Categories
iPhone 5s Photography Photoshop CC

That Frosty Window at Bistro 315 in Santa Fe

Bistro 315 - Santa Fe - 2014

Santa Fe has several really special restaurants. For our first dinner, we went to a great spot close by – Bistro 315.

Above our table was this window with the wine bottles all lined up. In fact, all of the windows had wine bottles lined up!

I shot this with my iPhone 5s and added a bit of texture in Photoshop CC using the oil paint filter. The texture on the window almost looks like frost – but it wasn’t frosty in Santa Fe!

I love how the label on one of the bottles is peeling off – adding visual interest.

We had the D’alfonso-Curran 2008 Chardonnay with dinner – a pretty amazing wine!

Categories
Fujifilm X-T1 Photography Photography - Fujifilm X-T1

Red Peppers in Santa Fe

Peppers - Santa Fe - 2014

A popular decoration in Santa Fe are these dried red peppers – hanging in doorways and windows – and on gates.

I found them fascinating as subjects – especially as the lighting shifted from early morning through the afternoon and into evening.

This is a late afternoon example shot at The Inn of the Five Graces with my Fujifilm X-T1.

Categories
Abstract Fujifilm X-T1 Photography Photography - Fujifilm X-T1

That Fabric in Santa Fe

Iridescent - Santa Fe - 2014

We recently spent a few days in Santa Fe – with my Fujifilm X-T1 and iPhone 5s.

This is one of my favorite shots from the weekend – shot inside the main building at Jackalope with the Fujifilm X-T1. I titled it “Iridescent” – that’s what the vibrant colors brought to mind.

Jackalope reminds me of the old Cost Plus Imports in San Francisco – imports from all over the world, lots of doo dads and trinkets – and some beautiful fabric and pottery. A place to step out of whatever your normal is.

If you go to Santa Fe, be sure to visit Jackalope!

Categories
Abstract Fujifilm X-T1 Lightroom Nik Software Photography Photography - Fujifilm X-T1

Candles in the Light

Candles - Santa Fe - 2014

While visiting an import store in Santa Fe, I came across these candles from Indonesia. There was beautiful indirect light coming through the room providing some beautiful contrasts across the shapes of the candles.

Image taken with my Fujifilm X-T1 and post-processed using Lightroom 5, Photoshop CC, ALCE, and Nik Color Efex Pro 4.

Categories
iPhone 5s Photography

Table Flowers

Table Flowers - Santa Fe - 2014

Here’s an iPhone 5s image shot at a restaurant where the small flowers and the light just captured my eye.

I’ve applied some oil paint effect in Photoshop CC and used the sponge tool to remove color in the area around the flowers – preferring just the monochrome tonality in those areas.

Categories
Fujifilm X-T1 Living Photography Photography - Fujifilm X-T1

Memories of My Early Days at IBM

IBM System 360 Model 30 - Computer History Museum - 2014

Yesterday we taught a Bitcoin payments workshop at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View. It was fun talking about the future of payments and virtual currencies in such a setting – with rooms full of vintage hardware on the floor below! It also reminded me that we need to be thinking about creating a “Payments History Museum” someplace on the planet!

The new Revolution exhibit at the Computer History Museum is stunning – beautifully laid out and thematically organized. One of the areas is devoted to “Mainframes” – and, as I came into that area, this IBM System/360 Model 30 was on display.

I have many fond memories of the Model 30 – I probably logged more hands-on datacenter time on the Model 30 than any other mainframe. While it was primarily a DOS machine, I’d also put together a trimmed down version of OS/360 which I could also run in the limited memory of the Model 30.

Seeing this “beauty” brought back lots of memories!…

Both of these images were quickly grabbed with a Fujifilm X-T1.

Think - Computer History Museum - 2014

Categories
Black and White Fujifilm X-T1 Menlo Park Monochrome Photography Photography Photography - Black & White Photography - Fujifilm X-T1

A Rainy Afternoon at Sharon Park

Sharon Park - Menlo Park - 2014

A late Tuesday afternoon, after a bit of rain – along the shore of Sharon Park.

Image shot with Fujifilm X-T1 and stylized in Photoshop CC.

Categories
Black and White Fujifilm X-T1 Monochrome Photography Photography Photography - Black & White Photography - Fujifilm X-T1

New Tool: Fujifilm X-T1

Fujifilm X-T1

Cameras are just tools in the photographer’s trade – capturing moments of time and light onto a sensor. Frankly, there’s not that much of a noticeable difference in the results from cameras across a range of cost. It’s much more about the moment, the composition, and the light – than it is about the camera.

But, how the camera enhances the experience for the photographer does matter. Some cameras are a struggle to use – lots of menus, etc. Others are a delight and make things simple – easing the photographer’s workload rather than increasing it.

The Fujifilm X-T1 is one of the latest cameras that eases the experience for the photographer. Compared to a traditional DSLR, it’s delightfully small – with front and back grips that make it a perfect fit in the hand. The image quality of the Fujifilm X-Trans II sensor is superb – as is Fuji’s in camera JPEG processing and film emulation.

I’m looking forward to exploring a new world of photography with the X-T1 – and sharing my results. So far, just a few images in, it’s just superb.

Categories
Black and White iPhone 5s Lightroom Monochrome Photography Photography Photography - Black & White San Francisco/California Street Photography VSCO Film

That Tricycle at San Francisco’s Ferry Building

That Ride - San Francisco - 2014

Here’s a quick grab shot I took with my iPhone 5s while joining Doug Kaye for our photo walk in San Francisco.

Processed using Lightroom 5 and VSCO Film 04.

Categories
Black and White Fujifilm X-E2 Lightroom Monochrome Photography Nik Software Photography Photography - Black & White Photography - Fujifilm X-E2 San Francisco/California Street Photography

Going Ear to Ear along San Francisco’s Market Street

Ear to Ear - San Francisco - 2014

Part of the joy of street photography for me is how unpredictable it can be. You turn, see a good opportunity for a shot and try to capture it – in the decisive moment as they say.

Here’s an example – the shot I composed was waiting for the distant fellow talking on his iPhone to get into a certain spot against that wall – acting as a stage. I was shooting with a telephoto from the curb of Market Street. As I’m waiting, this guy closer up walks right in front of me just as I’m snapping the image.

At first look, I thought the image was a throw away – he’d ruined my shot. Instead, considering it later, I actually like the image – they’re going in opposite directions, the closeup guy provides some sense of depth to the image, etc.

I processed it in a high key style using Lightroom 5 and Nik Silver Efex Pro 2. Shot with my Fujifilm X-E2.