Pekka's D-30 Gallery

[gandini]

hey, what's up? Are we all too scared to mention Pekka's new gallery on this forum, because of all the noise that's been made on dpreview, and (briefly) on rec.photo.digital?
Well, I'm not going to shy away from saying what I feel on my favorite Canon dp forum!

Pekka's new, long-awaited, gallery is amazing!!!! Wow. Count me amongst his biggest fans--always have been. I love his images, I love his dedication to the hobby, I love his web-work. The new site is a techno-marvel of image display. My site (which was modelled on Pekka's G1 gallery with his blessing) now looks so primative and old...

As for the images--they are everything I expected from knowing Pekka from the G1 images. This is a new, and different camera, and Pekka has taken advantage of the differences while being the same basic person he was 6 months ago. Geez, he may have changed and matured, and adapted, but these images are as well composed, sensitive, colorful, alive, and technically superior as any image he ever took with the G1

As for those people who are saying other things about his images, I just don't see it. Just because there's more "people" photos than in the G1 gallery is explainable by the new camera (and long lenses) and shallower depth of field (a good thing when taking portraits, especially candid ones), but I just don't buy that these photos *couldn't* have been taken with the G1. Check out my galleries dedicated to my two daughters! Different to Pekka's yes, but quite well done images of people in my book.
And let's not forget that the G1 photos were taken in winter and the D-30 images in summer. Now that's a big difference, both in New Mexico and Finland!

that's enough, I gotta get back to checking out more of this photos....

cheers,

[Pekka]

gandini wrote:
As for those people who are saying other things about his images, I just don't see it.


Thanks for your comments Philip,

I can understand if some G1 owner out there feels that G1 photos are "cooler", as they are for most people quite exotic (winter, ice, cold, dark) and most of all they can compare them to their own identical equipment. But everyone is entitled to any opinions (although there was one clear troll in disguise there in dpreview). I can't help thinking that maybe after the huge success of my G1 gallery people could have had unrealistic expectations of how great the next gallery should be.

I wanted to do something different - I was stuck in a "must have photos FOR the gallery-syndome" with G1 and it was killing the fun from the hobby - that's why I decided not to continue the "G1'ish" style photos with the D30 - it was summer and I had a feeling I had to let more light in, display positiveness and impulsiviness in my new gallery. Of course it's soon winter again and maybe I'm forced to capture some of that gothic style Finland again... :)

Just because there's more "people" photos than in the G1 gallery is explainable by the new camera (and long lenses) and shallower depth of field (a good thing when taking portraits, especially candid ones), but I just don't buy that these photos *couldn't* have been taken with the G1. Check out my galleries dedicated to my two daughters! Different to Pekka's yes, but quite well done images of people in my book.


Lovely kids and good photos!

The reason I was saying D30 makes more possible than G1 was this: sensitivity in low light, low noise in ISO 400, ISO 800 is still great. No flash needed. For example if http://photography-on-the.net/D30/photo.php?photo=12&size=4 would have been shot with a G1, you would have had most propably used ISO 100 at most (because of the noise) and then you'd had to use a shutter speed of about 1/4 second (rough estimate) at f/2.2 which would have made the guy a blur and you'd have had to use a tripod.

Same thing about http://photography-on-the.net/D30/photo.php?photo=85&size=4 , on G1 this would have been handheld 0.4s at f/2.5 and you could not have 320mm in 35mm equiv anyway on G1.

http://photography-on-the.net/D30/photo.php?photo=66&size=4 would be half a second with G1 - in a moving bus?

But not all photos are just "D30 territory" - a lot of shots could have been taken with G1, too.

I don't want to start any kind of hardware wars here - but D30 makes more things possible - not only by enormous lens choice but as being capable of less noise at higher ISO. It's in many cases a matter of being able to get a photo, or that you just can't.

[gandini]

Pekka wrote:
... stuff deleted...
I don't want to start any kind of hardware wars here - but D30 makes more things possible - not only by enormous lens choice but as being capable of less noise at higher ISO. It's in many cases a matter of being able to get a photo, or that you just can't.


All your points are well made, and taken, Pekka! But on a more philosophical level, just imagine how many potential images there are out there. Perhaps a gazillion, and that's an underestimate. Given that, then what's the true "cost" of missing a photo? Yes, we'd all like to capture the great shot, the once-in-a-lifetime image, but that's very unlikely. Of course what you're saying is that it's more likely with a D-30 than a G1, and I'd agree with you. But in the end, it's a matter of doing the best we can with what we have--you now have a D-30 and I still have a G1, but perhaps what's more important is the time, energy, competing demands, opportunity, skill, eye and motivation we have to use that equipment to make pleasing images.
I used to struggle when making film-based black and white images about "publishing" my work. As an academic, of course, I'm interested in publishing my works (not that my website is considered a acceptable publication--only economics!). But the question was always "who am I doing this for?" The most common answer is for one's self, but that's often disingenuous. Yes, we all like looking at our own images, but we also like the compliments of others who find our work pleasing. Our galleries are testaments to that notion. (over 58,000 hits on your D-30 gallery, Pekka--amazing!)
Your gallery is a reflection of who you are, as is your choice of equipment. Your images show us how you use that equipment, but more importantly they reveal a little bit of how you see the world--this *one* world that we all share, yet create so many varied and wonderful flat, rectangular slices of!

cheers,

[Paul V]

Pekka,

I, for one, have really enjoyed seeing your D30 gallery. Although I still use a Canon S10 for digi snaps, I look forward to getting a G2 and then moving on to a D30-style camera.

Once again, the smoothness and quality of the gallery is exceptional!

I especially like your photo of Esa-Pekka. I work with the LA Philharmonic from time to time, and I always thoroughly enjoy any time that he is conducting...

Paul

[beach512]

Philip,
I agree with your points. I just visited your website for the 1st time. WOW! Very impressive. I like your photos very much. The shots of the children are especially good.
I am encouraged that you used a G1 for these. I am looking to get a G1 (after price lowers due to G2) because I cannot afford the G2 or D30. I know I have a long way to go to match the high quality of your photos or Pekka's. I can tell you have spent much time on your photography. Keep up the good work and I will look forward to seeing more of your work in the future.
Also, thanks for all of your contributions to this forum.

Dave