Testing the Fuji x10

Last summer I bought the Fuji x100, and spent much of the fall with it.  It's a great camera but for a point and shoot I found two things frustrating.  One it is a fixed 35mm lens, which was fine most of the time, but a few times in Arizona, I got frustrated with that limitation.  Plus the autofocus is eternal.  So, both needing some cash and wanting a zoom, I swapped with a photog from Pennsylvania.  He got the x100 and I got the x10 plus cash. I just received it in the mail and tried it out at a coffee house concert on Friday night at our church.

Now the lighting is really dark, so I shot this image at ISO 3200 - not a bad image eh?  Autofocus is much improved plus it has a 28-112 zoom.  So far so good.  It's a little smaller in my big hands than the x100, but I keep reminding myself that it is a point and shoot, and designed as a carry around all the time camera.

PPA Photographic Craftsman Award

Well the embargo can be lifted, and the word is out.  This past week in New Orleans the Professional Photographers of America awarded to me the Photographic Craftsman Award. Although I was not present, I took a bow on Tuesday evening.  Applause!  The award is given to Photographers who achieve a level of excellence, education and communication in teaching others the Art and Science of Photography. In addition to being a CPP, Certified Professional Photographer.  What does this mean, besides an increase in my annual dues to PPA.  Amoung other things, I can now list my name as James Hazelwood, CPP, Photo. Cr.  I know, I know, you are impressed.  More initials. 

For me it translates to good photography.  Plain and Simple.  

Does it mean every CPP Ph Cr, MA Ph, PhD, ph balnced photographer is worth his or her weight in salt?  Of course, not, we all know credentials need to be combined with experience, personality and old fashioned hard work and desire. 

I got into photography when I was 16 years old, photographing my brothers soccer games, then photographing all the cool people for my High School Yearbook, later in College for the school newspaper and radio sation.  In graduate school I worked for the Public Relations office in New York City.  One thing lead to another, a fund raiser for my son's PTA lead me to someones wedding, then The Knot saw one of my photos online and asked me to use it, pre 1999. Then digital, more weddings, some work for non-profits and churches, more wedding and portraits.  

And the road goes on, we move forward, like sharks, or we die.  What's next?  I'm dreaming of a motorcycle trip across the African continent photographing the work of relief agencies.  It's years off, maybe for a next sabbatical, who knows...

But for now, gotta go order some new business cards with fancy initials -

Seth Godin

I'm a Seth Godin junky.  I get his Blog post everyday, read his books.  He captures so many of the ideas I've come to embrace over the years.  He pulls in the Family Systems stuff I studied with Rabbi Ed Friedman, the Business smarts of Tom Peters, the Leadership wisdom of Pastor John Maxwell, and the sardonic and ironic humor of a classic New York guy.

I'd love to do a portrait of him, if anyone has connections.  In the meantime, here is an article that is good for anyone in any field. Click here.

 

A sweet moment

 from last year when the weather was warm and wonderful.

La Bella Bride magazine liked it so much they put it on the inside cover of their 2012 magazine.

The Secret to Beauty