High ISO Today. A Reality Check.

NIKON D2H (24mm, f/8, 1/1500 sec, ISO6400)

It seems that today everybody is obsessed with high ISO. If you look at the forums you got the impression that no images are taken below 3200 ASA. But is it real? Did we all return into the caves we came from “some years” ago? Or have we become vampires and leave our houses or travel only when it’s dark outside? I think it’s time for a reality check. Continue reading

Young But Beautiful!

FinePix X100 (23mm, f/2.8, 1/60 sec, ISO2500)

Yesterday I visited the Votiv Kirche in Vienna for the very first time! That’s very strange because:

  1. it is my favorite church in Vienna ( because it looks absolutely beautiful )
  2. I lived very close for more than 10 years
  3. my dentist is located right behind it

I don’t no why I never went inside. When I visited my dentist last time I wanted to go inside but it was closed. This time I had more luck. Continue reading

Early Walk On A Cold Morning. Riga, Latvia, March 2012

FinePix X100 (23mm, f/8, 1/40 sec, ISO200)

This March I went to Riga on a short business trip. Since it was my first time there I googled for images and found lot’s of wonderful images of the town center so of course I brought my Fuji X100. Before landing I saw frozen rivers and lakes. It was mid of March and spring has been arrived already in Austria but obviously not in Latvia. I had “survived” a massive cold front from Siberia when I was in Moscow a couple of weeks before so I got reckless and left my warm winter jacket and my gloves at home..

Thank God I had a winter coat and also was smart enough to bring a hat. Continue reading

The Art Of Traveling Light ( part II / Great Modern Times )

FinePix X100 (23mm, f/2, 1/60 sec, ISO800)

As photo enthusiasts we are living in wonderful times. Just think about what camera you were using 10 years ago. Maybe you were already shooting digital. Maybe you were an early adopter and already using a DSLR. I did. A Nikon D1. A pro camera with a 2,7MP APS-C sensor with an max ISO-setting ISO 1600 but I really did not like to go there. I preferred to stay at ISO 200. The screen on the back was small. There was no loupe or histogram so it was rather there to check whether an image was recorded or not.

Why I’m telling you that? Continue reading

The Art Of Traveling Light ( part I / Pre CLC Times )

DMC-FX100 (7.4mm, f/3.1, 1/320 sec, ISO80)
DMC-FX100 (6mm, f/2.8, 1/320 sec, ISO80)
As promised here are my experiences of my last vacation. The first one where I did not bring a DSLR and a punch of lenses. How was it? How does it feel when you encounter the perfect location in perfect light and your best gear sits at home?

Most enthusiastic photographers are gear heads. Continue reading