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How to be happy when there’s nothing really to be happy about (playing with camera)

More about “shooting without messing around white balance”, and “fix in the post” and “Fujifilm film simulations”.



So, for someone like me, “setting the camera’s white balance at one fixed value and don’t change it” works really well.

It cuts down preparation time (I can shoot quickly), less prone to make mistakes, and, perhaps most importantly, it frees my mind (one less thing to think about).



These photos were taken yesterday morning.

I saw deer through the kitchen window while I was making coffee.

I turned off the stove, run to the bedroom and grabbed X-H2, and walked outside as quickly as I can without making sound.

What that means is I had no time to make any adjustment in camera setting.

(BTW, when I turn off the camera, I always turn aperture ring to wide open, and turn the focus ring to infinity. (I don’t use zoom lenses, I don’t use auto focus lenses) So that when I pick up the camera next time and turn it on, remove the lens cap, focus ring and aperture ring turn to ONLY ONE DIRECTION. (With Canon FD lenses, that means I rotate focus ring to CW, aperture ring to CCW.)



JPEG image the camera generated

XH2C4680 by T K, on Flickr



Edit RAW file, but only the brightness and aperture

Clueless_1 by T K, on Flickr



LUT applied, then some filters applied in PS.

Clueless_1_1 by T K, on Flickr



JPEG generated by the camera

XH2C4683 by T K, on Flickr



After editing with LUT and filters

Clueless_2_2 by T K, on Flickr



Original photo (Camera generated JPEG)

XH2C4691 by T K, on Flickr



After the edit

The Deer Hunter_1 by T K, on Flickr



Original photo (camera generated JPEG)

XH2C4695 by T K, on Flickr



Cropped, brightness and aperture adjusted

The Deer Hunter_2 by T K, on Flickr



LUT and filters applied

The Deer Hunter_2_2 by T K, on Flickr



Some people may think they would be perfectly okay with camera generated JPEG image, after seeing “before and after” images.



So far, I like the idea of shoot everything with 5500 Kelvin white balance.
 
August 17th. Photos


So I went to my “Secret Base” today.
(every superhero needs secret hideout. Mine is located right behind San Rafael PD. Not as nice as Porco Rosso’s hideout. But, it works for me.)

Prco’s hideout
maxresdefault.jpg



Mine

The main reason was to do quick sight-in of newly acquired Weihrauch HW45.
But, I also took some pictures.

I guess you can tell which one is the original and which one is edited.

Deer_1_2 by T K, on Flickr

Deer_1 by T K, on Flickr



Deer_2_2 by T K, on Flickr

Deer_2 by T K, on Flickr



Deer_3_2 by T K, on Flickr

Deer_3 by T K, on Flickr



Deer_4_2 by T K, on Flickr

Deer_4 by T K, on Flickr



These two images are straight out of the camera. (X-H2 with vintage Canon FD50mm f1.4)
No edit, at all.

Summer of 1983 by T K, on Flickr

Summer of 1983_2 by T K, on Flickr

Kinda off topic. But, YAMAHA motorcycles’ advertisement phots were more artistic than the others (back in the early 1980s) …
 
I originally wrote this for another motorcycle forum.
But, I thought this might be useful to some of you, or at least entertaining.

Now, I am not good at editing photos, at all. But I do color grading on video regularly.(Again, I don’t claim myself any sort of expert…)

Anyhow, here’s one example how I do. (Creating B&W image)


After the edit

Deer_4_Noir by T K, on Flickr



Before the edit (Adjusted brightness / exposure and contrast in RAW file, then exported as JPEG. If you are going to print, I guess you want to export as TIFF?)

Deer_4 by T K, on Flickr



Starting point

Screen Shot 2024-08-21 at 8.34.25 AM by T K, on Flickr



Load 3D LUT (to make it B&W image)

Screen Shot 2024-08-21 at 8.34.42 AM by T K, on Flickr



Bring the opacity down to 70%

Screen Shot 2024-08-21 at 8.37.05 AM by T K, on Flickr



Create background copy layer, go

Filter>Gaussian blur, change blend mode to “soft light”, bring opacity down to 50%

Screen Shot 2024-08-21 at 8.37.53 AM by T K, on Flickr



Now, it looks like this

(This layer needs to be above Background layer and below LUT layer)

Screen Shot 2024-08-21 at 8.38.16 AM by T K, on Flickr



Create new visible layer above Gaussian blur layer, below LUT layer

Shift + Command + U (Desaturate), go

Filter>Other>High Pass, change blend mode to “over lay”

Screen Shot 2024-08-21 at 8.39.30 AM by T K, on Flickr



Go back to “Background copy” layer(Gaussian blur layer), adjust opacity



Opacity increased to 75%

Screen Shot 2024-08-21 at 8.41.14 AM by T K, on Flickr



Opacity decreased to 20%

Screen Shot 2024-08-21 at 8.40.51 AM by T K, on Flickr



I settled down at 36%

Screen Shot 2024-08-21 at 8.40.51 AM by T K, on Flickr



Go to LUT layer and adjust opacity

Opacity increased to 82%

Screen Shot 2024-08-21 at 8.42.33 AM by T K, on Flickr



Crop

Screen Shot 2024-08-21 at 8.44.10 AM by T K, on Flickr
 
“Dirty Harry (1971)” last scene filming location


These photos were taken Aug. 19th.
This is where the last scene of “Dirty Harry” was filmed, although, there’s nothing resemble the movie scene anymore, except for one.

“The cottage”
Dirty Harry Cottage by T K, on Flickr

Screenshot
ScrrenShot Dirty Harry Cottage by T K, on Flickr


Painted in different color, but you can see, this cottage is still there, virtually unchanged.
Dirty Harry Cottage2 by T K, on Flickr


In the movie, right after that screenshot (you can see Scorpio and Harry are trying to point their guns at each other, through windscreen of the school bus), Scorpio turns school bus abruptly to the left, right front of the pickup truck in oncoming lane, hitting the fence of Hutchinson Co. Quarry.

Final showdown by T K, on Flickr

See the white building back there?
That’s where the last scene was filmed.
(Now it is Larkspur apartment. It IS a private property, although there’s no gate, no security guard or anything, (There might be security cameras, though), so it is possible to walk up there and take some photos and videos, but… there’s nothing, really. Just a modern, complex apartment and parking in Marin county. Nothing worth photographing.

Scorpio'sPOV1 by T K, on Flickr

Scorpio'sPOV2 by T K, on Flickr

I made a video, took some photos of “school bus scene” last year.




_DSF0055 by T K, on Flickr



_DSF0067 by T K, on Flickr
 
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Hill People Gear CARGO kit bag mini update, using as sling bag (Pocket Sling)

1st video

which was in this post

post a *PIC* of your latest purchase (can be anything as long as you purchased it)

Oh gawd no! I can pick her up next weekend if that works...I want her BAD! The PE200 is terrifying...The Spira is a coffin. Do not die Berto!!! You are one of my favorirtes. We will work it out. Berto's House of Death Traps.
www.bayarearidersforum.com www.bayarearidersforum.com

So, I’ve been using this as “sling bag” lately. I purchased this shoulder sling (HPG calls it “Pocket Sling”) with the kit bag, at the same time.
I am normally not a fan of one shoulder sling bag, messenger bag style bag, etc.
BUT, I really like this one.

Bag front by T K, on Flickr

I also changed para cord zipper pull on the main compartment. (Changed to bright orange. And the top zipper pull has “glow in the dark” skull bead, from Prometheus Design Werx.

Renger bead & zipper pull by T K, on Flickr

“Ranger bead” is not for land navigation, it’s for “counting scene# and take#”.
(If you don’t shoot videos, alone, this is totally irrelevant.)

This is a simpler version of DIY Para cord pace counter. I like this version better, than the one with decorative knots. (which is more common. I’m moving away from decorative knots, knife lanyard, etc.)
Beads are made by simple cow hitch knot, and main part is just overhand knot, nothing fancy, anybody can do it.

Bag rear1 by T K, on Flickr

Bag rear3 by T K, on Flickr

Bag rear2 by T K, on Flickr

And, I wrapped the top handle for X-H2 with leather strip.
leather wrapped top handle by T K, on Flickr

…just like my X-T4
X-T4 handle by T K, on Flickr
 
For thumbnail picture of my next YouTube video, which one do you think has the most impact?
I just quickly edited RAW files in Capture One. I will (most probably add text, and do some tweaking in PS.
Just wanted to ask people’s opinion.
Thanks in advance.
(I’m off to work now.)

Youtube thumb by T K, on Flickr

Youtube thumb2 by T K, on Flickr

Youtube thumb3 by T K, on Flickr
 
{I posted about this belt on anther thread. This post is about how I took these photos.)

8-The Blet-Smoke_2 by T K, on Flickr

I used the “fog machine” for the first time…
(The photo above is “the right amount of effect”, I think.)

6-The Belt-toomuch smoke by T K, on Flickr

…too much smoke, obviously…

7-The Belt-still too much smoke by T K, on Flickr

,,,still too much (overall image looks too hazy)…

5-The Belt_No_Smoke by T K, on Flickr

No smoke effect. This picture is the cleanest, of course.
But I’m not after the “spotlessly clean image”.
The subject is backlit intentionally, and I shoot from the "shadow side".
 
Product photo challenge
Turning ugly, boring kitchen into (somewhat) cinematic !

Turn this …

1_Ugly Boring kitchen by T K, on Flickr

…into these…

With Peter McKinnon LUT, “clean & tidy”, 72% opacity
BRCC_GUNSHIP_1_PM_Clean&Tidy72 by T K, on Flickr


No LUT
BRCC_GUNSHIP_1 by T K, on Flickr


With PM LUT “clean & tidy”, 68%
BRCC_GUNSHIP_2 PM_Clean&Tidy68 by T K, on Flickr

No LUT
BRCC_GUNSHIP_2 by T K, on Flickr

It’s NOT the steam coming from the coffee.
It’s this…
BRCC_GUNSHIP&LENSGO by T K, on Flickr

This is my second time using this cheap handheld fog machine.
Overall, I’m very happy with it.
 

The Dark Knight Challenge (Camera Test)
Turn this ugly, boring kitchen into…

DSC00234 by T K, on Flickr

…something dramatic!

Camera test 10-31-2024_EDIT by T K, on Flickr

First, turn off the ceiling lights. (Just too ugly.)

XH2C5323 by T K, on Flickr

You can see where I mounted teal color kicker light.(aputure MC) Intensity lowered to 8% or so, with defuser on.


Turn on the key light (Aputure MT pro), tungsten light color, around 70% intensity, with grid on.

XH2C5322 by T K, on Flickr

That’s too bright. Lower the intensity (down to 45%)

XH2C5325 by T K, on Flickr

That looks better. Now, add some smoke…

Too much smoke…
XH2C5330 by T K, on Flickr

This looks all right…

XH2C5336 by T K, on Flickr

Adjust the exposure, bring down the highlight, bring up the shadow just a little bit, adjust the curve in Capture One.
Then, crop, making it looks like widescreen movie screenshot.

Obviously, light spill from the blind is a problem.
I need to put blue gel on the outside of the window, or completely block with moving blanket.
(Or, shoot before sunrise.)

Also, one might criticize, “Where all these lights are supposed to be coming from? This lighting Is so unrealistic.”

I guess I can move MC closer to the window. (So that it looks like the kicker light is coming from the light spill from the blind. That way, I don’t have to block or gel the window. The less prep work, the better. )
As for the key light, … I think the viewers can assume it’s from the ceiling (outside of the frame), even though the position of the light source is too low for that.
 
X100V Photo/Video Quick Shooting … in the kitchen
(Turn the ugly and boring kitchen into Photo / Video shooting set)

Sukenari Salmon cut test_LUT by T K, on Flickr

This is how the “set” looks like.
Set by T K, on Flickr
Set by T K, on Flickr


You can see the main star (Sukenari R2 Yanagiba), co star (Salmon) on the cutting board.
You can also see Zoom H1N (audio recorder) on the window frame, Aputure MC on the bottom side of the cupboard.
(MC has magnets on the back, and it’s attached to the steel bar that I taped on the underside of the cupboard.)
 
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Pro Sushi Chef’s quick lunch / Pork Kimuchi Udon
[Creative use of “Interval timer shooting”]

So, how do you photograph yourself, while cooking, alone, and in a sort of hurry?
And you want to capture the “action”, not just the final product.

Self timer wouldn’t work, for obvious reason.
Shooting video and capture the screenshot?

When I shoot photos of myself, I actually don’t use self timer that often.
Instead, I do “interval timer shooting”.
Works a whole lot better than self timer (for what I do, anyway).

I tired to take photos while I was quickly making my lunch before leaving for work.
Shot on Fuji X100V mounted on Gorilla Pod, set interval timer for shooting every 16 sec.

1_ingredients copy by T K, on Flickr

2_Garlic by T K, on Flickr

3_Pork Kimuchi Garlic by T K, on Flickr

4_Halfway by T K, on Flickr

5_Cleaning up by T K, on Flickr

6_Done by T K, on Flickr

7_Final product by T K, on Flickr

Shown in chronological order.
All images are straight out of camera JPEG files.
(The purpose of this photo shoot is to have fun with camera, documentation of my life, so they are fine.
I can work on RAW files later, if I want.)
 
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I’m a certified black sheep. Everyone and their grand mother and her cat says,
“You need wide angle lens for street photography.”

And I don’t like using wide angle lenses, unless the “story” calls for it.

So I went outside today, with vintage Canon FD50mm f1.4 (on Metabones Speed booster) + Fuji XH2.
(I also brought GoPro Hero10, for some behind the scene videos, so that I can make YouTube video later, if I decided to do so.)

I left at around 4:30PM. I decided to just walk around with camera. NOT driving too somewhere with camera.

All images are straight out from the camera. None of them are edited.

Rumble Fish_1 by T K, on Flickr

Rumble Fish_2 by T K, on Flickr

These black and white images were (somewhat) inspired by the opening scene of the1983 film, Rumble Fish. (Francis Ford Coppola film).
High contrast black and white image, time-lapse, and the music, … for some reason, this movie’s opening AND the ending scene are sticking into my mind, since the 80s,




Do you remember 1991 film “Harley Davidson and the Marlboro man” ?
Particularly, the scene Don Johnson and Micky Rourke sitting on the road sign over the freeway, looking down LA traffic at night, and repairing the boots with duct tape,...
(Surprisingly, you can watch the entire movie for free, on YouTube now.)

Someone left a shoe up there…

Harley &Marlboro_1 by T K, on Flickr

Harley&Marlboro_2 by T K, on Flickr

There three, I couldn’t decide which one was best, so I posted all three.

Airplane_3 by T K, on Flickr

Airplane_2 by T K, on Flickr

Airplane_1 by T K, on Flickr

Somebody cut a hole on the fence…
Hole on the fence by T K, on Flickr

Sunday evening 101 South bound traffic in Marin…
101 sunset by T K, on Flickr

101Sunset2 by T K, on Flickr

I can’t go any further (legally)…
the end_1 by T K, on Flickr

the end_2 by T K, on Flickr

…turn around, took one more shot before walking back to home…
the end of the night by T K, on Flickr
 
Watanabe AS_2 by T K, on Flickr

270mm Sujihiki, Blue Super, with burned handle, by Sinichi Watanabe, 2025.
This is NOT mine.

Watanabe AS_1 by T K, on Flickr

Just before I quit my job here in San Anselmo at the end of last year, I was talking with another coworker.
I told him about my experience with Shinich, although I haven’t purchased anything from him in the last 20 years or so, I would still highly recommend him, everything I bought from him were well worth the price.
This coworker showed up with this knife yesterday, saying it was just delivered.
So, I took some photo. (It’s a strange coincidence, that I was not carrying my GoPro yesterday. Instead, I had Fuji X100V, which, I normally don’t take to work.)

Watanabe AS_BigEye Tuna_1 by T K, on Flickr

Watanabe AS_BigEye Tuna_2 by T K, on Flickr

Anyhow, I let him cut a big piece of Big Eye Tuna. (That is my work, normally.)
If you look at his wrist angle, you can tell he’s cutting with the “wrist action”, which is a clear sign of lack of experience / skill.
He’s not extracting the real performance of this blade, yet.

Watanabe AS_BigEye Tuna_3 by T K, on Flickr

Watanabe AS_BigEye Tuna_4 by T K, on Flickr

But, it was REALLY nice to see Shinichi’s work after all these years.
 
One of my favorite knives. Chris Reeve Green Beret, in CPM 4V.

Green Beret vs Snapper head by T K, on Flickr

Can Green Beret cut Snapper’s skull?
Well, you will find out soon…
(As usual, I’d say, ignore the YouTube video critiques. This is NOT a bushcraft knife. This is NOT a survival knife. This is a FIGHTING KNIFE, period. Don’t judge, or complain about the fighting “tools” by using it for other mundane tasks.
You wouldn’t understand the true value of this type of tool unless you have your hands covered with blood and guts.:laughing
 
Samurai Breakfast ! In Friday morning…

So, I have a question.
Am I wasting my time editing the images, for such a subtle difference?
(Or, even more importantly, am I making the images worse, than the SOOC images?)
All shot on Fuji X100V.

Edited with flash
Samurai Breakfast! by S21Folgore_2, on Flickr

SOOC
oroginal_SOOC_w:F by S21Folgore_2, on Flickr

Edited without flash
Samurai Brreakfast2 by S21Folgore_2, on Flickr

SOOC
origina2_SOOC_wo:F by S21Folgore_2, on Flickr

Tea time !
Tea time by S21Folgore_2, on Flickr
 
Last Samurai Breakfast thumb by S21Folgore_2, on Flickr

Took this photo this morning, for a new thumbnail for a short film I just uploaded to my 2nd channel.
(I’m running a test, so you may or may not see the new thumbnail on YouTube.)


Shot with XT4, with comlite speed booster + vintage Asahi Pentax 50mmf1.4.
Used smoke machine (if you compare to the SOOC image without smoke, you can see the entire background is “slightly” hazy..)

Test shot, without smoke, SOOC

_DSF0016 by S21Folgore_2, on Flickr
Both images, there’s a Apture MC, at something like 85% intensity right outside of the left hand side of the frame. (Right behind the candle.)
 
I am moving…so I can’t make videos right now. (most likely it will be after April 1st that I will start making videos again.)

Moving by S21Folgore_2, on Flickr

Found a place in Greenbrae. Much closer to work & the garage (San Rafael).
Moving sucks, however… (well, it’s my fault. I just have way too much toys).

Also, the new job just started.(Food photos are for testing / our dinner. The place is going to open tomorrow (Thursday).)

Dinner_1 by S21Folgore_2, on Flickr

Dinner_2 by S21Folgore_2, on Flickr

Dinner_3 by S21Folgore_2, on Flickr
 
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