August 2021 - August 2021 on Island in the Net by Khürt Williams - Technology and Photography Musings. Established circa 2000.

When the skies are cloudy all day

This week started on a positive note but ended in the gloom.

Monday 23 August 2021

On Friday, I called the Fujifilm repair facility in Edison to inquire about the status of my damaged X-T2. The person who answered the phone told me that it would cost nearly $600 to repair. I was disappointed, very disappointed. I ask for my broken companion to be returned to me.

When Bhavna woke up, I told her about the cost, and she agreed that she didn't think it was worth it to repair. I had bought the X-T2 used for $1000. I told her it made more sense to buy another used one. She agreed.

I looked on KEH and MPB and Lensrentals. Initially, I focused on buying an X-T2, but I mainly found silver body choices, and I prefer the black body. KEH and MPB sell used X-T2 bodies for $630 to $790 depending on the condition (Excellent to Like New). I noticed that MPB and KEH had more used black body X-T3 models for sale for $900-$1029 for bodies in Excellent to Like New condition. A new X-T3 sells for $1200. I discussed with Bhavna, and she suggested that since we did not vacation in 2019 and 2020, perhaps it was ok to spend that money and get something "new".

My "Like New" Fujifilm X-T3 arrives this Wednesday. Yay!

Henri has brought some heavy rainfall to New Jersey this past weekend and even today. But hopefully, the sun will come out this week, and I can practice some Komorebi for the Lens-Artists Challenge #162 – It's All About the Light.

Wednesday 25 August 2021

Last week I bought a pre-owned "Like New" Fuji X-T3 from MPB. I had expected delivery today, but it arrived one day earlier on Tuesday. It was a pleasant surprise and lifted my spirits. During my last meeting of the day, I programmed the settings on the cameras using my memory of what was set on my Fuji X-T2. The Fuji repair site in Edison has still not returned my broken companion.

This morning as I inspected the unit more closely, I realised that though used, it is in excellent shape with no scratches or dings. I want it to stay that way. After some thought, I bought a pre-owned Fujifilm BLC-XT3 Bottom Leather Case from Adorama for $34. The Fujifilm BLC-XT3 is a genuine leather bottom case designed for X-T3, that according to Fujifilm's description, has premium textures and normally retails for $77. My web searches found other attractive (and handmade) options, but they all cost two to three times more. I cannot justify spending that much money.

I also realise that I want a new L-bracket (base plate and L-plate). I have a Really Right Stuff (RRS) BXT2B-L for the Fuji X-T2. It sort of fits and would work in a pinch but doesn't fit snugly in the right places. The Fuji X-T3 is a slightly longer and broader camera by an mm or so. But the RRS BXT3-L plates for Fuji X-T3 seems so expensive. I'm on a hunt for a used one. The best price I have found so far is one in "EX" condition on KEH. I don't require it right now. I'll hold off and maybe find one cheaper.

Thursday 26 August 2021

First images from the Fuji X-T3.

Allium canadense | Thursday 26 August, 2021 | FujiFilm X-T3 | MD ROKKOR-X 45mm F2 | ¹⁄₃₄₀ sec at f/2.8 | ISO 320

The Kurayoshi Malt Whisky | Thursday 26 August, 2021 | FujiFilm X-T3 | MD ROKKOR-X 50mm F1.7 | ¹⁄₇₅ sec at f/2.8 | ISO 3200

Friday 27 August 2021

Two weeks ago, Bhavna and I had stopped at Magnifico's late at night, and since my broken Fuji was still out for repair, I exposed a few frames of a 35mm roll of Kodak Velvia 100 that I had in my Minolta XD-11. We had driven to Source Brewing to pick up the new release and ended up staying to sit in the back lawn and enjoy a flight before heading home. The sunset was setting as we were leaving.

On the way up through New Brunswick, we stopped for soft-serve ice at Magnifico's, a popular ice creamery we often visited when my nephews lived in South River. Honestly, despite some blurring from low shutter speeds, some of the images from the Minolta are decent. I sent the film off for development and scanning to Boutique Film Lab.

As you may know, in July, Fujifilm has discontinued Velvia 100. The film cannot be sold or developed after September 2021. This is the last roll of Fuji Velvia for me.

August 2021 | Minolta XD-11 | MD ROKKOR-X 50mm F1.7 | FUJICHROME Velvia 100

Source Brewing — August 2021 | Minolta XD-11 | MD ROKKOR-X 50mm F1.7 | FUJICHROME Velvia 100

10811_KW_8108_Velvia-100_108968-R1-E039-960x661.jpg" alt="Magnifico's" width="960" height="661" class="size-medium wp-image-82509" /> August 2021 | Minolta XD-11 | MD ROKKOR-X 50mm F1.7 | FUJICHROME Velvia 100[/caption]

https://islandinthenet.com/ — Magnifico's | August 2021 | Minolta XD-11 | MD ROKKOR-X 50mm F1.7 | FUJICHROME Velvia 100

Kodachrome 64

I've been preparing to sit the CCSP certification exam for several months. Despite knowledge of the material, some people, like myself, don't perform well on multiple-choice tests. We do better on practical tests or tests where you write in your answer. I completed an online CCSP training course a few months ago, and since then, I have been taking practice tests. I completed a practice test every chance I had, especially this week. I feel confident that I will pass the exam on Saturday.

Today after my last practice test, Bhavna, Shaan, and I drove up to New Brunswick for soft-serve ice cream at Magnifico. I wanted to capture some images for the Lens-Artists Challenge #162 – It's All About the Light before the weekend. The images below are the JPEGs created in cameras using Fuji X Weekly's Kodachrome 64 Film Simulation Recipe.

Magnifico's | Friday 27 August, 2021 | FujiFilm X-T3 | XF27mmF2.8 | ¹⁄₄₀ sec at f/7.1 | ISO 640

Saturday 28 August 2021

I was excited about today. Today was supposed to be special in a few ways. I would participate in The Photographers Group one day project, One Summer Day.

The 28th is the last Saturday of blissful August. Our objective for this project is to chronicle the day, to visually record this summer day from dawn to dusk. We will create an online gallery of all the photos and the top photos will be exhibited at the South Harrison Street Outdoor Gallery and compiled into a book.

I had a busy day ahead of me. Blood draws in the morning for my quarterly blood work. Then stop in at Sakrid Coffee Roasters for a cappuccino. Then home for two hours to watch the F1 qualifying race for the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps. Then back out to Princeton University for about an hour to help an international student - child of some doctors from St. Vincent - get his smartphone set up on Verizon. Then back home to relax until my scheduled three-hour exam for my CCSP certification.

I’m interviewing with Amazon Web Services on Monday, and I wanted to mention that I had passed the exam. I had prepared for this certification which I feel will help open doors to more career opportunities. I completed my online training months ago and have been doing practice tests and exams to prepare for the exams. This week I did about eight hours of testing, and I felt confident I would pass the exam. It also meant that I had very little time this week for photography.

But at 2 PM, when I arrived at the testing centre, I found the doors locked, and no one answered the phone. This was the end of my excitement for the day. I checked my email and found this disappointing message.

**PLEASE DO NOT REPLY TO THIS EMAIL **

Client name: (ISC)2
Site name: Pearson Professional Centers-Princeton(Trenton) NJ
Exam name: Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP)
Exam date and time: 28 Aug 2021 2:00 PM
Case ID: 06992499

Dear Khurt L Williams,

\*This is a system generated message.\*

Unfortunately, we are unable to deliver your exam as scheduled on 28 Aug 2021 2:00 PM. We know this is disappointing news, and we sincerely apologize for the inconvenience.

We are working to clear out your existing appointment. In most circumstances, you can select a new appointment for your exam on our website by signing in to your account.

Some event- or window-based exams may not be available for rescheduling on our website. If you are not able to reschedule, your program-specific customer service team is available to assist you. Additionally, if you have any special accommodations, you must call to reschedule your exam.

Please allow one business day before trying to choose a new appointment date through our website.
Thank you for your patience. We look forward to seeing you for your test soon.
Thank you,

Pearson VUE Customer Service

An automated system generated message with no explanation and no contact information?

I am so furious. Livid. Too angry to continue the one summer day project.

I found a new exam date, September 18, but I’m worried about how I’ll maintain my momentum until then. I have strong knowledge of the subject is but sitting exams is challenging for me. I’m also worried that the testing centre will also cancel the new exam date with no explanation.

I feel defeated. I don’t know how to let go of the anger. But I have to find a way before my interview with AWS on Monday. But for now, I want to sit on the couch.

I want to mention that we've had overcast conditions the entire weekend. Any thoughts of Komerebi are dashed. Flat light from the giant softbox that is the sky.

Where's the sun | Saturday 28 August, 2021 | FujiFilm X-T3 | XF27mmF2.8 | ¹⁄₆₀ sec at f/7.1 | ISO 6400

Blood draw | Saturday 28 August, 2021 | FujiFilm X-T3 | XF27mmF2.8 | ¹⁄₄₀ sec at f/7.1 | ISO 800

Sakrid Coffee | Saturday 28 August, 2021 | FujiFilm X-T3 | XF27mmF2.8 | ¹⁄₄₀ sec at f/2.8 | ISO 250

Lupita Bodega | Saturday 28 August, 2021 | FujiFilm X-T3 | XF27mmF2.8 | ¹⁄₈₀ sec at f/2.8 | ISO 160

Sir Alphonso Mango | Saturday 28 August, 2021 | FujiFilm X-T3 | XF27mmF2.8 | ¹⁄₇₀ sec at f/2.8 | ISO 160

Fujichrome Velvia 100 Professional

NOTE: I’ll begin this experience report with a brief disclaimer. It’s been less than three years since I returned to shooting 35mm film after switching to digital photography over 20 years ago. I’ve inundated myself with as much film education as possible between web articles and advice from experienced film shooters. But, since my prior experience with film is decades old, this review is from a rather novice point of view.

Two weeks ago, Bhavna and I had stopped at Magnifico's late at night, and since my broken Fuji was still out for repair, I exposed a few frames of a 35mm roll of Kodak Velvia 100 that I had in my Minolta XD-11. We had driven to Source Brewing to pick up the new release and ended up sitting on the back lawn and enjoying a flight before heading home. The sunset was setting as we were leaving.

On the way up through New Brunswick, we stopped for soft-serve ice at Magnifico's, a popular ice creamery we often visited when my nephews lived in South River. Despite some blurring from low shutter speeds, some of the images from the Minolta are decent. I sent the film for development and scanning to Boutique Film Lab.

As you may know, in July, Fujifilm has discontinued Velvia 100. The film cannot be sold or developed after September 2021. This is the last roll of Fuji Velvia for me.

This little piggy went to market, this little piggy stayed home

I am not a fan of shoes, even when outside. I love the feeling of cool grass or beach sand under my feet. It's so delightful.

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #161 – Feet and Shoes

I am not a fan of shoes, even when outside. I love the feeling of cool grass or beach sand under my feet. It's so delightful.

Remember this?

This little piggy went to market,
This little piggy stayed home,
This little piggy had roast beef,
This little piggy had none,
And this little piggy cried "wee wee wee" all the way home.

My mom would recite that nursery rhyme to me while wiggling my toes. And I did the same to my kids.

I remember the first time we put shoes on Shaan's feet. Shaan cried and tried in vain to get them off; "what are these horrible things covering my beautiful little piggies".

When I first moved to the USA, I was astonished by how many people wore shoes inside the home. I mean, the bottom of the shoe has walked all over "yucky" stuff outside, and you are now transferring all the yucky stuff inside your home. Ew! Feet can be washed. Shoes, not so much.

Growing up in the Caribbean, no one, no one wore shoes inside the house. It was pretty common to go barefoot even when walking down the street to a friends house to play. I, fortunately, married an Asian woman (Bhavna's from India), and like the rest of her family, we have a "shoes at the door" policy. In most Asian and Caribbean cultures it is expected that you take your shoes off when entering someone’s home.

Some Americans seem to think feet are ugly and should be hidden inside shoes. I believe this is because they likely have ugly feet with bunions and hammertoes that they got over the years from paradoxically wearing shoes. Just a year into my daily commute to Wall Street, I started to develop pain in my feet, and the large toe on my right foot developed a slight curve. This was most likely due to wearing dress shoes while briskly walking to the office. Sometimes I would remove my shoes under the desk to get some relief.

Due to my diabetes, Bhavna discourages my outside barefoot walks, and I certainly would not go hiking without proper protective footwear. My favourite pair of shoes are my beach flip-flops. I think they are a decent compromise.

My Fujifilm X-T2 is still out for repair, and the 35mm film camera isn't helpful for "quick turn around" photography, so I skimmed through my profile looking for photographs for the Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #161 – Feet and Shoes. I found a lot more images than I expected.

Wednesday 10 February, 2021 | FujiFilm X-T2 | MD ROKKOR-X 50mm F1.7 | ¹⁄₃₅₀ sec at f/1.7 | ISO 12800

feet, flip-flops — Thursday 4 June, 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR @ 55 mm | 1/1250 sec at f/4.0 | ISO 200

feet — Bhavna | Wednesday 26 August, 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF27mmF2.8 | 1/2500 sec at f/4.0 | ISO 200

footprint — Wednesday 26 August, 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF27mmF2.8 | 1/1000 sec at f/8.0 | ISO 320

Monday 16 August 2021

This is an excerpt from “Old America”, a post from the blog of Evan Tucker at The Times of Israel.

If you’re reading history to know what happens next, you won’t know by knowing history. Whether you know the details, you know the basic outline: progress followed by regress, reforms so long delayed they provoke revolutions, true believers proven wrong, revolutionary idealists causing reactionary movements and mass death, the remains conquered by realists who understand human folly, most of whom, being realists, are indifferent to suffering.

timesofisrael https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/old-america/

Tuesday 17 August 2021

Matt Wright in 35mmc on Picking your Color Negative Film Stock:

My thesis is that if you digitize your negatives, you shoot general purpose film and not specialty film (e.g. Ektar, tinted film, etc), and you shoot it as the manufacturer intended (e.g. without pushing or pulling) the film stock you use isn’t as important as you may think.

My suggestion is that you can simply pick your film stock based on speed, latitude and grain.

Although there are some caveats, many differences between film stocks (including most of what you find online in film stock comparisons such as differences in color and contrast) are largely negligible when applied to real world situations.

Matt has just blown my socks off! I was disappointed with the scans I had received of the same film stock developed at various labs. I bought myself an Epson V600 scanner but struggled to get things just right. I started using Silverfast 9 this week but still struggled to find a workflow that gave consistent results. This morning, I installed Negative Lab Pro for Lightroom, followed Matt's advice, and rescanned some Kodak Pro 100 negatives. I think the results are so much better.

This new workflow will save me money. I will still send my exposed rolls to be developed, but I will no longer pay for scans. I can do the scans at home myself and feel confined that I can get good results.

Based on what I have learned from various online sources and Matt's blog post, I have put together a workflow for colour negatives. The workflow I use for scanning is to scan the 35mm film strips in the holder as 48-bit HDRs with SilverFast 9 set to scan in “positive” mode and save the files as DNG files.

I then import the RAW DNG into Adobe Lightroom. After import, I select all the imported files, and select “File > Plugin-Extras > Update Vuescan/Silverfast DNGs”.

Assuming it all goes well, I use the white balance tool to sample off the film border. I then crop the image to the film border to ensure the film borders are not included in the image evaluation.

Within Adobe Lightroom type CTRL + N or File -> Plug-in Extras -> Negative Lab Pro from the menu, to launch Negative Lab Pro. Set the “Input” to “Vuescan/SF RAW DNG”, set the other pre-conversion settings in Negative Lab Pro and hit “Convert”. Voila!

July 2021 | Minolta XD-11 | MD ROKKOR-X 45mm F2 | Kodak Pro Image 100

Thursday 19 August 2021

After reading the article, How To Use Shadows For Impact¹, I have realised that most of my recent images, both digital and analogue, have been a little flat. I may not have realised that I was capturing my images on overcast days. I don't think this was intentional but due to the habit of using the camera later in the day. But also, we've had a lot of overcast days recently.

‘I have always had a wariness of shadows,’ [sic Artist Philippa Stanton] confesses. ‘Shadows can be frightening, an unknown quantity, harbouring threat and shadowy characters. But shadows are a part of life, both aesthetically and spiritually. As silence proves the sound and pausing proves the act, it is always darkness that proves the light.’
...
When used sensitively, however, shadows can serve a whole variety of aesthetic functions: they can direct a viewer’s gaze, help to describe the form of an object, emphasise texture, create a sense of mystery, improve the balance of a composition, become the subject of an image themselves or simply lessen the impact of less-desirable elements in the frame.

I want to return to being more intentional with my photography. This was the norm for me until recent years. Most of my recent photography has been incidental with images captured as a consequence of an activity, e.g. out to dinner or at a family event or even while making coffee in the morning.

I want each photograph to be meaningful, so why not be intentional about the frames I expose? I think I need to head into a nearby downtown to capture pictures of the streets and find and appreciate the unapparent aesthetics, capture things that will remind me of exploring, of experiencing.

Friday 20 August 2021

Dan James writes about "The Soundtrack To Photography":

When I’m out on a photowalk, I always pick the same soundtrack.

That is, quite simply, bird song, the wind in the trees, the rain pattering down, leaves crunching beneath my feet, trickling water, or whatever else nature is providing around me, as I wander through the countryside.

For me this is all part of the joy of photography.

Being out amongst nature and not only seeing with enhanced photographer’s eyes, but paying as much attention to the details of the sonic landscape all around me also.

This too is my experience with photography in nature. I tell people I am a nemophilist, a seldom used word meaning ?A person who loves or is fond of woods or forests."? Dan's post reminded me that's it's been a very long time since I last went on a nature photowalk. I need to experience komorebi and Shinrin Yoku.

How To Use Shadows For Impact, Amateur Photographer Magazine, August 19, 2021 ↩

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