m e g a p e r l s

At FANCL, Takashimaya, Kashiwa
I was rather disappointed when I realised that despite supporting RAW file format in the latest version, iPhoto 5 does not read the pictures in RAW format off my Canon G2. See, I thought the file format depends on manufacturer, not camera model. So while the RAW files from other (read: more recent) Canon cameras are understood, the 3 year old G2 is not blessed with iPhoto support.

So much for my little retro journey into digital. Oh, and manual focus is really really terrible on it - first and last time I used it.

It also occurred to me that I am actually not anti-digital per se. I just don’t like the handling of most of the digital cameras out there when compared to a film rangefinder. And the idea of obsoleteness and dependency on somebody providing software is also not appealing.

This week I went to the used camera fair in Matsuya Ginza. It somehow left me cold. Maybe I wasn’t in the right mind set on the day. I popped over to the Apple store afterwards for a little browse and I realised that the camera show with their Leicas and all was full of old men, when life was buzzing down in the streets. Just a subjective impression.

It’s been a while since I put out a series, and it has been a long time since I looked at 35mm film. I have to say, that from time to time I silently enjoy looking at my own pictures, especially when some time has passed since I took them. This is a good thing, I hope.

So while this is old material, taken in the course of last year, I have to confess that I really enjoy the directness of those photos. If large format has shown me anything then it is the appreciation of spontaneity. I have taken out the Leica last weekend and to my own surprise, ended up shooting almost two rolls without actually having had the intention. Which was a nice feeling.

With work giving me very little time indeed to do my photography, things are moving a lot slower right now. Those rolls, and some others, have not even been developed yet. But if large format has taught me anything, then it is to take your time and stop chasing after it.