Sony A7x lounge

A similiar thing happened to me when i went to venice. I was snapping hundreds of shots just to find out that everyone with a camera standing on the same spot as me has created what i did, more or less. Thats why i hope to just use the summilux 50 for a trip. I will kick my ass on every lost opportunity, but sometimes the moments should only stay in our heads instead of photos. Just look at this picture. It says: we lose our capability to enjoy the important moments. This is exactly how i felt when i was in venice. Too much snappig, too less appreciation for the moments, always seeking "the shot" which would sadly not come if you force it.

The image below is not mine btw.

sometimes, bringing out that tripod forces you to slow down, or shooting a limited set of primes will make you shoot a certain way.

another thing is the first time is pretty much for scoping out scenes

I hardly ever get anything nice going the first time, pretty much scoping out the scene as I tend to run late........

Charlie wrote in post #17728878
sometimes, bringing out that tripod forces you to slow down, or shooting a limited set of primes will make you shoot a certain way.

another thing is the first time is pretty much for scoping out scenes

I hardly ever get anything nice going the first time, pretty much scoping out the scene as I tend to run late........

yes. I enjoy watching the sunset while waiting for my long exposure shots

I love all this "focus on the craft, not the gear" talk. That said, I have a gear question that pertains to better focusing on the craft:

Any Wacom users on here?

My Wacom has been indispensable to me for processing images in Photoshop and now that this is becoming my full-time endeavor (tomorrow is my final day in my career as a design professional practicing interior architecture!!) I have been mulling making the jump (big jump) to the 27" Cintiq. I have been mulling a full-size Cintiq for years, but there has always been specifications that prevented me (like not having full sRGB color space coverage, limited brightness, too matte a screen, etc.), but the 27" seems to punch all my buttons.

Here is my rationale: As a goal for my photography in the days, months, and years to come, my highest aspiration is to pursue my craft at more of a fine art level that blurs the lines between a painting and a photograph (for some, not all, of my work). Dodge and burning, for example is a sort of painting/drawing process that overlays and modifies the original photo. I have a little 13" Cintiq Companion, and love that, but don't use it as much as I had anticipated simply because it's just a tiny workspace.

Thoughts, recommendations, warnings, etc. ?

I'm not the expert to answer your questions David but I can relate my personal thoughts. A couple of years ago, I bought a Wacom tablet, the small size. While I loved the idea of it and could see the benefits of using a system that used a pressure sensitive pen, I just couldn't get used to my eyes fixed on my computer monitor while my hand was trying to manipulate the stylus and place it with any precision. Call it poor hand/eye coordination or too many years using a mouse but I gave up in frustration.

The idea of a Wacom tablet that was basically also a monitor that you could 'draw' directly on the screen seems fantastic and would solve my 'patting my stomach/rubbing the top of my head' at the same time delima. Not ever having used one, the only possible negative I can think of is if there is a gap between where the stylus touches the screen and the image below it...kind of like if there is a thick plate of glass between.

If there is no gap and I could afford it, I would buy one in a heartbeat.

i wish i have cintiq. All i have is a medium size bamboo create. bought the large size first but my hand has to travel farther when retouching and it's not fun for me. more stressful.

I also have a medium sized Wacom. Love it. I can't imagine editing without especially for the manual blending I do on my photos.

The Cintiq looks amazing but I cannot justify it nor am I a pure portrait retoucher. David, I would say give it a shot!

Charlie wrote in post #17728878
sometimes, bringing out that tripod forces you to slow down, or shooting a limited set of primes will make you shoot a certain way.

another thing is the first time is pretty much for scoping out scenes

I hardly ever get anything nice going the first time, pretty much scoping out the scene as I tend to run late........

Very true. And sadly, i DID have my tripod on some of these outings. Haha. Didn't help much in slowing me down.
More importantly, to your latter point, I can't go and scope out the scene if I'm on vacation and only planning on being at a certain spot once.
The day we drove to Whistler, that was it. There was no "coming back later". So...

But your point is well taken. I need to do exactly more of that slowing down. A set of primes would help (the act of changing lenses tends to slow me down). But more importantly, it has to be a conscious effort to stop and think.

David Arbogast wrote in post #17728894
I love all this "focus on the craft, not the gear" talk. That said, I have a gear question that pertains to better focusing on the craft:

Any Wacom users on here?

My Wacom has been indispensable to me for processing images in Photoshop and now that this is becoming my full-time endeavor (tomorrow is my final day in my career as a design professional practicing interior architecture!!) I have been mulling making the jump (big jump) to the 27" Cintiq. I have been mulling a full-size Cintiq for years, but there has always been specifications that prevented me (like not having full sRGB color space coverage, limited brightness, too matte a screen, etc.), but the 27" seems to punch all my buttons.

Here is my rationale: As a goal for my photography in the days, months, and years to come, my highest aspiration is to pursue my craft at more of a fine art level that blurs the lines between a painting and a photograph (for some, not all, of my work). Dodge and burning, for example is a sort of painting/drawing process that overlays and modifies the original photo. I have a little 13" Cintiq Companion, and love that, but don't use it as much as I had anticipated simply because it's just a tiny workspace.

Thoughts, recommendations, warnings, etc. ?

Interesting conversation. I have never tried a tablet but have often wondered about getting one. I'm curious to see what responses you'll get to this inquiry.

navydoc wrote in post #17728911
I'm not the expert to answer your questions David but I can relate my personal thoughts. A couple of years ago, I bought a Wacom tablet, the small size. While I loved the idea of it and could see the benefits of using a system that used a pressure sensitive pen, I just couldn't get used to my eyes fixed on my computer monitor while my hand was trying to manipulate the stylus and place it with any precision. Call it poor hand/eye coordination or too many years using a mouse but I gave up in frustration.

Gene, I think we share the same coordination issues.

I bought a medium size Wacom tablet about a year ago, and while I'm improving with the pen, I frequently use the mouse. I do see some improvement over time, but its taking a long time to get comfortable with it. The primary reason is that I don't use Photoshop enough to gain the necessary experience.

navydoc wrote in post #17728911
I'm not the expert to answer your questions David but I can relate my personal thoughts. A couple of years ago, I bought a Wacom tablet, the small size. While I loved the idea of it and could see the benefits of using a system that used a pressure sensitive pen, I just couldn't get used to my eyes fixed on my computer monitor while my hand was trying to manipulate the stylus and place it with any precision. Call it poor hand/eye coordination or too many years using a mouse but I gave up in frustration.

The idea of a Wacom tablet that was basically also a monitor that you could 'draw' directly on the screen seems fantastic and would solve my 'patting my stomach/rubbing the top of my head' at the same time delima. Not ever having used one, the only possible negative I can think of is if there is a gap between where the stylus touches the screen and the image below it...kind of like if there is a thick plate of glass between.

If there is no gap and I could afford it, I would buy one in a heartbeat.

There is indeed a gap, but that is yet another thing greatly improved in the 27" - the gap is smaller than ever. I do pretty well with my Intuos Pro tablet, as far as the hand/eye coordination goes, but talk about a gap - that tablet is quite a bit removed from the actual image I am touching.

vinmunoz wrote in post #17728914
i wish i have cintiq. All i have is a medium size bamboo create. bought the large size first but my hand has to travel farther when retouching and it's not fun for me. more stressful.

Yes, if you are using a tablet (not a Cintiq), then I actually prefer the small wacom. It is indeed cumbersome and wearisome to have to move so far with your arm if your hand/arm movement is disconnected from the image.

Regarding the Cintiq, though, I think the opposite is true. For one thing, if you want to make big moves with the pen with smaller arm movements, then all you need do is zoom out - the image is smaller. And by eliminating that disconnect of where your hand is vs. where the image is, it creates a completely different user experience. So, in my case, my 13" Cintiq companion is acting like a gateway drug - it's small size has left me wanting to go big - as big as possible.

digital_AM wrote in post #17728945
I also have a medium sized Wacom. Love it. I can't imagine editing without especially for the manual blending I do on my photos.

The Cintiq looks amazing but I cannot justify it nor am I a pure portrait retouched. David, I would say give it a shot!

Thanks Alfredo. I agree. Except for really basic stuff, like global edits etc. I can't stand processing images with a mouse.

Really I am trying to decide between just upgrading my monitor (looking at those cool curved 21:9 monitors or just going Cintiq. My video gamer self, says get a 21:9, but my serious-about-art self says get the Cintiq.

If I could afford one I would. not much for photography at the moment.. I prefer to use the mouse to click and adjust sliders, I don't do any retouching work. but I used to like concept drawings and illustrations and that's where I would want it for.

my experience is a medium size tablet and like Gene it's hard for me to use the tablet while looking at the screen. I've always wanted the cintiq when I first saw it and I would own one already if I had more passion for illustration work :P

i got a 3d artist friend who loves and uses his cintiq all the time. he also has the companion but doesn't use it much, why right? when hes got the bigger screen hhehe. but If you are doing 3d modeling I'm sure it will be a good tool for you.

I currently have a surface pro and it comes with a pen, i tried to do some work with it.. but being small its hard to work with and the pressure points of the pen isn't sensitive like Wacom so it was a turn off.

from the videos ive seen, it is a big step for the reviewers and they are quite happy about their cintiq. Their suggestions were common, if you cant afford it or don't know if you need a cintiq or not, start small and get the tablet. if you can afford it, aim for it.

i just looked at the new cintiq 27 and what? the stand doesn't come with it and u gotta fork out another $399.99 for it?? zzzzz

David Arbogast wrote in post #17728972
There is indeed a gap, but that is yet another thing greatly improved in the 27" - the gap is smaller than ever. I do pretty well with my Intuos Pro tablet, as far as the hand/eye coordination goes, but talk about a gap - that tablet is quite a bit removed from the actual image I am touching.

Yes, if you are using a tablet (not a Cintiq), then I actually prefer the small wacom. It is indeed cumbersome and wearisome to have to move so far with your arm if your hand/arm movement is disconnected from the image.

Regarding the Cintiq, though, I think the opposite is true. For one thing, if you want to make big moves with the pen with smaller arm movements, then all you need do is zoom out - the image is smaller. And by eliminating that disconnect of where your hand is vs. where the image is, it creates a completely different user experience. So, in my case, my 13" Cintiq companion is acting like a gateway drug - it's small size has left me wanting to go big - as big as possible.

Thanks Alfredo. I agree. Except for really basic stuff, like global edits etc. I can't stand processing images with a mouse.

Really I am trying to decide between just upgrading my monitor (looking at those cool curved 21:9 monitors or just going Cintiq. My video gamer self, says get a 21:9, but my serious-about-art self says get the Cintiq.

I have Joey L's retouching tutorial and he's using a cintiq and i'm so jealous. he's so generous his tutorials ranges from $25-35 only.

but you don't have to look at the tablet while retouching, i'm looking only at the screen. maybe you guys give up too early. it's really hard at first.

speaking of photo editing hardware.....have you guys seen the palette system?

editing photos is the non-sexy part of photography. i imagine a wedding photographer with this set-up at a wedding reception, doing same day edits during the meal and looking like a badass lol

David Arbogast wrote in post #17728972
Really I am trying to decide between just upgrading my monitor (looking at those cool curved 21:9 monitors or just going Cintiq. My video gamer self, says get a 21:9, but my serious-about-art self says get the Cintiq.

Be a gamer myself, the monitor solution for me was the new Acer XB270HU...IPS panel for great colors and 144hz G-Sync for gaming. It's a 27" WQHD (2560 x 1440).