Jun 14, 2011

Sony Cybershot DSC-W570 Camera

I shoot photography for a retail website so I use a DSLR on an almost daily basis.  The options are great, the quality is excellent, but outside of the studio an SLR isn't always ideal.  It's a bit too bulky for casual outings, which is why you can't underestimate the value of a decent point and shoot. 

I've had four Sony Cybershots since I went digital back in 2004.  I've consistently upgraded every couple of years when I found a point and shoot camera that offered higher quality images and mega pixels for under $200.  So far Sony hasn't let me down.

The DSC-W570 offers simple and brilliant photography in an ultra compact unit.  It weighs only 4.1 ounces and is the slimmest Cybershot yet at just under an inch thick.  What that means is that this is perfect for throwing in my pocket and heading out the door for some impromptu photography.  Something I tried out just the other evening

At 16.1 mega pixels the images I shoot are ideal for web based display and create very crisp looking standard prints.  Manual features are still limited here, so this doesn't replace the versatility of an SLR.  But like I said, the flexibility of having a high-res camera that is smaller and takes better photos than an iPhone is a huge plus in my books.  Not to mention, it's an affordable option for something of its class.

There is a subtle wide angle lens built into the unit, which helps to really open up small spaces. I was really impressed while taking pictures of my cars interior how you could actually see the entire space.  If you're a perfectionist however, this does result in slight distortion around the edges of the frame on occasion.  It's minimal, but is more noticeable if working in extreme close-ups.

Perhaps best of all is the vibrancy of the images this camera takes.  The colors are rich, sharp, and capture the light beautifully.  I've still been playing around with it just to see how far I can push it and then how well the images can stand up to my manipulation in post.  So far so good.

I think it's safe to say that you can expect a lot of new photography this summer. And for a more comprehensive review of this product and its features, check out CNET's review here.  I found it helpful.


Jun 13, 2011

Coins From Russia With Love

About a month ago I posted about my coin collection and how I love the stories and history associated with the random coins I've collected since I was a kid. It was around that time that I came across a bunch of old Soviet and Russian coins on eBay and bought them.  Over a month later this package from a small town in Russia arrived. 

Inside a light blue envelope there was a cardboard plank sealed with packing tape.  It read 'Coins from Russia with Love!'. Included with this was a postcard from the town in central Russia, which pictured a giant old church and a small note about the coins.

It was kind of like receiving mail from an old friend or family member.  I've never ordered anything on eBay that was sent in such a personable way.
 
Beneath the first cover of cardboard, there was another layer where the coins were hidden in carved out rows. When I opened them, the coins were clearly laid out, but wrapped again in a clear layer of saran wrap.

The coins I purchased were a random mix of Soviet kopecks from the late sixties up until the late eighties, as well as random modern Russian coins from '91 onward.

My favorite pieces were these 3 '10 Ruble' coins from 1991. This was the year the Soviet Union collapsed, and these coins feature an image of the Kremlin. These two tone metal coins are also similar to Canadian toonies, or $2 coins here.

I've always been fascinated by Cold War history and so I love how something like this made the connection tangible.  The package from Russia wasn't just an everyday order either, and I found myself savoring the experience of opening it (hell, I photographed it as I went along!).  

Through some clever wrapping, a postcard, and some personal messages, the impact was more than just the history of some coins.  With just that small amount of personality attached, I got my own unique story to share along with them.


Jun 12, 2011

Non-Hipster Hipster

To be honest, I've never considered myself a hipster - at least it never seemed that way by comparison.  The connotation actually suggests a form of loathing to me.  The kind of person who would shun you if they saw you buy your groceries at Walmart or remove a song they liked from their iPod the minute they heard it on a popular radio station.

Then I thought about my traits.  I'm a former film student, current video editor and photographer, living in a loft apartment, who blogs, who fills walls with inspiration boards and make-shift posters, who over the last 6 months has stocked his fridge with increasingly more obscure brands of beer, and as of yesterday, a guy who redesigned a blog header featuring himself with stereotypical film-hipster glasses that have no practical purpose.  Oh yeah, I went there.

You won't find me shunning the mainstream however.  You also won't often hear me say that I don't like something because I think too many people already like it either.   

The few things that bother me about the mainstream are often easily applied to the things that bother me about most things in general.  No matter what social classification, it's a lifestyle built on distaste that I dislike (uh oh, double negative).  I just don't want to hear about a life defined by the ways it's been segregated, I want to hear about how amazing it is because of the things you've embraced.  

Originality shouldn't exclude others from sharing experiences, it should be defined by how unique your perspective, reaction, etc. is within those everyday occurrences.  This should be unshakable, and your passions shouldn't waver at the first sign of criticism.  If someone else liking or disliking something completely alters your perception of that thing, maybe you never really cared that much about it in the first place. 

Hipsters can be too far into the alternative to recognize that they're still a product of a mass culture, and likewise, the overly mainstream person is neglecting to see that most ideas evolve from far more obscure places than Hollywood.

I've created a paradox with my non-hipster, hipster critiques.  But what's clear to me now is that it's easy to become what you thought you were avoiding - or at least share some part of it.  We're all posers to some extent though, and that's a good thing. It means we're continually borrowing inspiration and finding ways to cycle through cultural influences. Then again, maybe I'm just a dickhead.