eric Myrvaagnes · « **Reply #3 on:** January 08, 2015, 05:13:51 pm »

Welcome back, Jonathan! I am one of the many who has missed you often over the past seven years. When reading many threads, I often remark to myself that Jonathan would quickly set these guys straight!

And let me add my thanks to you for your military career. And I hope your health issues are a thing of the distant past.

-Eric M.

Slobodan Blagojevic · « **Reply #4 on:** January 08, 2015, 05:17:42 pm »

Welcome back! Though I can't believe it's been seven years.

Hening Bettermann · « **Reply #5 on:** January 08, 2015, 05:18:14 pm »

Welcome back, Jonathan!

Ken Bennett · « **Reply #6 on:** January 08, 2015, 07:47:53 pm »

Welcome back. I, too, am shocked that it has been that long

Happy shooting.

Colorado David · « **Reply #7 on:** January 08, 2015, 09:14:27 pm »

Welcome back. I had wondered what had become of you. Glad to see you back.

Jonathan Wienke · « **Reply #8 on:** January 08, 2015, 10:13:16 pm »

Thank you all. It seems like a lifetime ago. My health issues are not completely resolved; I doubt I'll run marathons or the like, but I'm leading a fairly normal life. I'll probably mostly lurk for a while, as I'm not caught up on the changes in technology over the last 7 years. But some things are the same regardless.

francois · « **Reply #9 on:** January 09, 2015, 04:32:02 am »

Welcome back, Jonathan!

Bart_van_der_Wolf · « **Reply #10 on:** January 09, 2015, 05:30:08 am »

Hi Jonathan, it's good to have you back.

Cheers,
Bart

RSL · « **Reply #11 on:** January 09, 2015, 09:39:42 am »

Welcome back, Jonathan. But it hasn't been seven years. I'll have been on LuLa for six years next month and I remember commenting on some of your stuff.

Ray · « **Reply #12 on:** January 09, 2015, 12:13:19 pm »

Welcome back, Jonathan. I often wondered what had happened to you. Your 1Ds will seem so dated now. A 36 megapixel Nikon D810 should help get you going again, with an amazing 3.74 stops better DR than the 1Ds, and over 2 stops better SNR at 18% grey, at base ISO. Wow!

Jonathan Wienke · « **Reply #13 on:** January 09, 2015, 01:03:32 pm »

Quote from: RSL on January 09, 2015, 09:39:42 am

Welcome back, Jonathan. But it hasn't been seven years. I'll have been on LuLa for six years next month and I remember commenting on some of your stuff.

Yes and no. I was on briefly Dec 2009-Jan 2010, but prior to that the last time I was on regularly was mid 2008.

Jonathan Wienke · « **Reply #14 on:** January 09, 2015, 01:06:39 pm »

Quote from: Ray on January 09, 2015, 12:13:19 pm

A 36 megapixel Nikon D810 should help get you going again, with an amazing 3.74 stops better DR than the 1Ds, and over 2 stops better SNR at 18% grey, at base ISO. Wow!

Given that I'm not doing this professionally, I'll just have to suffer along with what I have. Switching systems and re-buying glass would be cost-prohibitive.

Ray · « **Reply #15 on:** January 09, 2015, 09:44:15 pm »

Quote from: Jonathan Wienke on January 09, 2015, 01:06:39 pm

Given that I'm not doing this professionally, I'll just have to suffer along with what I have. Switching systems and re-buying glass would be cost-prohibitive.

I guess if you're going to specialize in abstract photography, Jonathan, then a 1Ds will be quite sufficient.

Jonathan Wienke · « **Reply #16 on:** January 09, 2015, 11:44:35 pm »

Maybe I will just do abstract butt selfies. With a deluxe carbon fiber geared head gyro stabilized Belfie Stick.

HSakols · « **Reply #17 on:** January 10, 2015, 10:45:20 am »

Hi again,
Jonathan you always had a solid technical background. I was surprised when you took off to the military - our military was lucky to have you. Welcome back. One of my goals this year is to come up with a central valley portfolio.

Hugh
El Portal, Yosemite

Jeremy Roussak · « **Reply #18 on:** January 10, 2015, 11:59:46 am »

Quote from: Jonathan Wienke on January 08, 2015, 10:13:16 pm

I'll probably mostly lurk for a while, as I'm not caught up on the changes in technology over the last 7 years. But some things are the same regardless.

Welcome back. You've a lot of reading to do! I think you'll find it exciting.

Jeremy

Rhossydd · « **Reply #19 on:** January 10, 2015, 12:28:43 pm »

Welcome back

Quote from: Jonathan Wienke on January 08, 2015, 03:19:36 pm

So now I'm trying to get caught up with 7 years' advancement in technology,

Actually not a lot has really changed. The curve of improvements had already started to level off by 2007. People still obsess about numbers and start fights about which kit is best, but there's not a huge amount to get excited about if you have a sense of history.
There are still people who regard the original 1Ds as a 'classic' and have an affection for it's characteristics despite is unfashionably low mp count now. I still go back to my 1Dii files and find them excellent.

For me the highlights of the last 7 years are roughly;

Lightroom has raised the bar for RAW conversion significantly. Go back and run your old raws through it and you may be pleasantly surprised how much more you can get out of them.
Self cleaning DSLR sensors. This really is the one great thing that has arrived for most digital cameras.
Really capable compacts like the Sony RX100 arrived a few years back.

Author Topic: Back after a long hiatus (Read 14313 times)