Canon 5D Mark II

I caved and finally purchased Canon's new 5D Mark II and I have got to say the image quality is fabulous. I'm a dedicated film shooter, but upgrading to a new digital camera was needed with business rising. Anyways, I received it in the mail 2 days ago and have non stop played with it. Unfortunately I have not yet upgraded to CS4 so editing RAW files on CS3 is a no go at the current moment but I have heard some fellow photographer friends state that they like the Canon editing software that comes with the camera better for editing RAW files.

Things I love about the 5D Mark II:

*The large 3" LCD screen. Viewing my images is better then ever before. They're so pretty and vivid on this screen.

*The LCD is light sensitive and changes in different lighting situations you enter. I love this.

*The HD video capability. The video clips I have taken from it so far are beautiful and using different lenses creates awesome clips just like it does if you were taking a photo.

*21.1 Megapixels - You can change the settings from 21.1 megapixels to 11 megapixels to 5 megapixels. High end shoots the 21.1 mp is needed but shooting weddings and events 11 mp will suit me just fine.

*Sensor cleaning when you turn on and off the camera.

*This doesn't apply to me, but I like the creative auto mode for those just starting out in photography. It is a good learning setting.

*The new battery or aka "The Smart Battery." I'll admit I wasn't keen on the idea of purchasing a new camera with a different battery from my other Canon camera because I have so many. But the feature is that is so great about this battery (besides its long battery life) is that once it is registered with your camera it will tell you the percentage of battery life left (mine currently is at 82%,) the shutter count and recharge performance.

*I love that you can adjust all your manual settings not only by the old traditional digital SLR way but by the LCD screen itself.

*The Live View function does not have a lag as much as I thought it would which convenient for tripod shooting as well as macro shots.


Those are just some highlights of things that I have stuck out to me and that I have been impressed with. I'm sure this list will grow within the week.

I have to send my Canon 50mm F/1.4 out for repair. It stops focusing at a certain point and I can't figure out what is wrong. It is still sharp and usable to a certain degree, but once it gets stuck it takes a second for me to readjust is manually for me to use it again. I took it apart yesterday hoping that it would just be something that was off track and easy to fix, but everything looked fine on the inside to my eye.

I want to add a blog to my actual website, something nice and fancy. I'm not in to plain things right now.

I added some new photos to my Flickr from my shoot with my sisters yesterday. Well it was more like us messing around at dusk with my new camera. All images are taken with the 50mm F/1.4, and also there is more available at flickr.com/photos/megansaul/

So here it goes:

Rain, Rain, Rain

I haven't made an update in sometime. I haven't been as focused as I should be but I am getting back in to the grove of things again and fully focusing 100% on my photography. I ordered a new digital camera the other day. Canon 5D Mark II. I haven't shot much digital over the last year and I don't really intend to shoot it much. I'll still remain 95% Film and 5% digital.

It's been raining the last few days non stop in Florida. I just took my medium format out and shot a roll behind my apartment complex building of the rain coming down and making several small lakes in my backyard. Everything is so wet and flooded.

Anyways, new photos at megansaul.com check them out. As well as on the flickr.com/photos/megansaul/

Take care!

I haven't updated since Nov. I'm alive and well. Life is full of surprises and I am truckin' through.

Change

Last night was a night for the history books and I am proud of our country. I am grateful that I have gotten to experience true history in the making and be apart of it. The next few years will be difficult but I believe a new direction will take us far, and hopefully to a better place. Our country has come such a long ways over the last 50 years and I am so proud of what we stand for today.

I have become lately obsessed with alternative processes in photography. Though I have yet to try many, I am attempting to learn as much about them as I can before experiencing them. One has really struck my attention. The Collodion Process. I have been reading a lot on it, but I am a nervous to try it without someone who is experienced in it. I'm a smart girl. But I don't even know where to begin.

For about 3 months I have drowned myself in the idea of attending an art school in the Fall of 2009. Sad part is my deadlines are rushing upon me quickly and I'm still focusing on my portfolio. Time sure does fly by the older you get, but I am glad I am focusing on myself for a change, and my future for myself.

As some of you know, I went through some life changing events this Summer. I have taken a lot of personal time to get things back in order and I believe they are finally looking up. I have met a wonderful guy, who is absolutely inspiring to me and very kind to me. Well become in contact again after two years. He's great and really helps me to express how I feel verbally and through my photography. Though men will always frustrate me, I'm happy.

I need to start networking again. I've been lazy these last few months when it comes to the future of my photography, besides with school. I also need to start trying to sell some of my images and gain some new clients. I'm broke and I need money, isn't everyone chanting that these days.

Untitled: Jorrdan

Untitled: Jorrdan
Originally uploaded by megansaulphotography

I'll update soon. I've been busy with school, applying to schools and printing in the darkroom. If anyone wants to buy my prints please send me an e-mail. I'm making some one time only editions.

The search is on

New photography from my "in my dreams" project.

I have been searching up and down for photographers, learning and reading about them all over the place over the last couple days to gain inspiration so I can become inspired. As I have said my photography is changing... Dramatically. I have shot so much over the last couple of days and I hope I produce the images that I want to be producing.

So my documentary project is on. I came across a photographer who has become a big inspiration for the future with this project. Kaylynn Deveney is a documentary photographer from New Mexico. Her work on Albert Hastings was so inspiring.

I must cut this short. I'll write more about her when I have time. But I will leave you with a few of her images.

Times are changing

New work from me.

It has been awhile since I have updated anything on here. I have gone through some major life changing events that had caused me to put down my camera for a few months, but now I am back in action and feeling more inspired then I ever have before. It is so wonderful to feel so inspired about photography and my photography. My work is changing, as well as myself. I am focusing on me, and what I want. I have nothing holding me back from following dreams and desires and I am putting 100% of myself in to this.

I have put away my digital camera and decided I am not going to be lazy anymore. Client shoots are one thing, but it is time to focus on me. With my Canon AE-1 around my neck and my Bronica always in my trunk I will never miss another photo opportunity. I have been shooting my large format on a constant basis and building a new portfolio of work which I hope will allow me to be accepted in to an art school next Fall.

I currently have taken interest in AIB in Boston. Who knows where that will lead but I enjoy the outlook of the program. I started researching the teachers and I enjoy their work but I am iffy about the photojournalism side and if that would be of any interest to me which currently it is not.

I am currently finishing up one of my last semesters at Daytona State: Southeast Center for Photographic Studies. I recently was assigned a photojournalism assignment to create sound slide over the next 14 weeks of class. It took me a week to figure something out and I don't have a lot of additional time. So I decided to photograph my neighbor. I wanted to base it on her addiction to sex but I am not sure how that will turn out, therefore I am just going to shoot her from a personal perspective and see how it turns out. I am going to use both film and digital and just switch in and out between the two to save some money. Anyways...

A big inspiration for this project is Aline Smithson who photographs her daughter Caroline which is her muse. Ashlee is not exactly my muse, but you get the gist of it. Aline photographed her daughter in a very intimate and personal way which I appreciate. She takes the photographs to tell her story and I am quite intrigued by her work. I hope that this gives me the inspiration I need to create something meaningful and powerful so I can tell Ashlee's brief story over the next 12 weeks.