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The last weekend was a hectic period as we organised the Nikon show at Mid Valley with 5 session of fashion show for the model shooting contest. It went all right despite some minor hiccups as anything can happened during a live show. It is not easy co-ordinating 12 models with one that doesn't understand English, with 5 different fashion labels ranging from casual to wedding gowns. And not forgetting the bunch of make-up artists and hair stylists. Thanks to Ken, Darren, Yen and Yaneki we did it.
During the fashion shows I try out the new and much anticipicated 70-200 with the new VR and nano coating. This new lens is slightly bigger in built and weight compared to the previous version. The lens is more rounded and balance. And the lens hood is less obstructive and shorter. Using it with my D3, the new 70-200 makes a lethal combination. The focus is fast and deadly accurate. But shooting hand-held with this is no walk in the park as the weight of both the body and lens will be felt. Time for me to go back to the gym and work those arms...
Ok I must admit I am not a regular fashion shooter but it have been a good lesson. It was not easy shooting fashion runway, fighting for a good position can be a problem where season shooters come with their high ladders. The lighting is another problem that we have to cope with as it can changed in split seconds when multiple flashes fired at the same moment makes your exposure horribly wrong. Or just when I thought i got the model nicely framed someone in front hold up his camera n flashlight above his head blocking of half the frame. This is not a comprehensive review but just a few shots that I took using the 70-200.
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The PEN EP-1 put the fun back into my photography.
I am not a big fan of compact as I find the menu difficult to manoeuvre, the button too small and when I ask friends to take picture of me, the result will inevitably be a sharp background and a blur me. And when it comes to shooting for clients I would not take the risk of using any other cameras other than my trusted Nikon D3. Using the PEN for this trip have given me a new perspective of pictures taking despite the compactness of the camera.
But the PEN is not your ordinary compact. Is a full features dslr built into a classic compact body. The ART filter especially ¡®PIN hole¡¯ and ¡®Grainy B/W¡¯ are my favourites. And it never fails to impress my fellow travelers. Shooting with the PEN is rather different from using my usual dslr. Using it casually without the pressure of a ¡®pro dslr¡¯ I use the PEN as if I am starting photography all over again. The simple joy of capturing a moment is putting the fun back to pictures taking.
It comes in handy for those spontaneous moments when I have already packed up my bigger pro bodies in my camera bag. And also when we were roaming the streets and bazaars where there are lots of people and not so convenient holding a huge dslr. With a smaller body the PEN attract less attention, making it easier to shoot street subjects who were normally more cautious when faced with a huge dslr.
The PEN comes in real handy as a back up to my bigger dslr during my entire trip but what bugged me is the lens cap, which tends to drop off easily. I lost the lens cap twice but luckily it was picked up by my friends.
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The PEN took on super model Amber Chia and other Malaysian celebrities during a recent shoot for Faces magazine. Shot without flash inside a club at Heritage Row, KL.
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