Gee...it's hard to believe it's February already...the new year is really flying by quickly...
I was planning to post an update on my photographic projects at the end of last month (I really was planning to...really...) but it seems time goes by quicker when your older (or I'm just not as efficient with my time as I used to be) and I missed my deadline. So before the entire year passes me by, here's an update on what I've been doing photographically since the beginning of the year.
One of the projects I set for myself was to create Christmas bokeh images for our 2014 Christmas cards...we usually don't send out Christmas cards each year, probably since we don't have any kids...but I thought it would be something different to do and a way to make my photography useful. Although I haven't created any images as yet, I did purchase a bunch of Christmas lights during the after Christmas sales and I came up with a kind of neat way to to hang them up as a backdrop for the bokeh images.
One of our cheapo floor lamps broke last month, but instead of throwing it away I decided to keep the parts...just in case...and found that the center rod of the lamp fits nicely into the holes on my plastic umbrella swivel brackets. With the umbrella swivel brackets mounted on some light stands I now have a make-shift backdrop support for the Christmas lights. Being frugal makes you creative...haha...anyway, this is what I've done so far with the Christmas card image project. I still have the rest of the year to actually create the images, so I'm not panicking...yet...procrastinators of the world, unite! Ha!
I also haven't printed anything yet, but that was contingent on me actually creating an image worth printing...and I'm still working on that. Plus it helps to actually be out there shooting so that I do have images to choose from...but thanks to a few colds and the flu I've missed a few weekends with dA Crazies. But this gave me time to start the thought process behind the creation of good images. Apparently a lot of thought actually goes into a good image and they rarely (if ever) happen by chance. So I've been trying to get used to the idea of thinking and planning my shots with the goal of creating a good image to print. One observation: Thinking hard about something is very tiring.
I also haven't begun to sell any of my images yet...but I did create an account on Fine Arts America, so that's a start. Still need to look into what is needed when selling photos...need to talk to our accountant about that one of these days. I know there are lots of articles on-line on how to sell your photos and such, so there is help and information out there...just need to make time to read and learn.
But I'm happy to say that I am currently doing a photography project, which was one of my resolutions, and I'm actually enjoying this one...it's the One Subject project where you take one subject and create 36 different images with it. I don't know if I was supposed to do them all in a day or a week, but I know that would be impossible for me so I haven't given myself a time limit (except to complete it by the end of the year). The subject I've chosen is my Silent Bob action figure and I've been shooting him whenever I come up with an idea for an image (which has been kinda fun and rewarding).
So that's what I've been up to photographically...nothing earth shattering, but at least I'm actually shooting more than once a week now (which is quite an accomplishment for me). And I do have to admit that photography projects are a good way to keep yourself motivated and it makes you think about ways to create interesting images. I think that's a good thing...spray-and-pray isn't a very good method to use when you're trying to create good images.
I've been using my Manfrotto 190XPROB tripod and 488RC2 ball head for the past 5 years now and the combination has served me well, especially since I started shooting the sunrise on Saturdays with dA Crazies 2 years ago. But the weight of this combo has always bothered me a bit, especially after I handled the carbon fiber tripods that some of dA Crazies use. A few years ago a couple of my photography friends bought Feisol carbon fiber legs and Photo Clam ball heads (a very popular combination at the time) and it was then that I decided I wanted to upgrade to a carbon fiber tripod too (gear envy is nasty business).
Last year I started to do some research to see what was available, how good each brand was and how much everything would eventually cost. Since a few of my friends were already using Feisol tripod legs I decided to look at those first. Then I started to look at other brands like Induro, Benro, Photo Clam, Giottos and Slik. The carbon fiber Manfrotto tripod legs were another option I considered. I ran across the Sirui brand name somewhere on the web and I added it to my list. After doing more research I narrowed the list down to 3 brands: Feisol, Photo Clam and Sirui.
I eventually decided on the Sirui T-2205X carbon fiber legs and the Sirui G-2oKX ball head. The main reasons I choose Sirui is because the aluminum parts are forged, not cast and Sirui manufactures their own carbon fiber tubes...I figured that meant they had complete quality control over the manufacturing of the tubes...and finally their prices were the most cost effective of the 3 brands.
I placed my order with B&H for the new tripod and ball head and eagerly awaited their arrival (which didn't come soon enough...haha...). Once they arrived I quickly opened the box and started to check everything out. I didn't take any un-boxing shots (was too excited for that) but I did manage to take a comparison shot of the Sirui and the Manfrotto the next day. Silent Bob wanted to be in the picture, so I posed him between the 2 tripods.
So, what are my impressions of the Sirui tripod legs and head? First off, they do seem to be very well made...the anodized aluminum parts have a nice matte finish that won't show fingerprints, the carbon fiber tubes are nice and smooth and the fiber pattern is sort of a slow spiral and not the great looking interlocking weave like the RRS or Feisol legs...sigh...can't have everything. But the leg locks and the center column lock all work smoothly and require just half a turn from lock to release. The pivot joints on the legs are nice and tight (no slop or wiggle) and this model even has retractable spikes on the tips.
Although this tripod uses 5 leg sections it seems to be very rigid even with the legs fully extended...it seemed even more solid than my Manfrotto which has only 3 leg sections (it has a kind of wiggly/springy feel to it when the legs are fully extended). Of course that could be due to the age of the Manfrotto...or maybe because the Manfrotto has aluminum legs instead of carbon fiber. One nice thing...with the legs fully extended (but not the center columns) the Sirui is the same height as the Manfrotto. But setting up the Manfrotto is much faster than the Sirui...turning 5 collar locks for each leg on the Sirui takes a long time...gonna have to get used to that.
I took a quick shot of the Manfrotto and Sirui tripods next to each other with the legs fully extended for comparison. Sorry for the mess...didn't want to move everything out of the way just for this picture. Silent Bob (standing on a Manfrotto 190XDB that I just overhauled for a friend), Sasha and Pepper all wanted to get into the picture too.
The Sirui G-20KX ball head is noticeably smaller than the Manfrotto 488RC2, but the Sirui ball itself seems to be slightly larger. The Sirui uses 3 different knobs on the head where the Manfrotto only has 2. The Sirui has 1 knob for locking control, 1 for panning control and 1 for friction control. I always wondered what the friction control knob was for and now I know...it puts a controlled amount of friction on the ball so that the ball doesn't flop around when you have your camera mounted on it, but it doesn't lock the ball down...you use the locking control knob to lock things tight. Gotta get used to using 3 knobs instead of 2.
Another thing I'll have to get used to is the Arca Swiss style plate and clamping system...this is nothing like the Manfrotto system and I can't seem to get the plate lined up to the clamp very quickly...going to have to develop a feel for this system...it certainly isn't quick at this point. But once the plate is clamped in, it feels nice and secure...a big plus is the safety catch the Sirui clamp has built into it. This will stop the plate from sliding all the way out of the clamp if you aren't paying attention.
And what about the difference in weight between the Sirui and Manfrotto? Here are the weights that are listed on each manufacturer's web site, the Sirui T-2205X (2.6 pounds) and G-20KX (0.7 pounds) combo weighs in at 3.3 pounds while the Manfrotto 190XPROB (3.9 pounds) and 488RC2 (1.5 pounds) combo weighs in at 5.4 pounds. More than 2 pounds difference. At first I couldn't feel much of a difference between the 2 tripods, but the more I play with the Sirui the more obvious the difference is. But the real test will be when I'm out there lugging the gear to the shooting location each week. I'll probably be glad I'm not lugging that extra 2.1 pounds around each week.
I haven't taken the Sirui to the beach for any sunrise shots yet, but I did manage to try it out while shooting Silent Bob among some air plants one rainy morning. The tripod did what it was supposed to do and felt solid while doing it.
I still need to get used to the ball head controls and the mounting system, but so far I'm liking the Sirui tripod very much...but then, it is a new toy so I'll probably be excited about it for a while...haha...
