Brisbane by Bike & G1X Post #2

Yesterday was time for a trip to Nudgee Beach, taking the new bike for a roll via the bikeway from Nundah.   This bikeway/path goes through parts of the wetlands near Brisbane Airport and runs along parts of Nudgee Road.

Here's some photos - first, the new treadley - a MERIDA TFS 100-D.  I've updated the seat on it for something more comfy.  Future weeks will see me update the pedals as well.   This has been the best investment in my health that I have made in a while.   The trick will be working this into my life on a daily basis and developing the habit...

Canon G1X, handheld, ISO 400, f/5.0, 1/40 sec, 0 EV  No post processing.

Nudgee beach isn't much of a beach, more a bunch of mangroves and tidal flats.   This shot shows a car mover traversing the channel from the Port of Brisbane, Moreton Island in the back ground and one of those mangroves at low tide.  Oh - there's a tiny little bit of beach int he foreground too!   lol...

Canon G1X, Joby Tripod at beach level, ISO 800, f/11, 0.3 sec, -2/3 EV   Post processed with Lightroom and Nik Software Suite.

The G1X is proving to be an ideal travelling camera for the bike - nice a light, yet easily good enough to render detail in the sky that was deep in the Earth's shadow as in the shot above.  What a superb little camera!  I'm really, really enjoying it - and it's expanding my thoughts of future travel possibilities.

For anyone interested here's the overhead image of the bikeway from Nundah to Nudgee Beach, an easy 10 Km's of flat riding.  This image captured from Google Earth.

Ah - the power of the EOS 5D Mark III

Here's a couple of shots from Wednesday this week when I had an early start shooting for a client.

First, a shot of the setup.

Canon G1X, handheld, ISO 800, f/11, 1/200 sec, -2/3 EV

The G1X does a great job with this image but I thought out of interest I would add the shot taken from the EOS 5D Mark III.   For this shot I'm using a remote release cable, Manfrotto 055 Tripod with friction ball head and the EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens, with Image Stabilisation off - we don't need it due to the tripod...   Sounds obvious but lots of people leave this on even when using a tripod.  I've always been keen to keep the IS off if I'm using a tripod.   Why have the IS working when it doesn't need to???

Here's the shot from the EOS 5D Mark III taken for the client, Nudgee Golf Club, in Brisbane.

Canon EOS 5D Mark III, EF 24-105mm F/4L IS USM lens at 45mm, ISO 100, f/11, 1/20 sec, 0 EV

Note: This image has been modified in post production (stakes and vegetation removed to create a cleaner image).

The comparison between the images - taken only a minute or so apart is quite interesting.   The G1X does not produce the same richness of colours or gradation in the dark and light tones as the EOS 5D Mark III, but the results are quite striking.

I was only taking the G1X shots to record the circumstances of my setup so little effort went into them. It would be interesting to hear peoples opinions on the comparison of these images.

Brisbane by Bike & G1X

Life's little challenges are coming thick and fast so I've decided to start a little project - to photograph Brisbane using only my Canon G1X from a cyclists point of view.

I've traded the road bike for a mountain bike which should enable me to get to quite a few more interesting places.  This has in part been inspired by a photographer friend who has recently bought a mountain bike, and convinced me of the benefits...

I'll update this blog occasionally with images from this project and keep everyone informed of my results.   The goal is to lose 10kg in 6 weeks.

And for the photographers out there I'll post details of how the image was captured including settings. Here's the first few, all without any post production modifications (except for cropping)

G1X, camera resting on bridge support - ISO 400, f/3.2, 1.0 sec, -2/3 EV, Aperture Priority

G1X, camera resting on bridge railing - ISO 1600, f/7.1, 1.0 sec, -2/3 EV, Aperture Priority

G1X, camera resting on bridge railing - ISO 1600, f/8.0, 0.8 sec, -2/3 EV, Aperture Priority

Brisbane really is a gorgeous city by might and there's lots to see.   Now to get some decent pedals for the mountain bike and a more comfy seat for the long miles ahead...!

Brisbane's smog - becoming too much?

I was out and about Brisbane last night and captured this image - which disturbed me.
In the early 1990's I moved to Brisbane partly because it was a cleaner greener city than Melbourne where I had been living.   My asthma immediately improved and I felt better physically.

This image captures Brisbane's smog layer and a concentration of smog over Mount Cootha (in the background).  It raises questions for me about whether Brisbane is still a healthy place to live...

This image was captured using the Canon G1X, handheld.  ISO 400, f7.1, 0.8 sec, -2/3 EV