From the Cathedral Basilique Saint Nazaire, in Carcassonne, France.
Author: John
Winter Express
I know I have been giving a lot of praise to the EOS R lately, but it truly is an extraordinary camera.
It takes a bit of getting used to, as it is quite different from a DSLR, but once you get the hang of it, it really shines.
Paired with the Tamron 24-70mm G2, it really rocks.
Elf Concentration
Christmas is just around the corner and the traditional Christmas fair in Aalborg is packed with visitors.
This guy/elf is there every year to entertain the visitors. He’s a bit sarcastic and dry witted, but it is a good thing that not all entertainment around christmas is sugar coated.
This was the first chance to really test the EOS R at mixed low light environments. Overall it did great.
In most cases it were better and faster at acquiring focus compared to my 6D, or at least as good.
But I noticed that when it struggled it was more likely to just give up, where the 6D would keep at it and usually ended up hitting focus.
Still, the flexibility of the many many focus point, compared to the 11 (and in low light: 1) focus points of the 6D, means that I would prefer the R.
And who knows.. on the 6D I usually would focus/recompose..
If I did that on the R, maybe it would do even better?
Cafe Le Trouvere
Inside the medieval castle of Carcassonne there are filled with narrow streets, small plazas and of course a lot of cafés, where you can get a glass of wine (or, if you are a beer drinking Dane like me, they do serve beer as well).
The EOS R makes my EF lenses shine
Now that I have really started to dig into the features and capabilities of the EOS R, I am surprised again and again about how much difference the Dual Pixel Autofocus system makes, compared to having a separate autofocus sensor like I had in my EOS 6D.
It is not that the 6D were bad or had trouble focusing. Far from. It was really good at focusing, even in bad light.
But I had to micro adjust every single one of my lenses to get the most out of them. And sometimes, no matter how much you adjusted, there would still be times where the focus seemed a bit off.
My Sigma 50mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM is the perfect example. It is a lens that is notoriously known for being hard to adjust correctly.
On some lenses, mine included, you would be challenged to find a micro adjustment that were spot on, both when focusing close to infinity and close to the near limit.
A whole new lens
I actually managed to adjust it to a point where both ends were acceptable, but from time to time it would just miss focus.
On the R, it is like having a whole new lens. It is sharp at all distances, focus is spot on every time. And I didn’t even have to micro adjust.
You can’t even do that on the R because It uses the image sensor to focus, instead of a separate sensor.
This is perhaps one of the most overlooked advantages of this new mirrorless prodigy.
It wasn’t a feature I had given much though before buying the R, but it really is a big deal.
Not only can I use all my EF lenses (and even EF-S lenses) using an adapter, but I can use them with better or as good results as I have been used to on my native EF Mount 6D.
The image in this post is taken with the EOS R and Sigma 50mm f/1.4.
Fenced out of the light
I am still getting to know my new EOS R. It is a truly amazing camera, but it behaves different from the various DSLR EOS’es I have been using for the last many years. It’s not that it does things in a weird way. It is more that I have to operate it in another way. Things are starting to click (no pun intended), and the pictures it produces are really good.
Here it is used with my good old Sigma 50mm f/1.4. The two combined works really well together.
Rocking the Mic
Rapper/Producer Pilfinger, rocking the mic at a concert with his band Djämes Braun at Aalborg Carnival 2019
Framing the shot
There are many photo-ops at the Tall Ship Races. While this guy were framing a shot of the many beautiful Tall ships, he became a target for my lens.
Pumpkin Goblin
I finally upgraded my 6D, and bought an EOS R.
What better way to test it than in low light, outside, handheld.. so far it seems to be just as good as the 6D in low light.
Domaine La Louvière
I recently spent a day in southern France, picking grapes and seeing how the fine wine were produced, at this beautiful Chateau La Louvière.
Fatal Blow
A Shieldmaiden delivers the fatal blow to the attacking viking, during the battle displays at Lindholm Viking fair.
Blue Lobster
A European Lobster (Homarus gammarus). I actually thought the lobsters were red-ish like a crab when alive, but apparently the are ranging from dark blue to bright blue whan alive and only turns red when being cooked.
I hate getting a new camera
Since 2015 I have been shooting primarily with a Canon EOS 6D. Before that, I had a Canon EOS 60D. Although these two cameras were VERY similar in terms of ergonomics, I remember a period of frustrations when I switched.
Most of all the frustration came from the small differences in button layout and the extra time I had to spend “just” to take a simple picture, but also from a more diffuse issue, the way I composed, the field of view I got from a specific lens and the differences in “quirks” between the two cameras. Most of this were because of the fact that the 6D were full frame.
After a while it were all forgotten and the 6D became my new favorite camera.
And what a camera. It was sharp, amazing in low light and built solid. I loved and used it for years, even though it were somewhat limited in some respects, like the fact that it only had 11 focus points and only one, the center point were really usable.
But these limitations made it a simple, no nonsense camera. I taught myself to get the most out of this camera and I love what I have been able to do with that camera.
Time to move on
The years passed and the camera tech developed at a fast pace. Several times I were tempted to switch to a Fuji X-Pro or X-T2/X-T3, but I wasn’t sure it would be able to replace my amazing 6D and it still served me well, so I kept fighting my GAS.
Then Canon released the EOS R. The temptation… I fought it for a while, but deep inside I knew I would buy one at some point. It seemed like the next logical and technological step for me to take.
A couple of weeks ago I finally took that step and bought the EOS R. And what a camera. It is extremely good at focusing, perhaps even better than that famous center point on the 6D, but on the entire screen. The image quality is amazing too, even at high ISO and it is packed with fancy features.
I am certain that this is a camera that is going to serve me well for the next many years.
And yet, I am frustrated. All my muscle memory needs to be updated. The configuration of the camera needs to be tried and tested, to figure out which features I need and which button it should be assigned to. I no longer need to focus/recompose, I can just set the focus point where I want. But this is a new workflow for me and it is frustrating. The electronic viewfinder is really good, but in some situations it makes me feel a bit “detached” from the scene I am photographing. I don’t like that the EOS R is not always on like my 6D.
But still I like the EOS R and I know it is going to take me to a new level. I just hate the transition period.
The picture of Eddie at the top of this post were taken with my new EOS R.
Through the old part of town
I have just returned from an extended weekend in southern France and visited the beautiful castle in Carcassonne.
I didn’t have much time for photos, but I still managed to sneak off, and explore a bit with my camera.
Needlemouse
My dog tracked this little shy guy in the darkness i our garden. He didn’t know what to do with it, so I showed doggo what we do… we take his picture and leave him alone.
Doggo didn’t like to have it strolling around in his garden, but the promise of a good belly-rub convinced him 🙂
Made of Pebbles
One of the many beautiful mosaics made of pebbles on the floor of the Rotunda in Kalithea Springs.
On the run
These participants at the International Carnival Parade at Aalborg Carnival 2019 had adapted the idea of looking like they just stepped out of an old black and white comedy caper.
Alkmini
The Mandraki harbor in Rhodes city is literally packed with small cruise ships that can take you on tours to the nearby islands like Symi, or to the beatiful city Lindos.
Alkmini is one of those cruise boats and to me it really stood out because it had a unique Mediterranean feel to it.
She’s a Sailor
During the Tall Ship Races 2019, I had the chance to visit onboard the beautiful ship Georg Stage.
I were far from the only visitor, so it was hard to find undisturbed areas to photograph, but with a bit of patience, things tend to work out.
Needle to the skin
A tattoo artist tattooing like the vikings did, using a single needle, instead of an electric needle.
Chinese and Thai alley
To be fair, almost every street in the amazing white village Lindos is an alley. I could have spendt days exploring the maze that the narrow streets of the town are made of.
Battle Preparations
A viking warrior preparing for the fierce battles being fought at Lindholm Vikingemarked.
Ice breakers on break
The two ice breakers Isbjørn and Danbjørn, moored at the dock in Hals.
They have been for sale for ages, but apparently nobody have a need for the two ice breakers, which now may face the grim fate of being scrapped instead.
A Hawila Break
Crewmember from the ship Hawila taking a break, during Tall Ship Race 2019’s visit to Aalborg.
Llama
Llama
Great Rotunda
Kalithea Springs on Rhodes, Greece consists of several beautiful old buildings. The Great Rotunda provides a beautiful view of the Mediterranean sea.
Departure
The enormous Norwegian barque ‘Staatsraad Lehmkuhl’ departing Aalborg after The Tall Ships Race 2019 visited the city.
Top Dog
Training with my wonderful Westie, Eddie while taking pictures… a perfect combination 🙂
Feeling Fishy
This year we got a lot of rain for the annual Carnival in Aalborg, and it were rather cold too, so a lot of the participants seems a bit dull during the parade, I can’t say that I blame them. Spending a lot of time on a costume and painting yourself to look colorful isn’t that great if the rain will just wash it all off.
This girl felt like a fish in the water though…
Ultron Zero
A sinister looking helmet. I doubt the design is authentic, but it definitely look awesome, A bit like a medieval version of Ultron from the Avengers Marvel comics.
Lioness with cubs
A picture I have been returning to several times, but just didn’t really feel I had made “just right”.
This version represents the mood I wanted best, so this will be the final version… for now.
I guess it is true when they say that images are never finished, they are just abandoned…
Nanok
A polar bear cooling off in the water in their enclosure in Aalborg Zoo. Nanok is Polar Bear in Greenlandic.
Armored
Tortoises are great target practice.. You don’t have to worry too much about AF speed when tracking a moving tortoise 🙂
Longneck
Giraffe giving me the eye…
..perhaps I should asked for permission before taking its picture…
Lurking
A black caiman lurking in the still water. Even through the thick glass I got the feeling that this guy was really annoyed that I was taking pictures.
Thickskin
I absolutely love the amazing texture of the elephant skin…
Love For Paris
A truly amazing piece made by the graffiti artist “SORT” (and .one?).
The piece were painted in Karolinelund, Aalborg a couple of years ago.
Finishing Touches
The Graffiti artist “Sort” adding his finishing touches to one of his many amazing pieces in Karolinelund, Aalborg.
I took this picture several years ago and meant to post it here, but for some reason it kinda got lost between the several thousands of pictures i take every year.
When you only post 52 pictures per year, you can easily build up a backlog of images, and I guess some nice pictures can get lost.
Aslan Down
It’s been a while since i last visited Aalborg Zoo, which is a shame as I always enjoy being (relatively) close to the wild animals.
Mask
Mask
Take Me To The Clouds Above
A Spanish Eurofighter breaking through the low, heavy clouds at the Danish Airshow 2018.
Incoming
A Fennec and a Merlin helicopter from RDAF flying in formation in their Danish Air Power Demo during Danish Airshow 2018.
The Sign
Who says street art can’t be deep?
Dive In
When it is feeding time at The Oceanarium in Hirtshals, Denmark, a diver jumps into the giant 4.5 million liters aquarium to feed the Ocean Sunfish (Mola mola) or the small(-ish) porbeagle sharks (Lamna nasus).
Cold Day
We haven’t had much snow i Aalborg this winter, but luckily for me I were able to go for a walk on one of the few days we actually had snow.
I took my 35mm f/2 along as the only lens.
I always forget how amazing that lens is.
Blowing Smoke
A beautiful old CF-104D Starfighter, blowing smoke and making whistling sounds before its flying display at Danish Airshow 2018. Unfortunately, as you can see from this picture, it were raining a lot, and the pictures I got of the Starfighter in the air are more or less crap.
The Controller
I recently bought a Behringer X-Touch Mini, to use when editing images in Lightroom.
It literally took minutes to set it up, and then I were up and running.
I am still making minor adjustments to the individual knobs and buttons, but mostly everything is where I want it now and I have gained a much more organic workflow, when editing.
As a side-effect, the time spent on each image has been brought down.
The Watcher
My faithful companion Eddie, watching my every move from the top of his favorite rock.
Daddy!
One of the many interesting art installations at Skulpturparken Blokhus, taken as it were getting dark and the different art installations were getting lit by spotlights in shifting colors.
Wanderlust
When it is cold and raining at the sea, I always want to board a boat at just go where ever…