View Towers Detail
This detail from View Towers in Victoria shows the quality of image possible with the Olympus Pen in good light, and with all the settings just so. It was taken at the same time as the photos in this post. What I like most about it, other than its clarity, is the weird perspective that arises from the competing angles of the white wall caps, the hand rail, the block joints and the slightly tilted framing. To my eye it is a disconcerting mix in unexpected ways.
(Click on the picture for a bigger version)
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Olympus Pen, half-frame camera, ca 1960. Ilford Pan F Plus, ISO50, 1/50th, f16.
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The diagonal lines really bring a lot of interest in this subtle composition. And there is no doubt the Oly is a fine camera.
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Hi Ken. Finally catching up on a backlog of comments here. Thanks for the comment. The Oly takes very nice pictures when handled right. I think I have figured it out, but the main difficulty I still have is estimating focal distance, or remembering to reset it from the previous shot. When it comes down to it, operator error is the main problem with cameras, no matter how good the camera.
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Great clarity and austerity and, to compare it again to what I see of downtown Vancouver, where is the garbage, dirt, clutter?
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Hi Richard. Would you believe me if I said that I take a broom with me on urban shoots, and sweep the grit out of the shot?
I didn’t think so! View Towers, for all its reputation, is well maintained. Watching the building from the bus stop as I did for a few years at my old job, there was hardly a day that someone was not tending to the tiny bit of grass, sweeping the pavement, or dangling on the side of the building repairing cracks and repainting. Graffiti is painted over within days, or hours. Parts of Victoria are not so nicely maintained.
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