Compact Cameras and Mobile Phones (EDoF)

Here's something not entirely related to the usual stuff of this Blog. Since getting a new phone a few months back I have been using the camera more and more. It comes with some technology called EDoF - lots of post-processing involved to make everything from 50cm to infinity appear in focus.

Is it any good? Someone has done a side-by-side test of EDoF vs a compact camera. Lots of pixel-peeping nerdery but quite interesting. My take? Upside: I'm now happy to use my camera as a compact (for those occasions where carting a DSLR around is impractical). Downside: if I start using my phone as a camera regularly I'll begin to wish I'd paid the extra for something like the Nokia N8.

Been a while...

...anyone still reading this?

Can I propose: Long-term Challenge 11 - Landscapes

Something I really struggle with, so selfishly, will kick me into trying harder, if nothing else.

And assuming everyone is heading off for some sort of summer holiday...

Something wide and scenic please, five shots maximum, usual rules apply.

A generous deadline of September, which should cover everyone's breaks away.

Picture from the Student Demo

This one has been doing the rounds so you may have seen it. Whatever you think of the politics of the protest, I think this is a great shot for a number of reasons: it tells a story - and one contrary to what is being reported. There's a great contrast between the youth and vulnerability of the girls and the violence that has been done to the van. There's a camaraderie in the eye contact between the main two subjects.

Wildlife photography winners

Overall winner shows it's definitely not about technical brilliance, although, personally I don't see this as a particularly strong shot - certainly not as strong as a lot of the entries.

Some amazing technical stuff however, especially the underwater shots.

365 Project

Stumbled across the 356Project website recently. A friend on Facebook is doing it. I have to say I am quite tempted to give it a go. Some of the photos on there are very good and others are interesting from a reportage point of view. Too often my camera sits unused from week to week.

What holds me back is that I'd need a camera with me all the time and I won't be lugging the D90 to work and back every day. I don't really have a compact - although Sarah's old 4MP Ixus has taken a few good shots - and my phone camera is pretty ropey.

Have either of you tried a self-imposed challenge to take a photo a day?

The slow path to very imaginable wealth

FT article

Latest stock sale - ironically it's an article by Roger Protz, who writes regularly for me in my day job.

Image zoomed end of August, article dated 17 Sept, sale of image only turned up on my Alamy records today - again proves that zoomed images months before may turn into sales.

Brings total earned from the stock experiment to just over $500 from around 450 images.

Challenge 10 - Much Less Scary

Here's another one. This time I am a bit more presentable. Taken with off-camera flash behind the sewing machine so that I was illuminated. Manual focus attempt to get my face sharp - not the machine - has only been partially successful. F7.1, 52mm.