Differ-Me

Before I start my rant, please look at my work flow...

I do casual reviewing for Panasonic New Zealand, I shoot all my test pix in BOTH RAW and JPEG. Since every new camera have a unique RAW file, I usually was able to update my FREE Adobe DNG Converter before I receive the new camera.

After I got all the test shots I wanted, I convert all the Panasonic RW2 files to DNG for easy opening with Adobe Camera Raw in my OLD Photoshop CS5. I also open my JPEG files the same way.

I thrashed all the RW2 after they were converted to DNG.

So far so good, as expected the same JPEG and RAW files LOOK identical.



That is what I thought, take a look at some of the files taken with different Panasonic Lumix cameras in RAW and JPEG.





Everything look HUNKY DORY till three weeks ago, when I finished reviewing Panasonic's latest LUMIX GX9.

There was a strange phenomenon I cannot explain, I wrote about it in  LUMIX GX9 RAW & JPEG INTEGRITY.

The phenomenon was discovered by accident because I was forced to open the GX9 RW2 file with my AFFINITY PHOTO, I cannot convert it to DNG like I always do because Adobe has not come out with the update at that time.




I was stunned that the JPEG version of the same file was CROPPED by this much from the RW2 file!

I seek an answer from Panasonic New Zealand and received this reply...

"Have you tried testing the Raw files in Adobe also now it is supported?

The factory have come back saying the difference is because Affinity currently don’t receive our Raw file information so the effects are from their interpretation of the raw file."

So it was Panasonic who put in the instruction for the file to be crop when it is open! And since Adobe has updated their latest DNG Converter, I did another test.


As expected, the JPEG and the DNG files look exactly the same. Adobe DNG Converter carry out the instruction from Panasonic to crop off the 4 sides of the file. As for Affinity Photo, it just open the RW2 file as it was, ignoring the crop instruction!

And since I happen to have the RW2 from my GX85, I did the same test and discovered the "CROP EFFECT" also apply to the GX85 RAW files!


Famous Last Words...

The "CROP EFFECT" is significant to me because...

It took away the four corner of coverage from the lens in use, for instance, if the RW2 image was what the 12mm saw, the JPEG and DNG cropped image CANNOT be what a 12mm lens saw!

This test (for me) opened a Pandora box, from now on I will have to keep my RW2 files in case I need the FULL file coverage without the corner being cropped!

To put it succinctly, I expect my lenses to provide WHAT I SEE is WHAT I GET and NOT LESS COVERAGE.

Have you ever thought about that?

After reviewing Panasonic's Lumix GX9 two weeks ago, it is time I look through the hundreds of image files I shot with this delightful M43 camera, archiving what I need and thrash what I do not.



In the process, I opened a few GX9's RAW (RW2) files with Affinity Photo, my Adobe DNG Converter (10.2) is not able to convert the "new" file yet.

My usual workflow when I review a camera is to shoot BOTH JPEG and RAW files.

The RAW are converted to DNG and open in Adobe Camera Raw, so are the JPEG and both are adjusted in ACR where necessary.

This time round I notice something strange between the JPEG and RAW that I cannot explain and I think it is worth some investigating!




I took a shot of this landscape where half of the top were brightly lit and the bottom half were in deep shadow.  I was going to use these files to test the dynamic range and the integrity of the files after they are adjusted. The top image was from JPEG and the bottom from RAW.


Both images went through Adobe camera Raw where details were reclaimed and colour adjusted. As you can see, the JPEG's colour did not react that well to the heavy adjustments and the road is still with blue bias.

The RAW responded beautifully from the post processing and I got a very accurate rendition of the scene!

But WAIT!

Notice the RAW file is showing MORE of the landscape than the JPEG?

Checking their image size...

JPEG    5,184 x 3,888 pixels    17.28x12.96"
RAW    6,200 x 3,904 pixels    17.333x13.013"

The Image Size clearly show the RAW file have MORE PIXELS than the JPEG!

Why?

Photo and Video Theory claimed "The image size window confirms that there are no difference between a RAW and a JPEG when it comes to their weight in MB."

But my finding showed this is NOT true. The RAW is nearly 2MB MORE than the JPEG!

What about the INTEGRITY of both files? 

Are JPEGs so good now that, fussy photographers do not need to shoot RAW and thus saving LOTS of space?  What if your image have a very wide range of brightness and shadows, like the one I was showing you?

These are the 100% cut from the lower left of both files...


I think the crops above give you a good idea that the RAW image deliver better detail than the JPEG , you want the best? Shoot RAW!




This also go to show how good the 20.3 MP sensor is!!

Not forgetting these were shot with the "cheap" 12-32 kit lens!  Now you know how good it is!

Coming back to the size difference, could it be Infinity Photo doing it right with the RAW file and ACR screwing up the JPEG?

The plot thickens!

Famous Last Words...

I just opened BOTH RAW and JPEG with Infinity Photo and the RAW is still larger than the JPEG.

Look like the fault is with the JPEG Engine in the GX9!

Will get an answer from Panasonic.

1987, the year of living dangerously!

The Aussies started it all with the coverage of Barlow and Chambers drug trafficking case.

I was working for a local Penang paper; young and reckless, shooting for the paper and moonlighting for the Australian agencies! Money was fast and good.... we never see so many photographers and "green bills" in our life!

The high court in Penang was like a media zoo!...

The important thing about covering a high-pressure-high-court case is a electronic flash with very fast recycling time! In 1987, Quantum battery was the "King "! I decided to built one that is FASTER!


What I did was to strip my compact Metz 32CT3 and connect a male video cable plug on the flash (see red circle in the picture of the flash), the internal + and - cables for the battery chamber were then connected to the plug in series.

I then bought some plastic AA battery carriers from Tai Huat Hardware and Aradite-cement them together to take 6 AA batteries. Now with another 4 batteries in the flash, I have the "juices" of TEN batteries IN SERIES! This "power pak" was then connected to the flash's "ear" (plug) with a cable. My technician friend tested the output and said I was bloody mad because at the capacitor he measured a whopping 30 amp charge!

He reckoned if I use the flash in the rain, it will electrocute me!

So KIDS, Don't do it at home! You can get FRIED and I am not talking about Kentucky :)

Young rooky Goh Chai Hin, then a snapper for Reuters was covering all the drug cases, being ex-Star and my ex-protege; he was allowed to use our processing and transmission facilities in our photo dept.

I remembered Goh was laughing at my "home brewed" power pak and he challenged mine against his Rm 300.00 Quantum... well, guess who has the last laugh? At f8, ASA400; auto coverage from 7ft-15ft range, my Metz "rabbit-ear" flash zapped 24 blazing shots none-stop before the ready light went off. The Quantum? FOUR shots if you are lucky! Ha ha ha..

Before all you young photogs run off to do what I did, DON'T! Tell you why another time :-)

Back to the story:

Frank Foerster, a West German charged for suspecting drug trafficking and who has been in jail for three years waiting for trail was taken to Penang High Court early 87.

First day of the trail, the court was swamped by Leicas trotting Germans....

On his way to the "Black Maria", Frank was taken out of the court room by 4 or 5 police and half a dozen of truncheons waving riot police.

For some unknown reason the police and FRU (Field Reserved Units) of Malaysia tried to hide his face from the media!! This was unprecedented! Never happened before!

The media went top gear, there were mad push, pushing, cursing and all kind of "ugliness" came alive when all of us try to get a scoop shot!

The media circus chased the police team down the stairs and a couple of the photographers fell down the stairs!

I took a "grab" shot with my Leica M3 and 28mm lens which was loaded with Ektachrome transparencies of Goh Chai Hin being man handled by a FRU personnel. He was actually holding on to Goh's camera wrist while the other police officers concealed Frank's face with their police caps!

Immediately after I took that DECISIVE shot, I was whacked by a police truncheon and fell in pain on to a ABC cine light man, his flood lamp shattered all over the court floor.

When we all got our composure back and continued our mad chase, Frank was taken away in the "Black Maria" van.... young Goh was cursing the police in all kind of words we normally will not use to our enemy :-) while I desperately trying to stop a young FRU from hitting him!!

Back at The Star and after listening to our account, our Editors decided to run my picture to protest against how the media were treated!

Alas The Star newspaper had the GUTS to run my picture the next day, seven column right across the front page! We were so proud of the paper!!

The next morning at the high court all the FRU men were lined up in front of us and a stern warning were given by their captain on the way they treated the media. Bravo.... sad to say, I don't think the present Star will DARE to run such a picture again! The Star today has lost it's GUTS and journalistic vision of yesteryear! What say ye, Star Editors?

RIP.... Pre 1988 Star, we were all proud to work and slog for yer!!

(Frank Foerster was found not guilty and was released, Australians; Barlow and Chamber were hung in Malaysia).

Niall, a professional photographer living in Belfast Northern Ireland reckoned:

"Wonderful story Leow, court cases are always drama filled, but when the police and the media tangle, its never pretty :-)). My photography mentor Brendan Murphy is about to retire from service after 30 years in the business, I'll miss his advice and his dry whit. keep up the great stories and pics."

Hermo commented:

"The drama was well framed and the story accompanying it compliments the photo and helps the viewer become one with the story. I don't know if I would have the guts to clash with police to take photos, but I guess it gives one a hell of an adrenaline rush!"

Famous Last Words:

A few months after my flash modification, I was using it to cover a function at a Baling rubber estate where Dr M was attending. Before he arrive, I test fired the flash and it BLEW up with a explosive BANG! I nearly dropped my camera! It was the capacitor being ruptured! I dare not imagine the consequences if the flash did this while pointed at Dr M!

I had a new capacitor replaced and few weeks later, the flash tube then busted! It was also replaced... call it nostalgia or whatever, this little "banger" sure serve me well! And I still got the little bugger :)

Now you know why YOU SHOULD NOT do it at home!

Happy Shooting!

During the weekend I was browsing and looking at photos that are classified as "Street Photography" and was stunned how popular this type of documentary photography is!

So what is street photography?

According to Wikipedia:"Street photography is a type of documentary photography that features subjects in candid situations within public places such as streets, parks, beaches, malls, political conventions, and other settings."

It go on to say about this type of photography...

"Street photography uses the techniques of straight photography in that it shows a pure vision of something, like holding up a mirror to society. Street photography often tends to be ironic and can be distanced from its subject matter, and often concentrates on a single human moment, caught at a decisive or poignant moment."

Straight photography? A quick click of my mouse told me that...

"Straight photography or Pure photography refers to photography that attempts to depict a scene as realistically and objectively as permitted by the medium, renouncing the use of manipulation.

Founded in 1932, Group f/64 who championed purist photography, had this to say:

Pure photography is defined as possessing no qualities of technique, composition or idea, derivative of any other art form."

Hmmm... that prompt me to look at my archived images to see which of my shots can go under this decisive, candid; category :)

I was walking pass a construction site in Penang, Malaysia. Saw this guy peeping into the construction site, oblivious to the "DANGER" sign on top of his head!

I took six shots while moving slowly closer to him to get a tighter crop, he was so absorbed by what ever he saw he did not hear my motor-drive! What was he looking at?

Nikon F2 with 105mm f2.5 lens Kodak Tri-X film.












































Famous Last Words:

My friend say how about some tips in street photography, I say go and Google "street photography tips" and you will get 700,000 pages of tips on this subject!

The top hit was from digital-photography-school.com on 20 quick tips.

I find most of the tips are more to do with your common sense, readers are most likely wanted to know what is the best cameras for this type of photography. After all, I used more than 7 different types of cameras for those shots!

First please let me explain I was not going to look specifically for street shots when I captured those images. I used what ever cameras I had at that moment, I suppose being able to operate the camera fast; helps :)

Jokes aside, the best cameras for street photography have to be:

1) Small  (at the moment, I prefer a M43 camera like the Lumix GX85)
2) Quiet   (as above, no, I do not work for Panasonic!)
3) Black   ( less people will spot your black camera!)
4) Digital with FAST auto focus  (Lumix GX85, Sony, Olympus, your choice)

It is definitely an advantage if your digital camera come with tilt-able rear screen.

For nonchalant candid shots, my OM-D with the raised rear LCD was usually hung from my neck or sitting on my lap, there was time it is just sitting on a table for all the candid shots of the “water melon lady”.



Beyond photo tips has a good write up. Go read.

Don't let any one trying to tell you a Leica-M is best for street shoot, I know Cartier Bresson, father of decisive moment used them but that does not mean you can get great shots with them.

The Range Finder Forum have some interesting ideas though. Worth a read!

For me, I am looking forward to the further development of the EVIL camera from Nikon and Canon!

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